Space Age Shopping in Monte Carlo

Space-age shopping is what now greets visitors to Casino Square in Monte Carlo.  Where once stood the Jardins Boulingrins,  you now find 5 pebble-shaped shaped constructions with 2,500 square feet of shopping space.  Here you can buy your Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu, Akris, Sonia Rykiel, Yves Saint Laurent and so on ...

Each pavilion has a different shape and size ranging from 220 to 600 m² and a ceiling height of maximum 10 m. The temporary pavilions are meant to last 4 years, which corresponds to the duration of the renovation works at the Hôtel de Paris and the Sporting d’Hiver. Then, apparently, these businesses will close down and take up their new accommodation in the Sporting d'Hiver.

This is all part of the redevelopment programme by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) for the Place du Casino. The beautiful Art Deco building, the Sporting d’Hiver (which you see in the background) will be demolished and replaced by three buildings including businesses, high-end residences, offices and leisure and spaces for recreation and culture.

Bûche de Noël

The dessert tray at Restaurant La Piazza in Monaco yesterday.  3 different flavoured Bûches de Noël, no less! My lovely friend Millie and I had the marron et chocolat. Yummy!

Sorry for the slightly blurry foreground.... blame two glasses of champagne, followed by a good Italian red!

Crystals for Christmas

To my dear friends and readers of this blog, I send you a million crystals from the lights of Nice for Christmas.  May you have a day filled with peace and love.

Jump!

We're in Nice today to visit the Christmas lights. This is my fabulous friend, Emmanuelle, jumping in front of a replica of what was once Nice's crystal casino - a pier, built over the sea and finished in 1891. The pier was closed in 1942 and stripped of its valuable metals, copper, brass, bronze and electric wiring, to be used by the German army.

Rigatoni La Voglia

Memories of a great birthday lunch on Rue Saint Francois in Nice in October.  This delicious dish is "Rigatoni La Voglia" at La Voglia.

Thank you again to Sylvie, Emma and Guillaume and Patrick and his beautiful 4L.  How lucky I am to have such wonderful friends.

A Rocky View of Monaco

Waves crash on the rocks at Cap Martin.  In the distance you see the Principality of Monaco.

Three way conversation

Three-way conversation at the seafood counter of the Café de Paris - note the replicas of old postcards running along the base. 

Singing Practice

Singing practice at Larvotto Beach.  This photo was taken at the end of June.

Kiss Curl

A dramatic look on the promenade below the casino.

Casino Monte Carlo - the Clock

One of the ornate clocks in the casino of Monte Carlo.

Casino Monte Carlo - the Blue Chairs

A luxurious corner inside Monte Carlo's casino. (not sure about the blue chairs!)

Casino Monte Carlo - the Entrance

The entrance to Monte Carlo's beautiful casino. The bronze is called 'La Fortune' and is by Daphne du Barry. 

Casino Monte Carlo - the Atrium

The stunning atrium of the Monte Carlo Casino.

A Bench with a View

This couple are enjoying the view of Monaco from the medieval village of Roquebrune.

The Mantle of Conscience by Anna Chromy

This is a new sculpture, recently installed in the gardens opposite Le Rose des Vents. 

It's called the Mantle of Conscience and is by the artist, Anna Chromy.

'Very Hungry God' by Subodh Gupta

This is a sculpture recently seen outside the Grimaldi Forum.

It's called 'Very Hungry God' by artist Subodh Gupta, who is based in New Delhi.

It's made of approximately 3,000 pieces of stainless steel kitchenware.

The Cow ready for a Swim

You'll find this cow in the gardens of the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco.  She's called 'Elegante au Bains' and has been decorated by sculptor Anne Quemar.  In 2005 there were dozens of cows all over Monaco. They'd been created by well-known artists and scuptors in aid of charity.  This one was bought by the Baronne Brandstetter and donated to the hospital.

She marks the smoking area in the gardens.

Larvotto Beach in August

Larvotto Beach in August.  Bodies, bodies.  I wonder what those two green plastic dolphins are for? (foreground left)

Miami Plage

Miami Plage on Larvotto, before the lunchtime crowds.

Monaco from the Bateau Bus

A fun way to see Monaco is on the Bateau Bus - the solar powered electric ferry that crosses the harbour and all it costs is 1.50 euros.  An easy and cheap way to pretend you own a super yacht!

On the day I took this (end of June) - you can see ominous clouds hung low over the la Tete du Chien (Head of the Dog) with only pinponts of sunlight on the buildings.