Illusion

Is Monaco an illusion? You can see another photo of this yacht by clicking on the link.

A decorated house

A decorated house in Cap d'Ail. Cap d'Ail, which adjoins Monaco, has so many beautiful houses. Here's just one.

Just look up...

Wander around Monaco and just look up... this decorated building is just up from the port.

Echelle a Bras Attelée

Fireman's ladder from the 1890's on display in Fontvieille just outside the police station.

Monte Carlo Lady - 16

Shopping is obviously hard work - a Monte Carlo lady takes a rest.

Miami Plage, Larvotto Beach

Early morning. Most of Monaco is asleep. Soon the day will burst into life but for a few precious moments, the beach is ours.

The lunch break

The barriers put up for the Monaco Grand Prix are still being dismantled. Here we see a group of tourists taking a break and sitting on a barrier - the start finish line of the Grand Prix, full of normal cars today, is almost behind them. A rather noisy lunch venue I'd have thought although they are looking out at the yachts in the port - behind me. So lunch with a view.

The eagle has landed

Eagle - or maybe a vulture? - on a roof in Cap d'Ail. In fact, there is an eagle on each corner of this lovely house.

Behind the curtain

There's always something interesting to look at. This lady peers from behind her curtain in a first floor apartment on the pedestrian street that runs up from the port.

The Sports Clinic

You probably don't need to be told that this is Monaco's medical clinic for sports injuries. Just look at the people outside. It's on the road that goes down from the casino to the port - hence the slope.

Moods

Here you see the mirror above Moods, the new nightclub in Monaco. These photographs were taken the day after it opened - still workers around doing last minute touch ups. At night, cascades of water fall each side of the steps.

You can read more by clicking on the link.

(I'm in the USA at the moment - Westerville, near Columbus, Ohio - later I'll be in Utah - so big apologies for lack of comments over the last week and thanks so much to everyone who is commenting on my blogs. I really appreciate them. I hope, from today, to slowly start commenting again provided Internet access allows it).

Monte Carlo Gentleman - 5

The photographer photographed. He's standing outside Moods, a great new music bar at the back of the Cafe de Paris - where he'll be videoing, I believe. Tomorrow I'll show you more - no ladies, not of this gorgeous creature, but Moods.

Monte Carlo Lady - 15

An older lady today - walking her little Chihuahua in the gardens at the back of the casino.

Water wings

The pool on the yacht you saw yesterday. The boy is about to take a swim. Perhaps he can't swim which is why he has the water wings.

Pool aboard

Seems you can get most things on yachts these days. Here you see a swimming pool on one and games table on the yacht alongside. Come back tomorrow to see who is about to take a swim.

Embonpoint

Lazing about on his boat in the port of Monaco. Quite an 'embonpoint', wouldn't you say? Taken, I believe, from the French - en bon point = in good condition.

Note: The Frugal Traveler from the New York Times featured Monte Carlo and Menton recently. Click on the link read about Monaco and then see a video of Menton. Thanks so much to Alden for this information.

A fountain in Fontvieille - 2

Here you see a detail from the fountain shown yesterday. When I was photographing earlier, a policeman came out of the nearby police station and asked me what I was doing. I told him I had a Monte Carlo blog and that I was taking shots for it. I asked if that was OK. No problem, he said. Off he went.

As I was photographing this spout, another policeman appeared. Good looking. As I said yesterday, Monte Carlo policeman are genetically programmed to look delicious. He also asked what I was doing. I told him and this time I said, 'You are the second officer to ask what I'm doing. Do you mind telling me why you are asking me. Don't you see tourists taking pics all the time?'

He explained that it was unusual for someone to be photographing detail. He said most tourists photograph the big picture and that's why I'd been asked. And then he told me to 'carry on' and it was just fine.

I still thought it a bit strange.

A fountain in Fontvieille

A fountain in Fontvieille. This is just outside the police station and near to the church. Come back tomorrow for more detail and to read why I was asked twice - by the police - what I was doing. Monaco police are all gorgeous, by the way, so no complaints from me!

Time to ponder...

This was taken at the time the Grand Prix was being set up - hence those temporary barriers. It's 8.00 in the morning - that's Cap Martin in the background and beyond it, Italy.

A Monaco policeman stares into the water. Time to ponder...

Towed

These three little boats were being towed across the harbour yesterday. Don't you think this would be fun, sitting in a little boat with someone else doing all the work?

You can see the difference in sky here to yesterday's photo, yet taken a couple of hours apart. I took this from the Bateau-Bus - the ferry that crosses the harbour. Sally (Sydney Daily Photo) Piero, Ben and I lunched at Stars n' Bars in the port, then grabbed the Bateau-Boat (1 euro) and crossed the harbour where we then climbed to the casino area and had refreshing cold drinks sitting outside the Café de Paris. Why weren't you all with us?