Friday, September 12, 2014

Japanese Garden in Monte-Carlo, Day 3 *


The Japanese Garden in Monte-Carlo is a picturesque spot of lush greenery. For one who’s not overly crazy about back-to-nature outings, I have to admit I was quite enchanted with my surroundings and spent a good hour by myself, walking through the park and snapping photos of anything that caught my fancy! Smiley

 photo 1Entrance_zpsc7038e11.jpg
Japanese Garden entrance
 photo 2Garden_zpsd0ccdc8e.jpg
Lake view

Before visiting the garden however, I had breakfast with B at Hotel Novotel. We then walked hand in hand to his workplace at the Grimaldi Forum. It was Day 2 of the Sportel 2013, Monaco convention. Apparently the most influential business convention for the sports media, the conference was already in full swing when we arrived.

 photo 3Breakfast_zpseb5eea2c.jpg
Yummy breakfast!
 photo 4Grimaldi_zps685a5c95.jpg
Grimaldi Forum
 photo 5Grimaldisign_zps0c237542.jpg
 photo 6B_zpsf02e6a3e.jpg
B at Sportel Monaco 2013
 photo 7M_zps171a720b.jpg
Cool Eaglecopter
 photo 10Sportel_zpse429cb42.jpg
Busy participants
 photo 9Car_zps7c342bce.jpg
Hot Wheels
 photo 11Judo_zps187bd06d.jpg
Judo Demonstration

Prince Albert II of Monaco was due to make an appearance later that afternoon and B managed to snap some shots of the royalty figure, which he showed me when he got back later that evening. So that was B’s 'celebrity sighting' in Monte-Carlo, which I thought was pretty cool. Smiley
  photo 12PA_zps61a2c061.jpg
Royalty in the house
 photo 13PA_zps7799974e.jpg
Prince Albert II of Monaco

After taking some photos together, B went on his merry way whilst I made the short saunter to the nearby Japanese Garden. At the entrance, I spotted a sign, which obviously meant No Dogs. That was a relief considering my fear of dogs and I would not want to be trapped inside a garden with a huge dog happily running beside or after me!Smiley
 photo 14Us_zps179781ad.jpg
Happy working Love!
 photo 15Dog_zps0727c580.jpg

Garden maintenance was going on within the park and I spotted some workers going about their jobs. There were a few other visitors in the park as well and walking alongside them through the quiet park was made even lovelier by the beautiful weather we enjoyed that morning.

 photo 16GardenLake_zpsebddbb17.jpg
The Lake
 photo 17GardenStream_zps5bba9e55.jpg
Crystal clear stream
 photo 18GardenBridge_zpsf96aa1b0.jpg
 photo 19Rest_zpsef0b1205.jpg
 photo 20StoneLanterns_zpsddf4065f.jpg
The Stone Lanterns
 photo 21Bird_zps827fabf2.jpg
Can you spot the bird?
 photo 22KoiSign_zps2c52a0b6.jpg
Koi Fish
 photo 23KoiFish_zps9b729a38.jpg

The Tea House looked pretty quaint and cosy from the outside but I did not venture inside. Located within a solitary albeit beautiful spot, the Tea House seemed kind of ghostly to scaredy-cat me! ihikhik

 photo 24TeaHouse_zps1c102529.jpg
Tea House
 photo 25StoneFountain_zps76b8f140.jpg
Stone Fountain
 photo 26DesertLandscape_zpsa35d0e6c.jpg
Desert Landscape

Before I knew it, it was time for a late lunch and I hastily made my way to the seafront to take more scenic shots of other tourist spots and eating places before ending my walk admiring the footprints of the Golden Foot award winners on The Champions Promenade. Smiley 

 photo 27Map_zps12626336.jpg
 photo 28SnackBar_zpsc560f3ec.jpg
Snack Bar
 photo 29Resto_zps6dd81e0b.jpg
Dining al-fresco
 photo 30Promenade_zps4703ac13.jpg
 photo 31Ronaldo_zps64551c78.jpg
 photo 32Dino_zps0c5de7bb.jpg
 
I also stopped by a souvenir store to get a new addition to my snow globe collection and that’s when I encountered an elderly tourist couple from Iran, frantically asking me for directions to some eating outlets. Lost and hungry, they seemed extremely grateful when I directed them to several eating spots before they finally decided to walk with me to the nearby Mc Donald’s

 photo 33Souvenir_zpsf77a409c.jpg
Cute souvenir shop
 photo 34Couple_zps3ea6735b.jpg
The lost and hungry couple
 photo 35Lunch_zpsac6cbbac.jpg
My lunch

After a late and simple lunch and tired from walking all day, I took a leisure scenic walk back to Novotel Hotel.

 photo 36GalerieSport_zps1f7c47f3.jpg
Galerie Sport
 photo 37BanqueHavilland_zpsf452efe8.jpg
Banque Havilland
 photo 38Shopping_zpsd2f6dd5b.jpg
Shopping this way!
 photo 39SandwichCafe_zps1e7543ec.jpg
Sandwich Cafe
 photo 40iBriganti_zps9b62606c.jpg
Italian Cafe
 photo 41Novotel_zpse7170aed.jpg
Hotel Novotel

Next, I’ll be posting about the delicious pizza dinner B and I enjoyed while enjoying the magnificent view of Port Hercules, Monaco! Smiley



MARIUCA LOVES
LinkWithin Related Stories Widget for Blogs

Mariuca's Visitors