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](http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-happy093.gif)
![photo 1Entrance_zpsc7038e11.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/1Entrance_zpsc7038e11.jpg) |
Japanese Garden entrance |
![photo 2Garden_zpsd0ccdc8e.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/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](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/3Breakfast_zpseb5eea2c.jpg) |
Yummy breakfast! |
![photo 4Grimaldi_zps685a5c95.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/4Grimaldi_zps685a5c95.jpg) |
Grimaldi Forum |
![photo 6B_zpsf02e6a3e.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/6B_zpsf02e6a3e.jpg) |
B at Sportel Monaco 2013 |
![photo 7M_zps171a720b.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/7M_zps171a720b.jpg) |
Cool Eaglecopter |
![photo 10Sportel_zpse429cb42.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/10Sportel_zpse429cb42.jpg) |
Busy participants |
![photo 9Car_zps7c342bce.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/9Car_zps7c342bce.jpg) |
Hot Wheels |
![photo 11Judo_zps187bd06d.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/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.
![photo 12PA_zps61a2c061.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/12PA_zps61a2c061.jpg) |
Royalty in the house |
![photo 13PA_zps7799974e.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/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!
![photo 14Us_zps179781ad.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/14Us_zps179781ad.jpg) |
Happy working Love! |
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](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/16GardenLake_zpsebddbb17.jpg) |
The Lake |
![photo 17GardenStream_zps5bba9e55.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/17GardenStream_zps5bba9e55.jpg) |
Crystal clear stream |
![photo 20StoneLanterns_zpsddf4065f.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/20StoneLanterns_zpsddf4065f.jpg) |
The Stone Lanterns |
![photo 21Bird_zps827fabf2.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/21Bird_zps827fabf2.jpg) |
Can you spot the bird? |
![photo 22KoiSign_zps2c52a0b6.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/22KoiSign_zps2c52a0b6.jpg) |
Koi Fish |
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!
![photo 24TeaHouse_zps1c102529.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/24TeaHouse_zps1c102529.jpg) |
Tea House |
![photo 25StoneFountain_zps76b8f140.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/25StoneFountain_zps76b8f140.jpg) |
Stone Fountain |
![photo 26DesertLandscape_zpsa35d0e6c.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/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.
![photo 28SnackBar_zpsc560f3ec.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/28SnackBar_zpsc560f3ec.jpg) |
Snack Bar |
![photo 29Resto_zps6dd81e0b.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/29Resto_zps6dd81e0b.jpg) |
Dining al-fresco |
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](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/33Souvenir_zpsf77a409c.jpg) |
Cute souvenir shop |
![photo 34Couple_zps3ea6735b.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/34Couple_zps3ea6735b.jpg) |
The lost and hungry couple |
![photo 35Lunch_zpsac6cbbac.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/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](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/36GalerieSport_zps1f7c47f3.jpg) |
Galerie Sport |
![photo 37BanqueHavilland_zpsf452efe8.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/37BanqueHavilland_zpsf452efe8.jpg) |
Banque Havilland |
![photo 38Shopping_zpsd2f6dd5b.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/38Shopping_zpsd2f6dd5b.jpg) |
Shopping this way! |
![photo 39SandwichCafe_zps1e7543ec.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/39SandwichCafe_zps1e7543ec.jpg) |
Sandwich Cafe |
![photo 40iBriganti_zps9b62606c.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/40iBriganti_zps9b62606c.jpg) |
Italian Cafe |
![photo 41Novotel_zpse7170aed.jpg](http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd98/Genie_Princess/Blog%20Post/Japanese%20Garden%20in%20Monte-Carlo/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!