Monaco: How the other half lives...

Monaco has always been known as a haven for the rich, jet-set. As a playground for the wealthy, it has everything you would ever want: breathtaking scenery, a Mediterranean climate, fantastic restaurants, plenty of space to park your mega-yacht and of course, NO INCOME TAX!!!



But for us mere-mortals, we can still enjoy the beautiful scenery and Mediterranean climate. And although we don't have a yacht, we did take advantage of the marina to feed the fish! Which made DS' and PS' day...



Situated in a small pocket of France just next to the Italian border, Monaco is a tiny sovereign country that borders the Mediterranean. In fact, it is so small that it is said you can walk clear across the country in less than an hour!



We booked a room at the Riviera Marriott Hotel at La Porte de Monaco. The hotel was in a wonderful location, overlooking the yacht harbor and next to a private beach area.





Plus, it was within walking distance to shops, restaurants and such sights as the Palais Princier (Prince's Palace), Monaco Cathedral and the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium.

Monaco Cathedral (lit up) to the left, Oceanographic Museum to the right


Plus, there was a nice pool for the girls, so it sounded like a perfect place to relax and spend a week during Toyota Europe’s summer shutdown.



One of the nice things about Monaco is how "safe" it feels there. In much of Europe, pickpockets prey on travelers who are distracted by looking at maps, taking pictures or just trying to find their way around. But in Monaco, which has the highest number of policemen per capita in the world (and just as many video surveillance cameras) you don’t worry about becoming another statistic. Besides, with all the high rollers there, what would they want from us?



On this trip, we decided to get the sightseeing out of the way early, so we could kick back at the hotel and enjoy the nice weather and pool! We made sure to go see the “changing of the guard” at Palais Princier, located on one of the most picturesque bluffs in all of Europe.



This is where the Prince of Monaco makes his home. And, by the sight of the Monaco flag waving proudly in the breeze, we knew he was in town!



It was also here that Prince Ranier and Princess Grace lived and raised their family. Their story became one of the most famous “real-life” fairy tales, after their chance meeting at the Cannes Film Festival.

Within walking distance of the Palace is the beautiful Monaco Cathedral, where Prince Ranier and Princess Grace were married and later buried.



Further down the hill, towering over the Mediterranean, is the Monaco Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, which for many years was directed by Jacques Cousteau himself!



The girls loved the exhibits and fish tanks, although I thought the air conditioning should have worked better than it did…



The following day, we hopped into the car to do some sightseeing on the "Riviera." Our first stop was to nearby Eze, a medieval cliff-top village a few miles outside Monaco.

We were fortunate to find a rare parking spot and explored the narrow streets of the village, lined with shops, cafes and a church, all leading up to the magnificent castle at the top of the jagged cliff.



Afterwards we headed west towards Nice, France. Such a big difference between Nice and Monaco! Nice is more of a bustling beach town, whereas Monaco is a bit more slower-paced and much more exclusive.





Villefranche-sur-Mer is a small tourist town that was next up on our drive. We took a few shots of the town, but at this point, the girls were getting anxious to hit the beach and frolic in the water, so we pressed on...





Antibes is a beach resort, nestled between Nice and Cannes. However, after our long and hot drive through beach traffic, we found the water at Antibes beach to be… dirty! Still, the crowds were lined up along the narrow strip of sand and enjoying the hot weather.



But, it was just not what we were expecting to see, so after just a few minutes (and a few pictures) it was back to Monaco and the hotel pool!



Dinner was at an Italian restaurant called Il Terrazino. It was highly recommended by our hotel shuttle driver, who told us, “Trust me, I’m Italian!” Boy, was he right! The food and atmosphere were easily the best of the entire trip!



After dinner, it was a short walk to the elegant Monte Carlo Casino. No matter how many times you’ve seen James Bond in a tuxedo, pulling up in his Aston Martin, nothing can capture the excitement and buzz of just being there!



It’s actually like a big Hollywood premiere, with fashionably dressed people pulling up in their fancy sports cars.



A car full of college pranksters pulled up in their beat-up Fiat and attempted to park right in front with the Porsches and Ferraris! But, they were quickly whisked away by the head valet, as the crowd cheered their failed attempt!!!





The following day was spent swimming and relaxing by the pool. We were really getting used to our new schedule: a nice leisurely breakfast, followed by some fish feeding. Then, a lazy day by the pool. Late afternoon was nap time, followed by a nice dinner in the evening!



Tonight, was Italian food again, this time at Cacio e Pepe. Followed by a walk to the main harbor to check out the carnival at the boardwalk. The evenings here were balmy and it felt good to work off our dinner.



The girls tried the bungee trampoline that they thoroughly enjoyed. Afterwards, we went to the Formula 1 electric race car track, but the cars were a little too fast for PS.

Picture taken just prior to PS' big wreck!


All too soon, it was the end of our stay in Monaco. Our plans were to leave just after breakfast and head to Dijon, which was the halfway mark between Monaco and Brussels. But, we had a change of heart as we were heading home and decided to go for it and drive all the way home! Armed with some snacks and a can of Red Bull, we made the 1,200km (745 mile) trip home and got in about 3am.

Monaco was a great time and we highly recommend it for anyone in the area to check out. Although you don’t need a yacht to have fun there, it sure would be nice…!!