day in Monte Carlo

Palace of Monaco

Today we are talking about going to the distant town of Menton and possibly the closer town of Biot. After alot of back and forth we started our trip by going to the A8 toward Nice and further east, still not knowing where we were going. The A8 in this area is an engineering feat, with long bridges spanning steep and deep ravines with long uphill and downhill grades punctuated with over some 20 long curving tunnels. Just after Nice P & J decided to drop into Monaco. Drop in is the operative word as we decended some 3000 feet on steep narrow curvy roads until we reached the Principality. Rising steeply from the sea there is one high rise next to another. As you might expect there is little room in this worldly rich enclave for parks, roads, sidewalks or more importantly parking. We finally found a parking garage and had to decend to the fourth level below ground in what turned out to be a maze, nothing like you are used to in the US. In addition the parking spaces were about half the size.

Upon entering the street we climbed something like 600 feet up to the Palace Square where we had lunch. The views looking out over the Mediterrian are spectaclar. The Palace is the home of the Gremaldi family as well as in use for official functions and is a real jem, just a little bigger than some or our Greenwich "grand MacMansions". With over 800 years of history the occupants of the Palace have played their part in the rich history of France.



casino

 Finally we got smart and took the bus to the Casino. It looks just like you remember from the James Bond films. The Rolles and Ferraris are parked in front. We walked around the interior but were not able to get into the gaming area because we did not have our passports or for the French their "identity cards", needed to screen out those addicted to gambling. The area around the Casino housed all the places to buy expensive jewelry, watches and clothes.... just the thing after winning or trying to impress someone.

Upon leaving Monte Carlo we missed the turn to return to the A8 and so took the road East to Menton. Remember all roads are narrow and very curvy in this part of the world. But, finally we reach a straight stretch along the beach in Menton. Cindy and I had  drink while P & J went for a swim. After we had an enjoyable dinner looking out over the Mediterrian before returing home exhausted.