The Old World Part III

Our next stop was Monaco, which is really just the city of Monte Carlo. It is a small city on the Mediterranean Sea that climbs up the hills and ends in the bare rock of the foothills. What is remarkable is the wealth that exudes from every possible spot in the town. From the exclusive stores (think Rodeo Drive), to the Bentley taxi cabs, to the mega yachts with helicopter pads on the decks, this is one exclusive town. The traffic was also insane. It made Detroit rush hour look like a Sunday picnic.

We stayed at a hotel overlooking the sea. The hotel is known for the hair pin curve from the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. Our cruise ship pulled into harbor while we were eating dinner. It was cool watching something that large pulling gracefully up to a dock. Since we had been up for 36 hours, we went to bed instead of exploring the city. I know that we missed a golden opportunity to see some of the glamour but it made more sense to be rested that push it and risk being under the weather for the week.

The next day, we went exploring the city. The weather was perfect. We strolled down a palm tree lined, marble side walk next to the water. I was told that we may see some topless strollers but it was either too early or too late. Since it was a prefect day for a stroll, we walked to the Grand Casino, site of a few Bond movies and up to the castle where Princess Grace lived. The view from the castle provided a panoramic of the city with the multiple marinas, high rises, and bustling streets. From there we went back to the hotel and boarded the bus for the cruise ship. With a glass of champagne, we toasted the city and began our round the boot cruise of Italy.

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