During our trip to Nice a trip to Monte Carlo was a must do to see how the other half live. Monaco is a principality in France and not in the EU apparently which we found out later in another way. Monaco is also a tax haven so some of the richest people in the world reside here. As well as this Monte Carlo hosts the biggest street race in the world with Formula 1 and the city is steeped in tradition in Motor Sport. And to top it all off the whole city is very James Bondy.
We started off at the train station and made our way down to the Casino which was famous for the Bond film casino royale. In the square around the casino we had breakfast. It was the first time I was security airport checked sitting outside having breakfast. In there were a ton of supermodels with their little shitzus and handbags that cost more than my house back home. I'm big into my cars and I spotted the first Ferrari. One of many.
We decided to visit the casino next. I was very opulent and just everything I thought it would be. I was disappointed we visited on a Sunday as festivities in there did not commence until later than day.
We made our way up to the Palace for the changing of the guard at 11:55. Quite the trek from the casino but we passed by the Yacht club and grand prix circuit which was being prepared for the big one at the end of May. I would just love to visit on that weekend.
We made our way down for a closer look at the mega yachts that were located in the marina. There were a couple that stuck out. The 80 million pound Yalla was here. Its alot bigger than the photo suggests.
The other big one on display was the Fly Me to the Moon by Stelios Haji-Ioannou the easyjet owner. It was a beautiful navy one. Very well designed.
Back up towards the casino we ventured and the Roll Royce, Bentley and Maybach combo we passed by outside a hotel. It is the first Maybach I have seen ever.
Did a wee bit of the F1 circuit then especially the Monaco tunnel. I play that track regularly on the PS5 game so I was able to navigate the route. In the game the spray off the sea come over the top of the tunnel barriers and now I fully understand why as we were drenched so made our way back up the hill.
Monte Carlo is very hilly so we were wrecked by the end of it. I was glad to see it but keeping up with the Jones is Monaco would require lots of money. It's a mad city. Now there are nicer places to live on the Cotes Dazur but this seems to be the playground.
Myself and my wife received a text around the same time that we had gone over out non EU data limit and had been charged 46 euro on our bills. After a bit of back and fourth we found out that Monaco was not in the EU. So do not make the same mistake we made peeps. It was an expensive few hours in Monaco.
