Monte Carlo – the playground of the rich and famous! Thursday, May 5, 2011, only 2 days till disembarkation. Haven’t packed yet but are beginning to be sad that we have neared the end of a fabulous cruise. Tomorrow we will say goodbye to Captain Andrea Poggi, as he will depart in Portofino, very near his home.
But today we will see what Monte Carlo, Monaco is all about, another place we have never visited. This is a tender port for the Pacific Princess but affords us a beautiful view of the coastline and the Principality. Wow, it is certainly crammed in a small space. Not sure whether there are more houses or yachts, nor which are the biggest!
After tendering into the harbor we took a walk as we had a couple of hours until our tour commenced. Monte Carlo is an easy walkable city and enjoyable to see. The weather was perfect and we spent a considerable amount of time just looking at some of the largest yachts, all located in one area at the same time that we have ever seen. Then we returned to begin a tour of Old Monaco, St. Nicholas Cathedral and then the city of Monte Carlo.
We learned that Monaco is the world’s most densely populated country with nearly 34,000 residents in less than a square mile and is a sovereign state. It is the second smallest independent nation in the world and the smallest French speaking nation. Tourism is Monaco’s main source of income and a very expensive place to visit. It also boasts some of the most expensive real estate in the world.
Our first stop was Monaco and the Royal Palace. We arrived just in time to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony after which we spent time enjoying the amazing views, admiring the Royal Palace and the surrounding architecture. The Palace is under renovation in anticipation of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert to take place on July 2. Parts of the Palace date back to 13th–century but most was built during the 17th-century.
St. Nicholas Cathedral, built early in the 20th- century, is an imposing building and sits high on the hill facing the Mediterranean. It is the Cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married and is now the site of both their tombs.
Now we head to Monte Carlo, following some of the streets the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix will take when it races the end of the month. It is hard to enjoy some of the beauty of Monte Carlo when you are at street level because they are already constructing all the grandstands and fencing in anticipation of the race. It takes a month to get everything set up. Monte Carlo hosts lots of sporting events in addition to the famous car racing.
One of the most famous landmarks in Monte Carlo is the casino. The Monte Carlo Casino is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful structures you will probably ever see and was built in 1878. Inside, the atrium floor is laid in marble and surrounded by onyx columns (no pictures allowed inside). If you want to gamble in the poker (card) room you must pay an entry fee of 10 Euros per person. Slots are free – well, no entry fee! Behind the casino are beautiful gardens overlooking the city and the harbor.
After a walk around the area, through some of the 6 star hotels and down expensive shopping streets, we ended our tour at the port to catch the tender and back to reality.
Tomorrow Portofino, the last day, and packing……..now that is REALITY.
