After an exhausting journey and a late night out in Nice, France, Doriane and I walked to the train station to buy our tickets for our first adventure. Monaco and Monte Carlo! The tickets cost €7.50 round trip. We had a bit of time before boarding, so we opted for a traditional French breakfast. You guessed it, buttery warm croissants. There were none in the display case so we crossed our fingers and prayed more would be arriving soon. We were in luck. The man informed us the next batch would be out in just a few moments. Ahh, the scent of flaky buttery croissants on a chilly morning. We took our croissants to go and walked to the tracks to enjoy them while we awaited our train.
The Ride to Monaco
The ride to Monaco passed by many other popular tourist towns along the Côte d’Azur. Tip! Sit on the right-hand side of the train in the direction of travel. This way you will be able to get the best views of the windy coastline. In less than twenty minutes, we arrived on a cliff overlooking Monaco. I have to warn you, the train station is strange. It is built into the mountains and you have to go up several floors, by means of stairs, escalators and elevators, in order to arrive at street level. We simply followed the crowds and started down an inclined street to what seemed to be the direction of the Port. Eventually, we arrived at a Christmas market lining the docks. Doriane informed me that this road also serves as the principal track for the Monaco Grand Prix. I was shocked! Racing cars on a street like this seemed nearly impossible. Definitely deadly. It was narrow and windy, like most European streets. It did not resemble a race track at all.
Background
After photographing the yachts and the closed Christmas market stalls, we began our ascent to the palace. The Palace sits high on a cliff and overlooks the town below. Monaco is the world’s second smallest country (the Vatican is number 1). Monaco has its own flag, national anthem, and palace. Monegasques are extremely proud to be from Monaco. Although their micro country is not a member of the European Union, they do use euro as currency and there are no borders whatsoever between France and Monaco. Like most of the French Riviera, Monaco is best known for glitz and glamour. The serene surroundings delicately mix with world-renowned casinos, a world-famous Grand Prix, and some of the wealthiest vacationers and home owners in existence. Monaco has a Mediterranean climate. This is part of the reason why so many of the rich and famous love Monaco. The winters are short and mild, while the summers are hot and dry. I visited just a few days prior to Christmas. We wore jackets, but the sun was shining, and the weather was comfortable and kind.
The Exotic Gardens
Walking is by far the best way to see Monaco. The terrain is hilly and at times taxing, but there is no other way to appreciate the narrow streets that make up Monaco. One of my favorite parts of my visit to Monaco was the time I spent in the Exotic Gardens.
The Exotic Gardens opened to the public in 1933. They showcase a wide variety of succulent plants in the open-air. Succulent plants, like cacti, have adopted to dry climates. Monaco took these plants from various dry places all over the world. For this reason, different plants will flower at different times of year. You can visit the gardens at any time of year and experience their beauty. In addition to the plants, the exotic gardens are high up on a cliff overlooking the Port and the Mediterranean sea at large. There are extraordinary viewpoints and relaxation moments along the path.
The Prince’s Palace of Monaco
Just outside the gardens, homes and businesses were decorated with red and white Christmas lights to accentuate the red and white in their national flag that waves proudly year round. We wandered the cozy streets, viewed the exterior of the Cathedral, and admired the vastness of the Oceonagraphic Museum before relaxing in the gardens by the sea. After a few poor attempts at a selfie, we found our way back to the Prince’s Palace to watch the changing of the guards ceremony at noon. Not exactly as extravagant as the royal Palace in London, but it drew a great crowd from the nearly naked streets of Monaco. I definitely had a better view than I did in London.
I did not go inside the palace for a tour. But the grandeur of the palace was extraordinary. All I really knew about Monaco before arriving was that Grace Kelly, an American actress, was the Princess of Monaco in 1956. This entrance truly put Monaco on the map for American tourists. Kelly retired from acting at the age of 26 to move to Monaco and fulfill her duties as Princess. Grace Kelly and her husband, Prince, Rainier III, had three children. One of which, Albert II, is the reigning King of Monaco.
Overall Impressions
Our stay was rather short and I know I did not see it all, but I was underwhelmed by what I did see of Monaco. I was expecting beautiful beaches and beautiful people. Those seem to only exist in the summer months. Monaco in the off-season, is off. Most establishments are closed and very few locals are in town. Most, if not all of the beaches in Monaco are private. Unless you have the cash to spare, you won’t be seeing much of anything but cement, sea, overpriced coffee, and souvenirs. Stick to the Monte Carlo quarter. Maybe you can earn enough winnings on the roulette table to charter a private yacht? That’s my plan for my next visit to Monaco.
