“This is the moment I’ve waited for” -Elvis Presley
Day 3 - Monaco
Getting to Monaco....
Monaco!
We started the day with another great walking tour of the city which provided an interesting past and amazing views! Mike was particularly excited because of the racing history of the city. After watching movies such as "Weekend of a Champion" in which Roman Polanski follows Jackie Stewart around with a camera in 1972 during the Monaco Grand Prix, it was exciting to see it for ourselves!
Changing of the Guard
The only scheduled event we had that day was the changing of the guard. “11:55, at 11:55 we must be there!” Daniela would say throughout the morning. And let us say, it is not to be missed! The Prince’s Palace rests on a high hill overlooking the harbor, providing spectacular views. When you arrive, a crowd is gathered, anxiously awaiting the event that happens only once a day at noon. The event lasts less than five minutes, but the silence that overcomes the crowd and the sense of pride shown by the guards sends chills up your spine.
St. Nicholas Cathedral
Grace Kelly, Princess Grace of Monaco, is one of the well-known individuals to be buried in St. Nicholas Cathedral. Her death is due to a stroke causing her to crash her car on a steep mountain side. However, there are several local stories surrounding her death, which made approaching the cathedral and her tomb an eerie and honorable experience all at the same time. Princess Grace rests along side her Prince Rainier III in the Cathedral. The art historian in Ashley had a jaw dropping experience when she walked into the Cathedral. It was built in 1875 using white stones from La Turbie and is a Roman-Byzantine style building.
Lunch!
Exploring Monaco on Our Own
Interestingly enough, the Automobile Club De Monaco was founded in 1890 as a cycling club. In 1907, the board changed it to an automobile club by secret ballot voting due to the popularity of cars overcoming that of cycling in the area. However, they still strived to be part of the most prestigious automobile club, the International Association of Recognized Automobile Clubs. Their initial application was denied due to the fact an organized sporting competition has never taken place in the territory of Monaco. Thus, after years of preparation, on April 14th 1929, the 1st Monaco Grand Prix was born.
What a city, what a thrill, what an air of wealth and competition! When you walk past the start/finish line of the Monaco Grand Prix, you just feel like a winner! |
The profits from the Casino de Monte-Carlo were originally supposed to compensate for the ruling family of Monaco, the House of Grimaldi’s, strapped financial situation. Yet, very few were interested in investing in or building the casino. They felt Monaco had few access roads to the city, and use of the casino would be minimal. It took years before the iconic Casino, now used in several Hollywood blockbusters, was a winning venture in any investor’s eye.
Today you must bring your passport and a sport coat if you want to try your luck in this famous casino! |
The luxurious Hotel de Paris, opened in 1863, is known for their upscale and independent travelers. Recognized for its views, decoration, and restaurants, it is a desirable place for the rich and famous visiting Monaco. We walked around it, as we did not qualify as the rich or famous! However, we did recognize it from several movies such as Iron Man 2 and GoldenEye.
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Daily Snapshot
~Monaco is a city of glitz and glamour, take it all in, and take a lot of pictures!
~There are opportunities to rent sports cars and drive them through the city. Mike had researched this in advance and did not book anything. However, we ended up eating lunch next to a location that offered rentals, but Mike did not have the correct ID with him. If you are considering this option, bring the correct ID because you never know! ~The Casino and Hotel de Paris are on opposite ends of the walking tour. There is more to do from a tourist standpoint in the walking tour area. We would recommend making the trip to the Casino and Hotel de Paris if it is meaningful to you due to miles we logged in our walking shoes. It was very meaningful to Mike, while Ashley carried the water bottles, and once again, kept him from walking into traffic while taking pictures! |