Monaco!

Monaco is so close to Nice that I figured it would be the perfect time to cross a second principality off my list (Vatican and Monaco down, probably loads more to go). After a quick early morning train ride, I was taking the complex escalator/elevator system to get out of the train station and in to Monaco. Just outside the train station there was a panoramic view down the cliffs to the ocean. I could hear car engines revving somewhere, but ... no. No, there's no way I unknowingly came to Monaco during the Grand Prix. I could feel my excitement level climb just a little bit, and when I turned to walk down the street, I could see a Marlboro tent set up. (In what country would a cigarette company be allowed to advertise like that? Oh yeah. Monaco).

I figured between the Marlboro tent and revving engines, I just may be in Monaco for the Grand Prix. I began to look everywhere for a sign, and a bit further down the road, flags attached to light posts confirm it: Monaco Grand Prix running from May 26 – 29. I feel like I'm at the Vatican for Easter. The only thing I planned to do in Monaco was go to the aquarium.

I walked down to the east end of the country (Ha. Country.) I didn't have a map, but I figured it would be pretty impossible to get lost. As I crossed a pedestrian bridge over a closed roadway, Large flatbed trucks started coming out of a tunnel carrying the race cars on them with white vans following behind with the racing teams. The last flatbed had two men sitting on the back staring straight up at me, so I waved enthusiastically and they smiled and waved back.

I don't know anyone who cares less about car races than me, but there was an infectious energy in the city, and knowing that these racers would be driving around a track more complicated than a giant circle, I was getting pretty excited. While I was along the seashore near the Monte Carlo Hotel, I could hear a distorted voice begin talking through some distant speakers, and then the race began. The noise was incredible with all those engines doing their thing over in the middle of town.



As cool as everything was, I wasn't about to spend 69 euro to see 3 seconds of a car speed by before it went out of my sight. There were a few points around the city with glimpses of the track, but to really see everything you needed a ticket.

I wandered around the city a bit more, but with the race going on roads were closed everywhere and I wasn't keen on trying to go down to attempt to walk down a street when failure meant climbing back up the hill-everything is on a hill in Monaco. I didn't bother to try to get into the casino for this reason. My legs were already complaining bitterly about being forced to do this thing called exercise.

I walked in front of a hotel and the cars parked in front of it were probably worth more than my house. I like to play a game sometimes called "How much am I worth today?" by adding up how much I spent on all the clothing I'm wearing. After seeing the cars, I looked down at myself and started to add it up, but quickly stopped when I figured it wouldn't be possible to get a bottle of water for less than what my clothing was worth.

Rich and Famous: Not in Danielle's past, present, or future.

The excitement of engines revving from across the harbour was less appealing the closer I got to the racetrack. I seriously contemplated buying some of the overpriced ear plugs being sold on the street, but then decided I had had enough of Monaco for the day and happily headed back to the train station to go back to Nice.