May 18, 2013 - Monaco and the French Riviera

Well after Italy we headed for Monaco and Monte Carlo, huge reputations for both places. Accommodation was very expensive anywhere in Monaco so we stayed just out at a place called Beaulier-Sur-Mer, a seaside town in France but only a 10 minute train ride to Monaco. We booked in at the Le Havre Bleu an small family owned and run hotel, very nice place, and the owners were very friendly. We got settled and went to a cafe that the owner had recommended where we had one of the nicest lunches I can remember. Jules & I both had the fish soup...

Aug 21, 2012 - Monaco, Ahhh how sweet she is

Hey People, few more tidbits bout last night. The girls turned out to be Australians. They were a lil drunk when they came into the room. Didn't bother me I was still up. They were doing the drunk the SHHH game. 'Hey, we are loud, Shhh, we'll wake everyone up.' It was rather amusing. Another note, Samuel, the German guy, he WALKED to Nice. Forget where he started from, but he's been walking for over 3 weeks. Averaging bout 25miles a day! Wow!  Anyhow, woke up Tuesday morning not knowing what day it was. Days are running together big time....

Jun 22, 2012 - Nice 2 / Monaco - The Good Times

I woke up feeling much better, 15 hours in bed does that. The people i saw said i didn't look like Casper the ghost anymore. I didn't want to waste the day so I bolted over to Monaco since I missed it earlier. It was mind-blowing. I saw 4 ferraris in a row, othe cars I didn't think existed. Hotels over the water, gigantic yachts, massive hills surrounding the blue sea. It was spectacular, and as unique a place I've ever seen. The wealth was almost laughable. However I couldn't help think of the trip i did to Peru 3 years ago and the absurd...

Jun 14, 2012 - France & Monaco - French Riviera & Monte Carlo

31st May 2012 (Bed 38) Remember those lovely English people we met in Bruges, well it was time to take up some of Nicky’s advice and visit two places on our way to Monaco. The first stop was the village of Antibes where we enjoyed a short walk along the waterfront. The shore was lined with artists taking advantage of the beautiful views and painting scenes some using pastels and others water paints. Looking at the sketches and partly finished paintings, it amazed us how one person view differs from another’s. All looked different yet had a...

Jun 4, 2012 - To Lucca Italy via Monaco

Goodbye to Nice and off to Italy. But before getting onto the motorway there was a stop in Monaco. Driving in Monaco was not an easy task. Parking was even worse. First there was finding somewhere and then there was actually getting into one of the bays. Definitely made for little cars! Anyway we finally found a spot and Mike squeezed the car in without damage. He then stayed in the car while Yve, Pete and I took off. Pete fortunately had been there before so he found the Casino and from that area we took a photo of THE palace and then...

May 24, 2012 - Monaco F1

Hi Readers, We went to Monaco on the train. Dad and I went to see the F1 practice run while Ethan, John and mum pottered around Monte Carlo. The F1 car that I like is the Vodaphone car that Lewis Hamilton drives (grey, black & red). It was very noisy and I had to get some earmuffs. We sat about 6 meters from the race course in a stand; we could see a chicane that they had to get through ( a chicane is zigzag in the road that makes them slow down). Dad loved it, mum went shopping and took the boys to see the underwater world. We met up for...

May 20, 2012 - St tropez to San Bartolomeo al mare (May 16-20th)

After leaving St tropez I was pretty excited to be heading closer to Italy and along the sea. The first place I saw was Sainte-maxime which is directly across from st- tropez adn has a great view on its better known cousin. When I got to St Raphael I stopped for lunch( my favorites: olives, cheese, bread, salumi, with a little dijon washed down with some good rose. From St Raphael until Cannes the ride was just so awesome and beautiful. It was definitely some uphill and tough riding but it was hard to complain. At this point for some reason...

Apr 6, 2012 - Monte Carlo

It’s Good Friday in Monte Carlo! The weather here is beautiful today and the view from the ship is excellent! Monte Carlo is like Barcelona, in that most cruises through the Western Mediterranean stop in Monte Carlo… as a result we’ve stopped here several times. The view from the harbor seems to be more unbelievable each time!

Sep 16, 2011 - Monte Carlo - London

Friday, September 16 - Monte Carlo, Monaco Today we sadly leave the ship and head off to London. After a late night of frantic packing and three hours of sleep, a final breakfast on the ships Veranda and many good byes to folks we had met, we are escorted to our luxurious Mercedes and driver for our trip to the Nice airport. An uneventful, quick flight to London (1 ½ hours) we ease through immigration and customs areas of the airport and find our driver waiting outside customs, who gets us safely to our hotel - Dukes. After we get settled...

Jul 18, 2011 - Monte Carlo & Monaco

Monaco and Monte Carlo I knew were the land of the ‘rich and famous’ but I really had no idea just how pristine the land would be. Not a piece of trash to be found, but Ferrari’s, Bentley’s, Masaratti’s and the likes line the streets, while large yachts dot the coast line. It was a beautiful day, a cool shore breeze welcomed us as we strolled and people watched. The town built upon the cliffs allowed us to look out on to the water and appreciate the serenity of it all. So beautiful and quite (the government even asks that you not raise your...

Jul 16, 2011 - Monaco

Today was devoted entirely to Monaco. After a bit of deliberation last night, it was decided that it would be best for us to take the train to Monaco instead of driving 2 cars in. And that was a wise decision! We drove about 20 minutes to a small train station in Mouans Sartoux and took the train into Monaco. We arrived in Nice and then took the connecting train into Monaco. The entire trip took about 1 hour and 45 min and was quite uneventful other than the fact that the connecting train was really packed. We arrived in Monaco just about...

Jul 15, 2011 - Monaco day

July 15, 2011 Today Rolinka is getting us to Monaco by bus, but after that, we are on our own. By this time, however, we have learned enough French and know enough about how the bus system works to get by. She got us to Monaco, walked us up the hill to the castle of the prince, (the castle was built in the days when one needed a castle holding the heights to maintain your hold on the land) and helped us go through tours of the castle and a related museum about Napoleon. Then we left her there to follow our own path around Monaco. Monaco is...