After witnessing its magnificence, I have no doubt why anybody would come for any kind of restorative treatment, be it mental, physical, or emotional. Although the drive along the Italian country side is peaceful and charming, the view upon entering the French Riviera literally makes my breath catch in my chest.
It could just be because my first stop is Monaco, which is quite possibly the most beautiful place I have, and ever will, travel to. (But I have equally complimentary things to say about the next four cities I visit in the French Riviera so I won’t get ahead of myself.)
My little adventure includes five stops, but I am going to give each a post of their own because to lump them all together would not only be a disservice to anybody reading about them, but deprives each of the character and uniqueness it has earned after hundreds of years of existence.
So we will begin with Monaco.
Called “The Small Paradise” by its residents, I can see why Monaco remains one of the most desirable and exclusive places to live in the world. The waters are a dazzling blue, around which the entire city and all of is perfectly maintained greenery, is centered. Bordered entirely by France (Monaco is its own country and also the second smallest in the world), it can only grow by building up or down. Basically, it is one big rock with layers and levels of things built into it, fraught with tunnels and escalators to get between everything. For this reason, residents also joke that the “underground Monaco” is just as large as the above.
We get a private guided tour, and are mesmerized by all of the historical and scenic information we are taking in. For example, we see and hear how Grace Kelly was invited to the Principality by Prince Albert who fell in love with her after she filmed “How to Catch a Thief” in Monaco. She accepted his invitation, fell in love, became the Princess of Monaco, and birthed one of the most influential heirs in history. How’s that for a fairy tale romance.
We also learn that it costs $75,000 per ten square feet in real estate to live here. Essentially, that makes every single inhabitant of this city, or country, or whatever, a millionaire. (Bill Gates has a house on one of the most prestigious Capes but we only got to see it from a distance.) Other well known occupants of this area include Miss Tina Turner, who is a Citizen of Honor of the Ville Francese area, and Sir Elton John, who has a summer house a little closer to Nice.
Monaco is also the home of Monte Carlo, the O.G. of all casinos. At least in Europe. When Prince Charles the 3rd was searching for ways to bring tourists who traveled to the French Riviera up to Monaco, he decided the best way to do so would be to build a casino. Not wanting to affiliate such a sinful place with his pristine country, he renamed the hill it was built on, Monte Carlo, which literally means the Hill of Charles. It did just that, and went on to be one of the most famous casinos in the world, ones that many today are named after (think Vegas, people). It brought so many visitors back in its day that it is now difficult just to get into the country.
In fact, the residents keep it so well protected that should any visitor ever commit even the smallest crime, one of the over 400 video cameras monitoring the city will catch it and the criminal will immediately be taken to jail. (Being as every prison cell has a view of the Mediterranean Sea and a flat screen TV, I would just about steal a vespa just to get a free five star stay.)
We eat a small lunch and check out an incredible view of the Formula One race track where there are speed competitions throughout the rocky tunnels and along the sea every year.
As an independent woman, I have never given thought to needing a husband, or marrying rich. But ifffff I were to meet an established Monacan gentleman, well, let’s just say he would have my full attention.
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