Friday, May 13th

Monaco/Monte Carlo! Yay!
High overcast, but warm...
Beautiful! Expensive! Very steep hills - there are actually escalators and elevators to carry you to the streets at higher levels...

but we took the stairs most of the time - it's hard to believe they were able to build a city on such steep hills.

Bleachers and tire cushioned walls were being set up everywhere in preparation for the GrandPrix to be held at the end of May - can't imagine taking those hairpin turns at any speed through this downtown area.

We walked through a downtown shopping mall which was mind boggling - gorgeous clothing, both classic styles and funky - all outrageously expensive. One shop sold only caviar, foie gras, Dom Perignon and similar - we didn't go into the shop, just window shopped and felt out of place for doing that! Many shop windows had pictures of both Albert and his bride-to-be along side portraits of Princess Grace, as preparations were being made for the royal wedding in July.
The many, many shoe stores were out of this world, as were the childrens' and baby shops - I can't imagine anybody paying the prices for such impractical (though beautiful) clothing for babies. Back out on the main streets, we saw shops that sold nothing but yachts or private jets.... definitely out of our league.

The very famous casino of Monte Carlo was not that impressive from the outside, rather old and un-glitzy, though there were a lot of expensive vehicles driving to and from the area - apparently you can't go in unless you are dressed appropriately (jacket and tie for men, comparable for women) so we didn't even bother to approach the building.
Not far from the casino was a public garden/park, just as lovely as the rest of the city.

From the downtown area, we made our way to the old town area, where the palace was located - it reminded me more of Disneyland than anything else - miniature garbage trucks

and a street sweeper that had 'Monaclean' painted on the side...








The entire country was spotlessly clean and tidy, the palace area was immaculate, even though construction was going on around it.

There were tourists from every corner of the world visiting the neighbourhood!

The harbour was full of luxury (a bit of an understatement!) yachts, while young kids took sailing lessons all around them.....

After five hours of steady walking, up hill and down, we headed back to the ship for our R&R on the deck, hot tub, packing (sniff) and dressing for the Last Supper..... poached oranges and grapes in wine, assorted greens with hearts of palm,carrot,tomato and scallions, prime rib of beef with braised celery, roasted squash and potato, banoffee pie (caramelized banana with whipped cream, toffee and chocolate sauce!)
As we prepared for bed, we placed our bags outside the cabin door ..... sigh....