We survived the Milan traffic!

We did have to negotiate this – a stalled truck with what felt like about six inches on each side – close enough to set of the parking beepers, plus a lot of turns and ramps.

Monaco is elegant but hectic.

Some brief facts: Total area = 2 square kilometres; population 37,800; which, apparently makes it the second smallest but the most densely populated country in the world.

More details and history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monaco

The city/state is built on the side of steep hill leading to the ocean so pretty much everything is high rise. There is little room for streets so they wind their way in twists and switchbacks back and forth up the hill. The vehicle of popular choice is the scooter, they are everywhere.

There are a good number of more exotic vehicles of the usual kinds plus a large number of plain black, Benz, BMW and Audi which can be seen parked outside stores and restaurants with the drivers waiting and chatting while the rich and famous eat and shop!

Monaco has no income tax and a lot of funding comes from casino revenue. Gananoque take note!  This is what is possible..(may have to work on the climate).

Monaco of course hosts a Formula 1 race each May. This was about two weeks ago now and they are still dismantling the “temporary” structures. It takes about six weeks to put it all together and four to take apart.

This is the main grandstand and pit area still being removed

 

And here the famous Rascasse corner named for the restaurant you can see here. During the race the cars come from right to left in a sharp curve around the restaurant and then onto the pit straight.

 

Today we walked about and went up to The Rock as the oldest section is called. Here the Palace, Cathedral and Oceanographic Museum are located.

The Cathedral

A well maintained and quite elegant building.

The organ is a unexpected modern touch in the context of the building.

Located around the main alter are the crypts of the Grimaldi family which basically owns Monaco.

This one is Princess Grace

 

The Palace and other sights are gained only by walking up a strenuous ramp from town.

 

Good view on the way up.

 

Prince Rainier greets the visitors.

 

Our hotel is somewhere in the middle of that block.

We visited the Oceanographic Museum started by Albert 1 in 1910 the Museum has an excellent aquarium section and upstairs has some new exhibits plus some olde world museum sections with “things in jars”.

Fish Videos…

Jellyfish Videos…

Upstairs the Cabinet of Curiosities

 

And my favourite – things in jars…

Now I am tired its time for a beer!

Tomorrow we drive a bit of the Riviera coast to Nice and possibly Cannes and then on to Uzes. M&M.