Gym's Ramblings: Monaco the Microstate

On October 26, 2015 we sailed on calm seas into Monaco and grabbed the only inside mooring for cruise ships, on the pier that juts out from "The Rock". We parked very close beside the royal yacht. This meant we were literally walking distance from the Palace where Prince Albert II hangs his hat. We would however board a bus to see all of this microstate before returning to The Rock to see where the Prince's mom and dad were buried, his sister's house's were located and other key parts of the principality exist.

Monaco has an area of 2.02 square kilometres and is the second smallest and most densely populated country in the world. Only the Vatican is smaller. Other facts that I took note of are that Monaco has the highest GDP per capita, the lowest poverty rate at 2% and the highest number of millionaires and billionaires per capita of any country in the world. There is currently a condo for sale in the Odeon that is listed for 300 million Euros. Its on the internet, check it out.

Our tour bus took us to the highest point in the country to our first stop, just outside of the Jardin Exotic of Monaco. This is a cactus and succulant plant garden that is planted on a cliffside that ranges in altitude from 40 to 98 metres above sea level and at the entrance one is afforded an excellent vantage point of the whole country.

We then descended to the Monte Carlo district and made our way to the Le Grand Casino de Monte Carlo. Part of the route was on the famous Formula One track that is meticulously re-paved each year to keep it perfectly smooth. To humour us the bus driver did a brake stand at the pole position. Then we parked not far from the tunnel that passes beneath the Fairmont Monte Carlo, the hotel in front of Le Grand Casino. From there we walked up to the front door of the casino and were able to tour the inside for ten Euros before it opened to the gamblers.

We left the district of Monte Carlo to go up to the Rock. Again we would park below and ascend to the street level but this time by a series of elevators and escalators that would bring us up near where Princess Caroline's house is located. We would tour the Cathedral of our Lady of Immaculate Conception where Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly's tomb's are located and then stroll by the country's Supreme Court and its administrative buildings. Eventually we would get to the square in front of the Prince's Palace of Monaco. Mrs. Gym and I then toured the part of the palace that was oen to the public.

We returned to the ship for a late lunch and a nap.

We left Monaco and our prime mooring at 11 pm. There was a bit of a blow coming from the direction of Italy and we were headed straight into it. I was concerned for Mrs. Gym.

The next morning, we would be in Italy.