Ferraris, casinos, and beautiful people...La Fin de Semaine a Monte Carlo, Monaco

I have another new installment to try out on everyone. I kind of started with the Provincetown post, but I'll try to make this a regular post to describe my present and past adventures.

When you talk about your weekend in France you say le weekend, but in Cajun we say la fin de semaine, "the end of the week." The Cajun saying is actually the way a French person would've asked about your weekend in the eighteenth century. I like the expression, so my series of weekend adventures will go under the title La Fin de Semaine. 

Let's start off in one of the richest countries in the world. Where is this enchanted land filled with Ferraris, casinos, and beautiful people? Here's a hint: America's princess once reigned supreme here, and 007 makes an appearance from time to time. 

That's right, Monaco. Even the name sounds rich. Even though Monaco is only about 500 acres in length, it packs an economic punch. The country is divided into 5 administrative districts, with Monte-Carlo being the crown jewel. 

I met my parents there for the weekend at the end of September since the Toulouse assistants were having a soiree d'acceuil- welcome party- so we could get to know each other. I've been lucky enough to find a couple of assistant friends who studied abroad in Toulouse. Thanks to Joanna and Elizabeth for showing me the way. 

Getting to Monaco is supposed to be difficult. So I've heard. I had a great experience getting there, however. 

I've become a fair weather talker on flights. You have to feel out the situation when you sit next to your neighbor and decided from there. Will this person next to me talk incessantly then want to stay in contact forever? Are they over plane talking? Could they be interesting and/or helpful?

The flight from Toulouse to Nice was delayed almost an hour, so I went for the casual chat with both of my seat mates. The woman on my left once lived in Nice, so she pointed out the highlights of the French Rivera as we coasted in over the Mediterranean. The man on my right was from New Caledonia, a French-speaking country near Australia, and he was rugby referee on his way to Corsica for the weekend with his family. Super interesting, and I got an invited to watch rugby in New Caledonia. If I ever I'm "in the neighborhood." Sure, I'll just pirogue on over.

From Nice I got a two-way ticket, aller-retour en francais, from the airport to Monte-Carlo. The bus actually takes you straight to the door of your hotel. So fancy! This time my seat mate chatted me up. He was a well-aged elderly gent around 80. Monsieur was a retired surgeon from Germany who wintered just outside of Monaco at the French beach just adjacent to Monte-Carlo. Also fancy. 

I knew Monaco was going to be beautiful, but it is shockingly so. I think all of the great modern architects in Europe were stolen by Monaco and forced to build beautiful edifices and immensely decadent interiors. For those history buffs out there, Monaco is a principality who's royal family has retained the same name- Grimaldi- since the 13th century. 

Francois Grimaldi took the Monaco fortress by storm one night in 1297, disguised as a monk, and claimed the land in the name of the Pope. In 1604 Lord Honore II ascended the throne, but he decided to rename himself Prince Honore II. Since then Monaco's ruler is given the title prince. During the French Revolution, 1789, Monaco was annexed by France, but in 1814 Napoleon restored Monaco to the Grimaldi's care. Prince Charles III started the tradition of gambling and tourism as Monaco's main source of income in 1863 by establishing hotels, restaurants, and a casino in the Monte-Carlo district. Today, Prince Albert II- Princess Grace Kelly's son- is the reigning monarch.  

As if over 700 years of Grimaldi reign isn't remarkable enough, our hotel was unbelievable- stunning views, an indoor/outdoor pool with a sandy bottom and cozy cabanas littered around the edge, multiple restaurants, more MacLarens, Bentlys, Audis, and Ferraris parked outside than I've ever seen or will see, and a little perch of a bench on our balcony so you can admire all of the above. I love a good perch. 

We witnessed a yacht wedding while eating cheese and drinking wine, overlooking the city's yacht bay, and watching the sun set behind the prince's palace in the background. We also saw a captain parallel park what I can only assume was an 80 ft. yacht. Pro. 

In front of the big Casino et Hotel Louis XIV.

View from our hotel. The sky really was that color.

Where we watched the wedding. 

Rock stars/Celebrities/My parents. Aren't they cute?

I wish I could say something that might make this country seem less like Disney World and more like a real place, but it's all true. Only one thing didn't go our way; we didn't get to throw our two cents into the beautiful black hole that is the Monte Carlo Casino. The night we had planned on putting on the ritz, the Casino was overrun with peacocks. Not really. The sparkling jewels, 6 inch heels, polished cars, and tailored tuxes had the same effect, though. I guess we'll just have to go back!  

P.S. Unless I've noted otherwise, the photos are all mine. Please cite them before reusing. Thanks!