the photo above is approximately $300,000 per week plus expenses. Nice is upscale in its own way, but Monaco, only a twenty-minute train ride away, is in a class by itself.
At the Nice train station, the tickets we bought to Monaco didn't scan properly, so we pushed a button for help. The button was on a small post, and that's where a voice came from, asking to see our tickets. Once we realized there was a tiny camera there, we held one of our tickets up to the post as the mysterious voice said, "closer...closer...closer" until he was satisfied. With that, the turnstile magically opened, and we were off.
With an area of less than one square mile, Monaco is the second smallest sovereign state in the world and the most densely populated. It's also one of the most expensive places in the world. Luxury yachts fill the marina. The going rate for chartering one of the yachts in
Monaco
The Prince's Palace is the official residence of Albert II, the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. The daily changing of the guard ceremony with its ritual and pageantry was fun to watch, even in the hot sun.
Albert's father, Prince Ranier III of Monaco, was a huge car enthusiast who started collecting vintage cars in the 1950s. In addition to many vintage cars, his collection came to include luxury cars and Formula One racecars, some of which have raced in the famous Monaco Grand Prix. His private collection of nearly 100 cars is housed in a museum which is open to the public.
Musée Océanographique
Part Museum, Part Aquarium, Completely Amazing!
The highlight of the Polar Mission Exhibition at the Oceanographic Museum was the Immersion Room. Six different Arctic and Antarctic scenes were projected onto the walls and floor which were interactive. In the underwater scenes, we giggled when we saw that krill swimming along the floor scattered with every step we took.
In other scenes, stepping on the floor appeared to cause ice underfoot to crack or water to form ripples.
Much of the casino is off limits to gawkers like us, though we were allowed into the lavishly ornate entry hall.
The beautiful casino was designed by Charles Garnier, the architect responsible for the equally opulent Opera House in Paris.
Monte Carlo Casino
Excessive wealth was on display both inside and outside the Monte Carlo Casino. Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other ultra-expensive cars were parked outside and zoomed along the roads nearby.
These sunglasses in the gift shop were priced at nearly 1000 euros each.
Only foreigners gamble here at the casino. A law forbidding the citizens of Monaco from entering the gaming rooms is designed to protect them from temptation.