La  mere Germaine
La mere Germaine

The 2nd smallest country in the world is all but a unique place. Home to the richest (anyone else works here and stays in France) this country boasts of a phenomenal presence in the Riviera. Although not part of EU you do not need a separate visa if you are entering from France. It is home to House of Grimaldi which historically holds power in the small country and whose members live in the Prince’s Palace of Monaco where we reached a bit late for the Changing of Guards ceremony had almost concluded. Nevertheless the palace is magnificent with a large central area with overlooking the harbour packed with luxury yachts. Nearby there is the Oceanographic Museum and the Monaco cathedral which you can visit or you can just walk around the country for it is 2sqkm in area. Post visiting the palace (if the prince is not home) you can walk upto the Casino Monte Carlo (<2 kms). The Casino is grand and you may enter for free upto a point inside the casino beyond which there is a cover charge.

Opposite the casino there is (or was) a mall which we learnt is completely dismantled or remodeled every 2-3 years to create something new based on the changing global trends which sounds pretty strange but makes sense from the royal family’s perspective for Monaco prides itself for the appealling allure (and low taxes) it carries for the rich.

The roads leading to the casino are always crowded with tourists, high-end cars and luxury shops.

Will we revisit? If we are millionaires and want to save tax, definitely yesπŸ˜‰ It is a nice place for a one-time visit but there are many other beautiful places around you can enjoy more once Monaco is off your list.

Key updates
1. Parking is expensive so avail public transport
2. If you want to visit the palace check if the prince is in Monaco (cannot visit if yes)
3. You can get a souvenir stamp of Monaco on your passport at the tourism office near the casino (we didn’t try)
4. It is perfect for a day trip from Nice

#monaco#vacay#travel

fernwehrunway

fernwehrunway

We are global citizens like you and anyone around you. Finding similarities amongst fellow travelers in the journey of life is more important for us than finding differences.