Hola !
What a beautiful day it was yesterday and today continued with only one afternoon tour planned .
After yesterday my intent was to get up at the crack of dawn and lay poolside till breakfast and head to the tour. I was so tired we were scrambling to make breakfast and catch out tour group which started at 12:30pm. Oh well. Sleep is at a premium on this trip . This is the only day that I have a morning free and I haven't made it to the gym either . Oh well with that too .
Our tour begins in the early afternoon and out first stop is Monaco. We are parked at the Citadel which hosts the buses but was the fort that protected the city .
For those that don't know I love Grace Kelly - yes I'm showing my age but whatever .. And was thrilled at the chance to see where she moved and later lived and died. Grace Kelly became Princess Grace after marrying Prince Albert Renier of Monaco in the late 1950's and NO I wasn't born yet ..lol I simply love history...and old movies!
So my headset breaks almost immediately after input it on and I miss most of the guided tour points provided by the guide .. Another oh well moment .
Grace Kelly was in "To Catch a Thief" one of my favorite movies ..anywho one my the stops was a beautiful museum/Church that houses both Prince Albert and Princess Grace's burial grounds ..we also visited the Palace we they lived and where Prince Albert still lives and barely had time to shop but at least I started. The views are breathtaking!
Apparently a Prince Albert got several women pregnant and all these illegitimate children who an became heir to the throne .. Seems he's now gotten a married and trying to have a male child ..otherwise France can appointment an heir. Monaco is a separate state it uses all thinks from France .. Like electricity ...just a bit of history for ya ....
Not really interested in spending much because the value of the dollar is crap here.
Well hats what I say and then We so some shopping and then discover we lost our tour group.. quite easy to do as there are sooo many tour groups at the same time . Good thing we have the sense enough to go back to the bus ..and we were the last ones..and late by 10 minutes.
It's interesting that in order to get to the museum , aquarium , there are escalators and elevators as almost everything seems to sit in a mountaintop .
We had a scenic walk through the gardens and my pics are a fab -again hoping to her them up on my blog .
Stop number 2..is another part of the French Rivera better known as Monte Carlo.
OMG!! Can you day Bling!!?? This tour was the day I was waiting for and was sad when the whole day was sold .. And was very happy we could purchase 1/2 tour on board the ship... This had to be the best stop yet! So we all know the Frech Rivera is the playground of the Rich and famous ... When I tell you there are more foreign expensive cars in the lot... But first ..
There's the god awful climb to get to the top of the casino ..or the Grand casino . Like everything else in Monaco it's on Hilltop..
As you all may not be aware last November I took a serious spill and had a contusion on my left knee ... I've been healing but not as fast as I liked.. And some of the tours well.. I know walking is good but the test today was the inclines and uneven streets .. I managed ok.. But there's still 3 more tours ...
Lots of walking stairs and uneven surfaces but we make it to the casino ... And we are allowed in only 1 Room of the casino and no pics are allowed ..you must check your cameras .
Allow me to describe it .. The most ornate and grand casino I've ever seen! The ceilings are marble, there are marble pillars ..grand carpeted red staircase that goes who knows where ...
The carpet on the floor is amazing ...the bar ..yes there was a bar .. Was blinged out on the bottom it probably sworski crystals.. The room has only slots and no I didn't win .. Only euros accepted . I spent 7 Euros ...
I'm sure there was a star or two in the midst of all the people ..but there is a VIP entrance and the casino is not free!!
More shopping and then poof! Just like that the day is done...
We arrive back tired but hungry so we had to our favorite spot on the ship with mini ham and cheese croissant sandwiches ...
We booked a massage at 7:45pm and I was in heaven. Had a Swedish massage and wound up snoring on the table ! For what it's worth dinner at 9:30pm is just so late. Yes it accommodates tours but I felt like I was falling asleep in my chair at dinner ! After dinner , late night dip in the cantilever pool!
The hot tube sits off the side of the ship .. Was new and innovative in 2007 and it still fab. It was a great way to relax after all the walking from the day. Only stayed a few minutes .. Yes again we are up early ..
What I learned today ..how rude others are in the world besides us "wasteful" Americans. Many of the structures of France and Italy that are still standing today were built as defensive measures so he walls are there and constructed high in the mountain tops to know when your enemy was coming.
From France.. To.. Next stop Italy! Roma!
Ciao
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