2022 World Tour – The Principality of Monaco
Hello from Monaco, my eigth stop on the trip and my 50th Country. What a place to claim #50! Below is the standard summary:
– Cool Ranch Doritos: No
– Thai ATM Card Works: Didn’t try
– Thai Debit Card Works: Yes
– Thai Internet Purchase Works: Didn’t try
– USA Credit Card Works: Didn’t try
– Worldwide Telephone/Data/SMS eSIM Works: Didn’t try
– Magic Jack Works: Didn’t try
– VPN Works: Didn’t try
– COVID Compliance Chronicles: Masks on public transport
– Internet Works: Yes
– Drone Flights: Didn’t investigate
– Cost of Living: $$$$$
– Currency: EUR 1 = USD $1.07
– Language Issues: None
– City-Wide Wifi: No
Note: the governmental region is called Monaco. Monaco is divided into several quarters, sectors and wards. Monte Carlo is one such area, and is the most famous as it is the largest and contains the residential, casino and resort areas. Monaco is the second-smallest sovereign state in the world, just behind Vatican City. It has been under the control of the Grimaldi family, mostly, since 1297.
Fulfilling a lifelong bucket list location, I jumped on the train in Nice and went 6 or 7 short stops to the ‘Monaco – Monte Carlo’ station. Coming up to ground level I found myself staring directly at the famous first corner of the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix – Sainte Devote. Wow, I got chills being this close. I was there on May 31, the Tuesday after the race on Sunday, so nearly the entire track system was in place – fencing, guard rails, spectator stands, pit area, etc. There were people everywhere working in coordination like ants to bring things back to normal as to put the smallest possible burden on the rich & famous that call it home.
The train entrance is the same location as the primary Big Red Bus stop, so I hopped on and took the tour. Talk about twisty & steep, they have managed to use every square inch of land and are even reclaiming more.
The bus city map had several advertisements on it, and one was for a quick helicopter tour of the area for only e35! I’ve always wanted a helicopter ride and this would be a perfect place to do it, so I jumped off at the right stop and went to the heli tour company. I arrived to find they “Don’t do the e35 tour anymore due to COVID”. Well, it’s been 2 years, you think they could pull or change their ad on the brochure. When I asked the current price the lady pointed to a sign stating the cheapest option was e395. What the literal fuck? I told her to stop lying to her customers and left. As I was walking back to the bus stop, I noticed a police station next door and went in to ask if it’s legal in Monaco to do that with your advertised price. The officer said this is a branch station for small stuff like parking tickets, I have to go to the big station downtown if I want to complain. Sounds like they’re in on it with their friends next door.
I got back on the bus and went around the city loop. It followed the direction of the F1 track sometimes, sometimes backwards, and sometimes other streets. I got off at the original stop and had a burger, fries and large milkshake for a reasonable e16. I walked through the F1 starting box and pit area, everything is being torn down and hoisted away. I’m surprised pedestrians have this much access.
I quickly noticed that this town is not built for driving! Narrow roads, buses, exotic cars that can’t make tight turns, pedestrians walking across streets without a light system all cause traffic to just crawl.
I completed the bus tour and took off on foot. I walked around the edge of the marina, gawking at the size of the hundreds of massive yachts. I wonder how many have been seized from Russian oligarchs? There’s a small electric boat shuttle from one side of the marina to the other, so I jumped on, free with my ticket on the big bus.
I kept the GPS running and took so many pictures that my phone ran out of juice just as I got to the famous hairpin turn on the track. I walked up to the super famous Casino and went in. I paid the e17 admission fee, but got a e10 coupon back for the slot machines. I played ‘007 Golden Eye’ and won e11 on one spin. So I cashed out the e11, my net cost of walking into the casino was e6. Then I went to the outdoor bar in Casino Square, sat under an umbrella and watched the exotic cars parade past and paid e10 for a Monte Carlo Beer. So much for my winnings. Don’t expect to walk out of this town richer than when you arrived unless you’re James Bond!
I walked back to the train station around 5pm and found myself on the platform with hundreds of people headed out of town. I assume a lot of them are day workers who live in the more affordable French suburbs.
So, that was everything I expected and more. Being on the track two days after the race is about as close as I could manage and the excitement was still in the air from Checo’s fantastic win.
