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Posts Tagged ‘monaco’

Monte Carlo is the city of glitz and over the top indulgence. I had to see it for at least a day trip and ended up finding my food paradise.

Monte Carlo Surprise

Monte Carlo is the where you go to see the pretty people. Well, maybe not pretty, but definitely wealthy. I was loafing in Nice for a few days and decided to join two travelers for a day trip to Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo is only a ten minute train ride from Nice, so it seemed like the perfect day trip.

Monte Carlo is the kind of place that makes you feel insignificant. The place screams yachts, money, plastic surgery, money, Ferrari and did I mention money? This is not a travel destination for the faint of budget.

Monte Carlo is mostly about beaches, being seen and a high end casino. We had already hit the beaches in Nice, weren’t important enough to “be seen” and had been denied admission to the casino, so it was off to the museums.

Museums in Monte Carlo are pretty run of the mill with one notable exception. Spend enough time in them and you’ll become convinced the Grimaldi royal family is solely responsible for human civilization. I’ve been known to embellish on occasion, but the museums are ridiculous.

As day turned to evening, it was time to find something to eat. There were plenty of restaurants, but we either couldn’t afford them or weren’t dressed appropriately with our shorts. Walking back to the train station, we stumbled upon paradise itself.

Growing up in San Diego, California, one becomes addicted to Mexican food. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of Mexican food restaurants in Europe. In fact, I hadn’t eaten a rolled taco for two months. That was about to change.

Turning the corner on one of many endless little streets in Monaco, we were stunned to see a line of people waiting outside a door. The sign over the door read “Juan’s” and paradise was before us. Turns out the restaurant was owned by a San Diego resident and served authentic Mexican food. Rolled tacos, chicken tortilla soup and Dos Equis beer.

Mexican food in Monaco was definitely my idea of paradise. Of course, it set me back $75, but I really didn’t care at that point.

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Monaco

Monaco

Perched over the Mediterranean Ocean, Monaco is a picturesque country. With very high prices, most travelers can only afford to spend one day in this conclave for the rich.

Monaco

The principality of Monaco is a bizarre little place. Situated to the east of the French Riviera, the country is very small and dominated by the city of Monte Carlo. Everything in the principality caters to the wealthy, so budget travelers beware.

Historically, the Grimaldi royal family has and continues to dominate Monaco. There influence is everywhere and, as you’ve probably noticed, one of them seems to be in tabloid news every day. Regardless, they have managed to stay in power for hundreds of years and turned Monaco into the expat haven of Europe through lax tax laws.

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo is the only city of significance in Monaco. The city is perched above the ocean and fairly dramatic. There is an old Europe charm, but modern hotels, resorts and so on are blended in nicely.  Instead of Ford or Toyota dealerships, Monaco is peppered with Ferrari and Porsche stores. This upgrade in cost occurs consistently throughout the city and it is the only place I’ve ever paid $75 for dinner in a Mexican restaurant.

No mention of Monte Carlo would be complete without mentioning Formula One racing. Every year, the city hosts the Monaco Grand Prix on the tiny streets of the city. The race is a bit boring because it is nearly impossible to pass, but attending the race is definitely something you should do at least once.

The Monaco Grand Prix is the coming out party for the extremely wealth. The harbor is full of yachts that make an oil tanker look small. There is more jewelry and glitz than you can possibly imagine. The decadence factor is through the roof and the people watching aspect is incredibly entertaining. Although you may come away a bit disgusted by the over indulgence, you’ll definitely come away with some good stories.

Monaco and Monte Carlo are definitely worth a one-day trip if you are visiting the French Riviera. Just make sure you’ve warmed up your credit cards.

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