Showing posts with label Monte Carlo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monte Carlo. Show all posts
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Monte Carlo Revisited
A week or so, I wrote a blog, The Road to Monte Carlo, and discussed the Grand Casino. As I stated, I would also address certain other sites in Monte Carlo. These include the aquarium, palace and cathedral. This post should give you a flavor of those.
This is the palace where Prince Albert lives with his wife, Charlene. Parts of the palace are open to visitors and certainly worthwhile to visit. In one of the rooms, there is an impressive portrait of the Prince Rainier III, his wife, the former Grace Kelly and their children.
These are the tombs of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. They are located inside the Monaco cathedral. The day were there, the Archbishop was confirming several children in a Mass entirely in French, the official language of Monaco.
This is a photograph of one of the impressive specimens in the Oceanographic Museum. Prince Albert is very much involved with the aquarium and it is said to be one of the best in the world.
Monday, October 22, 2012
On the Road to Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo. The very name conjures up visions of men in black tuxedos playing baccarat with stacks of black hundred dollar chips in front of them and beautiful blonds dripping with pearls urging them on as they gamble away their inheritances. Wait a second. That's the movies---Sean Connery as James Bond, even Steve Martin in the movie, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". Unfortunately, the reality is much more mundane.
The Grand Casino in Monte Carlo, which just happens to be the capital of the small independent country, Monaco, is located on a hill in a building which doubles as the opera house. There are lots of tourists outside snapping pictures of themselves in front of the casino. Inside it is quite a different story. First of all, there is a charge for entry. Just a few euros, but nonetheless, annoying since the whole purpose in going to the casino is to gamble. You should not have to pay for the privilege to lose your money! Interestingly enough the residents of Monaco are forbidden by law from gambling at the Grand Casino.
Although we had read that a jacket was appropriate for men and a dress for women, we were overdressed when I wore my blazer and my wife wore a cocktail dress. Everyone else wore typical casual clothes. Now, admittedly, we visited in the middle of the day, but still. Inside the casino were rather large cavernous rooms, which were mainly empty. There were a few scattered blackjack and craps tables and a few players,but most of the main room was filled with slot machines of the 1 euro variety. Although I had gone there to "break the bank at Monte Carlo" with my blackjack skills, we ended up playing the slots for half an hour and left. By the way, the slots were quite accommodating and we were able to pay for our lunch at the nearby Cafe de Paris with our winnings. The restaurant, where it is said the French dessert, crepe Suzette was invented, was quite good.
After leaving the casino, we decided to walk down the hill to the port, where our cruise ship lay at anchor. It was a fascinating walk as we went through the tunnel and the course where the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race is run each year. The stands were already set up for the race which was to take place in just a few weeks.
Although the casino was somewhat of a disappointment, Monte Carlo had several interesting places which we will describe in another post. These include the Palace (which is open to visitors), the Cathedral where Princess Grace and her husband, Prince Rainier are buried and the Oceanographic Museum, which has one of the best aquariums in the world.
The Grand Casino in Monte Carlo, which just happens to be the capital of the small independent country, Monaco, is located on a hill in a building which doubles as the opera house. There are lots of tourists outside snapping pictures of themselves in front of the casino. Inside it is quite a different story. First of all, there is a charge for entry. Just a few euros, but nonetheless, annoying since the whole purpose in going to the casino is to gamble. You should not have to pay for the privilege to lose your money! Interestingly enough the residents of Monaco are forbidden by law from gambling at the Grand Casino.
Although we had read that a jacket was appropriate for men and a dress for women, we were overdressed when I wore my blazer and my wife wore a cocktail dress. Everyone else wore typical casual clothes. Now, admittedly, we visited in the middle of the day, but still. Inside the casino were rather large cavernous rooms, which were mainly empty. There were a few scattered blackjack and craps tables and a few players,but most of the main room was filled with slot machines of the 1 euro variety. Although I had gone there to "break the bank at Monte Carlo" with my blackjack skills, we ended up playing the slots for half an hour and left. By the way, the slots were quite accommodating and we were able to pay for our lunch at the nearby Cafe de Paris with our winnings. The restaurant, where it is said the French dessert, crepe Suzette was invented, was quite good.
After leaving the casino, we decided to walk down the hill to the port, where our cruise ship lay at anchor. It was a fascinating walk as we went through the tunnel and the course where the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1 race is run each year. The stands were already set up for the race which was to take place in just a few weeks.
Although the casino was somewhat of a disappointment, Monte Carlo had several interesting places which we will describe in another post. These include the Palace (which is open to visitors), the Cathedral where Princess Grace and her husband, Prince Rainier are buried and the Oceanographic Museum, which has one of the best aquariums in the world.
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