Hey WordPress! How is it going all?
It is your pal Valeria here on a Tuesday to update you on my last post of our July trip, “I see London, I see France”.
This was a truly special day for me-not only was it the last full day of our trip, but it was a bucket list type of day. We spent the first half of our day in Monaco. I have wanted to go to Monaco for as long as I can remember; I can recall back in my childhood, watching the Monaco Grandprix Formula One races with my dad on television and thinking about how one day I would like to be there- in the hustle and bustle of that beautiful seaside city.
So. Let’s get into it!
July 20- Day 16
Today was an unforgettable day. We took a day trip to Monaco by train. It was about a half hour train ride. And then our plan was to see the medieval town of Eze back in France.
The ride to Monaco along the scenic French Riviera was breathtaking, with the shining Mediterranean Sea stretching around every bend of earth as France folded into Monaco.
Once in Monaco, we started the day exploring this pretty small yet luxurious principality. The drip was everywhere. High end hotels, restaurants and designer shops on every side of the street. Every woman was fabricated by whatever Weird Science plastic surgeon du jour- so many fake faces and bodies -it was gross but that’s their prerogative, right? BUT the cars on the road were beyond belief. As a car head, my mouth fell open every few feet by whatever car drove by. We are talking brand new -suped up McLarens, Lamborghinis, Aston Matins, Rolls Royces, and I even saw a friggin Koenigsegg (sp?). Gah. Just beautiful. Oh and someone was driving a real life street-legal Bat Mobile! Crazy amazing.
But I digress.
Our first stop was up to see the changing of the guards at the Palace but we missed it by a few minutes! Dangit! We tried hard to see it, but we got side-tracked walking the way there by all the sights …oh well. Our plan for the day after this was to grab a bus to see the aquarium, then take a bus across the city to see the views, and to check out the Monte Carlo Casino!
The aquarium guys. O m g. The incredible Monaco Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium was sublime, it was like stepping into a marine wonderland. The aquarium was founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I of Monaco, who was being celebrated all over the area for what would’ve been his 100th birthday. The building was a true testament to his passion for marine science. It was fascinating to learn about its history and its role in marine research.
We left the aquarium for a visit to the iconic Monte Carlo Casino, a place steeped in Monaco history and elegance. This building is an architectural gem, designed by Charles Garnier in 1863. It was extravagantly designed right from the entrance. As we strolled through its marble-floored corridors, I caught the chandeliers glittering like stars above. I was utterly impressed. Everything was perfect like a dream. Just think about the countless aristocrats, celebrities, and the fictional James Bond, who have graced this establishment with their presence. My god.
After our adventure inside the casino, we went for a walk then to grab a taxi. No Ubers are allowed in Monaco, kids. But it was for the best, as we had quite the unusual musical surprise waiting for us in our taxi. Our driver was a character. As soon as we got into the taxi, he started talking about living in New Jersey for a little while and his fascination with Frank Sinatra. BUT all that came up after he started our conversation off by showing us a church. A church where he said he wanted to have his funeral. What? 😂 Then he said that he directed his kids that for his funeral he doesn’t want to be lying in a casket. He wants to be sitting up with his music playing so it looks like he is singing.
And guys, what a talented singer, I’m being facetious. He serenaded us with the Frank Sinatra songs he would have playing-that he had prerecorded himself professionally on CD ! I swear.
So as we made our way to our next destination,the medieval town of Eze, we were forced to hear him sing That’s Life twice and a slew of other songs. Belting them out loud and proud. He was actually pretty funny so it was entertaining.
So. Eze was amazing. Eze is a medieval village perched on a hill, with a history dating back to the 12th century. The charming cobblestone streets and old world shops, and stunning views from the Jardin Exotique, made it a memorable stop on our journey.
The whole village was beautiful but the coolest thing happened when we reached the peak, above the Jardin. The clouds traveled across the vista on top of us creating fog and mist -which was spectacular in the intense heat.
We then made a special stop into the local church of the village to light candles for our grandparents who passed. We said a small prayer and basked in the calm of the church. It was beautiful.
We left Eze then stopped for a quick drink and bite to eat along the way to the Uber stand before we made our way back to Villefranche-sur-Mer.
We got home to darkened skies but we couldn’t resist freshening up fast at the house so we could have dinner at a cafe we were eying along the main plaza. We spent hours savoring champagne and appetizers, while enjoying the lively atmosphere. There were many people out enjoying the warm evening. Then, we took a leisurely walk through the town, taking in the Mediterranean breeze and the beautiful architecture, and climbing stairs all around, knowing it was our last night here.
We went to bed excited knowing we were heading home in the morning. But a big part of us was sad. We just had the most amazing 17 days together and we weren’t ready to leave that all behind just yet. At least I wasn’t.
We had just visited Monaco. We were swimming in the Mediterranean for weeks. Climbed an incredible number of stairs in Villefranche Sur Mer. We were just listening to the cicadas of Cassis. We had walked through a historic aqueduct built before Christ. We tasted gastronomic dishes and ice creams that knocked us over. We were in Disneyland Paris. We were walking the Louvre and by the Eiffel Tower nightly. It was all so wonderful. And now it was time to leave.
Day 17
I didn’t take many pics of this day. We left out of Nice airport pretty early. We made it to Paris and immediately boarded our flight for Boston. But not before we grabbed some bread and snacks for the flight. So that is it. Hah.
Well, sadly, this is the last of my trip posts. (Ahem, it only took me three months to write it out. 😂). And seriously, what do I do with myself now?
Thank you for stopping by and for all your support- and hanging in there as I blathered on and on! Hope you guys had a fun time reading along.
till next post xoxo
valeria out loud 