Out at 09:30, walked to the train station again and this time there were lots of trains on the board to Monaco so bought a return ticket. Hopefully they don’t decide to strike this afternoon. Didn’t stop for breakfast, hoped I could afford one in Monaco without having to win at the casino.
Weather was cloudy but warm.
I hopped on the first train to Monaco and it stopped at every station, but that was Ok – the train followed the coast and the views were spectacular. Lots of small villages on the sea.
Journey only took 20 minutes, came out of the station in front of the first corner of the grand prix track. The preparations for the gp are well under way, even though it’s not for another month. In fact, almost everything is obscured by the fences and stands.
Stopped for a coffee and croissant, everyone was looking at me. I suppose the tuxedo was overdoing it but I’ve seen Casino Royale and I thought that’s what you wear in Monaco.
Followed the signs to the Jardin Exotique which is a cactus garden on the hill. Because it is on the hill it meant lots of stairs. Luckily there were public lifts which surprisingly didn’t double as public toilets.
Walked around the gardens for about 40 minutes, was on my way out when I saw a sign for the grotto tour. Luckily the tour started in 10 minutes so I waited.
It was 300 steps down (and therefore 300 back up). It was basically a cave with lots of stalactites and stalacmites, and was worth the steps.
Finished in the garden and walked off back down only to lose my way. Monaco is built on the side of a hill and there are steps every where, plus private entrances to flats so even if you know the way to go you can’t get there. It was quite humid as well which didn’t help.
I got on a bus.
Got off when I saw some restaurants, pizza time again. The restaurant had the world’s most uncomfortable chairs but at least I didn’t have to go up any steps.
The pizza was huge but all the climbing had made me hungry.
Walked about a bit, hoping to find a rich, terminally ill widow, but no luck so thought to go back to the station and Nice.
Got to the station and saw a lot of people walking up the other hill, so even though I was tired thought I wouldn’t be back here for a while so followed, going to the Casino.
Luckily it wasn’t far, and I took some photos of the Casino, the Hotel de Paris and the Cafe de Paris.
There were a lot of rich people around, you could tell them apart – they were very well groomed and were carrying shopping bags and not backpacks and cameras. But are they really happy with their multi millions, yachts, helicopters, private jets, Ferraris and multiple homes? Probably.
Walked back down the hill to the station and back to Nice.
Didn’t go straight back to the hotel, decided it was beer o’clock, so stopped off at a cafe on the main street and watched the world go by.
Feeling pretty shattered, went back to the hotel and relaxed.
Turning homeward tomorrow, meeting Song in Hong Kong for a few days then back home, holiday nearly over.