Monte Carlo in 4 hours - in the early Spring

We enjoyed the Palace, the Cathedral, the view on the walk up to the palace.

Quick Tips:

Have change for the train. The station is totally automated. If you don't want to walk up to the palace area, there are elevators and escalators that will get you to the top.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walk, Walk, Walk, Walk!

The palace was beautiful. At first we weren't sure if we were able to enter. A sign on the door had an "X" mark across a figure of a woman and an "X" mark across a figure of a man. SO after watching others walk in, getting closer and closer to the "X" stickers, we realized that they were actually figures of a man and woman in bathing suits. Ok, that was just to help you not make the same dumb mistake that we did!

I am not one for museums or churches and would have never entered this building if it wasn't for my mother. She was a great fan of Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco, died 1982 in a car accident). So we went in. After walking up the length of the church and behind the altar, past the graves of Grimaldi's long long gone, we saw the final resting-place of Grace Kelly. It was simple and elegant. There were fresh flowers surrounding the grave – so you will be able to recognize it right away. The "Gratia Patricia" could throw a few people off, but the flowers are a giveaway. I am not into morbid sights, and totally respect the dead and places of worship. So, I did not want to pull out my Kodak Fun Flash disposable camera to take a photo. And, my significant other thought it was too tacky. Ok, I’ll tell mom about it…

Walk about twenty feet away from the resting-place of the late Grace Kelly and FEAR NOT, there is a VENDING machine. OK, so I’ll buy here a book and maybe there will be pictures in the book. After the book dropping out of the "English" slot in the vending machine, and echoing for a good minute or so throughout the cathedral…no pictures. Needless to say, with the book and candy vending machines to the immediate right of the altar, I felt all right as I approached the guard and asked if it was ok to take pictures. Yes. With a flash? "Yes," replied the guard. Of the grave? "Yes," replied the guard….so therefore I am able to provide you with photos.

The changing of the guard occurs everyday at 11:55am PROMPTLY - except in the rain. Our visit to Monaco occurred on a rainy day. But across from the Palace you will find souvenir shops, which were definitely the best that I saw in Monaco. They had the typical tacky tourist items, but some nice items as well. We actually sprung for the "his and her" Prince and Princess colognes...which, I am sure, are not purchased for their scent!

The only times even in Monaco that is a "must-see" we missed because the guards don't come out in the rain! If you can, pick a sunny day to visit Monaco and send me your pictures of this even - I was so disappointed.

The walk up the Grimaldi Rock offered some of the best views in Monaco. The city, the water, the mimosa budding...it was quite beautiful. Monaco is really very pretty and very clean. If you are up to it, the winding path up to the palace will leave you with some really beautiful pictures. If you are not able to walk up, there is a combination of elevators and escalators that will get you to the top.

In another entry, I wrote that walking up the rock was great - but just walking around the perimeter of the cliff was beautiful. The streets are so clean. The views are breathtaking. There are museums to see, garden to walk through. It is just really pretty.

I try to be more of a realist when discussing places I visit. We talk about the highlights, the things we could have done with out, and what we want to do the next time.

One of the highlights was the public toilet in the garden on the rock. The toilet smelled like FLOWERS - now that was a highlight!

I could have done without the rain, but C’est la vie!

Next time I would like to see the changing of the guards!

It is very pretty and very clean.

Overall, Monaco wasn't as glitzy and glamorous, as it is portrayed to be. I'm sure the nightlife has something happening, but the daytime is the same as any other place in the world people dress regular, they go to the supermarket, they walk their dogs - don't clean up after them, but they are walked...