Monaco - the Little Harbour of Affluence
The name Monaco is certainly associated with Formula 1, the Monaco Grand Prix, as the races take place on the city's streets, where people walk every day and traffic flows. The Monte Carlo Casino, visited by the world's wealthiest, most famous, and most gambling-prone people. Casino visitors should expect to hand over any photo and video equipment to the guards...
Monaco is the second smallest state in the world by territory after the Vatican, and the most densely populated - approximately 33,000 permanent residents per 1.95 km². It is located on the French Riviera, between France and the Mediterranean Sea, near Italy.
Monaco is a constitutional monarchy. Representatives of the Grimaldi dynasty still live in the palace and govern this miniature state. Nowadays any interested visitor can call at the palace, view the splendid halls, and with the help of an audio guide can hear not only the narrative about the palace but also the prince's personal greeting to each guest of their house. The walls of most of the palace halls are adorned with portraits of the Grimaldi family. Speaking of the present-day rulers and judging by the family portrait, I have never seen such a beautiful noble family - fair, majestic, tanned, with classic facial features. A pity that photography inside the rooms was not permitted, nor was it permitted to sit in any chair in the picture gallery. Uniformed but courteous guards oversaw all of this.
More about the palace and the Grimaldi family - [ here ]
Under the prince's patronage a park has been created with the most varied exotic plants, trees, flowers, and sculptures. It is open and freely accessible to every visitor to the city.
Next to the park stands the Monaco Oceanographic Museum, one of whose creators and directors was the world-famous explorer of the ocean depths, Jacques Cousteau. Whether you are a fan of biology and geography or not, I would definitely recommend visiting this museum - the sight is worth it (entry ticket 10 EUR).
The museum has 5 floors, 2 of which are below ground, beneath the sea, where large aquariums are housed. They provide a home for both tiny fish and sharks.
An extensive collection of marine fauna and flora. Materials from expeditions. If you know French, in a separate hall you can watch films from these ocean exploration voyages and listen to the researchers' accounts.
Right next to the museum one can explore a submarine that seems to have surfaced not only from the ocean depths but also from The Beatles' song Yellow Submarine.
More about the museum - http://www.oceano.mc/
The name Monaco is certainly associated with Formula 1, the Monaco Grand Prix, as the races take place on the city's streets, where people walk every day and traffic flows. In the photos below one can see the fastest section and the slowest corner of the F1 circuit.
Accordingly Monaco has an extensive range of souvenirs and various sporting relics for all F1 fans. In everyday life the city's streets more resemble a prestigious exhibition ground for seen and unseen car marques.
Monaco is known for its banks and the Monte Carlo Casino, visited by the world's wealthiest, most famous, and most gambling-prone people. Casino visitors should expect to hand over any photo and video equipment to the guards, bring their passport, and have a substantial sum of money ready to sacrifice to fortune. An interesting fact: Monaco's own permanent residents are not allowed to play at the casino at all, since their income is not subject to taxation.
Opposite the casino is a magnificent park where, according to legend, more than one ruined wealthy man and unlucky gambler has taken their own life. Alongside stands one of the most expensive hotels in the world.
The casino halls are as splendid as any palace, but the stakes were nevertheless too high for us to risk playing. :) We enjoyed the limousine parade, the park with its exotic trees, and the shoreline dotted with yachts.
About the casino - http://www.casinomontecarlo.com/en/
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