Great pics, as usually, c.i.! Thanks - and waiting for more to come. :wink:
Part II:
Our first port of call was Marseilles, but I haven't seen anything that prompted me to visit this port city. The other option was a tour to Provence, but I'm hoping to do a Southern France (with a stop in Paris to see Francis) tour some day, so I skipped that too!
Bill, my roommate, and I just walked to the main street of Marseilles, and walked back to the ship. Bill didn't have any interest in Marseilles or Provence either.
Bill is a retired high school teacher who taught cultural anthropology and history to 9th thru 12th graders for 31 years until his heart attack. He retired a little early and started to enjoy world travel - most from cruising, because he loves to dance.
The following day, we arrived at Monte Carlo, Monaco. Two ladies joined us in a cab to the palace located on the top of Monte Carlo. We walked the palace grounds for a short while, did a few minutes of shopping at the souvenir shops, then walked to the Notre Dame cathedral to visit the tombs of Grace Kelly and King Rainier. From there, we proceeded to the Jacque Cousteau Museum where we spent a couple of hours looking at sea life and other artifacts used/collected by Cousteau's expeditions.
From there, we walked down the hill towards the casino. It was a rather long walk, and I have a tendency to walk too fast, so I was the first to arrive at the casino. I stopped at an outside café and ordered a orange juice (US$7).
The view of the casino, park in front of the casino, and people watching made that glass of orange juice worth while. It was also pit stop time anyways.
We took the number 2 bus back to the aquarium to catch the tour train, the only location where they sell tickets for this ride. The funny thing about this train ride is the simple fact that it followed a similar route that we walked just a few hours earlier; it was de ja vu in the extreme.
At the end of the train tour, the two ladies and I walked to the antique auto museum, and Bill walked back to the ship.
The auto museum is very interesting because they have vehicles starting from carriages to modern-type vehicles that includes some American made cars such as Ford, Chrysler, and Cadillac.
On our walk back to the ship, we stopped by a supermarket to see what they have available for purchase and at what prices. Most of the prices seemed reasonable compared to American prices, but some clothing items seemed to be less expensive.
My wife and I visited Monaco in 1999 on a Europe tour, so this was my second visit to this small city-state. Always a wonderful place to visit.
Monaco port with the Insignia.
Monte Carlo casino. Thjey now charge 10 Euro to enter the casino. I opted not to go inside.
At the Jacque Cousteau museum.
At the antique auto museum. #1 of 2:
They have an annual Monte Carlo auto races.
Yes, there are really some nice places on the Mediterranean Sea ... outside of France :wink:
Well, Monaco isn't really France...
Never thought it was - only their football team plays in the French Ligue 1 :wink:
Where else could they play?
<I'd thought there was a ligue amateurs in Monoca, but even those play in the Rhône-Durance ligues.>
Francis wrote:Where else could they play?
Italy, of course - due to their Genoese's origin.
Enjoying your photo tour, CI...
Walter - Remember that Prime Minister of Monaco, minister of Finance are French and designated by the French government...
