Monoco and Monte Carlo

Today's excursion to Monoco reaffirmed the notion that money buys happiness because how could one not be happy living in Monoco?? Anouk took us around town-first to the port to check out the yachts. A silver Porshe sped by, and I said, "oh my god someone stole my car!" Anouk jokingly said, "ah you have a porshe!" and I explained to her all sarcastically that Crawford was my driver and that the girls were my attendees. She told me that she'd really like to have a glass of champagne on my yacht. I said, "no problem, let's just give the girls some time to get everything ready. we wouldn't want to have to wait" So overhearing all of this is Tom, who is this little, old guy from California who speaks very softly. Anouk tried to include him in the conversation by saying, "hey, Tom did you know Shay has a yacht she keeps here?" And he believed her! He was like, "oh, that's nice." The kids laughed, but I just let him believe it.

Our journey continued pass the Italian designer stores and in front of the Monte Carlo casino. Fun fact: It was Charles Garnier who designed the Opera House in Paris as well as the Opera House/Casino in Monoco. Another fun fact: There are 40,000 people living in Monoco but only 10,000 are real citizens. They get to vote and don't pay any taxes. We also saw the Louis XV restaurant, one of the best in the world. Anouk told us that lunch for two people without drinks would cost about 600 euros. My birthday is coming up in case you need a good gift idea.....

We then walked thru old Monoco and saw the palace and the church where Grace Kelly got married and where, inside, she and the Prince are buried. Then it was princess-story-time as the kids wanted to know all about Princesses Grace and Diana. When I told them that Grace Kelly had left Hollywood to marry the Prince and then later she was in a car accident, Nicole asked, "So does she look really bad now?" I chuckled and said, "No, sorry, she died in the accident." Crawford said, "Wait I thought Princess Di died in a car accident." "They both did." So I explained about the whole Diana and Charles story and the paparazzi and all of that and how her funeral was this huge ordeal. And Nicole said, "Was Grace Kelly's funeral as sad?" To which I replied, "Yes, I'd think so, but I didn't see that one." I was impressed with Crawford though, who had seen To Catch a Thief with Grace and Cary Grant and knew that it was filmed on the riviera. Kudos to Crawford. Until we saw a picture, he was the only one who knew what she looked like. But when the girls saw it, then they did believe me that she was very pretty. They also figured she had married the prince just for his money because he was nowhere near as good looking as she.

We paused for a drink and a crepe before returning to Nice this evening. One thing I am thankful for is being of the generation that does not whip out their phone to play a game when sitting in a cafe in Monoco!!! The third picture is of Lily pointing out her yacht (actually a cruise ship) I told her to take a picture with her and the boat, and she said, "well I have so many pictures of me on it, that I guess I should take one from far away." The second to last picture is of Crawford with his favorite car. It's a Mercedes in case you aren't familiar with the profile view. The last photo has a direction pointing toward a defibrillator. So for my older readers- great news! If you were to have a coronary in Monte Carlo- no problem! There are easy directions posted around town to find the nearest medical help.

Overall it was a great day, and it made you want to save your pennies to buy property.