Monaco

Before getting into my little travel log on Lyon, I want to share about our last full day in Nice.  We thought we couldn't very well be such a short distance away from Monaco and not drive through it.  Just to say we did it.  It took us about 20 minutes to get there and of course, it was raining.  Grrrrrr
I had wanted to get out and walk around a bit.  However, once again I sucked it up and just enjoyed our drive and made the best of it.

I had heard that Monaco was small.  And it is.  Very small.  As we drove along the winding highway I wondered to myself--is that it?  Yes, it's that small.  It sits on a hillside next to the sea.  It's like a large marina sticking up out of the water.  Everything seemed massive--buildings, boats.  Which also seemed strange--where was the quaintness of this little country?  

We saw extremely expensive cars--and if you are into cars like I am, well, let's just say you would be in car heaven.  We saw outrageous yachts and beautiful high-rises.  If you think about it, Monaco has only one way to grow and that's up.  High up!

We did enjoy our ride, however--we took some back roads into small neighborhoods, and we wound around following the coastline as far as we could.

Would I go back?  Would I want to stay there?  No.  I've seen it, it's not for me, but I'm glad I went.  I can now check that box.  I am more of a traditional European groupie.  I want charm--bigger is better is not one of my mottos.

So, here are a few of my photos--please enjoy.  Remember though, these were shot through a car windshield and it was lightly raining.  So, don't shoot the photographer--pun intended.

Getting there--Roman ruins and aqueducts...

                 

Leaving Nice...

                     

I can't get enough of these trees...

                     

Little boxes on the hillside...

               

This is the view that people pay for!

               

Cruise ships and boats...

                 

Small spaces and tall places...

               

I kept thinking of Princess Grace...

                   

This was way cool...

                 

 It's hard to see but the road follows along the mountainside...

                 

 Every country needs a Crest...

                   

 One of the little neighborhoods...