Artfully Ann's Adventures

Travel - May 17, 2013 - Monte Carlo, Monaco

 Think of the word “excess”.   NO…think a LOT MORE about this word, including every synonym you can imagine.  Right, you’re now getting the idea about Monaco.  This puny (about one square mile) yet independent country has about 6,000 citizens, and none pay taxes.  Its Monaco “native” men are vigorously sought by non-citizen women looking for that extra tax-free zing.  But, alas, there is a no-tax wait of twenty-five years for on-citizen men who marry Monaco’s female citizens.  And then there are the fifty-nine banks (think criminal enterprise, tax evasion, etc.) and the infamous Monte Carlo casino and the mega yachts crammed into the small harbor.  But, seriously, who cares when the real beauty of the region has nothing to do with Monaco itself? 

The prince is in his castle, the flag is up!

We visited Nice and several coastal villages East of Monaco that far surpass any descriptions of spectacular beauty that we could offer here.  Most of our tour was by bus.  Most of my pictures are from the bus and almost all of them have the window reflection included in the picture.  In one photo I have three images in one; One of the view, one from the window of my surroundings and one from the camera lens reflection on the window.  This presents some pretty challenging photography to say the least.  To say nothing of the trees and bushes swishing by.  I have some pretty interesting pictures, but I won’t post them here. 

Nice, France

Monte Carlo (French: Monte-Carlo or colloquially Monte-Carl, Monégasque: Monte-Carlu) officially refers to an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally the name also refers to a larger district, the Monte Carlo Quarter (corresponding to the former municipality of Monte Carlo), which besides Monte Carlo/Spélugues also includes the wards of La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins, and Saint Michel. The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500.  Monaco has four traditional quarters. From west to east they are: Fontvieille (the newest), Monaco-Ville (the oldest), La Condamine, and Monte Carlo. 

Monte Carlo
 Can't you just see James Bond hanging from one of the hotel windows or running down the dock?

Monte Carlo (literally "Mount Charles") is situated on a prominent escarpment at the base of the Maritime Alps along the French Riviera. Near the western end of the quarter is the world-famous Place du Casino, the gambling center which has made Monte Carlo "an international byword for the extravagant display and reckless dispersal of wealth." It is also the location of the Hôtel de Paris, the Café de Paris, and the Salle Garnier (the casino theatre which is the home of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo). The eastern part of the quarter includes the community of Larvotto with Monaco's only public beach, as well as its new convention center (the Grimaldi Forum), and the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort. At its eastern border one crosses into the French town of Beausoleil (sometimes referred to as Monte-Carlo-Supérieur), and just 5 miles (8 km) further east is the western border of Italy.

 

Ezis, France, is a mountain community just northwest of Monaco.  This little town is built on a steep hill with a beautiful view.

Our guide advised that most of the people who work in Monaco live outside the town.  Our guide was from Italy and commutes to Monaco for her work.  I wonder how this impacts her income taxes.  Sounds too complicated to even think about. 

Next comes Livorno….Stay tuned for more of the adventure!!  See you real soon.