Monarchs and Monaco.

Early the next morning we set off for the third gem in the triple crown, Monaco. From the sea we could see the commanding palace of the Grimaldi family. Ruling the principality of Monaco since the 13th century, their presence and influence was apparent in virtually every part of the city. Just a little bigger than New York’s central park, Monaco rises up from the sea into a beautiful port of modern skyscrapers mixed with traditional French chateaus. The palace itself was just how you would want your castle. Perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, it is furnished with damask walls inlayed marble floors and gilded gold furniture housed by vaulted ceilings painted like the Sistine ceiling. The walls are covered with famous paintings of past rulers who still claim some of the splendor of the palace in their richly dressed portraits. Princess Grace is still honored with various artifacts from her life. The Casino that was built in the 30’s which saved the family from bankruptcy and made this unique city a tax-free haven for the rich and powerful still commands a respectable presence in the skyline. It’s beautiful architecture designed by French Charles Garnier who also designed the Paris opera house has bigger than life statues holding up the green copper roof. The story goes that so many patrons committed suicide after loosing their family fortunes, that they would stuff their bodies into the cracks of the limestone foundation of the casino until the stench became so strong that they resorted to shoving them off the cliffs to the ocean below instead. Fortunes are still won and lost on a regular basis at this oasis for people that have more money than they know what to do with. I managed to keep all of mine securely in my back pocket.