Monaco - Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams

So we finally arrived in Monaco, I couldn't wait to get off of the train and see the town that I've been watching on television for years. I was hoping it would live up to my expectaions.
Here we are walking down the hill from the train station. Only on the way BACK at the end of the day we realized that there was a moving sidewalk that took you all the way up the hill back to the station. Next time I guess!!!


The Monaco harbour is filled with million dollar yachts and sailboats. Elaina said she would actually want to live on one. Not a small one of course.

Here's the view from the top of the hill near the casino square. I'll talk more on the casino later. You can see what kind of city we're in.


Here's the casino, definitely NOT vegas!
Cool monument outside the casino.

Just some of the cars outside the casino. We're talking big time money, these cars total close to a million dollars alone!!!





Of course all this fine machinery needs some fine fuel. In the states we have 91 octane fuel for high proformance cars. Here they have 95 octane for standard cars, 98 octane for some better juice at 1.53 euro per litre (not gallon) and 107 super unleaded for the high end drivers at 8.00 euro per LITRE. That's 12.00 dollars US for a litre, NOT gallon!

Now down at the water front and the view is as clear as the ocean.

Monaco is hosting the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix in May (more on that in a bit) so they are paving the streets now. Elaina dug up some of the tarmac (asphalt) for me as a souvenier.

After our day on the town I promised Elaina we could have anything she wanted for lunch before we headed back to Nice. She had her sights set on a bucket mussels. When I say bucket, I mean BUCKET.

Here's Elaina with a statue of Juan Manuel Fangio and his Mercedes. Arguably one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time.

Afterwards we enjoyed some ice cream.

Then we made our way back up the hill to the train station just to discover the moving sidewalk I spoke about earlier. DOH!

Now onto the meat and potatoes of this post, the race track! Elaina asked me to post this portion of the entry after our sightseeing as to not bore the non race fans. Stick around, you might learn a thing or two.

The Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, is held in the streets of Monaco once a year around May. Ticket prices range anywhere from $300 for a race ticket, to $5,000 for vip balcony views, and $100,000 weekend yacht rentals for the rich and famous. My only reason for going to Nice was to train it on over to Monaco so we could walk the famous 2.1 mile track layout that so many decades of historic drivers have driven on.

Here's the Start/Finish line where the F1 cars have their standing start.

Here's the view going into Turn 1 (Sainte Devote), it doesn't look like much but it's very tight and one of the most important corners. It is so hard to pass on this circuit so if you lead after turn 1 you are already looking good for a strong finish.

After turn 1 is an uphill straight (not very straight so no passing). On television it doesn't look as steep, but trust me, once you start walking up you realize how steep it really is. I could actually hear the F1 cars roaring up the hill and it gave me chills. I know, I'm retarded. Here's a view from the top of that straight looking back at Turn 2 (Beau Rivage). You get a real feel for how quickly the elevation changes. This is the highest point on the track. The rest is down hill from here (thank goodness).


Here we are entering Turn 3 (Massenet) facing the casino.

The casino complex is a quick left sweeper followed by Turn 4 (Casino) that takes you right in front of the square. This casino isn't like the casino's we are normally used to. Men must be wearing coats, no tennis shoes, and women must be dressed appropriately as well. We passed on entering the casino, I'm sure the stakes were too rich for us anyways.

After the casino, it's a short downhill blast to Turn 5 (Mirabeau Haute). There used to be a rise in the downhill area but it has since been ground away so the F1 cars no longer have to avoid it.

Down at the end you can see Turn 6 (Grand Hotel Hairpin), it is the slowest corner in all of Formula 1. Special suspension and rack arms are made just for this corner because its so tight.

Here I am at the inside of the corner. You can still see the tire marks from the previous years F1 races.



After the hairpin there are two quick right hand corners Turns 7 and 8 (Mirabeau Bas and Portier) that can almost be taken as a double apex corner. This second apex needs special attention because it leads onto the tunnel back straight and truley the only real overtaking possiblility on the track.


Here the drivers go from full sunlight to an artificially lit tunnel. Like everywhere else on the track this back straight isn't really straight either so they call it Turn 9 (Tunnel) but as you exit the tunnel you now have your overtaking opportunity with a quick left/right chicane. Now you're back at sea level and about 2/3 through the lap.

This is the overtaking spot looking back at the exit of the tunnel, Turns 10 and 11 (Nouvelle Chicane).

Looking down at the chicane.

Here is where you exit the chicane.


Now we're entering Turn 12 (Tabac) which is a fast left hander. Full throttle now!

Turns 13 and 14 (Louis Chiron and Piscine) is a left/right chicane that puts you at the "swimming pool complex".


I wonder why they call it that? The F1 cars actually drive around the city swimming pool.

Once past the swimming pool you get to another chicane, this time a right/left with some permanent grandstands just to your left. These are turn 15 and 16 (no turn name given).

The circuit bend slightly to your left and then you come upon a very tight right hand hairpin Turn 17 (La Rascasse). The corner is named after the restaurant that it orbits around. A lunch here during the race will put you within reach of the cars rotating the circuit, it will also put your pocket book back $2,500 euro per person ($3,700 usd).



After La Rascasse you have a choice, enter into the pit lane on the right side or take the last corner Turn 19 (Anthony Noghes) which is a right hander that leads you onto the start finish straight (that's not really straight). Don't forget, you need maximum traction coming off this last corner because if a driver gets by you on the front straight going into turn 1 you are stuck behind them for a large portion of the lap.


Monaco was everything that I thought it would be and more. I can only dream about attending an actual F1 race here one day. I'm so happy we were able to make it here to walk the track!










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Nice is... nice!

So after Paris we made our way to Nice. Elaina said we could go because she knew how badly I wanted to see Monaco. Monaco neighbors Nice (15 minutes by train) and is a small principality just south of France on what is called the French Riveria. Monaco gets all the glits and glam but Nice is very much a gem in it's own right.

Here's the view from our room. It's not much but it is still more than we need. I'm gearing up for what's in store tomorrow in Monaco.


Down at the main shopping area near the water front. The city is very clean and looks like it's been updated recently.

Now down at the water, it's still pretty chilly but we have our baguette, wine, and cheese in hand. Hey, this is still France so we're gonna make the most of it.


Just people watching and enjoying our time. The beach is beautiful but it's all pebbles? They seem to lack sand beaches here.


The city tram that you can ride all day for 4 euro, not a bad deal at all. We liked how they planted grass along the tracks to give it a less urban feel when the tram is not around.


For SOME of us a walk in the park means something different. I still love her though!


Cool building all lit up at night.

Nice was great and we're so glad we were able to enjoy it. I would reccomend it to everybody when in the south of France.










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