On our way to Ibiza we spent an unexpected 48 hours in Monte Carlo in the South of France, while laying over in Cannes we decided to rent a car and drive through the Cote d’Azur up to Monaco. Though I grew up as a middle class kid, I was privileged in the many opportunities I was given through my parents hard work. I had a trip to Paris as a kid, vacations in Bermuda, Aspen and Mexico affording me the opportunity to mix with people from every echelon of society.
Through my own natural curiosity about all different kinds of people (typical of many gypsetters), I have created quite a diverse group of friends throughout my life and travels, from billionaires and Italian fashion designers, to textile and tattoo artists. So going to Monte Carlo wasn’t a second thought for me, as far as feeling comfortable in my own skin, having fun and discovering what this elegant yet some what laid back stretch of coastline had in store for me. I must admit though, it is quite an interesting mix in which to submerge yourself, even if it is for only 48 hours!
From the seventy something European men with the twenty something Russian girls being escorted out of the elders Rolls Royce’s at the steps of the Hotel de Paris where I stayed (built a year after Monte Carlo was founded), you get the feeling why the writer Somerset Maugham called this place “a sunny place for shady people.” Legendary for its gambling and the decadence that tax-free lifestyle provides, you can understand the attraction of risking it all with abandon.
Hotel de Paris
Casino Square, as seen below, is the center of the action– where you can take in the glitz with the tourists at one of the cafes to watch the never-ending parade of dazzling Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Bentleys that circle the square waiting to be seen by the paparazzi.
The Casino de Monte-Carlo
A few of the glossy bling in the square
The floating McMansions that punctuates the port are quite a sight to behold– each one grander then the next.One cold imagine a cartoon of Monte Carlo, with the bigger boats sticking their tongues out at the smaller ones saying “I have a helipad and you don’t!” 😉
Hotel de Paris poolside
Of course there is one of the most indulgent pleasures in France…being able to go topless or nude on the beaches. I’ve never been one to be self-conscious about my body at its least or most fit. Always having the mind-set that “you’ve seen one you’ve seen em’ all.” When in France, I always embrace the blasé attitude the French have about nudity.
When in Rome… 😉
My handsome companion 😉
As one could imagine it isn’t a difficult task to find a good meal here. Many of the restaurants are Michelin starred as the prices reflect. One of my favorite is Elsa. With its more casual beach club vibe and healthful haute cuisine, you can enjoy your delicious risotto paired with a nice chilled Chablis grands cru and a desert of macaroons guilt-free, while sitting on the lovely terrace. This organic farm to table hot spot in the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel is not to be missed!
All in all, as much as I love the gritty side of gypsetting, having a few days jet setting in Monte Carlo was a fun, yet surreal movie-like experience that left me continually waiting for someone to yell “Cut!”
My favorite snake-skin espadrilles
