MONTE CARLO, MONACO–ALL IN A DAY

I had to visit MONACObeing just 30 miles away, Ill probably never be this close again.
I’ve seen all the expensive boats & cars in St. Tropez, Cannes and even in Antibes. But being the James Bond fan that I am I had to go to Monte Carlo..

SO OF COURSE THE BOAT DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER IS PARKED THERE.
Monaco’s has a OCEANAGRAPHICMUSEUM. I was told it was good. I’m so so about aquariums, but i figured Monaco is only 2km x 2km, how much can there be to see? So I took my bike on the train and promptly headed in the direction of the Oceanographic Museun. I was promptly stopped and told no bikes allowed on the hill top. I wasn’t really told that I was just pointed and blocked me from going up the hill. I was a little confused so I rode around the docks and looked at the boats.

THERE WERE SOME AMAZING SAIL BOATS
So I bike along the shore and the road starts heading up, 3 sets of escalators later, yep Im at the Museum. I quickly lock my bike by a photo/plague with Jaugue Cousteau taken in 1962. The museum was built in 1910. I go in and am looking around thinking,this is pretty awesome. People around me are taking photos, Im thinking pictures of fish? Then I see fish that are well-blowing my mind.

I SPENT 10 MINUTES WAITING FOR THAT FISH TO COME OUT FROM BEHIND THE ROCKS (worth it)

THE SEA HORSES WERE SUPER TOO

I took a lot of fish pictures. There on my photo site HERE
They had a shark petting station. I left a little space in line and some people (French) cut in front of me, I didn’t say anything. It was our turn to pet the shark, so this little girl cuts in front of me, This time I stop her and tell her to wait her turn. Corey said he cant stand how Americans patiently wait there turn, I like it.

THEY WANT PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH SHARKS SO HENCE THE PETTY STATION.
There was some interesting shark art too.

MORE PHOTOS OF THE OCEANAGRAPHIC MUSEUM HERE
I bought a combined ticket that included the Princes Palace. NO PHOTOS ALLOWED. No big deal until you see the most amazing sculpture, so I figure there will be a post card of it? They have cameras everywhere I went back 3 times and finally took this lousy photo.

NO POST CARDS, SO ITS AN EAGLE WITH 6-8 INCH CRYSTALS STICKING DOWN FROM UNDER ITS WINGS. WITH A BASKETBALL SIZE AZUITE ALL MOUNTED ON A 4 FOOT CRYSTAL.
I searched the web for a good photo-NONE.
As I was riding from the Palace I was stopped by the police, told to lock my bike down the road, I wasn’t alone 2 other people were on bikes too.
So I head down the hill to where the first cop stopped me, quick right and he doesn’t see me.
I go to the tourist information and learn where the MONTE CARLO GRAN PRIXroute is and bike it, let me just say that was dangerous.
I go by the MONTE CARLO CASINO, Rolls Royce, Maserati,Lambergouni of course I got a photo

I CANT DECIDE WHICH ONE? THE BIKE ALL THE WAY.

CASINO MONTE CARLO
So Im looking for the exotic garden, I think I passed my turn. I stop and am looking at my Google map. Within 20 seconds someone came out and said I was on camera and the police would come. WTF? I told him I was just checking my map, he said I could do it on the side of the building.
Time to find the train station, well I get on the wrong train and within 30 minutes Im in Italy. But the same train went back to France and back to Antibes.
All in all Monaco was all I had heard about, money (Tax Heaven) for the rich. But there was a little Portland Oregon Influence

NEXT I TAKE AN AMAZING TRAIN RIDE TO AN AMAZING FRENCH VILLAGE FILLED WITH HISTORY AND SCARY HIKES.