Two French Hens

We're up bright and early and ready for the French Riviera but first we go for breakfast. We have been loving our breakfast choices here. Fresh croissant every day...a variety of wonderful cheese...fruit, rolls, baguettes, sweet breads, eggs, sausage, bacon, salmon,freshly squeezed juices, coffees, jams and honey with lavender and herbs...delicious! We eat heartily and venture out on the town for some fun photo ops. We have a french beret, fake mustaches and "somehow" some cigarette butts came into our possession specifically for these photos. A little fun for these two "chicks" celebrating a fifty-something and 60th birthday..

During the drive I enjoy the views from the window. I can see why the impressionist artists were so inspired by the scenery here. We drive along the Boulevard de la Croisette and see the Film Festival Center in Cannes, Nice. "Nice is nice" is the tag line. Located Southeast of France close to the Italian border the inspiration is Italian... in speech, dress and food. The dress code for the area....sunglasses, tank tops, shorts and flip-flops...with a towel over the shoulder for that sporty look. The Film Festival Center is on the Boulevard where the red carpet welcomes jetsetters from around the world each year in May.

We make a stop in Grasse to visit the Fragonard perfumery. Erica and I already visited the museum in Paris but this was very interesting to see as well and of course, had to make another purchase. There is nothing like french perfume.

We drive along the dazzling Corniche road to the Principality of Monaco...known as The Rock. The Grimaldi family rules this principality which is the wealthiest independent state in the world...also the smallest after the Vatican. Grace Kelly lived and died here and is still loved deeply by the people to this day. At the accident site there is a memorial in her honor.

We make the scenic drive to visit the Monte Carlo Casino which sits on the side of a hill overlooking the Mediteranian.

Monaco:
This is mainly a tax shelter for the uber rich.
Many Russian billionaires have second homes here.
160 different nationalities visit yearly.
Elton John, Bridget Bardot have homes here.
There are 85,000 foreign residents.
Population: 2 million
Seaside villages: St. Trope, Antibe, San St. Jacque
Gambling is very popular

We take a walk around town and stop in to see the Monte Carlo Casino where the rich get richer...or not.. but they have enough to play a few hands. We stand outside and watch the Ferraris, Porches, race cars, and Rolls stop and let out the rich and famous drivers who completely live detached from reality... in a way. Everything and every body part is re-done to perfection. If you want wealth and glamour or just to see it for yourself...this is the place. It has been called " an exceptional location for glamour and prestige". It is also the route of the Grand Prix for the Formula One motor race held here each year. How they race these narrow, curvy and hilly streets at those speeds is amazing.

We are not rich enough or dressed approriately for the Monte Carlo Casino where they photograph you, take your passport and charge you an entry fee. So we snap a few pics and off we go to check out the marina and surroundings. We stop in a pizza place for a bite. We both order pizza and both get a full-size pizza each! OMG! We ate it...no problem. We're no lightweights! With full bellies we run over to the free casino to lose a few euros of our own. They let everyone in over there so .... hit the slots we must! And of course, we lose....better luck next time!

The lights of the coastline provide a beautiful scenic ride back to Nice.

So nice!