Blog*Abroad: Monaco

So this weekend was my first excursion out of Italy to Monaco and various cities in France. I had to get up at 5 am to get to a bus on the other side of the city by 6 am or risk being left. Needless to say my roommates (+ Laura!) and I made it there on time.

After a five hour trip through fog and mountainous country we arrived at the coast of Monaco, the second smallest country in the world next to the Vatican. The ocean was so blue and the sun was even out just as we got there. The area we were in is known as Monte Carlo.

And thus began our walking tour:

Some intersting things about Monaco that we learned from the local guide:
- Monaco is home to the rich and famous, like a country version of California celebrities except more with royalty.
- Grace Kelly, a famous actress in Alfred Hitchcock's movies lived there due to her marriage to Prince Rainier.
- Monaco was home to the famous Jacques Cousteau, director of the oceanographic museum and famed oceanographer.
- And Monaco is famous for being one of the first areas of tourism in France. It's climate was thought to cure illnesses so many with Tuberculosis came here in early years.

A highlight of this visit, we got to go into the Saint Nicholas Cathedral when our guide said it was supposed to be closed, and it was so beautiful!

I estimated early to high Gothic style due to the presence of quadrapartite vaulting but the lack of Westwork facade and rounded arches says Romanesque. So it was probably a revival and not actually built during either time. Though all the Royalty of Monaco have been married in this gorgeous cathedral, Prince Albert II is a prince of the people and will be married in the large square outside his palace for all to see.

After our time in Monaco was up, we took the scenic ocean view down to the buses, the waters reminded me very much of Capri and Sorento due to their vibrant bright blue coloring! We got alot of great pictures here: