el-granada.com - The Ketchums in France - Tuesday July 17, 2007 Day 21

France 2007

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Monday July 16,2007
Day 20 - Villefranche-sur-Mer

Tuesday July 17, 2007
Day 21 - Villefranche-sur-Mer

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Wednesday July 18, 2007
Day 22 - Villefranche-sur-Mer

Tuesday morning we rose early, had breakfast, and drove up to Eze le Village. We climbed through the narrow streets of the hilltop town, then drove on to La Turbie to see La Trophée des Alpes.

The Church in Eze le Village

Eze le Village

We spotted La Trophée as we drove around a bend on the High Cornice, and it was quite impressive. Dusty and CJ went to visit. I decided it was one of the four coolest Roman ruins we’d seen on this trip, after Pont du Gard, Theatre Orange, and Viason. The views were also impressive, which is why Ceaser built here in the first place 2000 years ago.

Ceasar - replica statue

Monaco from La Trophée

Monaco from La Trophée

Click here for a panoramic picture of the above

La Trophée

La Trophée

Monaco from La Trophée

La Trophée
Note the Gauls in chains - a not very subtle message, etched in stone, from Ceasar after he defeated them

We then drove down the hill to Monaco. When we turned onto the lower cornice we were immediately in gridlock, with a few km to go to reach Monaco itself. I feared we’d never find parking and announced that we could easily return via train, but Kathy said we might as well keep driving to see what we could see. I made a fateful decision to head towards the Casino, then found what could have been the last open parking spot in the Casino’s parking garage. We took pictures, then headed over towards the palace, gawking at the huge number of yachts and two cruise ships in the packed harbor.

CJ and Dusty in front of the Casino Monte Carlo

We had been impressed with the number and size of the yachts at Villefranche-sur-mer, but Monaco was off the charts. The kids, especially CJ, were excited to see Ferraris - for 90 euro you can drive the Monaco Grand Prix course in a Ferrari. Eventually we found the Palace, and bought some souvenirs. Ironically one of the priciest places on earth – Monaco – has some of the most affordable souvenirs in Europe thanks to the law of supply and demand - the place is crawling with tourists.

Monaco from the Palace
Casino Monte-Carlo is across the harbor just above the center of the picture, with a green copper dome roof

Click here for a panoramic picture of the above.

The Palace of Monaco

The Palace of Monaco

Monaco Grand Prix course in a Ferrari

CJ's picture of somebody paying 90 euro to drive the Monaco Grand Prix course in a Ferrari

We then headed over towards McDonalds and had an air conditioned lunch inside under the big screen tv showing the Tour de France. After lunch we headed back to the Casino and got a few more pictures. Dusty and then Kathy ventured into the lobby just to see the inside, then we found the car, drove back to Villefranche-sur-Mer, and had dinner again at Les Palmiers. Our waiter greeted us warmly. Dusty got the seabass special.

Prev
Monday July 16,2007
Day 20 - Villefranche-sur-Mer

Tuesday July 17, 2007
Day 21 - Villefranche-sur-Mer

Next
Wednesday July 18, 2007
Day 22 - Villefranche-sur-Mer