Page 12: Monaco 2010

Monaco

Today is September 1, 2010 - our 20th wedding anniversary!

Monaco is a Principality - that means it's ruled by a prince - at this time, Prince Albert II. Like the Vatican, it is an independent city-state - the second smallest in the world and is bordered by France on three sides and the Mediterranean Sea on the other side. 

It has a very interesting history with strong linkages to both Italy and France.

Monaco is a tourist destination and recreation center for the rich and famous. It is the richest country in the world with the highest number of millionaires and billionaires and the lowest unemployment (0%) in the world. Monaco attracts some of the world's richest people because it does not collect individual income tax. One of its major tourist attractions is Le Grand Casino de Monte Carlo (gambling casino) that helped the country recover from an economic slump in the mid 19th century. 

This is a statue by Damien Hirst in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Oceanographic Museum. The other side of this statue shows the outer skin. There is a similar statue of a pregnant woman on the waterfront side of the building.

Monaco's Oceanographic Museum was inaugurated in 1910 by Prince Albert I. The famous Jacques Cousteau was its director from 1957 to 1988. 

Near the Royal Palace there is a beautiful garden. Here is a pond full of koi fish. The strings, laid out on top of the pond, prevent the seagulls from eating the fish.  Mighty ingenious!

The Cathedral of our Lady of the Immaculate Conception consecrated in 1875 sits on the site of Monaco's first parish church, St. Nicholas Cathedral which was built in 1252. 

According to a 1918 treaty between Monaco and France, the ruler of Monaco must always be from the House (family) of Grimaldi. If not, the country would no longer be independent and become a French protectorate. 

Monaco became of interest in my world because of a famous love story between Prince Rainier III and American Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly who married in 1956. She was gorgeous and he was handsome and it all sounded so romantic and exotic. 

Unfortunately, Princess Grace died in a car crash in 1982. Her remains are entombed inside the Cathedral.

The Prince's Palace of Monaco has been the one and only residence of the Grimaldi family for 700 years. Unlike other royals, their lands are so small that they cannot build new palaces or castles. Instead, they have focused on adding wings and renovating the one built as a Genoese fortress in 1191.

Although it is old, it's very lovely. We take a guided tour inside the palace, but unfortunately are not permitted to take photos. 

These guards are posted at the Palace doors - don't they look like Mounties?

Monaco places great importance on health and prevention and you can find up to 30 defibrillators in and around Monaco. 

In 2008, nurses held public training sessions on the use of the defibrillators.

Monaco is made up of 5 separate quartiers (wards):  Monaco-Ville, Monte Carlo, La Condamine, Fontvieille and the suburb of Moneghetti.

This is Fontvieille which is a very large tract of land reclaimed from the sea in the 1970s.

Today is a very special day for us and it is the end of our Mediterranean cruise. Tomorrow we land in Barcelona and fly off to Cairo, Egypt for the next leg of our 2010 journey.

We have a lovely anniversary dinner at the Crown Grill where we enjoy lobster and other fine sea food. 

View my next blog: Egypt 2010.