There is great confusion about this small country, so just to clarify the official name of the sovereign state is The Principality of Monaco. The entire place is about the size of our old farm in Dallas county!! It is less than 1,000 acres. It is divided into 5 departments. Monte Carlo being the most famous. There is a Royal family in Monaco. The Grimaldi's. A fairytale wedding between Prince Ranier and Grace Kelly took place in a church atop this mountain, a day afer their civil ceremony was held in the palace. We toured the exterior of the palace and saw the changing of the guard, but the palace is not open to visitors until June!
A guard doing his duty.
The royal family flag was raised. This means, someone of the royal family is at home. We did not see the Prince or either of the Princesses, but one of them was there.
Kathleen anxiously awaiting the changing of the guard!!
A spectacular view of the harbor. Any of these yachts would be nice to have at Lake Martin!
Kathleen and Nicholas found an octopus to pose with outside their Maritime museum. A little shopping.
The changing of the guard is very formal and noisy. A lot of drumming.
St Nicholas inside the cathedral where Prince Ranier and Grace Kelly are buried.
I should have turned this one! This is a shot as you go around the back of the altar in the cathedral to see that statue of St. Nicholas, that Nicholas liked so well, but also to view the graves of Prince Ranier and Grace Kelly. This is where they were married and where they are buried.
Outside the cathedral.
A fountain dedicated to St. Nicholas. I need to read up on why St. Nicholas is so revered here. It made Nicholas happy. You can see a sign in the back, St. Nichcolas hotel.
St. Nicholas restaurant and bar!!!
Kathleen and Nicholas with a scary Grimaldi statue. Kathleen and a pile of cannonballs!! And Nicholas and Kathleen with the cannon! No shooting went on!!
The gves of Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier. Her's is on the left. Shots of the streets of Monte Carlo, everything from some child letting her stuffed animals have lunch while she and her parents did to Ferrari's and Rolls Royces... It is definitely a WEALTHY country. Clean and beautiful.The hotel in the last few shots is where Charles and stayed on our honeymoon. It is located just below the famous casino in Monte Carlo.
Sunset in Monte Carlo as we sailed away. Makes you want to come back again someday!!!
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