Monaco = Sighs of Happiness

If Genova is clearly purgatory, then Monaco is definitely heaven. It makes so much sense! I mean, isn't heaven is sunny and warm, with lots of gardens?


And roses that bloom in the winter?


And men communing with nature. And seagulls.


And stairs that most definitely lead into the light....


Ahhhhh.....Monaco is perfect!!! We think that their police force exists solely to look good and escort small children across the streets.

But I digress. We arrived in Monaco (post painful stop in Genova) after an all-day train ride that featured several people getting issued tickets for the same seats (ours). Tired and somewhat confused, we fell into the welcoming arms of our hotel and were warmly embraced in a cocoon of great service, friendly concierges, and soft welcoming white cotton. Also, there was electricity and hot water! Martin and I celebrated by taking 3 showers a day and reveling in the hot water/fuzzy bathrobes. (Me: "Oh, I forgot to ask the concierge about the restaurant." Martin: "You have to put on something besides a bathrobe before you leave the room. You PROMISED.") We, in what we felt was a stoke of fabulousness, rendezvoused with Sarah and Ross in our hotel bar, and toasted all of our success in making it that far (to the hotel bar). The weekend was amazing and featured:
1. Swanky cocktails at the most expensive restaurant in town (cocktails were all we could afford...but they came with plates of chocolates! AWESOME)
2. Great french food at several restaurants (ahh French bread, how I have missed you. Oh, and the sauce. Ohhhhh the sauce....)
3. Gambling at Le Grand Casino, and WINNING money (Martin and Ross only, Sarah and I stood around and urged them on. Sarah: "Just lean in like a floozy while they bet! That is how I show my support!" Me: "I'm going to sit over there and wave!")
4. Almost driving a ferrari on the grand prix circuit (Martin: "Please don't. I don't want to send you back home in pieces. How can I explain that to your mom?")
5. An overwhelming sense of peace and beauty brought on by one of the most peaceful and beautiful places on earth.
6. Wondering which of us was going to reach for French and come up with Italian. Surprisingly, it was Martin, not me! I know, we were shocked too.
7. Oh, and did I mention the dressing up and taking of silly photos outside the Grand Casino?


This has been an amazing trip, but I think that Monaco might have been the best part. So as we gear up to say Ciao to Firenze, I must first say, Merci Beaucoup Monaco, Je t'adore!!!