Beamer, Benz, or Bentley...how about an Aston Martin?

Wednesday was a day for traveling even further than we have been. We woke up about 8:30, exhausted from the previous day and quickly searched for trains/buses to San Remo, Italy. The Italian border is so close we knew we just had to go and get some authentic Italian pizza. We got to Nice Ville, the train station is literally a street over from our hostel, knowing the train was leaving at 10:28, at about 10:15. The machines to buy tickets weren't accepting credit cards and we only had large bills and would have received a thousand coins back (remember 2 euros and 1 euro are in coins not bills)..and after we tried about 4 machines, we had missed the train. The next one was coming in about 2 hours, so because we rushed to get ready, this allowed us to get the right tickets, including transfer at Ventimiglia, Italy, and then to San Remo, as well as get more minutes for Lauren's phone, grab a bite to eat, etc. The plan was get some pizza in Italy, look around a bit, then get to Monaco/Monte Carlo (same place), where we really wanted to spend most of the day.

We got some food for the train, got to the station with enough time and hopped on board. After waiting for about 20 minutes, a woman got on the loud speaker and announced something in French. Not understanding anything, we saw everyone leave the train and board the one adjacent to us...so we followed suit (we didn't know any better c'mon!) We found seats (luckily) it was standing room only, and waited to leave. After leaving the station, we looked at the scrolling marquee and noticed Ventimiglia, where we needed to transfer wasn't on the list of stops...but Monaco was. Needless to say we skipped Italy and headed for Monte Carlo. (Now we knew we could exchange the unused tickets we had for new ones from Monaco back to Nice, so we didn't waste the money. It wasn't that expensive anyway, only about 6 Euros to Italy a piece, but still - mom has taught me to coupon clip and save like the best of them...but this is also vacation ;) )

Getting back to the story...we arrived in Monaco at about 1:15. The train station looked like new, and it sat upon a mountain side, like most of Monte Carlo does. We went down the steps and BAM...there was the sea port and set up for the Monte Carlo Grand Prix which runs from May 26-29. There were bumber tires everywhere, signs for the event, and yachts..holy wow the yachts. These were GORGEOUS. These yachts were so huge they had boats IN them. Hot tubs, plenty of seating, fishing lines, pillows thrown around, people dining with extravagant meals. All we wanted was to see an American one and maybe, just maybe we could convince them to let us on. Alas, there was only British and French, and some other flags we didn't recognize. So instead, we walked around the port, drooling over these ships. The street was full of seating, scaffolding, and construction. Definately walked through a construction zone - I'm familiar with that (right Michael?) As we turned the corners, the views became even more specatacular. We turned out of the port and BAM, more goreous views. The French Riviera is so pretty because of all the inlets and how the land is structured. It's like a bunch of C's connected if you can picture that. So the end of the C's and the corners we turn. Just when you think you've seen it all..there is another even more breathtaking view.

We snapped some photos and headed up this large flight of stairs..turns out we ventured up the side of the swankiest McDonald's I've ever seen. It looked gourmet...almost appetizing...almost. Then in typical J-Lo fashion we walked even more and "stumbled" upon the rear of the famous Monte Carlo Casino...yes the one that is in James Bond and was built in 1863. There is a fabulous lookout point there where honestly, no one was around. We were shocked. I would hate to see how crowded it will be when the grand Prix is here. So we took advantage and saw the sights...breathtaking. Lauren is posting some photos as I type . There is almost a small park/walkway area behind it with lots of greenery that makes it an enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere. Then there is this colorwheel/hexagon art piece as you look down to the water (it's on the roof of a building) Picture to be posted as well. This was made in the 70's and has become famous as well.

As we rounded the casino to get to the front...expensive car after expensive car. Beamers, Benz, and oh the Bentleys and Aston Martins...so shiny and beautiful. I picked mine out, a white convertible Bentley...my birthday is July 1st, so anyone who is considering buying me a gift, it's at the top of my wish list :) - Lauren will post the picture of it so you can have a reference ;) But the streets were just crawling with them. So much moolah in this town.

At this point we needed fuel and decided, we're in one of the wealthiest places in the world, let's eat like we are too. We decided on the Cafe de Paris which is next to the Monte Carlo. We of course jumped to the wine section...how about a $460 bottle of champagne?? Uh yeah right. Maybe if I win big in the casino. We got croque monsieur for an appetizer and savored every bite. I got filet "coated in herbs" and Lauren got a pasta seafood dish. Again, savored every bite. Well, our bill was 112 Euros, but hey, your only there once right? It was the most expensive dinner on the trip so far so no worries. Plus we split mostly everything...don't you love how I am trying to justify this? The poeple dining were either toursits or looked like they had money.

Next, we couldn't just be there and NOT gamble. We went up the red carpet steps and entered the casino. This place was UPSCALE! Royalty level. The ceilings were beautifully adorned with painting and marble architecture built for kings and queens. It was 10 Euros just to enter, which we obviously paid and went in. The first room was a full of tables (roulette, blackjack, poker, etc.), men in black ties and suits speaking in French as people threw down their chips. Surprisingly, this place wasn't busy at all. It looked like a small cocktail hour full of tourists and some locals, so we could walk around comfortably. I really wish we could show you all pictures, but I didn't want to have to call my mom from a French prison.

We decided to play the slots and try our luck there. Lauren spent 15 Euros and I drummed up a whopping 5 Euros. Good news and bad news. Bad news is Lauren walked away with nothing :( Good news is I got up 30 Euros, went down to 4, then back up to 14 before I cashed out. So...I WON AT THE MONTE CARLO CASINO!!! Sweet! My grandma would be so proud - she was a heavy nickel slots gal at the Caesars Palace in Atlantic City, NJ for years. We toured around a little more and Lauren looked so sad, I told her I would buy us gelato with my winnings.

We got Lemon (Lo) and Cookies (J) gelato and walked around the streets some more. I felt like I was walking up 5th ave, with Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Prada taunting me to come in. No coach, coach is beneath them, haha. We even found the French Red Cross headquarters.

We went back to our little hiding spot in the back of the casino and just sat on a bench and relaxed looking out at the Mediterranean. It was bliss. Not much noise except for some boats and light construction...so peaceful. We sat there for probably a half an hour looking at the houses constructed on the sides of the mountains, admiring the landscape and the places cascading down the mountain range. What a fabulous, beautiful place to spend your life. FANCY. We snapped some more photos and videos before we left and headed back down to the train. We exchanged our tickets and took the train back. Nice was more or less closed down by the time we got back, so we rested in our room for a while, came to the internet shop to post some vids and pics and went back to the restaurant we first ate at when we arrived in Nice a few days ago and got some of that good pizza again. Since we couldn't have Italian pizza, we settled for Nice pizza.

We walked around a little more after we ate (something we've been doing a lot of) and talked about plans for tomorow (today). We are leaving for Paris soon, sad to see the French Riviera go...but excited for more adventure! Lauren told me I'd be back on the Meditteranean again - I'm holding her to that.

Enjoy the pics and vids,

Au Revoir from Nice...BONJOUR PARIS in a few

Julie and Lauren

....Stay tuned for Lauren's post of our last day in Nice (we leave for Paris at 3pm so there is plenty of Nice adventure left)