Monaco is a sovereign city-state. It is located on the French Riviera and has only 38,000 citizens. It is bordered by France on 3 sides and the remaining side is on the Mediterranean Sea. This place should be on your list of places to see, but once is probably enough. It is truly a spectacle to see, much like Las Vegas in the United States. The display of wealth and the conspicuous consumption is at the same time both amazing and appalling. It seems that at least every 4 out of 5 cars cost more than an average home in any first world country. Monaco has no personal income or wealth taxes. Generally, there are no property taxes either. This might explain in part why so many wealthy people (including Steve Wynn) call this place home. So it comes as no surprise that with all this money sloshing around, Monaco has built up a healthy financial sector, which accounts for roughly 17% of its economy. The entire country of Monaco occupies only 3 quarters of 1 square mile. It is defended by France.
Average rich guys out for a drive in their Bentley.The scene just in front of the Monte Carlo Casino. I was sitting on the curb taking pictures when the local law enforcement asked me to stand as sitting just doesn’t work there. I guess I looked like a vagrant. And I suppose that the folks in their Bentleys should not have to suffer that sight.Cafe de Paris, great brasserie adjacent to the casino. Great spot for people watching, auto watching, and a glass of your favorite whatever.Not the Seinfeld “Comedians in Cars getting Coffee,” just coffee in cars.This unknown tourist was kind enough to lend her fabulous smile to this image just outside this well known establishment.Just another Ferrari on the streets. This had crazy gold leaf accents all over it. Seems a sacrilege to bastardize a Ferrari like this, but I guess the thought is that the gold accent really differentiates it from the thousands of other Ferraris out there.These two were really enjoying their gelato until law enforcement asked them to NOT sit on the grass. I could have warned them after the scolding I experienced after sitting on the curb.Check out Roger Federer who was here for the week playing tennis. He really needs to work on his left arm. It doesn’t look like it even belongs to him. Maria Sharapova has more muscle than this.Changing of the guard. Talk about a low stress job. This is all these guys have to do. Monaco is its own country, however France defends it, if and when necessary. So all these guys have to do is look well pressed and never smile. They belong to the same union as the guys that guard the Vatican.A street near the cathedral. Spotless as is the rest of this tiny country.Parking just outside the casino. Great place for viewing some exotic and expensive machinery.As if I didn’t see enough ridiculously expensive vehicles on the street, I went to the supercar show in town for the weekend. Absolutely crazy.Just look at this composition. The 1965 427 AC Shelby Cobra and the lovely calla lilies. This car was perfect both inside and out. Only 150 were produced that year. These can range in value from $750K to $1.5MM.New Jaguar 2 seater with 800HP. Absolutely stunning.This was outside the autoshow. Right outta James Bond. It is called the “Kormaran.” Just Google it. Truly amazing watercraft. It morphs into six configurations with the push of a button. The goal of its designer was to combine the experience of driving a cabriolet-style super sports car with the precise construction techniques used in the aviation industry. At top speed this $1.5MM base model Kormaran will run at 50MPH. All engines (including its hydrofoil engine) may be upgraded to 900HP. As with any high end watercraft, a myriad of other upgrades are available. These could drive the price to well above $3MM. Happy boating.Cockpit of the Kormaran. When you jump into the driver’s seat you instantly feel your own package getting bigger. Even women experience this phenomenon. Also has seating for two passengers.
I drove through Monaco in about 2002 or so – it looks even more decadent then back then. It is on the route we are planning for 2017 – maybe lunch – maybe ONE night at a hotel. Unlike you, we can’t do more than that 🙂
I drove through Monaco in about 2002 or so – it looks even more decadent then back then. It is on the route we are planning for 2017 – maybe lunch – maybe ONE night at a hotel. Unlike you, we can’t do more than that 🙂
Do lunch but skip the hotel.