All Around the World-Villefranche (Wednesday)

London, Paris, Monte Carlo, Germany and Rome
Different places, different faces
Still it feels like home................

That would be Boyz II Men with All Around the World. Today we are in Monte Carlo, Monaco and Nice (the French Riviera)

Okay, so let's go with our day in Villefranche, France. First I must say, this has been the most beautiful port of all the ports we have visited and of course, the most expensive also! (No wonder I liked it so much!). Everywhere you look people are driving Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari's, etc., etc. Of course, they are living the lifestyle too!

We again were at a port that we would have to tender into. No problem though. We were on the first tender out on the morning as we had a 7:30 excursion meeting time to go into the Marina, Monaco and the Little Train Tour. The water is so clear you can see to the bottom of the sea from the tender boat.

We were the 115, 116 and 117 guests off the ship this morning. We were in the bus by 8 a.m. and on our way! Took a beautiful, narrow drive up the steep cliffs of Villefranche and headed towards the marina to see the beautiful yachts of Monaco which each cost more than my home in Salt Lake City. It was fun to see the "boat" boys polishing and cleaning the yachts so early in the morning for the rich and famous, and rich and not-so-famous residents of Monaco and Monte Carlo. I am not kidding when I say there were hundreds of very large boats to yachts in the harbor. Makes our 25 foot cabin cruiser at home look like the poor sheep of the family.

The whole French Riviera is amazing. After World War II, Villefranche's port served as home to the United States Navy's 6th fleet (for you history buffs out there). Tina Turner has a villa in Villefranche as well as Bono (lead singer for U2). Didn't run into either one of them though. Their villas were incredible overlooking the sea though. Heard this is the most expensive place in the world to own real estate.

We headed up to Monaco after our stop at the Grand Marina. Monaco is the 2nd smallest independent city-state in the world next to the Vatican City. The current prince of Monaco is available for marriage. (Maybe I ought to hook Jamie up with him!) Monaco is also home to hte Formula One Race the Monaco Grand Prix.

We took our bus into the "rock" and then headed up pass the oceangraphic museum where we saw Jacque Costeau's submarine and then walked through Monaco's gardens as we headed up to the Palace. We walked by the cathedral where we were going to go in and see Princess Grace Kelly and Prince Raneir's tombs, but a funeral was starting, so we had to by pass the cathedral.

Got up to the palace and hooked up with the DCL photographers, getting our pictures taken and then watched the guard march back and forth in front of the palace.

We had an 11 a.m. reservation for our tour to take the train around Monac, so we headed down the street and walked passed Princess Caroline's residence. Got on the train and then rode it through Monte Carlo and along the race track where the actual grand prix takes place. The headed past some extremely expensive homes and hotels and fountains in Monte Carlo.

One interesting thing about Monaco is they have very little crime. Found out that everywhere you go you are on camera as they have hidden security cameras everywhere. Hope I didn't do anything too embarrassing! HA!

It is again an extremely hot day, but the train was open aired and had a cover on top, so it was very nice. At the end of the train ride it was 11:50 a.m. and we stopped again in front of the palace. The changing of the guards was going to take place at 11:55 a.m. (not 12 noon mind you, but 11:55 a.m.) and so we all got off the train and stood behind the chained off area and watched the private police force of soldiers that the prince personally pays himself with his own money. They play music and have one drummer, and do the whole historic thing. One thing I have seen all across our journey is they are very steep in their traditions and carry them on even today. There were about 12 guards in the procession. Probably about 3,000 people in front of the palace watching the changing of the guards.

After that, we met up with our tour guide and fortunately the funeral was over, so we were able to go into the incredible cathedral of Monaco and see the tombs of Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier. There is also an exhibit in Monaco for a month or two of Grace Kelly and her life, but we didn't have time to visit.

We then wandered on back to the bus and headed over to Nice to get an overview of that city. Once again, it was huge. The amount of people they pack into small places is just hard to invision without seeing with your own eyes.

After that, we headed back to the port of Villefranche and tendered back to the ship. Enjoyed the afternoon by sleeping out next to the adult pool and then Jamie and I headed to go see the show "When Mickey Dreams". They have made a few little changes since we saw the premiere on the TransAtlantic Cruise. But basically it is a Cirque de Soleil show with Mickey dreaming about what he can be. I still think they shouldn't have used my favorite music from the Epcot Millinieum Celebration. I just can't see words with the words "dream" in them, when they are playing the millinium celebration music.

We then headed to a normal 8:30 p.m. dinner. It was lobster night. Robert and Tom enjoyed a couple of lobster each (at least two) and by the time we got done with dinner it was after 10:30 p.m. so we headed up to deck 9 for the Party Paradiso. It was winding down. Didn't really miss much, since I had seen it before.

We were late departing Villefranche because we were still waiting on the Monte Carlo Casino Excursion to tender back to the ship, so I finally headed to bed at 11:30 p.m. and we were still waiting for the last tender to come in.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is our last port, Marseille, France and then we have a relaxing day at sea before heading into Barcelona Saturday morning.

(Hey Nina-saw your note-glad work is "quiet" and nothing is going on. Hope to see you before you go on vacation!)

Sea U Later!