Monaco A Travellers Defence
Monaco.
When you read that what do you think of? Shiny red Ferrari’s driven by billionaire business men with their frozen faced girlfriends in the passenger seat? Luxury super yachts moored in the harbour? Ladies dripping in sparkling jewellery and wrapped in designer clothes costing thousands of pounds?
All of the above?
Just hearing the word Monaco prompts connotations of the vacuous, shallow, self-obsessed world that this tiny tax-free nation is so famous for. And it is all of these things, and more.
But I have a confession.
I kind of love Monaco.
But before you dismiss me as having all of the negative qualities I’ve just listed above, hear me out.
Why I love Monaco
Monaco is beautiful
You only have to look at the picture above to see the undeniable beauty of the place. The whole of the Cote d’Azur is absolutely stunning, and indeed one of my favourite areas in the world.
The cars are aaaamazing
I’m a self-confessed car lover, with an incredible penchant for Ferrari. Being in a place where I can see numerous Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Rolls Royce’s, Maserati’s and many more is so much fun. For a car lover then there really is no better place than Monaco.
Ferrari F430
The last time I stayed in the south of France and visited Monaco for a day, my rather awesome parents surprised me with a Ferrari experience in this very car. Driving up into the hills, round tight bends and hearing the engine roar as we sped through black tunnels was one of my favourite experiences ever.
Me at the wheel of the Ferrari F430!
Being dropped off in front of the grand Casino in the Casino square next to the Cafe de Paris at the end of the experience was totally surreal. Everyone stared at me because I’d just got out of a Ferrari. They were probably wondering who I was, a celebrity? Girlfriend of a rich businessman? Spoiled hedge fund kid? I turned bright red and was so embarrassed. I hate being centre of attention like that! If that’s what it is like to be super rich or a celebrity then count me out. I’ll take the car, but not the awkward stares and attention.
Don’t Take Monaco Too Seriously: This is my ultimate piece of advice if you’re visiting Monaco.
Don’t get caught up in arguing about how it’s unfair that these people live tax-free and seemingly without a care in the world. Enjoy it for what it is. It’s a fascinating place to visit and see ‘how the other half live’ (cliché or what!).
It’s certainly not a place I’d want to spend a lot of time in – there’s much nicer places in the south of France – but it’s definitely fun to visit and imagine what life would be like if you were super rich.
Have you visited Monaco? What did you think of it? Love it or hate it?
I’m Emma, a twenty-something Scottish girl who’s obsessed with travel.
I’ve been to 38 countries so far and had some incredible adventures around the world.
My passion for travel and writing led me to create my person blog Emma’s Travel Tales.