Monaco

Not just a haven for tax

By Julia Revitt Photography

April 19^th, 2015

Not just a haven for tax

Monaco has many facets and is not just a tax haven for the rich. We visited in Easter 2015 for 4 days and didn't really know what to expect. I was thinking we'd see a La Ferrari or a Bugatti and perhaps David Coulthard or Roger Moore but I wasn't expecting wonderful parks, friendly people and affordable lunch spots. Come with me on a photographic journey around the most densely populated country in the world...

Monaco sits on the Mediterranean bordered on three sides by France. It is just 2 kilometres wide and is the second smallest country in the world (only Vatican City is smaller). It is ruled by Prince Albert II whose mother, the American actress Grace Kelly married Rainer III, Prince of Monaco and became Princess Grace or her full title of 'Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco'. She is still much loved in Monaco with many streets and signs named after her such as the Princesse Grace Rose Garden.

Fast cars

No visitor to Monaco can ignore the fact that it's a mecca for cars enthusiasts - those that own them, the instagrammer generation that want to photograph them and the Grand Prix fans. We saw many, many Ferraris, Porsches and Aston Martins but we didn't see any of the big three (La Ferrari, Porsche 918 or the Mclaren P1). There were plenty of cars cruising around the famous Casino in the evenings and we spent a couple of evenings milling with the crowds for a glimpse of something special. There are impossibly small Mclaren and Ferrari dealerships side by side on the on the Avenue Princesse Grace to cater for those with a whim to buy.

Parks

Perhaps most surprising of all on our visit were the beautiful parks in Monaco. Full of exotic palm trees, cacti and succulents with plenty of places to sit in the sunshine or shade to rest tired feet. The parks made you forget that you are in the most populated country in the world and felt calm and peaceful. There was only the distant roar of supercar engines to remind you of where you were.

Super yachts

Oh the yachts. Huge, glorious and expensive. Most had an army of cleaners polishing the chrome and mopping the decks. Port Hercule is lined with cafes and restaurants and is the perfect place to look at the yachts and people watch. It was very amusing to watch the fashionista wandering by taking selfies as they go - a strange modern phenomena where the people seem to be more interested in themselves than the subject matter of the photograph. There was a massive yacht docked at Port de Cap d'Ail just over the border in France called the DB9. It literally looked like an enormous Aston Martin. I didn't get a great picture of it though as we'd literally just disembarked the bus when we saw it but I'm hoping to catch one next time we visit.

Night time

Monaco comes alive when the sun comes down, especially around the Casino area. The Casino is quiet during the daytime but buzzes at night with cars and people. The parking attendants are fully suited up ready to valet park your supercar and it's parking spot for the evening will depend on the caliber of car you have. Amazing to watch!

Luxury

Luxury in Monaco is subtle and comes in many forms. From the Rolex shops to the grand buildings, to the outdoor escalators and the elevators to help you up and down the steeps streets. Just think about outdoor escalators for a moment - they can only operate in a dry climate surely and must have cost a bit to install - just so you don't have to break a sweat to get back to your penthouse apartment - that's Monaco for you! Monaco isn't too posh and stuffy though, the people are warm and friendly. We were making our way through the maze of streets trying to get to the Le Palais des Princes de Monaco when a friendly Italian street cleaner went out of his way to point out the route without us even asking or looking particularly lost - he took us to the correct street elevator and didn't leave us until he was sure we understood his directions.

Grand prix

We visited in early April and the Grand Prix circuit was in the early stages of preparation for the May Grand Prix. Grandstands were being build and hoarding erected. There is a subtle Grand Prix influence throughout Monaco, from the shops selling Ferrari clothing to the road surface when you step onto the circuit. The route is a loop through Monaco and is fascinating to walk and see all the famous bends and corners and realise how they were named from local landmarks and establishments.

Views

The views are a photographers dream. I barely put my camera down and never left the hotel room without it! The classic town on the hillside dipping into the Mediterranean is the classic scene I don't think I'll ever forget. Monaco has views to die for.

I think I'm in love with Monaco and would like to live here! It seems I've found a place even more expensive than my beloved Chamonix and am already planning a return visit as there is so much more to see and do. Monaco is only 2 kilometres or so wide but there is enough to keep a visitor happy for at least a week and possibly two. Pay no heed to those that say you can walk across it in an hour - yes, technically you probably could but why on earth would you want to when there is so much to stop and see.