We started the morning with him opening a small present and card from me (I managed to find one with a picture of the Monaco Grand Prix on it!) before having another delicious breakfast in our hotel in Vallauris. We then looked up the train times to get to Monaco, and saw that there was a delay before the next one. Therefore, we decided to spend the wait walking over to the station at Juan-les-Pins, so we could take the train there.
I once stayed in Juan-les-Pins with my parents many years ago, so it was a nice bit of nostalgia to go back there.
The train ride took around an hour and took us past various picturesque seaside towns.
It was super exciting to get out of the train, knowing that we were now in a different country! Of course, as it was Claudio's first time in Monaco, he was really thrilled to be there.
In my case, I had been twice before, but both times were quick visits well over ten years ago, when I didn't yet have a phone with a camera, so my memories were quite hazy. The first time, I was with my parents and granddad, and we went round the race track twice in the car without getting out. The second time, I went for a couple of hours with some classmates when studying at a language school in Nice. On that occasion, we walked around the main sights of Monte-Carlo and chilled out with an ice cream by the sea.
Even though the country is very small, I felt that there was quite a lot I hadn't seen of it yet, so I was pretty happy to return for a third time in order to properly explore it.
Emerging from the train station, the first place we visited was Port Hercule, where naturally, we found plenty of fancy yachts.
Our next stop was the most famous part of Monte-Carlo: Place du Casino. As the name suggests, this is where you can find the casino, as well as Monaco's best-known luxury hotel, Hôtel de Paris. Naturally, there were plenty of fancy cars for Claudio to check out. It was also fun to see that the bleachers and barriers from the Formula 1 race were still out (it had taken place the previous day).
Though we didn't go into the rooms with the gambling tables, we entered the casino (a first for me, as I'd been under 18 last time I went to Monaco!). It's a really grand and elegant building, and although it was crowded, we're glad we had a look around.
Afterwards, it was time for more Formula 1 fun, as we went to see the hairpin bend, the most iconic part of of the circuit.
Next we ventured into new territory for me, walking through an attractive neighbourhood on our way to the Japanese Garden.
I'd never visited the Japanese Garden before, so it was near the top of my list of things to see during this visit. I wasn't disappointed; it was a super pretty and tranquil place, with plenty of ponds, bridges and even a little waterfall.
Next we headed to the beach! Larvotto Beach is Monaco's only public beach, and though it is artificial, it's very scenic. We had a little paddle in the sea, which felt great, as the day was really hot.
By this point, we were quite hungry, so started searching for somewhere to eat lunch. Most restaurants nearby were very expensive and didn't have options that appealed to us. Fortunately, we came across this place on the beach called Sexy Tacos (haha!). While it was a little expensive (unavoidable in Monaco), the food was pretty good, and the views of the beach were great. Of course, as we were celebrating Claudio's birthday, we had a couple of drinks, and I'm glad to say that the margaritas were nice and strong!
After lunch, we decided to walk to France!
I find international borders quite fascinating, especially in small countries like this when you can literally walk to another country. Maybe it's something to do with growing up in the UK, where it takes a bit of an effort to go abroad!
The eastern border of Monaco, which meets the town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, is pretty close to Larvotto Beach, so it didn't take us long to get there. Apart from a fairly discreet sign, it doesn't really feel like you've crossed a border at all - you literally just walk along a very ordinary pavement to pass between countries!
In order to continue our sightseeing, we needed to cross to the other side of the country. Luckily for us, due to the Grand Prix, bus travel across Monaco was completely free! So we got on board and headed southwest, passing through the tunnel that's part of the F1 circuit on our way!
We got off the bus just below the Rock of Monaco, and then got a bit of a workout in, climbing up to Monaco-Ville. This is another area I hadn't previously visited, and it was one of my favourite parts of the trip. It has some beautiful buildings, including the Prince's Palace and the cathedral, and some amazing panoramic views.
After coming back down from the Rock, we decided to walk to the western border of the country, going through the Fontvieille and Jardin Exotique districts. This part of Monaco was pretty much devoid of tourists and had more of a local neighbourhood vibe, which was interesting to experience.
We arrived at Cap-d'Ail in France, where there was an equally nondescript border to the one in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. From there, we were able to get a glimpse of Stade Louis II, the Monégasque national stadium.
After picking up some water and snacks at Casino, we crossed back into Monaco. Claudio wanted to finish the day by looking for some more supercars in Monte-Carlo, so we took another free bus back to the centre of the country. It turned out to be a good idea, as we ended up finding a Bugatti Tourbillon outside the Hermitage Hotel! Claudio had never seen a Bugatti up close before, so he was super happy!
We got back to Juan-les-Pins quite late at night, feeling pretty exhausted. We were also pretty hungry, but fortunately for us, there was a sushi place open next to the train station (Oishi Sushi). The sushi was really tasty, and I'd definitely recommend it if you find yourself in Juan-les-Pins late at night!
Overall, our day in Monaco had been a fantastic experience and an unforgettable birthday for Claudio. Of course, it was exciting to discover all the glamour of Monte-Carlo; the yachts, supercars, and designer shops. But Monaco has a lot more to offer beyond that: beautiful architecture, stunning scenery, and the novelty of being in such a tiny country. We're sure we'll return at some point in the future!
