We had a 3-hour drive from our Chateau in Normandy back to Paris for a flight to Nice, France (the closest airport to Monaco because Monaco has no room at all for an airport). We′re staying at The Metropole, the same hotel as last time in Monaco.

Needing to stretch our legs after all that sitting, we took a short walk once we were settled into our hotel. The Casino and most of the high end hotels and shops are around a central plaza. At present the plaza is being renovated and so it′s a mess. But a mess with style. Several of the shops are temporarily quartered in creative igloos (of a sort) made out of a faceted plastic material. The central plaza sculpture is different than we last saw it, now sporting a large mirrored bowl.

On the 23rd we took a brief tour of the area surrounding Monaco before getting on the ship. Real estate is scarce in this tiny country so it seems that every square inch of land has a house on it. Closer to Monaco and the coast these houses become skyscrapers, largely condos.

Monaco is surrounded by France but is also a stone′s throw from Italy. It has no land on which to grow crops (it′s hilly and rocky) so has to import almost everything from other countries.

We were taken to the hilltop village of La Turbie, a settlement that had been there since the Roman times. It was the type of place I love. Intimate, each street a surprise. Houses are all linked to each other, having single room apartments above what used to be the stables (the animals′ body heat provided warmth in the winter but unfortunately along with that came rats and odors).

The rest of the time before boarding was spent riding around the countryside from Nice back to Monaco and the boat.

After we got on board it began to rain and became very windy. The storm raged all night and until two the next day. Walking was difficult. I stayed in bed or in our suite all day. Carol ventured out and paid for the journey with a bout of seasickness.

Looking forward to getting off the ship tomorrow to sightsee.