Money doesn't make you happy...
...or does it? Would a trip to Monaco convince the kids either way?
Very kindly a Loughborough mate of Buzz offered us his house in Seborga (just across the border into Italy) for a few days and the chance to visit Monaco for the day, where he worked/lived. Apparently we'd struggle to find parking for the van in Monaco!
'Knoxy' had kindly asked Buzz in advance what I liked to do and maybe I'd like to go shopping with his wife. This made me smile and I had a laugh about it with his lovely wife Kaidi after meeting her. Apart from my budget of 20 euros not quite cutting it, my overriding thought was 'what could I possibly wear?!' I literally have nothing smarter than dirty jeans, a mis-shapen north face zipper and 'ice blue' crocs! It would be like Pretty Woman with less of the pretty and certainly more coverage of clothing but no less inappropriate. In the end the shopping trip just became a day all together in Monaco and I feel what I lacked in Monaco-ready clothing I made up for with the size of my bag!
Fi, a good friend of k2, offered to drive us to Monaco (very grateful). As we descended towards the city we were greeted by a parade of at least 15 porches driving the other way. First thought was it must be a porsche convention but after seeing Monaco it was probably just a group of locals heading out for the day. A porsche is a fiat panda in this place... Even Ferraris are 2 a penny. Welcome to Monaco!
We were dropped off at the harbour so we went for a wander. The yaghts started big but then got bigger and BIGGER! The boys eyes were on stalks. We all picked our favourites. Mine, of course, was the oldest looking one with the most exposed wood, Trevi picked the biggest one and Dougie one that looked like it was owned by the baddy in The Incredibles!
Next stop was the Casino.. A big poster of Daniel Craig, 007 Casino Royale hanging outside. We had heard we might be able to go in for a look around. We made it into the foyer but we were allowed no further. They probably sensed we weren't good for the money! We caught a glimpse of multiple chandeliers...took a photo and exited the building.
We wandered some more... Up to the Palace for some great views, down to the road where the grand prix starts and the pit stops are, a good bit of 'window licking' as our Swiss friends N&V call it, and then back to the harbour for lunch with our friends at the Rowing Club. Nice vibe and yummy food. Conversation turned to the boats in front of us and the largest was pointed out as Philip Green's.. He was in town. Persona non grata to the masses (especially since the release of the film 'Greed'), the super rich, we were told, feel safe in Monaco as police presence is very high, there are cctv cameras everywhere and ultimately they are amongst their own. As we left the restaurant and turned a corner an old man shuffled past in sloppy clothes. He walked ahead of us through a tunnel. Kaidi nudged me, pointed at his back and mouthed 'Philip Green'. The man himself. One of the saddest looking people I've ever seen.
And here ends the lesson of the day kids (thank you Mr Green!) We had a super day looking around topped off by a coffee and big lollies for the boys in the fair, but I think by the end, our legs were tired and we had exhausted the options on a shoestring budget...we had licked enough windows!!
The boys certainly wouldn't say no to a stay in the 5-storey mega penthouse (with slide) that we saw and Dougie definitely had his eye on one of those yaghts but luckily I don't think they left with any aspirations to earn squillions and live in Monaco (not nearly enough rugby pitches for starters!)
Seborga is an interesting little place well worth a visit. At first glance it's a typical small, picturesque village but then you notice that it's flying a flag that's more Greek looking than Italian and what are the sentry boxes all about?!
Seborga has an interesting history...it has a connection to the crusades and the Knights Templar being the site where Bernard of Clairvaux ordained several of the original knights. More recently it has been pushing for independence and, if I'm understanding correctly, the government seem to have lost the papers that confirm its attachment to Italy....so?! Consequently it has its own flag and elected royalty in the current form of Princess Nina! A move towards independence, a royal family and the Knights Templar (entrepreneurial, influential and latterly ridiculously wealthy people)...maybe Seborga and Monaco aren't so different after all...?!
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