Monaco, I mean what else can I say. Monaco is almost the synonym of wealth. My family and I went there by train. I love train station, so I will just start off with its train station. It is in fact a cave. Not as deep in as San Remo train station, but a cave nonetheless. A well-lit, interesting cave indeed. There are two main exits from the train station. To get to Monte Carlo casino, you have to take the elevator to the top floor, and take the exit there. From there the casino is just a few hundreds meters walk.
Monaco Monte Carlo train station
The train station exit at the top floor
The view once exiting the station
The Monte Carlo casino, probably the most popular casino in the world and also the main attraction of Monaco. Once getting infront of it, tonnes of people is what you see first, and then the majestic casino. At the entrance, a series of famous branded cars like Rolls Royce, Ferrari and Porsche, sitting infront of it. Strangely though, there was no Lamborghini the day I visited the casino. Just like San Remo casino, Monte Carlo disappointed me for the same reason. The building is almost like a castle, the art work inside is impressive. But the games it offers are very limited. Only a few tables were opened for public. Strangely enough, many Chineses were gambling, almost exclusively. The dress code is not restricted at all. As long as no slippers and no singlet, and you should be fine. I have to mention that there are some other rooms I didn't visit, because these rooms required some sort of entrance fee and restricted dress code. So I can't tell how is the ambiance inside.
Monte Carlo Casino
The casino square
The other main attraction of Monaco got to be the F1 circuit, the famous Fairmont hotel hairpin turn and the tunnel under the same hotel. My father is a F1 fanatic and he was the happiest among us when seeing the hairpin and the tunnel. He was so excited, almost like a child, running here and around, asking us to take photo of him with the circuit. This circuit is probably the narrowest of all, thus taking over during the F1 race is almost impossible. There is one saying describing the circuit, "it is like riding a bicycle in your living room". Considering the powerful F1 cars nowadays, the circuit is limiting the the full potential of the cars. It rather tests the skill of driver. Here is a video explaining the track, by Mark Webber, nick-named by father as "the tall guy".
Fairmont Hotel hairpin
The entrance of the tunnel
The tunnel
Boats, an essential component of Monaco
An interesting story, probably I was just day dreaming, but I met Will.I.Am while walking though the tunnel. He was with a woman. When I saw him, I didn't know what to do and I just stared awkwardly at him while we walk towards each other. He noticed me staring at him, and he smiled a little to me. When my brain done reloading, he had already walked very far away from me. Too bad none of my family saw him except me. There is no way I can prove what I saw.
What I think about the city? I think the city need to be refurnished because its buildings look a little bit old and abandoned. For those who know nothing about F1 GP, this circuit of Monaco is featured in the movie Iron Man 2.
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