There cannot be a better way to wake up in the morning than with the sun bursting through the window and being greeted by the superb sight of Monaco before you.
With the ship moored in the bay today’s trip involved a tendering operation. Normally this would involve obtaining a numbered ticket and waiting for an available tender, but as suite customers we had a priority ticket to by-pass this system and proceed straight to the boat. Our butler also provided Victoria with a priority card so we all left together.
Although small in area Monaco manages to pack a lot into the available space and our first port of call was to be the Palace. This involved climbing several sets of stairs before reaching escalators and lifts which took us the final stages. We then made our way through the Jardin de Saint-Martin towards the palace. This gave some good opportunities for photos, of mother, daughter and grand-daughter...
……and Joey in his new Grand Prix cap.
We arrived in a very crowded Palace Square just as the clock struck twelve noon, the signal for the changing of the guard. For those who have not experienced this, it is a real toytown type event, nothing like that at Buckingham Palace. Not being able to get to the front to take photos I handed the camera to Poppy who sneaked her way to the front and got some great shots, like this one.
Photography must be in the Shingler genes!!!
It was now getting very hot and Sylvia and I decided to make our way slowly back to the quayside taking the more picturesque route on our return. Through the old Fort Antoine….
and more gardens with views of the harbour…….
….and the ship beyond.
Tonight we make our way down the Italian coast towards our stop tomorrow in Civitavecchia. From here many people including Victoria and family will be making the trip to Rome where as we will have a leisurely trip for some wine tasting.
