Monaco, Not Just for the Rich and Famous

I always remember Robin Leach's famous TV program, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, complete with his unique accent. Immediately images of the Cote d'Azur, or French Riviera come to mind, including the small but very sought-after Prinicipality of Monaco. Princess Grace immortalized the fairy tale image of Monaco back in the 80s, with her romance by Prince Albert Rainier, but since that time, Monaco has disappeared from American view.

Probably the most famous event in Monaco is the Formula 1 Grand Prix, whose prestige brings wealthy auto enthusiasts from all over the globe. Run since 1929, it is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world, and with the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, form the Triple Crown of Motorsport.

However, the Grand Prix is not the only reason to visit Monaco. First, it is less pretentious than Cannes or Nice, with the added attraction of being its own city-country with stunning Mediterranean views. Because it's a tax haven, it also has its share of scandal; however, Monaco really tries to do its part to help a worthy cause. Prince Albert II has taken it upon himself to make Monaco the most ecological city in Europe, offering free electric charging stations, using only electric cars for its municipal activities and even offering an incentive for Monégasque locals to buy them. He even personally owns a Nissan Leaf Nismo RC.

We were visiting Monaco for the ePrix, the electric Grand Prix, only the 2nd year in existence. Since we had just bought a Renault Zoe electric car, we were anxious to test it out for a quick getaway from the Alps. We were very intrigued to hear about Monaco's ecological mandates, and glad to hear that Monaco was helping in the promotion of electric cars.

Going to the F-1 Monaco Grand Prix was on Pierre’s bucket list, so he was like a kid at his first concert. He carefully scrutinized the map to see the best viewing location; we headed down towards the marina for front row seats. I was reminded of the Boston Marina with concerts at the Blue Hills Bank Pavillon. All the local boat owners would simply anchor near the open-air concert and enjoy the free event. The Monaco ePrix was no different, with several yacht owners literally in front of the track, complete with thinly clad, rail-thin supermodels and the non-stop pouring of champagne.

The sound of the motors was nothing compared to the F-1 Grand Prix, but was still pretty impressive with the speed of racecars a mere 10 meters away, zipping around the curves in a blur of colors. Of course, we were rooting for the Renault e-dams team, however, the other electric car manufacturers like Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes and Venturi, a local Monégasque car, were equally impressive. To entice the crowd to use social media, the ePrix organizers did a fan boost, where spectators could vote for their favorite driver and give them literally a power boost--a great way to promote the electric part of the race. They also had a virtual ePrix race organized with some of the best gamers in the region.

We walked along the Boulevard des Moulins oohing and aahing at the high end boutiques--everything from Bose Speakers and Bang & Olafsen stereo equipment, to Rolex Watches, Chanel sunglasses and enverything else that oozed luxury. Still, I saw there were a number of Depot Vente boutiques, with reconditioned couture clothing and accessories, as this seems to be the fashion here in France. We stopped at the Patisserie Riviera for a cafe latté as I noticed in the window a sign saying they offered gluten-free pastries, so I had to try one. I tried a green tea oversized macaron made with almond flour--green tea taste was very unique but delicious.

Musée Oceanographique

Next stop was the Musée Oceanographique, also known as the Jacques Cousteau Museum, as he was the curator from 1957-1988, and was the driving force behind many of the dynamic displays. Prince Albert I of Monaco (1848–1922) devoted much of his life to the study of the oceans, leading 28 scientific expeditions in the late 1800s to promote the rapid growth of the science of oceanography. He founded the Musée Oceanographique in 1906 whose mission was to study the collections brought back from his expeditions and educate about the discoveries made.

From the aquariums to the Natural History collections, the Shark Lagoon and Turtle Island situated on the panoramic terrace, the Musée Oceanographique offers visitors a unique learning experience. With its stunning location and jaw-dropping views, the Musée Oceanographique has welcomed over 670,000 visitors. The musée is featuring The Borderline Exhibition by the artist Philippe Pasqua. His monumental works, tailor-made for this show, include a giant silver monolithic shark and a composite of all the debris found in the ocean to create a unique dialogue.

Nouveau Musée National de Monaco

Nouveau Musée National de Monaco is housed in two period homes that typify Monégasque architecture, the Villa Sauber and the Villa Paloma. In 1913, an American named Edward N. Dickerson pooled six plots of land to build a villa and garden on the Boulevard de l'Observatoire.

Named the Villa Coquette, rumoured to have been designed by the famous Sébastien Marcel Biasini architect, however he passed away in 1913, so nobody is certain. After being sold in 1920, the Villa was then purchased in 1925 by Robert W. Hudson, an Englishman, whose father had made his fortune in English soap. The Villa was a retirement gift to his wife Beatrice Sabina Gaudengio after their marriage in 1932, renaming it the Villa Paloma.

Hudson was well-known in Monaco for his great generosity. In 1937 he created the Hudson Foundation to promote the learning of English in the Principality. The Villa was greatly damaged during the Second World War, and in a delapidated state when Joseph Fissore bought the house in 1950. The Fissores undertook major restoration work, restored the Villa Paloma and garden to its former glory. In 1993, a Monegasque Company purchased the Villa from the Fissore family and then sold it to the Principality of Monaco. In 2008, it became the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco.

What's next for Monaco? The Principality has agreed to build an off-shore island, similar to what exists in Dubai. They have already started work on a €2 billion project to extend its land surface by 6 hectares, or 21 acres. The project will take 40 months to complete. So if you still want to see the existing charm of Monaco, better hurry to come visit!