Monte Carlo - Glamor and Glitter

Monte Carlo is well known for its casinos, celebrities, and no taxes. It is the second smallest country in the world. Casinos were introduced to the country as a necessary income for the government and this income source has been so successful that its residents no longer pay taxes. The tax break has attracted movies  stars and others with sizable wealth.

We began our walking tour which took more than three hours and saw the many yachts. The harbor is full of very expensive boats; in fact the second largest yacht had been moored in Monte Carlo.

As we walked along the cobblestone walkway we saw a building above which had a beautiful view of the Mediterranean......it's the prison in Monte Carlo.

Much of the architecture found in Monte Carlo is neoclassic which was popular in the 19th century. It is very ornate and exudes the feeling of affluence. One example of this style of architecture is St. Nicholas Cathedral.

Two other buildings that may look familiar are the Grand Casino and the Hotel de Paris.

The city also has large public gardens which have wide variety of plants. As we walked back to our ship we both remarked about the beauty and how clean the city is. It is a paradise along the Mediteranean.