Today our port of call is Monaco. The ship was berthed by 7.30am and following breakfast we donned our smartest shorts and most reflective sunglasses and set out to join the rich and famous and the beautiful people for the day. First off was a walk up the hill to the old part of town and to get the best views of the Principality. The area also takes in both the Royal Palace and a maze of narrow streets crammed with shops and cafés. After a mid morning coffee (thankfully not too expensive), we made our way back down to the quayside and jumped aboard the hop on-hop off bus for a circuit of the main points of interest in Monaco, including the Casino, the Hermitage (and for Formula 1 fans, the famous tunnell, swimming pool complex and the hairpin).
Circuit completed (without a change of tyres or refuelling), it was back to the ship for a late lunch and the mid-afternoon sailaway.
As it happened, our day in port coincided with Monaco's annual Super Yacht Show. (Think Southampton boat show but many times more expensive). The harbour and the approach thereto were both full of all shapes and sizes of super-yacht and the waterfront bustling with exhibitors tents and wares, and smartly dressed men and girls, all with tags defining them as crew, visitor, organiser, or VIP. Similarly the harbour was buzzing with speedboats, ribs, and tenders all no doubt taking prospective buyers to inspect the latest off the super-yacht production line. (All prior to customisation, obviously). Some of the launches themselves looked as if they were worth more than the GDP of a small country. We didn't spot anyone famous, in fact most of the clientele looked as if they were Russian oligarchs or belonged to the mafioso.
Still, it was fabulous watching all the comings and goings with the harbour resembling a mini Venice. I must admit that a very small part of me would loved to have seen an amateur captain put one of the launches into forward instead of reverse and watch him scrape along the harbour wall, but fortunately it never happened.
We did however see the yacht "Athena" in port....she one belonged to the Onassis family, and still looks as elegant and spotless as the day she was launched.
Departing from the quay was obviously going to be a tricky manoeuvre with very little room to swing the ship around, plus the vast number of boats around, but the Pilots did their best to stop all traffic and we moved out without incurring any insurance claims.
Onwards now to Barcelona.
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