Monaco was quite an easy choice and we were there on January 30 for two nights. We could live out our fantasy. Ruth being Princess Grace and me Bond but I wish she would stop calling me Alan! Shaken but not stirred.

Surprisingly we found our hotel without the use of google maps. (No wifi on Italian trains.) The land level rises quite quickly and before you know it, you’re up quite high with seemingly inaccessible mountains behind the buildings. Having a kitchenette, we thought we might have a healthier meal but I’m not sure that happened.

The sun was shining brightly as we set off the next day. It was a mild 11 degrees, the warmest we had felt for a while. First off, the Princess Grace memorial, then a beautiful walk along the waterfront to the Marina where I spied private use boats bigger than the house we live in. We found a little eatery there called Bars and Stars. Well anybody who is anybody has either their photo or signed memorabilia on the walls which goes for three levels. That place was a little gem. We met a lovely older English expat who gave us some handy where to go hints. So far, the people were very friendly. Up to the Monaco Castle where Prince Albert resides. Also, up high was the Monaco Cathedral where Grace Kelly married her Prince Charming. Both Grace and her husbands grave were inside the Cathedral. Another amazingly detailed spectacular Cathedral. At the other end was the Oceanographic Museum run for 31 years by Jacques Cousteau. The views over Monte Carlo from high up were again breathtaking. We wound our way down the mountain through immaculately kept gardens. I guess if the size of the country is just over 2 square kilometres, you can afford to pay a few gardeners for their upkeep . The other thing I noticed is that the rich and famous don’t do graffiti. I found not one shred of it! A bit of a walk around the Grand Prix circuit and then off to the Casino . After paying 17 euro each and showing identification we were allowed into the table gambling area. The casino is a magnificent building both inside and outside, over 150 years old. It is very intimate and different to casinos found in Australia. There were only about 10 gaming tables and not many slot machines. We decided to have a drink at the bar and as I looked around you could imagine James Bond being ice cool in there. And who knows who’s sat on those blue velvet stools before us? A quick photo next to a Lamborghini outside. I’m told it is unusual for there to only be one flash car but again put it down to the time of year.

It would be amiss of me not to mention my fashion sense amongst the rich and famous. I knew I fitted right in as heads were turning. My Aussie Disposals coat, my Jeanswest jeans and my Target boots was a style they mightn’t have seen before. Think I was on trend. Princess Ruthie could’ve used a fur but as usual looked quite stylish in her faux shaggy jacket. On the way home we actually found lifts to go up and down the different road levels which made the trip easier as we had already walked our 10km. Not sure how you do that in a country barely over 2 square kilometres. Maybe we got lost a few times. We have loved our day in Monte Carlo, the people, the vibe, the history.

That night, the queen of FOMO realised that we had missed the famous Monte Carlo Grand Prix hairpin bend landmark. The next morning we trudged off before checkout to see it. The weather had changed. It was the first bit of persistent rain we have had. But I no complain…. much. The funny thing is, the previous day we had been standing on that exact corner without realising it. With the rain still falling, a taxi to the station would be a good idea. That was never going to happen. The traffic outside our hotel was gridlocked. We had found the previous day, the locals drove as if they were in the Grand Prix, now they were at a standstill. By the time we had walked to the station, we looked like a couple of drowned rats. I didn’t mind, we were “living and breathing it”.