I know my last post got a little crazy long, so I will try to keep this one a little shorter because I know you all have lives out there to live and don't have all day to lounge around and read my ridiculousness.
At last we spoke we were leaving Italy and entering other parts unknown. I spoke about Milan and a few things that we saw and did around the city so I think you all should feel pretty involved on that adventure. I mean, as involved as you can be from halfway around the world of course. Let me take half a moment to make sure that I didn't leave anything out from that portion of the journey. And by take a moment I mean let me look through my pictures and see if anything jogs my memory.
Ah, I knew I was leaving something out. I ate a pear in Milan.
Thursday morning we left Milan for Monaco via train of course. We trekked our way to the train station and while we were standing around waiting for our platform to be announced, we encountered the most magical mustache I have ever had the pleasure of sharing life space with. This guy was so majestic, I swear if you put him in the sun he would sparkle.
You're welcome, world.
So this train ride- 4 hours. I spent most of it writing my last blog post, so it wasn't too unbearable. Thescenery was gorgeous because it followed the coastline for the majority of it. Absolutely breathtaking. We did make a friend who got on halfway through the journey in Genova. Marina, that's our friend, works on private yachts and pretty much hates anyone and everything in the world. She told us that the only way to live a good life was to run into the countryside and hide. So there's that.
Additionally, once we crossed the border into France from Italy we had the pleasure of watching two African and one Indian individuals get forcefully removed from the train because they didn't have papers proving their residency or identity. Long story short- there has been a mass influx of Africans seeking refuge outside of their own country because of the current state of affairs there. Italy is the only country that will take them in as refugees, but there is no work to be had in Italy since the economy is so shotty. No other country will alow them in, so police presence at the borders is insanely tight, including on the trains; hence the forceful removal that day.
We finally made it into Monaco and eventually found our hotel. Listen, for a country that is only less than 3 miles long and less than a mile wide, it can be difficult to navigate when you have no map and can't find wifi to access a map online. BUT, we prevailed and found Hotel Capitole. The receptionist was even a Denver Broncos fan and wanted to know all about our adventures for the summer. Swell guy, that one.
While we were wandering around looking for the hotel, this happened as did gelato, of course.
All I can say about Monaco is woah. So much beauty and just overwhelming wealth. It's one of those things where everytime we would walk somewhere and I would turn around and look at what was behind us all I could think was- "I mean, seriously, how did you get more beautiful than the last time I turned around? HOW DOES THIS EVEN HAPPEN? YOU CAN'T BE REAL."
We walked the Formula 1 track and stood at the entrance to the tunnel and listened to cars drive through and show off their accelerating skills; and by we did that, I mean Gentry did that and I stood twenty feet farther down the sidewalk and gawked at the ocean and shoreline built into the mountain. But hey, who's keeping track?
We also did a little car shopping outside of the Casino. It only felt right.
What I am not still struggling with is the amount of stairs in this country. You know, I would think that as a country you would stop and reevaluate your geographical situation when you have public elevators, escalators and stairways throughout the country for people to get from one road to the next. If I ever see another stair again it will be too soon.
Aside from the beauty, we found some pretty cool things here, like my summer home:
We also found the beer from the ONLY brewery in the entire country. Success? I think so.
Once we got that whole business situated, we made the train into Nice and found our apartment after a pinch of wandering. We are literally about 200 feet from the ocean, so the stroll out the front door is very nice. Here's the view from our living room:
That structure on the right is some famous church, so a lot of tour groups stop right at the base of our building to chat about it. Since our building is a triangle shape and our apartment is the one at the very top, we have spent a good bit of time peering out the window there. Well, these tour groups stop right outside and of course take pictures so we have made a game out of photobombing as many pictures as possible with various poses and facial expressions. We are going to be in so many people's photos for forever. It warms my heart.
After a short tour around the apartment, we discovered ice in the freezer. Have you ever seen people do a dance over the discovery of ice? Well let me just say that it was poetically profound, our dance. I have no attachment to ice, but knowing that is finally an option and we can control it's regulation- that's is empowering. I'm looking at you, Italy. So then we selfied with our glasses of ice water.
After all those fun shenanigans, today has been yet another quiet eventful day. I got up this morning and set out for a stroll down to the boardwalk, after picking up a croissant of course. This morning's croissant was apricot and blew my mind. So good. After a leisurely stroll, I came back to find this:
After he came to life, we set out for a grand adventure. We went to the market around the corner and found a local butcher shop with was so much fun. After we waited in line, I marched right up to the counter, looked the gentleman dead in the eyes and said "rotisserie chicken, please" at which point he looked me dead in the eyes and said "yes". This all happened in French though. You guys really thought that I would be THAT American? No way. I don't care that I had to look at the sign nine times before ordering to make sure I knew how to say rotisserie chicken in French before ordering it. THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.
In case you need help visualizing this adventure or would just really like to admire my photography skills:
After the butcher shop we stumbled upon a fresh pasta shop where the woman was making ravioli, tagliatelle and gnocchi right in the store window. Obviously we had to stop and get some of that as well. So this evening for dinner we are going to have ricotta ravioli and rotisserie chicken. How's that for being a local?
Later in the day we ventured to an actual French supermarket with French branded items and signs that are all in French. I think the best way to think of it is as a French Whole Foods or Walmart. Something like that. A giant store where you can buy a bunch of different things. Folks. Let me tell you. THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE. I always crave interacting with locals and being one with the culture and this was above and beyond that craving. WE WERE LEGITIMATE LOCALS. So we buy all the groceries that we need to make it through the duration of our stay here and I finally got a baguette! I don't particularly care for baguettes as they are typically too tough in nature for my liking- I mean, how does that not kill your gums?- but I will always pose for a picture with one.
I ALMOST LEFT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE ENTIRE DAY! For those that know me, you know that my favorite French word is la poubelle. And by favorite I mean it's one of the only things that I remembered for the longest time from my three years of French in high school. So at the start of this trip my only expectations for France were to get a picture with a la poubelle and to see the Palace of Versailles. Today, the picture happened. Oh, it happened so majestically and magically and every other adjective that embodies happiness and ridiculousness on earth.
I present to the world, Emilie avec la poubelle-
After the excitement from this busy and culturally awakening day leveled out, we headed to the beach and climbed to the top of the Chateau to see the view of the entire city. Apparently the hatred towards steps we developed in Monaco was short-lived.
It really is a gorgeous city and when I say the water is blue, you have never seen this shade of blue. it's like mythical creature blue. So rare that I can't even describe it and I don't think you can see it anywhere else in the world. Absolutely amazing.
Alright, my fingers are tired and the saxophone player has started playing outside the window, so I think that means it's a natural stopping place for this entry. Not to mention, we have a meal to cook!
We're here until Tuesday and then it's off to Switzerland for some skiing and visits to the WHO. Stay tuned for more updates and I swear if anyone ruins the new season of Orange Is The New Black for me, it will not be pretty. It will not be pretty at all. Talk about an international incident. It will go down from halfway across the world. I know people that know people.
Alright, but for real- stay humble and beautiful my loyal followers. I'll keep things tied down on this side of the pond- fret not.
Many loves, all.
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