Redefining Rich…

Today we day-tripped to Villefranche-sur-Mer and Monaco (Monte Carlo), and all we can say is “we feel so poor!”  Never before have I seen such a concentration of hundred million dollar yachts, Ferraris, and expensive boutiques.  It’s like Vancouver’s coal harbor on crack!

We started our day in Villefranche-sur-Mer because it was on the way to Monaco and, from what we’ve read, you’re allowed to buy a ticket to a destination and use it for 24 hours (meaning we could hop off at Villefranche on our way to Monaco and then get back on the train without having to buy another ticket).  We haven’t quite figured out if this is true or not, but when we got back on the train and they came around and checked tickets, they didn’t have an issue with the time the ticket was validated.  However, when we were about to get off again at Eze on the way to Monaco, the ticket officers stopped us, saying we weren’t at Monaco yet.  Since we didn’t know how to ask if we could get off and come back on, we decided to stay on the train and hit Eze on our way home (which turned out to be a waste of time because there’s nothing there!).

Villefranche-sur-Mer is exactly as people described – beautiful but unassuming.  As soon as you walk out of the train station you’re by the water, and the scenery is so pretty and relaxing.  We decided to find somewhere to eat lunch since we figured it would be cheaper than Monaco, but when we got to Monaco we learned that the reverse is true!  Both our meals turned out to be very unsatisfying (Paul had pasta while I had an omlette and both didn’t have much taste) and we wish we would have known to wait till Monaco to eat!

As soon as we stepped out of the train station in Monaco we were at the docks and all we could see were rows of expensive boats and luxury yachts.  Using Paul’s blackberry (gotta love technology) we were able to Google the most impressive yachts we saw as we walked along and find out who they were owned by (mostly Saudi Arabian billionaires) and what they cost  (over 60 million).  The biggest yacht we saw was Lady Moura, currently the worlds 11th largest yacht and owned by Nasser Al-Rashid, a Saudi Arabian businessman, who paid over 100 million for it in.  I need to get into that guy’s line of business! (editor’s note: or his pants?  I keed I keeed… ;0)

After gawking at the boats, we headed up to check out the famous Casino Monte Carlo and the never-ending parade of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other impossibly expensive cars that are always pulling up to the casino.  It is simply amazing how you can have such a concentration of wealth in one area!  Where do all these people come from and how did they get to be so rich?  I doubt I’ll ever know, but it’s always nice to dream!