The first port stop on our 12-day Mediterranean cruise was Cannes, France. While any self-proclaimed film enthusiasts have heard of the famous Cannes film festival held annually here, our knowledge of this glittering piece of French Riviera was minimum at best. So it’s safe to say that by the time we boarded the tender boat, took the short ride to shore, and made our way to the meeting spot to start our Monaco, Monte Carlo and Eze tour, we were already riding on full exhilaration.
Navigating past the streets of Cannes and on to Monaco, we couldn’t help appreciate the idyllic French countryside from the coach bus—a good thing considering the bit of traffic we got when we reached Nice. But at last we caught our first glimpse of Le Rocher de Monaco (The Rock of Monaco). And in few minutes we arrived at the Old Town of Monaco where our coach conveniently parked in the parking structure below. A little ride on the escalators later and we were at the heart of the town.
After listening to our tour guide Roberto cover a few of the key highlights to see like the Princes Palace and the changing of the guards, we were left to explore on our own. First up was the Princess Grace Rose Gardens. Unfortunately with only an hour to explore, we only walked by the entrance of the gardens and caught a glimpse of the lovely rose beds.
However, we couldn’t resist taking a peek inside the palatial Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (known also as the Saint Nicholas Cathedral), the first church of Monaco. As beautiful as the exterior is, the inside is absolutely striking with several impressive side altars as you make your way to the main alter. Oh and did we mention many of the Grimaldis are buried here including Grace Kelly?
Sadly, by the time we made way to the Princes Palace, we had just missed the changing of the guards. This of course did not keep us from appreciating the exterior of the palace and taking the beautiful surroundings including a spectacular view of Monte Carlo. We might have indulged in a few selfies along the way.
Like any good tourist, shopping for souvenirs is a must. So off we went exploring the many side alleys, feasting our eyes and ears with the collection of “Monaco” shirts, hats and key chains. The best part was the 1 Euro magnets. We couldn’t resist taking a few home as gifts.
Prices in Europe—Monaco is no exception— can be steep especially with the exchange rate. Even knowing this, we were shocked by the $2.00 price tag on one lemon. Needless to say we dropped any lemonade aspirations we had and retraced our steps back to the coach.
Twenty minutes later and we were off to Monte Carlo, where upon entering the city we came across the impressive yachts, some half the size of standard homes. At one point our tour guide pointed out one that was even equipped with its own helipad.
Wealth, and lots of it, is something we noticed the moment we stepped into Cannes, but more so in Monte Carlo. Here a simple grocery shopping can mean taking the Lamborghini for a spin or walking the dog in Louboutin heels and a Louis Vuitton bag on one hand. Trust us, we saw plenty of the latter. With the lap of luxury evident in the gorgeous French-style architecture, the high-end shops like Chanel and a high stakes Casino, we can see why many of the world’s billionaires and celebrities often vacation here.
Last on our itinerary was Eze, a picturesque medieval village not far from Nice. With an hour to eat and explore, we quickly made our way off the bus to the local market for water and snacks (thanks to Roberto for pointing us to the right direction). Here’s a tip for those on a budget: check out the super markets for food, drinks and essentials, as prices are much lower than you’ll find in most restaurants and tourist shops. Two bottles of water (1 liter each) cost us $1.20 at the market, and when we compared it to the nearby shops, we were looking at $2 to $3 dollars per bottle. Again, we recommend doing a little price comparisons before you settle on the first place you see.
One of the must-see places we were told on cruise ship to see in Eze was the Galimard Perfumery. Established in 1747 by Jean de Galimard, the Galimard Perfumery is the third oldest perfume company in the world. It’s also known to make fragrances for Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and others. Upon entering Galimard, we were immediately enveloped in the tantalizing scents of jasmine, lavender and rose permeating the air throughout the shop. This place is truly a perfume connoisseur’s dream.
As we looked at all the beautiful handmade soaps, lotions and perfumes in the shop, a lovely lady there suggested we go see their perfume museum housed in the back section of the perfumery. Here we had the chance to see the magnificent antique production equipment and other museum pieces such as vintage perfume bottles and pressed oils. Although small, the museum is worth the visit to see a glimpse of Galimard’s long standing tradition to the industry.
Another special feature of Galimard is the Perfumer’s laboratory. There visitors have the chance to smell and blend different notes to create their own signature scent. Unfortunately we didn’t have the time to make this possible, but we were given a complimentary glass perfume sample (a generous one too) to take home with us.
Curious to see the orange church we spotted on the hilltop earlier, we started to climb the hill, stopping along the way to see all the quaint little shops along the path.
Once at the top, we decided to see inside Eze Village Church. We were absolutely bowled over the beautiful frescos in this historic church, including these delicate crystal chandeliers that would make any gal weep. Whether you’re religious or not, you can’t miss the sense of rich history and communion you get the moment you step inside the impressive interior. Definitely a must-see for anyone visiting Eze.
Before walking back down the hill and to our coach, we took a few minutes to enjoy those spectacular French seaside views we were told we couldn’t leave Eze without seeing. Let us tell you that there is definitely something poignant about being on top of a hill overlooking the city in a new country that fills anyone with a deep appreciation of being in the moment. And that my friends is why we take time of work, pay the exuberant price for a plane ticket and travel to exotic places and experience new cultures.
Don’t forget our next port of destination: Livorno and Florence.
