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We could see the preparations for the Monaco Grand Prix road race that
was coming up. We were there on April 18th. The Grand Prix would be
on May 26 -29.
A monument to the old style racers is mostly hidden under the bleachers.
This was the entrance to pit row. The sign is for an historic racecar
event two weeks before the Grand Prix. A monument to diving was surrounded
by fences erected for the races.
The new Race Control building was almost finished.
 
We headed up the hill along the race course. It passes by the Opera
House.
The end view of the opera house.
This hotel certainly is fancy...
 
A small park opposite the hotel looks out over the harbor.
 
The race couse goes by the world-famous
casino. which backs up to the Opera House. The residents of Monaco
are not allowed to gamble here; you must show a passport to play. A
large reflective sculpture in front of the casino.
In preparation for the historic event, a series of billboard-sized photos
of the casino in previous eras and one for how it will look in 2018.
We continued along the 2-mile race course.
Because they convert their streets to a race track each year, permanent
holes, which are covered for the rest of the year, provide support for
traffic barriers.
 
We walked through the tunnel with views out to the sea.
When we watched that race from home, it was more meaningful becaused
we'd walked the course. Sets of bizarre outdoor furniture were arranged
outside restaurants and bars.
 
After walking the race course, we headed back up to the gardens to find
a bench overlooking the water for our lunch stop.
A seagull eyed our sandwiches. Dean tested whether he could train a
seagull.
And so we bade this opulent city adieu. We headed back down to the dock
to pick up a tender back to the Prinsendam where we put up our feet
and sucked down some cool drinks.
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