View of the Med from the highway
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View of the Med from the highway |
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Map showing the source countries for many of the fragrances used to make Fragonard perfumes
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Bottles containing samples of a variety of the flowers used to make the perfumes. Tiles in front are illustrations of each flower. |
Looks like gadget to distill the essential oils from the flowers to make perfumes
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Flag of Monaco
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License plate |
Monaco harbor - always full of very expensive yachts
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In Monaco, the first stop was at the Palace to watch the changing of the guard. This was followed by free time.
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The Palace |
Preparing for the changing of the guard
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The hill on which the Palace is located overlooks the finish line of the Grand Prix. It was fun, and very noisy, standing at the railing looking down of the race site and the running of some of the events connected with the "Old Time" Grand Prix. The race we saw involved cars from the 1940's and 1950's.
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Sign for the Historical races |
Part of the Grand Prix circuit, the grandstands at the finish line, and the harbor
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If you look carefully (enlarge the photo), you can see a couple of the old-time cars on the course. |
Modern buildings in the town - Monte Carlo
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Street scene
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Does this mean each apartment has a boat dock? |
Pools and trees on the roof of an exclusive apartment building.
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Nice sign next to a storm sewer grate in the street reminding people not to throw trash into either the grate or the street. |
After "free time" which was supposed to include lunch, the group regathered to walk down to visit the Cathedral of Monaco where Grace and Rainier are buried.
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St. Nicholas Cathedral
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Relatively plain interior |
Princess Grace
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Prince Rainier
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On the ray back toward Nice, the group stopped at the medieval hilltop town of Eze to visit the Le Jardin Exotique d'Eze a beautiful cactus themed botanical garden. The garden sits at the top of a hill providing commanding views of the Med and the surrounding hillsides.
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Trash container with a neat Eze logo
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Pouches containing dried Lavender flowers |
Interesting old lock |
Street scene
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Looking down at a bay of the Med |
Church of the Assumption
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Viaduct of Eze, also called the Bridge of the Devil
Built between 1911 and 1914, the bridge spans 80 meters (262 ft.) over the Gaffinel ravine. |
Fancy gate at the base of the road up to the Jardin
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After the visit to Eze, the group returned to Nice along the road cut into the cliffs above the water. The hillsides along this route are filled with the huge homes of the rich and famous. Laurent spent a great deal of time identifying who (movie star, rock band, etc.) visited, and often destroyed, which house - not high on my the list of necessary travel information.
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Road between Nice and Monaco |
Home of someone rich and famous
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Trolly car in Nice
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Nice Airport, built on reclaimed land |