I first stepped foot in  Monaco about 20 years ago when working as an eager  crew member aboard an impressive  50 meter, shiny, white boat, exactly like the ones in port today although over time, like everything else, they all seem to have grown in size.

50 meters was then classed as a large yacht but now small in comparison to the regular 70 meter +’s  which tie  up a long side the port wall where once the cruise ships docked prior to Covid. Will they ever return -Would  they ever be missed ? – I guess that all depends on who you ask. !

I remember all that time ago, standing on the aft deck, excitedly grasping the line of a fender, the boats engines astern, being positioned into what seemed an impossibly small berth and the only one  available between two like sized vessels, into the Port of Hercule, thinking “Wow, this is Monaco, It’s really quite small” –  Monaco and the berth that is- (not a phrase you’d ever declare to a bedroom partner)   but like everything in the Principality , space is at a premium  and  used to it’s full potential and capacity – I’ve come to love the fact that when the space runs out in Monaco– they build more, why not, where else in the world does that happen?  – well apart from Dubai that is. !

We were only in port a couple of days , both of which I was on watch, meaning I had to remain on the vessel but when asked by The Boss to courier a package to the local post office for express delivery to the USA, I was given an immediate exemption from my onboard duties.  I did think about informing him that we had a shore side agent to carry out such matters but as it was my opportunity to jump ship for a wee while, I kept my thoughts to myself and off I went into the unknown  – well,  known only by what I’d  seen on TV or read about in glossy magazines, travel brochures etc. I was accompanied by Johnnie, Manchester born and bred, Bosun, an awesome fellow crew member who spoke fluent French with a strong Mancunian  accent  and  when ashore in Thailand, was partial to a Thia girl or two or three ,  or boys – “what you don’t know, doesn’t count!” he retaliated when asked about his ongoing “relationship” saga when departing Phuket for  Myanmar then on to  the Maldives “ another story altogether –!!. I shouldn’t tease, I’ve now been living here in Monaco for many, many years and my level of the local language is still in it’s infancy, unlike my three young kids who together speak flawless but secret code , rapid fire French when they don’t want me to know what they are up to.! They must get that deviousness from their father  –  of course not me. Honest.

Back on the Post Office trail, we opted for  the scenic route up past the Casino, The Hotel De Paris, the shops and all that glitters in between it and the Port.

I find, If something, someplace, someone, somewhere  is special, It doesn’t take much to impress me and  I remember looking down towards the sea from above where the Yacht Club now proudly stands, (The Yacht Club used to be a relatively small affair, being housed on the opposite side of the port where the International school extension is today and a lot less expensive to join, yes of course I’m a member  ) telling myself that I was so incredibly fortunate  to be ashore in what is such an incredible and  exciting  location in the world which would in time become such a  special place for me personally. At the time I didn’t realise this and went on to circumnavigate the globe, visiting far reaching corners of the earth,   collecting life long memories, stories and hangovers  along the way.

I could’ve set roots and built happy roofs  in many a destination but much to my trepidation  of ‘Not fitting in’ in the Glitzy life that Monaco perceives, it won me over and pulled me back many years later ,as it does to so many people who pass through.

One of the reasons being, it’s not just about the glitz and the glamour, the showbiz and the cars, the yachts and the grand prix, although all that is just wonderful , scratch the surface and you’ll find the most like minded, caring and genuine friends that you’ll ever find anywhere else on the planet – all in  one small place called Monaco. Back then, all those years ago, walking the streets to the post office,  my one and only misgiving was how on earth would I, a 5 foot zero, nothing to write home about girl , (ok I have a sense of humour and infectious personality that supersedes every negativity one person could ever have) , ever be accepted in a place where only stunning but sometimes scary and unfriendly looking, 7 ft Russian women, with big every things apart from skinny waists and small old looking husbands roamed and paraded. This all being an immediate perception at the time because the minute I actually made the move to become a resident here, I no longer saw just the 7ft models , in fact I don’t know any, yes, they are here, this is Monaco after all, But what I found was true friendship in so many people, (7ft or not) so many nationalities, so many walks of life, so many back grounds and stories – all with one common goal. Friendship, camaraderie, happiness, equality and strength and between us all, we can take on the world, confront challenges head on and succeed. No matter what.

Monaco Diaries…

Shaken and Stirred by Anne B. T.

I could’ve set roots and built happy roofs  in many a destination but much to my trepidation  of ‘Not fitting in’ in the Glitzy life that Monaco perceives, it won me over and pulled me back many years later ,as it does to so many people who pass through.

One of the reasons being, it’s not just about the glitz and the glamour, the showbiz and the cars, the yachts and the grand prix, although all that is just wonderful , scratch the surface and you’ll find the most like minded, caring and genuine friends that you’ll ever find anywhere else on the planet – all in  one small place called Monaco. Back then, all those years ago, walking the streets to the post office,  my one and only misgiving was how on earth would I, a 5 foot zero, nothing to write home about girl , (ok I have a sense of humour and infectious personality that supersedes every negativity one person could ever have) , ever be accepted in a place where only stunning but sometimes scary and unfriendly looking, 7 ft Russian women, with big every things apart from skinny waists and small old looking husbands roamed and paraded. This all being an immediate perception at the time because the minute I actually made the move to become a resident here, I no longer saw just the 7ft models , in fact I don’t know any, yes, they are here, this is Monaco after all, But what I found was true friendship in so many people, (7ft or not) so many nationalities, so many walks of life, so many back grounds and stories – all with one common goal. Friendship, camaraderie, happiness, equality and strength and between us all, we can take on the world, confront challenges head on and succeed. No matter what.