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On July 9, our port was Civitavecchia. Civitavecchia is the closest port to Rome, but it takes 1.5 hours to drive there. Since we didn’t want to spend three hours on a bus – and since we’ve been to Rome many times before – we used this day to catch up on work.
On July 10, our port was Livorno. Livorno is the closest port to Florence, but it takes 1.5 hours to drive there. Since we didn’t want to spend three hours on a bus – and since we’ve been to Florence many times before – well, you can guess the rest.
On July 11, we left Italy and came to the tiny country of Monaco. With an area of less than one square mile, Monaco is the second-smallest sovereign state in the world (after Vatican City). It is also one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the world. We believe this is our first visit to Monaco; normally Viking ships dock in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
In the morning, Russell took advantage of Monaco’s proximity to France to escort the “Nice on Your Own” excursion. A 45-minute bus ride took the group across the border to France and the French Riviera. Russell spent a couple of hours shopping for French comic books (bandes dessinées), which he has collected since his youth. He also enjoyed stunning scenic drives through the French Riviera both to and from Nice.
In the afternoon, Russell and Gail took a leisurely walk through Monte Carlo. The Monte Carlo Quarter is home to the Prince’s Palace (the official residence of the sovereign prince), as well as the famous Monte Carlo Casino. Monaco is the world’s most densely populated sovereign state. Still, we were awestruck by the sheer number (and size) of the mega yachts docked all over the waterfront.
