The Best of Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monaco, the crime-free country!

If safety is your number one priority on your holiday, then Monaco is for you. Security for this tiny constitutional monarchy is provided by an armed national police force consisting of 515 men and women, awarding it the reputation of being the “safest square mile” in Europe.

The principality of Monaco offers a great balance of historical and novel attractions. This tiny peninsular country is home to some of the world’s wealthiest people and is the epicenter for all things glitzy. There are various museums and palaces to visit as well as shopping malls and casinos. Monaco also offers relaxation spots along the harbor and even around the attractions.

Take a walk through Monaco-Ville, also known as “le rocher” or “the rock” that can be described as a medieval village at heart with an astonishingly picturesque site. It is made up almost entirely of pedestrian streets and passageways and most previous century houses still remain. 

Must Visit:

The Palais Princier (Prince's Palace). There are guided tours of the palace each day and usually run around the clock. The Palace also offers an astounding panoramic view overlooking the Port and Monte-Carlo. Everyday at 11:55 AM, in front of the Palace's main entrance visitors can watch the changing of the guard ceremony performed by the "Carabiniers." “Carabiniers” are not only in charge of the Princes’ security but they offer Him a Guard of Honor and on special occasions, are His escorts. The “Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince” has a military band; which performs at public concerts, official occasions, sports events and international military music festivals.

The Monaco Cathedral was built in 1875 and stands on the site of a 13th century earlier church. It is a Romanesque-Byzantine church dedicated to Saint Nicolas and houses the remains of former Princes of Monaco and Princess Grace. The church square also contains some of Monaco-Ville's finest restaurants.

The Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium is a world-renowned attraction. Located 279 above sea level, the museum contains stunning collections of marine fauna, numerous specimens of sea creatures (stuffed or in skeleton form), models of Prince Albert’s laboratory ships, and craft ware made from the sea’s natural products. On the ground floor, exhibitions and film projections are presented daily in the Conference room. In the basement, visitors can take pleasure in watching spectacular shows of marine flora and fauna. With 4,000 species of fish and over 200 families of invertebrates, the aquarium is now an authority on the presentation of the Mediterranean and tropical marine ecosystem. Lastly, visitors can have lunch in “La Terrasse” and visit the museum gift shop. 

The Jardin Exotique (Exotic Gardens) is one of the many gardens Monaco has to offer. Several thousand rare plants from around the world are presented in a walking tour that is quite memorable for the views as well as the flora and plants. Due to the rise in altitude, not only are there many displays of desert plants but there are a handful of subtropical flora displays as well. There is also a grotto (cave) that has scheduled guided tours. 

La Condamine is the second oldest district in Monaco, after Monaco-Ville. Here you can stop and marvel at the many luxurious  yachts and cruise ships which usually adorn the docks in the marina. La Condamine is a thriving business district where you can visit the Condamine Market and rue Princesse-Caroline mall. 

The Monaco Opera House or Salle Garnier was built by the famous architect Charles Garnier. The auditorium of the opera house is decorated in red and gold and has frescoes and sculptures all around the auditorium.There have been some of the most superior international performances of ballet, opera and concerts held in the opera house for more than a century.

The Princes Car Collection For any car enthusiast, it is the place to go, there is everything, from carriges and old cars, to formula 1 race cars.

The Grand Casino and gamble alongside the world's richest and often most famous. You'll need your passport to enter (as Monégasque citizens are prohibited from gambling at the casino), and thefees for entry range enormously depending on what room you are going to - often from 30€ right up into the hundreds. You can also visit the casino without gambling, but also for a nominal fee. The dress code inside is extremely strict - men are required to wear coats and ties, and casual or 'tennis' shoes are forbidden. The gaming rooms themselves are spectacular, with stained glass, paintings, and sculptures everywhere. 

Must Try:

Monaco's streets hosts the best known Formula 1 Grand Prix. It is also one of Europe's premier social highlights of the year. The Automobile Club of Monaco organizes this spectacular Formula 1 race each year. The Grand Prix is 78 laps around 3.34 kilometers of Monte Carlo's most narrow and twisted streets. The main attraction of the Monaco Grand Prix is the proximity of the speeding Formula One cars to the race spectators. The thrill of screaming engines, smoking tires and determined drivers also makes the Monaco Grand Prix one of the most exciting races in the world. 

Aquavision: Discover Monaco from the sea during this fascinating boat tour! “Aquavision” is a catamaran-type boat equipped with two windows in the hull for underwater vision, thus allowing the passengers to explore the natural seabed of the coast in an unusual way. 

Azur Express: Fun tourist trains make daily tours all over Monaco. You will visit the Monaco Port, Monte-Carlo and its Palaces, the famous Casino and its gardens, the Old Town for City Hall and finally the royal Prince’s Palace. Commentaries are in English, Italian, German and French.

Monaco is the second smallest independent state in the world, after the Vatican city yet a country that will definitely give you a glitzy holiday experience.

Malade être de retour Monaco! 

LOVE A GIRL WHO TRAVELS!

Date a girl who travels. Choose a girl who would rather save up for out of town trips or day trips than buy new shoes or clothes. She may not look like a fashion plate, but behind that tanned and freckled face from all the days out in the sun, lies a mind that can take you places and an open heart that will take you for what you are, not for what you can be. 

Date a girl who travels. You’ll recognize her by the backpack she always carries. She won’t be carrying a dainty handbag; where will she put her travel journal, her pens, and the LED flashlight that’s always attached to her bag’s zipper? In a small purse, how can she bring the small coil of travel string, the wet tissues, the box of cracker, and the bottle of water she’s always ready with, just in case something happens and she can’t go home yet?

Yes, a girl who travels knows that anytime, anything can happen and she just has to be prepared with it. Nothing takes her by surprise; she takes everything with equanimity, knowing that such things are always a part of life. She’s reliable and dependable, traits that she’s learned while on the road.

You’ll also recognize a girl who travels by the fact that she’s always amazed at the world around her, no matter if she’s in her home town or in a place that’s totally new. She sees beauty all around her, not just the ones featured in travel guides or shown in postcards. A girl who travels has developed a deeper appreciation for life. She won’t judge you, or pressure you to do things you don’t want to do. She knows too much about the importance of identity and self-efficacy, and she will appreciate all the more if you won’t pretend to be who you’re not.

You can lie to a girl who travels and make mistakes, and you can also be as idiosyncratic as you can be. Trust me, she has seen so much worse in her travels, and knows firsthand the vagaries of human nature.

Choose a girl who travels, because when you’re with her, you’ll realize that even though she’s toured around the entire of Europe, met the Pope in the Vatican, ran by the magical streets in Venice, or went skinny-dipping in the caves in the Philippines, she still retains that humility that is the mark of a real traveler. She knows she’s been to a lot of places, but she’s humbled by the fact that the world is still a big place and she’s only seen a small part of it. Seeing this in her can make you feel all right with yourself too; there’s no need for you to do more, to be more. What you are is enough.

When you meet a girl who travels, ask her where she’s been and what she’s going to do next. She will appreciate your interest, and if you’re lucky, she may even invite you to join her. When she does, do. Nothing bonds people better than traveling. On your trips, you will both see each other’s best and worst characteristics, and you can then decide whether she’s worth fighting for.

It’s easy enough to date a girl who travels. She won’t want expensive gifts; you can buy her (or both of you) cheap tickets to Macau for the weekend, and she’ll be more than happy to take you for an adventure of a lifetime. You don’t even have to go overseas; you can take her out on day trips, camping or hiking, or treat her to a full body massage.

You can also buy her the little things that she keeps forgetting to buy for herself; that carabiner that will attach her backpack to her seat so that she will feel easier about sleeping on her bus trip, or a backpack cover, a small alarm clock, a  money belt, or maybe another scarf that will replace the one she lost in Spain.

She won’t mind if you get lost on your way to a date. She knows that oftentimes, the journey is more important than the destination. She will help you see the lighter side of things. She’ll walk along with you, not behind you, pointing out the interesting bits of things you’ll see on the way. Before long, you’ll realize that yes, the journey has been more memorable than the destination that you’ve planned to take her to.

Is a girl who travels worth it? Yes, she is. So when you find her, keep her. Don’t lose her with your insecurities and doubts. Because when she says she loves you, she really does. After all, she’s seen so many things, met so many people, and if she had chosen you, better grab that opportunity and thank the gods that you were lucky enough she’s chosen you and not that bloke she met while watching the sunset in Pigeon Island in the Caribbean, or while partying in Monaco.

If she says she loves you, she must have seen something in you, something that can always call her back from her travels, something that can anchor her to the world in the way that she wants to after weeks and months of being on the road.

Love a girl who travels. Make her feel safe, warm, and secure. Make her believe that no matter where she goes, and however long she’s gone, you’ll always be there for her, the one that she can call home.

Date a girl who travels. Choose her, love her, and marry her, and your world will never be the same again.

The Undiscovered; Calaguas Island

If there's any holiday in the calender apart from Christmas and New Years that most Filipinos are excited about, it's the Holy Week; a long vacation when we can spend quality time with family and friends. A holy week fever when places like Boracay, Coron or Cebu are fully booked and since I always opted for a different kind of adventure, me and my boyfriend decided to go beach camping in Bicolandia.

After an 8-hour drive from Manila, Ian and I reached Camarines Norte at half past five in the morning. This was my second time in Bicol but this will be my first time to one of their surfing spot, Calaguas Island. With the help of Ian's cousin and a group of 20 other people, a two hour boat ride brought us to an Island where most travelers haven't reached yet. 

Going through the rough seas was worth the trip considering the stretch of fine white sand that will razzle dazzle you kilometers away from the island. An island that boasts its powdery white sands, crystal-clear waters and unspoiled natural resources embraced by a serene and charming atmosphere.

Stunned with its beauty, my boyfriend and I started taking pictures wanting to envy our family and friends about this undiscovered Calaguas Island. We just can't help it but start pitching our tent so we can shelter our bags while we sunbathe at the shores. Luckily there was one nipa house standing at the center of the island with its restroom that was generously alloted for the visitors of the island.

Food was included in the package and I just couldn't resist a plateful of  Bicol's well-known 'laing' and 'pinagsantolan' together with fresh tomatoes, fish, and rice. I even brought home 'pinagsantolan' which my Dad  really liked back home. With the heat and unlimited facilities on the island, it was so delighting to see that a local decided to have a halo halo stand to feed the visitors cravings for a refreshment.

To add more, typical beach activities made it a perfect summer spot such as surfing, skim boarding, snorkeling, trekking on the mountain found on the islands side, sunset watching, and a henna artist to complete it. With the picture perfect Calaguas Island and its great waves, most visitors engaged themselves to surfing and skim boarding with the help of a known skimboarder/surfer/ islander, TJ (Slick Surf Skimboards Pilipinas).

A great experience, an awesome place, a great group headed by an excellent organizer. There was no hotel, no signal, no lights, and no doubt it was an awesome Calaguas Island.