Tag Archives: Monte Carlo

17 May 2017:
Monte Carlo, Monaco:
Down and Around from the Med to Southampton

By Corey Sandler

Welcome aboard Silver Wind.

We’re sailing out in the middle of the night, escaping the buzz and the glitz of Monte Carlo for the laidback French port of Bandol in Provence.

Our course will take us down and around, from Monte Carlo to Bandol, and then across the bottom of Spain. After passing through the Strait of Gilbraltar, we’ll head north to Portugal and then past Normandy and the mouth of the Seine at Honfleur.

The cruise will conclude with a crossing of the English Channel to Southampton.

I’ll be posting photos and stories here throughout the cruise. Here’s our plan:

I hope you’ll join me here.

Text and images copyright 2017 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

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Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Hudson Book Cover

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

30 Sep 2016
Monte Carlo, Monaco:
Above and Below

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

We’re back in Monte Carlo in the tiny principality of Monaco, a 700-year-old monarchy squeezed into about three-quarters of a square mile, or just a bit less than two square kilometers.

A country smaller than New York City’s Central Park.

Today I went for a helicopter tour of the region, from Monaco to Nice, a peek at the Maritime Alps, and across the harbor of Monte Carlo,  filled with expensive floating real estate for the Monaco Yacht Show.

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And then, back on land,  we visited the Oceanographic Institute near the palace for a glimpse below the surface of the Mediterranean and other seas.

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We were also here two weeks ago, on 16 September, and you can see additional photos and commentary in the blog entry for that day

A MONACO ALBUM

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Text and images copyright 2016 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

 

16 Sep 2016
Monte Carlo, Monaco:
Breaking Even

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

Speaking of suspension of disbelief, welcome to the Principality of Monaco and its port at Monte Carlo.

To guests who are leaving us here, arrivederci. Until we meet again somewhere else afloat.

And welcome aboard to those joining us here, on a jaunt through some of the prettiest parts of a lovely part of the world.

MONTE CARLO TODAY

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We head out tomorrow to Saint-Tropez, one of the playgrounds of the Côte d’Azur, a small place famous for being outsizedly famous.  From there to the much larger second city of France, Marseille.

Our last call in France on this cruise is at the intriguing canalized city of Sète in Languedoc.

From there we head due south into the Mediterranean for a call at Alcudia on the Spanish island of Mallorca; it is an ancient less-visited alternative to the big city of Palma on the same island.

Back to the mainland, we are due to call at Castellón de la Plana which sits between the spectacular cities of Valencia to its south and Barcelona to the north. It has its own appeal, and a co-claim to the origins of paella as well.

This cruise will finish in Barcelona, which is always worthy of a return visit.

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A MONTE CARLO ALBUM

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Text and images copyright 2016 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

————-

Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

If you would like to purchase an autographed copy, please see the tab on this page, “HOW TO ORDER A PHOTO OR AUTOGRAPHED BOOK”

Here’s where to order an electronic copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

5 April 2016
Monte Carlo, Monaco

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

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Monaco has all the ingredients for adult fantasy.

A seven-hundred-year monarchy in a country smaller than New York City’s Central Park.

MONACO FROM ABOVE

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A view from above Monaco,  with Silver Cloud tied up at the dock. 

The romance and heartbreak of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly.

The other royal wedding of 2011, between the playboy prince and a lovely and nervous Olympian bride.

A prestigious Formula One automobile race through its winding streets.

A major tennis tournament.

A major jewel heist by the Pink Panther gang, still unsolved.

Sandy beaches, spectacular yachts, don’t-ask-the-price shops, don’t-look-at-the-bill restaurants, and a fabled casino where—in our mind’s eye, at least, the men are all dressed in tuxedos and the women are dressed to kill.

And us.

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Inside the Grand Casino

We’ll also be back on April 25 and 26, and I hope you’ll check out my blog post then.

Text and images copyright 2016 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS, PLEASE CONTACT ME.

SEE THE “How to Order a Photo or Autographed Book” TAB ON THIS PAGE FOR INSTRUCTIONS

18 September 2015
Monte Carlo, Monaco: The Gem of the Côte d’Azur

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

Monaco has (almost, depending on your particulars) all the ingredients for adult fantasy.

A seven-hundred-year monarchy in a country smaller than New York City’s Central Park.

The romance and heartbreak of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly.

The other royal wedding of 2011, between the playboy prince and a lovely and nervous Olympian bride.

A prestigious Formula One automobile race through its winding streets.

A major tennis tournament.

A major jewel heist by the Pink Panther gang, still unsolved.

Sandy beaches, spectacular yachts, don’t-ask-the-price shops, don’t-look-at-the-bill restaurants, and a fabled casino where—in our mind’s eye, at least, the men are all dressed in tuxedos and the women are dressed to kill.

And us.

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For those guests leaving us here, we wish you safe travels.

We’re headed out on a cruise that will follow the south coast of France, then venture south the lovely island of Mallorca, and then return the mainland at the remarkable city of Valencia and the even-more-remarkable grand city of Barcelona.

Here’s our plan:

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Welcome aboard!

Text and images copyright 2015 by Corey Sandler. All rights reserved. If you would like to purchase a high-resolution image, please contact me.

 

26 September 2014
 From Monte Carlo: Gold, Azure, and Emeralds

By Corey Sandler, Destination Consultant Silversea Cruises

And so we begin another grand tour, departing from Monte Carlo for a tour of the neighborhood ending in the port of Rome.[whohit]-Monte Carlo Embark 26Sept2014-[/whohit]

Aboard the beautiful Silver Cloud, the grand dame of the Silversea fleet, we are in rich territory. Our cruise begins in Monte Carlo, where the streets were paved with gold (and silver and bank drafts) of the high rollers at the casino.

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Inside the Casino at Monte Carlo. Photos by Corey Sandler

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The Cathedral and the Palace. Photos by Corey Sandler

From there to Cannes, the French jewel of the Côte d’Azur, the Azure Coast. Then the Italian miniature gem of Portofino and surrounding places like Camogli, one of my favorite sparklers.

We continue to Livorno, the gateway to the treasures of Florence, the tower of Pisa, and the rooftops of Lucca. And then a quick jaunt across to Olbia on Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda, the Emerald Coast.

The last call on this gem of a cruise is Civitavecchia, the port of Rome. Some may want to venture to the Eternal City to cast a Euro into the Trevi Fountain; make a wish and perhaps you’ll be able to purchase a villa in Monte Carlo, Cannes, Portofino, Florence, and Olbia with your lottery proceeds.

Here’s our scheduled itinerary. I hope you’ll follow along.

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Voyage 1429 Sept-Oct 2014

13-14 April 2014: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monte Carlo: Playground of the Côte d’Azur

By Corey Sandler, Silversea Destination Consultant

Monaco has all the ingredients for adult fantasy.

A seven-hundred-year monarchy in a country smaller than New York City’s Central Park.

The romance and heartbreak of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly.[whohit]-Monac 13Apr-[/whohit]

Also the other royal wedding of 2011, between the playboy prince and a lovely and nervous Olympian bride.

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Monte Carlo morning. Photos by Corey Sandler

Here in Monaco we also bid safe travels to many friends who have sailed with us from Barcelona and beyond, and welcome new guests for our journey to southern Italy, Sicily, Malta, and Turkey.

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Our journey ahead, from Monte Carlo to Istanbul

A prestigious Formula One automobile race through its winding streets. A major tennis tournament. A major jewel heist by the Pink Panther gang, still unsolved.

Sandy beaches, spectacular yachts, don’t-ask-the-price shops, don’t-look-at-the-bill restaurants, and a fabled casino where—in our mind’s eye, at least, the men are all dressed in tuxedos and the women are dressed to kill.

Speaking of James Bond, although author Ian Fleming never actually set any of his books in Monaco, he clearly had the place in mind. The first James Bond novel, “Casino Royale”, mostly takes place in the fictional French seaside resort of “Royale-Les-Eaux.”

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A gallery of views of the Casino de Monte-Carlo, on the morning after the night before…without gamblers or gambling. The casino opens in the afternoon and high stakes continue until dawn. Photos by Corey Sandler

But without doubt, the most famous and glamorous actress associated with Monte Carlo was Grace Kelly. After her debut she became a favorite of the great director Alfred Hitchcock and he starred her in three consecutive films: “Dial M for Murder”, “Rear Window” and “To Catch a Thief.”

It was “To Catch a Thief”, filmed in 1955 in the south of France, that changed her life and the history of Monaco.

When filming was completed, she returned to the United States to accept her Oscar for Best Actress for “The Country Girl.” Then she flew to Cannes to attend the film festival, and there she was invited to meet Prince Rainier of Monaco.

By early 1956, she was engaged to be married.

The Principality of Monaco has been ruled by the Grimaldi family for more than 700 years, since 1297 to be exact. The oldest Royal Family is that of Denmark, from about the year 900. England’s royal house is so intermarried that by some measures it could make the same claim.

What was once absolute rule is now a constitutional monarchy, in a very close relationship with France.

Each year, about 5 million visitors invade.

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Inside the Cathedrale of Monte Carlo, on Palm Sunday before Mass. Photos by Corey Sandler

The entire principality is about three-quarters of a square mile or just under two square kilometers.

In this tiny land are about 32,000 residents, but native Monegasques are a minority in their own country.

About 47 percent of residents are French nationals), followed by 16 percent Monegasque), and 16 percent Italians.

In 1861, after a period of back-and-forth with France and the Kingdom of Sardinia, Prince Charles III of Monaco relinquished half the country’s territory to France in exchange for cash and independence.

By giving up land to France, Monaco had gained some measure of independence but lost most of its natural resources.

Something had to be done to reestablish an economy. Charles decided the answer was tourism…and gambling, or the other way around.

By early 20th century, Monaco began to promote itself as the playground of the rich.

Over the years, Monaco expanded its reliance on attracting visitors in search of a tax haven and playground. There is no personal income tax.

Luxury hotels, marinas, and shops now hug Monaco’s coastline. Gambling accounts for only 3 percent of the revenues of the principality.

But they do have a famous little casino.

The Grand Casino and Opera greatly resembles the Paris Opera House, which is no coincidence since both were designed by the same architect, Charles Garnier in 1878.

You can wear a tuxedo or a killer cocktail gown if you want. But no military or religious uniforms are allowed, and ordinary citizens of Monaco are not allowed in the gaming rooms, which says something about something.

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Now available, the revised Second Edition of “Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession” by Corey Sandler, for the Amazon Kindle. You can read the book on a Kindle device, or in a Kindle App on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Here’s where to order a copy for immediate delivery:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IA9QTBM

Henry Hudson Dreams cover

Henry Hudson Dreams and Obsession: The Tragic Legacy of the New World’s Least Understood Explorer  (Kindle Edition)