Of Age

Hola!

I have to say that today was one of the best days so far, but first I'm obligated to begin my tale with last night.

I went out in search of a restaurant that my guidebook had suggested, which was in the old town. After looking around for 20 minutes, I found the place, which was a pick-up counter with family-style seating around the street. While waiting in line to order my authentic Nice cuisine I realized that I didn't understand the menu. When I asked the person in front of me if they new English, it turned out that they knew it quite well, since they were from Colorado! haha. With my two new friends, sisters on a two week trip through France, I ordered my food and sat down with them. Over the next three hours we shared hilarious stories about travelling and they told stories about their college days. It was a blast! I walked them home, thinking that I wouldn't see them again. I was awesomely wrong.

This morning I got up, ate the hostels free breakfast, and went to meet up with three of my high school friends, Hannah, Maddy, and Andy, who had just arrived from Spain. I greeted them and we sorted out a meeting place for after they checked into their hostel. I went back, checked out, and put my baggage in a holding room because we were going to Monaco!

We decided to have lunch in Nice due to high prices in Monaco, so we went to a little cafe place where we got open-faced sandwiches of various types. I got an interesting suggested combo of tuna and peach. It was actually delicious! We shared all our stories from our trips and went back to the train station to catch the train to Monaco.

Upon arrival, the marble halls of the train station told of the sheer wealth of this principality on the coast. It is such a beautiful city, and the amount of expensive items abounds, almost nauseatingly so. After walking to the Monte-Carlo, we found it closed for the next half hour and took up the time oogling at the disgustingly expensive cars lined up at the Hotel de Paris. When we attempted to view the lobby of this exclusive hotel, we were sophisticated rejected.

Next we walked around the Cafe de Paris- a small casino next to the Monte Carlo with no cover charge, where some of my friends played slots, although not with too much money. By that time, after some gellato was purchased, the great Monte-Carlo had opened. There we coincidentally met up again with my Colorado friends, and we had a party started. It was 10 euro to enter the casino, but we thought it would be worth it.

Walking into the casino's main room, it was clear why this casino has earned worldwide fame. The gilded walls and stunning chandeliers make for a majestic setting. To get the experience started truly, I went to the bar to order my Mint Julep, which I had decided would be my roulette-playing drink of choice. However, due to a shortage of fresh mint, I was urged to choose a different drink- so I went with a scotch sours. It was delicious and fitting, I think.

Then it was off to the tables. Since we were all unfamiliar with roulette we watched some rather experienced players do it, and then took the initiative of starting our own table. Sitting at the table, with 20 euros of chips in my hand, excitement and nervousness erupted, and I was ready to play! the first round I broke even by betting on both Blacks and Evens. Then I got bold and bet on blacks and the bottom 12, which let me win back some previous wins. In the end, I had lost some, gotten even, and then lost again and left with 5 of my original euro. Despite the loss, I still think it was one of the most amazing experiences ever- not the gambling, but the fantastic nature of playing at as legendary an institution as the Monte Carlo.

Giddy from our stints as not-so-High Rollers, we walked around Monaco, where mega and super yachts are moored. These ships are ridiculous! They easily have more square footage and surface area than my house. After surveying the yachts, the ridiculous cars, and the casinos, I realized that Monaco is as close to a fairy tale as one could get. It's amazing, and I wonder if I'll ever return as someone who can stay at the Hotel de Paris. If I am, I hope that there will not a speck of selfish or materialistic attitude within me. If not, I'm fine with giving up the former for the latter.

Now, after saying goodbye to my Arizona and Colorado friends, I'm about to leave France, at least until a brief stay in the border town of Strasbourg in late July. It's been a great journey through this beautiful country, and I hope to visit again. I now consider the French Riviera as the most beautiful place I have ever seen. It's good to end on that kind of note. But nonetheless, onwards and upwards to Italy!