Mark's birthday in Monaco

Well I am now 50.... and what can I say , “I had a fantastic day ” so many things that I wanted to do and see in this part of the world - and to do them on my birthday was unbelievable. I have talked about visiting the Monte Carlo casino for years and I am sure that many people have heard me talk about this over the last 3-4 years.

To Dominique’s hard work this has now happened.

The day started off with a small walk with Lucas and Dominique to find some breakfast and to my surprise I received and read the many birthday cards which have travelled across the world hidden in suitcases. Combined with all the text messages sent to Dominique’s telephone for me and the morning started very special and very humbling...so a big thank you to all...very much appreciated.
We had decided that a lunch would be more appropriate to dinner as we had to leave the following morning on the 5:56am train. To make lunch even more enjoyable we booked a restaurant high up on a hill called Vistaero at Vista Palace Hotel in Roquebrunne cap-Martin. Its positioned high on a cliff top overlooking the principality of Monaco.

Upon our arrival the flash cars started appearing everywhere...unbelievable signs of wealth everywhere you could see. There were a few parked outside the hotel entrance and we noticed an office where one could rent a car if they wished.
We were ushered into the lounge bar where an area had been prepared for our aperitif drinks. Eleven seats/ couches around 3 coffee tables each laid out with small dishes of olives, chips and spicy nuts.

I couldn’t believe the view out full length windows. Like nothing like I had ever seen before there below us I could see the whole country of Monaco! We were arriving in 3 taxis and as I waited for the others to arrive in the next two taxis I sat in amazement at the furniture, paintings, flowers, decorations. I hope the photos will do it justice.

Champagne and toasting aside we moved downstairs to our dining table....another equally amazing area with a superbly decorated table and still with that same great view. We were lucky to have Christian on hand, Gianina’s new husband and I asked him to choose a red and white as he had done an excellent job the night before choosing a wine. He didn’t disappoint again. After ordering, before our entrees came out was another aperitif of this sticks of carrot, celery, fennel etc with 3 different dippings ‘sauces’. Olive tapenade, olive oil and garlic mayonnaise.

Entrees eaten, our main meal arrived about six of which were covered by a stainless steel warming lid which 3 x the wait staff removed in unison to everyone’s delight.

My steak... it was delicious...

Looking like the King and Queen at the head of the table.

The staff were also grinning and pleased with the ‘theatre’ of the moment.
Next was the “surprise” birthday cake. Think sponge cake filled with alot of different fruits and creamy custard. Also covered in fruit. It had a ‘Happy Birthday Mark’ plaque on it. I was told it was a keep sake and not to eat it. Following that was coffee and towers of sweet treats.

Here's Lucas helping himself to a treat.

We well and truly enjoying our afternoon and soon it was time to head down the mountain and pay a little visit to the Grand Casino.
You can tell by the photos the weather was misty rain. It limited us in walking around Monaco but we had fun anyway. The casino building was more amazing than I was ready for and built in the late 1880’s it truly is grand. The gambling rooms were beautifully decorated. Unfortunately no cameras were allowed in... so no photos to show.
Thanks to Lucas’s roulette training he gave us the night before in Nice I felt confident to place a bet on “lucky 27”....that didn’t come up at all and after a few losses, I changed tack and went for the rows and ended up a winner getting all my money back and having a nice little casino chip to take home as a souvenir of the day.



As we headed back to Nice I started to reflect on a truly wonderful day and a great experience as a dream came true that will not be forgotten thanks to my wonderful wife.

I will certainly be watching the Monaco F1 Grand Prix with renewed interest this year.