Last Romp on the Royal Riviera

We resolutely rose early to use the cool of the day and avoid the bus loads of tourists on the winding coastal route from Nice to Monaco. The blues and greens, sapphire and emerald of the Mediterranean dazzled us, seen from the towering rocky claws of the Alps that reach toward this jewel of sun-drenched paradise. There were multiple plans for increased personal income floated about with the purpose of return trips to this inviting coast.














The postage stamp of a country that is Monaco packed in maximum wealth in villas, cars, and yachts. We wandered by the Marine studies aquarium with its mini-submersible and statue honoring sea life obliging us to sing a chorus of “Yellow Submarine” with the sublime realization that the octopus really does have a garden by the sea.

The garden walk dedicated to Princess Grace led us along the sea, beside the cathedral closed to tourists during the Sunday Mass, and up through the town to the Palace of the Grimaldis. This family traces its history back to the 13th century when an ancestor returned from exile disguised as a monk to reclaim his heritage. The clever decision to open a casino and to offer tax shelter for the wealthy has made Monte Carlo a world famous name, augmented by the famed Grand Prix.

We drove up winding roads to the hilltop village of Eze where we lunched and wandered, ending up at the top of the outcrop of rock on which the church is perched. The shopping along the way featured the lovely Provencal fabrics, lavender sachets, and of course, Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Porshes, too, perhaps. There was drooling. There were guards to ward off droolers.

An afternoon lesson on aromatherapy, essential oils, and health by the honey-voiced British therapist who lives and works in Monte Carlo (with unbelievably rich clients) had a soporific effect that we fought off with difficulty. The activity roused us as we combined our choice of 8 oils in almond oil to make 2 bottles of therapeutic balm. We had a chance to guess the 3 scents in a fragrance contest and had 3 winners who knew cloves (Carly, Hannah, and who?).

After a brief but enlightening tour of the Fragonard factory by Magdalena, we shopped for perfumes, soaps, colognes, and bath salts. I found my favorite perfume, Ile d’amour, but not the cream sachets that I like for gifts. It was a sweet end to our last day of touring, and made even Nicer by a last Mediterranean swim before dinner.

(Photo at left: Science Gleaning Knowledge of Life from the Sea)



We said our farewells to Amanda, our guide, since she planned to accompany Texas and Alaska in the morning, and Patricia gave her the scarf that she knit on the bus while we traveled. As one of her “knit-wit” sponsors and a knit-wit grandma, I was immensely proud of that generous gesture.

What an amazing group of well-mannered students respectful of each other and their teachers, with simply splendid parents who did their best to mother children not their own: never easy. It was a joy and a privilege for me to travel with this group, the other teachers, the parents, the students, a time that I hope has opened wide the vision of these youth to a planet awaiting their arrival as leading world citizens.