Weekend Nice and Monaco

Through the narrow streets of the old town, I arrive at the Chapelle de la Miséricorde, a beautiful Baroque church. The Cathedral of Monaco is also impressive, although it was built relatively more recently. Through the Jardins Saint-Martin park, I reach the harbor, where large luxury yachts are moored. There is also a Christmas market. Before I am allowed to enter the market, I am frisked. I order a glass of mulled wine and enjoy Monaco. The Christmas market is busy. On the site of Monaco’s swimming pool there is now an ice rink, and a long line of people is waiting for their turn to skate. Just next to the harbor lies the Église Sainte-Dévote. From the outside, the church appears closed, until suddenly someone comes out. The 11th-century Catholic chapel is dedicated to Saint Devota, the patron saint of Monaco. I notice that I am starting to get tired. I have walked quite a lot today, and it feels as if every step was either uphill or downhill. Finally, I visit the Monte-Carlo district, the wealthiest part of Monaco. On the way to the casino, many expensive cars are stuck in traffic. A Porsche is nothing special here. It even seems that some drivers do it deliberately—seeing and being seen. On the square in front of the casino, which is fully decorated for Christmas, people are photographing the most expensive cars. Behind the casino lies the Fairmont Hairpin, the sharp corner from the Monaco Formula 1 circuit and the slowest turn of all F1 circuits.