Our “hotel,” second yacht from the corner

We were trying to kill some time on shore as our apartment was being renovated, so after Milan, we went to Monte Carlo for the Formula 1 Grand Prix. We aren’t race people, but we do like to go to championships of any kind – so where better to see a Grand Prix race? A friend who owns an Indy car race team told us “Monte Carlo isn’t a race, it’s a social event.” We splurged and got a “discount” berth on a yacht parked in the harbor thanks to a last minute cancellation. We couldn’t have been better positioned. We stayed for three days of qualifying, different classes of races, and a surprising ending to the big race on Sunday – and lot of beautiful people and a lot of noise. One evening, the yacht next to us had a party, complete with live music on their top deck – like having a band on our patio! It was fun weekend, though I don’t think we’d do it twice.

The eventual winner

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene

Princess Debra

Joe Jackson

Someone famous

Race day

Live band next yacht

From Monaco, we went back to the ship in Elba, Italy and then traveled down the east end of the Med with three stops in Corsica, a big island now a part of France. Ancient cities on cliffs and mountains climbing from the sea – some really beautiful country. Then we sailed to the Amalfi Coast of Italy. We climbed Mount Vesuvius which erupted in 79 AD (good exercise, but just a hole in the ground at the top). We also toured Herculaneum a sea port that was completely buried in ash and lava. Strange feeling, walking a 2000 year old village. Next, we had two stops in Sicily and went around the “heel” of Italy with a couple of ports before Venice. The weather was spectacular throughout and we enjoyed each, but our favorite was Bonafacio, Corsica with its ancient city on the cliffs over the Mediterranean.

Bonafacio Corsica

Calvi, Corsica

Siracusa, Sicily

Elba

Amalfi Coast

Mount Vesuvius

Bonafacio, Corsica

Herculaneum ruins

But mostly we supervised the completion of our apartment, so I don’t have many pictures of note. The work done by our Austrian contractors was spectacular and they finished on time – just before Liz and three of the grandkids were to come on. I’m working on a video tour, and will post in a week or two.