We get Ju Nn Phang, who was recently in the beautiful city of Monte Carlo, to share with us what she saw, heard, tasted and felt in the second smallest country in the world.
Monaco, the land of belle epoque casinos, ornate opera houses and luxe hotels, never fails to enchant.
It is glitzy, it is glamourous, it is also extremely rich in culture and heritage given its history that has always run with close ties to the rest of Europe. It is no wonder that it has served as many a setting for movies, books and songs.
We get Ju Nn Phang, who was recently in the beautiful city of Monte Carlo, to share with is what she saw, heard, tasted and felt in the second smallest country in the world.
Ju Nn in Monaco
My family and I did a family Europe trip and one of the destinations was beautiful Monaco. We arrived in Monte Carlo to beautiful weather – it was sunny, with temperatures of approximately 18 degrees.
The best time to visit would definitely be sometime in September -- the time we visited -- as the weather was just nice. You could walk around and explore the cozy city, gardens, beachside, the change of guards at the palace, the yacht club and more.
Ju Nn in Monaco
The country has a small population and a unique economic situation. All around Monaco, material symbols of luxury goods, expensive cars, luxury yachts are visible to feed and entertain the Monacans rich lifestyles.
Ju Nn in Monaco
A must-see there is the Prince’s Palace of Monaco on the hill by the sea. You can see it by walking through the old town but for a close look, we got a private vehicle to park at the basement of the hill, took a lift up the cave to the peak, where we got the most beautiful view.
Ju Nn in Monaco
To see the rest of Monaco, we also went on the guided Monaco Little Train Tours. If you like, you can also visit any of Monte Carlo's grand casinos but be aware that they are only open after 2pm.
Ju Nn in Monaco
Monaco has very fresh and sweet seafood, especially their mussels and stockfish! The French Riviera is known for its mussels and fries. The mussels come in a large pot with sauce, and the fries is served on a separate bowl on the side which is to be dipped in the sauce. The rich foie gras pate is also great.
Ju Nn in Monaco
I particularly enjoyed the café culture in Monaco. Their cafes mostly boast medieval architectural structures. The table settings are also kept small and cosy, seating only 2 at a time to keep things intimate and romantic. You will see couples or friends closely seated and chatting away while enjoying a glass of wine or a cup of espresso.
Ju Nn in Monaco
For shopping, the Monte Carlo Pavilions is a dream. It carries all sorts of brands from Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent to Chopard and Cartier and more.
Ju Nn in Monaco
My favourite part of the trip would be learning about Monaco’s history and visiting the home of my style icon, the late Princess Grace Kelly. As we were driving to lunch, we even caught a glimpse of Princess Stephanie of Monaco jogging up the hill! She looked modest in her shorts and tank top without any bodyguards. We were told that Monaco has no political conflicts thus it is safe for the royal family to move around freely.
(Photos: Ju Nn Phang)
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