I was in nearby Nice, France and decided to make a day trip to Monaco, the second smallest country in the world. It would have to be a day trip because an overnight trip was way outside of my modest travel budget.
I caught the train to Monte-Carlo. It's a very small place. The entire country is less than one square mile. It wasn't hard to find the casino. I was excited to visit. This would be the first time I had ever been to a casino.
Outside the Casino de Monte Carlo
At the time of my visit, Monaco still had its own currency and I didn't have any of it. But I didn't plan to gamble and I was only here for the day. No problem.
I made my way to the front door of the casino. I was stopped by the doorman. The conversation went something like this:
Me: I'm going to the Casino
Doorman: No
Me: I just want to look around
Doorman: No
Me (stupidly): I've come from America.
Doorman: Good-bye
I don't actually remember if he said "Good-bye" but that was clearly the message. There was no way I was getting in the front door. Of course, I wasn't going to give up. I figured there must be another entrance on the side or the back that would be open. There wasn't.
I wasn't pleased with the "dressing down" I had been given at the casino but when I think back to that day, I think my experience probably had everything to do with how I was dressed. I don't know what I was wearing, but I was backpacking across Europe. My entire traveling wardrobe consisted of jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes. I was 25 years old and probably didn't look like I could afford to be in the "fanciest casino in the World."
I decided to see the rest of Monte Carlo and Monaco. There wasn't much else to see. This was after all the playground of the "rich and famous." Even if I had local currency, getting something to eat here or even a cup of coffee would be out of reach.
I headed back to the train station and waited for the next train back to Nice.
Notes
If I ever go back to Monaco, I would love to visit the famous Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. I didn't know about it at the time of my visit and don't remember seeing it. Famed Oceanographer Jacques Cousteau was the museum director for many years.
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