We met just after breakfast (one weird thing about the conference, Mom and Dad have breakfast included in their room but have to have it with the girls up in the restaurant while we have to eat breakfast with the conference on the lower level - this has just been for the last few days since the main conference started).
Mom and I and the girls went to the concierge and asked where he would recommend we rent a car. He walked us down to a car rental place in the hotel that is a limo service but will rent cars without a driver as well. The rep called a rental place and said we could get the smallest car, a BMW 1 series hatch back for 270€. I said no thank you and went back to the concierge to ask where the closest car rental place was within walking distance. He said "but Madam, I just took you down". Yes, but he was too expensive. "How much was he charging?" 270€. He made a face and said "phew..oh yes that is too much, let me make some calls for you". He called the same place and spoke to the rep in French on the phone. He said "yes, she is in front of me now. I am calling from the concierge not the limo..if the price is right she will come now.." Then I realized he called the same place and I chuckled, he leaned over and said "I called the same place" and I nodded "oh, you understand?" I nodded again. He took 3 steps back so I couldn't hear him anymore and came back and said "same car - 164€". Still a total rip, but way better than 270€!!
So we took a cab over to the car rental place and picked up the car. It was supposed to be an automatic transmission, but we got in after everything and it was manual...guess I was going to brush up on shifting quickly! Monaco is very hilly, but I managed not to stall the car at all. Though, at one point on the hills I said to my Mom after I had put it in 3rd and had a hard time getting it going that I was afraid to put it into reverse because R and 1st were so tight - but that I probably had to push down to get it into reverse anyway so I didn't really need to worry about it. So the next stop I rammed it over to the left into 1st not worrying and hit the gas and jerked into reverse - not a huge deal, I quickly braked, clutched and pushed it into 1st, but the guy in the Ferrari behind me had eyes the size of saucers and gave me a bit more room for a while! Every other car here is a Ferrari and Lambourgini - he probably had 3 more at home in different colours.
The car had a gps, so we put in St Paul de Vence and were on our way.
St Paul is a very beautiful little town, but very commercialized. Every doorway was an expensive little shop that catered to the tourists visiting. But again, we looked for the back roads and got some nice little photos!
Right at the entrance to the village Sophie said "Can you take a picture of us?" she was the only one standing there. I said "By take a picture of us do you mean take a picture of you?" She said "yes".
But Paige got in anyway!
The car had a gps, so we put in St Paul de Vence and were on our way.
St Paul is a very beautiful little town, but very commercialized. Every doorway was an expensive little shop that catered to the tourists visiting. But again, we looked for the back roads and got some nice little photos!
Right at the entrance to the village Sophie said "Can you take a picture of us?" she was the only one standing there. I said "By take a picture of us do you mean take a picture of you?" She said "yes".
But Paige got in anyway!
After we were done at St Paul de Vence we decided to take the coastal road through Nice and back to Monte Carlo. We had lots of time, but I had to be back by 5:30pm at the latest to be able to have a shower and get ready for the gala awards dinner which had a reception that started at 6pm. Jay didn't come today because he had a half day business planning meeting to go to and Dad didn't come because he's 'wandered through enough old towns in the last month'.
We ended up stopping in Nice for the girls to use their last carousel ticket (since we were driving literally right past, we decided to park at the park and let them ride for a break). After that short interruption we continued on our scenic drive up the coast to Monte Carlo.
Its important to note at this point that we can't figure out how to put Monte Carlo or Monaco in the GPS, so we're really following the sea and know we will eventually arrive. Now, finding our way back to the hotel to drop off the rental car might be a bit of an issue, but again - its on the water, so if we can stay on the water then we'll find it. But, you can't stay on the water and Monaco streets are windy and hilly and every street inland is about 20 ft higher elevation than the one closer to the sea. So we did end up driving right past the hotel, but at about the 4th floor, so as we watched it go by I said to Mom - "well, eventually we'll come to a round about and we'll try to get down". So a little over a km later we got a round about, watched for a down street and made it to the hotel to drop the car, took a cab back to the Fairmont and got ready for dinner!
Jay didn't technically win an award, which is reserved for the Top Advisor in each of four categories - but he was recognized as the 2nd place in one category and 3rd highest overall Advisor in Canada!!
It was a good night - my feet were killing me! Juls, I need to borrow some better shoes for Dubai and Lynz, I looked great in my bridesmaid dress - - which I did, indeed, wear again! (And will likely wear again in Dubai in 2 weeks!).
We ended up stopping in Nice for the girls to use their last carousel ticket (since we were driving literally right past, we decided to park at the park and let them ride for a break). After that short interruption we continued on our scenic drive up the coast to Monte Carlo.
Its important to note at this point that we can't figure out how to put Monte Carlo or Monaco in the GPS, so we're really following the sea and know we will eventually arrive. Now, finding our way back to the hotel to drop off the rental car might be a bit of an issue, but again - its on the water, so if we can stay on the water then we'll find it. But, you can't stay on the water and Monaco streets are windy and hilly and every street inland is about 20 ft higher elevation than the one closer to the sea. So we did end up driving right past the hotel, but at about the 4th floor, so as we watched it go by I said to Mom - "well, eventually we'll come to a round about and we'll try to get down". So a little over a km later we got a round about, watched for a down street and made it to the hotel to drop the car, took a cab back to the Fairmont and got ready for dinner!
Jay didn't technically win an award, which is reserved for the Top Advisor in each of four categories - but he was recognized as the 2nd place in one category and 3rd highest overall Advisor in Canada!!
It was a good night - my feet were killing me! Juls, I need to borrow some better shoes for Dubai and Lynz, I looked great in my bridesmaid dress - - which I did, indeed, wear again! (And will likely wear again in Dubai in 2 weeks!).
Love those photos. Can you send me some so I can put them in my blog? XO
ReplyDeleteNot the ones with the girls.