This weekend was my official last weekend away in Europe of the year. And Friday night was the last night of summer. And what better place to spend the last night of summer than Monte Carlo?
I went to Nice earlier this summer but didn't make it to Monaco, so I was excited to find this ritzy, fancy, little city was just what I imagined. My trip was brief - 36 hours to be exact. But when you make the most of every hour, you don't really need more than 36 to have a beyond memorable time.
Monte Carlo is kind of a magical place. It's like a classy version of Vegas - but built on an enormous cliff on the sea, and since we were there for the yacht show the Harbour was stacked with even more rows ad rows of enormous yachts than usual, lit up and sparkling against the seamless black sea and sky. The landscape is also dotted with baroque architecture: the casino, le hotel de Paris, the opera house. They look like enormous mini palaces, and glow in a way that tempts you to come in for a cocktail or a game of roulette.
There's no such thing as being too dressed up in Monaco, and dressing up is one of my favorite activities. So wearing one of my most proper party dresses, I headed with my co-worker to Buddah Bar for what turned out to be a delicious dinner and fabulous start to a fabulous night.
A menu truly made up of my own heart's desires: delicious maki sushirolls, black cod in a miso sauce, melting chocolate cake with hazelnut gelato, a cocktail by the name of "Berry Cake." We went through a few courses and by the time we finished it was already rather late in the evening. Since we had worked a whole day and had to be up at 8am the next morning to go the yacht show, we briefly contemplated going back to the hotel for an early night.... and then instantly decided against it.
You just don't turn in early in Monte Carlo.
There was a private party going on at le Meridien hotel as part of the yacht show, but it was strict invitation only for the captains of the superyachts and the top executives of the companies attending the MYS. We arrived to find a slew of people trying to procure entrance without an invite, like ourselves.
I don't like taking no for an answer - so rather than walking away defeated, we went outside through the restaurant, walked around and up onto the terrace, right behind the guard, and joined the party.
It was quite an affair. Open bars every few feet, elaborate tables of savories and sweets, a live band, all set around the beautiful, sprawling pool and overlooking the sea.
We instantly befriended a few Captains, including Dusty, the Captain of the 48m yacht called "Inevitable," and secured ourselves a tour for the next day. We mixed and mingled until it was past midnight, had a cupcake or two, and were about to put down our wine glasses to call it a night when I noticed a tall, handsome stranger walking right towards me... cue dream scenario.
He came to invite us to join him and his little group - which included a friendly Moroccan guy named Unis, a floridian who owns a yacht-uniform supply company, and an Austrian charter yacht captain/chef/dive instructor named Daniella with an Austrian accent as thick as her long black hair. She oozed craziness and kindness - two of my favorite types of nesses. This was a fun and interesting group, and as the evening progressed we became even more fun and interesting.
We all got along quite well - so when that party closed down we all decided to find another one - parties are not in short supply in Monte Carlo.
We settled on a beach-front destination where we danced among the crowd of Captains and superyachters until I physically could no longer stand in my heels. It was such a gorgeous night outside, and I felt like I was living out a personal fantasy.... dancing the last night of summer away with a handsome stranger in the south of France, overlooking the sea and yelling cheers of "À la fin d'été!" as we clinked champagne flutes.
And I just kept thinking....why do I have to go back to life in America?
It was around 4:30am when I safely made it back to the hotel, heels miraculously still on, and a mere 4 hours later I was showered, dressed, and headed back to the Harbour for the last day of the yacht show.
We met up with Captain Dusty and made it on board the Inevitable, which really should be called the Incredible - and after chatting with the first mate I got a great idea for the next bit of my life...
I'm going to get a job working on a Superyacht.
The crew of a superyacht basically has it made. No living expenses, all meals paid for, uniform supplied, and you spend your days traveling from place to place via the seas. Now sure waiting on billionaires wouldn't be much fun, but most of theses yachts are only being used about a month of two a year. The rest of the time the crew is still paid, and still lives on the yacht, just hanging out....
Sort of sounds like the best job ever to me! One that allows me to continue traveling the world, whilst maintaining a year-round tan and expanding my swimwear collection.
After wandering around the yacht show, meeting contacts for my current job and future one, I finally made it back to the hotel and to the pool for one last swim and sunbathe, and a much needed nap. And there in the sunshine, poolside in Monte Carlo, on my official, last weekend away in Europe - I said au revoir to what has been a truly, fabulous summer.
I went to Nice earlier this summer but didn't make it to Monaco, so I was excited to find this ritzy, fancy, little city was just what I imagined. My trip was brief - 36 hours to be exact. But when you make the most of every hour, you don't really need more than 36 to have a beyond memorable time.
Monte Carlo is kind of a magical place. It's like a classy version of Vegas - but built on an enormous cliff on the sea, and since we were there for the yacht show the Harbour was stacked with even more rows ad rows of enormous yachts than usual, lit up and sparkling against the seamless black sea and sky. The landscape is also dotted with baroque architecture: the casino, le hotel de Paris, the opera house. They look like enormous mini palaces, and glow in a way that tempts you to come in for a cocktail or a game of roulette.
There's no such thing as being too dressed up in Monaco, and dressing up is one of my favorite activities. So wearing one of my most proper party dresses, I headed with my co-worker to Buddah Bar for what turned out to be a delicious dinner and fabulous start to a fabulous night.
A menu truly made up of my own heart's desires: delicious maki sushirolls, black cod in a miso sauce, melting chocolate cake with hazelnut gelato, a cocktail by the name of "Berry Cake." We went through a few courses and by the time we finished it was already rather late in the evening. Since we had worked a whole day and had to be up at 8am the next morning to go the yacht show, we briefly contemplated going back to the hotel for an early night.... and then instantly decided against it.
You just don't turn in early in Monte Carlo.
There was a private party going on at le Meridien hotel as part of the yacht show, but it was strict invitation only for the captains of the superyachts and the top executives of the companies attending the MYS. We arrived to find a slew of people trying to procure entrance without an invite, like ourselves.
I don't like taking no for an answer - so rather than walking away defeated, we went outside through the restaurant, walked around and up onto the terrace, right behind the guard, and joined the party.
It was quite an affair. Open bars every few feet, elaborate tables of savories and sweets, a live band, all set around the beautiful, sprawling pool and overlooking the sea.
We instantly befriended a few Captains, including Dusty, the Captain of the 48m yacht called "Inevitable," and secured ourselves a tour for the next day. We mixed and mingled until it was past midnight, had a cupcake or two, and were about to put down our wine glasses to call it a night when I noticed a tall, handsome stranger walking right towards me... cue dream scenario.
He came to invite us to join him and his little group - which included a friendly Moroccan guy named Unis, a floridian who owns a yacht-uniform supply company, and an Austrian charter yacht captain/chef/dive instructor named Daniella with an Austrian accent as thick as her long black hair. She oozed craziness and kindness - two of my favorite types of nesses. This was a fun and interesting group, and as the evening progressed we became even more fun and interesting.
 |
| 12am |
 |
| 2am |
 |
| 3am |
I was surprised to learn Mr. Tall Dark & Handsome was an American and recent college grad like myself, who took up a job at the family business until he decided what he wants to do. He spends half the year in Antibes and the other half in Fort Lauderdale working for their company's two offices. It's a tough life in the yacht business...
We all got along quite well - so when that party closed down we all decided to find another one - parties are not in short supply in Monte Carlo.
We settled on a beach-front destination where we danced among the crowd of Captains and superyachters until I physically could no longer stand in my heels. It was such a gorgeous night outside, and I felt like I was living out a personal fantasy.... dancing the last night of summer away with a handsome stranger in the south of France, overlooking the sea and yelling cheers of "À la fin d'été!" as we clinked champagne flutes.
And I just kept thinking....why do I have to go back to life in America?
It was around 4:30am when I safely made it back to the hotel, heels miraculously still on, and a mere 4 hours later I was showered, dressed, and headed back to the Harbour for the last day of the yacht show.
We met up with Captain Dusty and made it on board the Inevitable, which really should be called the Incredible - and after chatting with the first mate I got a great idea for the next bit of my life...
I'm going to get a job working on a Superyacht.
The crew of a superyacht basically has it made. No living expenses, all meals paid for, uniform supplied, and you spend your days traveling from place to place via the seas. Now sure waiting on billionaires wouldn't be much fun, but most of theses yachts are only being used about a month of two a year. The rest of the time the crew is still paid, and still lives on the yacht, just hanging out....
Sort of sounds like the best job ever to me! One that allows me to continue traveling the world, whilst maintaining a year-round tan and expanding my swimwear collection.
After wandering around the yacht show, meeting contacts for my current job and future one, I finally made it back to the hotel and to the pool for one last swim and sunbathe, and a much needed nap. And there in the sunshine, poolside in Monte Carlo, on my official, last weekend away in Europe - I said au revoir to what has been a truly, fabulous summer.
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