Monte Carlo and Moneghetti (week 31)We started our day with a walk past Monte Carlo's marina and towards the Casino. Unfortunately, it wasn't open in the morning (and the kids would not be allowed in anyways), so all we could do was admire the architecture, gardens, and fancy cars parked at the Hôtel de Paris. We then made our way back up the hill (after lunch across from a Ferrari-Jaguar dealership) to the Jardin Exotique. It touts itself as a three-in-one site: a botanical garden devoted to succulents, an anthropological museum, and the link between the two, an extensive cave that was discovered upon excavation for the garden. Inside the cave was evidence of habitation from prehistoric times, the artifacts ending up in the anthropological museum.
We toured through the gardens, and took in the tremendous variety of cacti, which was fascinating. Because of its location clinging to a cliffside, you can also enjoy tremendous views looking down over Monaco-Ville and Fontvieille. We then descended into the grotte with a group of ~15 - only guided tours are allowed in the cave. The tour was conducted in French only, so we didn't get the full set of information, but it was interesting nonetheless. It is a fissure in the limestone cliff, and as such has an extensive array of stalactites and stalagmites as well as smooth walls where the water has run along and created a melted-plastic look. The cave was considerably warmer than the air outside, and is completely lit throughout. Probably the WUSS (Waterloo Underground Speleological Society) cavers wouldn't think much of the luxuries, but I'm sure they would be impressed by the variety of formations in the cave.
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