While we were staying for two weeks in Nice, we also took time to explore the surroundings. So on one of the Wednesdays we were there, we took time off of work and did a day trip to Monaco. This is an easy trip, given that there are trains linking Nice with this small country. So we took it and of course, we wanted to check out perhaps its most famous fixture, the Casino de Monte-Carlo.
We learned beforehand that the casino is open for touristic visits during the morning, but after 14:00 it is open for business, i.e., for gambling. We were not interested in gambling, so we went there early, and was the first thing we checked out when we were in Monaco.
We were walking from the train station to the casino, and as we were getting closer, we noticed that there were plenty of sports cars and other fancy vehicles coming and going. I suppose Monaco is definitely a rich person's paradise. Not for me, but in any case, worth a visit, perhaps a day trip. And eventually, we saw the exterior of the casino. We were definitely not fancily dressed, but good thing that was not an issue when visiting.
We found the ticket booth, and procured two tickets to be able to visit the casino. We were slightly stuck at the magnificent and opulent lobby. The pictures above show this area. We also had an audio guide which enabled us to listen to detailed descriptions of the various places we were seeing eventually.
And then we entered. There were plenty of bright shiny objects, and tables and screens where gambling would occur on a daily basis. I really am not into gambling, but I suppose for others it presents an exciting thrill. I noticed that these machines were very highly technologically advanced and sophisticated. Even something that looks like a simple table does not look simple at all, with all its machines that allow people to automatically count money, and many other things.
I also noticed the abundance of cameras. I mean, I suppose people would try to cheat, and so these cameras are there to prevent it. I wonder how much cash flows in and out of this place every day.
In any case, it was definitely not an activity for us. I was already happy checking out the place while there was no gambling going on. And after a few hours, we slowly made our way to the exit, in order to explore the rest of this miniature country.
