The Fabulous Life of the Rich and Famous and Me- Part 2

We last left yours truly in the playground of the rich and famous-the country of Monaco.  We were out of place and decided that we couldn't afford to pay for the tickets to see the Monaco Grand Prix.  It was the day before the race and the city was humming. 

There was only one thing to do.  Find the nearest bar and decide a plan of attack over a pint.  We found a small bar that catered to locals and not the jet setting crew, Flashman's.  We watched the time trials and enjoyed a few beers.  Soon after the time trials were over, an Australian group took over the bar.  They were a group of car dealers for Mercedes.  As the the best sellers in their area, Mercedes flew them and a guest to the Grand Prix.  We quickly became part of their group and they were enthralled with the tales of our journey around the world.  I love the corporate account.  Eventually, the group left for a prearranged dinner with the promise of meeting up again the next day after the race.

Pictured: Sam and Patrick with Mercedes friends.

As we chatted with some locals, they told us the best place to go for dinner and the hottest club.  We went over to the restaurant they recommended and were quickly told that there were no seats available.  Shelley is not one to take no for an answer and proceeded to sweet talk the maitre'de.  In a matter of minutes, we had an outdoor table with the beautiful people.  After dinner, we explored the city as we made our way over to the night club.  There was a huge line but somehow we pushed our way through like we owned the place and the bouncers didn't say anything. We might be old but we still got it.

Pictured: Shelley and the boys.

Shelley was quickly the target of the affections of a drunk Aussie.  Patrick and I were amused as we watched the  Aussie try to speak without spilling his drink.  We were standing near a table and a guy came up to Patrick and asked him to move because he was too close to his jacket.  We moved over but Patrick made a few snide comments about the guy.  We didn't realize but another person we were standing next to was friends with the original guy.  He went over and said something to him.  At the same time I saw a third guy watching over the group as if he was a bodyguard.  I was certain that this wasn't going to turn out well.

Guy: "Do you want to sit at my table?"  You can have it."
Patrick:  "We don't want to sit at your table."
Guy: "Sit at my table. "
Patrick: "We really don't want to sit at the table."
Guy: "Do you know who I am?"
Patrick: "No."
Guy:  ~"You really don't know who I am?"
Sam to himself:  "Please don't say Russian Mafia.  Not the Russian Mafia again."
Patrick: "No. Should I?"
Guy: "I am Paul, the two time Motorcross Champion!"
Sam: "You mean like motor sickles?"
Paul nods.
Sam:  "Why should we know who the Motorcross Champion is?  Is that even a sport?"
Paul:  "Well you might not remember me because I won the championship in 1987 and 1992."
Patrick: "You mean you haven't even won the thing recently."
Paul: "I am trying to make a comeback."
Sam: "There is no way anyone knows who you are."
Patrick: " Motorcross isn't that popular."
Paul:  "I just need to talk to people to make my sponsor (points to the bodyguard looking guy) happy. He has the money."

I don't know how we went from thinking we were going to be physically accosted to making fun of the guy  but it was one of those nights.  Next thing you know we were invited over to a table and were being offered drinks for the rest of the night. I closed down the bar with my new friends.  I missed the last train back to Nice and had to wait for two hours for the first morning train.  It was a memorable night.

The next day or in my case later that day, we made it back to Monaco for race day.  It was horrible weather and proceeded to rain for most of the day.  We decided that we were lucky for not buying tickets and having to sit in the rain.  The owner of Flashman's was excited to see us back.  The race was won by the British driver Lewis Hamilton.  His car?  A Mercedes.  Soon after the race, our Australian Mercedes car dealer friends were back at Flashman's.  As you can imagine, they were quite excited by the victory. Another good night was had by all.

The Fabulous Life of the Rich and Famous and Me- Part 1

We left Rome on a night train.  I love night trains because they eliminate the cost of a hotel room and don't use valuable exploring time to travel.  We have taken a number on the journey when they have been available.

Though we were headed to the Monaco Grand Prix, we had to stay 30 minutes away in Nice, France.  The hotels in Monaco were either sold out or completely out of our budget.  Nice is a great city if you are married or on your honeymoon but for two single bachelors, it was a sleepy little town.

The last two weeks of May are the favorite season for the rich and famous.  It starts off in Cannes, France for the Annual Cannes Film Festival and ends ten days later, an hour down the French Riviera, in Monaco for the Grand Prix.  Of course, there is a helicopter service to taxi you to both locations if you need.  Unfortunately, we were relegated to taking the train.

My friend, Robin May, from Denver had introduced me via e-mail to his friend and co-worker, Shelley, who was traveling through France and other parts of Europe for eight months.  Patrick and I invited her to meet us for the Grand Prix.  She quickly jumped at the chance because she was just down the road with some Hollywood friends in Cannes.  She also took the train.

We went into Monaco on Saturday, during the time trials, to get a sense of the area and the ticket situation.  Monaco is exactly how I expected it, a city out of the movies.  The city center was amazing.  The buildings were palace like and the cars in the streets were filled with the "crem del la creme" of high end cars.

We walked around the city and tried to find tickets for the next day.  I quickly came to the realization I could spend a week's amount of travel money to see one of the greatest Formula One races or I could try to stay close to budget.  We decided to watch the race from the different points from the streets with the rest of "our people."  Some views would get the "street view" and other views would get the big screen view from the monitors spread throughout the course.

It has been a dream of mine to gamble in a Monte Carlo Casino.  It was probably too many James Bond movies when I was younger.  Unfortunately, Singh Around the World, does not have a tuxedo in the back pack nor the money in the bank.  Dreams of doubling down on a 10 and drinking my martinis shaken, not stirred were going to have to wait.  Well, actually, I had decided not drink my martini's that way after watching West Wing.

President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet: Can I tell you what's messed up about James Bond?

Charlie Young: Nothing.

President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet: Shaken, not stirred, will get you cold water with a dash of gin and dry vermouth. The reason you stir it with a special spoon is so not to chip the ice. James is ordering a weak martini and being snooty about it.

No gambling, no martinis and no seats for the race.  How was I going to make my trip Monaco memorable?  You will just have to wait and see.  Same Bat Time.  Same Bat Blog.