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The Worst Place to Be Poor
Not that there is a particularly good place to be poor, but there are places that just rub it in. Take Monaco, for example. The country of 32,000 people (the world's most densely populated country) boasts more millionaires per capita than any other country.
They like backpackers there about as much as insects, and let's face it, in Monaco there is no place to hide flip-flops and a backpack no matter how hard one tries.
Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful. It's just that you would have to be a masochist to try to stay here on a budget. Even the casino in Monte Carlo charges an entrance fee. Thankfully, it's small enough (not even one mile across) that you can see most of it, or at least the parts accessible to the public, in a couple of hours. But that's exactly the problem with "doing" Monaco: while you can see it, you cannot "do" it.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Stories, Monaco
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
JEAN URDIALES Jan 14th 2007 4:38PM
MONACO AND NICE ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES IN THE WORLD, THE MEDITERREAN IS BREATHTAKING, YOU MUST GO THERE ONCE IN A LIFETIME OR YOU HAVE NOT LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST, TRUST ME, I WANT TO GO BACK.
Z Jan 14th 2007 5:38PM
Awww...Is someone mad because someplace finally made it obvious that teenage back packers and the poor aren't loved everywhere?? Pity they're so honest to hurt hims feelings....Get over yourself and act like a grown up! If you want respect, then make yourself presentable and act the level that commands it. No back packs, no flipflops, no slobbishness.
roma Jan 14th 2007 2:42PM
I been there more than once on bussiness
it's a beautifull place BUT not real life
you realy start hating the rich because i seen
nothing but rude,selfabsorbed,arrogant people
who dont give a damm about anything but a buck
they are definately a click and in love with themselfs
NOT happier than the rest of society if anything
less. Keep the place for every day living its to far removed from life and in this way its UGLY
Marie Peak Jan 14th 2007 2:56PM
I have never been there but who would want to go somewhere with a bunch of stuck up snobs, or go somewhere where you can't have any fun,or be yourself. And nobody wants to spend lots of money for that.
Lynn Jan 14th 2007 3:00PM
I just believe that no place is better than the next when it comes to being poor. I see the plight of the homeless in South Florida on a daily basis and it's not a pretty site regardless of the location to see someone hungry, dirty and living outdoors. Just some quick info. If you have a bed, something to eat today and a roof over your head you are in the top 8% of the earths population. Scary huh?
Phoebe Jan 14th 2007 3:01PM
I was on a cruise originating in Venice which made a stop in Monaco. My daughter and I found it beautiful, friendly and not unlike any other European city. I do not recall "paying" to enter the Casino which had a huge (covered an entire wall) slot machine at $100K per spin!
I do think as small as Monaco is, it should be gated and taken off the tourist route.
Marie Peak Jan 14th 2007 3:02PM
I have never been there but who wants to spend a fortune on someplace where you can't be yourself, or go somewhere where there is a bunch of rich, stuck up, snobs.
Jess Jan 14th 2007 3:09PM
I really don't know much about Monaco. Do the people make their millions there, or do they usually own businesses in other parts of Europe, and then move to Monaco? I guess the beauty of the country attracts them? Please fill me in!
Robert Brown Jan 15th 2007 2:25AM
RICH RUDE PEOPLE THE MOST THEY THINK ABOUT IS THEM SELVES
Marie Peak Jan 14th 2007 3:11PM
I have never been there, but who wants to spend a fortune on a place with a bunch of rich,stuck up, snobs, or go to a place where you can't be yourself.
guy Jan 14th 2007 3:10PM
dude, not to be too rude...but you've got a lot of mistakes in your short paragraph there. i counted eight. i mean i'm aware that i'm ignoring certain grammatical structures and all, and i've got less problems in my comment. you got sum worck two doo on ur skills. i seen it wif my own eyes--
Laurie W. Jan 14th 2007 3:10PM
The Monaco comment by "Roma" somehow lacks persuasion. Roma claims to have visited Monaco "on business." Look, I can understand typos when posting in haste, but Roma's grammar,punctuation, spelling do not portray someone likely to visit such a place as Monaco "on business." Therefore, I suspect the posting is bogus. Spell check: business,beautiful,really, clique, don't, self-absorbed, damn,definitely, and, oh PLEASE! themSELVES.
mike Jan 14th 2007 3:12PM
Well this thought is just this . No matter who you are, and how wealthy you've become in life. If you can out cast peoples in general. As to whom and what they have become. Knowing they do as the best as they can as life is never fair But are truly loved for whom they are not what they have. Rich will soon learn as life is shifting more then they can even imagine in ways that will always come back to haunt them if not now soon . Looking from this side is like this . without poor. You cannot have rich and so on also I might add this as well. Never let your pants get to big for you see as you put them on mister oh mighty and breath the same air bleeds like all the rest you are not above any one. In short you came in this world with nothing you will leave the same way. So as time really the most precious thing you have in life embrace it well. As it too will run out and that my friends you can never buy.
funnygirl Jan 14th 2007 7:32PM
Hey guy! I laughed out loud at your comment because I was thinking the very same thing: where did "roma" go to school and how many days did he/she skip English class?? :)
mike Jan 14th 2007 9:02PM
Well this thought is just this . No matter who you are, and how wealthy you've become in life. If you can out cast peoples in general. As to whom and what they have become. Knowing they do as the best as they can as life is never fair But are truly loved for whom they are not what they have. Rich will soon learn as life is shifting more then they can even imagine in ways that will always come back to haunt them if not now soon . Looking from this side is like this . without poor. You cannot have rich and so on also I might add this as well. Never let your pants get to big for you see as you put them on mister oh mighty and breath the same air bleeds like all the rest you are not above any one. In short you came in this world with nothing you will leave the same way. So as time really the most precious thing you have in life embrace it well. As it too will run out and that my friends you can never buy.
Jeff Breitman Jan 14th 2007 3:18PM
Guy is right. It's hard to have much belief in the ramblings of someone so illiterate.
ed Jan 14th 2007 3:18PM
I've been to Monaco, right at the end of the Grand Prix and we thought the city was very interesting. While we were there we did not run into any snobby people. The town (and it's people)was friendly enough, the casinos were beautiful and the food was great. I'd go again and am not intimidated by those wealthier than myself.
Arianna Jan 15th 2007 1:14AM
I can think of worse places to be poor - places like Afghanistan where the average income is about 30 dollars/month. People starving and living in horrible conditions. Little or no medical, dental or optical care. No school for your kids. In some areas women walk up to 6 miles daily to get just enough water for cooking and drinking. Average life expectantcy is about 45 yrs for men and women. Every 37 min on the average a woman dies in Afghanistan from TB. Mortality rate for women during pregnancy and delivery is 15 to 20%. Now thats one of the worst places on this planet to be poor.
Sara Jan 14th 2007 3:20PM
I agree with Marie, I can't imagine it being too pleasant to live there. Then again, there are parts of the US where you can also find rich snobs, such as LA.
Dianne Scheck Jan 14th 2007 3:21PM
Monaco?????What about Hollywood and the full of themselves phony millionaires!!!!!!!! All they are about is their bodies. Maybe a few have souls but probably not money.
Don't you wonder how some people got so rich and famous and others are average joes!
Maybe its in the genes!