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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 7 of 7)
BD Jan 14th 2007 8:08PM
Not much except that rich folks down here in "LA" ain't too snobby, whether it s Mobile or Bayou La Batre, or Orange Beach or Fairhope...oh I forgot about the other LA just west of here... N'awlins, Houma, Slidell, Baton Rouge, Lafayette...;p
G Snugg Jan 14th 2007 8:16PM
there are two constants within all of the comments i have read that are worth noting [repeating]. one, POVERTY IS A BITCH, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. two, folks should stop glamourizing the wealthy as if they're beyond human. no one is any more special than the next, for everyone bleeds the same (well, not the same but, we all bleed) and can die. side note: should someone need it in one's life to look down and/or provoke emotions to know where one stands, or reassure one's self of their status, obviously are lost on their self-worth.
Barbara Jan 14th 2007 8:19PM
To be rich to me is to be in excellent health, have good running water..clean clothes. good kids and husband and a comfortable house. That's rich...forgive my grammer.....
Margaret Jan 14th 2007 8:22PM
I don't think Americans are really intimidated by anything. When I go travel I go to see something different, and so if it suits your fancy choose this place, then go enjoy and don't pretend foreigners of any stature can bother your butt.
Connie Jan 14th 2007 8:20PM
I fully agree with what Monica said, couldnt have said it better myself!
Also sometimes the person visiting may have a personality that clashes with certain people there because they might be expecting a certain attitude to begin with! So lighten up! A smile and a kind word goes a long way!
Margaret Sharp Jan 14th 2007 8:24PM
PS... And don't forget your sunflower seeds!
Deb Jan 14th 2007 8:31PM
The Big Easy, paying attention, I hope you pick out the mistakes, I put them in to see if anyone was really paying attention, that way I know you really looked at it hard. So many comments most care to say what errors someone typed, who cares, pay attention to what it means!!!!!!!!!!!
Carmen Jan 15th 2007 4:59AM
"Nice is just a delight, with its flower market, gorgeous coastline, sipping drinks mere feet from the Mediterranean, great shopping and delightful pastries"--so reads the tantalizing ad.
Having heard such stories of the beautiful Riviera, my daughter and I booked reservations at a hotel facing it, even though it was $300 per night. (A lot of money for a hotel room in the early 90's.) As it is with most old cities of Europe, the substantial buildings, congestion, and narrow streets make it cost prohibitive to build adequate traffic ways. Most Nice native citizens WALK. As a result, they are slim, trim and have no hips. They also walk daily to the markets and retrieve enough food and flowers for the day.
What a shock when we looked out the hotel window! We were serenaded day and all night from the drone of traffic speeding on 6-lane thru-way built on land reclaimed from the Sea. The black, brackish Mediterranean was filled with filth, trash, and indefinable substances for 40-50 yards.
Undaunted, we set out to enjoy the beautiful beach. It was a five-block jaunt to the nearest traffic light.
The beautiful 'beach' was composed of 3-4 inch brown rocks that compelled all the naked people to wear shoes when they sunbathed or strolled the beach. Even though we wore walking shoes, the rocks hurt our feet. My daughter was disgusted as she had been to Caribbean beaches that are composed of white sand and are surrounded by beautiful, blue water. Go there if you ever get a hankering to travel to "a gorgeous coastline." (However, they may not be so pristine 17 years later.)
By the way, both the flowers and pastries in Nice were delightful!
guy Jan 14th 2007 10:59PM
i hate you, gina! you too, cann. i suck at math and i'm mean. and i've never been to monaco...
guy Jan 14th 2007 11:07PM
also, i love you, mark and funnygirl!!
guy Jan 14th 2007 11:10PM
go mark and funnygirl!! stand up for basic writing skills!
Della Jan 15th 2007 2:26AM
I want to visit Monaco. I have had this desire ever since the World Music award show was hosted by the royal family there about 4 years ago. The announcer that was describing the area, people, homes, royals, etc said in a Robin Leech tone of voice that alot of American Hollywood types were there and implied that they were the only ones that would probably be welcomed in the little rich village. Every since, I told myself that I will go regardless, t-shirt and jeans, whether or not Monaco would accept plain, 'poor' me or not. I still aspire to go and take lots of pictures but nothing more. I plan on just doing what someone suggested early on in the comments, just eat sparingly, get my pictures and leave.
Bob Jan 19th 2007 7:15PM
There's no reason to stay there: either stay in Nice (about 20 min by train to the west) or in an Italian town to the east. Lots of relatively affordable places and easy to get to by train and/or bus.
I've been to Monaco several times and while I find it a bit sterile and basically just too much, but as for places to be poor, I've been to several that are far worse places to be poor. :) By the way, the aquarium and Oceanography museum is a must visit.
Michael Feb 26th 2007 8:06AM
I went there on 2 times in one week and must say I didn't care much for it. My main interest was the casino, while the rest of the family visited points of interest and did alot of high dollar shopping. The casino will not let you in without a blazer on, in which case if you didn't bring one you can use one of there's for 20euro deposit. Once I was playing an extra dealer was following me around the whole time I was in there, I have never figured that one out. Everyone in the room placing bets had a dealer following them. It was not crowded and the betting was not that high in which it would call for assistance (500euro), I was in and out within two hours each time. The first visit I took out around 7000euro the next vist they gained about 3000euro. Back to why I am posting on the second visit, I saw at least 2 homeless people at the side of the casino, while they were not homeless in the way that they would ask for money, only their appearance insured me of there status.