Celebrity Spotting in Europe

Been a bit lucky (if you call it that) with seeing some random famous peoples and cars. Unfortunately, unlike some of the people in our group, I will never have a career as paparazzi.

Monaco

Our first stop for the rich and famous was the 2nd smallest country in the world. Had some great photo opportunities on the coast and here’s one.

(photo with French Riviera in background)

We arrived at the Grand Casino and given time to wander around. Didn’t go into the main casino (cost 10 euros) – but went into their lobby and used the toilet. Such an amazing building but supposedly the casino the public can see isn’t that exciting. Most of the action occurs in those rooms only for the very rich. Very excited however with the self-cleaning toilet seat, didn’t understand what was going on. Obviously I’m an easily impressed Australian.

No real desire to gamble – so we just sat and celebrity and car spotted out the front. We were lucky to see in order of my interest:

1. McLaren F1 – very cool car.

(dodgy proof photo of the McLaren F1 - Grand Casino in background)

2. Maybach car – no photo proof

3. The Prince of Monaco – didn’t recognise him but had some serious readers of women’s magazines who knew what he looked like. He was leaving the Hotel de Paris just next door and took off with a police escort.

4. Tons of other sweet cars like Ferrari’s, Porsches...

They were setting up for the Grand Prix in a week and a bit. One of the couples on the trip are mad sportscar fans – and they went for a really quick walk/run around the whole track. Would have been fun to join if I knew they were doing it.

Verona

We left France for our 2nd last time and headed into Italy – the land where they have weird ordering at their service stations. We headed to the city of Verona – supposedly where the story of Romeo and Juliet was set. Taken to the balcony of Juliet which is a fake but still heaps of tourists. Bit more interesting was a statute of Juliet which if you rub the right breast is rumoured to give you luck in love. For some reason there were tons of young kids rubbing it – don’t know why they need the luck...

 

(statute of Juliet)

A bit more interesting for me is the fact that there is one of only 3 Coliseum’s in Italy still in Verona. Paid to go in and they still use it as a theatre for productions. Alicia Keys is about to play tomorrow night so they were busy setting up for the concert. Again I wish I had a time machine – as I was sitting there was imagining who else had sat in those seats and what they had seen over so many years.

 

(Coliseum)

Final celebrity spotting was of an ex Home and Away Star – Chris Egan. (check name) Again he had to be pointed out – he was being interviewed just on the streets of Verona and wearing a bit too much makeup. Again I failed as paparazzi but some others did well.

Tonight we’re spending at a camp site outside Venice. Right next to an airport... but free wi-fi so hopefully get to upload story tomorrow as well.

Week Ahead

Sun, 2nd of May Venice

Mon, 3rd of May Venice to Florence

Tues, 4th of May Florence to Rome

Wed, 5th of May Rome

Thurs, 6th of May Rome to Patras, Greece

Fri, 7th of May Patras to Athens

Sat, 8th of May Athens to Greek Island