is there poodle in my noodle

Murray Walker’s famed quote really sums up the thrill of visiting the “jewel in the crown” of F1 racing tracks. Snaking through multi-million pound properties, casinos, hotels and yachts of the ultra-salubrious Monte Carlo, the track attracts throngs of visitors even out of racing season.

It was a joy to watch Jem bouncing through the iconic Fairmont Tunnel, and then the Fairmont Hairpin, getting quite emotional.

In Monaco – the world’s second smallest country measuring in at just over 2 square km – propety prices exceed €50,000 per square metre, and flats can sell for more than €20 million.

Nestled at the bottom of a super steep cliff riddled with hairpin bends, it is a haven for supercars, plastic surgery, ridiculously fluffy minature dogs whose outfits match their owners, opulent jewellery, and pretentious humans who want to be SEEN.

Thoroughly underwhelmed at the grotesque display of wealth and narcissism, we stayed for an hour or two before heading into the Gorbio. This medieval hilltop village above Monaco, flanked by limestone cliffs, was a true gift.

As we leave France, in a nutshell, we can conclude that the French Riviera was not to our taste. With achingly self-conscious and claustrophobic towns, snaking traffic and influencer types abound, it was great for some voyeurism but we think we shan’t stay any longer.

Similarly, our trip to the famous cliffs of Calanques – a renowned climbing destination below Marseille – was aborted having read about the “car crime epidemic targeting foreign vehicles”. Instead we found some glorious running in the Alpilles national park, where we ended up on some exciting via ferrata by mistake. Hurrah!

But no matter – it has brought our entry into Italy a few days nearer, and off we head towards Finale.

Finale Ligure is one of the hidden gems of the Italian Riviera. Known for its stunning beaches, charming old town, world-class rock climbing, and scenic hiking and biking trails, this Ligurian coastal town offers an exciting mix of culture and outdoor adventure. It even has an annual knitting festival! We are PSYCHED.