‘Don’t know. I’m not that bothered myself, but I suppose I could get some photos for Andrew. How about we head there next, then?’
We walk around Monaco, and all agree these are the views we have seen on the Grand Prix.
‘You know, I think this is it. It’s just a normal road. I’ll take a pic for Andrew, and then let’s move on.’
Next on the itinerary is the white stone Roman-Byzantine cathedral in the old town of Monaco. Soraya reads up on it before we arrive and tells us that this is where Princess Grace and her husband Prince Rainier are buried.
‘Did you know this is where they married back in the Fifties?’ she tells us, clearly relishing her role as tour guide. This impresses Carol and me immensely.
It’s so fortunate that the church is open to visitors, unlike the palace at this time of year. We pass the pews, walk along the aisle, and then towards the altar with its tall white candles on silver candlesticks. I imagine Grace Kelly in the beautiful wedding dress she wore as she walked along here and into the arms of her prince.
‘I can’t believe we are walking down the same aisle as Grace Kelly. This is seriously cool,’ says Carol.
‘Unbelievable, isn’t it?’
It surprises me that the cathedral is quite small – nowhere near as big as I would have imagined for somewhere a prince and princess would get married. However, it is classy and quite modern, although some parts of the cathedral have obviously been renovated, such as the pipe organ that is visible way up high on a balcony.
‘I’ll have to show you the photos in my guidebook of that when it’s lit up,’ says Soraya pointing at the organ. ‘It’s all blue and quite the sight.’
‘Goodness, yes. That is some organ,’ I say.
‘And I bet I know someone who has a fabulous organ too,’ says Carol, looking at me. She starts laughing so hard that someone shushes her.
‘Oh my god. Carol!’
‘Can’t take her anywhere,’ says Soraya, stifling a giggle.
‘Well, I’m only saying what Lucy is really thinking.’
‘No, I’m not. I wasn’t even thinking of Elias.’
‘Well, if you weren’t thinking of Elias, then why do you think I’m talking abouthim?’
‘I don’t know what you’re on about, but I’m getting peckish. Anyone else?’
‘Do you know, I wouldn’t mind going back to that place we ate on the first day for an early dinner. Shall we go there?’ says Soraya.
‘Well, I suppose it is our last day and sometimes it’s better to stick with what you know,’ says Carol.
Even though the prices there make my eyes water, I still have some of the casino win left, so we all agree to finish the holiday off in style.
The waiter shows us to a table at the front, and we move our chairs to make sure we have some shade under the big umbrellas.
‘I love this place. We’ll have to come back again,’ says Carol.
‘Yeah. Next time, maybe we can stay in Nice and come for longer. We haven’t seen half of what’s around us. I’d have loved to stop at that place we passed… What was it called, Eze, or something? It was so quaint with all those old medieval buildings, and the sea was so clear there,’ says Soraya.
‘Oh, yeah. That looked gorgeous. I suppose it would’ve been nice to have a hire car, really. Shame Paulo buggered off,’ says Carol.
‘Perhaps he isn’t paid enough to take us around,’ I suggest.
‘Well, Gianni is very generous. I don’t know what happened. I suppose we’ll just have to arrange a taxi to get to the airport.’
‘Yeah, that’s fair enough,’ I agree.
‘So, have you managed to get any inspiration for your book now?’ asks Carol.
‘Well, a little, but I could have done with a bit more time. I don’t want to go back now, do you?’
