
Monaco by surprise
A metropolis of the rich and famous?
Monaco is the really big stage — Grand Prix, jet set and princely house. But what does a normal day in the Principality look like? What is it like, far from clichés? We found out just before the Grand Prix, over coffee and cake with Prince Albert's neighbors. On the way to Monaco: Traffic jam. Never attempt to reach the Principality by car at rush hour. Ferraris, Rolls Royce, but also other vehicles, such as the Fiat 500, only move forward in stop-and-go traffic. Our first lesson was to take it easy. Individual mobility apparently plays a key role in all social classes in Monaco...
The next surprise was waiting for us over an aperitif with a jet set lady from the Principality. After using all the clichés from yacht owners to private jet travelers, we discovered that the surprisingly down-to-earth lady is primarily the mother of two children and that Monaco represents a safe haven and center of life for her family. Schools and various leisure facilities have had a significant impact on Monte Carlo. It is now a cozy place to live — also for families, and not just for the who's who in the world. The infrastructure allows residents to stay all year round, raise their children there and not just come to see and be seen in high season.
A cosmopolitan metropolis of the rich and famous — that is the common image of Monaco. On closer inspection and exchange ideas with local people, we were able to learn that it could just as well be the opposite. A small village — everyone knows everyone in this deep-rooted little community.