Monaco

The train to Monaco winds its way around and through steep cliffs and past rocky inlets where pink and orange buildings covered in bougainvillea cling tightly to the hillsides between craggy inlets of the clear blue Mediterranean. It’s quite tricky taking photos because no sooner do you get lined up than it all goes black and you’re into the next tunnel!

Monaco train station is a remarkable engineering feat built under ground inside enormous cliffs of rock. A few Lamborghinis and Ferraris later and you're in front of the Casino and ogling at the extraordinary wealth of others. Touristy, yes, fake, yes, totally  ostentatious all round really, but still fun to see and plenty of extremely beautiful and ornate buildings.

Meanwhile, back at the hostel, and some are learning about more than just the language!

Today was Alix’s 16^th birthday and she celebrated with a bit of shopping before we all went out to a local French restaurant for a 3 course fixed price meal of typical Niçoise food – Salade Niçoise, Daube au Boeuf followed by a Fraisier birthday cake – layers of sponge, strawberries, cream and custard, topped with plenty more whipped cream, candles and a sparkler! Even the waiters sang happy birthday in French of course!