Riviera high life!

Could hardly believe I was actually on a 15th floor balcony overlooking Monaco harbour!

We were transferred to Monaco by coach along the Corniche. Fantastic views. It's amazing to see plants that we consider exotic growing like weeds along the roadside. The coach dropped us in the old port area (Fontveille) which meant walking up and over the ridge on which the Palace is situated. Being civilised the actually have escalators but being British we used the steps!

We were going to watch the action from a hospitality suite just after the start/finish line and before the Saint Devote corner. The building we were in is usually apartments but the owners rent them out for the race weekend. This is the case all around the circuit. It was all a bit confusing with so many people around all wandering in different directions. We finally got going in the right direction along the Rue Grimaldi and located our building just next to the exclusive Automobile Club of Monaco - this is where the presentations take place after the race.

Prudently we waited for the lift to take us to the 15th floor and boy what a view!! The noise was pretty incredible too as not only is there the F1 but other motorsport series have races too. Luckily earplugs were provided. The hospitality suite had refreshments laid on all day, including champers, and we were looked after royally. Quite literally as it turned out as the caterers were the company who work at the Royal Palace!

Won't bore you with lots of details but it really was amazing to see something I've watched for years on the telly there in reality in front of me. Of course the highlight of the day was the F1 qualifying session in the afternoon which was action packed with two incidents taking place directly below our vantage point.

We then retraced our steps to the coach and back to the hotel 11 hours after we had left so a very full day. No wonder my legs ached. Once again we stayed in the hotel before retiring to watch the Chelsea Flower Show on BBC!! Race day is next so another early start for the transfer.

More photos from the day here on Flickr.