From Austria to France
Igles (Innsbruck) -> Menton = 738 KM
Well that looks just about like this, cutting through Italy:
Italy's not cheap either - when all was said and done, we'd paid 38 Euro in tolls to get through. And Illinois thought it had it bad!
Well, we enjoyed the scenery along the way...
The Alpes of Tirol
We enjoyed the green Alpine scenery while we could - it was about to change!
Europabrücke, or Europe's bridge, is a 777 metres (2,550 ft) long bridge spanning the 657 metres (2,160 ft) Wipp valley just south of Innsbruck, Austria. The A13 Brenner Autobahn (and European route E45) passes over this bridge, above the Sill River, forming part of the main route from western Austria to Italy across the Alps. It is also part of the main route between southeastern Germany and Italy.
The longest span between pillars is 198 metres (650 ft). Built between 1959 and 1963, it was once Europe's highest bridge, standing 190 metres (620 ft) high above the ground. The Millau Viaduct has taken over this title on 14 December 2004.
Tirolean streets and small town.
A quaint castle perched on a passing mountaintop - but we were about to see plenty of those!
Well after driving through the "Italian Riviera" - as I refer to it, 'fuzzy mountains' because of the trees spotting the hilltops - we arrived in Menton, France. After checking into the hotel we enjoyed dinner by the harborside.
The harbor in Menton, France.
Awww :)
After dinner we got all dressed up for the casino in Monte Carlo! Trying to get Hannes the gist of taking a picture...
Almost got it...
There we are!!
At the fountain outside of the Monte Carlo casino.
There's the casino in the background.
And that was just the outside of the Monte Carlo. It's a shame there were no photos allowed inside, but if you could only imagine from the pamphlet:
"...this gem of "Belle Epoque" architecture gave European Roulette its letters of nobility. Inaugurated in 1863, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is still the highest reference among gamblers. Its array of table games is the most prestigious and most complete in Europe."
Indeed, it was beautiful. Although it cost 10 Euro just to step foot inside the casino, Hannes insisted, "We're only here once!" And with how posh this city is, I believe it's quite true - slim chance I'd be back again! So we enjoyed the atmosphere, had a costly (but amazing) cosmo, and took a walk through.
There were relatively few people around, and even some in jeans, which surprised us. Although it seemed to be just those people who were the wildest betters! With blackjack at 25 Euro minimum, we didn't sit at those tables, but Hannes did take 50 Euro in chips to be able to sit at roulette an whittle away the chips at the 5 Euro minimum table ;)
All in all it was, indeed, an experience, but after driving through 4 countries in one day (Austria, Italy, France and yes, Monte Carlo is located in Monaco which is indeed its own country!) we were soon enough ready to hit the sack.
Well that looks just about like this, cutting through Italy:
Italy's not cheap either - when all was said and done, we'd paid 38 Euro in tolls to get through. And Illinois thought it had it bad!
Well, we enjoyed the scenery along the way...
The Alpes of Tirol
We enjoyed the green Alpine scenery while we could - it was about to change!
Europabrücke, or Europe's bridge, is a 777 metres (2,550 ft) long bridge spanning the 657 metres (2,160 ft) Wipp valley just south of Innsbruck, Austria. The A13 Brenner Autobahn (and European route E45) passes over this bridge, above the Sill River, forming part of the main route from western Austria to Italy across the Alps. It is also part of the main route between southeastern Germany and Italy.
The longest span between pillars is 198 metres (650 ft). Built between 1959 and 1963, it was once Europe's highest bridge, standing 190 metres (620 ft) high above the ground. The Millau Viaduct has taken over this title on 14 December 2004.
Tirolean streets and small town.
A quaint castle perched on a passing mountaintop - but we were about to see plenty of those!
Well after driving through the "Italian Riviera" - as I refer to it, 'fuzzy mountains' because of the trees spotting the hilltops - we arrived in Menton, France. After checking into the hotel we enjoyed dinner by the harborside.
The harbor in Menton, France.
Awww :)
After dinner we got all dressed up for the casino in Monte Carlo! Trying to get Hannes the gist of taking a picture...
Almost got it...
There we are!!
At the fountain outside of the Monte Carlo casino.
There's the casino in the background.
And that was just the outside of the Monte Carlo. It's a shame there were no photos allowed inside, but if you could only imagine from the pamphlet:
"...this gem of "Belle Epoque" architecture gave European Roulette its letters of nobility. Inaugurated in 1863, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is still the highest reference among gamblers. Its array of table games is the most prestigious and most complete in Europe."
Indeed, it was beautiful. Although it cost 10 Euro just to step foot inside the casino, Hannes insisted, "We're only here once!" And with how posh this city is, I believe it's quite true - slim chance I'd be back again! So we enjoyed the atmosphere, had a costly (but amazing) cosmo, and took a walk through.
There were relatively few people around, and even some in jeans, which surprised us. Although it seemed to be just those people who were the wildest betters! With blackjack at 25 Euro minimum, we didn't sit at those tables, but Hannes did take 50 Euro in chips to be able to sit at roulette an whittle away the chips at the 5 Euro minimum table ;)
All in all it was, indeed, an experience, but after driving through 4 countries in one day (Austria, Italy, France and yes, Monte Carlo is located in Monaco which is indeed its own country!) we were soon enough ready to hit the sack.