Bonjour, from Monaco!

Bonjour! (Is that what they say in Monaco? They are almost-but-not-really Frenchies, right?)
Good Morning!
Today I am rubbing elbows with the Grimaldis.
I totally am.
Okay, maybe not.
But, for all I know. I might be.
(remember, writing this in advance?)

The plan for today is to hoof it around Monte Carlo.
When you hear Monte Carlo, what do you think of?

Princess Grace?
Elegance?
Beauty?
Casinos?

Yep.
Mom, Dad and I are headed to the Grand Casino.
Hopefully it works out.
They say Monte Carlo FITS inside of Central Park.
I have walked a good distance of Central Park, so I think we should be able to make it to the casino.
And since I'm hours ahead, I have probably already hit it BIG, and am never coming home. Ever. It was nice knowing all of you. I'm onto bigger and better things. ;)

I may or may not try to double down.
Always on 11.
Always on 10.
NEVER split 9's. Or 10's. EVER.
ALWAYS split 8's. And 7's.
These are the kinds of things my grandma teaches me.
She has trophies you know.
This kinda stuff runs in the blood.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's better that way. Promise.

Let's move on from my sketchy behaviors...shall we?

A year ago today...where was I?
GERMANY!
Warnemunde to be specific.
My mother never ONCE said that name correctly.
Even now, still doesn't.
Hint: The W makes a V sound - you know how those crazy German's do.

Germany was an adventure. They wouldn't take my Visa anywhere. They just didn't have credit card machines.
Finding an ATM took an hour.
And finally, my dad and I were able to enjoy some pastries at a cafe.
There were tons of cute shops in Warnemunde.
A little vacation town for the Germans.
Reminded me a lot of Sausalito in appearance and atmosphere.

Earlier in the day, we took a tour through Rostock - a little bit larger, more bustling city in northern-eastern Germany.
While we were exploring the city center, the circus came to town.
Literally.
I'm not talking Ringling Brothers.
I'm not talking Cirque du Soliel
I'm talking, a Water for Elephants, travel by train, pitching tents in a field, gypsy type circus performers, circus.

It was AMAZING.
We were mid-tour when a man in a red coat with tails came up to us, and in broken English warned us "the elephants are coming! the elephants are coming!"
And we looked up, and a small herd of elephants was being escorted through the square. By just a handful of circus performers.
There was a table of fresh fruits and veggies directly in front of us - which we thought was some kind of religious tribute or symbol, but was really just a snack for the pachyderms.
I was SO excited that the elephants were going to be going by us, I turned my back to them, while my dad snapped picture after picture, after picture.
I didn't turn around for about 2 minutes, and was completely startled to find the elephant, DIRECTLY behind me. No buffer. No gates. No man standing by with a tranquilizer gun.
Just me and dumbo.
The look on my mom's face was priceless.

I love Europe.
I love how things happen there that would never happen in the states.
Like elephants roaming free through town.

It's been real Germany....I'll see you again in a few days when I make my connecting flight back to the states....

Until then, we'll always have Warnemunde:
(click for larger....and look into that elephant's eye - he was totally checking me out)