Cruising to Monte Carlo

Well, we actually sailed early last night. All aboard was 9:30 pm but we were cast off and moving by then. The port area in Barcelona is huge and maybe the captain wanted a head start if everyone was aboard already. Anyway, in his noon announcement the captain explained the stormy seas. He said he left Barcelona right behind a front and that he passed it, one. Two, he said about the time he got through the front we reached a place (I didn't understand what he said other than it sounded like a big bight or gulf that usually has strong wind and current going one way and when we arrived it was going in the opposite direction and against us.) I know Clay didn't walk the deck this morning. I know the wind howling and whistling around the balcony door woke me up. It was rough seas, raining sideways and stiff, cold wind. Conditions improved as the day continued but the sun never did make an appearance. We sailed along the coast of France all day, visible from the port side like Spain.

Clay has been on his usual tear about packing so that is what we did today. Everything is packed except what we'll need to get home. We surely knew that 2 of our 3 big suitcases had been torn at the seams when we arrived in LA and unpacked. I don't recall but imagine Clay putting them under the bed to deal with later. Later was today. He used some duct tape and dental floss to patch them. I do remember the conversation in LA that we only had to use them once more to get home. The problem is that they are expanded and heavier now than outbound so less likely to make it intact. We're nearly out of duct tape. Anyway, he's also peeved about the collapsible duffel bag I brought being forced into service.

We arrived at the Monaco pilot station at 3pm and were docked on the starboard side facing the sea with the port facing Monaco at 4pm. We went ashore to the terminal's tourist info desk. We got a map with instructions to the train station tomorrow. Clay also asked about a place to buy duct tape. He plans to wrap the suitcases in duct tape tomorrow. She gave us instructions and immediately without any preparation, we set off on a "15 minute walk". An hour and a half later, we were back. We found the building with Casino Supermarche signage lit up but also shuttered close. We stumbled upon an art supply shop and she had shipping tape. Not duct tape but wide tape containing some fabric. He bought her 2 biggest rolls for 13 Euros. I'll carry our leftover duct tape tomorrow on our travels (if we go) as a communications aide. Duct tape doesn't seem to translate. If Clay'd told me his plan before we left the ship today, I'd have been prepared today. Maybe tomorrow. Clay says if the weather tomorrow is like today, we may not go out.

Monte Carlo was gray and cold today but like our previous visit in mid-April they are setting up for the Grand Prix so streets are closed and sidewalks are blocked with grandstands. If the sun had been shining it all would have seemed very much the same. Hard to traverse and the maps don't do justice to the slopes. I don't have much else. I'm tired and ready to be home already. Unfortunately there are some hard times between here and there yet.