Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is a sovereign city-state located on the French Riviera. Mon├®gasque, Italian, Occitan, and English are the official languages. Native Monegasques are a minority in their own country comprising 21.6% of the population, outnumbered by French nationals. Italians, British, Belgians, Germans, Swiss, and Americans are also present in significant numbers. Monaco is the second smallest and the most densely populated country in the world. The constitutional monarch, Prince Albert II, is highly powerful. The nation contains a mountain or two and some minor bodies of water. Its only natural resource is fishing, and commercial agriculture isn’t viable in such an urban environment. Animal species include the Least weasel, the Cross fox, and two types of dolphins.

Casinos are an attraction to visitors, and Monaco’s are the only ones in the world to use Ticket In, Ticket Out technology in their slot machines; gamblers use paper tickets instead of coins. The Monaco Grand Prix zooms through the city in May. For a little wildlife, tour the Mus├®e Oc├®anographique de Monaco, a stunning aquarium at the side of a cliff. If you prefer to see how real royalty live, the Palais du Prince is a lavish residence with great works of art.

The consumption of pasta reveals Monaco’s Italian side. Fougasse is a bread with nuts and anise seeds. Savory pastries are popular, and you can get your vegetables with some extra-delicious carbs in barbaguian, deep fried and filled with spinach and leeks or swiss chard. Socca are chickpea pancakes, and they make a nice snack. Pan bagnat is essentially a baguette stuffed with Salad Niçoise–tuna, boiled eggs, etc. Fish is very popular in Monaco. Try stocafi, a plate featuring dried cod, tomato sauce, black olives, and small vegetables, or brandamincium, which is cod in a cream sauce with garlic and local plants. Smoked ham is also very popular. Vegetarians, good luck, and eat a lot of carbs. You may also want to drink up, as French wine is readily available. Biscuits with rum and orange flavor sound really tasty.