RESPONSE. At 16 years old I marched into a hardware store, purchased 6 inch adhesive letters and affixed the word RESPONSE on the back of my 1976 Monte Carlo. That was the name I gave the car because it responded so well to the gas pedal, a 16 year boy’s dream. Of course, being a little redneck I had no idea about the correlation of the name Monte Carlo to the Formula One race that took place in Monte Carlo, Monaco. While visiting that very city I learned it was named Mount Charles, self-named by Prince Charles III in 1866.
I discovered another fantastic factoid in Monaco. Prior to arrival we knew the country was a small one, second only to Vatican City. I didn’t know, however, that you can easily run out of Monaco into France. In one strategic point where people watch the Formula One races, you can see Monaco, France and Italy quite clearly. This new information thrilled me. In May we had lunch in a restaurant that was erected between Tennessee and Georgia. In April I ran across continental boarders of Europe and Asia. Now I had the chance to run in two countries in a single outing. These make for fun little tidbits in my personal record book.
A lovely run is was. Monte Carlo is a charming, immaculate and extraordinarily expensive city. I left from the famous Monte Carlo Casio and ran up into a French suburb (see picture at right). Monaco sits at the foothills of the Maritime Alps. It’s filled with quaint shops and flats, all set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea. I RESPONDED well to Monaco.
If you don’t gamble, and can’t afford to stay in the Monte Carlo hotels (and who can?), then go for a run in Monaco. It’s a good one.
Tom
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