Europe – Not Your Average Engineer

As part of my tour of European micronations, I visited Monaco this summer before a conference for work. Monaco is a sun-drenched little country sitting on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the playground of the rich and famous.

Those hills are part of France. Monaco is tiny and could never be adequately defended if it were attacked.

Proof that I was in Monaco!

The Monte Carlo Casino made famous in so many movies.

I think the boat might be the oceanographic research vessel of Monaco. They might not have a blue water navy but they do have some neat oceanographic research capabilities that the Prince supports.

The border of Monaco.

One of the churches in the principality.

Part of the castle where the royal family lives.

A statue for the Grand Prix that roars through the streets of Monaco every year.

Another tucked away church in town.

The really neat railway station for Monaco.

Thanks to a conference in Milan, Italy, I had the opportunity to travel down to the tiny landlocked micronation of San Marino. It is a place that I read about and was interested in but never thought I would have the opportunity to visit. This summer was my opportunity to see this incredible, proudly independent little country.

The old fortifications and walled city on the mountain is a really interesting and pretty little city.

Lots of pretty country all around. In every direction is Italy.

Now the fortifications are more for tourists than defense but the country is still defended by a volunteer guard.

The biomedical department at the university.

The department of communications.

One of the old entrances into the walled city.

So many cool little alleyways and lanes.

The people of San Marino who have died in wars over the last 200 years.

A few street vendors setup with their shops.

They do plays here in the summer.

The suburbs of San Marino spreading out toward the coast and Italy.

The gondola depot at the top of the mountain.

Mountains in the distance in Italy.

Old defenses abound.

Walls and fortifications along the ridgeline to the west of the walled city.

No one successfully invaded this country since it was founded. With this cliff face, it’s no wonder why!

One of the last outposts to the west in San Marino.

Walking through the trees and shade toward the west end of San Marino.

The honorary Mexican Consulate in San Marino.

Proof that I in fact was in San Marino.

I walked down out of the old walled city along the old railway route. The railroad was closed during World War 2 and never reopened. The tunnels were used as bomb shelters during the war.

A neat little piece of graffiti along the old railway.

Heading into one of the tunnels. I’m surprised they never re-established train service.

Families lived all through these tunnels for months during the war.

Some old carriages left behind after the railroad closed.

Looking up at the walled city.

Even San Marino has crossfit.