MONACO🇲🇨 - SIGHTSEEING TOUR I HELICOPTER🚁FLIGHT I CASINO🎰NIGHT

It was actually one of those days when I thought I was at least prepared and could be sure that everything would go according to plan. Well, it started with an emergency wake-up.

The evening before, I had washed a few things and suddenly realized that not only was my laundry not drying, but for some reason, I had forgotten to bring basically all of my pants except the one I needed for the wedding in Rome the day after tomorrow.

Without wasting any time, I desperately searched for a clothing store that was at least somewhat affordable. Luckily, one of my favorites, Zara, was located right in downtown Monaco. There were no scooters or shared bikes anywhere, and taking a taxi through those annoying streets would have been nothing but a waste of time.

So I decided the easiest and cheapest option was a short run. With my new white Nike shoes, which had already survived the rocky beach in Nice the day before, it was time to test them on a short run and see if they were suitable for that too.

For me, the only thing that mattered was finding at least one more pair of pants that would fit my style for the day. I don't think I have ever run into a Zara and out again as quickly as I did in Monaco.

I was lucky enough to find a lovely sales assistant who was not only quick to help but also recommended various options with her genuine passion for fashion. In the end, I found a one-of-a-kind piece that was not only on sale but also matched my Bitcoin jacket surprisingly well. Sweaty and excited, I quickly took a shower, styled myself, and walked toward Monaco train station.

Without breakfast or coffee, I was standing in an overcrowded, sweaty train where the only air conditioning came from the open windows. It felt like hours before I finally arrived at Nice Airport, with my excitement growing more and more by the minute.

"Then it was showtime."

And no matter what kind of drama or situation I find myself in, my crypto fashion somehow always manages to make me stand out. Right at the entrance to the lounge in Terminal 1 at Nice Airport, I was invited into the lounge of the helicopter company BLADE.

It was a crazy feeling just being there. To get into conversations and exchange contacts, my new prototype Bitcoin jacket turned out to be a pretty useful networking tool. People exchanged contacts, drank coffee, ate macarons, and simply relaxed in the lounge.

In the end, it turned out that most people had only just arrived at Nice Airport early that morning, using the helicopter service almost like an airport taxi to take them straight to Monaco, where they were staying.

"Pretty wild!" And somehow, I felt like an idiot for having arrived a day early, only to travel all the way back from Monaco City to Nice Airport. I had thought this was going to be some kind of short sightseeing tour, like a classic tourist experience similar to a bus tour or sightseeing trip.

For those who had luggage, there was nothing else to worry about. Everything was taken care of in the background.

We walked to a private area where we had our security checked again. Then a private chauffeur picked us up in a limousine and drove us between Boeing 777s and Emirates Airbus A380s to the helipad on the south side of the airfield.

From there, we had an incredible view of the ocean and the airport. Since the helicopter still needed a few minutes to arrive, I posed in front of the other helicopters with all the new contacts, taking a few photos and videos, just like a proper future influencer should.

Then everything happened very quickly. The helicopter kept its rotors spinning even after it had already landed. We all slightly ducked down, even though the blades were obviously way too high for anything to happen to us. But maybe it was simply instinct.

I have flown with the cheapest airlines nobody has ever heard of, all the way to airlines where even I thought, “At those prices, the plane could probably crash from the smallest turbulence.” I have hopped between continents and have probably experienced almost every kind of flight and aircraft out there. Yet every single time, it’s the same feeling.

This time, the whole safety briefing and introduction were completely different because there was no briefing like on commercial airplanes. The pilot had no time, everyone was making videos and taking pictures, and I was like, what if something happens? I’m not easily scared, but I did think to myself: “What if something actually happens?” Do we just jump out of the helicopter?

I actually hate flying. But what could really happen, right? And once again, I asked myself: “Why the hell am I doing this to myself?” As the helicopter started to rise and the rotation became faster and faster, I could only think: “Who actually came up with the idea of inventing a helicopter?”

As if we didn't have enough problems in this world already. The helicopter vibrated like an adult toy and slightly lifted into the air. Like in The Matrix, we were waiting for the final confirmation that the captain was cleared to take off, even though we had already lifted into the air. And then, with a push and guided by the laws of physics, we glided over the water toward Monaco.

The flight took barely ten minutes. In a helicopter, there is something different about being in the air. Just a few centimeters of protection separate you from literally flying. No cabin full of people. You feel the height. You see the ground. You see how small everything becomes beneath you. And somehow, you are also very close to death. A few centimeters of metal, a few mechanical parts, a few decisions separating you from the ground. Maybe that's why I adapt to the atmosphere so quickly.

“Because you don't just fly. You feel that you are flying!” And instead of wondering whether the helicopter might fall apart at any second, the view simply became more and more breathtaking.

We followed the coastline from Nice toward the beaches of Monaco and continued straight to the Heliport de Monaco. The view was indescribable. The water was simply pure dark blue. Despite flying over luxury yachts, we finally approached the landing area. And you literally understand the meaning of “time is money.” Just a few hours earlier, I had been spending nearly an hour traveling from Monaco to Nice Airport in a shitty and stinky train. And now I was flying back in less than ten minutes, completely stress-free.

"Just pure satisfaction!"

Once we arrived and went through passport control, some people were picked up by private drivers and taken directly to their hotels. Since I had not really seen much of the northern side of Monaco yet, I decided to walk back toward my apartment. I passed Port de Fontvieille, a small, hidden yacht harbor that was still anything but cheap, located right next to the Prince's Palace of Monaco.

Just another level of lifestyle and class. But I am not complaining. I mean, I had everything a kid could ever wish for, in my opinion. Of course, life can always be better, but when is good enough really enough? Isn't this exactly why the world has changed so much? Every single day, we are surrounded by the idea of having something better, something newer, more greed, and the fear of missing something in life through social media. And maybe that constant desire to have more is exactly what makes us actually less happy.

I think money is a science by itself. We can argue about it, we can love and hate it at the same time, and it is worthless but also everything in this world. I wonder what money will be like in 100 years. Will it have the same value, or how will money change and affect the next generation?

Throughout the day, combined with the morning adventure, my stomach had to complain. But the food prices from the day before were still haunting me. Nonetheless, on my way, I stumbled upon a burger spot in the city center called Steak 'n Shake, which not only had reasonable prices but also looked like it had delicious cheeseburgers and crispy, fresh fries. They not only had fairly reasonable prices, but exactly what I needed: a fresh, original, cold Coca-Cola. The restaurant earned my respect even more when I noticed that you could actually pay with Bitcoin.

Bitcoin was never originally intended to become an investment, but rather an established payment infrastructure. Even though today it is mostly seen as an investment, most people have no idea what exactly Bitcoin is today.

With some new energy, but also completely exhausted, I took a short break at home and had a cold shower before getting ready for the evening event.

On the way to the Monte Carlo Centre de Conférenc, my attention was repeatedly drawn to various luxury brands accompanying me. One more expensive store and security guard after the next. The path to the event began right at the entrance with massive digital screens featuring Web3, crypto, exchanges, and other tech products and companies. The host this time was the event organizer itself, MEXC Exchange, which had organized the helicopter flight, as well as the networking event and casino night that evening.

Since I arrived way too early, I explored the various booths alone. It started right away with champagne, something I had previously only experienced at Paris Blockchain Week. Besides that, there were crypto games, finger food, and, of course, plenty of great connections to be made. Thanks to my eye-catching golden Bitcoin pin jacket, I was able to draw attention as always and ended up talking to all different kinds of people.

Along the way, I ended up chatting with a waiter about Korean culture, as he was super interested in Korean skincare and how to say “I love you” in Korean. In the past, everyone in Europe just assumed I was Chinese based on my appearance. Nowadays, people immediately assume I'm Korean. Interesting how Korean culture has transformed the world through K-dramas, K-cosmetics, and K-pop.

In the end, I realized it wasn't just about connections or money. It's about how you market yourself. Like a LinkedIn profile, except most of them are bluffing. Just empty storytellers. But in the end, it’s always the connections. Nothing more. There is no magic to it. And with that, we were heading toward the Monte Carlo Casino. MEXC not only covered our entry fees, but even handed us real money to play with at the casino. Honestly, it was hard to imagine a better way to end the evening.

In this strange vibe of gambling and alcohol, I met interesting people and had conversations ranging from professors and weird businesses to “Crazy John,” a well-known Japanese influencer, discussing life and business. With a slight feeling of drunkenness, it was time to go.

Sometimes it is better to leave when things are at their best. Not only because I wasn't lucky at the casino this time, but also because I had to get back to the airport early. Because in the morning, I was heading to Rome. To celebrate the wedding of two lovebirds in the evening.

Bonne nuit✨️🇲🇨🇫🇷!