I wonder if you were permitted to drive to Italy. We rented a car back in 2007 and I seem to remember them saying we weren't permitted to go to Italy with it. I suspected back then that it had to do with insurance or something.
Also, was there a jacket requirement for the Casino in Monte Carlo? I thought they had one. Were the places you went crowded? Is it very much the off-season?
Finally, as usual, nice TR.