The English-language newspaper for the French - Italian Riviera & Monaco since 2002
www.rivieratimes.com Issue 146 - May 2014 2.50e
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A Michelin Guide first Organic star
Monaco’s thrill seeking businessman A space adventure
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The truth about wrinkles Anti-ageing secrets
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All eyes on Cannes
‘Grace of Monaco’ makes its controversial debut at film festival
Sixty years after she won the Best Actress Oscar in 1954 for The Country Girl, Grace Kelly continues to fascinate. The actress will be brought to life on the big screen once again, as Nicole Kidman takes on the coveted role of Monaco’s most cherished princess in the new film Grace of Monaco (pictured), which premiers in Cannes this May
Grace of Monaco will make its long awaited debut this May, premiering as the opening movie of the Cannes Film Festival on the 14th. For months, avid Grace Kelly fans across the globe have been anxiously awaiting the release of this Olivier Dahan film, not least the hundreds of locals who signed up to be extras. It is, after all, only the second film ever to be made about history's most famous Hollywood star come princess. But there is one group of people who are far less enthusiastic to see the film hit the big screen - Monaco's Princely family. In early 2013, Prince Albert II and his sisters publicly condemned the film, the Palace saying that it has “in no way been associated with this project” and that
"numerous requests for changes have not all been taken into consideration." Because of a number of "major historical inaccuracies" and "purely fictional scenes", claimed the Palace, the film cannot be considered a biopic of the late princess. Their reaction is not that
surprising. The trailer now reveals a film that is far from the idea that was sold to the media in the early production stages. Rather than focusing on the role that Princess Grace played in easing tensions between France and Monaco in the early 1960s, the story shows a crisis of marriage and identity, the unravelling of a princess' fairy tale. The starlet is shown growing unhappy as princess of Monaco, longing to return to Hollywood despite Prince Rainier's objections. "I can be a mother and a wife and hold down two jobs
without the people getting too upset, can't I?" an angry Princess Grace says at one point, while her driver insists that the prince will never accept the idea of her returning to making movies. Later in the trailer, she is shown telling a confidant, "I don't know how I'm going to keep living with him. I don't know how I'm going to spend the rest of my life in this place where I can't be me. And who is that?" Cannes was, in fact, the beginning of Grace Kelly's path to Monaco. While on a visit to the film festival in
1955, she went on a day trip to the palace at Monte Carlo where she met Prince Rainier. They were married less than a year later. Following criticism from the Palace, Nicole Kidman and Olivier Dahan were prompted to clear up confusion that the film was an historical account. "This is not a biopic or a fictionalised documentary of Grace Kelly," said Nicole. "But only a small part of her life where she reveals her great humanity as well as her fears and weaknesses." Continued on page 7...
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WELCOME
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Inside this edition: NEWS EU parliamentary elections .................................... Riviera & Monaco news in brief .............................
BUSINESS 4 5
PEOPLE & PLACES Linking professional women ................................. The future of Nice ......................................................
6 17 8
MONACO The thrill-seeking Russian businessman ............ Monaco Grand Prix 2014 ......................................... Meet a Formula One photographer ..................... Stars unite for POD movement .............................
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GULF OF SAINT TROPEZ New mayors and council leaders ..........................
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Michelin star heroes .................................................... 10 years of Italian cuisine ........................................
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HEALTH & WELLBEING Anti-ageing solutions ...............................................
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ART & CULTURE New Francis Bacon Foundation ............................ Marseille’s year as Capital of Culture ...................
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SERVICES Life support for expats .............................................
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EVENTS Presenting the best events of the month ...........
REAL ESTATE Property series: Tende .............................................. Luxury on the Riviera ...............................................
It’s tax time .................................................................. Var real estate continues to fall .............................
GOURMET
LIGURIA Discover the San Lorenzo valley ...........................
And so it begins
CLASSIFIEDS Listing everything from jobs to contractors .......
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May is upon us, the month that means so many things to so many people. With the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix come the first wave of visitors. Excitement abounds as Hollywood A-listers take centre stage on the red carpet in Cannes, paparazzi buzz around the Mediterranean taking snaps of bikini-clad celebrities, elaborate parties are held for an elite few while scantily-clad girls in incredibly high heels try to sweet talk bouncers for a ticket in. For a few weeks, our 'home' is broadcast to the world: the extravagant and enviable Riviera/Monaco. May means beach time, as private establishments spring to life along the coast and the sun lures an eager crowd seaside. It means rosé on terraces and late sunsets; four-day weekends and traffic jams. May in the French Riviera … what a way to kick start the season. Among all of this, make sure you find time this month to tune in to Radio Monaco (95.4FM) as I co-host their Grand Prix coverage in English!
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NEWS
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Your say in EU parliament
Tax exemption possibility
Understanding how the European elections work
AFTER A 50-year-long battle, French citizens born in Monaco may no longer have to pay taxes on Monegasque income. The French Conseil d'Etat released a decree on 11th April featuring a new interpretation of the FrancoMonegasque fiscal convention. It states that French citizens born in Monaco and who have always lived in the Principality without interruption are exempt from taxes on Monegasque income. This doesn't apply, however, to any income earned in France. The decree may bring an end to a decades-old dispute that started in the early 60s. As Algeria became independent in 1962, French colonisers flooded back to their home country. Many of them, however, decided to settle down in the Principality to avoid the French 'fisc'. It led to the Franco-Monegasque fiscal convention of 1963, according to which "all the French who have not been resident in the Principality for five years on 13 October 1962 are to pay taxes to France.” Since there is no direct taxation in Monaco, the convention makes French citizens the only people in Monaco, along with Americans, the only group to pay taxes on Monegasque revenue. As the French fiscal administration has yet to release an official position on the matter, however, French citizens in Monaco should file their taxes as usual.
The European parliamentary elections will take place from 22nd to 25th May, amidst growing criticism of their limited influence on EU policy. However, this year's elections will, for the first time, play a role in choosing the next president of the European commission.
The European Parliament in Strasbourg, France
At the end of the month, citizens of EU member states over the age of 18 will be able to vote for the party of their choice in the upcoming European elections. France's 74 seats in parliament will then be distributed between those parties according to the voting results. The current 13 members of the European parliament (MEP) from the south east of France include Gaston Franco, mayor of Saint-Martin-Vésubie in the Alpes Maritimes - who will not run for re-election and former head of the far right National Front (FN) party JeanMarie Le Pen. Of the many European
institutions, only parliament has its members elected by the people. It shares the legislative power with the council of the European Union, while the executive power is controlled by the European council and the European commission, and the court of justice of the European Union controls the judiciary power. The limited power of the European parliament has led to growing criticism because of the apparent lack of democracy in the EU. While the FN is the party best known in France for criticising the union, some have expressed frustration at that message being co-opted by the far right.
Political Column by Julian Nundy Our political columnist Julian Nundy has been sent on an election observation mission to Ukraine, therefore his column will resume in a few months.
The newly created CDR-RUE association (Departmental Committee of Republican Resistance to the European Union), which launched on 11th April in the Alpes Maritimes, is calling for a boycott of the European elections, telling Nice Matin, "We don't share the National Front's xenophobic ideas. It bothered us that they were monopolising that political discourse. "But we wish to alert people about the construction of an anti-democratic European Union, which is taking power away from France and other nations." However, this year's elections will be the first since the treaty of Lisbon was enacted in 2009, which lead to changes in the European parliament's influence. Most significantly, citizens now have a say in the nomination of the next president of the European commission as member states must "take into account the elections to the European Parliament" when making their choice. Voter turnout in France has been significantly declining over the years, falling from 60.7% in 1979 to 40.5% in 2009. Time will tell whether the changes brought by the treaty of Lisbon will be enough to reverse that trend. Stan Aron
The headline act at this year's Jazz at Juan festival will be the one and only Stevie Wonder, who will take to the stage on Friday 18th July. Other performers include Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers on 11th July, Beth Hart and George Benson on 12th July, and Imelda May and Joss Stone on Wednesday 16th July. Visit www.jazzajuan.com for more details and to purchase your tickets!
Var cracks down on speeding POLICE IN THE Var have launched a new road safety campaign with a crackdown on speeding following a sharp increase in road casualties since the beginning of 2014. As part of the package, a cutting edge mobile radar mounted on an unmarked car will be on patrol seven days a week. The Var has recorded 21 road deaths since the beginning of 2014 - a 66% increase in accidents compared to the same period last year. Now, the Var's Prefect Laurent Cayrel is applying a zero tolerance policy on speeding. “We’ve done awareness campaigns reminding people
State to pay The European Court of Human Rights has ordered the French State to pay nearly 100,000 euros in damages to the family of a gypsy who was killed in 2008. Joseph Guerdner was shot dead in Draguignan in the Var by French police as he tried to escape custody after being interrogated for armed robbery. He was wearing handcuffs at the time. The ECHR acknowledged Guerdner was being "eminently dangerous" but said the use of force was “less than necessary”.
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of the importance of speed limits and not drinking and driving,” he told Le Figaro, “but there comes a time when you’re past the information phase and you have to start the enforcement phase.” As part of that enforcement, one of only 99 ‘new generation mobile radars’ in France has started operating seven days a week in the region. The new radar, which is located in an unmarked car driven by policemen, can monitor the speed of vehicles going in either direction. It records offenders’ license plates and the system automatically sends them a charge sheet with a fine.
Celebrating the spring season this May THROUGHOUT FRANCE, the month of May is known for its long weekends and many holidays. But the start of the spring season is traditionally the occasion for special celebrations in many provinces in Europe, including Nice. Up until the 60s, May celebrations - which were called 'virà lou mai' in the Nissart language - took place in each district of Nice. At the centre of each district, a
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symbol would decorate the lamp posts and a feast was organised. People would traditionally play card games like 'vitou', sports such as 'pilou', and the even had 'pignatas' - a game which originated in Italy in the 14th century despite being best known today as a trademark of Mexican birthday celebrations. This month, Nice will celebrate the new season with a feast on 1st May and every
Sunday of the month in Cimiez, the site of the old Roman city of Cemenelum. It's an opportunity for families and friends to come and have a picnic in the shade of the olive trees in the Cimiez arenas. One should expect to find traditional Niçois dishes such as socca, pissaladière, pan-bagnat, or tourte de blette. Nice's districts will have their own May celebrations on Saturdays.
NEWS
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Agnelet sentenced to 20 years
News in Brief Riviera and Monaco Visit www.rivieratimes.com, ‘Like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to receive daily breaking news A NEW STUDY has shown that the number of French people who consume alcohol is at an all-time low. Just 10% of people in France said they drink an alcoholic beverage on a daily basis, in contrast to 14% of the population two years ago, according the study by Entreprise & Prévention, a French alcohol awareness group. Results showed that 11% of people consume alcohol only once every two or three months, while 19% don’t drink at all. AFTER PARIS, Nice is proving to be the second most popular city for gay couples to tie the knot in France. Almost one year after same-sex marriage was legalised in the country, 12.86% of all unions in Nice are gay marriages. The city comes in a close second place after Paris (15.67%), while Rennes (10.71%) and Montpellier (10.32%) are at third and fourth place. THE CENTRE International de
Valbonne in Sophia Antipolis is the public school with the highest Baccalauréat performance of 2013 in the Côte d’Azur, according to a ranking by the magazine L’Etudiant. The best high school in the nation overall, according to the chart, is the Lycée Saint Joseph, a private school also in the Alpes Maritimes. IN LESS THAN 24 hours, police services in Nice arrested multiple Italian mobsters from two of the biggest crime syndicates of southern Italy. Antonio Lo Russo, head of the Camorra syndicate, and Vito Laterza, a member of the ‘Ndrangheta, both had European arrest warrants issued for them. The “peaceful” arrests took place on 15th and 16th April. IN A MAJOR coup for consumers, the European Parliament has voted to ban mobile phone roaming fees by 2016. The proposed reforms must now be approved by Europe's Council of Ministers in October.
During the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters in April, HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco was given an autographed tennis racquet by 17-GrandSlam titles-winner Roger Federer (pictured). The princess also received autographed racquets by the top two players in the ATP: Rafael Nadal (No. 1) and Novak Djokovic (No. 2). The items will all be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, whose mission is to promote sport as vector for education and development for children. Photo: Palais Princier de Monaco
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AFTER A FOUR week trial in Rennes and seven hours of deliberation on 11th April, the Crown Court found Maurice Agnelet guilty of murdering his mistress - Palais de la Méditerrannée heiress Agnès Le Roux. The infamous case remains shrouded in mystery, however, as no material evidence of the murder was ever found. Le Roux disappeared during the Toussaint holiday weekend, never to be seen nor heard from since 26th October 1977. On the trial’s last day, Maurice Agnelet took the stand to apologise to the Le Roux family, saying, “I ask for forgiveness for all the harm I may have done, my attitude, my words, since Agnès’ disappearance.” To his family, he said: “I’m also convinced that I didn’t take care of my children, which is my biggest regret. I ruined their lives and their mother’s.” But Agnelet received no sympathy from Agnès Le Roux’s family. “If I understood correctly, he apologised for being impolite,” Patricia Le Roux told Nice Matin. Following the verdict, the victim’s sister added, “We’ll never find Agnès’ body. My mother will never get closure.” It has been a long ordeal for the Le Roux family. Maurice Agnelet, a former lawyer, was tried and acquitted in Nice in 2006, but found guilty on
appeal in Aix en Provence in 2007 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The European Court of Human Rights overruled that verdict in 2013, claiming the trial had been unfair. Though the verdict echoes the Aix en Provence ruling of 2007, many game-changing developments and shocking testimonies have occurred over the course of this trial, pitting family member against family member. Some of the most dramatic revelations came from Guillaume Agnelet, the murderer’s son, who testified that his father once told him: “As long as they don’t find Agnès’ body, I don’t need to worry.” He also gave the court a detailed account of how his father killed the heiress, as revealed to him by his mother, claimed Guillaume. “They slept in Agnès’ Range Rover. In the middle of the night, he shot her; putting a bullet – I think – in her head." Despite a scathing character assassination of her exhusband, Anne Litas denied her son's testimony, but did call Agnelet “a bad father and a bad husband”. Agnelet plans to appeal the decision, a move that has surprised many. Given the fact he is 76 years of age and has already served five years in jail, he could have been granted parole in just a few months. Stan Aron
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PEOPLE & PLACES
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Linking professional women
more successful), we don't believe that it can happen just because we say it should happen. So we work with men to determine what they need to do within their companies to achieve this." And Melanie Gulliver certainly knows numbers. She arrived on the Côte d'Azur 15 years ago to embark on a new career after working as a chartered accountant in London. "I set up a wine business here which I ran for three years, then for the past few years I have started helping entrepreneurs with their business plans." Melanie also runs executive communication courses with Speak Up and Lead, and has investments in a few local businesses, one of which is the Clever Kitchen in Monaco. At the helm of the PWN over the next two years she wants to raise awareness that the organisation exists among corporations as well as professional women with an international focus and big ideas. The association is also offering deals for corporate sponsorship. "We are not a social group, we offer an international aspect, the chance to develop your business by having contacts in other cities across the world. We want to push women who really want to achieve great things."
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average have to work 77 days more a year than men to earn the same salary. But the national government has Business and corporate minded women unite with one clear goal - progress recognised that changes to the law are necessary to ensure that A common challenge among professional women in the Côte rights already recognised are d'Azur is finding the right networks to enhance both mental upheld effectively. Most recently, and professional growth. Without the comfortable familiarity it promoted the sharing of of a home town, long-established contacts and the native parental responsibilities by language, it is difficult to find the people necessary for reforming parental leave and career development or business support abroad. But for 13 making it easier for fathers to years now, the PWN Nice Côte d'Azur has been providing take time off from the worksupport for career-driven women in corporate or place. management roles. We spoke to newly elected president This is just one example of Melanie Gulliver on the important role the PWN can play in how engaging men will help the expat community and how both women and men can shift not only the perception of a become part of this dynamic organisation. woman's role in society, but also balance within the workplace. As this mother of two says, for The PWN Nice Côte d'Azur's philosophy - to promote the member portfolio reads like a professional progress of women The 2014 Board of the PWN Nice Côte d’Azur with president gender equality to work, men must be involved at every level. contact wish-list, with everyone in business - and not just Melanie Gulliver, pictured 4th from left That is why the PWN seeks the from real estate agents and provide a social framework for accountants to production coffee and casual get-togethers. preneurial mind. But because white paper and sent to various engagement of executive-level men as advisors, mentors and journalists and PR managers. In fact, PWN Nice Côte d'Azur they attend our meetings and press and corporates. The key ideas here are 'aim event attendees. Originally established as the has quite a unique portfolio of network with entrepreneurs, "A lot of research shows that they start to think 'Hey, maybe I high' and 'think on an interSophia Antipolis Women's members. we are all fully capable of Network, the organisation was "We actually have more can do something on my own'." national level'. “We want to wilful blindness - that is, "I don't think we The PWN provides support, expanded in 2001 to become entrepreneurs than corporate push women part of the PWN Federation, members," says Melanie. "We knowledge sharing and training ever think big who really want we automatically employ people who are like which comprises 24 European also have some women who for management-level women enough in terms to achieve great ourselves, both women cities and Sao Paolo, Dubai and followed their husbands for a with an international outlook. of our own busthings." and men. Because larger Singapore. The local member- career move and aren't working, They achieve this through iness, and if we base of 80 covers the south of and while they may have held events each month, including can make women realise that companies are still generally 'round table' lunches they have the capacity to male-dominated at senior France from Cannes to Monaco high positions before, “For gender and is a mix of Anglophones, they turn up on the equality to work, to discuss various achieve great things just by levels, men will automatically topics from resilience changing their mindset, then we lean towards employing men. French, and 'other'. Côte d'Azur and men must be to marketing. They will have developed a fantastic We want to change that." The PWN accepts women wonder 'Where do I involved at But women cannot do it also host two net- network down here," says members who generally have a get my stimulation every level.” alone. "Without those men on working evenings, Melanie. university education and “some from now and how Despite major advances in board and agreeing that this is serious work experience under do I keep my skills up to date?'." one of which is organised in their belt”, but the Board does Often, says Melanie, those conjunction with other networks the western world, gender ineq- good policy (there's strong like the Nice Chamber of uality is still very much a reality economic data supporting the look at each case individually, women find a new career path. says Melanie. Essentially, there "Many people who have Commerce. In addition, they run when wages and access to top fact that with more women is a standard maintained at the worked in large companies think tanks - the information management positions are involved on the board of PWN so it remains true to its rarely come with an entre- from which is collated into a observed. Women in France on companies, they are generally
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Cassandra Tanti www.pwnnice.net president@pwnnice.net
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Continued from front page...
“I am not a journalist or historian," said Olivier. "I am an artist. I have not made a biopic. I have done a human portrait of a modern woman who wants to reconcile her family, her husband, her career. But she will give up her career and invent another role. And it will be painful. "I understand their point of view," Olivier said of Princess Grace’s children. "After all, it is their mother. I do not want to provoke anyone. Only to say that it's cinema." And so Grace of Monaco will join a host of controversial films to have featured at the famous Cannes Film Festival. Here are some others that made headlines more often for their reaction than their cinematic excellence:
Italian film La Dolce Vita won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 1960 festival, but the film was condemned by the Catholic Church as a parody of Christ's second coming, and for its loose portrayal of Rome's residents. It was even banned in Spain until 1975. The church called for the removal of the film from theatres, including Cannes. But it only served to create a buzz around the piece, which focuses on a week in the life of a paparazzi journalist and his journey through the "sweet life" of Rome in a fruitless search for love and happiness. Similar to Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, Luis Buñuel's Viridiana (the Spanish Inquisition) - a story about a young nun and her troubled uncle -
was met with disgust from the Vatican. "I didn't deliberately set out to be blasphemous, but then Pope John XXIII is a better judge of such things than I am," the director said just before winning the Golden Palm. The film was also banned in Spain after its 1961 debut in Cannes. Spanish authorities had approved of the script, but they didn't see the finished work until the festival and were horrified by the scenes of rape. Fahrenheit 9/11 was a global hit for American director Michael Moore in 2004, and the documentary's critical look at the War on Terror won him a standing ovation during its premier in Cannes as well as the Palme d'Or. But jury president Quentin Tarantino was criticised for awarding the documentary the top prize, with some calling it a political manoeuvre. Even Cannes director Gilles Jacob reportedly felt the film won for the wrong reasons. One of history's most recognised and iconic films, Pulp Fiction, even met with controversy in Cannes. The film premiered in May 1994 where it bagged the Palme d'Or - but Krzysztof Kieslowski's swansong Three Colours Red had actually been expected to win. The announcement was met with outraged boos, and Tarantino apparently responded by raising the finger at his critics. The film went on to be nominated for seven Academy Awards and won one. As to the extent to which the film Grace of Monaco warrants to be on this list of controversy, we’ll all find out after its global premier on 14th May. Cassandra Tanti
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Cannes Film Festival 2014
Above: the Grand Théâtre Lumière © FDC/L. Fauquembergue. Right: the coveted Palm d’Or trophy © FDC. Left: the red carpet swarming with photographers © FDC/Quitot.
The schedule...
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S stars Meryl Streep, Hilary Swank, Channing Tatum, Robert Pattinson, John Cusack, and Ryan Reynolds are likely to hit the red carpet for this year's Cannes Film Festival - notably less Hollywood A-listers than previous years. Overall, this year will see a smaller number of U.S. filmmakers travel to the Croisette. The Festival de Cannes 2014 schedule sees 18 films in the running for the Official Selection, as opposed to 20 last year. Tommy Lee Jones' The Homesman starring Hilary Swank and Meryl Streep has made the competition. It is a western drama film following a claim jumper and a pioneer
woman who team up to escort three insane women from Nebraska to Iowa. Also making the cut is Foxcatcher by Moneyball director Bennett Miller and starring Channing Tatum. The story centres on Olympic Wrestling Champion Mark Schultz and how paranoid schizophrenic John du Pont killed his brother, Olympic Champion Dave Schultz. Other films to note are David Cronenberg's Maps to the Stars, Michel Hazanavicius' Chechnya war film The Search and Ken Loach's Jimmy's Hall. As we’ve mentioned, Olivier Dahan's Grace of Monaco will open the festival but it will not be in competition. Both Nicole Kidman, who plays Princess
The films... OFFICIAL SELECTION Olivier ASSAYAS - SILS MARIA Bertrand BONELLO - SAINT LAURENT Nuri Bilge CEYLAN - KIS UYKUSU (WINTER’S SLEEP) David CRONENBERG - MAPS TO THE STARS Jean-Pierre DARDENNE, Luc DARDENNE - DEUX JOURS, UNE NUIT (TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT) Xavier DOLAN - MOMMY Atom EGOYAN - CAPTIVES (THE CAPTIVE) Jean-Luc GODARD - ADIEU AU LANGAGE (GOODBYE TO LANGUAGE) Michel HAZANAVICIUS - THE SEARCH Tommy Lee JONES - THE HOMESMAN Naomi KAWASE - FUTATSUME NO MADO (STILL THE WATER) Mike LEIGH - MR. TURNER Ken LOACH - JIMMY’S HALL Bennett MILLER - FOXCATCHER Alice ROHRWACHER - LE MER-
AVIGLIE Abderrahmane SISSAKO - TIMBUKTU Damian SZIFRON - RELATOS SALVAJES (WILD TALES) Andrey ZVYAGINTSEV LEVIATHAN UN CERTAIN REGARD Marie AMACHOUKELI, Claire BURGER, Samuel THEIS - PARTY GIRL Lisandro ALONSO - JAUJA Mathieu AMALRIC - LA CHAMBRE BLEUE (THE BLUE ROOM) Asia ARGENTO - INCOMPRESA (MISUNDERSTOOD) Kanu BEHL - TITLI 1st film Ned BENSON - ELEANOR RIGBY Pascale FERRAN - BIRD PEOPLE Ryan GOSLING - LOST RIVER 1st film Jessica HAUSNER - AMOUR FOU Rolf de HEER - CHARLIE’S COUNTRY Andrew HULME - SNOW IN PARADISE 1st film July JUNG - DOHEE-YA (A GIRL
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AT MY DOOR) 1st film Panos KOUTRAS - XENIA Philippe LACÔTE - RUN Ruben ÖSTLUND - TURIST Jaime ROSALES - HERMOSA JUVENTUD (BEAUTIFUL YOUTH) WANG Chao - FANTASIA Wim WENDERS, Juliano RIBEIRO SALGADO - THE SALT OF THE EARTH Keren YEDAYA - HARCHECK MI HEADRO (AWAY FROM HIS ABSENCE) OUT OF COMPETITION Dean DEBLOIS - DRAGONS 2 ZHANG Yimou - GUI LAI Midnight Screenings CHANG PYO - JEOK (THE TARGET) Kristian LEVRING - THE SALVATION 70th anniversary celebration of Le Monde newspaper Yves JEULAND - LES GENS DU MONDE
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Grace, and Tim Roth (Prince Rainier) are expected in Cannes for the film's debut. Making the cut for the Un Certain Regard competition is Party Girl, a film by Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis (opening), while Ryan Gosling makes his directorial debut with Lost River. Dragons 2 (How to Train Your Drag 2) will be shown out of competition, while in the Cinéfondation Selection, The Bigger Picture, created by students at the National Film and Television School in the UK, will be in the running.
Obtaining tickets to the festival is impossible without an invitation or accreditation, but that doesn't mean the public miss out completely. Many groundbreaking films are shown on a huge outdoor screen for the Cinéma de Plage on Mace Beach. Tickets are available from the Cannes Tourist Office, so pack a picnic, watch films on the beach as night falls, and just enjoy the magic.
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LIGURIA
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By foot, bicycle, horseback or donkey Discover the Ligurian landscape in the San Lorenzo valley at a leisurely pace making the backcountry and the medieval hillside villages better known thanks to the strong attraction of the cycle path which runs along the coast." The physically robust Bardigiano horses used for the trekking, a race indigenous to the Ligurian Apennines, are well adapted to mountainous terrain (the itinerary will be announced later). On Saturday afternoon, the proposed excursion on foot or donkey will travel through Torre Gallinaro, Lingueglietta and Costarainera; bring a picnic for the Sunday trip from Torre Gallinaro to Pietrabruna and back. There are a host of other
originated in Finland and burns up over 46% more calories than a normal walk is great exercise for the heart and lungs - bring good shoes, gloves and walking poles. But none of this is required for the country dancing lessons. If that sounds far too frenetic, accompany the erborista into the nearby countryside to learn about the medicinal herbs and plants of this Mediterranean terrain; attend one of the two sessions in the Torre Gallinaro amphitheatre to coordinate Patricia Nistri in Santo Stefano al Mare. A great fan of Nordic walking along the coastal cycle track, she and Gianna Spinelli, mayor of Cipressa, came up with the idea of Vallintrek while walking in the San Lorenzo valley
The Parish church of Natività di Maria Vergine, Lingueglietta. This village lies further up the hillside to the north of Cipressa. Photo: Liliana Gladuli - artegrafika.it
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njoy the lovely Ligurian landscape in the San Lorenzo valley between San Remo and Imperia later this month with a weekend of exploration. The municipality of Cipressa, with the help of various other organisations, has created Vallintrek, a weekend dedicated to discovering this beautiful part of Liguria at a leisurely pace. From Saturday 10th to Sunday 11th May, guided tours will be conducted on horseback, on foot, by bicycle
or on a donkey, accompanied by detailed stories about the landscapes and associated traditions. "It's a healthy activity for families," says Gianna Spinelli, mayor of Cipressa and an avid walker. The objective is to promote the area through these slow, unhurried walks, "at a leisurely pace during which you can fully appreciate the surrounding nature and splendid views of the Riviera dei Fiori,” adds Spinelli. The idea came to fruition during a walk with English-
woman Patricia Nistri who has lived in Italy for over 45 years and has a home at nearby Santo Stefano al Mare. "We thought it would be a good thing to enable lots of people both local and foreign to appreciate what we Cipressa, where the first Vallintrek weekend will kick off on Saturday 10th May were admiring," exp- at the Piazzale Torre Gallinaro. Photo: Liliana Gladuli - artegrafika.it lains the mayor. So they contacted a cultural activities including Nordic body, mind and spirit; or association which promotes walking along the cycle path brush up on your French, these sorts of events. "The from San Lorenzo al Mare to German and English (if it is objectives are to create work Santo Stefano al Mare; this not your mother tongue) with in the tourism industry by method of walking which native speakers. For the little
people there is trekking per bambini. This is the first event but given the wide range of activities on offer hopefully not the last. Practical info The fun starts at 10am at the Piazzale Torre Gallinaro in Cipressa; check the website www.turismoincipressa.it for confirmation and directions on how to get there. Then set off, boots on and saddle up what a lovely leisurely way to discover this part of Liguria. Carolyn Reynier
So much more than an Aquarium Whale watching, sleepovers and a submarine - not to mention the new basins
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In terms of biodiversity, Genoa’s aquarium is Europe’s largest
includes many other options, such as exploring the Galateo Museo del Mare (museum), taking a tour of the Nazario Sauro submarine or a trip out to sea to go whale watching. On this half-day excursion visitors are accompanied by an experienced marine biologist who not only reveals the secret lives of these magnificent marine mammals but also tips on how to observe without disturbing them (Molo Mandraccio, 1pm, only in good weather). Admission to the aquarium plus a whale
watching trip costs 46 euros for adults (33, 23 and 15 euros for young people and children). The whale watching trip can also be booked separately for 33 (18) euros. Tel: +39 010 234 5666 www.acquariodigenova.it Other options Also available, in cooperation with tour operator Incoming Liguria, are tailor-made programmes to explore the Ligurian hinterland or weekends in Genoa. Tel: +39 010 2345666 info@incomingliguria.it
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t is always on the move - not a year passes without new developments taking place at Genoa’s Aquarium. Since last summer, no less than four new basins for whales have been built, three metres above the sea under the stars. These latest additions bring to 70 the total number of pools that are home to 15,000 marine animals, ranging across 400 different species. In fact, in terms of biodiversity, Genoa's aquarium is the largest in Europe. Another achievement is Coral World which has a ‘baby pool’ and is a wonderful experience for all visitors. However, for children from 7 to 13 years old their favourite is a ‘night with the whales’, an unforgettable adventure when they can observe the lives of these mammals at night during a sleepover (next dates: 1st June and 5th July). Also very popular is the fourdimensional film of a storm at sea, which puts the visitor at the centre of the action in a lifeboat. Whenever you go, a visit to the aquarium is always exciting and
Monaco's thrill-seeking Russian businessman Vasily Klyukin sets no boundaries Vasily Klyukin is a 39-year-old businessman, banker, writer, architect, designer, philanthropist and adventurer. He was born in Moscow, Russia, and after years of travelling to the Riviera as a tourist, he became a permanent resident in Monaco in 2009. He is married to the stunning Russian actress Anna Vishnevskaya and has three children. He is also soon to be the first Monaco resident in space.
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rganising a time to meet up with Vasily Klyukin can be difficult. "Sorry I missed your emails, I was in the North Pole," says the Russian billionaire as we lock in the HĂ´tel de Paris for our upcoming interview. It's not the normal response I receive to unanswered emails, but he forwards me a photo and there he is: at one of the most isolated points on the globe, proudly holding the Russian and Monaco flags. A few days later, I am excited at the prospect of discussing Vasily's passion for adventure
tourism and his upcoming trip aboard the Virgin Galactic. But he greets me holding three design books and the conversation immediately shifts focus. "This one is hot off the press, I haven't even looked at it myself," he says proudly, handing me one of the publications. They are all filled with his unique tower designs; one glass and metal structure resembles the torso of the Greek mythological character Venus; there's the Tulip tower and the Iceberg Plaza ‌ all fantastic visionary designs. But one entire magazine is dedicated to just a single piece
- the Monaco Comet, Vasily's most precious project. "It is funny because from the book Designing Legends, I have become a world-known architect and have been asked to build towers in New York and in Tunisia's new business district," smiles Vasily. "But what I really want is to do something here in Monaco, this is where I get all my inspiration from." Designing Legends is a 300-page photo album containing contemporary concepts for future towers, office buildings, museums and opera houses. It was published by the Italian publishing house Skira, and its sole purpose was to get the attention of one man - Prince Albert II, the person who can help Vasily realise his dream to construct the Monaco Comet. "I thought, if I want to impress somebody [ie the Prince], I should do something bigger, so I started working on this book, which became very well known," says Vasily. "I think Prince Albert is the only person in the world for which an entirely new artistic direction was created." Vasily Klyukin is a man of many passions, and design is followed closely by Russian art. Interestingly enough, the culture of collecting art is not a
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Above: SpaceShipTwo, christened VSS Enterprise during a glide flight in Mojave, CA, USA. Photo by Mark Greenberg. Right: Close-up of the SS2 during its first rocket-powered flight. Photo: Virgin Galactic. Left: Vasily Klyukin in the North Pole
common one in Russia; throughout history, art represented more of a commitment to socialism than an appreciation of the imagination. "It is not like England, for example, where art fills most people's homes. During the Soviet Union period, you would have a portrait of Lenin on the wall, or people working. And it's hard to change these habits after such a long time," reveals Vasily. The 39-year-old combines his desire to support Russian artists with his commitment to philanthropy. "I like to buy works from Russian artists then give them to a charity to sell. That way I support both." 'It must feel great to be able to give to charity,' I say. He looks at me with a wary smile. "We can all do it," he responds, "we just have to want to do it. Last year I gave away more than I made."
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That's not surprising when you consider that he paid 1.2 million euros for a ticket into space at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS charity in Cannes last year. He was one of three people to buy a seat on a Virgin Galactic flight with actor Leonardo DiCaprio. One of the celebrity auctioneers, Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), later talked up the unique zerogravity experience by noting that the winning bidder would get to "puke on Leo". In all, the charity event which brings together the biggest names in fashion and film - hauled in a record 18 million euros. "This is the way I like to do charity, I don't just give money away, I get something back."
Did he go into the event knowing that he would take home the space trip? "Well I didn't think I would spend that much," he says laughing, pointing out that tickets are actually selling for a quarter of the price he paid - around 200,000 euros. So why did he do it? "It's for charity. Also I wanted to be the first Monaco resident in space." And so Vasily Klyukin will be one of an elite few to go where few people have gone before him ‌ he will be among the first space tourists in history. Others include Stephen Hawking, Tom Hanks, Ashton Kutcher, Katy Perry, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie. Continued on page 12...
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Monaco Grand Prix 2014 New restrictions, new rules... so what can you expect from this year’s race?
The Monaco Grand Prix will sound a little different this year, as new regulations come into play. Photos: Michael Alesi
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ith the backlash against new sound restrictions of Formula One cars, together with new fuel efficiency rules limiting performance, there's been plenty of controversy in the racing world. So, what can we expect from the Monaco Grand Prix this May? Each Formula One season comes with its set of changes to technical and sporting regulations. This year, the new V6 engines have fuelled an early season controversy as they mark a clear departure from their V8 counterparts from previous years. "Now in Formula One, we really have a hybrid car," Christian Tornatore, deputy commissioner general of the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM), told The Riviera Times. Thanks to its new energy recovery system, Tornatore explained, the car can reach a total of around 800 horsepower. But fuel efficiency regu-
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lations have forced teams to ease up on the 'revs' (revolutions per minute) in order to keep their fuel flow under 100 kilograms per hour at top speed. Technical terms aside, the result has been an additional two seconds in lap timings on average compared to last year, and the engines' roars have been more akin to a cat's purr. Defending champion Sebastian Vettel, who watched the Australian Grand Prix from the trackside, called the new engine's sound "sh*t", telling autosport.com, "I was on the pitwall during the race, and it is better [quieter] than in a bar!" But Christian Tornatore of the ACM expects little to change for the Monaco race. "The sound, which is unique here in Monte Carlo because of all the buildings and constructions around the circuit, will not be so different," he says. And with Monaco being the slowest Grand Prix of the championship, Tornatore says
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performances should be the same as last year. "100 kilograms is too much for the Monte Carlo Grand Prix anyway, so I think they can push it to the maximum." But a lack of speed doesn't necessarily mean a lack of excitement, as the actionpacked Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most anticipated races in the championship. "The drivers love Monaco because it's so narrow, so surprising, and so difficult to overtake," says Tornatore, who points out that many of the racers, including current leaders Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, live in the
Principality and know the circuit well. "I think we'll have a big fight between Mercedes engines, and Mercedes, McLaren and Force India cars," the ACM deputy commissioner general reveals. "But let's wait for the Spanish Grand Prix, as there will be some evolution on the Lotus and Renault engines," he adds, "so perhaps we'll have some surprises." In other changes, the Formula One family greeted two new drivers to its roster this year: Daniel Ricciardo from Australia in an Infiniti Red Bull, and Kevin Magnussen from Denmark for McLaren, both of whom have shown promising results. The 24-year-old Aussie initially finished second at the Melbourne Grand Prix but was controversially disqualified because of the fuel efficiency rules. Magnussen took second after coming in at third place. The Australian Grand Prix has been the 21-year-old Dane's only podium thus far, but Tornatore has high expectations for him. "Magnussen won the Formula Renault 3.5 series, so we've seen that he was a very good fighter and a very good driver. He also has a Mercedes engine, so I imagine he'll be in the three first rows on the grid this year." While drivers and diehard fans may miss the engine roars of years past, there is no doubt the prospect of a quieter Monaco Grand Prix will be welcomed by others. As to whether that will happen, we'll have to wait and see. Stan Aron
The 9th edition of the Monaco Historic Grand Prix will take place from 9th to 11th May. Seven series will take part in the event, from pre-war cars to Grand Prix cars from the late 70s. The Monaco Historic Grand Prix has taken place every two years since 1997. More information can be found on the Automobile Club de Monaco's website: www.acm.mc.
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Monaco 1992: Senna celebrates his fifth victory with Prince Rainier III and Prince Albert II. Photo: Paul-Henri Cahier
Ayrton Senna still the greatest One photographer’s journey with a racing legend
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ranco-American Formula One photographer Paul-Henri Cahier is one of a lucky few to have rubbed shoulders with the legendary Ayrton Senna, widely considered to be among the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. Paying tribute to Senna, the veteran photographer, who lives in the south of France, has just released a book called Ayrton Senna. Through My Eye, featuring a unique insight into the Brazilian world champion who died in a crash at the Imola Grand Prix 20 years ago.
What are the most vivid memories from your career as a photographer, spanning nearly five decades? A striking event was the France Grand Prix in 1968; I was 15 at the time. My dad brought me along with him. It was where Jo Schlesser, a kind and well-liked French driver, was killed during the second lap, 400 metres from where I was. I can still see the cloud of black smoke. We go to the crash site, there are flames, the magnesium is crackling as it burns, and death. I wanted to become a racer, and that day gave me a lot to think about. Later I shot a beautiful photo of [Belgian driver] Jacky Ickx, which was published in French magazine Champion. I said to myself, "Wow! Maybe I can become a photographer instead of a driver." But nothing was more striking than Senna's death. That was really the strongest event ever. Why is Senna's accident still so memorable 20 years later, and what do you remember about that event? The real heroes die while driving, and it was the first time that a driver of that level was killed live on TV while the whole world was watching. I may have taken the last photo of him in action, he died about six seconds later, at the next turn. After that, there was a big silence, we couldn't believe it. And finally, the news came out and everyone was extremely sad. We cried, it was horrible.
Is there anyone today that might become as big a champion as Ayrton Senna? I honestly don't think so. Neither today, nor tomorrow. It's something that will never
What made Senna stand out as a driver and a champion? Senna was extremely interesting, because he was both incredibly sensitive and emotional, while having the ability Paul-Henri Cahier, who lives in the Var, began his to be extremely career as a grand prix photographer at age 15 focused. It only showed on his face. He was happen again. There was a very interesting to take greatness to him that made him unique. Can you imagine portraits of because of that. Senna started with kart that at his funeral in Sao racing and he quickly realised Paolo there were around two he was good, but not when it million people? Specialists regularly discuss was raining. So every time it rained in San Paolo, he went who the greatest drivers of all kart racing. That's Senna in a time were, and Senna almost nutshell: later he became systematically comes out first. known as the greatest driver of Stan Aron all time in the wet.
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Jessie J sings for Peace One Day at Monaco Gala event British star joins Jude Law in support of POD movement
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nternational recording artist Jessie J will headline the highly-anticipated Peace One Day Gala event in Monaco on Thursday May 22nd. The London born artist, who has sold more than 12 million records and has achieved top music industry accolades internationally, will perform at the Peace One Day event at the Salle des Etoiles to show her support for the Peace One Day movement. Held under the High Patronage of H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco and hosted by Peace One Day Ambassador Jude Law, the Peace One Day Monaco Gala is taking place during the Monaco Grand Prix race weekend in support of Peace One Day Education and to raise awareness of the Peace One Day Democratic Republic of Congo / Great Lakes Peace Project. Jessie J's performance will crown the evening's entertainment that includes an exclusive auction in association with Christie's, in front of
an audience of Formula 1 orabilia and experiences. Lotus ticket sales from the Formula personnel, celebrities, the F1 team drivers Romain 1 and Riviera communities. international business comm- Grosjean from France and More information about the Pastor Maldonado from event, including how to unity and Monaco society. Thanks to the generous Venezuela have also con- purchase the remaining tables, support of the Howard G. firmed their attendance for can be found on the Peace Buffett Foundation over the what promises to be the pre- One Day website: next three years, Peace One eminent social occasion of peaceoneday.org/monaco For corporate sponsorship, Day is focusing significant the Grand Prix weekend. Awareness of the Peace email: Harry Shawyer: resources on the DRC and Great Lakes region of Africa. One Day Gala is running very corporate.team@peaceoneday The Monaco Gala event has high with keen interest in .org been specifically created to generate further awareness of this campaign to an audience who can make a difference by spreading the word through their respective communities. The event also aims to raise funds for Peace One Day's education work via an auction of exclusive art, POD founder Jeremy Gilley and POD ambassador Jude Law in Afghanistan Formula 1 mem-
PEACE ONE DAY, founded by British filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, led the initiative 15 years ago to establish an annual day of global ceasefire and nonviolence with a fixed calendar date. The day was unanimously adopted in 2001 by United Nations member states, fixed as September 21 - Peace Day. With the day in place, Peace One Day's objective is to institutionalise Peace Day 21st September, making it a day that is self-sustaining, an annual day of global unity, a day of intercultural cooperation on a scale that humanity has never known. Peace Day has also proven as a window of opportunity for humanitarian
organisations to focus their ongoing life-saving activities within a global context, most notably in Afghanistan, where 4.5 million children have been immunized against polio due to Peace Day agreements since 2007. With analytics support from McKinsey & Company, Peace One Day believes that almost half a billion people were aware of Peace Day in 2013, with around 8 million behaving more peacefully as a result of being involved in activities on the day. Peace One Day's target for 2014 is to reach 1.5 billion people with the message of Peace Day, and 3 billion people by Peace Day 2016.
Summer Sporting's big 40th anniversary It’s another star-studded line-up WHILE A NUMBER of big name performers have been revealed publicly over the past months, the final line-up for the hugely popular Summer Sporting festival in Monaco has been released. And it's going to be hard to choose a favourite this year, with the likes of Elton John, Tom Jones, George Michael, Neil Young and Status Quo all taking to the stage. With the festival celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and organisers Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) being 151 years old, there's no doubt that the Monte Carlo Summer Sporting festival has stood the test of time. "Julio Iglesias played here in the 60s and it was just the beginning, so he only charged $1,000 and he had to pay for his accommodation. Now, he's not the same price," Jean René Palacio, artistic director of the Monte Carlo SBM group, told The Riviera Times. Impressively, this year's event is attracting a number of prominent, long-established stars - Sir Elton John, Boy
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George, Jeff Beck, Neil Young, Status Quo and Sir Tom Jones, but there's also some young blood like Lana Del Rey and Robin Thicke. "Our audience needs young artists because we're also looking towards the future, we're not living in the past," said Palacio. The artistic director was excited to announce Canadian star Bryan Adams as part of the line-up, after having tried to book him every summer for the past 15 years. The festival, with its unique intimate atmosphere and world-class performers, has become a big favourite on Monaco's social calendar. But it is also a highlyanticipated event for the artists themselves, Palacio explained, naming Lana Del Rey as an example. "It's a wish for her. She wanted to play at the opera house, and now she wants to play here, because it's also Monte Carlo, and that's really important." The event will kick off on 4th July and last until 23rd August. Stan Aron
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WhiteKnightTwo, christened VMS Eve after Richard Branson's mother Eve, in flight during the Oshkosh airshow, July 2009. Photo by Mark Greenberg/Virgin Galactic Continued from page 9...
The craft which is called Space ShipTwo is expected to accommodate six passengers and two pilots. It reaches a top speed of 4,000 km/h, faster than current fighter jets. It will be launched from the White Knight Two - a special airplane that functions as the mother ship. Each passenger will experience approximately six minutes of weightlessness during what will be a two-hour end-to-end flight. Vasily was told his once-ina-lifetime trip would take place in 2013. Then, they said early 2014. Now, it is looking more like 2015. "But I am not worried," he says "I am not 65, I have time. It is not the kind of trip they
should be hurrying." And so Vasily's list of "extreme things I have done" will soon, quite remarkably, include space. The others … experiencing a G force of 5 while bobsledding, cave exploration, jungle adventures in Venezuela, tarantulas, trekking to the North Pole, and a voyage to the deep sea in a specially designed submarine. "I try to fill my life 100%," concludes Vasily. "I am still young so I can still do trips that will be too hard to do in 10 or 15 years' time. “I have the possibility now because I have the money and the time, and I don't want to ever think that I could have, but I didn't." Cassandra Tanti
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New mayors and council leaders Banding together to fight off the National Front was not always successful
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ike the rest of the Var, the Gulf of Saint Tropez moved a bit more to the right in the latest municipal elections. While most mayors were reelected, Cogolin is one of three towns in the Var to have handed over the mayor's office to the far right National Front for the next six years. The elections at the end of March were an opportunity for the major political parties to test the waters and get a better feel for which way the wind is blowing. And clearly, it's blowing towards the right. While the mainstream conservative right wing UMP party dominated the elections in the Côte d'Azur, the National Front (NF) managed to get record numbers with nearly a fifth of the overall votes in the Alpes Maritimes and the Var, while the Socialist party reached new lows in the traditionally right wing region. The Gulf of Saint Tropez is quite representative of the region, with mostly mainstream right wing candidates. The area is also home to one of the Var's three National Front-led cities, while only one left wing candidate ran in the Gulf, dropping out after the first round.
Saint Tropez Right wing Mayor Jean-Pierre Tuveri was re-elected to lead the seaside resort with comfortable margins at 47.19% in the second round, coming out far ahead of his opponents: UMP candidate Jean-Michel Couve (29.16%) and Alain Spada (23.65%), also from the right. Both challengers were former Saint Tropez mayors, with Couve having served from 1983 to 1989, when he was beaten by Spada. In 1993, Couve was able to claim back his title and remained in the mayor's office until Tuveri took over in the 2008 elections. The first round was quite crowded, with two candidates - Veranne Guérin and Michel Mede, both right wing earning 12.7% and 13.25% of the votes, respectively. Following this exclusively right wing mayoral race, both Spada and Couve renounced their seats in the municipal council, while Guérin and Mede returned as opposition leaders - as was the case during Tuveri's previous term. While the Gulf area as a whole recorded abstention numbers below the national average of 39%, the eponymous city took the cake with only a 24.7% abstention.
Breakdown of the first round for Cogolin
Cogolin The second largest of the Var's National Front-led cities was also the one with the most diverse political landscape. Unlike Saint Tropez, Cogolin's four competitors came from across the spectrum. In the first round, NF challenger Marc-Etienne Lansade garnered a massive 39% of the votes, far ahead of exiting right wing mayor Jacques Senequier (26.7%). Meanwhile, left wing Francis JoseMaria (19.2%) managed to stay ahead of UMP candidate Alain Ciarimboli (15%). While all four candidates won enough votes to advance
to the second round, JoseMaria and Ciarimboli both decided to drop out, supporting Senequier in the hope of beating the NF - a move that is called the 'Republican Front' and involves all non-NF parties banding together against their common 'enemy'. It is interesting to note that this didn’t happen in Fréjus however, where two mainstream right wing candidates continued to run, dividing the voters and allowing the NF’s David Rachline to win. But even in Cogolin, where there was a Republican Front backing Senequier, Lansade still managed to get elected as
When Harley-Davidsons colonise the Gulf A weekend when 13,000 bikes descend on Saint Tropez in a time-honoured ritual
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or petrol heads and motor bike fanatics, the weekend of the 8th to 11th May is surely one not to be missed, as 13,000 Harley-Davidsons descend on the Gulf of Saint Tropez for the annual four-day Eurofestival. This legendary American bike has always been popular on the Côte d'Azur and has been feted here for decades,
but this festival has it all even if you are not a big fan, the sheer size of the event and number of bikes involved guarantees a spectacle for all. A highlight is the grand parade on the Saturday that sets off at 4pm on the D61 and takes in Saint Tropez, Ramatuelle, Gassin and Cogolin before arriving in the perched village Grimaud around 5.30pm.
For bikers, the Custom Bike Show in Grimaud on the Friday is the highlight, as some of the best creations from across Europe come together in the square to compete for prizes in different categories. Those registered to take part can try out the latest HarleyDavidson bikes, and there are a host of activities dedicated to the ladies who will also open the big parade.
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As always, music plays a big role with a string of concerts lined up. Bonnie Tyler, Bogus Brothers, Big Ones tribute to Aerosmith, Louis Bertignac, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Little Gibbon's Band, Hot Stuff and Kingstone are just some of the names performing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Check out the Harley-Davidson websites for more details.
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mayor in the second round with 53% of the votes. Grimaud UMP mayor of Grimaud, Alain Benetto, was re-elected with 53.9% of votes in the second round, beating right wing challenger Christian Moutte. Another candidate from the right, Michel Bauc, won 15.5% in the first round but dropped out for the second, with most of his votes going to Moutte who got 35.8% in the first and 46.16% in the second round. Gassin The election was also quickly settled in the Gulf's smallest town. Two-thirds of Gassin's voting population went to the ballot boxes to choose between Anne-Marie Waniart (right) and Damien Rey-Brot, of the centre right UDI party. Waniart won with an 11% margin, which exiting mayor Yvon Zerbone took as a compliment as she was his right-hand woman (he supported her candidacy). Waniart told Var Matin, “We're proud of our track record together and we're proposing […] many projects to improve quality of life in the commune."
However, Yvon Zerbone was given a 9.58 out of 20 grade by website L'Internaute, which ranked all of France's mayors in the 2008-2014 term based on 48 criteria such as the commune's debt or its public services. Gassin's exiting mayor came in last in the Gulf. Sainte Maxime Sainte Maxime Mayor Vincent Morisse (right) crushed his two challengers Bernard Rolland and Thierry Gobino, getting re-elected in the first round with 56.36% of the votes and eliminating the need for a second round. As a result, former mayor Bernard Rolland, who served from 2006 to 2008, renounced his seat in the municipal council to focus on his family, Var Matin reported. Overall, the fact that no candidates from other parties participated in the election meant that all communes saw typical right wing in-fighting. But when faced with the possibility of a National Front mayor, all parties in Cogolin did indeed band together, albeit unsuccessfully. Stan Aron
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Top left: The village of Tende lies high up in the Roya Valley close to the Italian border and just east of the Parc National du Mercantour. Below left: Outside Tende, this seven-room home with panoramic view and terraces is on sale for 373,000 euros, Agence Provencalpes Tende. Above: There are views, and there are views; this 300sqm three-bedroom villa, outside the village, has a terrace with summer kitchen and pizza oven and a 1,300sqm garden, priced at 440,000 euros with Agence Provencalpes Tende
Property series: Tende Only lovers of nature, peace and quiet need apply
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his month we head for the Roya Valley and Tende - a French territory only since 1947 - which lies to the east of the Mercantour National Park, on the old Salt Road between Piedmont and Provence. Throughout the southern provinces you find chapels built by confréries, brotherhoods of penitents of varying hues (depending on the colour of their robes). These lay associations of the faithful engaged in charitable actions to ensure the salvation of their souls. It is unclear whether the concept was successful but it did leave Tende with two chapels - both classified historic monuments - dedicated to white and black penitents. Come up here in July and you can take part in the Fête of the Notre-Dame de la Visitation chapel at Vievola, north of Tende just before the
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secluded and closer to nature. And to live here you must love nature. Tende living is all about peace and quiet in unspoilt countryside. The village is on mains water but analyses confirm that the spring water here is of good drinking standard. "There is a quality of life which remains very healthy and still very close to nature," insists Procarione. In the historic centre of the village you can buy old houses laid out on several floors and steeped in history, some of which may have been divided up into apartments. Rooms are atypical, some are vaulted, walls are not always straight, "but that is also what adds the charm." You can buy an entire house for 100,000 to 150,000 euros; a one-bedroom weekend bolt hole will cost you only 30,000 to 40,000 euros. If you have a tendency
towards DIY there are still some shepherd's cottages for renovation (circa 100,000 to 150,000 euros) which will need permits to convert them into living quarters. There is not much building land available as most is agricultural, however expect to pay 50,000 to 100,000 euros for a plot of 1,000 to 3,000sqm with permission to build 200sqm of habitable space, not including garages, cellars, etc. But the real attraction is the possibility of purchasing a larger detached home than you could afford on the coast around 200,000 to 300,000 euros for an 80 to 100sqm home with garden; yet you are only an hour or so from Menton, a bit longer for Nice. Commute daily or perhaps relocate/develop your business nearer, suggests this saleswoman. Carolyn Reynier
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Tel / Fax. Tel: +33 (0)4 93 39 39 00 Fax: +33 (0)4 93 39 39 02 Email:info@jyskebank.fr www.jbpb.fr
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mountain tunnel to Piedmont and the Italian ski resort of Limone. Listening to Nadia Procarione, of Agence Provencalpes Breil et Tende, talking about Tende, you wonder why we are not all living here. But then it would no longer be a small population of circa 2,000 with house prices 50% lower than on the coast, would it? Properties are generally authentic old buildings - there are hardly any new builds here, she says. For a garden you need to be on the outskirts or completely outside the village; if your idea of gardening is limited to a pot of parsley on the windowsill or a bit of basil on the balcony, then one of the terraced village houses in the pedestrian historic centre should fit the bill. Here you will be close to the shops and car parks. On the outskirts of Tende properties tend to be more
The various credit solutions are a part of our Wealth Management program. Please contact one of our local advisers in Cannes to see what a Wealth Plan can do for you and your future. Wealth management and life style planning through a 360 degree holistic approach established with your personal adviser based upon your current situation and future requirements to relocation plans, inheritance, taxation, investment, asset portfolio management, and daily Netbank services.
Tel: +33 (0)4 93 74 73 35 Mob: +33 (0)6 21 85 84 42 info@mikelorimer.com www.mikelorimer.com
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Specialising in helping international clients obtain mortgages, re-mortgages and equity releases for French properties.
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LIFESTYLE
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Diamonds & Pearls Marc Lagrange is daring but never crosses into mere titillation
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original and talented nude photographers around. Taking a distinctive approach to setting voluptuous scenes, the Antwerp-based photographer meticulously composes timeless settings - with each location and prop carefully chosen to enhance the romantic and revealing mood. Building trust and chemistry with his models, Lagrange is daring but never crosses into mere titillation. The tension is palpable and a sense of
mystery pervades each elaborate vignette. Combining the glamour of classic Hollywood with the sensibility of an Old Master painting, all his alluring heroines seem at ease and approachable - yet just tantalizingly out of reach. ADVERTORIAL
rom 22nd May to 15th July, Opiom Gallery is proud to host the final show of ‘Diamonds & Pearls’, by Marc Lagrange. The exhibition will feature a series of sensual and evocative photographs grouped in a book published by teNeues. Epilogue of a roving exhibition, unseen photographs will be presented on this occasion. Belgian photographer Marc Lagrange has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most
Opiom Gallery 11 Chemin du Village 06650 Opio Tel: 04 93 09 00 00 info@opiomgallery.com opiomgallery.com
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REAL ESTATE
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Luxury living in the French Riviera Prestigious properties by Engel & Völkers in the most sought-after locations
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ocated on one of the most enviable sites on Cap d'Antibes, this villa sits almost at water's edge
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his magnificent contemporary newly built villa (2013) was created with the finest materials and refined decoration, and is situated on a picturesque plot of 2100sqm. It is located high above Cannes in one of the most sought after areas in the French Riviera and offers a panoramic sea view. The villa boasts a spacious lounge, dining room and open
offering beautiful views of the bay, the Lerins Islands and the Esterel hills on the horizon. The land hosts the main villa and a guest villa on a total of 1360sqm. The main villa provides a total of 360sqm and was completely renovated in 2005. Three bedrooms with their en-suite bathrooms make for a very comfortable stay. A large living room with antique flooring opens up to the terrace area with an infinity
pool. The sea and stunning views are perfectly embedded in the decoration and atmosphere of the house. A little cottage accommodates up to four guests, with all comfort in mind including an independent living room and a fully equipped kitchen. A separate studio is suitable for staff or other personnel. Two garages and parking spaces are also part of the estate. Price: 13 million euros.
perfectly located villa in a quiet residential area of Cap Ferrat offers spectacular views across the bay of Villefranche with private direct access to the sea. The villa is situated on a large plot of 2,025sqm with a spacious main villa and a guest house with independent access from a separate street. The expansive main villa is split over two levels and has been recently refurbished with high quality materials. The ground level comprises an entrance hall, a bright living room with adjacent TV room, an open plan fully equipped kitchen, an office and a guest WC. An imposing staircase leads to six spacious en-suite bedrooms and a fitness room. All floors are connected with a glass lift including the guest house. The independent guest house consists of a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. The top level offers a spacious, bright and sunny terrace with magnificent views across the bay of Villefranche. The pool area is surrounded by well positioned terraces and several relaxing corners in the garden with private direct sea access located just in front of the villa. In addition there is
plan, fully furnished and equipped kitchen opening onto a terrace with sea view. There are four bedrooms, two with ensuite bathroom and dressing room. A large roof terrace offers even more breathtaking views, while below sits a beautiful flat garden with Mediterranean plants and a gorgeous pool overlooking the sea. Price: 6.2 million euros.
The villa, with its yellow facade and aqua shutters, stands out on the prestigious Cap Ferrat, with its private direct access to the sea. Price: 28 million euros
a garage for two cars which can be extended and several exterior parking spaces. Further features include under floor gas heating throughout,
air-conditioning, marble and parquet oak floors, glass elevator, an independent small house and several storage facilities.
ENGEL & VÖLKERS • Cannes • Antibes • Cap Ferrat www.engelvoelkers.com / Tel: +33 (0) 493 68 64 72
Paradise on five stunning floors
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illa KuK is an exclusive villa located in one of Zurich's most taxfavourable communes. The five-storey villa boasts an amazing location: very sunny, quiet and elevated high above Lake Zurich. The gorgeous 180 degree view over the blue waters is unsurpassable, and while the generous glass front provides a light and airy feel, terraces on the lake side stretch the length of the property creating a harmonious connection between inside and out. On the entry floor there is a garage, a welcoming foyer and two parlours with tea kitchen. Thanks to the gold-yellow tinted skylight, the atmosphere here is always warm and friendly, regardless of the
weather. The two parlours are connected by a 8.6 metre-long replica of a water lily painting by Claude Monet. A winding staircase with golden hand rail leads to the bedrooms, dressing rooms, bathrooms and dining room. Fall in love with the master suite and its 30 wardrobes with electric rotating suspension attachment. In the bathroom, gold-plated elements and marble floors, columns and walls create a sense of wellbeing at the highest level. A skilled architectural design divides the dining room into two parts. Enjoy an intimate meal or celebrate an elegant, festive dinner. The kitchen has an equally special atmosphere as the dining room. On the open terrace of this floor you
can also enjoy a generous Sunday brunch and marvel at the astonishing surroundings! The 'Golden Room' features a generous-sized TV room, while a winter garden and a terrace are located on the 2nd floor. Here, you will also find staff accommodation with a separate entrance. The 1st floor comprises the swimming pool with highreaching windows, a garden and guest suite. The swimming hall includes a wellness area with dry sauna or steam bath and gym. A large television screen can be viewed and operated from anywhere in the swimming pool. The luxurious 70 square metre guest suite with large bathroom was originally designed with 5-star hotel
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standards and provides guests with a very special welcoming feel. Enjoy Grand Crus in the fully air conditioned wine cellar with three wine altars made from antique baking stones. Also
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included in the property is a lift, three indoor and seven outdoor parking spaces as well as an automatic watering system and alarm centre. Living space is approximately 1,315 metres squared, while
the land area covers around 1,660 metres squared. Villa Kuk has 12 rooms in total. CH-8002 Zürich Tel. +41 44 280 44 00 www.weber-immo.ch info@weber-immo.ch
PEOPLE & PLACES
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This is the future of Nice What will the city look like by the end of Mayor Christian Estrosi's second term?
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ince Mayor Christian Estrosi was re-elected with significant margins in the recent municipals, it seems he should be able to carry out many of the construction projects he has planned for Nice during his second term. And unlike the 2008 elections, which left the UMP mayor with significant opposition in the city council, the path is now clear for him to implement major renovations and transportation projects in the city. Here are the main ones which are planned for his second term...
Mayor Christian Estrosi unveiled the Gare du Sud renovations in January, but there is still much to do. Future work includes underground parking, a large multiplex cinema, apartment buildings and student residences, due to be completed by 2018.
A tram should be running to the airport by the year 2019
The new St. Isidore eco-district is right beside the Allianz Riviera stadium, which can be seen to the right. Pictures/photo: Ville de Nice
St. Isidore eco-district: While the Allianz Riviera stadium is the central building block of this part of town, it was never planned to be an isolated structure, and the whole ecoquarter surrounding it is intended to become a crucial part of Nice’s future, with
100,000 square metres of housing and business areas. The retail stores will cover a surface of 22,700 square metres and include the longawaited Ikea store which is planned to open in 2016. Construction of the shopping centre began in April.
Tramway 2: The second line of the tramway is among Estrosi’s flagship projects and should connect the airport in the west of Nice to the port in the east. Construction for the tunnel’s entrance and exit is scheduled to start in September 2014. The 3.2-kilometre-long tunnel is expected to take 11 months. Construction on the surface is set to start in 2015 and should take two years to finish. While the section from Jean Médecin to the port was originally scheduled to be completed by 2019, Estrosi told local daily Nice Matin that the whole line should be operational as early as 2017, making the trip from the airport to the port only 26 minutes. At the west end of
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this tramway line, a ‘multimodal exchange hub’ enabling passengers to switch between tram, bus, VéloBleu and even airplane - should start being built in 2016 and be up and running by 2019. Though construction of the second tramway line hasn’t even started yet, the mayor has already announced another ambitious public transport project: a third tramway line towards Saint Isidore’s ecodistrict and the new stadium. The schedule isn’t set in stone yet, however. A temporary date was given for 2018 but it could be pushed back another two years if the 65million-euro project fails to receive a 10-million-euro grant from the government.
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Promenade des Ponchettes The rooftops of the buildings between the Cours Saleya and the Quai des Etats Unis, on either side of the Rue des Ponchettes, used to be known as the Promenade des Ponchettes and were accessible to the public until 1961. Now, more than 50 years later, residents and tourists may once again enjoy the scenery from up above in just a few months. Renovations should start by the end of 2014 and the brand new Ponchettes is expected to open in 2015. Ray Stadium area Since the Allianz Riviera stadium was inaugurated in September 2013, it has been announced that the old Ray Stadium will be demolished and the area replaced with a park, sports facilities, an underground car park and apartment buildings with 80 to 100 flats. Though the specifics still need to be narrowed down, construction is expected to
commence by the end of 2015 and finish in early 2017. Voie Mathis exit tunnel The area has been a traffic black spot for years and is congested nearly every morning. To improve traffic flow, the highway exit will be rearranged, with a tunnel under Grinda Avenue and the Route de Grenoble. End date is 2018. New exhibition centre In an attempt to rival cities such as Barcelona and Milan, Nice should have a new exhibition centre, or ‘parc des expositions’, which will be located near the airport and replace the current Marché d’Intéret National (MIN). MIN will be moved to the La Baronne area, in La Gaude, a few kilometres north of where it currently is. Sports Palace The ‘Acropolis Expositions’ building will be converted into a massive sports 'palace' with a capacity of 5,000 to 7,000 people.
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BUSINESS & FINANCE
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Advisory services refined
It’s time to understand your taxes
Jyske Bank Private Banking accommodates a new financial reality
Deadlines and changes for the 2013 return
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At Jyske Bank Private Banking a personal advisor will be the client's main contact in an advisory team
ADVERTORIAL
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ue to globalisation and a rapidly changing financial world, clients will have more complex banking needs in future. This makes greater demands on the advisory services rendered by banks. To still be able to deliver top class advisory services, Jyske Bank Private Banking therefore refines its advisory services on an ongoing basis. In addition to the regular training of the advisers, Jyske Bank Private Banking has strengthened its concept for advisory services to ensure
even more so that a team of the right professionals is selected to meet the client's needs. Sharper distribution of roles As a client of Jyske Bank Private Banking, you will above all see the development through a sharper distribution of roles at the bank. The objective is to accommodate a more and more complex financial reality where new legislation and new financial opportunities make greater demands on specialist knowledge. At Jyske Bank Private
Banking a personal advisor will be the client's main contact in an advisory team and will be easy to contact. Depending on the client's needs and financial goals, the personal adviser will involve trained specialists, for instance a Wealth Management adviser, or various types of investment advisers. It will also be possible to involve relevant specialists if the client has more complex needs. For further information, please call Jyske Bank (France) in Cannes on 04 93 39 39 00.
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axpayers have already started receiving their income tax forms to declare income earned in 2013. There are some important deadlines to keep in mind when completing the necessary forms. Tuesday 20th May 2014 is the final date for residents to submit the ‘paper’ declaration, while the online declarations can be done from the 16th April 2014 until : • Tuesday 27th May 2014 for residents living in the French départments 1 to 19, • Tuesday 3rd June 2014 for residents living in the French départments 20 to 49, • Tuesday 10th June 2014 for residents living in the French départments 50 to 974/976. For non-residents, there are two deadlines (for ‘paper’ and online declarations) : • Monday 16th June 2014 for Europe, Monaco, the Mediterranean Coast, North America and Africa, • Monday 30th June 2014 for Central and South America, Asia, Oceania and all the other countries. The income tax form has been simplified so it is the same for both online and paper. The website impots.gouv.fr will be improved and from now on you can use your smartphone
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to confirm your income tax declaration. It is important to note that there is an increase in the income thresholds for each tax band of 0.8 %. The new tax bands, with their unchanged tax rates, are as follows : Income tax 2013 (one person) Up to 6, 011 euros........ 0 % 6,012 - 11.991 euros....... 5.5 % 11,992 - 26,631 euros......14 % 26, 632 - 71,397 euros.....30 % 71,398 - 151,200 euros... 41 % 151,200+........................... 45 % There is a special additional tax called contribution exceptionnelle sur les hauts revenus of between 3% and 4% for annual income of upwards of
250,000 euros, and according to the household composition. The reduction for child's education is finally determined and remains the same : • 61 euros for a child at collège, • 153 euros for a child at lycée, • 183 euros for a child at university. Main changes : Quotient familial: the government has reduced the tax advantage that can be gained under the system of quotient familial, from 2,000 to 1,500 euros a year for each half "part", private health insurance: the employer's contribution for the compulsory private health insurance, which was before tax-exempt, is now taxable (included in the net income). Crédit d'impôt développement durable: from 1st January 2014 the allowance is only eligible for energy conservation works, thermal insulation installations and energy production technologies. Additionally, these works must be included in a "bouquet de travaux" (bunch of work). All the other works are no longer eligible (for example rainwater harvesting systems). Jean-Philippe Gioanni Expert Accountant, Cannes
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Committed to local and alternative investments CMB, Monaco’s most distinguished private bank, explains risk portfolios CMB has recently been distinguished as Best Local Private Bank in Monaco 2014, of which it is particularly proud, as it underscores the strong local roots as well as the international dimension of its services, being Private Banking services. CMB is also aspiring to advise its clients with a high level of competence and understanding of international financial markets and wealth issues.
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tives and opportunities the bank is considering within its managed products. Some of these views are shared hereafter. In the current environment, clients are confronted with financial markets that show a rare picture allying low interest rates and a perception of a high risk in investments. The former are the result of central bank policies, which are running accommodative interest policies to an extent that is outstanding in history. As such, one can consider that the markets are still in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2009. The latter is explained by continuing geopolitical tensions (Ukraine, Syria), a lack of visibility on Europe's sovereign debt crisis, a perception that the economic revival in the US has been
CMB's advisory desk (from left to right): Béatrice Boisson, Marie Hélène Parisi, and Emma Gamerdinger
largely credit driven and the psychological impact of low rates, leading people to believe that for rates, the only way from here is up, with a market correction being likely as a consequence. In fact, markets show remarkable resilience. With a view focused on risk, it is perhaps a daring position to run high levels of interest rate risk within an investment strategy, although a scenario similar to the one experienced
in Japan can not be excluded. To improve returns on fixed income investments while optimizing the risk approach, CMB is favouring Dual Currency Notes, highly diversified fixed maturity bond funds, and a diversification into Emerging Markets debt, according to the clients' risk profiles and investment horizons. Emerging markets in general are currently considered to offer a good oppor-
A group of casual and temporary workers gathered in front of Nice's chamber of commerce and industry (CCI) in April to protest a reform project led by the business executives union 'Medef'. The bill, signed on 21st March by the Medef and some labour unions, reforms the UNEDIC employment agency in an attempt to cut government spending, and is said to delay unemployment benefits and limits casual workers' monthly gross revenue (including benefits) to 5,476 euros. A protest spokesperson told The Riviera Times the reform would force more casual workers to seek social welfare. "We wanted to ask CCI members how they could support such a bill while at the same time profiting from casual and temporary work," he said. The casual worker or ' intermittent ' status already took a blow in 2013 with the creation of the CDII work contract, which allows companies to gradually release casual workers' salaries across a whole year.
Var real estate continues to fall Despite encouraging corporate and social housing numbers
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he Var’s real estate sector recorded poor performances across the board in 2013 and there's no end in sight for 2014. The numbers contrast the Côte d’Azur’s generally positive real estate trends. While sales are stagnating or falling in most of the Var department, construction projects and investments continued to plummet throughout 2013. Corporate real estate is on the rebound, however, with a penchant for new offices, and the west side of the department is showing very positive trends in new builds transactions. The Observatoire
Immobilier de Provence (OIP) called 2013 an “historic” year for social housing with 2,171 new public apartments, the highest number ever recorded in the Var, and a 34% rise compared to 2012. And the Var’s economy is starting to show strong signs of recovery in other sectors. In 2013, the department’s industry saw a 0.7% rise in income, with an expected 2.9% increase in 2014, while commercial activities’ income rose by 0.5% last year and an additional 4.2% increase is expected in 2014. Construction, however, fell by 3.1% and another 3.3% decrease is forecast for next
year. Investments are also plummeting, with a recorded 21% drop in construction in 2013. That number, however, reflects the region’s overall downward investment trend, with industry investments also falling by 14%. The Var showed a slight increase (+1.4%) in rent prices, despite a stagnating in France overall (+0.2% in 2013) and in PACA as well (-0.2%). Despite this upward trend, it is important to note that Toulon’s average rent prices of 11.3 euros per square metre are still under the PACA region’s 12.9 euros per square metre rent on average. In terms of new builds, the
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west side of the Var was on par with the Côte d’Azur, with a 20% rise in the number of sales in 2013. But this barely mitigated new build sales in the east of the Var, which fell by half. While the overall numbers certainly aren’t encouraging, the Var’s real estate didn’t completely collapse either, said Julien Savelli, president of the FNAIM real estate chamber in the Var. “However, after a wait-andsee attitude in 2012, typical in any election year, the expected rebound hasn’t taken place,” he added. Stan Aron
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they have furthermore shown situations where the custody of assets, their valuation and their management were not segregated. CMB, with its permanent focus on risks, launched the first fund of hedge funds under Monaco Law with Paris based Lyxor in 2005, based on a managed account platform - one of the largest of its kind - that is not only ensuring the safe custody of assets, independent valuation and risk monitoring, but also providing investors with a fund of hedge funds, which is highly diversified by strategies and managers, with weekly liquidity, a product which emerged largely unscathed from the 2009 market meltdown. The capacity of hedge funds to develop strategies not correlated to markets, which can provide results through arbitrage or short positions, leads to the view that such a diversification is appropriate in the current environment. Compagnie Monégasque de Banque. 23 avenue de la Costa 98000 Monaco. Tel. + 377 93 15 77 77. cmb@cmb.mc
No emails after 6pm? THERE'S BEEN PLENTY of talk since The Guardian published an article in April with the headline “When the French clock off at 6pm, they really mean it". Apparently, French unions banned bosses from sending work emails to their employees after the work day ends. Plenty of Anglo media picked up the story, and why not? It sounds pretty incredible. Well the truth is ... France hasn’t banned work emails after 6pm at all. From 9th April, when The Guardian’s article was published, social media and news reports alike started a frenzy on the subject, suggesting that the French have it best - short working hours and long holidays. Many of the headlines would have had us convinced that a new law states we don’t have the right to work after 6pm in France. The Guardian cited an article in Les Echos about the signing of an agreement between employers’ federations and trade unions in the technology sector, aimed at protecting the health and wellbeing of a certain group of employees. One part of the agreement focused on an “obligation to disconnect”. The Guardian picked up on this straight away: “Just in case you weren't jealous enough of the French already, what with their effortless style, lovely
accents and collective will to calorie control, they have now just made it illegal to work after 6pm. Well, sort of,” read The Guardian. However, there were just a few inaccuracies in some Anglo press’ coverage of the “disconnection agreement”, which started the whole subject craze. “France has not banned workers from sending emails after 6pm” was the headline in Slate.fr. The site pointed out that the agreement, which was not a new law, between federations Syntec and Cinov and unions CFDT and CGC, only affects around 200,000 workers, not the whole of France as some of the headlines would have us believe, not even the “million workers” as quoted in The Guardian. As stated in the agreement, the workers are mainly employed in management positions and work outside the framework of the 35-hour week. They work all hours of the day and evening, hence the need for them to be protected. In reality, the agreement has no mention of a 6pm cut-off point, in fact there is no ban on workers checking emails after a certain time. In brief, it’s an agreement between the executive's union and bosses. Nicole Mercier
ADVERTORIAL
s one of only few banking institutions in Monaco, CMB is investing heavily in the development of skills locally, which translates to a high level training policy for its personnel, a strong commitment to foster local youth's integration into the banking world and, last but not least, one of the largest asset management operations in the Principality, regrouping a diverse set of skills, with asset managers with international background and training. CMB is the largest provider of mutual funds under Monaco Law and has extensive operations in portfolio management and client advisory. The bank is running its investment strategy with a focus on risks and clients are regularly informed about the perspec-
tunity to diversify asset, in the light of a recent underperformance versus world markets. Smart money has taken profits in emerging markets since the beginning of 2013, with export oriented emerging economies especially feeling the downturn in consumption in the US and Europe. In 2014, with now attractive valuations, young demographics and a growth outlook with the development of local consumption, emerging markets equities performance is expected to bounce. CMB is running an Equity Fund investing in that universe in partnership with investment house Martin Currie Ltd. from Edinburgh. The bank is also considering the launch of an emerging market bond fund. CMB considers that another investment alternative may be found in alternative investments, for sophisticated clients. The experience during the financial crisis has outlined the risks linked to hedge funds. Mostly operating in environments with low regulation and supervision,
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Emotions for the taste buds and the heart Meet the world’s first organic chef with a Michelin star
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aolo Sari of the Monte Carlo Beach restaurant Elsa is the only organic chef to have ever achieved a Michelin star. The Riviera Times spoke to Paolo about his philosophy and what that means for his guests at Monte Carlo Beach. Paolo, you have just won the first Michelin star worldwide for organic cooking. How does that feel? Simply wonderful! I read about it first in the newspaper and thought: "You've really accomplished something important here." You get stars because there are people who appreciate your achievements. Elsa is now the only restaurant in the world with an organic certificate! But I didn't put in the work to get stars; I work for my guests. What is your life philosophy? For a start, I don't cook organically; I am organic. I put my heart and soul into it and I am very sensitive to this way of cooking. My maxim is: if you respect nature, you respect yourself. For me it's
almost sacrilegious to chop vegetables. So I mostly leave them whole and also like to use them raw. What does the organic certificate mean for you in practical terms? I have to be able to show an organic certificate for every single ingredient and every product. This applies to the 158 different ingredients we use in the kitchen as well as the 33 vineyards that supply our wines and the 22 farmers who deliver our vegetables, fruit and olive oil. We use only local or regional produce from the area between Albenga and Saint Jeannet. Our meat and fish also have to fulfil a whole list of different characteristics. We bake our own organic bread twice a day. It's a huge commitment for me as well as my 75 employees! But we are all passionate about it - right to the very last detail. Our motto: excellence and consistency - or nothing. What has influenced you in your career? I once visited a monastery on
an island between Korea and Japan. The biological age of the monks was up to 30 years younger than their real age. Everything they did was dictated by love and respect. The love they gave to the earth was given back to them by nature. It went far beyond eating healthily. I found everything that was important to me there. What has changed for the guests of Monte Carlo Beach? Guests previously came to bathe at Monte Carlo Beach. Today they come to eat. Paolo Sari says he doesn’t just cook Anyone with a sun tent organically, he is organic, putting his can also order meals heart and soul into every dish from Elsa. We only serve food that is naturally for example, is a wonderful available during the season. In and attractive composition of this way we help our guests to vegetables and herbs that once again experience the changes every week dependauthentic taste of tomatoes ing on what's in the garden. and courgettes, herbs and strawberries. Our Bio Sama, Petra Hall
Reaching for the stars Luxury resort Terre Blanche on path to former gastronomic glory
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his first Michelin star in 2009 and a year later, his second. "After six years, it was time for a new adventure," says the 43year-old. Terre Blanche is known as one of the world's leading spas and also for its unsurpassable golf courses - it is excellence in every respect. In short, it is a dream destination at the heart of Provence - and it desperately wants to return, gastronomically, to its former strength, says CEO Gilles Fouilleroux. It is Yannick Franques' biggest challenge in his new job to bring his stars to the luxury resort. "Also, the very fact that I must lead four restaurants with four different orientations and different price ranges is a huge task," says Yannick. He plans to score points with his modern interpretations, adding Provencal notes to Parisian cuisine; "bourgeois Provençale" he calls it. Guests will also recognise his signature dish Mystère de l'Oeuf (the mystery of the egg), a creation based on parmesan cream with an egg yolk gently flowing out of a parmesan brioche.
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Far left: Yannick Franques wears the colours of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France. Left: his signature dish ‘the mystery of the egg’. Below: the lounge area of Le Gaudina Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort 3100 Route de Bagnols en Foret 83440 Tourrettes www.terre-blanche.com
Yannick's cuisine combines intense southern flavours with regional inspiration. It is technical and creative, bringing a new standard to the Faventia restaurant. The premises reopened in mid-April after a winter break, and Yannick says he was like an excited school boy: "Of course we were all excited, the whole team - it's just like a new opening!" In fact, much of his old team has followed him from Vence. All four restaurants at Terre Blanche are now open for the season, offering a variety of choices for guests. At Le Gaudina, for example,
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you can enjoy fantastic dishes at lower prices than the gourmet restaurant Le Faventia. Indeed, the credentials of all the new chefs sound exciting, what a great excuse to try some new cuisine at Terre Blanche! Aila Stöckmann
ADVERTORIAL
he new season begins with a new chef at Terre Blanche. Yannick Franques has already earned himself two Michelin stars, a dream come true for any pioneering chef. So what exactly does that mean for this 5-star hotel, its 70-strong kitchen team and the four restaurants that reside in the luxury resort? Yannick revealed all for The Riviera Times.
Chefs are a hot commodity - especially those with coveted stars. They move from restaurant to restaurant, town to town, or even from country to country, always in search of inspiration, new challenges and further steps up the career ladder. Having previously garnered two Michelin stars as head chef at the Château Saint Martin in Vence, Yannick Franques has just landed another dream job at Terre Blanche. The Parisian native experienced the charm of the Côte d'Azur almost 20 years ago when he worked in Alain Ducasse's kitchen at the prestigious Louis XV in Monaco. On his way to the top he took his cooking back to Paris. In 2004, Yannick received the prestigious award 'Meilleur Ouvrier de France' (Best French Craftsman). Then in 2007, he finally settled down in the south where he now lives with his wife and two children in Nice. Vence is where he earned
GOURMET
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Ten years of Italian cuisine
Strawberry festival THE SUPERMARKETS may have been stocked with low cost Spanish strawberries for weeks now, but May and June are excellent months for local strawberries, and the French are justifiably proud of their varieties. They were first cultivated in France in the 1750s from a cross between the Fragaria Virginiana variety from North America and Fragaria chiloensis brought over from Chile by Amédée-Francois Frézier, although records show that they had been exploiting wild strawberries from the 1300s. The south of France is known for the gariguette, an elongated fruit with an intense sweet flavour, the mara des bois that combines the aromatic flavour of wild strawberries with the bigger size of modern cultivars, and the manille, a cross between the two. In the Alpes Maritimes the village of Carros north-west of
Nice is famous for its strawberry festival - Fête des fraises on from 2nd-4th May at Place Louis Frescolini. As well as over 30 local strawberry producers there will be stalls selling all the usual produce, a host of activities such as pony rides, face-painting, culinary workshops, a small animal farm and dance demos - so fun for all the family.
Garibaldi’s birthplace hosts festival of specialities
Mark the dates - 29th May to 1st June: when the Italians take over the Promenade des Anglais
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or the 10th consecutive year, the Italian CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) will take over the Promenade des Anglais to hold an Italian gastronomy show in Nice. This year, L'Italie à Table will celebrate Nice and Italy's shared roots, when it comes to cuisine, from 29th May to 1st June. Many visitors to Europe do not fully appreciate the extent to which Italian cuisine is based on its regions, a fact celebrated in this festival. With culinary specialities coming from all the famous regions, visitors to L'Italie à Table can treat themselves to a plate of Italian charcuterie in the shape of smoked hams and salamis, sweet and savoury jams, homemade pasta, and a wide selection of
wines. While the main focus of this culinary feast is of course food, the event is also an opportunity to learn more about the culture and other attractions our neighbours to the east have to offer. With this in mind there will be various destinations, tourism itineraries and summer vacation spots to choose from. A series of conferences presented by both Italian and French professionals in the catering sector, as well as farmers and producers, will take place during the event. This year, there will be a special focus on the common roots that exist between Italian and Niçoise cuisine to celebrate the event's 10-year anniversary. Meanwhile, Unioncamere, the union of Italian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry, has been busy working on the development of the 'Ospitalità Italiana' seal of approval to promote quality Italian food throughout the world. With L'Italie à Table taking place just before the country’s National Day (Festa della Repubblica) on 2nd June, a number of events have been taking place in the lead up to the food festival. For example, in early April, an Italian TV programme about agriculture, called Linea Verde, focused on the Liguria region and France. On 20th May, L'Italie à Table will hold a preview event during the Nice Open tennis tournament, and on 27th May, all schools in Nice will be serving Italian food to their students. Stan Aron
Jacques Gantié’s Restaurant recommendations Jacques Gantié is the author of the only regional restaurant guide, Guide Gantié, which is available in French in hardcopy, and electronically in English. It contains hundreds of great insider tips for eating out.
LA TABLE DU CHEF Is Bruno Gensdarme a reformed grand chef, a recycled gourmet cook, or an escapee from a team in a kitchen? Guy Savoy's former partner is simply a cook, which isn't that common. He proves that one can have a kitchen the size of a hankerchief and still manage splendidly. What you will find here is fresh and tasty. A fine red kuri squash and cepe cream soup, free range poultry (Boucherie Nouvelle) with celery
and turnip mousseline, foie gras sauce, or vegetable fricassee, scrambled eggs with truffle and artichoke, pata negra and macaroni gratin with cepes, and to finish puff praline chocolate, English cream with chicory roots, or a chocolate mousse that will remind you of the one your mother made that until now was the best. A seasonal market produce inspired cuisine leads to iced tomato soup one day, sauté of
veal and polenta or grey snapper with niçoise chard the next At noon they serve a daily special and two delectable set menus. In the evening the amazing "retour de Fortville", two or three modest wines, a few good bottles of Domaine de Valcolombe in Côtes de Provence or reasonably priced Bordeaux (Giscours, Lynch Bages, Figeac…). Between the bar counter, tables, mirrors and timber,
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David, Bruno's son-in-law, takes care of the service. Set menus for 24 and 29 euros at noon, special for 16 euros. Four course set menu for 41 euros in the evening. Wine from 26 euros the bottle, 6 euros the glass. Open at noon Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon and evenings from Thursday to Saturday. Closed Sundays. CANNES 5 rue Jean Daumas Tel: 04 93 68 27 40
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Anti-ageing solutions There’s no great mystery or expense to slowing the hands of time Facial wrinkles are one of the most obvious - and dreaded signs of ageing… more so in this digital age, with our 'profile pictures' a constant reminder of how we look to the world, our imperfections out there for all to see. And the global skincare market is booming as a result. The industry is predicted to increase in revenue from 57.3 billion euros in 2012 to more than 73.8 billion by the end of 2018. But there are some simple things we can be doing to help turn the hands of time, and it doesn't involve toxic chemical peels and invasive surgery.
Modern pressures Computers, phones and tablets are the new mirrors in our lives. Every time we log on or answer a video call, our faces are projected back to ourselves. Image perception has entered a whole new world of excess. In a study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, 960 female college students were evaluated on the time they spend on social media sites, how important 'likes' are and whether or not they untag photos of themselves. Women who spent more time on Facebook reported a higher incidence of appearance-focussed behaviours and reported greater eating problems. These women were more likely to give greater significance to receiving comments and likes on status
updates, they frequently untagged pictures of themselves, and they often compared their photos to friends' pictures. Imperfections are becoming less and less acceptable.
Understand your wrinkles To treat and prevent wrinkles, it is important to understand them. There are two main types of facial wrinkles: dynamic and static. Dynamic wrinkles result from muscle motion, a product of the way we express ourselves. They also form from habitual movement, like the vertical lip lines in smokers and crow's feet in people who work outside and find themselves often squinting in the sun. The older we get, the harder it is for our skin to bounce back
after stretching to accommodate muscle movement; the dynamic wrinkles start to become more permanent. The most common dynamic wrinkles are across the forehead, at the outer corners of the eyes (crow's feet) and between the eyebrows. Static wrinkles are caused by gravity, the loss of fat and collagen, and the loss of the skin's elasticity. These types of wrinkles are visible regardless of muscle action. They are always there, that's why they are called "static."
the supportive connective tissue, skin loses strength and flexibility. It then begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely. As an example, compare the skin on the back of your hands with the skin on the inside of your upper arm. This is what sun exposure has done over time.
What can we do?
The good news is that invasive and expensive wrinkle treatments are not the only answer. Sunscreen is THE most effective form of anti-ageing cream you could ever buy. But not all sunscreens are What are the main adequate. It must specify that causes? The main contributor to the sunscreen is broadwrinkles is very simple … too spectrum (protects against much time in the sun. UV both UV and UVB) and at least exposure contributes a SPF 15. If you find normal sunscreen whopping 80% to the onset of too greasy to apply facial wrinkles, the rest is a Start using a daily to your face every day, start using a result of stress, moisturiser daily moisturiser poor nutrition, with added UV with added UV proovereating, tection. But choose alcohol intake, protection wisely. Since 2007, tobacco and air pollution. UV light breaks these products must specify down the skin's connective whether they protect against tissue - collagen and elastin UVA as well, by providing a fibres - which lie in the deeper rating system. Manufacturers layer of skin (dermis). Without will show that their products meet the SPF/UVAPF ratio by displaying the letters "UVA" inside a circle. There are other things you can do to avoid the damaging effects of UV. Be extra careful about spending time in the sun between 10am and 4pm, when the sun's burning rays are most intense. And don't forget to apply sunscreen on overcast days, as 70 to 80 per cent of the sun's rays - above all, long-spectrum UVA rays go through clouds and fog.
Treating & preventing wrinkles The most effective treatments can be found in nature. Science has categorically proven that antioxidants help ward off wrinkles and there are specific antioxidants that you can introduce either to your diet, take as supplements, or look for in skin care products to boost your chances! Vitamin C: It's not just for colds anymore. Studies show that Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) has an important antiageing effect. It works in two ways: as an antioxidant as well as a booster of collagen formation - both of which are important to preserving and maintaining skin's youthful appearance. Cosmetic companies are hard at work to make Vitamin C absorbed more easily through the skin directly via creams and lotions. Vitamin E helps the skin look younger by boosting
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From green tea to vitamin E, the number of anti-ageing options available to men and women are numerous and non-invasive
collagen production and the fun doesn't end there. reducing the appearance of Polyphenols can also be found fine lines, wrinkles and age in dark chocolate (the higher spots. Unlike other vitamins, the cocoa content, the better), the most significant benefits tea and coffee. Grape seed is part of the can be seen when Vitamin E is Proanthocyanidin family taken via oral supplements. Carotenoids: B-carotene, potent antioxidants with astaxanthin and lycopene are strong free radical scavenging not just very big words that are activities. Grape seed extract hard to say, they are all has been shown to be an even carotenoids and extremely stronger scavenger of free powerful antioxidants. B- radicals than vitamins C and E. Genistein is an carotene is Vitamin C is isoflavone derived mostly found in carrots, sweet not just for colds from soybeans with the capacity to potatoes and anymore inhibit UV-induced pumpkin. Oral DNA damage. supplements of B-carotene and lycopene has Studies have shown that it can shown that it protects against increase collagen content, UV radiation - but it must be elastic fibres and skin taken for longer than seven thickness. Genistein can either weeks and more than 12mg be applied to the face or taken per dose to be effective as a supplement. Vitamin B3 is a powerful (lycopene is easily absorbed by antioxidant that has shown to the skin). Astaxanthin is abundantly improve the texture and tone found in yeast, shrimp, crayfish of the skin, as well as reduce and crustaceans - it gives them fine lines, wrinkles and hypertheir red colour when cooked. pigmentation. It is found in fish Studies have shown that (sustainable yellow fin tuna astaxanthin improves the especially), chicken, pork and skin's elasticity, roughness, beef. Selenium delays skin aging moisture content and reduces wrinkles. Studies indicate that by protecting its quality and the combination of oral elasticity. This trace mineral supplements (6mg/dl) and gives you double antioxidant application to the skin could protection - it acts as an be more effective in skin antioxidant itself thereby protecting cells from free ageing. Green Tea is now known to radical damage. It also speeds fight everything from heart up your body's natural disease to skin aging. The antioxidant-making process main ingredient is polyphenols and increases the effectiveness and lab studies suggest that it of Vitamin E. The best vegeclears cell damage on the skin tarian sources of selenium and repairs wrinkles, blem- include Brazil nuts, unrefined ishes and other impurities. grains, brown rice, and wheat When applied to the skin, germ. If you use only one method green tea can reduce sun damage by reducing inflamm- to reduce wrinkles, make it ation and tackling free radicals. sunscreen. For those who are a Resveratrol and poly- little more dedicated, look for phenols are commonly found skin care products that contain in the skin of grapes, among some or all of the above others. So let's all raise our ingredients and also take glasses to the healing supplements. The fact is, skin properties of Pinot Noir! This is care doesn’t have to be another important antioxidant expensive or mysterious. Cassandra Tanti for preventing skin ageing. But
Constricted vertebral canal An operation has not always been necessary for some time now Praxisklinik Dr. Reinhard Schneiderhan & Kollegen takes an interdisciplinary approach to agreeing on which therapies to recommend for patients
When back pain spreads to the legs and patients have to stop or even sit down after walking only a few metres, or if standing for long periods causes severe back pain, the diagnosis is often a constricted vertebral canal. “We have to operate,” was what doctors used to say. But is this really the case? Is an operation the only treatment for pain caused by a constricted vertebral canal? “No,” is the good news from Dr. Reinhard Schneiderhan, who heads up the Dr. Schneiderhan clinic in Munich/Taufkirchen. “We are able to help most patients without performing an operation.” The range of treatments at the Praxisklinik Dr. Schneiderhan & Kollegen medical centre includes outpatient and inpatient pain therapy as well as minimally invasive and operative methods for the spine and the use of disc prostheses. The highly specialised team of doctors has considerable experience, with more than 16,500 epidural catheter treatments across Europe and more than 13,000 intervertebral disc laser treatments and over 19,000 heat-probe treatments worldwide.
the point where a slipped disc, a swollen ligament or scar tissue are constricting the canal and irritating the nerve root. We then inject drugs directly into the area affected. This shrinks the swelling of the disc, removes scarring and combats inflammation. The spinal canal is released and pain disappears,” explains Dr. Schneiderhan. “Depending on the findings we also use laser therapy. Here we insert extremely fine laser probes through a cannula and shrink the prolapsed disc tissue.”
Keyhole surgery An operation has to be considered when the vertebral canal is constricted by bone tissue. A description of the discomfort, a physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging help to diagnose the cause of the discomfort. Keyhole surgery is currently the gentlest method for this. This is carried out under endoscopic view through a tube only 7mm thick. Muscles, ligaments and tendons no longer need to be detached or separated when inserting the endoscope. This also prevents the formation of scar tissue that in turn can cause further back pain. The patient quickly becomes healthy and strong again.
Endoscopic operation on a constricted vertebral canal: This completely new joimax endoscope is only 7mm thick at its tip and has a rotary cutter that can be controlled in every direction.
has revolutionised the endoscopic procedure for vertebral canal constrictions. Our spinal column specialists have already carried out several hundred endoscopic operations with this high-tech equipment, and our patients benefit from this experience.”
Advanced stabilisation T he spinal column specialists at the Dr. Schnei-
Modern therapies alleviate discomfort in a gentle way There are a variety of therapies to treat a constricted vertebral canal. If conservative methods do not succeed in alleviating the pain, there are minimally invasive therapies available such as epidural catheters. “Catheter therapies involve the semi-conscious sedation of a patient and the insertion of a thin catheter via a puncture site into the coccyx region. The catheter is then pushed up the spinal canal until it reaches Minimally invasive operations on the spine preserve the surrounding structures and shorten the convalescence period
Back pain has many different causes. Dr. Reinhard Schneiderhan believes that discussions with the patient are key to finding the correct diagnosis
An advanced micro instrument called the “shrill shaver” has therefore been developed for the treatment of a constricted spinal canal. “We insert a thin joimax endoscope from the side and push it into the constricted area of the spinal column under control of vision via the built-in optics,” explains Dr. Schneiderhan. “With the aid of a special angled rotary cutter with a controllable tip we are able to remove the excess bone tissue that is constricting the spinal canal. The development of this completely new probe, the tip of which can be precisely controlled in every direction,
derhan & Kollegen clinic treat severe cases of vertebral canal constrictions and spinal column instabilities with a stabilisation operation. “With this procedure we remove heavily worn vertebrae via an open incision and replace them with a small titanium block that maintains the correct distance between the two vertebral bodies and widens the spinal canal again,” explains Dr. Schneiderhan. “Finally, the vertebral bodies are stabilised using screws and metal rods.” The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and lasts around two hours. Patients are already able to stand again a day after the operation, and can leave the clinic after four days. After a few weeks they are free from pain and able to move again without restriction.
Contact MVZ Praxisklinik Dr. Schneiderhan & Kollegen Eschenstr. 2 82024 München/Taufkirchen Germany Tel: +49 (0)89 / 614510-90 Fax:+49 (0)89 / 614510-12 For further information:
www.orthopaede.com junge@orthopaede.com
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What is white skin cancer? Provencial charm meets international high class medicine
The Riviera Times spoke to Dr. Susanne Brandl, a skin specialist from Munich who was in Nice for a medical conference on white skin cancer in April.
in the green Valley of Canton Fayence
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n the wonderful Canton of Fayence - only a 35-minute drive from Cannes and a 45-minute drive from Nice embedded in green surroundings, The International Medical Centre Provence provides medical services of the highest international standard. Operated by highly experienced doctors from America, Denmark and Germany, the IMC Provence offers a complete range of general and internal medicine and treatments of ophthalmological (eye) and orthopaedic diseases. In addition to English, they speak French, Danish, Swedish and German. The inter-disciplinary medical care under the same roof and the intensive interaction which extends across the disciplines reflects a holistic approach towards the state of health of the patient and their desire to be understood in their sickness. The general medical service is aimed at both family and geriatric medicine. Besides the complex spectrum of non-operative eye diseases, one of the main specialisations of IMC
Provence are cataract surgery, retinal surgery, vitrectomy, cosmetic eyelid surgery in Cannes (Clinique Oxford) and refractive laser surgery in Nice (Centre Vivien Future). The IMC Provence offers in the orthopaedic field an emphasis on non-operative treatments which are individually focused on the patient's needs to provide alternatives beyond the usual operative techniques or just pain killers, and to improve quality of life including an additional revitalisation program. Functional handicaps of active sports persons as well as the classic pain patient or the chronically sick patient with unclarified symptoms can expect a detailed examination to uncover the source of their problem and a multimodal therapy approach to their treatment. The IMC Provence specialists are regularly requested to give competent medical second opinions for a special health theme. This might be, for example, a requested operation or even a long lasting continuous pain condition that has not been thoroughly elucidated.
Patients who need continuous medical care can enjoy their holidays relaxed and safe knowing that the IMC Provence specialists will contact their treating doctor in their country of origin without language difficulties, if necessary. Patients who are planning a convalescent leave in the near future after a period of illness will find a competent follow-up at IMC Provence. The post-operative care is provided not only for the local patients but also for patients who are planning a holiday after a medical intervention. The IMC Provence specialists are registered with the proper French authorities for health insurance purposes and residents may use their Carte Vitale. EU/EFTA residents can request reimbursement from their national health insurance. Secretaries Christine, Diana and Laure are available on the phone to answer questions and make appointments in six languages. For directions and further information, visit: www.imc-provence.com
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What exactly is white skin cancer? White skin cancer is, as the name suggests, not pigmented. It often starts as a small red scaly spot, an actinic keratosis as it is known, or Bowen's disease. This can develop into a red rough nodule, which does not spontaneously heal. Another common form of white skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. This is typically a skin-colored glassy nodule that bleeds often centrally and spontaneously and also does not heal. The lesions mentioned usually only grow superficially and only very rarely spread to other organs (metastasis). The black skin cancer, however, begins normally as a dark pigmented spot that grows within three to four months and can trigger a metastasis. Who is most vulnerable to white skin cancer? People with light skin - photo type 1 and 2 - and/or people who are exposed to a lot of sun. Particularly at risk are the sun-exposed areas, especially the head and face. How can we protect ourselves? It is best not to expose yourself to the sun between the hours 11am and 3pm, and protect the light-exposed areas of the
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body daily with a sunscreen protection factor SPF 30+, or SPF 50+ in summer. It is also advisable to wear protective clothing together with sunscreen during lunch hours. How much direct sunlight per day can the skin tolerate? This is a difficult question to answer in general. People with sensitive skin - type 1 (blue eyes, blond hair, white skin) can suffer sunburn after 10 minutes of exposure at midday without protection, while people with skin type 3 can burn after about 30 minutes. Basically, it depends on the skin type and solar radiation (weather, time of day). How do we detect it? Self-examination is the best option for early detection. Those that are highly susceptible should get annual inspections. What does a diagnosis of white skin cancer mean? The larger the tumor has grown, the more extensive the treatment needed. Although this skin cancer seldom spreads, or metastasises, to vital organs, it can damage surrounding tissue, sometimes causing considerable destruction and disfigurement - and some Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) are more aggressive than others.
Free yoga day in Monaco WOULD YOU like to participate in a free yoga day this June? Breathe As One is an initiative by Yoga Shala Monaco and Collectiv Om, and will be held on 21st June in Monte Carlo. The aim is to gather the Côte d'Azur yoga community for the very first time and celebrate the summer solstice with a yoga practice. It will take place at the same time as similar yoga events all over the world including Times Square in New York and le Grand Palais in Paris. The event is supported by the Principality of Monaco and the Société des Bains de Mer, which will allow around a thousand people to gather, breathe, meditate and practice on the beautiful terrace of the Monte Carlo Casino. The yoga class will be lead by international master Nico Luce (www.nicoluce.com) and yogi Alexander, who will open the ceremony with a meditation practice. "There is no better place to celebrate than in the magical Monte Carlo. Come with your family and children, open your heart, senses and spirit…Om shanti." Doors open at 9.30am. For more information and registration, visit: www.breatheasone.eu.
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St. Tropez Bravade 2014 SAINT TROPEZ'S coveted Fête de la Bravade, celebrating its patron saint and the courage of the Tropezians, will take place this year from 16th to 18th May. The festival dates back to the 15th century, and participation in the Bravade is an honour and special privilege reserved for the native Tropezians - around 800 families. The number of participants however is limited to 190 men and 120 children for safety reasons. "Ad usque fidelis - faithful to the end," is the motto of the Bravadeurs that is passed down through the generations. "For us, the Bravade is not a festival but an important religious and military tradition. We don't celebrate until afterwards," said Cepoun Serge Astézan. The event begins with gun salutes and serenades to the ruling bodies, followed by a consecration of weapons and a procession where a bust of the patron saint, Saint Torpes, is carried through the town with a guard of honour. The following day, rifle shots thunder over the square and drum rolls resound in the streets as revelers make a pilgrimage lasting several hours to the Chapel of St. Anne, where the relics of the patron saint are preserved. The festivities end with a mass and a picnic.
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Biot attracts key opera star New Francis Bacon Big names line up for the intimate music festival art foundation
"Small is beautiful" … this has always been and always will be the motto of the Heures Musicales, which every year attracts national and international artists to the tiny church of Biot in the hinterland of Antibes. The music festival (20th May to 20th June) has a unique ambience in the newly renovated church, providing an intimate connection between those on stage and the 400 guests. "The audience does not miss a thing," says artistic director and festival founder Liliane Valsecchi . Valsecchi is in fact the reason why the Heures Musicales has for over 30 years drawn respected stars to this small village on the Côte d' Azur. Previously, the trained pianist organised other music festivals such as the Summer Musical of Antibes and had aligned herself with some of the greatest international artists. It enables this fascinating woman to attract the gems of classical music each year, without the lure of a big budget or a powerful advertising campaign. And it is often to their disappointment that Valsecchi does not ask them to return each year, in order to deliver a varied program for festival fans.
Monaco brings Bacon’s work to the public
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Russian pianist Nikolaï Lugansky will perform at the Heures Musicales
The guest star of 2014, and making her first appearance at the Heures Musicales, is the celebrated opera singer Natalie Dessay French, who has performed, among other engagements, at the Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. She will delight the crowds in Biot on 30th May, interpreting pieces by Schumann, Brahms, Strauss, Fauré, Poulenc, Duparc and Debussy, and accompanied by Philippe Cassard on the piano. This year, in addition to permanent guests Renaud Capuçon on violin with Gerard Causse on the viola (16th June) and brother Gautier playing cello, with Frank Braley at the piano (20th June), returns the celebrated native Lebanese
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pianist Abdel Rahman El Bacha (first concert 20th May) as well as the global favourite Nikolaï Lugansky (also piano, 25th May). This musical festival will also see, for the first time, actor and director Francis Huster reciting text by Jean-Yves Clément to music by Bruno Rigutto (2nd June). "We will carry on like crazy!" Promises the energetic festival founder, adding a little more quietly: "You have to be a little crazy so that everything can go well." Tickets are on sale at www.biot.fr and from the Tourism Office of Biot. Concerts start at 9pm, a free shuttle bus runs from 7pm from the car park below the village. Aila Stöckmann
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new private, non-profit organisation dedicated to Irish born, British artist Francis Bacon has been established in Monaco and is due to open in autumn of 2014. Francis Bacon was known for his expressive paintings of the human figure, in scenes that often suggest alienation and suffering. The artist of the post-war era lived in Monaco from 1946 to the early 1950s, and frequently returned to the Principality throughout his life. The ground floor of Villa Elise on Boulevard d'Italie, situated in the heart of Monaco, has been earmarked for the foundation dedicated to the life and works of Bacon, which will be open to students, researchers and the general public. The foundation is being established by Monaco resident Majid Boustany, who discovered Francis Bacon's work whilst studying art history. The villa will house Boustany's private art collection of Bacon's work. Through its state-of-the-art facilities, the foundation's mission is to promote an indepth understanding of Bacon's life and work, paying
particular attention to the period when the artist lived in Monaco. Besides being a source for research, the establishment will work with other foundations to organise exhibitions and seminars, finance projects associated with the artist, and also support emerging artists. The Francis Bacon Foundation will house a selection of paintings from the late 1920s to the early 1980s, an array of working documents from Bacon's studios, and also rare items from his furniture and rug design period. In addition, the establishment will include a large library on the artist, a collection of exhibition catalogues, works by Bacon's peers and influences, and also a photographic archive of pictures taken by his friends and lovers. "I'm working for myself; what else have I got to work for? I have got nobody to excite except myself, so I am always surprised if anyone likes my work sometimes," Francis Bacon once said. The foundation's website will be live by the end of September 2014: www.mbartfoundation.com.
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Winners and losers in Capital of Culture Marseille takes stock after year of events as European’s focus for enlightenment
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plendour and misery have been close neighbours in Marseille for 2,600 years. And last year, when the Phoenician city was the European Capital of Culture, was no exception. On the one hand, France's oldest city is now home to MuCEM, the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations, an architectural highlight. It has attracted two million visitors since it was opened in June 2013 and is now one of the top 50 most popular tourist attractions in the world. Yet located just a few metres away is the J1 Hangar that after just two exhibitions is standing empty and is now awaiting its fate. That fate is in the hands of the newly elected city council and the port authority. The light that shines out from the MuCEM building, which has a finely chiselled concrete shell and is based on a design by Rudy Ricciotti, casts large shadows over neighbouring developments. The southern French architect has stolen the show from his rivals. The Villa Méditerranée by Stefano Boeri, which was also
positioned by PACA (Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur) in the grounds of the old port, is also a spectacular building with its spaces above and below sea level and an overhanging structure, but no one knows how the architecturally confined spaces will be utilised for exhibitions in the future. This is a typical dilemma for the former Capital of Culture. Hundreds of millions of euros have been pumped into the infrastructure, but the institutions are now running out of money. The small but elegant Festival Côté Cour in Aix en Provence has thrown in the towel after 15 years following cuts in 2014 subsidies by both the PACA Region and the Bouches du Rhône department. The summer series of low-cost concerts has been cancelled due to lack of support. The big losers The biggest losers from the city's year as the Capital of Culture are the small local organisations that by 2013 were already making efforts to ensure that the population would be offered more than just elite cultural events at
Norman Foster's Ombrière, a thin sheet of polished steel held up by slender columns, mirrors life in the revamped Old Port - a positive lasting legacy of Marseille’s year as European Capital of Culture
high prices. The alternative newspaper Le Ravi cites artist Catherine Lecoq, who at the last minute was obliged to appear three times during International Women's Day 2013 in the now dismantled M Pavillon at the Marseille Town Hall - for a 90 euro fee. Despite these efforts, the original budget of 91 million euros for the festival year grew to 98 million euros. A lot of visitors but... While eight million visitors throughout 2013 can be seen as a success, there are many
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disappointments. Henri Pons, head of the tourist office in Aix en Provence, complains about the delayed information from the organisation committee in Marseille. For example, the much-publicised exhibition Grand Atelier du Midi, which took place in the Musée Granet as well as the specially renovated Palais Longchamps of Marseille, did not come close to the success that Aix alone enjoyed with the 2006 exhibition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Paul Cézanne's death or the 2009 Cézanne-Picasso exhibition. The TransHumance event that involved driving sheep and goats through the streets was a complete washout, despite its high cost. Uncertainty also surrounds the new GR 2013 hiking trail through the Bouches du Rhône as it is difficult to follow due to the lack of practical tips and poor legibility of signs. In addition, the future of Friche Belle de Mai on a former industrial wasteland near to the station remains completely open. The new exhibition spaces, breathtaking roof terrace, low-priced slow-food restaurant and artist's studio attracted a large
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The future of the J1 Hangar exhibition venue hangs in the balance
number of tourists but not many local residents. Positive signs Nevertheless, Marseille and its partners did not stand still in 2013. Even though the future of the J1 Hangar (which had to close during the summer of the festival year because no one had the foresight to install air conditioning) remains in the balance until a decision is made by the new town council in 2014, there are rays of hope in the Mediterranean metropolis. The Regards de Provence private museum between J1 Hangar and the new MuCEM has enough potential to turn the port's former sanitation station into an attractive exhibition venue for the long term. The spectacular FRAC
(Fonds Régional de l'Art Contemporain) building designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma in pixel style located in the Joliette neighbourhood just a few feet from the sea is as much a positive sign for the future as the new Visage exhibition in the Vieille Charité, the baroque jewel in the Panier neighbourhood of Marseille. Here, top-quality art including the works of Pablo Picasso, René Magritte, Andy Warhol and Man Ray as well as German artists such as Gerhard Richter, Rudolf Schlichter, Karl Hubbuch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Oskar Schlemmer will be shown until 22nd June. Proud residents Marseille has taken on a new character of late that has even made its highly critical residents proud of their own city. The old port, which was largely cleared by the renowned architect Norman Foster, is now the location of his attractive Ombrière hall, and the ancient and now reopened Fort Saint-Jean. The European City of Culture 2013 is no washout, despite all its problems. Indeed, Ulrich Fuchs, the German vice president during Marseille's year as Capital of Culture, paid the city a huge compliment by making it his home in 2014. “We have enabled the population to discover a completely new view of their city. It now depends on what the political leaders will do next.” Peter Bausch Anne Morris
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Your survival guide to living in France Dear Andy, I've started a fashion/design company and I want to register my brand name and logo… can you help? Brandy, in Agay Hi Brandy, It's easy and not as expensive as you may think… best of all, the website that you have to use to register your brand is available in English! Here's how it works. First decide on your brand name and if you will be registering a logo for it as well. Then, visit the INPI online database (http://bases-marques.inpi.fr/). Enter your brand name in the box 'Nom de la Marque' and hit Rechercher. The result page will show who has registered the same brand in France or it will list similar names with a
slightly different spelling. It will also indicate if it is a Europeanwide copyright, international or simply French registered. Even if you want to name your company "Blue" for example, it is worth persisting with the application. In fact, you will notice that if you type in "Blue", you will receive 3,233 companies with "Blue" in their names. To register your brand name, you can register it online with INPI. It will cost you about 250 euros and you get to choose the categories that your brand belongs to, e.g. fashion, print, media. Count an extra 40 euros for extra categories. You can also opt for registering your logo or graphic at this time too. In order to make it official, you will need your SIRET number and eventually proof of ownership of the company or
business. The INPI will then validate your request and you will be the registered owner of your brand in the sector, as well as any logo or images associated with it. Remember that registering your brand isn't the same as registering a business name. You register your business name automatically when you register the business and in France there can be multiple businesses with the same name e.g. "bistro du coin" seems to be in every small town and village from Picardie to Provence. But when you register your brand, it is proof that you own it and your logo. Mon Ami Andy Rue Lascaris, Nice Port Tel: 04 83 50 84 78 jennifer@monamiandy.com
Adoption corner Angelique is just under five months old. She was found alone and desperate wandering on a country road. She is very, very sweet and affectionate, a gorgeous little one looking for a loving family. Who wants to give this treasure a good new home? Tel +33 (0) 4 94 96 89 19 33 or (0) 643 061 960 www.joshi2.de
The month of May is a high point of glamour events on the Riviera and the May events program of the International Club of the Riviera reflects that in every way! We have three great events lined up for our members, guests and wellwishers from the public this month. Our USA Theme event - Stars and Stripes and American Pie, which was pushed back from last month, will now take place on Saturday the 3rd at the Quai 21 in Cannes. A fabulous evening of fun and entertainment with an authentic American buffet
The Riviera Business Club continued its efforts to broaden the membership base of the club in Monaco with the second in a series of monthly Business Networking Cocktails - a well-attended event at the prestigious Star Deck in Monaco which is currently the 'in' venue for business and social networking events in the Principality. The guest speaker was Michel Tschaan, President Syndicat des Hoteliers, Nice Cote d'Azur and Propriétaire of Splendid Hôtel & Spa in Nice. Our next event will be the
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It’s time to start networking! InterNations represents the world's biggest expatriate community and is present with almost 8,000 members on the Côte d'Azur. They’ll help you build up your social and professional network in no time! Getting acquainted with likeminded people, spotting the right locations or getting access to important information is not always easy when you are in a new city. InterNations makes life abroad easier and helps expatriates to socially integrate. InterNations is a trusted globalcommunity, dedicated to internationally minded people living and working in a foreign country, as well as to their accompanying spouses. InterNations' members not only have the possibility of exchanging tips online, they can also personally meet other expatriates and locals at monthly events. Here, on the Riviera, members get together in smaller activity groups according to their interests.
They can learn to play tennis, practice water sports, join the business networking group and regularly attend movies and concerts together! The "Dinner-Nations" group takes members around the city on culinary journeys and gives them the opportunity to discover the richness of the French cuisine but also the nice dinner locations of the coast. Moreover, the exclusive editorial country guide provides InterNations' members with reliable information regarding life in France. In the InterNations forums and online discussion groups, members share their experiences and get valuable tips from local insiders and expats on how to better settle down in their new environment. International hospitals, restaurants, schools and language courses are also recommended. Join this international community of trust and meet other "global-minds" on their adventure in France! InterNations.org/france-expats
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dinner with all the traditional favourites, a combination of great American and French wines from our wine partners Vin De Terre, a 'Be Juice' Bar, toe tapping live music, a very special cabaret spot of the most popular traditional American folk songs ending up with the national anthem plus superb music for dancing by the best DJ on the Riviera, the one and only Mark Dezzani! On Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May our extremely popular outings for the Historic Grand Prix and lunch in Monaco take place.
annual joint networking event in association with the International Club of the Riviera - Summer Wine Grill on Friday the 30th with a fabulous Island Barbecue on the summer terrace of the Marriott Riviera - La Porte De Monaco. There are many events to look forward to in the coming months including Networking Cocktails, Business Seminars and Workshops with business leaders and experts, to help you get a head start for your business on the Riviera. Watch out for news of our
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This biennial classic event is a retrospective of the golden age of car racing which takes place on the famous street circuit that has hardly changed since the first race in 1929. We end the month in style with our annual Summer Wine Grill, a joint event with the Riviera Business club and Club Vivanova on Friday the 30th with a fabulous Island barbecue on the summer terrace of the Marriott Riviera La Porte De Monaco. Book now for these great events to ensure that you don't miss out! For further information on the ICR and membership: www.internationalclub.fr Tel: 493721189/0621206010 info.internationalclub.fr. signature event of the year The Business Person of the Year Awards 2014, which will be launched in Monaco in July. Joining the Riviera Business Club may be the smartest move you make for your business this year. We have three different types of memberships available: Single at 40 euros, couple at 70 euros and corporate at 100 euros. (Corporate Membership entitles the Company concerned to 5 memberships) For more details on membership of the RBC and other events to come: www.rivierabusinessclub.fr 0493721189/0621206010 info@rivierabusinessclub
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EVENTS
NO. 1 FOR LOCAL NEWS
01 Thu May Festival. Popular event held in the city of Nice with an array of attractions including folk dancing and songs, local Nice specialties, attractions and events. Every Sunday in May and starting on Thursday 1st May. Jardins des Arènes de Cimiez. Info: nicetourisme.com Nice (N) 02 Fri Strawberry Festival. An invitation to taste the famous Carros strawberries grown by local producers. Runs for three days. Place Louis Frescolini, Les Plans-deCarros. Carros (N) 03 Sat Rose Festival. 'La Fête des Roses et des Plantes'. Villa Ephrussi is hosting its fourth Rose festival. Around 30 exhibitors who expertise in gardening are expected in the villa's gardens to share their passion with the public. 10am-6pm. From 10 euros. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Runs for two days. Info: villaephrussi.com
Fulci, where they come together to express their talents. Route de la mer, 9, chemin du plan. Info: antoinepierini.com
the world. Until 25th May. Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. Info: festivalcannes.com Cannes (L)
Biot (M)
16 Fri Bravade 2014. Saint Tropez's coveted Fête de la Bravade, celebrating its patron saint and the courage of the Tropezians, takes place this year from the 16th to 18th May. Info: ot-saint-tropez.com
04 Sun Variety show. Arts Paillettes 2000 offers a variety show of a cabaret theme with great song and dance classics. 3pm. Salle Saint-Exupéry. Info: tourismementon.fr Menton (Q)
St Tropez (I)
06 Tue Opera. 'Dreyfus' is an opera in co-production with the National Theatre of Nice. Libretto by Didier van Cauwelaert and music by Michel Legrand. From 25 euros. Opéra Nice Côte d'Azur. Running until 6th June. Info: opera-nice.org. Nice (N) 08 Thu Rose expo. International exhibition where over 50,000 roses are are on display in bouquets of 60 to 300 flowers. Runs until 11th May. Cours Honoré Cresp, Palais des Congrès, Villa Fragonard. Info: grasse.fr Grasse (L)
St. Jean Cap Ferrat (O)
Cagnes sur Mer (N)
11 Sun Sailing. 'Dames de Saint Tropez' sailing race with over 18 beautiful yachts taking off from the port. An exciting event where the atmosphere and mood 'dominate'. Until 11th May. Info: saint-tropez.fr
Glass Art Cooking. Where glass art meets culinary art! A wonderful evening to view Antoine Pierini's new glass sculpture creations, joined by Michelin starred chef Michael
Rose Day. The 7th 'Rose Day'. Baptised ‘Capital of the Perfume Rose’ in 1907, thanks to its May rose Centifolia, each year La Colle-sur-Loup
Tennis. The third annual Women's International Tennis Tournament in France takes place in Cagnes sur Mer until 11th May. Parc des Sports Pierre Sauvaigo. Info: opendecagnes.com
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St. Tropez (I)
17 Sat Gastronomy. A week of gastronomy in Menton organised by the City's Heritage Department, the week highlights the imagination of chefs who reinterpret the traditional cuisine of Menton. Runs until 24th May. Info: tourismementon.fr Menton (Q) Photography. The 27th Salon de la Photo gathers both amateur and professional photographers from the PACA region. Runs for two days. Village et salle Léo Lagrange. Info: photo-mouans.fr Oliviera Giraud’s one man show ‘How to become Parisian in one hour?’ will be hosted by the Anthéa Antipolis Theatre in Antibes on 22nd May (in French). Tickets priced at 25 and 35 euros.
honours its village flower in the heart of the decorated and flower-bedecked village. 10am-7pm. Rues du village. Info: lacollesurloup.fr La Colle sur Loup (M)
Orange Blossom Festival. To perpetuate tradition, a country celebration on the theme of orange blossoms is organised by the Comité de la Saint-Sauveur when orange
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blossoms are picked. Vallauris, parvis de la chapelle Notre-Dame. Vallauris (M)
14 Wed Cannes Film Festival. The world-famous Cannes International Film Festival is an annually held in Cannes, which previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from around
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20 Tue Music. Festival des Heures Musicales de Biot hosts renowned international artists in the Church of Sainte Marie Madeleine. From 9pm each night. Until 20th June. From 15 euros. Info: biot.fr Biot (M)
22 Thu Concert. The highly successful French singer, ZAZ, performs in concert in Antibes. 8.30pm
From 32 euros. Azure Arena. Info: anthea-antibes.fr Antibes (M)
23 Fri International Bridge Festival. Bridge festival welcoming over one thousand professional bridge players from around the world, making it one of the leading bridge festivals in Europe. Until 5th June. Espaces du Fort Carré. Info: festivalsdusoleil.com Antibes (M)
Classical Music Concert. l'Ensemble Baroque de Nice are performing 'Escapade Classique' with Bach, Haydn and Mozart pieces, a very German evening. 8pm. Église Saint-François-de-Paule. Also on 25th May at 4.30pm. Info: ensemblebaroquedenice.com Nice (N)
24 Sat Fountains Festival. Event designed to help people rediscover the cultural heritage works of fountains. Programme features a musical trail and parade. Place du Grand Jardin. Info: vence.fr. Vence (M) Sailing festival. Open day providing an opportunity to go on maiden trips and introductions to sailing (catamaran, windsurfer and yachts), by kayak, canoe, jet ski and more. Instructors specialised in each discipline will be in attendance throughout the weekend to help things run smoothly. From 10am-6pm. Mandelieu la Napoule. Info: mandelieu.fr Mandelieu (K)
25 Sun Concert. An organ concert performed by the talented Françoise Dornier. 5pm. Eglise de Saint Tropez. Admission Free. Info: paroisse-sainttropez.com. St. Tropez (I) 27 Tue Concert. Emmanuel Moire performs songs from his new album 'Le Chemin'. After his talent was first discovered nine years ago in a Musical, the French singer has enjoyed a tremendous career. La palaestras. 8.30pm. From 36 euros. Info: 04 93 45 98 00 Le Cannet (L)
29 Thu Italie à Table. The 10th edition of this event invites you to discover the marvels of Italian gastronomy and wine making. In total, over 150 stands will open in Place Masséna and Jardin Albert. Until 1st June. 10am-8pm. Info: italieatable.fr Nice (N) Antibes Motor Rally. This exciting competition features among the number of trials selected as part of the renowned European Rally Championship by the International Motor Sports Federation. Pinède Gould de Juan-les-Pins. Info: asaantibes.com Antibes (M) Sporting competition. Badminton Championship held especially for youths in Cannes. Until 1st June. Palais des Victoires. Info: cannesdenstination.fr Cannes (L)
31 Sat Forum Tour Equit. A unique event entirely dedicated to the arts of wellbeing, sustainable development, and organic fair trade products. Until 1st June. 2pm-8pm (Sat) 11pm-7pm (Sun). Info: tourismesaintlaurentduvar.com
NO. 1 FOR LOCAL NEWS
EVENTS
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Until 01/06 Textual art exhibition. The exhibition 'Ligne de force' showcases unique works of art in the world of font, everything that has to do with words, texts or characters. From 1pm to 6pm (except Mondays and Tuesdays). Espace de l'Art Concret. From 7 euros. Info: 04 93 75 71 50
01 Thu Guided walk. 'Passeggiando Assaporando' walk with six stages (4.5km). Starts at Portico Comunale. 9.30am. Ospedaletti (B)
Concert. 'Concerto in Piazza' music of the 70's, 80's and 90's. Piazza Torre Santa Maria. 3pm-6pm.
Mouans Sartoux (L)
San Bartolomeo al Mare (E)
Until 01/06 Henrik Berggreen art exhibition. 'Autour du legs Berggreen'. An exhibition with almost 70 contemporary works from private collectors are being held at the Museum of Modern Art in Nice, as part of a tribute to the legacy of the very talented artist, Henrik Berggreen (1928-2012). Info: mamc-nice.org Nice (N)
02 Fri Guided tour. Guided tour through the old town of Sanremo Pigna. Meeting point in front of the San Siro Basilica. 3pm. Sanremo (C)
Open ended Nature exhibition. Sharks: a thrilling and fascinating experience continues at Monaco’s world-famous aquarium, the Oceanographic museum. Get up close and personal with the giants of the sea and unravel their complicated tales in this unique venue. Oceanographic Museum. Info: oceano.mc Monaco (P)
Until 20/10 Painting Exhibition. An exhibition of works by the talented James Rassiat (19091998), a French artist and painter who devoted his entire life to art. His colourful paintings of people in the streets of France portray daily life and freedom. From 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm (except Tuesdays). Musée des Beaux-Arts - Palais Carnolès. Info: menton.fr
A piece by James Rassiat, which can be seen at an exhibition at the Musée des Beaux-Arts Palais Carnolès in Menton
Until 23/06 Spanish art. Pilar Albarracin's exhibition, 'Asneria', with fun stereotypes about Spanish women through his photographs, videos and performances. His recent works have an amazing animal bestiary, in which each animal symbolises something medieval. The figure of the story is in straight reference to the Caprices de Goya. National Museum Pablo Picasso War and Peace. Info: mccord-picasso-vallauris.fr
03 Sat Dog Show. Pedigree dog show. Palazzetto dello Sport, Via Diano Castello. From 8am. Runs for two days. Tour. Cave tour of the Grotta della Galleria del treno. Meeting point in Via Aurelia at the kiosk Torre del Mare. 4pm. Every Saturday until 10th May. Resgistration: 019 25 790 212 Bergeggi (I)
04 Sun Market. 'Diano Colleziona' antiques and collectors market. Via Petrarca and Via Santa Caterina di Siena. 8am6pm. Also on 1st June. Diano Marina (E)
Until 02/06 Artworks by Fernand Léger . "Reconstruire le reel" artworks by the talented Fernand Léger from the years 1924 - 1946, His contrast paintings date back to the period of surrealism and realism. Daily (except Tuesday) from 10am6pm. Musée National Fernand Léger. Info:museesnationaux-alpesmaritimes.fr
05 Mon Music. Piano recital by Y Wang, Giovine Orchestra Genova Teatro Carlo Felice. 8.30pm. Genoa (N)
Biot (M)
Sanremo (C)
06 Tue Guided walk. Guided tour around the famous tree monuments in Sanremo parks. Meeting point 3pm at the Sanremo Train Station.
Our events calendar is updated daily! To ensure you don’t miss any of the exciting events happening on the Riviera this month, scan the QR Code on the left and be directed instantly to our website.
It’s that easy! www.rivieratimes.com
St. Laurent du Var (N)
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16 Fri Concert. Bizet inspired live music by the orchestra of the Teatro Carlo Felice to the projection of the films 'Carmen' and 'A Burlesque on Carmen'. Teatro Carlo Felice. 8.30pm. 7pm introduction to the concert. Info: carlofelice.it. Genoa (N)
10 Sat Farm day. Pony rides, small animal show, agricultural products, dining and entertainment. Beach promenade Don Bado. 10am6pm. Pietra Ligure (G) Concert. Concert performed by the Youth Symphony Orchestra Lake Constance region. Evangelical Lutheran church, Corso Garibaldi. 5pm. Sanremo (C)
Diano Marina (E)
Vallauris (L)
Menton (Q)
08 Thu Fair Trade. Exhibition and sale of fair trade products. Calata Borsellino, Porto Antico. All day everyday until 11th May. Genoa (N) Concert. Jazz concert 'Aperitifs in jazz' live in the foyer of the Teatro Carlo Felice. 7pm. Info: carlofelice.it. Genoa (N)
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12 Mon Concert. Chamber concert 'Quartetto di Venezia', G. Sobrino, clarinet. Giovine Orchestra Teatro Carlo Felice. 8.30pm. Genoa (N) Opera. 'La Cenerentola' Opera performed by talented G. Rossini. Direct broadcast from the MET in New York. Cinema Centrale. 7.30pm. Sanremo (C)
15 Thu Jazz concert. 'Aperitifs in jazz will be performed in the foyer of the Teatro Carlo Felice. 7pm. Info: carlofelice.it. Genoa (N)
22 Thu Sailing. Youth Sailing Championships. Marina. All day every day until 26th May. Loano (F)
24 Sat Concert. 'In Ode a Maria'. Chamber concert series at Marie month of May. Monte Carmelo Church. 8.30pm. Loano (F)
25 Sun Market. Organic and collectors' market. Mauro Piazza and Piazza Garibaldi. 8am-6pm. Dolce Acqua (A) 31 Sat Music. 'Musica Popolare' concert series: Trio Cabit, northern European music. Auditorium San Carlo, Via Roma 56, 9pm. Albenga (F) Boats. 'Expo Mare'. 2nd hand nautical market. Port. All day. Until 2nd June. Loano (F) Music. Concert performed by the gospel choir of Ravensburg. Evangelical Lutheran Church, Corso Garibaldi. 5pm. Sanremo (B)
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TYPICAL LIGURIAN from 19th century, fully refurbished and nicely furnished, in a tiny hamlet in a nature park, 40km to Genoa, 120m2, 2 bedrooms, roof terrace, patio, garden, excellent return as a holiday home , 125.00€ p/n, contact: intercultura@panet.it, www.homeaway.co.uk/p501676, www.idealista.it/en/immobile/5067501
LOVELY 1-BEDROOM Garden Bungalow for rent in Vence. Totally private. Up to 4 Guests. Pool, WIFI & Sky. 420 euros per week. Contact Mme ARNOLD 06.62.32.23.84
NEAR PORTOFINO: 3 km from the sea, beautifully restored stone house on a hillside with panoramic views, surrounded by 850m2 olive grove, 150m2 living space, two independent units, garden, terraces, pergola, fireplace, pellet stove, furnished tastefully, excellent return as a holiday home, 390.00€ p/n, please contact: intercultura@panet.it, homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p44009 idealista.it/en/immobile/5795124/
WANTED HOUSE & PET SITTING services available for summer/fall. All properties and pets considered. Contact saga@nightowlspress.com for profile, photos, references. STUDIO WANTED - Cannes area - from 1st September. Must allow cats. Please email: anniec007ok@hotmail.com PERSONAL ASSISTANT seeks full-time or part time job in Monaco. Languages: fluent English, French and German. Please call: +33 683 0685 94.
NO. 1 FOR LOCAL NEWS
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GREAT LOCATION for commuting to Monaco. Furnished one bedroom apartment in Carnoles (Roquebrune Cap Martin) Large double bedroom, living room with sofa bed and TV. Bathroom with shower and washing machine. €975 pm Inclusive rental with gas, electricity, water, local taxes, and building charges €1100 pm. Please contact : ViolettesMenton@gmail.com 0033 (0) 603162025.
FOR RENT
ON OFFER GARAGE SALE Sunday May 18th, School Les Palmiers, 15 Avenue Banco/Avenue Capitaine Scott, NICE. Parking is free.
PERSONAL Shadow Investigations. FREE Consultation. British private investigator offering a full national and international service with investigative experts available 24 hours a day. We specialize in marital and prenuptial matters, but we are also able to help with: Process Serving * Tracing * Missing Persons * Surveillance * C.V. and Employee Verification * Criminal Tel: (07) 71 10 83 23 www.shadowinvestigationsfr.com / info@shadowinvestigationsfr.com
V I L L A - F L AY O S C . C h a r m i n g single level villa of approx. 120 m² living space situated on a plot of 1300m² just outside the village centre of Flayosc. The villa comprises an entry hall, a large fully equipped kitchen, living room, 2 spacious bedrooms each with own bathrooms, & extra WC. A third bedroom is possible. The house is in excellent condition with lots of character. Outside there are 3 terraces of which two are covered. There is a possibility to construct a swimming pool. Residential and quiet area, south exposed, air-conditioning, double glazing, car shelter. Built in 2004. Price 348,000€. Contact: villa.lacharmille@orange.fr Tel: +33 (0)6 82 83 81 82. P R O V E N C E / FAY E N C E region/Seillans. Individual land and house generously ingrown, quiet and exposed property, large panorama, south-facing slope 600m, u n o b s t r u c t e d v i e w, f r e e o f f o g , 170sqm residence with ancillary rooms, central heating, gas, American kitchen, heated pool 4 X 9 m , b l i n d s , O S PA w a t e r technology, terrain 2850m, large terraces. Fully furnished on request. 480,000 euros. Email: 20magic13@orange.fr, Tel: +33 (0)9 63 64 86 55.
LOOKING FOR FRENCH AND GERMAN lessons, translations from a teacher with international experience. Also offers child care with language training. Tel: 06 86 62 18 60. GERMAN/PORTUGUESE couple looks for work in private household and garden, live-in preferred, nonsmokers with references. She:
German, 52, experience with domestic work, care for the elderly, driver's license, loves to cook, fluent English and French, some Italian. He: Portuguese, 43, versatile, experience in construction work, handymanning, maintenance, gardening, basic English and French. Mob: 0033 673290658 or annmue55@gmail.com
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DOUBLE VILLA in Eze Saint L a u r a n t w i t h b e a u t i f u l s e a v i e w, below the Bas Corniche! There are two houses of 120 sqm each with 1 seperate apartment and a patio of 30 sqm. The plot is ca.1,200 sqm. Swimmingpool 12 x 5 m. 5 parking spaces,2with roof. All around is a fence with automatic gate! Possibility to convert to one single house! Price on request. Phone: 0033493015478/004917396602.
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PERSONAL
FOR SALE AT: NICE Relais H Aéroport 1 et 2 FNAC 30 avenue Jean Médecin MONACO Maison de la Presse de Monaco 1bis rue Grimaldi SAINT-TROPEZ Librairie du Port 11 rue des Commerçants guidegantie.com
MEETINGS with Adonis, 32, 1.85 m. Attractive Single Ladies can contact : infomail69@hispeed.ch www.AdonisTopofMen.com BUSINESSMAN partly retired, 69 years, 178cm, uncommitted, living on the French Riviera seeks happy, cultured, warm-hearted and sophisticated woman with whom to share his hobbies like golf, hiking, cultural things and travelling. Not looking for adventures. CHIFFRE 857 or chiffre@mediterra.com