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The English-language newspaper for the French - Italian Riviera & Monaco since 2002

www.rivieratimes.com Issue 138 - September 2013 2.50 e

11-23 Style in waves MYS

Diamonds are like any great masterpiece, inherently unique and identifiable. So how is it possible for millions worth of jewels simply vanish from the Côte d'Azur?

The recent series of robberies that has dogged the region this summer is showing no sign of slowing down as new reports of thefts continue to hit headlines week after week.

Cannes' Carlton, Martinez and Majestic hotels, Nice's Palais de la Méditerranée, and Saint Jean Cap Ferrat's Grand Hotel, not to mention the numerous luxury jewellery shops of the Croisette: some of the most famous addresses in the south of France have fallen victim to the sticky fingers of anonymous robbers and there are major concerns that the season of crime is only going to get worse.

Following the 103 million euro heist from the Leviev diamond exhibition in the Carlton Hotel at the end of July, more than a few eyebrows were raised regarding the establishment's security. But as the spate of robberies expanded, first to other locations on the famous Croisette and then to other towns and cities in the Riviera, it became clear that it was part of a bigger issue.

Whether it is chance-taking amateurs or experienced professionals, police seem stumped and no arrests have been publicly announced.

SW Associates, a Parisbased loss adjusters firm run

by Scot John Shaw, is at the

What’s new?

Restaurants

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Love and flowers Ana Tzarev

Summer’s triumphant hurrah

Outstanding boat shows and stately regattas right along the coast this September

Gerhard Standop – www.standop.net/voiles

Vanishing tricks

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From the Monaco Yacht Show to Les Voiles de Saint Tropez...

September really is the month of sailing in the Côte d’Azur. At both ends of the style spectrum, Monaco Yacht Show (pages 11-23) and Les Voiles de Saint Tropez (page 10) are leading the nautical charge out on the Mediterranean waves and offer a sublime blend of innovation and tradition. head of private investigations for Leviev insurers Lloyds of London. The company has already put out a tempting one million euro reward for information - a tried and tested method that was pivotal in helping recover part of the 2008 Harry Winston heist. It has since been inundated with emails and Shaw has told the British press that he believes opportunistic locals are behind Cannes' Carlton heist - the largest in the world - rather than a specialist outfit such as

the illusive Pink Panther gang.

Either way, whoever the perpetrators are, they will face equal difficulties in getting the diamonds into the hands of willing buyers.

Almost everyone involved stands to lose something in the case of stolen diamonds.

For the owner and the insurer it is money, and often millions of euros worth. But for the potential buyer and the black market seller, there is a price to pay too.

According to professionals

in the trade, with no certificates to prove that the jewels aren't illegal 'blood diamonds', the offer of purchase is far too risky for any respectable jeweller to take.

Consequently, the thief is likely to receive little return on the loot. While it is feasible that some well-connected thieves are able to sell off their booty to audacious buyers, more often than not the diamonds are fenced off at exceptionally cut prices. For

example, in 1979, New York City police uncovered a scam involving 40,000 euros worth of jewels, which had been sold on for just150 euros.

Could the Leviev diamonds be facing the same fate? Shaw certainly thinks so, telling the press that if his theory of a novice robber is true, the diamonds are probably stashed "in the likes of a car boot in a garage somewhere".

One of the most expensive pieces stolen from the Leviev Continued on page 4...

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WELCOME SEPTEMBER 2013

Inside this edition: NEWS Political column ......................................................................

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MONACO Sporting d’Hiver demolition ...............................................

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LIGURIA Property scandal in Dolcedo ...............................................

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SAINT TROPEZ Les Voiles: Majestic at sea ...................................................

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MONACO YACHT SHOW SPECIAL

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REAL ESTATE Property series: Cogolin ........................................................

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BUSINESS & FINANCE Taxing times in France ...........................................................

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RESTAURANT REVIEWS New restaurants in the Côte d’Azur ...................................

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EVENTS Comprehensive events calendar ........................................

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CLASSIFIEDS Listing everything from jobs to local businesses ..........

Editorial Casual luxury September is one of the biggest issues of the year and it has certainly been the busiest month of my life so far. Now fully in the swing of stand-in editor of The Riviera Times, I am looking forward to the coming months at the helm of the newspaper while Cassandra Tanti takes a few months off on maternity leave.

My name is Elsa Carpenter and I'm a recent member of the team here in Nice, having moved out to the south of France in May. It has been a year of firsts for me with the Cannes Film Festival, Grand Prix and now the Monaco Yacht Show. Not bad for a girl from Wales!

One thing that has struck me since moving here is the casual approach to luxury that seems to seep into every corner of Riviera life. I must admit my eyes lit up at the prospect of an exciting news story when the first reports of the diamond robberies began to come in. But now I feel I join almost everyone in thinking, "How can this keep on happening here?"

One security slip-up is perhaps understandable (the Carlton Hotel reportedly had a ex-laundry manager running their security detail), but for similar incidents to happen five, six, seven times again is the stuff of Hollywood film reels.

While some have likened the thefts to cult film 'To Catch a Thief’, it was more 'Gone in 60 seconds' when a loner robber strolled into the Carlton and walked away with 103 million euros, a figure that could go down in history as the world's biggest diamond heist. Whether or not the string of hits are linked is yet to be proved, but while the idea that one sole gang could be behind them is concerning, the notion that it may be a trend among opportunists is just an equal worry.

For me, however, the Riviera has lost none of its reputation or pride and I am looking forward to its sultry September sunsets and equally inspiring dawns as we sail smoothly from summer to the break of autumn.

On maternity leave: Elsa Carpenter Cassandra Tanti

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The Riviera Times is published monthly and distributed at the following locations: Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport,Toulon-Hyères International Airport, to passengers boarding British Airways flights, on board Delta and Swiss Airlines, and at over 1,000 strategic points of distribution between Marseille and Genoa including international news stands, hotels, banks, golf clubs, schools, car rental agencies, consulates, international associations, and in most international doctors' practices. For subscriptions, please refer to page 29.

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NEWS

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FOR DAILY BREAKING NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2013

Rolling out the red carpet

Political Column

Cannes’ iconic establishment gets new image

by Julian Nundy

The Riviera Times’ political commentator in Paris

T

Veil of tears

Archidev

A Over the next three summers, the prestigious establishment will undergo a series of modernisations at a cost of 22.7 million euros

Improvements and updates will be made throughout the Palais, such as new lighting systems for the façade, expansion and modernisation of the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière and replacement of its 2,300 seats. The nine auditoriums of the venue will also be upgraded, while an additional room will be created under a glass roof, as well as a new 300m² hall.

The Palais des Festivals has

been the set of the Cannes Film Festival for more than 30 years, with many actors and international celebrities enchanting the public as they ascend the fabled steps. The Palais welcomed the G20 summit in 2011 and more than 150 business-related and cultural events in 2012.

It made around 34 million euros in profits in 2012, creating more than 17,000 jobs in the region. Mado Bayon

Archidev

he emblematic Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes will undergo major redevelopment over the next three years.

With over 22.7 million euros set aside for the project, the establishment's president, David Lisnard, hopes that the new image will cement the Palais' reputation as a world class venue.

"It is important to continue improving the building, as well as making it a safe and dynamic location," says Lisnard. "It is the economic and cultural heart of our city."

Eiffage Construction scooped the Palme d'Or of renovation projects, winning the three-year design and build contract for the project.

The work can only be carried out in the summer seasons as calendar constraints of numerous prestigious events will halt any process during the rest of the year.

With world class events and exhibitions, the Palais made around 34 million euros in profit in 2012

s it often does, the trouble started when police stopped members of a minority for an identity check. In this case, the police in the southern Paris suburb of Trappes were dealing with a veiled Muslim woman defying a 2011 law, which imposed a ban on the wearing of garments that hide the face in public.

There followed three nights of violence in the middle of Ramadan, with youths - one lost an eye when hit with a rubber bullet - stoning the police and smashing shop fronts and public spaces in Trappes and neighbouring districts. It was an eerie reminder of the three weeks of riots that started north east of Paris in October 2005 and eventually spread nationwide, leading to a state of emergency being declared.

In Trappes, the woman's husband was charged with assault for what a prosecutor described as an attempted strangulation of one of the police officers, a charge that the young man denied. He said he had been disturbed by the aggressive behaviour of the police and had only put himself between his wife and the officer to protect her.

Unusually, the incident that set off the violence involved protagonists who were not of immigrant stock. The husband in Trappes was a white native Frenchman who converted to Islam five years ago. His wife, from the French Caribbean, was also a convert.

The affair prompted a flurry of soul searching as some commentators argued in favour of relaxing the socalled burqa law, while opinion polls showed that the ban still has wide support from the French public, who largely want the authorities to be tougher.

The origins of the law lie in the fact that the French Republic is a lay republic, where the state and religion are strictly separated. Public servants are not allowed to show any mark of their religious faith. A teacher, for example, wearing a visible Christian crucifix in a state school will be reprimanded and ordered to hide it.

Likewise, Muslim women cannot wear even a headscarf covering their hair if they are civil servants.

Those who favour a more lenient approach were in for a disappointment if they hoped that the Trappes controversy

might lead to a reappraisal. In early August, the Higher Council for Integration, which studies the problems of absorbing immigrants of different cultures, came out with a report recommending a ban on all religious symbols, particularly the Muslim headscarf or veil, in universities.

Noting that some Christians - the report cited "evangelical or neo-Baptist currents" - refuse to discuss Darwinian theories of evolution, the council spoke of the "growing malaise of teachers" facing "affirmations of identity or community, closure or even ostracism, and the rejection of some knowledge." It suggested that the principles of a secular society should be applied to courses leading to work in the civil service, hospitals or health and social services.

The newspaper Le Monde, reporting on the findings, interviewed a number of Muslim women who described their efforts to reconcile the veil with their work. Myriam, a fourth year medical student, said, "I remove my veil in the bathroom when I get to the hospital. I feel naked. I don't understand why others need to see my hair."

RIVIERA AND MONACO NEWS IN BRIEF Ukrainian and Kazakh visitors have surged. British and northern European holidaymakers have remained the most numerous.

basin and Africa, and was first intro-duced in 2006, but is yet to be brought into effect. The government said that the rise is in line with inflation.

AIR TRAVEL prices will rise by 13 per cent next year as France implements a sevenyear-old foreign aid plan. The 'Chirac tax' on flights will go towards supporting developing countries, notably those in the Mediterranean

INCREASING GUN crime in Marseille has prompted Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi to call for France's police municipale service to be granted more powers on street level.

Estrosi said that local forces were paramount in the fight against crime and asked Interior Minister Manuel Valls to change the status of the municipal police service, giving them the right to orchestrate identification controls on citizens.

THE JEUX DE la Francophonie begins on 6th September as 57 Frenchspeaking nations arrive in Nice. Celebrating sport talent and cultural identity, with a healthy dose of competition, the event will be the first official use of the city's brand new Allianz Riviera Stadium.

The Jeux will focus on a selection of sports that are particularly popular in the international French-speaking community, such as basketball, athletics and football.

Around 150,000 spectators are expected at the event.

MADONNA AND her family, including toyboy boyfriend Brahim Zaibat, have been spotted holidaying in the Côte d'Azur. The Queen of Pop made an unexpected appearance at the Menton Music Festival where she watched close friends Katia and Marielle Labèque perform.

The icon stayed at a luxurious villa in Villefranche sur Mer and was spotted cycling along the beachfront while her children enjoyed the beach with friends.

ELECTRICITY PRICES have risen in France by five per cent, with warnings that bills are set to skyrocket by 30 per cent in the next five years.

Nine out of 10 households are expected to feel the bite of the increase while the remaining 10 per cent (who have a lower power set-up) will enjoy a decrease in prices. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to reducing national dependency on nuclear energy and pledged to boost consumption of renewable resources to 23 per cent by 2020.

Kim Allianz

LAST MINUTE bookings in August have boosted the local tourism industry, according to the president of the trade union for hotel owners in the Côte d'Azur, Michel Tschann.

Following lack lustre statistics in July, a storm of late reservations bolstered the outlook for the rest of the summer, with hotels around the region reporting a sell out season. The number of Italian tourists has dropped, while

Stolen diamonds often find their way back into the legitimate market Continued from front page...

exhibition was a large heartshaped pendant that Shaw says will be almost impossible to shift in its original state.

However, if a more organised and hardened group is behind the robbery, the diamond could find its way back into the legitimate market in another manner.

Once off the map, the diamonds can be manipulated using several methods that render their recovery even more complex.

They have the gem version of a fingerprint and by x-raying or passing a laser beam through

the stone it is possible to create a unique optical recording.

But there are ways to get around this and stolen gems that resurface in the legal market almost never appear as they did initially. Recut, recertified or even renumbered, there are a growing number of tricks designed to bypass security.

Even if the police and private eyes are able to track down the culprits, one problem still remains. Unlike an artist's masterpiece, a diamond can be hidden as easily as a grain of sand.

Elsa Carpenter

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5 FOR NICE NEWS

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NICE

Discover history and heritage A century of culture in the Niçois capital of the Riviera

T

he Journées Européennes du Patrimoine were created more than three decades ago as a Europe-wide initiative aimed at encouraging citizens to reflect on and appreciate their patrimony.

For Nice, they are a wonderful occasion to find out more about this ancient city.

Delve into its mysteries and rich cultural history on 14th and 15th September as the city looks back on some of the most emblematic Niçois establishments of the last century and beyond.

From the city’s prestigious museums to exhibitions, archeological sites and military battlegrounds, these two days offer a unique opportunity to explore and experience a part of Nice that is often hidden by its modern, cosmopolitan façade.

Organisers have incorporated a number of new locations into the programme this year, such as the Saint Barthelemy cemetery and Nice's Senate building, as well as including public favourites and iconic religious structures that have been opened

up to the public in previous editions. For 2013, a diverse range of conferences and concerts will also add some rhythm to the weekend, as some of the city's most beautiful churches and chapels host live events.

From golden archways and manicured gardens to the masterpieces hanging in the Musée Matisse and Villa Masséna, Nice boasts a plethora of historical and cultural sites.

At the majestic Temple de l'Amour, the arts still reign.

Music and literature will take

concerts to its velvety halls.

The Opéra is just one example of the grandiose architecture that characterised the city as it developed as an elegant and modern cultural destination.

However, if you prefer to stroll around in the honeycomb streets of the city, cast your eyes upward to the numerous architectural wonders on the old town. Its pastel coloured walls and terracotta roofs are a simple reminder of the city's more tranquil and quaint past, while the port and the Chateau Valrose are firmly rooted in Nice's rugged industrial and military history.

For lovers of art and culture, countless museums and

exhibition spaces will open their doors throughout the weekend, providing free guided tours.

The MAMAC will also give visitors the unique opportunity to meet with the artists behind its many exhibitions; just make a reservation at the museum.

But while the 2013 edition of the heritage inspired event is a promotion of the city's rich and diverse past, it is also firmly focused on the future.

"If it is of crucial importance to protect the past, it is also essential to root this cultural heritage in the present and the future", say the organisers.

Protection and preservation of Nice’s patrimony are at the heart of this celebration.

ADVERTORIAL

The terracotta roofs and honeycomb streets of the vieille ville are a mirror image of life in Nice 100 years ago

over this romantic pavilion, whisking visitors back into the picturesque 19th century Nice, a city where artists and writers found inspiration. The temple was designed by French architect Philippe Randon in 1885 and is made up of a dozen marble pillars.

Unveiled in 1890, the Temple de l'Amour, located in the Parc Chambrun, is still popular with newlyweds and lovers.

During the festival, archeologists will be on hand to guide visitors around the beautiful ancient Senate in the heart of vieux Nice. Built in 1614, a time when the city belonged to the Duchy of Savoy, the Senate offers an insight into the evolution of Nice over the centuries. It is a symbolic venue of change and prosperity, and the perfect starting point for uncovering Nice's unique identity.

Nice's first opera house was first constructed in 1776 by the Marquise Alli-Maccarani, after she obtained the authorisation of the King of Sardinia to transform her home into a theatre.

Renovated many times throughout its turbulent history, the venue was entirely rebuilt in 1882 following a violent fire that completely destroyed the building in 1881. It officially became known as the Opéra de Nice in the early 20th century and has since welcomed world famous ballets, operas and

Ville de Nice

Ville de Nice

SEPTEMBER 2013

The grandiose architecture of the Opéra de Nice reflects its 19th century heritage

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A question of heart versus head SBM pushes on with plans to demolish the Sporting d’Hiver, despite mounting opposition The triangle d'or of the Place du Casino and its inimitable air of class and prestige has barely changed in a century. This signature square, the picture perfect heart of Monaco that has been the backdrop for many an illustrious blockbuster, remains the catwalk for the world's superstars and royalty.

But underneath its glamourous façade, tension is building.

I

n less than six months, was officially sounded on the dynamite and diggers building 18 months ago as its will be brought in as owner - the Société des Bains de SBM launches one of Mer (SBM) - unveiled plans to the biggest structural demolish the existing structure and most controversial and replace it with seven glass projects that the Principality fronted blocks that will house has ever seen. The Sporting residential and office propd'Hiver will go making way for erties as well as shopping a thoroughly modern glass outlets and a gallery.

The project came about as a and steel urban redevelopment. While it is all in the "drive for flexibility" and is part name of increasing Monaco's of SBM's goal of increasing the competitive edge, there are Principality's attractiveness to growing fears about the foreigners. The designs show a implications on the Princi- more open and accessible pality's heritage, economy Avenue des Beaux Arts, which and aesthetics. Despite a was wiped off the map when general reluctance to speak the Sporting d'Hiver was built publicly about the contro- in the early 30s. Tree-lined versy, The Riviera Times avenues, pristine glass managed to interview some of buildings with elegant the project's key players and balconies decorated in a throw back to Monhelp unravel the "Resistance, aco's Belle Époque story behind the Sporting d'Hiver what resistance?" ancestry, stores reflecting the demolition. says SBM Principality's The Sporting d'Hiver was once the fabled luxury target audience… evheart of nightlife in Monaco. erything demonstrates SBM's Opened in 1932, the former eagerness to reaffirm the glamour arena became a nation as a leading destination culture-shaping figure, holding for wealthy tourists.

While the project has been extravagant events while also housing one of the most the subject of debate since it exclusive members-only clubs. was given the go ahead by Its grand and lavish rooms Prince Albert II in 2008, a true were frequented by the sense of resistance has only pinnacle of high society, and begun to emerge in recent the building represented months. With everyone from everything that Monaco hoped the Renaissance political party to be: daring, dynamic, stylish and public figures such as the Conseil National's Daniel Boeri, and opulent.

Now, however, the art deco to business owners and structure is a shadow of its residents all getting involved, it earlier days. The death knoll seems as though a consoli-

dated force of opposition is starting to take shape. But is it too little too late?

"Resistance, what resistance?" SBM's director of real estate Daniel Lambrecht tells The Riviera Times.

As Monegasque painter Murielle Velay-Michel points out, "Almost every Monegasque citizen either works for SBM or as a civil servant, so they often hold back their opinions. It doesn't mean that they aren't concerned about the Sporting d'Hiver, it's just that they have a lot to lose if they speak out."

Having quit a job in Monaco's fonction publique to pursue her career as an artist, Velay-Michel is happy to talk to us about her opposition to the demolition of the Sporting d'Hiver and her involvement in the 'NON à la destruction du Sporting d'Hiver' Facebook group. The online site has become a forum against the demolition, but while many people are contributing to the group, they aren't as eager to talk to the press about their opinions.

Velay-Michel is, however, comfortable speaking on their behalf. "Even if we do have to modernise, it should be done with absolute caution and care," she says. "Little by little the great buildings of Monaco are disappearing and it's a catastrophe for our heritage."

She, like the many anonymous others, had hoped that SBM's "very wide brief" for architects would mean that the existing building would be incorporated into the final product. Alternative thinkers believe this would have been a much more credible solution to SBM's goal of moderni-

The four glass and steel blocks pictured will front the Place du Casino, with three larger structures to the rear

sation. Velay-Michel refers to had. Under the new designs, Monaco's Hôtel Hermitage as we'll get up to 30 per cent an example - an establishment more public space and can that went through a consid- transform the area into a living, erable and successful breathing quartier."

Lambrecht says critics redevelopment itself several years ago. "They just added should consider the pracfloors to the top of Hôtel icality of the new design and Hermitage. The hotel and its put emotions aside.

"I understand that some interior were hardly touched by the work, unlike here, where the whole square and surrounding areas will be massively affected."

"I live in a quartier of Monaco that has experienced firsthand the problems of large scale construction, thanks to the Odeon Tower," she adds.

"The Place du Casino and nearby Avenue Princesse Alice are major links in the Principality and traffic will be completely disrupted. Just look at what happened with the Odeon Tower. It's not even in the city centre, but it had a huge affect."

Velay-Michel is one of many Société des Bains de Mer’s director to lament the impact of the of real estate Daniel Lambrecht project on Monaco's signature square. Renaissance, a political people are attached to the party made up of pre- Sporting d'Hiver but the dominantly SBM workers, emotional value of the publicly slammed the building doesn't correspond company for "sacrificing the with its actual value," says building without a second Lambrecht. "I would also be thought", saying that the new against the demolition of the Sporting d'Hiver buildings are "Little by little the if it was as "completely lacking in visual great buildings of important, as grand, as historic and aesthetic Monaco are as the Hôtel de coherence with the iconic ar- disappearing,” says Paris, but it's not.

The Sporting chitecture of the the resistance d'Hiver came at Place du Casino". But SBM dismisses the end of the art deco era and those concerns as unfounded.. isn't a true representation of "Disfiguring the signature the style."

The experienced real estate square of Place du Casino isn't our goal," says the director of director argues that "as a real estate, Lambrecht. "We building, it is no longer functdidn't want an über modern, ional, practical or exploitable" high rise monster in the and doesn't serve the purposes Principality… We wanted to it was built for. "The building of The building was opened in 1932 but is not considered by SBM as a true representation of the art deco era make the most of the space we the Sporting d'Été was the

death of the Sporting d'Hiver," he admits.

Meanwhile, the choice of architect for the project (out of the four firms who submitted dossiers, British Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners were chosen

by SBM) has also proven controversial. While it is Ivan Harbour who will primarily lead the project, Richard Rogers is known more for his architectural blunders than for his successes. With the Millennium Dome and the Pompidou Centre in Paris among his portfolio - neither of which are known for their environmentally friendly attributes - even those in favour of radical redevelopment are unnerved by the mismatch between Monaco's ecological ethos and the heavy carbon footprint of the firm's past.

SBM has said that the project is all in the name of "permeability", but VelayMichel believes differently. "It's opaque. The visual aspect, the impact on the environment as these types of glass buildings aren't easy to maintain, the finances… So many things about this project don't work," she says. "Yes, it is going to have an impact on the aesthetics of the Place du Casino and the health of our people, with all the dust and noise, but the most serious concern is the economy."

When SBM first announced the project several years ago, the company, Monaco's biggest employer, was doing well. Now it is a different story and SBM has reported major losses (some 51.4 million euros for the 2012/3 fiscal year) for the third year running.

"SBM is playing with our money. They don't have the Continued on page 8...

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MONACO

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FOR MONACO NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2013

A woman of the world Artist Ana Tzarev talks about her passion for beauty, life and flowers

Born into the hardships of a striken Croatia, Ana Tzarev has since transformed her life and now hopes to do the same for countless young girls around the world

A

na Tzarev is the perfect example of a self-made woman.

Growing up in a war torn Croatia, she developed an appreciation for the pure, untouched beauty of flowers she collected from the fields as a young girl. Her journey from Europe took her first to New Zealand, where she would live for many years with her husband, and later to the plains of Australia, African villages, and to the busy cities of central Asia, a part of the world in which Tzarev still spends much of her time.

Now, having lived and worked in almost every corner of the

world, Ana Tzarev is hosting a unique exhibition at her studio in Monaco. The artist speaks to The Riviera Times about her passion for beauty, life, flowers and charity.

RT: What can visitors expect at your new exhibition?

AT: The Life of Flowers at the Galerie Palazzo Leonardo brings together a specially curated collection of my paintings. As the exhibition's title suggests, these paintings celebrate flowers. From the colourful Hawaiian lei to the cherry blossoms of Japan, flowers speak a universal language of life, colour, peace, and love. Painting and

sculpting them is to know RT: Having read about your peace and beauty - it is to experiences as a child, it is know life itself. To this day, inspiring to see your commitflowers still fill me with ment to charitable work. wonder, and make me happy How much of a part does and energised. They are the this play in your career as an standard by which I judge all artist?

AT: For as much joy I have other beauty.

Art is an incredibly personal been blessed to see in my experience - I know it certainly travels, I have also witnessed is for me. These paintings will an equal amount of suffering. mean something different to For example, I have painted each person, but I think scenes of the displaced, the everyone will be able to heartbroken, and those appreciate the depth and the denied their freedom. So I try genuine love from which to do my part, working to leave the world a better place these paintings were born.

RT: Having travelled and than I found it. In my past, lived in some of the most there were times when I knew incredible places, what is it what it was like to be without. about Monaco that keeps When I reflect on those days you coming back to the and how far I have come, I find all the reasons I need to give Principality?

Elsa Carpenter AT: Monaco is a place I've back. been delighted to call home for the past twenty years.

It offers me the security and freedom to paint in its clear, crisp light; its history abounds with diverse and classical influences; and its vibrant culture is alive The artist has her own studio in the Principality with art and music. continued from page 7...

funds to finance such a project, so where are they getting it?" asks Velay-Michel. Her principal fear, and that of other Monegasque citizens, is that the Principality will be forced to use its reserve funds if the budget of SBM goes awry, considering the state owns around 69.5 per cent of the company. "Monaco's reserve funds are the guarantee that keeps us independent. We can't afford to use them for the sake of our future."

The total budget for SBM's development plans, including the Hôtel de Paris improvements, changes to the Jardins des Boulingrins, and moving SBM's administrative headquarters (currently in the Sporting d'Hiver) to a new property, is 650 million euros.

"It's roughly a 40:40:10:10 split," says Lambrecht. "This is an investment that will boost our competitiveness and attractiveness as a destination, and demonstrate our engagement with the arts and culture."

For SBM, the atmosphere of resistance is nothing new and the company has no intention of halting the progress of the project.

But according to VelayMichel, the fight is just beginning. "If they think the resistance is just going to roll over and give up, SBM is deluded," she says. "I think

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene joined in the fun at last year’s event

Oktoberfest!

M

onaco is once again welcoming the world famous Munich phenomenon of Oktoberfest, from 28th September to 8th October.

Conviviality, joviality and beer will be aplenty as this favourite German festival arrives at the Café de Paris.

Enjoy celebrated beverages from the Brasserie de l'Etat de Bavière Weihenstephan and dine on traditional Bavarian cuisine, brought in specially for the occasion by event sponsor T.A. Distribution S.A.M. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene were the first on the dance floor at last year’s Oktoberfest and will be there again to lead the Principality in raising a glass to the roar of "O'Zapft is!"

Elsa Carpenter

their actions will start a social crisis and that is what is going to get people out on the streets. The plans for the Sporting d'Hiver and the Hôtel de Paris will put a lot of people out of work, including Monegasques."

"Marches, demonstrations…

It could all happen. For now, the only people who can delay the demolition happening are the owners of shops in the locality, such as Chanel, YSL and Cartier. If they rise up and refuse to move out of their

says SBM tried hard to work the structure into its 21st century designs and the company still hopes to "conserve the Sporting d'Hiver's architectural memory" by recreating its famous Salle des Arts in the urban redevelopment scheme.

SBM is pushing ahead with its redevelopment plans, with the first stages due to begin at the next of 2014, despite the growing malaise among its critics. Wherever the wrecking ball falls, be it on the square's

As this projection shows, the new glass and steel buildings will be in stark contrast to their famous neighbour, the Hôtel de Paris

stores, SBM won't have the money to compensate or pay them off."

The Sporting d'Hiver might not have the power and prestige of its Belle Époque neighbours, but Lambrecht

iconic heritage or SBM's modern aspirations, the Sporting d'Hiver is an issue of contention that will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of public life for many years to come.

Elsa Carpenter

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www.rivieratimes.com

LIGURIA

SEPTEMBER 2013

Property scandal in Dolcedo 81 families left wondering how their dream homes can possibly be legally confiscated Imagine finally realising your dream of owning a house in Liguria, having made the many sacrifices and obtaining the necessary building permits. Then one day you receive a letter in the post saying that your property is about to be confiscated and may even be demolished. This is the reality for 81 homeowners in and around the Imperia town of Dolcedo. In an attempt to understand how this could actually happen, The Riviera Times spoke to Angela van de Loo, an expat and property advisor in the region.

S

uttu Münte, “under the mountain” in the Ligurian dialect, is the name of a bar in the very heart of Dolcedo, beneath the town hall opposite the post office in a medieval vault.

Lasagne and ravioli are on the menu. We ask the barman if the mayor has passed by yet.

"The mayor?" he echoes. "The people of the town hall come in here very little, even in normal times."

Normal times? Does he mean before the Dolcedo property scandal was made public? Some steps on we reach the office of Angela van de Loo. A qualified bookseller and paediatric nurse who set

Angela van de Loo is trying to help the foreign homeowners

up a company in 2002 to help foreigners buying property in the town. She now advises around 150 European clients, among them British, Germans and Dutch, and in the last year, a few Russians, who she says

immediately became "victims".

Already we are touching on the subject that has been on everyone's lips in the region: claims of illegally dividing agricultural land and the subsequent construction of 81 homes.

Where donkeys grazed "In the 60s, meadows and corn fields surrounded this small picturesque olive town and provided grazing for hundreds of donkeys and oxen," explains Angela van de Loo. "Then the pack animals were replaced by machines, the fields were therefore useless which meant idle capital, so many people moved from the countryside to the coast.

In the 1990s, the land was split into numerous lots with large scale construction and development soon following in the zona agricola.

The municipality granted the permits. By law, farmhouses were allowed at the time, but had to have a storage area of the same size or even bigger.

Building a classic casa agricola, with living space on the upper floor and the agricultural part on the ground floor, therefore required a relatively large terrain.

When the village exploded Between 2004 and 2010, the number of new houses in the Ripalta, Santa Brigida, Colle Lupi and Colombera neighbourhoods of Dolcedo doubled.

"Suddenly" a new urban centre had evolved and critics started talking about the Insediamento Sparso phenomenon, where houses had started popping

Changing the path of history The ancient Via Aurelia faces modernisation

S

ince 241BC, the Via Aurelia has been a vital link of access. It ran initially from Rome to the Tuscany village of Luni, but would later wind along the coast through Ventimiglia up to Arles.

Today, the 962 kilometres of road is travelled more than ever, especially during the summer months. After two long millennia, the ancient passageway is now set to receive an update between Spotorno and Finale Ligure.

At Spotorno Merello, it will be moved away from the coast to around 500 metres inland,

enabling the beach promenade to be widened and a bicycle lane created. At Cap Noli too, a cycle path will be installed after the completion of the new 36.5 million euro tunnel, which stretches 793 metres. This section of the Via Aurelia will benefit from less traffic thanks to the new route.

In Finale Ligure, the existing tunnel under the Caprazoppa will be expanded to three lanes.The project will take years to complete, but will help to substantially calm traffic, reduce noise in popular tourism areas and provide better facilities for cyclists.

the weak point, that the agricultural property implicated had been illegally partitioned, in this so-called case of lottizzazione abusiva.

Somehow, almost all of the homeowners are involved in this 'crime', even those who bought finished houses and knew nothing about it." In response to the public prosecutor's decision, there have been demonstrations and lawyers have Tranquil and idyllic, Dolcedo has now become famous for all the wrong reasons been hired.

"The owners just up where they shouldn't have change, rather than to the past, can't understand it," says van been. otherwise citizens will lose de Loo. Enquiries to the Opposition members in the faith in the system" says van de department of public prosetown council became incensed Loo. "This has been a real cution are increasingly being at the way the village had disaster for the whole of ignored. rapidly expanded and they Dolcedo.

The mayor of Dolcedo, too, complained. In 2008, the “But there is also a real will seems imperious to the province was obliged to act to put the new plan into situation and despite numand cancelled the building practise, however, as so often erous requests for an interview, permits of 36 houses, claiming happens in Italy, the process is we were not allowed to speak that they infringed on the reversed," she sighs. "Agri- to him. traditional conventions of cultural zones that have Sale value = zero building on agricultural land. become more urban, they have And there's more bad news for Shortly afterwards came the to be adapted to realistic owners, as because the houses order to scale back plans and standards." are not sellable they are worth even demolish some Homes confiscated zero from a commercial point properties.

Despite the goodwill of the of view.

"While the Italians con- municipal and regional On 19th July, the first cases cerned were mobilising their governments, in May the related to the confiscation of forces, foreigners were bomb dropped. Imperia's property were heard in court. stunned. I tried to encourage department of public For 20 relieved homeowners, them to act, but they were prosecution announced that the big question of whether or paralysed," says van de Loo. 81 houses would be not administration of their After numerous protests, the confiscated and the owners homes would be transferred municipality and region tried were ordered to evacuate their over to the prosecutor was to calm things down. The properties within two weeks. answered. For now, they would municipality drew up a new One person, who wishes to retain the rights to their scheme that was adapted to remain anonymous, claims, properties. the fact that the area had now "The young, ambitious The scheme proposed by become a more urban place. prosecutor of Imperia wants to the municipality and the "In Imperia, as elsewhere in show what he can do. His goal region includes the 36 houses Italy, administrations have is to make a name for himself that saw their permits always behaved like this. It is whatever the price. This man cancelled in 2008, but what important to conform to has pursued the homeowners about the other ones? Deeper European law and legislation, without the slightest qualm, discussions regarding the but administrations should be considering them like a remaining properties are still looking to the future for 'criminal gang'. He sought out needed in order to work out

how they can be integrated into the new plan.

Since the start of our conversation, Angela van de Loo warned us of the complexity of the issue. She is determined to support this group of owners in creating a sort of syndicate that consolidates the interests and aims of all involved.

"I sincerely want the situation to be salvaged," she adds finally.

For the moment, the person in charge at the regional government has promised to look deeply at the issue and try to find a realistic solution together with the members of the town council. Optimists hope that the problem will be resolved within a year, while pessimists say it will be five.

Petra Hall Elsa Carpenter

Dolcedo’s mayor was unwilling to comment on the situation

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SAINT TROPEZ

www.rivieratimes.com

FOR SAINT TROPEZ NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2013

Majestic at sea hulls and masts lead the way in terms of contemporary innovation. But in the port, their power and finesse sits railing to railing with some of the most iconic sailboats of the last one hundred years.

Gerhard Standop

B

ringing the Côte d'Azur's summer sailing season to a spectacular close, Les Voiles de Saint Tropez might be the last major maritime meet on the calendar, but it's far from being the 'least'. What started as a post-beer concept between two avid sailors in 1981 has been transformed into one of the most stylish and prestigious regattas in the Riviera. It has an undeniably special charm: the location, the weather, the ambience, the boats. From 29th September to 5th October, a unique collection of yachts and vessels from the last century will once again take to the sea off the coast of Saint Tropez for an event that juxtaposes the modern with the historic, and high-tech with tradition.

Out in the bay, the new Wally yachts with their carbon fibre

The timeless 1915 Mariette schooner, the thoroughbred Moonbeam racing boat, and Monaco Yacht Club's flagship Tuiga all represent the golden age that was 20th century

sailing. Many of the beautiful historic vessels seen on the shore, awaiting their chance to prove their worth at the regatta, have been rescued in recent years, restored at great expense before the fatal onslaught of decay.

Les Voiles is a firm fixture and indeed favourite in the calendar for many sailing aficionados as it can be tailored to any budget. Are you lucky enough to own one of these breathtaking vessels?

Anchor up in the port. Want private guided excursions and escorts? Head to the quay. A shoreline spectator? Spread out your towel on the sandy beaches between Saint Tropez and Pampelonne for stunning views of the races on the waves.

Out on the water there may be a competitive edge to the event, but on land there is a plethora of social and networking activities. Les Voiles

Expanding our network he Riviera Times is now available to pick up at stands and establishments right along the shores of Saint Tropez. A total of 20 private beaches in the jewel of the Côte d'Azur are distributing our monthly newspaper, the leading foreign language media in the south of France.

Sit back and soak up the summer sun as you catch up on the region's current affairs, cultural events, top restaurant reviews and much more.

La Bouillabaisse, Pearl Beach, Plage des Salins, Plage Golfe Azur, Le Club 55, Nikki Beach, Key West, Cap 21 Les Murenes, Aqua Club, Tahiti Beach, La Plage des Jumeaux, Nioulargo, Les Bronzes, Le Lagon, Coco Beach, PagoPago, Le Mouillage, Le Playa, Le Sube and Les Palmiers have all joined The Riviera Times'

growing distribution network.

In addition to Saint Tropez's finest beaches, The Riviera Times is also distributed at the Nice Côte d'Azur International airport, Toulon-Hyères International airport and to passengers boarding British Airways flights, on board Delta and Swiss Airlines as well as at over 1,000 strategic points of distribution between Marseille and Genoa. From hotels, golf clubs, car rental agencies, international associations and consulates to banks, schools and numerous international doctors' practices, The Riviera Times is within easy reach.

You can also pick up a copy from our stands at the Riviera’s biggest and most prestigious festivals, exhibitions and events.

Elsa Carpenter

Treat yourself to 20th century sailing at the exciting Les Voiles de Saint Tropez at the end of this month

provides a well rounded immersion into the world of yachting for everyone from professional crew to amateur onlookers.

"Les Voiles de Saint Tropez may be the most marvellous nautical event in the world," says Jean-Pierre Champion,

the president of the French Sailing Federation, “and I have seen a lot of them. Mixing classic and modern yachts is a brilliant idea and the result is perfectly successful. The atmosphere in Saint Tropez is a match of excitement, passion and respect."

It's come a long way since its early days as a fledgling competition and is now the toast of the sailing season.

Whatever it is that makes Les Voiles special, it has the crowds coming back year after year and they only keep getting bigger. Gerhard Standop

New owners take over the skies

The Riviera Times on the beaches of Saint Tropez

T

Gerhard Standop

100 years of yachting at Les Voiles de Saint Tropez

ACA buys majority stake in the Saint Tropez airport

T

he Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur, ACA, now owns 99.9 per cent of the shares in the International Airport of Saint Tropez.

Director of the airport Pierre Fouques believes the transport hub will benefit from an alliance with a major regional player, saying, "ACA's

ambition is to build and capitalise on the work done in recent years by the Saint Tropez Airport, while maintaining the current structure and team."

While the Saint Tropez airport is mainly a link for business flights, it has a growing level of domestic and

international civilian traffic.

Almost 90 per cent of passengers travel through the airport between Easter and the end of September, indicating the base’s vital role in serving the summer tourism industry. The transport hub is a significant contributor towards the local

While the airport’s strongest sector is business aviation, a growing number of private charters choose it as a destination

economy, reporting a commercial impact of around 170 million euros last year.

ACA is France's second largest airport conglomerate, serving over 11 million passengers in 2012 through its bases at the Nice Côte d'Azur airport and the Cannes-Mandelieu airfield.

“As a new luxury destination for our portfolio, Saint Tropez airport will enable us to offer our customers high quality services and standards across our platforms," said ACA CEO Dominique Thillaud, who hopes that the merger will open up collaborations between the different sites and propel the company towards in terms of competitiveness and reach.

Mado Bayon

YACHT VON CAMPER & NICHOLSONS I PHOTO: ED HOLT

25-28

SEPT 2013

Por t Hercule

MONACO

runo Gazagnaire ist Koch aus Leidenschaft. Gelernt hat er sein Handwerk bei Mei-ster Ducasse, danach war er Küchenchef in verschiedenen Nobelrestaurants.

Im Juli dieses Jahres eröffnete er in Saint-Maximin-La-SainteBaume sein eigenes Restaurant.

«La table de Bruno», klein, aber fein, stylisch und mit exzellenten Speisen.

Bruno verwendet ausschließlich frische und qualitativ beste Produkte aus der Region. Daraus zaubert er köstliche Gerichte, mit sehr viel Liebe zum Detail und zum Entzücken von Gau-

R e t s tau r a n t

t i p p s

13

Welcome to the show!

Willkommen!

Dear Reader,

it is with great pleasure that, thanks to Publisher Petra Hall, I am once again able to write this editorial in the September issue of The Riviera Times, an edition that devotes an entire special feature to the 23rd Monaco Yacht Show.

If, over the last few years, businesses and private clients have come to consider the Monaco Yacht Show as the world’s number one yacht show, it is all down to the confidence and trust that the industry has given us.

For each edition, we try our very best to continue improving the event and to develop original ideas and concepts. This year we will be launching the first ever Monaco Yacht Summit at the Grimaldi Forum on the eve of the show. This new meeting of minds will address current issues in the industry for both owners and potential buyers, creating an exclusive space for networking and discussion between the biggest players of the yachting sector. It is an event that will cement, reinforce and strengthen Monaco’s position as the capital of yachting.

This year, the Monaco Yacht Show brings together 105 yachts of between 25 and 90 metres.

Among these will be 35 world

premier unveilings. Com-ing from 40 countries around the globe, 500 businesses will have stands at our 9,000 square metres of exhibition space and 33,000 visitors are expected.

The Principality’s hotels will be full of the wealthiest and most prestigious clientele, who descend on Monaco for the duration of the show. For four days, the Principality and its surrounding areas will resonate with life and vibrancy, benefiting from significant economic yield and publicity.

But while the Monaco Yacht Show has established itself as a major financial and media driver, it is also an incredibly useful way of promoting the charitable activities of the Principality.

Since 2001, the Monaco Yacht Show has supported the Monaco Association against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy by donating to the charity annually and co-organising the Only Watch auction. On 28th September, the fifth edition of the event will be held at Hôtel Hermitage in Monaco. The 33 unique watches will also be exhibited at the Monaco Yacht Show prior to their auction.

And finally, as every year, my team and I take enormous pleasure in saluting the remarkable work of Petra Hall and The Riviera Times for their coverage

of the Monaco Yacht Show in this special feature.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition and look forward to seeing you from 25th to 28th September for the 23rd Monaco Yacht Show.

Lieber Leser,

wieder einmal freut es mich, für Petra Hall den Stift in die Hand zu nehmen und das Editorial dieser Sonderausgabe zur 23. Monaco Yacht Show zu schreiben.

Seit Jahren ist die Monaco Yacht Show für die Branche und ihre Kunden das wichtigste Yachtereignis – und zwar weltweit, was wiederum auf das große Vertrauen zurückzuführen ist, das die Industrie uns entgegen bringt. Wir geben bei jedem Event unser Bestes, um unsere Veranstaltung noch weiter zu verbessern und zusammen neue Ideen zu entwickeln. Dieses Jahr haben wir uns dazu entschlossen, am Tag vor dem Messebeginn erstmalig den Monaco Yacht Summit im Grimaldi Forum von Monaco auszurichten. Bei diesem Treffen werden die wichtigsten Herausforderungen für Besitzer und Yachtkäufer im Hinblick auf das Yachting besprochen.

Wir bieten damit zugleich einen

Ort der Begegnung, der Platz für Gespräche und das Knüpfen von Beziehungen zwischen den Hauptakteuren im Yachtbereich lässt. Ein neues Yachtevent im Fürstentum, das die Stellung Monacos als Hauptstadt des Yachtings stärken wird.

Dieses Jahr werden 105 Yachten von 25 bis 90 Meter Länge ausgestellt, darunter 35 Weltneuheiten. 500 Unternehmen aus 40 Ländern sind auf über 9000 Quadratmetern mit interessanten Ständen vertreten.

Es werden 33 000 Teilnehmer erwartet. Alle Hotels sind ausgebucht von einer erlesenen Klientel an Geschäftsleuten und Wohlhabenden, die während der Messe am Leben in Monaco teilnehmen. Es herrscht eine besondere Stimmung im Fürstentum und der Umgebung während des viertägigen Events, das ihnen gleichermaßen wirtschaftliche Einkünfte wie Ansehen bringt.

Doch auch wenn die Monaco Yacht Show sich als einer der wichtigsten Wirtschafts- und Medienakteure im Fürstentum erweist, so ist sie ebenfalls ein unverzichtbarer Faktor, wenn es um die Unterstützung von medizinischen Tätigkeiten im Land geht.

Seit 2001 wird die Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies von der MYS jährlich finanziell unterstützt. Des

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Gäelle Tallarida I Managing Director Gaëlle Tallarida I Generaldirektorin Monaco Yacht Show IN OUR BILINGUAL SPECIAL :

IN UNSEREM 2-SPRACHIGEN SPECIAL LESEN SIE:

16/17) Mikael Krafft: Living for

Schiffsreeder Mikael Krafft: Ein Leben für die Leidenschaft

18)

Excellence with no exceptions: «If Bloom & Voss can’t build it, no one can»

Bloom & Voss, zu Hause auf den Weltmeeren. RCZ-Gespräch mit dem Chef der Hamburger Werft

22)

Only Watch Auction: Watches of hope

Only Watch: Uhren der Hoffnung

his passion

Weiteren werden alle zwei Jahre Auktionen von Only Watch mitorganisiert, deren Erlöse komplett an den Verband gehen. Am 28. September wird die fünfte Auktion im Hôtel Hermitage von Monaco stattfinden: 33 einzigartige Uhrenmodelle werden versteigert, die zuvor auf der Monaco Yacht Show ausgestellt sind.

Ich möchte mich auch dieses

Jahr wieder im Namen meines Teams bei Petra Hall und ihrem Team für die hervorragende Arbeit bedanken, die diese Sonderausgabe zur Monaco Yacht Show möglich macht.

Wir wünschen Ihnen viel Spaß beim Lesen und freuen uns, Sie vom 25. bis 28. September 2013 bei der 23. Monaco Yacht Show begrüßen zu können.

16

Living for his passion: Mikael Krafft The Swedish yacht builder talks about his love of majestic sailing boats

U

pon meeting Mikael Krafft, the first thing that comes to mind is the image of a captain of a big ship. He’s confident, conscientious, and has superb manners: a true old school gentleman. He welcomes us at his completely renovated townhouse, Clipper Palace, in Monaco. The building boasts a 19th century heritage and an enviable location near the port. There is no doubt that a sailor lives here. The smooth, wooden interior is reminiscent of a captain’s cabin and cherished models of marine vessels line the walls of all four floors.

Even down to his tie, embroidered with miniature boats, Mikael clearly lives for his profession.

His father worked in the shipbuilding industry, his uncle

was the captain of the full-mast Albatros, and, going back generations, one of his German ancestors, a sailor, travelled to and settled in Sweden. Mikael’s future was already mapped out.

Born in Stockholm, he grew up in the Baltic coast resort of Saltsjöbaden, a city that had once been the stomping ground of some of the world’s best shipyards and craftsmen. From the age of six, Mikael would cycle over to the docks and eagerly watch the workmen as they went about their trade. Later on, his father gave him a wooden sailing boat and, in time, Mikael would sail around Sweden’s archipelagos. He completed a cross-sea voyage to Finland and the Åland Islands, the home of the fourmast ship Pommern.

“Even though it was strictly forbidden, I used to play on the boat and climb the masts,” laughs the Swede. “In boyhood, I already had the dream of owning such a ship in the future.”

It is impossible to resist being infected by his enthusiasm when he speaks about the golden age of sailing vessels.

But before Mikael achieved his ambitions, he was first a captain in the Air Force while studying maritime law of the University of Stockholm. He would go on to work as a lawyer in Sweden and in France, but his passion for sailing would soon catch up with him.

In the late 1970s, he bought a small shipping company for just one symbolic euro. The business had been founded in 1875, but

by the time of the acquisition it was facing extreme economic difficulties. As the new owner, Mikael was able to bring success back to the company and sold it at a profit. He spent the following nine years working in real estate in Brussels, with his wife, Ann, and his children, Eric and Marie.

But his sailing dream was never far away. In 1989, he founded Star Clippers. “I wanted to bring the biggest masts back to the oceans and revive the original fascination of sailing. It was, and still is, my goal to provide passengers with a real, emotional experience. And I have managed to do so,” he says. “Building our first boats, Star Flyer and Star Clipper, wasn’t easy. The shipyards were afraid to rebuild

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the century-old Clipper while at the same time equipping the style with a modern interior and design. Experts were vital for the build as the hull needed a wineglass shaped form to reduce resistance.”

The Clipper is a type of sailing boat that blossomed in the 19th century and was characterised by its slim lines and high speed.

“So were you born 100 years too late, Mr Krafft?”, we ask. He smiles, “No, I just want to preserve a piece of maritime history.

Our ships are very environmentally friendly, so we’re going with the time.”

In 2000, his third vessel, Royal Clipper, was launched. The four star luxury cruise ship, modelled on the famous 1902 Preussen, is currently the largest sailing boat

in the world. It was the first of its kind as a steel-hulled, five-mast and 30 square-rigged design.

Today, holidaymakers have the chance to experience an unforgettable and unparalleled sailing adventure onboard one of Star Clippers prestigious ships, whether in the Caribbean, Mediterranean or in the Baltic waters. Sometimes, Mikael goes along too. “The guests enjoy that,” he says, “Some 60 to 70 per cent of our 20,000 annual passengers book with us again, and often tell me that they feel like the owner of the boat too.”

“People have said to me, ‘You love your boats more than your own children!’. I reply, ‘No, I love them just as much.”

17

Mikael Krafft: Er lebt für seine Leidenschaft Exklusiv: Der schwedische Schiffsreeder über seine Liebe zu majestätischen Segelschiffen

E

r sieht genau so aus, wie man sich den Kapitän eines großen Schiffs vorstellt: Souverän, zupackend, mit exzellenten Manieren. Ein Gentleman der alten Schule.

Mikael Krafft empfängt uns in seinem völlig restaurierten Stadthaus aus dem 19. Jahrhundert in Monaco, dem Clipper Palace unweit vom Hafen. Kein Zweifel, hier lebt ein wahrhaftiger Seemann: Die holzverkleidete Innendekoration erinnert an eine Kapitänskajüte, auf allen vier Etagen sind wertvolle Segelschiff-Modelle ausgestellt. Selbst die Krawatte des Hausherrn schmücken kleine Boote.

Seine Geschichte ist wie sein Name: voller Kraft und Leidenschaft.

Sein Vater arbeitete im Schiffsbau, sein Onkel war Kapitän auf dem Vollmastsegelschiff Albatros, Generationen zuvor hatte sich einer seiner Vorfahren, ein Seemann aus Deutschland, in Schweden niedergelassen.

Die Lebensroute war also vorgezeichnet.

Der gebürtige Stockholmer wuchs im Seebad Saltsjöbaden auf, wo damals einige der

besten Segelwerften der Welt angesiedelt waren. Schon mit sechs Jahren schnappte sich der kleine Mikael sein Fahrrad und sauste zu den Docks, um bei den Arbeiten zuzusehen. Später dann schenkte ihm sein Vater ein hölzernes Segelboot, mit dem er den schwedischen Archipel umrundete. Er setzte sogar nach Finnland über, wo auf den Åland-Inseln die Viermastbark Pommern lag. «Obwohl es mir streng verboten war, kletterte ich auf den Masten herum und spielte an Bord», freut sich Mikael Krafft noch heute. «Damals reifte mein Traum, eines Tages auch ein solches Schiff zu besitzen.»

Der Funken seiner Begeisterung für die wunderbaren Segelschiffe vergangener Zeiten fliegt förmlich auf uns hinüber.

Doch gemach: Zunächst einmal ging er als Kapitän zur Luftwaffe und studierte parallel Seefahrtsrecht an der Stockholmer Universität. Als Anwalt war er dann in Schweden und Frankreich tätig.

Doch seine Segelpassion holte ihn wieder ein: Ende der 1970erJahre erwarb er für einen symbolischen Euro ein kleines, 1875 gegründetes und in Schwierigkeiten geratenes Schiffsunternehmen, brachte es zum Erfolg und verkaufte es 1986 gewinnbringend. Die folgenden neun

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Jahre verbrachte er mit seiner Frau Ann und seinen Kindern Eric und Marie in Brüssel, wo er im Immobiliengewerbe arbeitete.

Aber die Seglerei ließ ihn nicht los. 1989 gründete Krafft seine Star Clippers. «Ich wollte die größten Masten auf die Ozeane bringen und all das bewahren, was die ursprüngliche SegelFaszination ausmacht. Mein Wunsch war und ist es, Passagieren echte Emotionen zu vermitteln. Und ich habe es geschafft.»

Er erzählt weiter: «Die Konstruktion unserer ersten Schiffe, Star Flyer und Star Clipper, war nicht leicht. Die Werften hatten Angst, hundert Jahre alte Klipper nachzubauen und die neuen Schiffe gleichzeitig mit jedem modernen Komfort auszustatten. Tatsächlich braucht man Spezialisten dafür, der Rumpf zum Beispiel muss die Form eines Weinglases haben, damit es weniger Widerstand gibt.» (Zur Erklärung: Klipper ist ein Segelschiffstyp, der seine Blütezeit in der Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts hatte. Seine auffälligsten Merkmale waren seine schnittigen Schiffslinien und seine hohe Geschwindigkeit).

Sind Sie 100 Jahre zu spät dran, Herr Krafft? Er lächelt: «Nein, ich bewahre nur ein Stück Seefahrtsgeschichte. Unsere hydrodynamischen Schiffe sind sehr

umweltfreundlich, wir liegen also voll im Trend.»

Im Jahr 2000 schließlich wurde Kraffts drittes Schiff Royal Clipper, ein fünfmastiges Vier-Sterne-Luxus-Kreuzfahrtschiff und zurzeit das größte Segelschiff der Welt, vom Stapel gelassen.

Es wurde 1902 nach dem Vorbild der Preußen gebaut, des bis dahin einzigen je gebauten Fünfmastvollschiffs mit 30 Rahsegeln. Sie zählt zu den größten Segelschiffen der Schifffahrtsgeschichte überhaupt.

Heute können Urlauber also dank Mikael Kraffts Träumen und seines Durchsetzungsvermögens unvergessliche Segelabenteuer an Bord der Luxusschiffe verbringen – in der Karibik, auf dem Mittelmeer oder auch auf der Ostsee.

Hin und wieder fährt der StarClipper-Senior selbst mit: «Dann freuen sich die Gäste. 60 bis 70 Prozent der jährlich 20 000 Passagiere buchen immer wieder bei uns und fühlen sich inzwischen, als wären sie selbst die Schiffseigner. Manchmal sagt jemand zu mir: Sie lieben Ihre Schiffe ja mehr als Ihre Kinder! Dann antworte ich: Nein, das ist falsch.

Ich liebe sie ebenso sehr.»

Petra Hall

18

1

Excellence with no exceptions

2

«If Blohm + Voss can’t build it, no one can»

Since 1877, the name Blohm + Voss has stood for pure excellence in ship construction and engineering. The traditional Hamburg shipyard continues to provide the highest quality products for the world market. An interview with CEO Dr. Herbert Aly

4 RT: Dr. Aly, since 1887, Blohm + Voss in Hamburg has been a shipyard that has built and repaired ocean vessels and sail training ships such as the Gorch Fock and the Pamir.

What is your most important field of activity today?

HERBERT ALY: Blohm + Voss has undergone a great number of changes over the past few decades. Since leaving the ThyssenKrupp group in 2012, when the merchant ship division was sold to the British investment company STAR Capital Partners, Blohm + Voss has been concentrating on yachts, cruise liners and offshore services. In addition to building new ships, our 1) The Lady Moura is one of Blohm + Voss’ flagship vessels Eine der Vorzeige-Yachten von Blohm + Voss: die Lady Moura 2/3) The shipyard, yesterday & today Die Werft gestern & heute 4) Blohm + Voss’CEO Dr. Herbert Aly Dr. Herbert Aly ist Geschäftsführer von Blohm + Voss

core business areas also include retrofitting and modernising superyachts. In terms of cruise liners, our focus lies in the maintenance, repair and retrofitting of these ships. Some of the most well-known cruise liners in the world, for example the QUEEN MARY 2 and the EUROPA, are regular guests at the shipyard.

We have also seen excellent prospects in the growing offshore sector of the oil and gas industry.

We have an outstanding expertise at our disposal in this area, for example in the complex and technically demanding retrofits of ships and vessels needed to supply oil and gas platforms.

Where does Blohm + Voss stand in the global marketplace and how is the company doing in the current economic situation?

Blohm + Voss is known for its exceptional and one-off yachts, tailor made for clients based on their individual needs and requests. Every yacht from Blohm + Voss is unique. As our customers know, we can meet pretty much any request - even the exceptionally unusual ones. In this way, we have created a strong market profile, which is reflected in this testimony from a yacht broker: “Ask Blohm + Voss - if

they can’t build it, no one can.”

Additionally, one clear advantage over foreign shipyards is the unrivalled reputation of German engineering, which is our speciality. We advocate unparalleled quality and win over our customers with our technical abilities.

These attributes, combined with our capability to cater to our customers’ individual requests, secure our uncontested position in the marketplace. Of course, the economic trends over the last few years have influenced our business, but our exceptional profile ensures that the same jobs that keep our business running day-to-day also keep us going during times of financial crisis.

Your shipyard has built famous ships like the Lady Moura. Has the number of orders for such top-class vessels decreased?

In the years of economic difficulty following the economic crisis, the order situation was in fact problematic for the entire industry. Since then, our business has seen positive developments, even above average for very large and individual yachts - exactly the market sector in which we hold a leading position.

Blohm + Voss has had a booth at the Monaco Yacht Show for years. How is business going for yachts? What are you expecting to get out of your presence in Monaco this year?

The Monaco Yacht Show is the most important global exhibition for superyachts. The industry’s global players meet here.

Attending the show is extremely important for us to present our phenomenal portfolio. In Monaco, we have the chance to show prospective customers that “whenever you want to build a yacht - no matter how extravagant - we are your competent partner.” In addition, over the past few years, there has been a trend that indicates market recovery. Because of this, it is even more important to be at the right place at the right time. And that is the key in this business.

3

«Wenn Blohm + Voss diese Yacht nicht bauen kann, kann es keiner» Seit 1877 steht der Name Blohm + Voss für Qualität im Schiff- und Maschinenbau. Die Hamburger Werft stellt auf höchstem Niveau Produkte für den Weltmarkt her. Gespräch mit Geschäftsführer Dr. Herbert Aly RCZ: Herr Dr. Aly, seit der Gründung von Blohm + Voss 1887 steht der Name für eine Werft, die Hochsee-Dampfer und Segelschulschiffe wie die Gorch Fock oder die Pamir baute und reparierte. Welche sind heute die wichtigsten Tätigkeitsgebiete?

HERBERT ALY: Blohm + Voss hat in den letzten Jahrzehnten eine wechselvolle Geschichte durchlebt. Seit der Trennung von dem ThyssenKrupp-Konzern 2012 – also seit dem Verkauf der zivilen Bereiche an die britische Investmentgesellschaft STAR Capital Partners – konzentriert sich Blohm + Voss auf die Bereiche Yachten, Kreuzfahrtschiffe und Offshore. Dabei zählen neben dem Neubau auch der Umbau und die Modernisierung von Mega-Yachten zum Kerngeschäft. Im Bereich Kreuzfahrtschiffe liegt unser Fokus auf der Instandhaltung und auf Umbauten entsprechender Schiffe. Einige der berühmtesten Kreuzfahrtschiffe der Welt wie die QUEEN MARY 2 oder die EUROPA sind regelmäßig zu Gast auf der Werft. Zudem sehen wir im wachsenden Offshore-Bereich für die Öl- und Gasindustrie ausgezeichnete Perspektiven. Auf diesem Feld verfügen wir über herausragende Kompetenzen beispielsweise im komplexen und technologisch anspruchsvollen Umbau von Schiffen und Fahrzeugen zur Versorgung von Öl- und Gasplattformen.

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Welche Stellung hat Blohm + Voss auf dem Weltmarkt und wie steht die Firma in der derzeitigen wirtschaftlichen Situation da?

Blohm + Voss ist bekannt für seine außergewöhnlichen Yachten, bei denen die individuellen Bedürfnisse und Anforderungen der Kunden umgesetzt werden.

Jede Yacht, die Blohm + Voss verlässt, ist ein Unikat. Unsere Kunden wissen: Wir erfüllen so ziemlich jeden Wunsch – und ist er auch noch so ausgefallen.

Auf diese Weise haben wir uns auf dem Markt stark profiliert und das spiegelt auch die Aussage eines Yacht-Brokers wider: «Frag Blohm+Voss – wenn die diese Yacht nicht bauen können, dann kann es keiner.» Ein klarer Vorteil gegenüber ausländischen Werften ist zudem der ausgezeichnete Ruf des deutschen Ingenieurwesens: Wir stehen für einmalige Qualität und bestechen durch unser handwerkliches Können. Diese Attribute, gepaart mit unserer Fähigkeit auf die individuellsten Wünsche unserer Kunden einzugehen, sichert uns eine unangefochtene Stellung auf dem Markt. Natürlich hatte die wirtschaftliche Entwicklung der letzten Jahre Einfluss auf unser Geschäft.

Doch unser besonderes Profil sichert uns auch in Zeiten der Finanzkrise Aufträge, die unser tägliches Geschäft sichern.

Ihre Werft hat so bekannte Schiffe wie die Lady Moura gebaut. Hat die Anzahl solch

hochkarätiger Aufträge eher abgenommen?

In den wirtschaftlich schwierigen Jahren in Folge der Finanzkrise war die Auftragslage in der Tat problematisch für die gesamte Branche. Nunmehr entwickelt sich das Geschäft wieder positiv, überproportional bei sehr großen und individuellen Yachten, also genau in dem Marktsegment, in dem wir eine Spitzenposition innehaben.

Blohm + Voss hat seit Jahren einen Stand auf der Monaco Yacht Show. Wie läuft das Geschäft mit den Yachten? Was erwarten Sie von Ihrer Präsenz im Fürstentum?

Die Monaco Yacht Show ist die wichtigste Messe für Mega-Yachten weltweit. Hier treffen sich die Global-Player des Geschäfts.

Die Präsenz auf dieser Messe ist für uns daher enorm bedeutend, um unser besonderes Portfolio zu präsentieren. In Monaco haben wir die Chance, möglichen Kunden zu zeigen: «Wann immer ihr eine Yacht bauen lassen möchtet – und sei sie noch so extravagant – wir sind der kompetente Partner hierfür.» Zudem ist in den letzten Jahren eine Entwicklung zu beobachten, die auf eine Erholung des Marktes hinweist. Aus diesem Grund ist es noch wichtiger, zur richtigen Zeit an der richtigen Stelle zu sein. Darauf kommt es in diesem Geschäft an.

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23. Monaco Yacht Show Exhibitors: 500 Visitors: 33,000 Length of yachts: 25m to 90m Average size of yachts: 45.5m Number of new launches: 35 Stand space: 9,000sqm Yachts on water: 105

EXHIBITOR PROFILE Naval architects & interior designers: 7% Equipment manufacturers: 32% Shipyards: 16% Services: 13% Tenders: 4% Media: 8% Luxury brands: 6% Federations: 1% Brokers: 9%

Aussteller: 500 Besucher: 33 000 Länge der Yachten: 25 bis 90 Meter Durchschnittliche Länge: 45,5 Meter Anzahl Marktneuheiten: 35 Stand-Fläche: 9000 Quadratmeter Yachten im Wasser: 105

PROFIL DER AUSSTELLER Schiffs- & Innenarchitekten: 7% Ausstatter: 32% Werften: 16% Service: 13% Tender: 4% Presse: 8% Luxusmarken: 6% Verbände: 1% Broker: 9%

80% der Besucher kommen aus dem Ausland 88% der Aussteller sind im Folgejahr wieder dabei 38 Nationalitäten sind vertreten

80% are visitors from abroad 88% of exhibitors return the following year 38 nationalities are represented

OTHER FACTS

WEITERE FAKTEN

50% of the entrance price goes to the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies

50%: je die Hälfte des Eintrittspreises geht an die Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies

EVENT PROFILE

EVENT-PROFIL

Setting up and dismantling the exhibition takes over a month: 13,000sqm of floor area, 15,000sqm of carpet, 14km of electrical cables, 100tonnes of ballasting, 400 plants, 120 hostesses and drivers, 25 security personnel, 50 service staff to ensure a smooth running of the show

Der Auf- und Abbau der Ausstellung dauert über einen Monat: 13 000 qm Bodenfläche, 15 000 qm Teppich, 14 km Elektrokabel, 100 Tonnen Ballast, 400 Grünpflanzen, 120 Hostessen und Fahrer, 25 Sicherheitskräfte, 50 Dienstleister sorgen für einen reibungslosen Ablauf der Show.

Come and visit us at our stand QP6 I Besuchen Sie uns an unserem Stand QP6

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20 Automotive special

The effortlessly superior Mercedes-Benz S-Class Mercedes-Benz’s new S-Class is creating a stir in the market. The sedan has been the flagship model of the brand for four decades, driving the standards of luxury and prestige forwards and proving itself time and time again as the “best car in the world”.

It might look as though it is keeping with tradition, but the innovative new S-Class is worlds apart under the hood FACTS: The new S-Class is available from 204 hp up to 455 hp, in two hybrid versions, with 4.4 litres per kilometre, in two different wheelbases, and in prices beginning at 79,789.50 euros

O

n the outside, the car’s smooth and sculpted appearance is much the same, maintaining the level of effortless finesse that it has been known for since the early 70s, but under the hood it is a different story.

SUBTLE VISION

FIVE STAR DRIVING

In the past, the S-Class has provided the debuts for many innovations that have forever changed the industry, from the first seatbelt pretensioners to double glazing, which has helped to build on the legacy of this effortlessly superior product.

This S-Class is no exception to the rule. Even if it doesn’t seem so at first glance, it is an all new sedan. Visually, the new S-Class fits in seamlessly with the ideals of the traditional model, sticking to

Inside the S-Class, anything is possible. Features include in-built hot stone massage functions in the seats, fridges, folding tables, and interactive touch screens.

There is a personalised fragrance ventilation system, with which one of the pre-made scents can be used or even your own favourite cologne. These are the touches that set the car apart from its market competitors and make Mercedes-Benz’s new top model that much more enjoyable to drive.

what it knows best. All the same, it is a more streamlined cousin of the earlier editions, with a longer hood and wheelbase, as well as refinement on its famous ‘dropping line’ that covers the length of the vehicle.

But it’s all in the detail. Tucked away under rich wooden inlays

and powerful leather accents is an array of first class technology that puts the car at the forefront of the industry.

Systems that scan the coming road surface and adjust the car’s suspension to the driving environment, adaptive cruise systems that detect the speed of cars ahead and

slow the vehicle down if its trajectory is more than its cruise control setting, and even a thermal imaging system that can alert the driver to unseen dangers. MercedesBenz’s S-Class is at the pinnacle of the driving technology.

While the changes to the aerodynamics to optimise air drag and

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reductions to noise levels were minute, they were ingenious. But so is designer Robert Lesnik’s ability to stick to conventions of the S-Class while fine-tuning its technological attributes. The new flagship model remains faithful to the original, both in style and innovative flair.

19. High-performance lead bulb keel

14. Electrically operated dining table for four, opening out like a lotus flower to seat eight people

7. Hull windows

8. Hydraulically operated winches

Düsseldorf Tel. +49 (0) 211 35 55 103 germany@dahm-international.com

0030_XXXX_AZ_Inspiration-Illustration_Riviera-Cote-d-Azur_276x400mm_3.indd 1

Monaco Tel. +377 - 93 50 25 86 monaco@dahm-international.com

Palma Tel. +34 - 971 70 82 48 mallorca@dahm-international.com

When it comes to finding a yacht, it’s important to meet the very highest standards – yours!

So whether you are dreaming of purchasing, selling or chartering your perfect yacht, we at dahm international have the knowledge, the experience and the dedicated passion to help you make your dream come true. Let us take care of the details so that you can concentrate on what really matters: the precious moments on board your yacht. www.dahm-international.com

12. Breakfast bar

11. Electrically retracting lockers separating the galley from the salon

1. Semi-enclosed wheelhouse with complete 360° view 5. Helmstand with 2 diameter wheel, navigations and engine controls

13. Engine room with full headroom, fully equipped work bench and window

6. Hydraulically operated transom hatch with bathing platform, deck shower and gangway

20. Large stern garage with storage for tender and water sports equipment

Yo u r r e l i a b l e pa r t n e r f o r p r e m i u m b r o k e r a g e & c h a r t e r Ya c h t s s i n c e 19 6 9 !

9. Owner’s cabin can be reconfigured: Large double bed, two singles or two sofas

10. Owner’s bathroom with Jongert typical round shower

4. U-shaped sitting area with removable cockpit table

3. Inside steering position incl. radar, rudder and engine control

2. Chart table with navigation instruments and 2 flat screens

t i p p s

Monaco Yacht Show 25 - 28 September 2013 – Visit us on Quai Jarlan!

18. Sail locker underneath the floor to store sails into long tunnels in the bilge

17. Hydraulic bow thruster, retractable and rotating

16. Spacious, rounded guest shower

15. En suite guest cabins with curved doors

Now for sale and on display at the Monaco Yacht Show 2013!

A pioneer yacht with innovations such as a hydraulically opening stern garage door, curved stairs and shower cabin, sails to be retracted into a tube under deck and many more …

Legendary InSPIraTIOn – The fIrST buILT JOngerT 2200S and The begInnIng Of a neW and remarkabLe era Of cruISer-racerS! R e t s tau r a n t

22.08.13 16:09

22

Photo: Claudia Albuquerque

22

Watches of hope

33 unique timepieces to come under the hammer at the Only Watch auction during the MYS

T

hey vary in size, shape and design, but they all have one thing in common: the Only Watch timepieces are unique and therefore of immeasurable value. During the Monaco Yacht Show, 33 individual watches from the most renowned manufacturers will be auctioned off to raise money for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, providing hope to thousands of terminally ill children and young adults.

The biennial Only Watch auction will take place during the luxury yacht show for the 5th time this year. The target is to beat the record four million euros that was raised during the last event in 2011, but Luc Pettavino, president of the Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies (AMM), would be happy if proceeds reached around the three million mark.

«Then the AMM could continue to support several very pro-

mising research projects until 2015,» he says.

He currently has high hopes for an approach that, simply put, repairs the mutated gene in affected individuals with the help of new molecules. This is a method that could be used far beyond muscular diseases.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most frequent hereditary muscular disease in childhood and only affects boys. Around one in 4,000 babies are born with this gene defect. The disease is always fatal, even though improved therapeutic options have increased life expectancy to 40 years.

Blancpain, Hublot, Montblanc, Piaget and other famous names are among the 33 worldclass watch manufacturers that have each produced a unique timepiece for the 2013 edition of Only Watch. The trend this year has moved away from outsized showpieces and towards

discreet wrist jewellery; some of the designs have even been developed together with artists. For the first time, seven watches are purely ladies’ chronometers. Rather than setting new trends, the watches tend to be snapshots of outstanding Swiss watch manufacturing, explains AMM president Luc Pettavino.

Experience of previous auctions shows that some buyers prefer to remain anonymous while others are always present. The majority are male and live in locations dispersed across the globe. This is also the reason why the 33 unique timepieces go on a world tour four weeks before the auction, with stops in Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, New York and Geneva.

The watches will be exhibited from 25th September until the auction date on 28th September at the Monaco Yacht Show.

E

ines haben sie alle gemeinsam – ob rund, eckig, dezent, pompös, verspielt oder schlicht: Die «Only Watch»-Uhren sind absolute Unikate und damit von unermesslichem Wert. 33 Einzelstücke der renommiertesten Uhrenhersteller werden im Rahmen der Monaco Yacht Show versteigert. Während Sammler und Liebhaber rund um den Globus sich bereits ihre Favoriten ausgucken, dürfen Tausende todkranke Kinder und junge Erwachsene hoffen: Der Erlös dieser weltweit größten Auktion für den guten Zweck fließt in die Erforschung der DuchenneMuskeldystrophie.

Zum fünften Mal findet die Auktion «Only Watch» in diesem Jahr während der Luxusboot-Messe statt. Zu schlagen gilt es die Rekordeinnahmen von 2011 des alle zwei Jahre stattfindenden Highlights: Fabelhafte vier Millionen Euro kamen bei der letzten Versteigerung zusammen. Doch schon wenn der Erlös sich den drei Millionen nähern würde, wäre Luc Pettavino begeistert. «Damit könnte die ‚Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies’, AMM, verschiedene sehr vielversprechende Forschungsprojekte bis 2015 weiter unterstützen», so der Präsident des monegassischen Vereins. Seine größte Hoffnung liegt derzeit in dem Ansatz, das bei den Betroffenen mutierte Gen – vereinfacht ausgedrückt – mithilfe neuer Molküle zu reparieren. Eine Methode, die weit über Muskelerkrankungen hinaus zum Einsatz kommen dürfte.

Die Muskeldystrophie des Typs Duchenne ist die häufigste muskuläre Erbkrankheit im Kindesalter und trifft ausschließlich

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Uhren der Hoffnung

33 Unikate kommen bei der Auktion «Only Watch» während der MYS unter den Hammer Jungen. Etwa einer von 4000 Neugeborenen kommt mit dem Gendefekt zur Welt. Die Krankheit endet nach wie vor immer tödlich, auch wenn sich die Lebenserwartung dank verbesserter Therapiemöglichkeiten auf 40 Jahre heraufgeschraubt hat.

Blancpain, Hublot, Montblanc, Piaget und andere klingende Namen zählen zu den 33 UhrenHerstellern von Weltrang, die für die Ausgabe 2013 von «Only Watch» Unikate angefertigt haben. Dabei geht der Trend in diesem Jahr weg von übergroßen Prunkstücken hin zu dezenterem Schmuck fürs Handgelenk.

Erstmals sind sieben Uhren sogar reine Damen-Chronometer.

Allesamt weniger Trendsetter, erklärt AMM-Chef Luc Petta-

vino, als «Momentaufnahmen der herausragenden Schweizer Uhrmacherkunst». Werke, die in dieser Form, der Materialzusammenstellung und im teils mit Künstlern zusammen entwickelten Design einmalig sind.

Einige Käufer bleiben erfahrungsgemäß diskret anonym, andere sind jedes Mal dabei, die Mehrzahl ist männlich, und sicher ist, dass sie über den Erdball verstreut leben. Auch deshalb gehen die 33 Einzelstücke vier Wochen vor der Auktion auf Weltreise – mit Stationen in Tokio, Singapur, Hongkong, Shanghai, Peking, New York, Genf. Vom 25. bis zur Auktion am 28. September sind sie auf der Monaco Yacht Show ausgestellt.

AS 1) Luc Pettavino and his son Paul are fighting on two fronts against the so-far incurable hereditary disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy Luc Pettavino und sein Sohn Paul kämpfen beide mit ihren Mitteln gegen die bisher unheilbare Erbkrankheit Duchenne-Muskeldystrophie 2) World-renowned watch manufacturers have created exquisite and unique pieces for the Only Watch auction Weltbekannte Uhrenhersteller haben edle Einzelstücke für Only Watch geschaffen

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www.rivieratimes.com

BUSINESS & FINANCE SEPTEMBER 2013

Taxing times in France Staying one step ahead Investing assests as tax efficiently as possible F T Expansion, demand and experience at Superyacht Distribution

rance has long had a reputation for being a high tax country with a complex tax regime. The taxpayer's plight has worsened over recent years, with tax reform after tax reform and a variety of rises and hikes.

The key change this year is in how investment income is taxed. Where you could once choose whether your bank interest and dividend earnings were taxed at the scale rates of income tax or at fixed rates, like capital gains on shares and securities, these fixed rates no longer exist.

Since January 2013, investment incomes have been taxed at the progressive income tax rates, of which the top rate is 45 per cent for income over 150,000 euros.

Higher earners will pay more tax, unless capital is moved into more tax efficient structures.

British expats should note that this also applies to interest and gains earned within ISAs, PEPs and National Savings & Investments, since these are not tax-free investments in France and need to be declared.

Tax on capital gains made on the sale of property also increased this year, but at

least the taper relief period has been reduced, so you will need to own a property for 22 years, instead of the current 30, for it to be tax-free (tax only, not social charges).

As part of the 2014 Finance Bill, we can expect changes to the taxation of Assurance Vie contracts, which offer significant tax benefits, including: · Income and gains accumulated within the contractare tax free. Only the growth element of withdrawals is taxed. · French approved Assurance Vie policyholders can choose to have their withdrawals taxed at the scale rates of inc-ome tax or special fixed rates. After eight years, the first 4,600 euros (9,200 euros for couples) of growth is tax-free. · Where a policy is established when the life assured is under age 70, there is a succession tax exemption of 152,500 euros per beneficiary. Tax is payable at 20 per cent up to 902,838 euros and any excess up to 25 per cent.

Changes recommended in the report: · Extend the number of years a policy needs to be held to obtain the tax-free allowances and 7.5 per cent rate to 10 or 12 years. ·Remove the fixed tax rate

option in the first four years. · Date supplementary payments (tops ups) to the policy, so the tax treatment of withdrawals is based on the date payments are made to the policy. · Reduce the tax-free exemption for succession tax to 100,000 euros.

While we cannot know whether or not the recommendations will be adopted, the general, but not guaranteed, view is that any changes will not be retroactive.

Assurance Vie will continue to enjoy favourable tax treatment, even if all the proposed changes are accepted. However, you should consider establishing or adding monies to a contract now in order to take advantage of the exceptionally favourable current tax regime.

It is more important than ever to ensure your assets are invested as tax efficiently as possible.

Note: The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices, which are subject to change.

Rob Kay Senior Partner Blevins Franks

Who has your vote for business person of the year?

THE BUSINESS PERSON of the Year Award is gaining momentum after the Riviera Business Club announced its revival this year, recognising the talent, hard work and dedication of business owners in the south of France.

Proudly sponsored by The Riviera Times, the award

ceremony will see an additional category this year, the Start Up of the Year award.

The competition is open to any CEO or managing director of a registered company operating within the PACA region, but business leaders cannot nominate themselves.

With more than 1,000 me-

mbers and associates from all over the world, the club facilitates interaction between people looking for and promoting English speaking businesses and services on the Côte d'Azur.

Nominations can be made with the coupon below. Please visit www.rivierabusinessclub.fr.

he month of September is notoriously big in the publishing world. For us here at The Riviera Times, it means putting out the largest issue of the year. Sarah Morton from Superyacht Distribution, the Côte d'Azur's leading foreign language distribution company and a long time partner of The Riviera Times, talks about the fast paced industry, getting the right publications into the right hands, and always staying one step ahead of the competition.

"Both Lee Rampton, the owner of Superyacht Distribution, and myself come from publishing backgrounds so we recognise the importance of having a well structured and targeted distribution of our publications as well as the brand awareness of our clients and their advertisers," she says. "We are always looking out for new ideas, trends and new places to distribute."

Thanks to the hands on approach of the company, which distributes in the south of France, Italian Riviera and more recently in Mallorca, The Riviera Times is available in more locations than ever before.

Company owner Lee Rampton was the former commercial director of easyJet’s magazine and has lived and worked in the south of France for over seven years

"We ensure that all our titles get the best exposure possible in the most relevant places," she explains. "It is vital that every copy is countered for and that distribution evolves accordingly during the year. For example, in the summer months it is important for a publication like The Riviera Times to be at the beach clubs in Saint Tropez and onboard all the yachts while in winter, copies should be increased in different areas, such as golf courses and expat clubs."

Having been based in the French Riviera for the past

seven years, Superyacht Distribution is experienced in the particular clientele of the region. "Our clients want to reach high-net-individuals, a very seasonal audience, year round expats, second homeowners and passing tourists. It is important that the relevant publications get into the right hands. We're also getting demand for a more targeted distribution around specific events, such as the Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix," she says. "It's about always keeping an open eye and adapting on a moments notice."

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LIFESTYLE

www.rivieratimes.com

SEPTEMBER 2013

Portrait of a Var village

Tucked away in the hills, the true savoir vivre of Cotignac Situated in the heart of the Var, Cotignac may seem like a lost, sleepy village, but it does in fact have an intriguing history and appeal. Our tourguide is Oscar Hoppe, a second homeowner in the town who has experienced firsthand the delights of this mountainside retreat and has come to consider the place not just a home away from home, but also somewhere to live out your days. Welcome to Cotignac.

U

pon arrival, the brisk but friendly village policeman, Luc Benedetti, whisks us through the bustling daily marketplace. He

knows everyone by name and even when he's off duty, the Frenchman radiates approachability, with equal helpings of authority. "It's my job," he says, "having a good

The bustling marketplace is a daily hub of activity and exchange in the village

relationship with the people is important to me."

Oscar Hoppe, a concert promoters and part time resident in the village with his wife Barbara - is passionate about this idyllic place.

Having owned a property in Valbonne for several years, the pair were bored with the overtly pretentious feel of the coast and decided to go inland looking for a more original, authentic and simple life.

They came across Cotignac, somewhere in between Brignoles and the famous Gorges du Verdon. Their priority was a view and they got lucky with Les Bartavelles, a slightly rundown country house - or bastide surrounded by vineyards, grazing areas for animals and panoramic vistas of the rolling landscape.

Five years on, the village may be only their holiday home, but the couple is perfectly at ease in this serene retreat. As we stroll through the narrow streets and out into the lively square, with every few steps come handshakes and kisses.

Cotignac is a village built on

community and it is proud of its developing multi-cultural identity. In recent years, nearly 700 foreigners have settled permanently in the village, hailing mainly from the European Union but also further afield. An additional 1,000 have also bought holiday homes in the area, like Hoppe. "Living comfortably together in Cotignac works really well," says the mayor, Jean-Pierre Véran.

"That has always been my concern."

Véran has held his post for 24 years and hopes to be reelected again in next spring's municipal elections. He is also the President of the Association of Mayors of the Var and, since 2011, has been the head of the regional mayors association.

He isn't a Cotignac native, having been born and raised in Aubagne near Marseille, but he has been a firm fixture in village life for over four decades. "I came because I liked it here - and I intend to spend the rest of my life here," says the energetic village chief.

But while Cotignac might be a place for some to grow

King Louis XIII and his barren queen finally had a child after visiting rocky Cotignac

old in, for others it is a village that brought new life to their families.

It is said that Louis XIII and his wife, Anne of Austria, were able to finally conceive a child (Louis XIV or the Sun King) after 23 childless years following a trip to the village's Notre Dame de Grace.

The legend of Cotignac's mythical fertility powers continues until the present day. When we drove up to the beautiful church, overlooking the village below, the true

belief in this power was made real. Dozens of marble plaques glimmer on the interior walls of the building as well as on the outside, all commending and thanking the village for its special gift, with some dating back to the late 1800s.

Even if the stories one day prove untrue, for now it is enough to know that here, in rocky, arid Cotignac, one can find the true savoir vivre of the south of France.

Aila Stöckmann

Chèvre d'Or celebrates 60 The baton changes hands

A

Pascal Lattes

T

he Chèvre d'Or hotel and its two-star Michelin restaurant in the very heart of the perched village of Eze celebrated its 60th anniversary with an elegant soirée in ornate gardens above the Mediterranean.

A legend on the French Riviera, the hotel has hosted celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich, Roger Moore and Walt Disney, and current owner Mohammed Harajchi was delighted to welcome an equally sophisticated clientele to this celebration.

VIP guests and business partners were invited to the prestigious location to sip champagne accompanied by exquisite finger food delicacies and a massive four-tier birthday cake. There was also a fashion show by Denis Durand and an exhibition of sculptures in the gardens, which included a skateboarding gorilla made from shredded tires, a life-sized bronze bull and sculptures of the human body.

"Walt Disney was drawn to our hotel in 1956, but unfortunately he had already decided to use a mouse as his symbol or otherwise today it would have perhaps been a golden goat!" joked Chèvre

Doerner succeeds Bender as new Cannes conductor

Stunning location and two Michelin stars gives the Chèvre d’Or an edge

d'Or Director Thierry Naidu.

Opened by Robert Wolf in 1953, the hotel had just six rooms, but now guests can find a total of 38 beautiful suites. Elizabeth Taylor, Clint Eastwood and Robert de Niro have spent holidays here over the years and the two Michelin stars make the restaurant a popular haunt of the rich and famous.

What’s in a name?

Why 'Chèvre d'Or'? In Provence, the golden goat has long been regarded as a mythical animal. One story

tells of how Yugoslav violinist Zlato Balokovic was led by a goat to a stable that he restored and later became the site of today's hotel. Another says that it is named after its first owner, a woman who sold goat's milk in Nice and hid all her income in gold coins behind a stone wall. The hidden treasure was found by workers, hence the name.

Head online to The Riviera Times’ picture gallery for more photos of the glamourous event.

Katharina Riebesel

s one era ends another begins at the Cannes PACA Regional Orchestra following the retirement of its popular conductor.

Philippe Bender has worked with the orchestra for more than three decades and has now passed the baton on to Austrian conductor Wolfgang Doerner.

Bender started his long career in the United States as an assistant to West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein and later went on to win the prestigious Dimitri Mitropoulos competition in New York.

The Besançon native headed to the Riviera in 1976 to take up the post of conductor at the newly established Cannes PACA Regional Orchestra.

Under Bender's leadership, the orchestra has built an esteemed reputation all over the world, performing in far-off destinations such as Brazil, Japan and China. Over the years, he has also directed the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra on many occasions.

Bender was presented with the Victoire d'Honneur for his contribution to the French music industry and is also a Knight of France's Legion of Honour.

Choosing a successor for

Bender was no easy task but the orchestra can be confident with their new leader, Wolfgang Doerner. The Vienna-born conductor has previously led the Pasdeloup Orchestra and won first prize

Hugues Lagarde

Iconic hotel in Eze village more than lives up to Riviera legend

Wolfgang Doerner takes the helm of the PACA region’s orchestra

in the 34th International Conducting Competition in Bensançon in 1984. A doctor of Musicology, Doerner is also a Professor of Conducting at the University of Music in Graz and regularly gives master classes to aspiring musicians as part of the Micul Paris Festival in Bucarest, which he co-founded.

Jane O'Faherty

Coming up in 2013 29th September: Philippe Bender conducts extracts from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Beethoven and Bizet.

13th October: Mozart’s symphony No.32, Brahms Concerto No.2 for piano and Max Reger variations and Mozart fugue Opus 132.

25th October: 7.15pm to 7.45pm intro to concert by Hansjorg Schellenberger plus musical surprise by the Oboe Band (free entry), then Sympho New Percussions concert at 8.30pm with Schellenberger as oboe soloist and conducting Schubert, Strauss oboe concerto, Bizet and Schubert symphony No.6.

1st December: orchestra with solo piano and violin playing Mazmanian’s Les Toits de Prague, Mozart’s Concerto 24, Lalo Spanish symphony for violin and orchetra and Bizet.

6th December: Doerner conducts Cecile Maudire on the harp playing Mozart and Rodrigo pieces.

15th December: Doerner conducts Dalbavie’s concertina for orchestra and Mozart’s concerto No.27 and symphony No.39.

For venues, times and details see www.palaisfestivals.com.

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RESTAURANT REVIEWS SEPTEMBER 2013

Something different by the sea

The antipasti platter is perfect to share as an entrée or enjoy as a light lunch

S

ince it's beautification a few years ago, the port of Nice is always buzzing, even on a Tuesday night. The latest addition to the mix is Gigi - an Italian pizza, grill and cocktail restaurant.

This stylish, mid-range eatery on the Quai des Deux Emmanuel side of the port offers gorgeous views of the château and moored luxury yachts. It also has a menu geared unexpectedly towards beef - there's not a speck of

B

seafood in sight! It's daring, it's different, and when you think about it - it's actually very smart.

While other restaurants lining the harbour all specialise in seafood, Gigi's focuses simply on pizzas, beef tartares and grilled steaks. The restaurant is passionate about using only quality ingredients sourced locally or in Italy, and the proof is definitely in the plate. The antipasti platter is fresh and flavoursome, with housemade vegetable delights and deliciously creamy mortadella. Among the other entrées on offer are an artichoke salad and an Italian cold meat plate, which I imagine is just as tasty.

For mains, there is a nice selection of pizzas, with everything from the classic margherita to moussaka pizza.

If beef tartare is your thing, then you'll love trying this selection: a quality Italian parmesan and basil, a Toscan with sun dried tomatoes and olive tapenade, and one with truffle oil and roquette. At around 16 euros a dish, they're also good value for money.

The beef is proudly sourced from a Piedmont farm. The grill selection includes a 250g rib eye steak for 18.50 euros, 500g for 25.50 euros, or a 1.3kg prime rib eye steak to share for

75 euros. The steaks are meltin-the-mouth tender and cooked to perfection.

We finished the evening with a café gourmande (an espresso with three small desserts).

Gigi's was opened two months ago by the Vannini family - the same owners of Paloma Cantine two doors up, Paloma Beach in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, Le Mayssa in Villefranche and Le Virginie in Riquier - restaurants that all specialise in seafood. It is no wonder, then, that they wanted to try something different with Gigi. "There is no restaurant specialising in meat here. My father wanted to just do pizza, I wanted a beef restaurant, so we decided to combine the both," says third generation restaurateur Baptiste. In fact, the pizza dough used at Gigi's is his grandfather's recipe, the very one that has made Le Virginie's pizza's so popular since 1948.

The interior of the restaurant is cosy and I can see myself coming back here in the winter.

A spacious back room will soon be available for private parties, and groups of around 12 will be able to pre-order a suckling pig and enjoy it medieval style - just one idea to spice up the traditionally slow winter months, says Baptiste.

Cassandra Tanti

Classic French in the Var

runo Gazagnaire has opened his first restaurant, the small but perfectly formed La Table de Bruno, in Saint Maximin la Sainte Baume in the Var. It is elegant, stylish and has an excellent choice of food to match the passion of the chef.

Gazagnaire learnt his craft under cuisine maestro Alain Ducasse, later working in various high end restaurants.

He is a driven professional and his philosophy is simple: always give 100 per cent.

Bruno uses only the freshest and best quality products from the region for his menu, turning them into

delicious dishes that demonstrate his great attention to detail.

Chez Bruno, the food is a delight to the eye as much as to the palate. We ordered a wonderful mozzarella dish highlighted with summer truffles, followed by fish and a raspberry gratin for dessert.

The pinnacle of the evening was the grilled turbot with green mashed potatos, basil and garlic.

The menu is comprised of four entrées, four mains and a selection of desserts. The complete three course package is 49 euros, while starters begin at 12 euros and

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.

CRISTINA SAULINI Find true Italian cuisine in the heart of Saint Tropez with the Saulini sisters. While Roberta welcomes you into the cosy restaurant and talks you through the irresistable menu, Cristina is busy in the kitchen, preparing a delectable feast of Mediterranean flavours.

Tucked away in the "narrowest stretch of a narrow lane", the restaurant is a favourite with locals and tourists thanks to

its delicious Italian food, brimming with authenticity and fire. A Sicilian wine is the perfect accompaniment to their roasted vegetables and mozzarella platters or homemade spaghettis and raviolis. Menus are between 50 and 70 euros.

SAINT TROPEZ 13 Rue des Feniers Tel: 04 94 97 46 10 cristinasaulini.com

The dishes chez Bruno are a delight to the eye as well as the palate. Photo: Manfred Salinger

mains at 18 euros. A lunch menu at 25 euros is also on offer.

Hannelore Salinger

Spanish tapas in Nice Spice and Serrano at El Merkado Bar and Tapas

Enjoy lashings of finely sliced authentic Spanish hams and chorizo

I

t's always exciting to hear about the opening of a new restaurant/bar, even better when the venue is offering something completely different. Nice in particular is oversaturated with French brasseries and restaurants all offering the same thing, so when I heard about El Merkado Bar and Tapas I was overjoyed and armed with, as always, high expectations.

As the name suggests, El Merkado Bar and Tapas is Spanish themed, focusing on fresh cocktails and tasty small dishes. Situated in the former Adonis restaurant (whose Lebanese cuisine will be missed) on the picturesque Rue Saint François de Paule, the new restaurant is still owned by the same friendly Ajoury family and run by two familiar faces in town - Kevin Lalanne and Olivier 'Shaggy' Daniel.

With its funky retro interior design, grandiose bar, house DJ Remy, and comfortable outdoor terrace, El Merkado offers a very contemporary and relaxed setting.

First order of the day is a cocktail, and there are plenty to choose from. No premix fruit juices here, you can

actually watch as your barman prepares the drinks using fresh fruit and herbs, and quality liquors. They are also very reasonably priced at around eight euros.

Then there's the tapas menu - not too big, but with just enough options to feel like you have an adequate selection.

We tried the tosta de Solomillo (toasted bread topped with pan roasted filet mignon of pork and shaved Spanish cheese), croquetas de Serrano (breaded rolls of Serrano ham and béchamel sauce), patatas y chorizo frito (crispy fried potatoes with spicy chorizo and cider), tortilla de patatas (Spanish potato omelette made with organic eggs) and the empanada de queso (baked parcels of Spanish cheeses in homemade pastry).

Oh, and the sharing platter of mix meats and cheeses. Now this sounds like a lot of food but this is tapas and it's the only way to eat it. And at an average of four euros per plate, it's not expensive either.

I was surprised at the quality of the food - the authentic flavours of Spain were all there: that deliciously meaty tang of Serrano ham, the bittiness of the cheese, that iconic spicy

Dare you spice up your meal with a chilli cocktail?

paprika chorizo sausage. Each little dish is packed full of flavour and perfectly sized to share. In addition, there are some impressive looking burgers on the menu, two vegetarian plates, and a 'plat du jour'. For lunch, they offer the El Merkado Rapido for 14.90 euros which includes two courses and a drink.

Overall, if you don't go crazy on the cocktails, this is a very affordable and fun meal out for about 20 euros per person.

You can easily share each plate between two, so my suggestion is go crazy and order as many plates as you can possibly try. Then sit back with your glass of sangria and let your taste buds take you across the border.

Cassandra Tanti

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EVENTS

www.rivieratimes.com

DAILY UPDATED CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 2013

01 Sun September Concert. Daniel Maurer performs at a concert from the Cannes Friends of the Organ association. 6.30pm. Eglise Notre Dame de Bon Voyage.

Free. Info: orgues-cannes.org

11 Wed Concert. A modern twist on a classic instrument at the diva night of the Violons de Légende festival. 8pm. Opéra de Nice. 30 euros. Info: violonsdelegende.com Nice

Cannes

06 Fri Art. Contemporary art at the 4th Franchement Art. Until 9/09. 11am. Citadelle. Free.

Info: franchement-art.com Villefranche

Sport. 7th edition of Jeux de la Francophonie begins! The French-speaking world of athletics converge for 10 days Until 15/09. All day. City centre. Free. Info: jeux.franco phonie.org Nice

07 Sat Art fair. Quand l’Art Prend l’Air. Every Saturday. All day.

Place Carami. Free. Info: brignoles.fr Brignoles Dance. A Spanish dinner followed by Flamenco show.

7pm. Espace culturel Altitude 500. 15 euros. Info: grasse.fr Grasse

Market. Bio-Grasse promotes healthy, organic eating. Star chefs and tastings. All day.

Until 08/09. Cours Honoré Cresp. Free. Info: ville-grasse.fr Grasse

13 Fri Ideal home show. Destination Habitat et Décoration.

70+ exhibitors. Until 16/09. All day. Chapiteau Fontvieille. 5 euros. Info: destinationhabitat.fr Monaco 14 Sat Concert. For the Soirée de Clôture of the Violons de Légende festival, enjoy music in the great outdoors.

Performances from Nemanja Radulovic and Les Trilles du Diable. 8pm. Théâtre de la batterie. 30 euros. Info: violonsdelegende.com Beaulieu

Monaco Classic Week - La Belle Classe, from 11th to 15th September, is a celebration of the Principality’s enduring connection with the sea and the 60th anniversary of its yacht club. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to admire some of the most beautiful yachts of the world, along with a range of antique sailing vessels. All day. Port Hercule, Monaco. Info: yacht–club–monaco.mc

Beaulieu

Villefranche

22 Sun Festival. Fest’in Val celebrates the diverse range of cultures living in the commune of Valbonne Sophia Antipolis.

All day. Pré de l’Hôtel de Ville.

Until 03/11 Art exhibition. In association with Emile Hugues Foundation, exhibition of Marc Chagall paintings he did while living in the hilltop retreat.

Château de Villeneuve. Info: museede vence. com Vence

Until 15/09 Art exhibition. Elizabeth Foyé and Nathalie de Lauradour: 'State of Nature' celebrating regional talent and curated by local art advocate Chantal Paillard. Splendid Hôtel & Spa. Info: splendid-nice.com

Free.

Info: valbonne.com

29 Sun Concert. ‘Amis de l’Orgue’ association present an organ concert in Saint Tropez’s exquisite parish church. Oboe player Philippe Canguil-hem and organist Michel Bouvard will perform. 5pm. Eglise

Monaco

Nice

Saint Paul de Vence

Until 29/09 Antiques exhibition. 46 panels and 26 replicas of different writing systems from ancient Greek and Egptian worlds of symbols. This exhibition promises to be a true journey through time.

Villa Grecque Kérylos. Info: villa-kerylos.com Beaulieu

Until 15/01/14 Ceramic exhibition. Five exquisite pottery pieces by Picasso on temporary loan from the Museum of Ceramics in Barcelona, spanning themes of bullfighting, animals and portraits. Musée Picasso. Info: antibesjuanlespins.com Antibes

05 Thu Market. Artisans, farmers and craftsmen descend for this daily morning market. 8.30am.

Toirano piazza. Free. Info: comune.toirano.sv.it Toirano Concert. As part of the 10th edition of Celtic Night, Irish band The Moxie perform traditional Irish melodies, and modern harmonies. 9.15pm.

La Sala Consiliare. 10 euros.

Info: provincia.savona.it

08 Sun Religious festival. San Nicola with procession and band.

4pm. Town centre. Free. Info: comune.diano-marina.i mperia.it

20 Fri Mushroom festival. 30th edition of Festa del Fungo. All day. Piazza Frascheri. Free.

Info: prodottitipici.com

Diano Marina

Bardineto

Concert. 20th Le vie del Barocco festival. Opera pieces from composers such as Lully and Campra. 8.30pm. Palazzo Tursi. Info: genovaspettacolare. comune.genova.it Genoa

21 Sat Festival. Dolcissima Pietra dedicated to local desserts, wines and spirits from all over Italy. All day. Old town. Free.

Info: dolcissimapietra.org

Toirano

12 Thu Oktoberfest. With Bavarian food, beer, music and dance.

All day. Piazza della Vittoria.

Info: oktoberfest genova.com

Show. Concert in the Grotto del Treno, with light projections designed by artists set to music. 4pm. Via Aurelia.

Reservations required. Info: turismobergeggi.it Bergeggi

Saint Tropez

Valbonne

27 Fri Regatta. The Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta. After a day of sailing, enjoy a relaxed social atmosphere by night with fireworks and concerts.

Until 30/09. All day. Port de Toulon. Free. Info: toulon voilesdelegende.fr Toulon Concert. Nice’s Symphony Orchestra performs pieces by Webern, Beethoven and Brahms, conducted by Eivind Gullberg Jensen. Until 28/09.

8pm/4pm. Opéra de Nice.

From 8 euros. Info: philhar monique-nice.org Nice Concert. Classical music and a piano concert performed by musician Abdel Rahman El Bacha. 8.45pm. Eglise Sainte Marie Madeleine. 30 euros.

Info: biot.fr Biot

Until 02/11 Art exhibition. Latest work by Greek artist Stelios Faitakis. whose colourful murals reflect a dystopian human condition with anthropocentric allegories. Includes public mural for Monaco ‘How far is the horizon?’. The Breeder. Info: thebreeder-system.com Until 11/11 Art exhibition. Painting and philosophy come together at Les Aventures de la Vérité.

Curator Bernard-Henri Lévy juxtaposes new and old, French and foreign. Fondation Maeght. Info: fondationmaeght.com

tourisme- Paroissiale

23 Mon Concert. Chamber music by icons Britten and Faure, performed by the symphony orchestra. 12.30pm. Théâtre de la Photographie et de l'Image. Free. Info: philhar monique-nice.org Nice

Cannes

Until 23/09 Art exhibition. The legacy of local modernism and impressionism artist Henri Matisse is celebrated in eight different exhibitions around the Côte d’Azur, including the MAMAC. Info: musee-matisse-nice.org

Ramatuelle

10 Tue Boat Show. Festival International de la Plaisance. Until 15/09. All day. Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto. 15 euros.

Info: salonnautique-cannes. com Cannes

Monaco

Art exhibition. Life and work of Pablo Picasso, who spent much of his artistic career here. Thanks to the private collection of the Nahmad family, the exhibition is a never before seen compilation of Picasso’s finest work.

Grimadli Forum. Info: grimaldi forum.com Monaco

17 Tue Art. An authentic exhibition featuring the town’s surroundings as well as Provence. Until 22/09. All day. Le Garage. Free.

Info: ramatuelle-tourisme.com

08 Sun Concert. Violons de Légende festival, the French national school for violinists. 8pm.

Hotel Royal Riviera. 30 euros.

Info: violonsdelegende.com

Until 27/10 Art exhibition.

The extraordinary Le Nu en Liberté, with over 100 rare works on the recurring theme of nudity in Picasso’s work. La Malmaison. Info: cannes.com

Nice

15 Sun Concert. Kathia Buniastishvili and Les Violoncelles Français perform as part of the 30th edition of the Heures Musicales festival. 8.45pm.

Eglise Sainte Marie Madeleine. 30 euros. Info: biot.fr Biot

21 Sat Sport. 35th Régates Royales classic yacht regatta in the Baie de Cannes. Until 28/09.

All day. Vieux Port and Baie de Cannes. Free. Info: regates royales.com Cannes Concert. One night of rock in support of the World Day of Peace. Many artists will perform poular hits live on the stage and the party will continue into the early hours.

6pm. Citadelle. 10 euros. Info: villefranche-sur-mer.com

Until 09/09 Art Exhibition. Summer Mix exhibition of contemporary jewellery from Maria Tsimpiskaki and masterpieces by renowned artists such as Andy Wharol and Salavador Dali. Galerie Carré d’Or. Info: carredor-monaco.com

30 Mon Concert. Pianist Frank Braley and celloist Gautier Capuçon perform as part of Biot classic music festival. 8.45pm. Eglise Sainte Marie Madeleine. 30 euros. Info: biot.fr Biot

06 Fri Festival. The Festa della Nativita di Maria celebrates the Virgin Mary, with festivities and a procession. All day.

Town centre. Free. Info: visitloano.it Loano Festival. From jazz to blues and swing, with bands like La Riviera Jazz Society, Leo Lagorio e la Jazz Ambassadors and Big Band. 9pm. Piazza della Vittoria. Info: ilgolf odellisola.it Spotorno

Pietra Ligure

Genoa

15 Sun Concert. flute quartet, pianos and violins. 5pm. Oratorio Santa Caterina. Info: comune finaleligure.it Finale Ligure Dance. Passion and emotion at the outdoor tango ball.

8pm. Piazza Palestro. Free.

Info: libero.it Loano

28 Sat Market. Explore dozens of diverse stalls displaying antique objects and furniture as well as collectibles for public viewing. All day. Beach promenade and town centre.

Free. Info: eventiesagre.it Pietra Ligure

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29 FOR USEFUL INFORMATION

www.rivieratimes.com

SERVICES SEPTEMBER 2013

Life support Publishing Director Petra Hall hall@mediterra.com

Editor Cassandra Tanti rivieratimes@mediterra.com

Assistant Editor

Elsa Carpenter Contributors Mado Bayon, Jane O’Faherty, Ann Morris, Julian Nundy, Carolyn Reynier, Aila Stöckmann, Katharina Riebesel, Andrew Denison Gerhard Standop

Your survival guide to living in France Dear Andy, I have enrolled in a University Course in a great French institution and I have just picked up my Student Visa, so I am almost there.

However, I have heard lots of different advice and horror stories about what I do when I get there. This is starting to worry me. Can you help?

Art director Konny Strauss

Distribution Superyacht Distribution Manuscripts and photos will not be returned unless previously agreed. Articles do not represent the opinion of the Editor. The publishing house is not responsible for the correct content of ads. We are unable to consider unsolicited material and cannot return it.

© Copyright -2002-2013 - by

Mediterraneum Editions s.a.r.l Le Centralia 37 Boulevard Carabacel 06000 Nice Tel. +33 (0)4 93 27 60 00 Fax +33 (0)4 93 27 60 10 info@mediterra.com www.rivieratimes.com

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The Riviera Times is printed on recycled paper

Student in Seattle Hello Student and almost welcome to France.

Many people come to further their education in France and there are some very fine institutions here. I am sure you will have a great time.

Before you leave, check out the university’s website or contact them to see if they can help you with getting started.

As soon as you get to France you need to get a bank account and a mobile phone.

For banks, it is worth asking around for where to find the best deal. At the same time you could get a prepaid phone. Start Pay-as-you-go and you can always upgrade to contract when you are settled.

Use your phone and your bank RIB and cheque book to find an apartment. Check out the university bulletin boards for apartments or roommates. but also the online services such as PAP and SeLoger, or even the local paper website.

It is usually easier to deal privately with a landlord than with an agency, but be careful and make sure you are happy with the deal you are getting and that you are commortable with the lodgings.

Make sure you have your student cards and that you are signed up for student meals (Crous) if available. It's never good to study on an empty stomach.

Once you have the basics in hand, you need to do your French Admin, starting with the OFII. You should have received a letter for the OFII with your visa at the consulate. You should send this off as soon as possible to schedule a medical with them.

Make sure the university has registered you into the social security system and that all the paperwork is in order for your social security number and your carte vitale. At this point you may want to consider a mutuelle or top up

health insurance to cover the excess of what the social security does not reimburse.

Another thing worth applying for is the CAF, which may be able to help you with your rent. Each application is means tested but it may be something extra.

Keep in mind that you have to renew your visa if you are staying for more than a year so make an appointment with your local prefecture about five months before your visa expires. Usually, the appointment should be scheduled for about two months before the expiration date but this varies around the country.

Now you have organised all of the paperwork, you have a bus or train pass, you have started checking out your neighbourhood and you are settling in to your digs and school life, you can start enjoying France. Try and travel a bit, or get a part-time job (20 hours a week) to keep up your French language.

And most of all, have fun.

Andrew Denison Mon Ami Andy Rue Lascaris, Nice Port Tel: 04 83 50 84 78 jennifer@monamiandy.com

What a glorious summer of activities it has been for the International Club of the Riviera! From the Summer Solstice Party in June to dinner cruises for the Cannes fireworks, golf days, our annual outing to Seborga for their National Day celebrations and of course our ‘A Mid Summer Night’ in Villefranche event, which raised a record 12,000 euros for our Theme Charity, it has been the best summer ever!

We continue the fun with two great events at the end of September and in early October. On 21st September, we present our 5th annual Texas Scramble Golf Tournament at the Victoria Golf Club in Valbonne. This event has been the highlight of the autumn events program of the ICR and has always been a very popular and well-

attended event. It's open to all and will end with a lunch and award ceremony at the clubhouse. This will be followed by our annual English theatre presentation on 4th and 5th October. After our highly successful inaug-ural production last year, when we had the Heywood Society of Cambridge Univer-sity with T.S. Eliott's The Cocktail Party, this year we will follow it up with a production from the Sandyford Little Theatre Company. 'The Last Romance' will be directed by Moira Walsh with live opera music!

A not-to-be-missed production with all proceeds going to charity.

For more details and to join one of the most active and multicultural clubs on the Rivera, contact: www.internationalclub.fr info@internationalclub.fr

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Excellent writing skills are vital, experience in journalism is preferable, and a strong level of French: writing, reading, listening, speaking.

Interested students should please send a cover letter, C.V. and examples of their writing to: rivieratimes@mediterra.com

NICE. Studio 3-beds for holidays, Royal Luxembourg Palace with rooftop swimming pools next to Palais Mediterranee on Prom. For price/info/pics e-mail: towersfrance@yahoo.it CANNES. Studio for holidays, Eden Beach residence 3+1 beds, Plage du Midi Croix de Garde near the sea, swimming pool park. For price/info/pics e-mail: towersfrance@yahoo.it SARDINIA, Nord Costa Paradiso Italy.

Studio 3-beds with terrace, very close to sea. Private quiet location, red rocks, coves and sandy beach, wonderful Mediterranean vegetation, 30km from Santa Teresa Castel Sardo.For price/info/pics e.mail: towersfrance@yahoo.it

WELL-OFF BUSINESSMAN, 68yo, 178 cm, with nice house on French Riviera, seeks cheerful, cultural, warmhearted woman to share his interests such as golf, skiing, travelling. A cosy home and good wine and food are waiting. He's a positive character, nonsmoking. Grown-up son with own family. Not looking for adventures, but a faithful relationship. chiffre@mediterra.com RADIANT, ELEGANT, beautiful, fit, and accomplished woman - 39 yrs old, seeks a world-class partner - 47-60 yrs old in every sense of the word. E-mail: just1muse@yahoo.com BEAUTIFUL, STRONG black American British lady looking for a protective, healthy relationship with a kind,loving man. jdevoreaux@hotmail.com

FOR SALE Apartments Medieval Palace, 1 hour from Monaco, from 235,000 euros (or 2,000,000 euros for entire palace of 78 rooms). Low overheads, mostly renovated, Italian beauty spot entroterra Sanremo.

Info: www.italiandream.info & sales: www.italiafrance.eu FOR SALE /Fully renovated apartment, located in Nice west, only 5 minutes away from ISN (International School of Nice), In a quiet gated residence with swimming pool; 114m2, 3 bedrooms 2 baths including 1 master suite with a 8m2 terrace and bath, fully equipped kitchen New, 2nd terrace 20M2 facing south in front of living room, 1 garage + 1 private parking space underground, Excellent transport connections , public transport just in front of the residence. 5 min to airport, 3 min to the express way. The apartment can be sold completely furnished, all is new. For investors, can be rented on week basis.

Price 620 000 euros. For more information or visits call +33 (0)6 86 55 38 51.

STOCKHOLM CITY, 4bed, 2bath, 118sqm, apartment greenbelt area, picturesque forest view built 1993, renovated 2013.

230.000 euros freehold. hello@brandberry.se FOR AGE REASONS, we are leaving our Villa Panomarique Provence, Fayence region. 170sqm with living space, adjoining rooms, approx. 3000sqm garden, swimming pool heated 4x9m, shutters, OSPA - water technology. The garden consists of several large terraces, olive trees, Cabanon, at an altitude of about 600m, quiet sunny south-facing slope. The villa is fully furnished and for sale for 520,000 euros. Tel: 0049/160-6984744 PRETTY VILLA for sale: 40 mins from Cannes 300,000 euros freehold. 9 years old, delightful private gated domaine, 3 double bedrooms all en-suite, open-plan sitting-room dining and fitted kitchen with French-doors opening on to south facing terrace and garden. Large upstairs balcony, reversible air-conditioning, beautiful communal pool/tennis courts. For photographs/information/questions: amanda.johansen@btinternet.com UNIQUE JAGUAR made exclusively to present the new generation of XKR for Top Marques Monaco 2007 using the most exquisite materials to create the perfect harmony of power and beauty. This unique car was always kept in a pristine condition, under exclusive and regular care of Jaguar Monte Carlo. Due to a double residency the car is profiting today from a very low mileage; just above 17.000 km. All extraordinary features of XKR as well as specially made to order silver 18 carat gold plated key ring with precious pink tourmalines. Price on request. Tel: +33 785 500 365

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SieMatic Individual Design

SieMatic is unique in its design, so for a chance to see it in person, please visit your closest SieMatic store: 01 SAINT GENIS POUILLY, JMD Concept 02 SAINT-QUENTIN, Cuisines & Vous 06 NICE, Albalat Cuisines & Bains 06 CANNES, C.D. Concept 18 BOURGES, Ets Leconte 20 BASTIA, Art & Concept Cuisines 25 BESANCON, Cuisines Vaissier 31 TOULOUSE, SieMatic Esquirol 33 ANDERNOS LES BAINS, Linea Concept 33 PESSAC, BO Carré 34 MONTPELLIER, André Bueno 35 RENNES, Ets Guine 35 SAINT MALO, Cuisines Hamon 37 TOURS, Laroche Cuisines 42 SAINT PRIEST EN JAREZ, SieMatic Saint-Etienne 44 NANTES-ORVAULT, Sani Déco 45 ORLEANS, SieMatic Ligne Roset 51 REIMS, Ménard & Ségalen 59 CYSOING, Kitchen Code 63 CLERMONT-FERRAND, Idées Nouvelles 68 COLMAR, Colmar Cuisine Création 68 MULHOUSE, Art’Cuisines 69 LYON, Ainay Cuisines 74 EPAGNY, ID Design Meubles/ Pierre Genans 75 PARIS, Joniel 75 PARIS, Haussmann Cuisines 75 PARIS, Notre dame Décoration 75 PARIS, Notre dame Décoration 77 MAGNY LE HONGRE, Les At. Du Décorateur 78 VERSAILLES, Notre dame Décoration 83 CAVALAIRE, Ets Navarro 84 AVIGNON, Groupe Guérin – SieMatic 90 BELFORT, Codes Intérieurs For a complete list of all stores surf to www.siematic.com