The Africa Eco Race from Monaco to Dakar departed Saturday morning at 11 am from Quai Antoine 1er.
From December 31 to January 14, competitors driving motorcycles, cars, trucks and 4x4s – and an experimental category for hybrid vehicles – will cross Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal. The off-road race covers a total of 6,054 kilometres, of which 3,812 are total leg kilometres, with the 12th stage and final 292 kilometres from Saint Louis to Lac Rose in Dakar.
The eco-responsible event includes assistance vehicles equipped with photovoltaic panels and, in 2015 (and this year also), team Kamaz Master entered a gas-hybrid truck “to prove that natural gas can be used as fuel”.
Discussing the course, Sports Director Rene Metge, said, “The Morocco leg will be challenging and you will have to remain focused to not throw away any chances of shining during the second week in Mauritania, which will be filled with its bunch of difficulties.” He added that racers will experience unforgettable scenery.
Race director and Azurean, Jean-Louis Schlesser, commented: “The African economy is promoted by local providers, and the route is defined in close collaboration with the countries authorities to avoid protected areas, such as national parks.”
There is also a humanitarian element to the race as participants collect school supplies (notebooks, colour pencils, books etc) and toys – even tennis balls – which are transported by race participants and organisers to various villages and schools of the Meoni Foundation en route.
Earlier in the year at a press conference, Mr Schelesser stated, “I would first like to thank Kate and Didier, the owners of Stars’n’Bars, for their invaluable support in organizing the start of the 2016 Africa Eco Race from Monaco. I also want to say thank you to all of the Principality of Monaco for having allowed the race to start from the Rock.”
Slovakian model (and former Guinness record holder for the longest legs for a female model at nearly 1.24 metres) Adriana Karembeu is a “lover of the African continent and supporting humanitarian projects”. The Monaco resident will be on hand for the official start.
From 10 am, Stars’n’Bars will be serving a buffet breakfast. The official rally shop in the port is also open to the public.
Long-time Monaco residents, Steven and Penny Gale of Gale Force, will be competing as Team 360. Follow their journey live at www.africarace-live.com/en/
A young couple from Nice have appeared before the Monaco Criminal Court charged with presenting a false work contract to an estate agent in France in order to obtain a flat to rent.
The young man was in employment, but his wife was not. Their situation became more desperate when she became pregnant, but the husband was turned away from several estate agents because his salary on its own was insufficient.
The couple decided to copy and amend the husband’s work contract to suggest that the wife was also employed by a sub-contractor of Monaco Telecom, but when this was checked the ruse was discovered.
While all this happened in France, the case was heard in Monaco because the company is Monegasque. The couple told the court that they had no choice but to do what they did, otherwise they faced living in the street. Subsequently, the husband lost his job.
The prosecuting counsel claimed that the couple’s crime deserved two months jail, suspended, but the court decided to fine them €250 each.
Trains travelling from Monaco Monte-Carlo in the direction of Nice on the first day of 2017 were delayed by up to half an hour during the afternoon due to drivers reporting people on the tracks between the Principality and Ventimiglia.
With migrants crossing the border from Italy using the railway tunnels, this has become a more frequent problem for train operator SNCF. Several weeks ago, one young man lost his life using this route.
In the meantime, cancellations of the line serving Monaco has had little effect over the holiday weekend.
The sun is out, the flowers are in bloom and Monaco Paws is back on the street. Irina Peterson and her Miniature Pinscher, Ever, are rarely apart. This week Monaco Paws found them enjoying a lovely afternoon outside the new Monaco Yacht Club.
Do you find Monaco to be very dog-friendly? It opens a new universe. I had lived in Monaco for 17 years before I got Ever and thought I knew a lot of people. Since having him the number of people I know has doubled.
Is it easy to keep Ever with you all day? Yes, he comes to the office with me everyday and has a bed there where he rests quietly while I work. He hates to be alone, but he is not a “bag-dog”; he won’t stay in a bag. He feels a little offended to be put in a bag.
How has Ever affected your life? He has changed my life for the better. I have learned so much. Dogs just help you to be 100% in the present. There is no dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. He is my dog, but I also feel like I am his human and therefore responsible for his happiness and well-being. It is a mutual and reciprocal relationship.
What do you like about Miniature Pinschers? They have lots of personality, I love their looks and they are very adaptable. They can be very active and athletic, but also calm and affectionate. He is friends with everyone. He likes kids and all animals; cats, dogs, rabbits and even turtles.
Is it an intelligent breed? He is very smart and a little cheeky. I can’t fool him more than twice. He had some formal training and is very well-mannered. He only barks if there is trouble. Once I found him barking loudly at a cupboard and when I opened it, I saw a small electrical fire had started.
Pinschers often have their ears and tails clipped, why didn’t you do that with Ever? I insisted that he remain in his natural state. Plus he talks to me so much through his ears and tail. I can tell what he is thinking by the position of his ears and judge his mood by his tail.
Ever looks like a very sporty dog. Does he need a lot of exercise? He really appreciates exercise. On the weekends he runs 10K with my running club and me. Ever has also participated three times in the charity event, No Finish Line. This year he completed 75 kilometers.
Have you bred Ever? He recently became a father for the first time! The neighbor of a friend also has a beautiful Miniature Pinscher and they met in a garden in Nice and just played and got on so well. Two adorable puppies were born last August.
Do you think you will continue to breed Ever? Well, if he falls in love again, I won’t prevent it.
The Route du Gout, the first “Organic Festival” created by the Michelin-star chef Paolo Sari, is in full flow this week within the Principally of Monaco and has inspired this post on eating organic – not just for a week but for life.
A completely organic diet may not be achievable for everyone, so I am sharing some of my tips that have helped me balance healthy habits with a realistic lifestyle.
Firstly, organic means a food that has not been treated with pesticides or had any interference with growth or development. It is simply food grown through its natural process, and this includes fresh fruits and vegetables grown on soil without any pesticides, cows that have lived in a field grazing on grass, or chickens roaming freely.
Organic is eating as mother-nature intended but, sadly, these days there are many foods that have had the help of chemicals to get them to the supermarkets before they are ripe. Also, organic food is more of a luxury due to the higher costs, which can be double or triple that of non-organic produce.
Bring more organic into your life You may be restricted by budget, easily available produce, choice or quality. If you are facing any of these challenges, notice where you are, what is holding you back and gently start to work in some healthier changes in accordance to what is realistic for you and your lifestyle.
Start by setting your budget and looking at what is readily available to you. Then you can use these guidelines to help you go forward.
Begin at the farmers’ market I love the farmers’ market as my first point of call when it comes to planning my weekly meals. I base the foundations of the meal around what I can source both locally and organically. This also helps you to eat in tune with the seasons, which follows the natural cycle of life. For thousands of years, this is how our ancestors ate; they consumed what nature provided, when it provided it (they didn’t pop into the local Casino for a bunch of bananas). Due to convenience and fast food we have not only lost that connection to nature but broken this important cycle.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the farmers’ markets may not be advertising that their produce is bio as the cost of the certification is expensive, and usually a barrier that prevents some smaller family businesses being able to fully advertise their farming methods.
Get to know your farmer and ask questions. A few visible tips can help you, too. Look at the produce, for example. If you are living in Europe and your farmer is selling coconuts, you can bet they aren’t local. Check for dirt! If the produce is dirty, it is more than likely to have been taken straight from the farm to the stall. Talking of dirt, you might even notice that the farmer has dirty hands, another sign they are farming their produce locally and getting their hands dirty rather than importing.
We are lucky in Monaco to have a wonderful daily market in the Condamine, which has local farmers with organic produce. They are really friendly, too, and if you stop by on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, visit Domenico and you can also meet Jorien, who speaks English. They also offer free delivery, you can either call them to place an order or stop by and choose the produce yourself. Either way, they’re always happy to help. Due to my poor French I don’t know the other farmers as well, however, I know they are equally as lovely if you are able to keep up with the French conversation.
Farmers Market vs Organic Supermarket I am often asked about organic supermarket produce and while I do pick up the odd bits, it’s not my first point of call, as mentioned above. If it’s easier or more accessible to you then that’s fine, however my biggest tip here is to check the origin of the produce and try to keep as close to home as possible. Produce that has been shipped hundreds of miles may have been picked before it is ready and has undergone quite a journey before making it onto your plate. I know that I’m usually a little depleted when I travel and the same goes for food, it affects its energy. And that is exactly what food is, energy, and so eating closer to home helps to preserve this important element.
If you are buying your produce in the supermarket, pay attention as to where it’s coming from and see if you can make small steps to eat regionally. There’ll always be products that don’t meet the criteria and that’s okay, too, just do the best you can and make changes where possible. I can’t live without avocados in my life and it’s often a sacrifice that I consciously make as the majority of my shopping ticks most of the boxes mentioned above.
Organic vs Non organic Sometimes organic food is not available, too expensive or poor quality. So what then?
Use the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 table above to help guide you through choosing non-organic food that has not been contaminated by pesticides.
Generally when you are shopping for fresh produce, those with a thick skin are usually less affected – melon, bananas and avocados, for example, have more protection from pesticides. Whereas leafy greens, berries and apples have a thinner skin that you eat so these should be organic where possible.
Again, if you are struggling to source the Dirty Dozen in organic form then consider looking in the freezer section of your supermarket. I find frozen berries, spinach and peas in the bio store in the Condamine and even the larger supermarkets, such as Carrefour and Marché U, are well stocked to offer organic produce.
What about Meat, Fish, Cheese and Eggs?
I don’t eat huge amounts of meat or cheese but when I do always opt for good quality and organic. Go for quality over quantity here; we only need a palm size serving of protein although super-sizing standards see us eating bigger and bigger to follow trend. In my opinion this is not a healthy habit and leads to obesity and disease.
Choose line-caught fish and eggs should be free range. Be picky about your protein and add in some plant protein sources as well. If you are eating a lot of meat then how about skipping it one day a week – try Meetfree Monday.
Have something to share? Spread the community love and get in touch with us via our instagram monacolife_
For delicious inspiration on how to use your organic produce head to Naomi’s Kitchen where you will find lots of delicious and healthy recipes.
The eco-responsible event includes assistance vehicles equipped with photovoltaic panels and, in 2015 (and this year also), team Kamaz Master entered a gas-hybrid truck “to prove that natural gas can be used as fuel”.
Earlier in the year at a press conference, Mr Schelesser stated, “I would first like to thank Kate and Didier, the owners of Stars’n’Bars, for their invaluable support in organizing the start of the 2016 Africa Eco Race from Monaco. I also want to say thank you to all of the Principality of Monaco for having allowed the race to start from the Rock.”
Trains travelling from Monaco Monte-Carlo in the direction of Nice on the first day of 2017 were delayed by up to half an hour during the afternoon due to drivers reporting people on the tracks between the Principality and Ventimiglia.
What do you like about Miniature Pinschers?
