Month: October 2017

Prince Albert and Mayor Georges Marsan, in the presence of Monsignor Bernard Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco, Serge Telle, Minister of State, and other top officials inaugurated the Exotic Garden’s new Botanical Centre on Tuesday, October 31.

On three levels, and designed by the architects Fabrice Notari and Rudy Ricciotti, the new Botanical Centre includes 900m² of greenhouses and an additional 1,000m² of shelter plus 200m² for staff premises.

The complete redesign, which took two years, is part of a rapidly changing neighbourhood, the entrance to the upper west part of Monaco.

The restructuring was initiated in November 2016 and, supervised by its director Jean-Marie Solichon, was completed during the summer. A total of 10,500 plants – 500 in tanks and 10,000 in pots – were transferred to the new greenhouses.

“This move, conceived and carried out by the Monaco Exotic Garden teams, was a real challenge,” said Mayor Marsan. “The goal was to maintain our collection of cacti and other succulent plants in the best possible conditions. We can say today that all plants have responded well.”

Created in the early 1960s and directly attached to the Exotic Garden of Monaco, the Botanical Centre, which relies on a team of seven specialised gardeners, serves two purposes: the conservation of a reference collection of cacti and other succulent plants providing ex situ protection for these often rare and endangered plants in the wild; and the breeding of a number of plants for planting in the garden or to be exhibited during floral events.

“Today we have a coherent, modern and aesthetic structure. And we also wanted, besides the scientific side, to make it a cultural and tourist project by opening the greenhouses to the public,” Mayor Marsan added.

Starting next spring, the pedestrian area that runs along all the greenhouses will be freely accessible and, from September 2018, guided tours will be offered in addition to visits to the Exotic Garden and the Observatory Cave.

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After the dismantling of the Monaco Yacht Show, the work on the Digue Nord of the Port de la Condamine starts up again for another phase that will run until the 2018 edition of the F1 Grand Prix.

After the widening of the esplanade, work is now focused on the infrastructure that will eventually house the collection of old cars of HSH Prince Albert, as well as a 300-place car park.

The works under Boulevard Albert I, the refurbishment of the planters and the sidewalk will take place until the end of March 2018. This phase of work will mean traffic will be diverted from Boulevard Albert I. The three lanes of traffic will be preserved and the forecourt of the Darse will be left free.

The Quai des Etats-Unis runs 370m along the north of the Port Hercules, between the Digue Nord (to the east), and the Darse Nord (to the west). This is the second of three phases of work to be carried out over three years, during the period between the Monaco Yacht Show and the F1 Grand Prix.

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Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, received HE Pieter de Gooijer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; HE Patricia O’Brien, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ireland and HE Fernando Carderera Soler, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Spain, at a luncheon on Monday, October 30.

The three newly appointed representatives had presented their credentials to the Sovereign Prince in the morning.

Mr de Gooijer joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) in 1982, where he rose through the ranks to successively occupy the posts of Director of Political Affairs, Director of European Integration and Director General of Political Affairs. From 1985 to 1988, he was also First Secretary of the Embassy for Commercial Affairs in the Netherlands and Turkey.

Ms O’Brien, a lawyer by training, pursued a legal career before joining the position of Director of Legal Affairs at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels in 1998. She was appointed Senior Legal Counsel to the Attorney General in Dublin in 2002, and Director of Legal Affairs of the EAW in 2004. Then she became Legal Advisor to the United Nations before being promoted to Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations in 2013.

Mr Carderera Soler was appointed Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Communities in Brussels in 1987. He becomes Director General of Coordination of General and Technical Affairs of the European Union, in 1998, before being promoted Ambassador in Finland, in 2000, then in Estonia, in 2004. He also held the position of Counsellor in the Cabinet of the Secretary of State for the European Union, then Minister Counsellor at the Spanish Embassy in Paris. He served as Ambassador of Spain to Israel, from 2012 to April 2017.

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The French economy has done particularly well over the third quarter of 2017, according to figures from INSEE, the national statistics office.

Gross domestic product grew by 0.5 percent in the three months to September, following growth of 0.6 percent in the second quarter and 0.5 percent in the first quarter of this year.

The French economy, the second-largest in the eurozone after Germany, has grown for the fifth quarter in a row. In annual terms, France’s economy has grown by 2.2 percent, the best rate since 2011.

Reuters reported on Tuesday, October 31: “Following the economy’s performance over the first nine months, President Emmanuel Macron’s government should have little trouble surpassing the 1.7 percent growth forecast it built its budget plans on.”

The French success stands in marked contrast to the UK’s performance, which has seen an annualised growth rate of 1.5 percent over the last 12 months, although the British economy grew by 0.4 percent in the third quarter.

INSEE said that the French economy had been driven by an increase in household consumption and rising investment.

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The scariest day in the Principality is right around the corner. (No they have not suddenly declared Monaco a tax zone). I mean Halloween! A night of terror, a night of fright! … lol who am I kidding, it’s just another night to party with a more creative dress code. I think I’m going to dress as a declined credit card or maybe a pair of sandals with socks … scary right!?

Anyways beloved readers what exactly is on for #Halloween2017 without having to cross the border? Where can you (or the nanny) take the kids to before mommy and daddy sneak back out for a night of shenanigans? Well I got you covered! Oh and don’t think that Halloween is an excuse to slack on the streetstyle, the weekend report is still in FULL EFFECT. Here are my Top 3 picks whether you are in the mood for a FUN, FREAKY, or FABULOUS soirée.

FREAKY (also with the kids)

I love Halloween, it’s the one night a year I can refer to other people’s children as small demons without being offensive. So where can you bring your spawn on this night of ghoulishness? Word on the street is that Stars’n’Bars is having a super bloody shindig titled “La Malediction Du Black Pearl”. From 6 pm to 9 pm you and your little monsters can enjoy animations and games, a ghost ship, a terrifying inflatable labyrinth, a laser show with fog and smoke, a castle and an inflatable haunted house, a snake girl and her big snakes, a Barbapapa stand held by a bearded woman, and a photo booth.

There will be a buffet with unlimited soft drinks, €20 for kids (5-13) and €10 for adults. Dress code is typical Halloween stuff but all your best ideas are expected. This is Monaco, don’t even think about a sheet ghost. I judge even on holidays. After 9 pm time to send the kids back home. The event then opens to the general public for free.

FUN (Adults)

Normally the sheer amount of tourists makes the port area for me a no-go in the summer … unless I’m getting on or off a boat … or shopping … or … okay, never mind, but in the spirit of Halloween I have decided to face my fear. I hear there’s a super fun party at La Rascasse in a “Dios de Los Muertos” Day of the Dead theme. In case you don’t have Pinterest or watch makeup tutorials on YouTube, Day of the Dead is a very aesthetic and social media appealing holiday, I mean it’s a Mexican holiday to remember family and friends that have passed, you’ve probably seen it with the flower crowns and pretty skeleton makeup …see, really Instagrammable.

So brush up on your face paint skills or call your on retainer MUA to turn you into the chicest skeleton in Monaco. I see plenty everyday Halloween aside. DJ Real Fred is on the decks and The Shakes will have you dancing to death. Starting from 6 pm. Oh and leave the kids at home for this one.

FABULOUS!

Are you looking for something glamorous for Halloween weekend? Well don’t worry, I got you covered. On Saturday the 28th, Buddha Bar is transforming into Phantom Manor for the evening complete with ghostly brides (there’s a joke I want to make but am not allowed to) skulls and haunted trees. In addition to the normal menu, Chef Eric Guillemaud has some new spooky additions to the menu … try if you dare! And then email me with tips on how they were.

On display will be uniquely carved pumpkins that you can vote on to try and win a dinner for two. But what should you wear? Suggestions from this style editor include a Gucci clad ax murderess, Jack from Titanic (frozen) and a zombie supermodel (throw a phone for that Naomi Campbell touch). DJ Papa will be on the decks to keep you dancing all night long and afterwards when you’re hobbling in your Christian Louboutins just yell at people … I’M A ZOMBIE…DUH!

So enjoy your Halloween and feel free to hashtag your scary style with #MyMonacoHalloweenStyle on social media.

Instagram sensation and style blogger Louis Pisano writes SuperficialLivingDiary.com. Article first published October 26, 2017.

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