Archbishop Monsignor Barsi presided in the St Nicholas Church on Monday, December 4, for the celebration of the traditional Saint Barbara Mass, an early Christian Greek saint and martyr. The Saint is ”the patron and protector” of the Fire Brigade.
The church service took place in the presence of Colonel Luc Fringant, Commander Superior of the Public Forces representing the Sovereign Prince, and Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior representing the Minister of State, and numerous Monegasque and French Authorities.
A garden bears the Saint’s name in Monaco. Located in the extension of the Jardin Saint Martin, it runs along the southeast facade of the Rock. It was built around 1830 during the reign of Prince Honoré V.
The second edition of the Monaco World Sports Legends Award, the Oscars of Sport, took place with a media day on Friday, December 1, followed by the Award Ceremony with Gala Dinner-Show and Red Carpet on Saturday, December 2, held in the Salle D’Or of the Fairmont Monte Carlo.
The World Sports Legends Award is awarded to men and women, sporting champions both active and retired, who have gained distinction not only for their sporting exploits but also for the examples they set which are an inspiration for new generations.
The 2017 award winners were an international mix including Monaco resident Michael Doohan (Australia – 5 times MotoGP World Champion) ; Jacky Ickx (Belgium – 6 times winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 1-time winner Paris-Dakar, 2 times Vice-World Champion of Formula 1) ; Josefa Idem, (Italy – Canoe Racing, Olympic Champion, 5 times World Champion, 8 times European Champion); Michèle Mouton (France – 1-time Vice-World Champion of Rallye, President of the FIA’s Women & Motor Sport Commission, FIA’s Manager in the World Rally Championship, Co-founder of the international motorsport event Race of Champions) and Armin Zöggeler (Italy – Luge, 2 Times Olympic Champion, 6 times World Champion, 4 times European Champion and 10 World Cups).
These Sporting Legends join last year’s winners: Giacomo Agostini, Mika Hakkinen, Carl Fogarty, Pernilla Wiberg, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Tia Hellebaut, Jhong Uhk Kim, Sir Anthony McCoy., while “Best Values Award” went to Victor Tello.
The event was presented in five languages by the international ballet star Lorena Baricalla, Ambassadress and Master of Ceremonies.
Among the many special Red Carpet appearances by sport champions was the Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, 2017 Formula2 world champion, who on the same day was officially confirmed as a racing driver of the Alfa Romeo Sauber Formula1 team – a special announcement that was made on stage during the WSLA in Monte Carlo following the official confirmation that same morning in Milan.
The Carabiniers of the Prince are the subject of a new commemorative €2 coin from Monaco, coinworld.com reports.
The obverse design shows a Carabinier and in the background the Palace of Monaco. At the top is the inscription, Monaco is flanked by the Mint mark and the mint master mark. At the bottom are the years 1817–2017 and underneath the inscription epicts the 12 stars of the European flag.
In total, 15,000 of the coins were released on November 13. The ringed-bimetallic coin has a copper-nickel core and copper-aluminum-nickel ring.
The common reverse shows a map of the European Union, of which Monaco is not a member. The €2 coin weighs 8.5 grams and measures 25.75 millimetres in diameter.
Editions Victor Gadoury, based in Monaco, offers Proof examples of the coin for €239 each.
ML: You have competed 163 World Championship Grand Prix races winning three, achieving 15 podiums and scoring 132 career points. How did your childhood in Belgium lead you to this path? TB: I don’t really know where this idea came from, but I told my parents that I wanted to become a racecar driver when I was 3 years old. Nobody in the family had any kind of link to the racing world at that time.
ML: 24 Hours of Le Mans, which you have also raced in, turns 80 years this month. As a driver, how does strategy differ between the Formula One Grand Prix, and Le Mans – aka the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency? TB: Le Mans is an endurance race, you need to make the car last 24 hours and, in 24 hours, a lot of things can go wrong. You need a perfect team of engineers and mechanics who will take the best strategic decisions and provide maintenance to the car in the shortest time. Your two teammates must have the same driving style, the same speed and must be as careful as possible to avoid any kind of contact which, as the race goes on and drivers get tired, is a challenge.
ML: As the Monaco Grand Prix celebrated 75th anniversary, would you say that the event has changed for the good or the bad? TB: I raced F1 in Monaco for the first time in 1984 and participated in ten Grand Prix here. The organisation of the event was “the best in the business” in 1984 already; it is still the same today, thanks to the efforts made by Michel Boeri [president of the Automobile Club de Monaco] and his team to keep it this way. The track safety has improved every year and the Monaco track marshals were, and are still, recognised as the best in the world by the community, thanks to their preparation, training and motivation. No other track comes near to that.
ML: If you could magically trade the years you were in the Formula One circuit to be a driver in today Formula One, would you TB: F1 has changed a lot since “my days”. When I started in 1983 laptops did not even exist, we were still using fax machines. But this does not matter to me. I studied mechanical engineering and have always been extremely interested in the technical part of the racing as much as in the driving. I guess it would be exactly the same today.
ML: You launched your business — Boutsen Aviation – 20 years ago in Monaco. How did you transition a F1 career into managing aircraft sales transactions? TB: My initial interest in the aviation sparked during my engineering studies and became real during my career in Formula One: I bought my first small plane in 1987, and consequently sold and upgraded it several times throughout my driving career. What began as a casual hobby soon gained the respect of my fellow F1 drivers, after which started to advise and assist in the aircraft purchases of my colleagues. That is when I realised that my passion for business and aviation could potentially blossom into an entirely new career. I founded Boutsen Aviation together with my wife Daniela in 1997.
ML: Can you share some facts and figures about Boutsen Aviation, and how it’s evolved over the past twenty years, including Boutsen Design, both of which are based in Monaco? TB: I did my first ten transactions in the racing world, selling jets from Michael Schumacher, Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen, Guy Ligier, etc. then decided to jump the barrier to go and look a bit further.
Twenty years later, Boutsen Aviation is certainly one of the most experienced and passionate brokerage firms on the Business Jets market. Over the years we have acquired a vast and unquestionable knowledge. We have sold 336 aircraft ranging from Airbus Corporate Jets to Cessna Citation, to 51 countries, 5 continents. Approximately ten percent of our sales are turbine helicopters.
With her background in Arts and a 3-year working experience for one of the finest porcelain manufacturer, Berlin-born Daniela Boutsen went on to create Boutsen Design in 2011. At that time, Boutsen Aviation was overseeing the completion of two Airbus Corporate Jets for a private customer and Daniela was asked, “Where can we get the right cutlery, chinaware, glasses and ancillaries for the bedroom and the bathroom?”
It was then she realised the potential in providing a centralised service covering all tastes and personalisation for a niche market of discerning clients who required “turnkey” solutions. She added the “Boutsen Final Touch” utilising her vast knowledge and extensive industry experience, and now offers her expertise to a growing global clientele made up of Aviation, Yachting and Residences. Boutsen Design HQ and showrooms are located 40 rue Grimaldi – just opposite to Boutsen Aviation.
ML: What’s something the average person wouldn’t know about buying an aircraft? What’s the most commonly requested accessory in a plane? TB: Pre-owned aircraft trading is a complex multitask business encompassing: sourcing, market research and analysis, benchmarking, assessing market value, global promotion through multiple channels, preparing multimedia marketing materials, evaluating and negotiating offers, letter of intent and sale-purchase agreement, on-site aircraft visual inspection, pre-purchase inspection and the follow-up of corrective actions, legal and tax structuring matters, financing, escrow agency co-ordination, title search issues, registrations, closing/delivery assistance, client reporting etc.
The most commonly requested accessory in a plane … people like their plane to be an extension of their office and their home, to travel quietly and efficiently. That is all they want.
ML: In 2015, you were appointed the title “By Appointment of HSH Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco”. What does this honour mean exactly? TB: This honour means a lot to me, my wife and to my team, it is a recognition from HSH Prince Albert II for the work we have done not only in selling his airplanes but, by selling all of our airplanes in 51 countries, 5 continents we have each time, directly or indirectly, helped to promote Monaco.
I am also very proud to have received the honorary distinction as Médaille de l’Ordre de Saint Charles.
ML: Boutsen Aviation is involved in the Monaco community. Can you share some of your partnerships and sponsorships? TB: We are members of the Automobile Club de Monaco, the Yacht Club, Monaco Air League that helps promote young students to become pilots, Monaco Private Label and Monaco Welcome. In addition, Boutsen Aviation is one of the main sponsors for the COCC ride St Tropez-Monaco, helping the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
ML: What do you traditionally watch the Grand Prix in Monaco? Do you get involved to any capacity, or is it purely as a spectator? TB: I have been a racing driver for 23 years of my life, today I enjoy watching the others “play” with their cars. I like to watch the GP from the Belvedere Tribune, thanks to the invitation of the ACM.
ML: When you want to go for a drive locally, where do you go to relax? TB: To be honest, when I want to relax I stay at home. I have travelled so much in my live, and still do, when it is time for a rest I stay with my family.
ML: Best place in Monaco for a business meeting? TB: The Boutsen Aviation offices, 41 rue Grimaldi, where you can look at the Williams F1 car that gave me my first GP victory, Canada 1989, hanging on the wall.
The holiday season is upon us, and we’re all frantically buying presents at the Metropole, going to parties, choosing the right outfits, organising family visits – and definitely over-indulging in alcohol.
It’s inevitable, really, and there’s no point in trying to fight it but there are a few things you can do to make this period of the year more enjoyable and less stressful, not just for you but also for those around you.
Drinking is a huge factor that adds to holiday stress, even though many tipplers tend to think a cup-a-cheer takes the edge off. If one person in a couple is drinking heavily, whether socially or at home, it can be detrimental to the relationship, from a drunk person waking up a partner to stubbornly getting behind the wheel impaired.
The World Health Organisation reports that “alcohol is the sixth leading cause of ill health and premature death in high-income countries”. In the US, an estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related deaths making alcohol the country’s third leading preventable cause of death.
Beyond its risk factor for premature mortality (cirrhosis, cancer, cardiovascular diseases), alcohol use is linked to more than 200 health conditions. Additionally, in the European Region, WHO claims “alcohol has a causal impact in approximately 15 percent of all causes of death, with the highest proportion of deaths attributable to alcohol being among men aged 20-39 years”.
I’m not suggesting we all fall into this category, but over the next few weeks, try to choose water over yet another glass of wine and alternate the two beverages to keep your alcohol intake in check. Volunteer to be the designated driver and give yourself a booze-free night.
There are other ways to also “take the edge off”.
First of all, give yourself the gift of pause. You deserve a break from stress. Wrap up warm and go and sit at Lavrotto beach or Mala Plage at Cap d’Ail for a few minutes, put away your phone and enjoy being in a quiet moment. Or wake up a little earlier and enjoy your morning coffee before the rest of the house wakes up (a good habit regardless of the time of year).
Secondly, give yourself the gift of choice. We’ve all been there, another festive dinner at Bhudda-Bar surrounded by not your favourite people (who you’ll probably have to pick up the tab for) when you’d rather be on the couch in the comfort of your own home. Yes, these forced evenings can be tiring but choose the right attitude to carry you through. Who knows, by opening yourself up, you may learn something new about your dinner companion and enjoy the evening after all.
Thirdly give yourself the gift of change. Don’t try to make big changes before the holiday season. You’ll most likely not succeed so enjoy this time (and indulge like me). Instead, until the New Year, write down the things you’d like to change in the future, starting with little things.
You can find some great little notebooks, like the ones sold at Grande Papeterie de Monte-Carlo (14 ave de la Costa), to keep handy for when ideas come to you. When the holidays are over, find yourself a cosy spot – personally I love the lobby at the Hermitage or Metropole Hotel – and peruse your jotted list to see which resolutions you think are doable. Obviously you can take notes on your smartphone but disconnecting for a while is part of the process.
Above all, don’t let the hectic pace of December get to you. If you know your diet is going to be especially bad, make sure you balance it out with at least a healthy breakfast or take some extra vitamin supplements to carry you over.
Consider a detox once the frantic feeding period is over. Your body will need it after going overboard during your holiday in Monaco.
And most importantly, if you or someone you love is struggling with drinking, Alcoholics Anonymous has five meetings in English across the week in Monaco, between St Paul’s Church (22 ave Grande Bretagne) and the Eglise Reformée (9 Rue Louis Notari): Sunday 7-8 pm (St Paul’s); Monday 7-8:15 pm (St Paul’s); Tuesday 12:30-1:30 pm (Eglise Reformée); Thursday 7-8 pm (Eglise Reformée) and Friday 12:30-1:30 pm (St Paul’s).
Alternatively, there’s help available at the Princess Grace Hospital Addiction Unit (+377 97 98 84 22).
Udi Gon-Paz is a Wellness Coach and a Functional Therapist specialising in Clinical Nutrition and Stress management. Licensed in Monaco and the UK.
Our Q&A with Monaco’s Brazilian community kicks off with André de Montigny, the Honorary Consul of Brazil in Monaco
André de Montigny, Honorary Consul of Brazil in Monaco, since 2008
ML: You were born in Trois Rivières, Quebec. Tell us about your career that took you from Canada to the US to Brazil? AM: I studied Actuarial Sciences at Laval University in Quebec City. For people who don’t know what an Actuary is, I’d say that it’s someone who “specializes in uncertainty”. This involves risk measurement and management, insurance, retirement systems, and risk evaluation of investments.
My first job was with an insurance company in Columbus, Ohio, followed by a move to an international consulting firm in New York. I was their first international actuary and was involved with projects in over 90 countries. They asked me to open their business in Brazil, which I did. The potential was enormous, but because the Government of Brazil at the time was a dictatorship and inflation was extremely high, they were afraid to invest. Consequently, I decided to leave and form my own consulting firm, which became the largest in South America. After a little over 10 years of my business, I sold to a large international organisation. This was followed by selected investment projects, including a partnership in an insurance company in Brazil. In the year 2000, my wife Luciana and I moved to Monaco but I’m still a Canadian citizen.
ML: How does business culture differ between these three countries? AM: In the US, the business culture is more impersonal, based a lot more on the long-term solidity and reputation of organisations with whom you work. In Canada, it is very similar to the US but with a more personal touch. In Brazil, the business relationships are very personal and take longer to build. People have to get to know each other, face to face, and build mutual trust and respect. In Brazil, the success is highly dependent on “word of mouth”.
ML: What brought you to Monaco, and how did you become Brazil’s honorary consul here? AM: We came to Monaco seeking peace and security. Also, Monaco is ideally located, near beautiful places in France and Italy, near the airport of Nice, and with a great climate with 300 days of sunshine per year. Also, Monaco offers great cultural events year-round. There is always something interesting to do. And not least, Monaco offers great health care. I became the Honorary Consul of Brazil in 2008 due to several factors: we had sponsored various Brazilian events involving high profile people in Monaco, and when the prior Honorary Consul passed away, it was suggested that I submit my name, being that my wife is Brazilian, I did submit my nomination and it was accepted.
ML: What is the function of the Brazilian Honorary Consul and what services does it offer? AM: The Honorary Consul of Monaco is subordinated to the Consulate-General in Paris. Its actions are complementary, maintaining links with Brazil and with the local Brazilian community.
The main activities are to provide assistance to Brazilians residing in or visiting Monaco, orienting them in case of difficulty; to promote the development of trade, economic, scientific and cultural relations between Brazil and Monaco; and to serve as a support element to diplomatic relations/missions; and perform any specific act at the request of Consulate-General.
The Honorary Consul is not a career diplomat, nor a paid employee of the State, he exercises his functions voluntarily (benevolently). Honorary Consuls of Brazil are not authorised to process requests for issuance of passports, visas or legal documents, which are centralized with the Consulate-General in Paris.
ML: Can you provide a few details about the Brazilian community in Monaco? AM: There are approximately 100 Brazilians in Monaco, which represents 30 to 35 families, with the average age between 30 to 50. Many of them are in sports, others are working in banks.
ML: What business accords exist between Monaco and Brazil? Are there Brazilian businesses in Monaco? AM: For now, few partnerships have been formed between Monaco and Brazil. Relations between the two countries are excellent. Each side has to better know the other, through more exchanges between the two countries.
There is little import/export between Brazil and Monaco. The main companies of Monaco with operations in Brazil are SBM Offshore and CMM (Compagnie Maritime Monégasque). The Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Bureau have opened an office in São Paulo. As for Brazilian companies, for now, there is little activity in Monaco.
Contact the Honorary Consul of Brazil in Monaco: “Le Régina” – 13, boulevard des Moulins. Phone: +377 97 98 70 99 or email: consulbresilmonaco@monaco.mc
