The legendary Dakar Rally began on Saturday, January 6, and Monaco’s three riders have got off to a roaring start.
Adrien Maré, Charles Cuypers and Nicolas Brabeck had attacked the Dakar with a pre-event stage between Lima and Pisco in Peru. The Rally itself will last two weeks and end on Saturday, January 20.
Adrien Maré, the first Monegasque to compete on a motorbike in Dakar, has given the impression of being on vacation, very relaxed and focused. He started the Rally ranked number 36.
Charles Cuypers is taking time to adapt to the fact that the dunes in Peru are not the same as in Africa. He had a small wipe-out and suffered a slight navigation error but is ready for the remainder the race.
Nicolas Brabeck missed a way point, which will cost him penalties, the Monaco team management said. “This is probably due to euphoria but he is very well prepared.”
The Rally started in the midst of windy conditions and a great deal of swirling sand.
Former AS Monaco coach Arsène Wenger has been invited to the inauguration of Liberia’s new president, footballer George Weah, who played in the principality from 1998 until 1992.
The Frenchman coached Weah in the early stages of his career in Europe at AS Monaco. He has said that the eventful life of his former protégée should be made into a film. “When you look at his life, the life of this guy is a film. It is unbelievable. It is a fantastic film.
“I saw him in Monaco, looking lost, not knowing anyone, not being rated as a footballer, yet he became in 1995 the best player in the world and now he is president of his country. It is unbelievable.”
Weah scored 66 goals for Monaco over four seasons before moving to Paris-Saint-Germain.
“He was always strong mentally, convinced he has a mission. When he played at Monaco, it was during the time of war in Liberia and I saw how much he suffered with his country. The love for his country and his people, and the care he had for his people. Today when I look back, I have seen him crying when the war was on.
“But this is a happy story and I wish him a happy presidency. He is an example to all footballers,” Wenger, now manager at Arsenal, said.
A bottle of vodka valued at a staggering 8 million kroner (€1.1 million) that was reported as disappearing from a bar in Copenhagen has been found again, according to local police who tweeted its rediscovery on January 2.
The vodka was created to woo Russian tycoons and wealthy aficionados worldwide and premiered at Top Marques at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco in April last year. Prince Albert of Monaco was presented with the very first bottle.
The world’s most expensive vodka bottle was on display at Cafe 33 in the central district of Copenhagen, and formed part of the bar’s collection of vodka, which amounts to 1,200 bottles.
The disappearing bottle was on loan from the privately owned Riga-based Dartz Motorz, founded by the Latvian-born businessman Leonard Yankelovich. The bottle is coated with about 3 kg of gold and 3 kg of silver. A total of 625 Russo-Baltique vodka bottles were made, Dartz says.
A young SBM employee had a lucky escape when the Audi he was driving hit a pillar in the Millennium Tunnel 4:30 am on the morning of December 26, local French-language daily Monaco-Matin reports.
The impact was so severe that the emergency services thought they’d have to remove his remains with a small spoon, Monaco’s Criminal Court heard.
The young man avoided jail, and was sentenced to four months suspended and ordered to pay three fines of €45 each for driving while over the drink-driving limit.
The British Consul, Mr Eric Blair, the President of BAM, Mrs Vanessa Ilsley and representatives of the British Embassy Paris. Photo: Atelier Mi
The British Association of Monaco (BAM) has increased the number of its events, beginning in January, although the first Friday Friendship meeting of the year will not be held until February 2, at the Tea Shop on Place des Moulins, from 3 pm to 7 pm.
A Happy Hour is scheduled for Thursday, January 11, at the Ariston, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, to be followed on January 25 at a venue to be announced. In addition, a Winter Warmer Supper is being organised on January 18 with a curry and convivial company.
Lunches will be held at the Lycée Hotelier et Technique on Thursday, January 11, and on Friday, February 9.
One of the most important functions of the British Association is supporting the local community. The BAM Community Support Team, funded by BAM members and Patron donations, is made up of a small group of volunteers who know their way around Monaco’s social services, health and education systems, and can offer help with everyday tasks.
January is also the month when annual subscriptions fall due. For more information about BAM membership, events and volunteer services, see their website.
ML: How did your career take you from Denmark to Monaco, where you performed at the Casino? AS: In Denmark, I was a professional dancer and fitness instructor back in the eighties and a member of the Danish Artist Federation. At the annual Variety Show, where the federation promoted all their artists, I met an international Danish equilibrist who had an upcoming contract in the cabaret Les Folies Russe Monte-Carlo. As he was without an assistant on stage for a month, I volunteered to come along and so I arrived in Monaco in April 1990. I discovered the fantastic show-ballet there and decided to try my luck and auditioned. Before I knew it, I was hired as a soloist dancer, left Denmark and I have been here ever since.
ML: You’ve lived in Monaco for nearly 30 years. How does it compare to life in Denmark? AS: I love Monaco and the South of France, which offers everything I didn’t have in Denmark: warm weather all year round, lemon, orange and palm-trees, mountains and crystal blue sea near by, international glamorous atmosphere where one can speak a variety of languages and meet people from all walks of life. In the nineties in Monaco everyone knew each other, it was like one big family and we all integrated very well together. Everyone was out and about every night and invited by VIPs, life was truly magical.
ML: Where’s your favourite spot to find serenity? AS: The walk between Plage Marquet and Plage Mala in Cap d’Ail is my favourite place to find serenity & recharge.
ML: What’s something people don’t know about Monaco? AS: Most people are surprised to learn that in Monaco seatbelts are not required to be fastened when driving around. Apparently Prince Rainier did not like wearing a seatbelt, so everyone else got to go free, too.
ML: What did you have in mind when you launched the International Holistic Fitness Centre of Monaco in 2003? AS: My goal was to create a “Centre of Light” – a space for people who are interested in holistic health (harmony between the body, mind and soul) to meet, practice, learn and grow. I didn’t know much about the market, I just followed my heart’s desire and learned along the way.
ML: How did you manage to secure Monte-Carlo Bay as the location of Sunshine Yoga Monte-Carlo and can you share the name of some of your clients? AS: “Sunshine Yoga Monte-Carlo” is the name of the company I founded in 2003 and it is still only in my name today. Dear friends in 2006 knew that the SPA Cinq Mondes was looking for a yoga company to move into their new location at the Monte-Carlo Bay and they kindly put me in contact. Now ten years later I am still there, thanks to my own efforts and dedication.
Over the years I have had the pleasure to have several known students such as Dame Shirley Bassey, designer Tommy Hilfiger, French actress Estelle Lefebure, model Victoria Silvstedt and some famous American actors who stayed at the Bay …
Photos: EMA ESPINOSA photography
ML: Does one have to be spiritual to do yoga? Runners often squeeze in a 5km over lunch – can you do the same thing with a yoga class? AS: One does not have to be spiritual to benefit from the yoga poses (asanas) However some people naturally become curious about the yoga philosophy and spirituality in general, and wish to dive deeper …
Yes, a lunch-time yoga practice can be fit in if one is dedicated enough to make the effort.
ML: You say that your programmes help increase self-esteem and confidence on a remarkable scale. How do you achieve this? AS: You gain self-esteem and confidence when you dare express your authentic self and shine your light. This comes from practice and by observing the example of other beings who live like this.
ML: What could a newcomer expect from your class? AS: Depending on the person, I suggest an appropriate class to meet the newcomer’s expectations. The Sunshine Team teaches out of passion, straight from the heart. We love what we do and do what we love, and apparently it comes through …
ML: Best yoga accessory? AS: Apart from a good yoga mat, a block is very helpful tool to help with poses.
ML: What’s the most difficult part of running your own business? What is the advantage and disadvantage of being a woman in business? AS: The hardest thing about running your own business is that you are never really off. Apart from teaching many classes, there are phone calls to be returned, answering e-mails, accounting, paperwork, schedule updating, marketing on social media, photo sessions, purchasing new equipment, planning special events and then advertising for them, meetings, website updating, newsletters and articles to be written … It never stops, but luckily I love it all.
ML: Pretty hectic schedule. How do you organise your day? AS: I start teaching my first class at 8:30 am every morning, then another at 10, and a third one around noon. Sometimes I give afternoon and evening classes also. I get to physically practice every other day: I love being a student myself and never stop learning new skills. I never have two days alike, and that’s how I thrive.
ML: When you have time, where do you like to got out to eat? AS: Restaurant NOBU is the best place to eat in Monaco, but I also love the music while dining in Buddha Bar.
ML: You have a physical, hands-on job. How do you feel about ageing? AS: Best thing is that you no longer care about what others think about you.
The hardest, in my case, is the aches and pains coming from the fact that I was a fitness professional and dancer and pushed myself way too hard for decades, so my joints are now fragile.
ML: What’s the best piece of advice another woman gave you? AS: Until I was 21, my surname was Schjoenning (meaning “beautiful” in German) Then I met a Cypriot TV producer who told me straight out: “YOU ARE Anette Shine, understood? … And so I had my passport officially changed in Denmark.
When I was looking for the right name for my company my dear friend Sue, who’s also a business owner, told me: “It should be SUNSHINE! Your name is Shine, so that’s how it should be … And so it was.
ML: What is something you’ve always wanted to try or do? AS: Pole dancing, it’s so sensual, takes strength, grace and flexibility, and is just an amazing way of self-expression.
Anette Shine, Wellness Warrior & Founder Sunshine Yoga Monte-Carlo