Join us as we travel from our sofas

With holiday plans on pause, and many countries locked down, the joy of travel seems so far away — so out of reach. Rather than feel downhearted, we’re inviting you to reflect on all the things that made you fall in love with travel in the first place.
Remember the destinations that won your heart; the laughter, the soundtrack, the holiday reads, and the amazing people you met along the way. Dust off those souvenirs, flip open your photograph albums and let a little nostalgia brighten up your day.
Below, we’ve shared some of our travel specialists’ memories of and associations with their favourite destinations. After all, travel isn’t just about all the wonderful places we wish to visit next. It’s also about all the wonderful places we’ve been.

Adam Fogg on Antarctica

Recommended book?
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing – the story of an astonishing feat of human daring and exploration.
Dining recommendation?
The excellent French cuisine served at Le Céleste restaurant, on deck two of the ship Le Lyrial.
TV programme that takes you back?
Frozen Planet – David Attenborough’s portrait of the Polar regions. It really shows why Antarctica is the last great wilderness on the planet.
Recommended virtual tour?
This video offers a great glimpse into an Antarctic cruise with A&K.
Discover Antarctica with A&K here.

Debbie Rawnsley on Japan

What songs take you back there?
Any song from Distance, the second album by J-pop singer Utada Hikaru.
Recommended book?
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami, and The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Japanese Culture by Roger J. Davies and Osamu Ikeno.
…and film?
Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli. It was the first Ghibli film I saw whilst living in Japan, and it’s one of my favourites.
What drink would you toast Japan with?
Sapporo. It’s the oldest brand of beer in Japan, first brewed in the city of Sapporo in 1876. One taste and I’m back at the Sapporo Snow Festival.
Recommended virtual tour?
The teamLab Borderless digital art museum in Tokyo, which you can explore via its official YouTube channel.
Discover Japan with A&K here.

Brandon Clements on India

 Is there a scent that takes you back?
Rosewater. In India, the smell of rosewater is everywhere, from luxury hotel corridors and temple buildings to the moment you lift the lid off a clay pot of freshly cooked biryani.
What about a film?
Slumdog Millionaire, The Jungle Book and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
…and a song?
Sunset by Nitin Sawhney, Beloved by Thievery Corporation ft. Anoushka Shankar and Calcutta Delight (Greg Hunter Mix) by The Kumba Mela Experiment ft. Ranajit Sengupta.
Recommended book?
Man-Eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and City of Joy by Dominique Lapierre.
Dining recommendation?
The tandoor-cooked kebabs, dhals, vegetable dishes and loaves of bread from Bukhara at ITC Maurya hotel, New Delhi.
Discover India with A&K here.

Elizabeth Patch on Russia

Recommended book?
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Rasputin by Edvard Radinsky.
Binge-worthy TV programme?
The BBC’s production of War & Peace.
Which film takes you back?
Anastasia. It may be a children’s film, but it’s so magical and originally inspired me to visit Russia.
Recommended dining?
Truffle-infused scrambled egg and caviar at the caviar bar of the Belmond Grand Hotel, St Petersburg.
Recommended virtual tour?
The Hermitage Museum, which has a virtual visit page.
Discover Russia with A&K here.
 
 

Princess Charlene Foundation offering free masks to public

Representatives of the Princess Charlene Foundation have taken to the streets offering protective medical masks to the public free of charge. Even Mayor Georges Marsan joined in, distributing the masks at various points around the city on Wednesday.

The initiative was the brainchild of Princess Charlene and her brother Gareth Wittstock, Secretary General of the Princess Charlene Foundation, who wanted to provide high quality protection to Monaco’s residents against the coronavirus.  

The 5,000 masks were made by Italian firm SCICON Sports, a leading maker of cycling bags and protective eyewear, who have pivoted their focus from sport to public health during the crisis.

The masks are made of a high-performance fabric, and though time has not permitted them to receive formal official ratings, they comply with the most rigid standards of protection. The masks can be washed up to 40 times in water as hot as 60ºC without significant degradation.

They feature the #strongtogether slogan being promoted in the Principality. This encouraging message of “unity and solidarity” has been pushed by both the Princess and HSH Prince Albert II during the health crisis.

Photo: Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation

Volunteers distributed the masks at the Condamine market, Fontvieille Shoppong Centre, and at several food-related businesses and places of interest with the blessing of and help from the Monaco City Council. Foundation Ambassadors such as Monegasque Formula One champion Charles Leclerc and world champion free diver Pierre Frolla have also joined in the campaign.

The Princess Charlene Foundation’s representatives reminded the public that wearing a mask was no substitute for respecting the rules of lockdown. They emphasised that social distancing regulations must still be complied with despite the added protection.

 
 
 

First Monaco resident succumbs to Covid-19

Monaco has seen its first death of a resident from the coronavirus. The person, aged 72-years, passed away on Wednesday.

The victim is the third casualty linked to Covid-19 in the Principality, and the first actual resident to die of the virus since the start of the pandemic.

The two other victims were being treated at the CHPG but were not residents of Monaco.

The government says it has reached out to the family and loved ones of the latest victim, offering support during this time of sadness.  

On a positive note, Monaco on Wednesday again recorded no new cases of Covid-19, keeping the number of those who have tested positive for the virus at 93. A total of 12 people have been given the all-clear, doubling the number of those who have recovered since the previous day.   

Nine patients still remain in hospital with two being in intensive care, though the lion’s share of those affected are being treated at home through Monaco’s Home Monitoring Centre. Currently, 108 people are being looked after by this method.

 
 

Fourth Joint Monitoring Committee meeting results

The fourth meeting of the Covid Joint Monitoring Committee between the Prince’s government and the National Council was held Wednesday, focusing on decisions made and to be taken in this next phase of crisis management.

The government and National Council had a free flow exchange regarding the health situation and the supply of medical equipment available in the Principality at their latest meeting held on 15th April. The government confirmed that, after consultation with the Council, they were in the process of purchasing reusable fabric masks from Monegasque company Bettina. The company has agreed to supply 80,000 Army Health Service certified masks per month.

Information regarding serological tests was also discussed in terms of acquisition.  

Both entities shared views on added measures to support businesses and safeguard jobs during the lockdown. The government would like to see a continual adaptation to the changing situation, adjusting when necessary, to ensure the least amount of suffering for all.  

The measures that were agreed upon are as follows. 

1. Within the framework of the Guarantee Fund, for any request for a cash loan / overdraft authorisation of less than €50,000, the credit institution may, at the end of its internal procedure, release the sums requested without having to ask the Guarantee Fund for its prior agreement. 

The Guarantee Fund will continue to be the recipient of all the credit files granted by the banks, will study and identify them, and if necessary, report any observations to one or other of the establishments.

2. The income threshold for the eligibility of the self-employed working in their personal name, to the payment of the Extraordinary Minimum Income (RME), is now set at €12,000 over the year and €3,000 over the quarter, thus making it possible to broaden the number of people likely to benefit.

3. The aid initially provided to small structures (APS), is now extended to companies registered in the Trade and Industry Register, to the exclusion of foreign companies, which achieve an annual turnover less tax, at €1.5 million and who have suffered, since March 1, a drop in monthly activity of at least 50% compared to the previous year in the same period. In order to simplify the procedures for companies, requests for the granting of Aid to Companies (AS) are essentially based on a declaration on their honour by the legal representative of the company, or duly authorised, and will give entitlement to payment in April, May and June, for the months of March, April and May, direct State aid of a lump sum of €5,000 / month. The procedures and documents required will be specified on the website of the Public Business Service, knowing that in the next few days, requests will all be made online on this same site.

4. For the sake of fairness, for persons carrying out their activity in their personal name, additional aid in the amount of €3,200 will be paid to RME beneficiaries, for the months of March, April and May 2020. Total monthly aid thus paid to each beneficiary will amount to €5,000.

The committee says that these new or modified procedures are the product of the hard work put forth by both sides to ensure no one falls through the cracks financially as a result of the current situation.

Both the government and the National Council are in accord, agreeing that preservation of jobs is the quickest path to economic recovery after the crisis passes. To this end, they announced that the first payments to employers had been made to the Reinforced Total Temporary Unemployment (CTTR) fund on 13th April. More will be forthcoming in the next days.

From a legislative angle, the government is protecting jobs by reviewing a bill that is on the table prohibiting unfair dismissals, making telecommuting mandatory for positions where this is possible and carrying out other Covid-related measures.

The meeting was wrapped up with a discussion about the proposed amendments to the 2020 budget, the new draft of which will be submitted to the Council on 21st April. Finally, the €1,000 bonus for workers on the front lines of the epidemic was touched on, in terms of whom the recipients should be.

The next Joint Monitoring Committee meeting will be held on 23rd April.

 
Photo: Minister of State Serge Telle at the Bettina factory in Monaco during a previous visit, courtesy Monaco Government
 
 

Cannes Film Festival still on the cards for 2020

Organisers of the Cannes Film Festival – a major tourist drawcard for Monaco – say they will be looking at new ways to host the event in light of France’s ban on festivals until mid-July.
Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the Cannes Film Festival had already been postponed from its original mid-May dates to late June and early July.
However, organisers said this week that this was “no longer an option” after President Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday that festivals could not resume until mid-July at the earliest.
“It is clearly difficult to assume that the Festival de Cannes could be held this year in its original form,” the organisers said in a statement, adding they were exploring “all contingencies” to realise Cannes 2020 “in one way or another”.
The virus outbreak has ravaged Monaco’s glittering spring and summer cultural calender, with organisers cancelling the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monte-Carlo Television Festival.
However, Cannes has so far resisted cancelling this year’s festival completely. Organisers say that discussions have already started with industry participants over what form Cannes 2020 could take.
“They agree that the Festival de Cannes, an essential pillar for the film industry, must explore all contingencies to support the year of cinema by making Cannes 2020 real, in one way or another,” the organisers said. “Each and everyone knows that many uncertainties are still reigning over the international health situation. We hope to be able to communicate promptly regarding the shapes that this Cannes 2020 will take.”
The festival was due to announce its line-up this week, with film director Spike Lee set to head the jury, the first person of black African heritage to do so.
 

Interview: James Caan

Monaco Life Publisher Eric Brundage spoke to entrepreneur and television personality James Caan CBE about maintaining a “normal” working routine during lockdown.
James Caan is perhaps best known as a former investor on the BBC television programme Dragons’ Den. A former Monaco resident, he initially achieved success in the recruitment industry before co-founding the head-hunting firm Humana International. James Caan is the current CEO of UK-based private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw.
He has written several books on business and his life and has become the 7th most followed person on LinkedIn, surpassing former US president Barack Obama. Caan regularly blogs about career advice and provides tips for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Monaco Life: How do you think the world will emerge from the Covid-19 crisis?
James Caan: This is not the first global crisis that we have experienced, and it will not be the last. As an optimist, I believe that we will come out the other end. If history is anything to go by, when we do recover from this, we will bounce back quickly. When we bounce back, there will be an opportunity for businesses, particularly those that act decisively now, to take full advantage of the recovery. For now, though, the challenge is to weather the storm.
How are you managing the crisis?
Most of my workforce are currently working from home. With the aid of video technology, we’re able to continue our business by being able to present candidates to clients via video. Software can play a crucial role in the recreation of the office environment, and using it effectively is more important now than ever.
Do you have any advice for business people?
Using technologies like Zoom, where you have group functions so you can do daily meetings with the whole team of up to 10 plus people, is great for team morale and to keep up team motivation.
Try to ensure that both you and your team structure your days as close as possible as before, as we all work much better when we have a structure. Use WhatsApp to create groups with all the specific teams in your business so you can communicate as one, just like you would have when you were all in the office together. Collaboration between employees is key in the functioning of a successful business, and it is important that this doesn’t cease as I am a big advocate for keeping as many avenues of communication open as possible.
So, the idea is to try and maintain a “normal” workday as much as possible?
Getting dressed into some designated ‘working’ clothes is a great way of ensuring you’re able to do your job as you normally would in an office. The key to ensuring a level of productivity in the home is to create a routine and structure that you force yourself to stick to; this means no working in pyjamas!
And make sure you take regular scheduled breaks throughout your day. Fresh air (if you can) and leaving your workspace are good for your brain and body. A quick break in focus allows you to reset and return more productive.
 
James Caan has agreed to answer our reader’s questions about business. Simply send an email to info@monacolife.net with the subject line ‘James Caan’ and we will have James address your questions in our next article.