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Day: 12 July 2023

Two new direct flights a week all summer from Nice to magical Marrakech

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/07/2023

Air France is now offering two weekly direct flights from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to the wonderous city of Marrakech, Morocco, where culture, food and fun can be had around every corner.  

If this summer finds you with itchy feet, Nice Airport is offering two extra direct flights to the exotic Moroccan city of Marrakech with Air France, making it more accessible than ever.  

From 7th July to 25th August, Air France is running a service to this remarkable city every Monday and Friday, adding to easyJet’s current schedule, which runs on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.  

THE VIBE 

Marrakech is a city filled with contrasts. From the neutral palette of the desert landscape to the brightly coloured hustle and bustle of the Medina, it is not describable in a word.  

The ancient part of town is a warren of narrow passageways and old world charms, whilst the newer side boasts luxury boutiques and modern commercial endeavours, as well as multiple cultural venues.  

marrakech nice
A fascinating shopping destination. Photo source: Abdelhamid Azoui, Unsplash

It is primarily a Muslim country, but the locals are used to Western tourists and fashion styles. That being said, it is advisable to be somewhat modest, as dressing too provocatively can garner unwanted attention.  

In general, the people are friendly and warm, though it is good to consider that in the souks, they show what canny businesspeople they are, and to Westerners, they can come across as pushy. This is simply a cultural difference, and should be appreciated as such, knowing that locals would never intentionally offend a guest.

WHAT TO DO 

There is so much to see and do in the Red City, but no trip would be complete without a trip to Jemaa-el-Fna, a World Heritage Site filled with stalls selling all kinds of beautiful wares, food kiosks and even snake charmers.  

Equally enticing is the Medina in the old city, another World Heritage Site, where the Koutoubia Mosque is located, the city’s largest and most spectacular. The souks are also a “can’t miss” with a vast selection of local products, rugs, spices, jewellery, clothes, trinkets and more. Just be prepared to bargain with the vendors over price, as this is customary and part of the experience.  

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent at the magnificent Jardin Majorelle invites visitors to walk around the French fashion designer’s former Moroccan home and grounds. Here, guests can soak up the beauty of the stunning landscape and cubist-style villa before heading into a retrospective journey into the life of the enigmatic designer.  

A visit to the stunning former home of Yves Saint Laurent should be high on your list. Photo source: Mehmet Ugur Turkyilmaz, Unsplash

The 850-year-old Palmeraie should also be on your list. It features over 100,000 trees, which serve not only as shade from the desert sun, but also provide products such as dates, palm oil and palm wine.   

This former imperial city also sits at the foot of the Atlas Mountain range, giving it striking views as well as amazing opportunities to hike, bike and even ski in the winter months.  

Views of the Atlas mountain range. Photo source: Paul Macallan, Unsplash

 

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Featured photo by Monaco Life

Bastille Day: When and where to catch the best firework displays

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/07/2023
fireworks 14th july

Towns and cities up and down the Côte d’Azur will celebrate France’s National Day this week with spectacular fireworks displays. Here’s a list of where to catch them.

The French National Day of 14th July, also known as Bastille Day, has long been associated with dazzling public displays of incredible pyrotechnics.  

This year, however, the fun is being spread out over two nights, with many locales getting the party started early the night before. 

First to the party: Thursday 13th July 

Nice will host its fireworks show in the waters of the Baie des Anges from 10pm. 

Antibes is following suit with a show on the bord de mer, between Siesta and the Fort Carré, from 10pm.  

Villefranche sur Mer is adding a refreshment bar and BBQ to its evening as the Grand Bal du Comité des Fêtes puts on a pre-party from 8pm in the Old Town, followed by fireworks at 10pm.  

Inland, Saint Paul de Vence will celebrate with a party featuring DJ Alex, a performance by singer Sandra, and Coco Paillette taking to the stage alongside fireworks from 10pm to 2am in the Place de la Courtine.  

Théoule sur Mer will be mixing it up with a laser light show at 9pm followed by an 80s-themed dance party in the Port de la Figueirette.  

Other local towns who will have celebratory fireworks events on 13th July include Beaulieu sur Mer, La Trinité, Grasse, Saint Laurent du Var, Biot, Valbonne, Saint Vallier de Thiey, La Roquette sur Siagne, Aspremont, Saint Jeannet and Peillon.  

Main event: Friday 14th July 

On 14th July, Cannes will kick off its Festival d’Art Pyrotechnique in the Baie de Cannes from 10pm. The theme of the night is Dante. This will be followed by the Bals du 14 Juillet in the Allées de la Liberte, Place de l’Etang and the La Bocca market.  

fireworks 14th july
The fireworks display in the Baie de Cannes is always a grand affair. Photo source: Niccolo Ornati

Nice will hold a memorial service on 14th July for the 86 victims of the 2016 attacks, with a special 86-light beam tribute at 10.34pm exactly. This will be preceded by a procession at 6pm on the Promenade des Anglais and a concert at the Théâtre de Verdure at 9pm.  

Menton will host the Bal de l’Amicale des Sapeurs-Pompiers at 8pm, followed by a fireworks display over the Baie des Sablettes from 10.30pm. 

There is an 8pm kick-off for the Bal Populaire in Mougins, followed by fireworks at 10pm and two DJs spinning disks until midnight to keep the party going.  

Saint Jean Cap Ferrat is also holding a ball with a DJ and entertainment from 9pm with fireworks at 10pm.  

Juan les Pins is holding a pyrotechnic display at 10.30pm over the bay.  

Vallauris, La Colle sur Loup, Vence, Cagnes sur Mer, Le Cannet, Villeneuve Loubet, Roquebrune Cap Martin, Saint Martin Vesubie, Levens, Beaulieu sur Mer and La Turbie are also holding events on 14th July.  

What about Monaco?  

For those who can’t get enough of the fireworks, Monaco will also be hosting displays on 22nd July and 5th August, both at 10pm.  

For a full rundown of each town’s schedule, click here. 

 

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Featured photo source: Arthur Chauvineau, Unsplash

 

Boys choir Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco on tour in the US

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/07/2023

Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco, under the direction of Pierre Debat, have kicked off their American tour with two concerts in New York.

The first concert on 6th July was held at the Grotto Church of Notre Dame, a French-speaking parish in the Columbia University district, organised by the Consulate General of Monaco in New York, in partnership with the Committee of French and French-speaking Associations of New York. The second on the 7th July was at St. Bartholomew’s Church, presented as part of the ‘Great Music at St. Bart’s’ musical program.

To mark the centenary of the birth of Prince Rainier III, founder of the Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco (Little Singers of Monaco) in 1974, the tour program includes a tribute through one of his favourite pieces, Le Campanile de Saint-Nicolas.

Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco are touring the East Coast of the United States until 25th July. After New York, the group will travel to Washington DC, Savannah, Port St. Lucie and Miami.

The tour is organised with the support of the various representations of the Prince’s Government in the United States: the Embassy of Monaco in Washington, the Consulate General in New York, and the honorary consulates in Atlanta and Miami.

 

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Photo source: General Consulate of Monaco in New York

 

 

Fiat 500s to swarm the streets of Monaco

by: Luke Entwistle
12/07/2023

Iconic Fiat 500s from the 1960s will swarm the streets of the Principality at the third edition of the International Fiat 500 Meeting, which is taking place on 16th July. 

For one day, the streets of Port Hercule will imitate the Dolce Vita of the 1960s with 100s of classic Fiat 500s celebrating the third edition of the Monaco International Meeting. The parade will be broadcast on a giant screen in the Principality, whilst other elements such as a ‘Fiat 500 DJ Set’ by DJ Afroman and a performance by Alice & Wondermen will add to the nostalgic spectacle.

Last year’s spectacle drew 4,500 visitors, and given the Italian manufacturer’s large following both within the borders of the Principality and beyond, organisers will be hoping for a similar turnout this time around. The team behind the event has also announced “new surprises” both for participants in the parade and spectators.

2022 Fiat 500 International Meeting Monaco
2022 Fiat 500 International Meeting Monaco. Photo supplied

During the festivities, there will be a conference held on the theme of ‘500 Design Evergreen’ by Roberto Giolito, CEO of the Fiat Heritage Group, and Alessandro Serpa, Honorary President of the Fiat 500 Club in Italy.

Reflecting on the upcoming third edition, the president of the event, Massimo Peleson, said, “We have had very positive feedback in terms of participation. All the club’s members are involved with joy and enthusiasm to relive the past and to always keep the world-renowned heritage of the famous Fiat 500 present.”

The event gets underway on the port of Monaco at 9.30am on 16th July and will conclude at 6.30pm.

 

 

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Photo source: Monaco International Meeting Fiat 500

Where to find the best watersports activities in Monaco

by: Elsa Carpenter
12/07/2023
watersports monaco

A Monaco Life guide to the best watersports on offer in the Principality, and where to find them. 

There are two addresses you need to remember when it comes to booking a day of watersports in Monaco: Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and Monte-Carlo Beach.

As their seaside-themed names suggest, both Société des Bains de Mer establishments are found right on the beach, making them the ideal kicking off point for activities out on the water. The hotels are actually neighbours in the Larvotto quartier, so you can hop between the two to really make the most of the watersports on offer.  

Pedalos, paddle boards and kayaks 

These family-friendly activities can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace from Monte-Carlo Beach, while the higher octane watersports are to be found at the Monte-Carlo Bay pontoon. 

A family of four or a duo can take a pedalo out for between 30 minutes and two hours. Paddle boards and kayaks are also available for the same times, and are a wonderfully relaxing way to enjoy the calm waters of this stretch of coast. 

Grab a paddle board from Monte-Carlo Beach and head out to explore the bay. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo SBM

Water toys, parasailing and tubing  

Head over to Monte-Carlo Bay and there’s a raft of jet-propelled fun to be had.  

The jet ski sessions are available from €120 for a 20-minute ride, but Monaco Life would recommend one of the instructor guided sessions that lasts up to an hour and a half, which will give you the skills to really make the most of this exciting activity. 

For children – and the young at heart – the banana boat and tubing rides start at €40 per person. 

Prices for the parasailing rides that can take up to five people high in the air above the Mediterranean – a favourite activity for enjoying the sights of the Monaco and the French Riviera – start at €120 per person, but there is a gently discounted rate for groups. You can even rent a GoPro to take up with you! 

Wake boarding and wake surf experiences are also available at Monte-Carlo Bay, as well as water skiing for children as young as four.  

Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is the ultimate high-octane watersports destination in Monaco. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo SBM

The hotel runs boat trips for up to 12 from the pontoon too. Bookings for this are required the day before.

For more information, click here for Monte-Carlo Beach and here for Monte-Carlo Bay.

 

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Photo credits: Monte-Carlo SBM

 

 

 

France to launch new fund to pay people to repair clothes rather than bin them

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/07/2023
france fund repair

This autumn, the French government will launch a new programme that will pay people to repair clothing items and shoes in an effort to cut down on the vast amount of fast fashion waste clogging the nation’s landfills. 

Estimates put the volume of clothing and shoes that wind up in French landfills every year to be in the 700,000 tonne range. This accounts for some two-thirds of all waste destined for rubbish heaps, and is a serious environmental problem that is only getting worse.  

SUBSIDIES FOR REPAIRS 

In an attempt to cut down on the number of pieces being needlessly discarded, the French government is launching a new plan, starting in October, whereby people can claim back up to €7 on shoe repairs and €10 to €25 for clothes.  

“From October, consumers will be supported in the repair of their clothes and shoes,” State Secretary for Ecology Bérangère Couillard said on 11th July during a visit to La Caserne, a responsible fashion hub in Paris.  

These pay outs will come from a €154 million fund set up expressly to cover these expenses for a five-year period from 2023 to 2028.  

RESPONSIBLE RECYCLING 

The goal is to make it reflexive to try and mend things rather than bin them so as to reduce negative effects on the environment, such as the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions – some four billion tonnes – that the fashion industry churns out each year.

This new programme is all part of a reform of the clothing industry brought about by the French government in 2022. Objectives include accountability and traceability by brands, as well as giving funding to associations who reuse and recycle clothing to create a more circular economy.  

 

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Photo source: Omar Alrawi, Unsplash