F1: Charles Leclerc takes P3 after tough weekend on the Circuit Zandvoort

26/08/2024

After a disappointing start to the Dutch Grand Prix over the weekend, Monegasque Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc put in a solid performance to move from a third-row start on the Circuit Zandvoort to a place on the podium.

Going into the race, the 26-year-old Monegasque driver admitted that he wasn’t satisfied with his P6 starting position.

“We are quite a bit off the pace of our competitors and we are working night and day as a team to close that gap. I am sure the effort will pay off soon,” he said. “The target for me tomorrow will be to keep our position and bring as many points home as possible.”

Leclerc got to work as soon as the lights went out on the Circuit Zandvoort on Sunday 25th August, quickly overtaking Red bull driver Sergio Pérez to move up to fifth. He pitted on Lap 25 for hard tyres and rejoined in ninth, but pushed hard and was up to third by Lap 33.

The last stages of the race saw him battle to hold off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. His efforts earned him his seventh podium of the season, with a well-deserved P3.

“It’s not often that I would say I am happy with a P3, but today, I am extremely happy with the job the team has done on such a difficult weekend,” Leclerc shared post-race. “We struggled in all sessions since FP1, and managed to put it all together when it matters most. We found the pace we needed, executed a perfect strategy, undercut our competitors and kept them behind. It feels great to start the second half of the season like this. Next up is Monza, our home race. We will give it our all to make our tifosi proud there.”

*Monegasque F1 driver Charles Leclerc earned his seventh podium of the 2024 season at the Dutch Grand Prix. Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre*

Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur echoed the driver’s words, saying, “We were not very optimistic coming to Zandvoort, but today it went very well for both sides of the garage: we had good starts, good strategy, good pit stops, with both drivers managing their tyres very well… There are still nine races to go, some of them will suit us better than others and we must see what we can do with the new package that is coming soon, but today has certainly been a confidence boost for the team. Tonight, we will allow ourselves to enjoy this podium and as from tomorrow we will focus on Monza.”

Leclerc’s teammate, Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who has started in P10, also put in a good performance on the Circuit Zandvoort and claimed fifth place.

Their combined results at the Dutch Grand Prix add 25 points to Ferrari’s tally in the Constructors’ Standings, solidifying the team’s third place in the rankings. Leclerc retains his third place in the Drivers’ Standings, with 192 points, behind McLaren’s Lando Norris in second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in first.

Read related:

Ferrari’s Leclerc: Competitive upgrades are needed “as soon as possible”

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Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

U Cavagnëtu picnic invitations extended to all Monegasques and their families

by: Stephanie Horsman

25/08/2024

The annual U Cavagnëtu picnic, a celebration of local traditions and family ties organised exclusively for Monegasques and their families by the Mairie de Monaco, is just around the corner.

The Mairie has announced that this year’s U Cavagnëtu picnic will be held at Parc Princesse Antoinette in the Jardin Exotique neighbourhood during the afternoon and evening of 7th September.

The event’s opening activity, a mass on the park’s Omnisports Grounds, will begin at 6:20 pm, after which guests will be invited further into the park to enjoy the festivities.

Music from the U Cantin d’A Roca choir and a jazz quartet, led by Lionel Vaudano, a professor at the Rainier III Academy, will fill the air, and the town hall has also organised a ‘grand ball’ — a first for the U Cavagnëtu picnic — from 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm.

The park will be largely closed in preparation for the event from 2nd to 11th September, and access will only be possible from 5pm on the big day. Only the Cabanon des Jeux, located in the lower part of the park, will remain open to the public, although it will also be closed on the day of the picnic.

Entrance to the U Cavagnëtu party is free upon presentation of a Monegasque identity card or an invitation.

For more information, click here.

Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco

Unique wine experiences in the South of France

by: Niki Borisova

24/08/2024

When it comes to wine tasting in the South of France, the experience extends beyond the traditional. This region, with a rich history of winemaking, offers a diverse range of activities that immerse visitors in the intricacies of a wine experience. Here are Monaco Life’s top picks.

Specialised Wine Tastings

In the Courthezon region, not far from Montpellier, Chateau de Beaucastel stands out as a significant destination for those seeking a deeper understanding of fine wines. This winery has been voted 34^th out of the 50 best vineyards in the world by the World’s Best Vineyards. Here, visitors can taste a selection of the estate’s Grand Vin wines, though it’s important to note that these tastings are by appointment only. For more information, click here: Château de Beaucaste

In Provence, Chateau la Canorgue is known for its organic winemaking. Managed by the fifth generation of the same family, this estate prohibits using chemicals in its wine production. The estate has also gathered significant attention for its appearance in the 2006 film ‘A Good Year’. For more information, click here: chateaulacanorgue.com.

Wine and wellness

Château de Berne, located in the Var region, takes the wine tourism experience one step further. This estate, dating back to the 18^th century, offers more than wine tastings. Visitors can explore the vineyards, participate in educational sessions, and indulge in vinotherapy treatments at the spa. For more information, click here: Château de Berne.

Other places that offer wine-infused spa experiences are Domaine de Manville in Baux de Provence and Château Saint-Martin & Spa in Vence. These spas, set among vineyards, incorporate the beneficial properties of grapes and wine into their treatments, offering options such as wine baths and grape seed exfoliations.

Wine tours

For those interested in exploring multiple wine regions in a single day, the full-day wine tour from Marseille, covering the Bandol and Cassis regions, is a noteworthy option. The tour includes visits to three wineries, where participants can engage in tastings and deepen their understanding of the French wine classification system. For more information, click here: Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille (tripadvisor.com).

A more leisurely option for exploring the region’s wine offerings is a cruise along the Rhône River. This journey includes stops at various wineries along the river, with guided tastings that provide insight into the wines of the Rhône Valley. For more information, click here: vikingrivercruises.com.

Perfect pairings

Wine and truffles are a known combination that complements each other. Provence offers unique experiences, such as truffle hunting with wine in Luberon. This activity combines the region’s famous truffles with its wines, offering participants a chance to witness truffle hunting firsthand and then enjoy a tasting that pairs the earthy flavours of the truffles with local wines. For more information, click here: lespastras.com.

Another unique offering in Provence is the olive oil and wine pairing experience. This activity showcases the region’s tradition of olive oil production and explores the relationship between olive oil and wine. Participants can learn about olive cultivation and then enjoy a tasting session that pairs different varieties of olive oil with local wines. For more information, click here: lespastras.com.

See more:

The top vineyards near Monaco to visit with family and friends

Main photo: Chateau de Massillan

Mpox: WHO declares outbreak a global public health emergency, France readies more than 230 vaccination sites

by: Stephanie Horsman

24/08/2024

France has reacted to the rising number of Mpox cases in Europe, in Africa and across the globe by readying more than 230 vaccination centres around the country, with more in the works, according to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. France has also pledged to send 100,000 vaccines to the African nations most affected by the outbreak.

Writing on social media platform X on 20th August, Attal confirmed that the nation’s health system “is on maximum alert” in light of the rising number of cases of Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.

“We are prepared to face all scenarios and risks,” he continued. “Healthcare professionals have been alerted to the symptoms of the virus and the necessary actions to take. We are also working to strengthen the diagnostic capacities of our laboratories and hospitals to better detect the new, more deadly Clade 1 variant.”

In total, 232 vaccinations centres are understood to be prepared and ready to issue vaccinations against Mpox. It is still unclear exactly who the vaccinations will be recommended for, but Attal has asked the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) to “update its vaccination recommendations by the end of August”.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared Mpox a global public health emergency, and international pledges to send vaccines have been pouring in over the last few days, including from the United States, Japan and the European Union. France’s contribution of 100,000 doses is expected to be distributed within the coming days to the hardest-hit areas in Africa.

Symptoms

Mpox is an infectious disease similar to, but typically less severe than, smallpox. Infected individuals may develop painful rashes, fever, sore throat, headaches and swollen lymph nodes. Lesions can appear anywhere on the body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The illness typically lasts two to four weeks, and while most people recover, the disease can be debilitating.

The virus spreads through contact with infected individuals and can be transmitted through kissing, touching or sexual contact with an infected person. It can also be contracted from animals or contaminated items such as sheets and clothing. Pregnant women who contract the disease can pass it to their unborn children.

According to the WHO, vaccinations can be effective even for those who have recently been exposed to the virus. The vaccine should be administered within four days of exposure or up to two weeks after if no symptoms have appeared.

Photo source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Unsplash

Paralympic torch coming to Antibes

by: Niki Borisova

23/08/2024

Ahead of the launch of the Paralympic Games on 28th August, the port town of Antibes has been chosen as a relay point for the flame as it makes its journey across France for Paris.

On Sunday 25th August, the Paralympic torch will begin its tour of Antibes in the old town at 3.30pm. The course will culminate on the Esplanade du Pré des Pêcheurs at 5pm, where the cauldron will be lit.

Antibes, along with nearby commune Juan-les-Pins, was also a stop on the Olympic torch relay route in June, but the visit by the Paralympic flame has resonated strongly with residents and local officials, who have been working hard over the last few years to improve disability access in and around the historic citadel by investing in Antibes’ public facilities and services.

See more: In pictures: Olympic flame tours the French Riviera

After its stint on the Riviera, the torch will head inland to Lyon on 26th August, before finally ending its journey in Paris the following day.

For more information about the torch’s various routes through France, click here.

Read related:

Crowd cheers on as Princely Family take Olympic flame during historic stop in Monaco

Photo source: Unsplash

Lanzarote, Madrid and Prague among easyJet’s new winter routes from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport

by: Stephanie Horsman

23/08/2024

From sunny island getaways to snowy escapes and city breaks, easyJet is offering its passengers direct routes to six exciting new destinations from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport this autumn and winter. Here are all the details.

Summer isn’t over yet, but holidaymakers eager to get their plans sorted for the winter season will be pleased to hear that easyJet will be offering direct flights to six new destinations from September onwards.

The first to launch is a connection to Agadir in Morocco, a city that enjoys an incredible location between the Atlas Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. This route will begin from 3rd September.

For those eager to explore Prague, flights to the City of a Hundred Spires will commence on 10th October. Madrid will follow soon after, on 27th October. It has been confirmed that there will be four flights per week to the Spanish capital, known for its vibrant cultural scene and cosmopolitan charm.

Starting on 28th October, passengers will also be able to fly to Strasbourg, a city celebrated for its blend of German and French influences and its renowned Christmas Market. Flights to this charming French city will be available five days a week.

Lanzarote in the Canary Islands is the fifth destination to join the winter season schedule. It will launch on 2nd November, and offer those in need of some winter sun the perfect place to unwind and soak up some rays.

Finally, snow bunnies will be thrilled to hear that easyJet will be offering a connection to the Finnish city of Rovaniemi from 30th November. Pack plenty of warm clothes and thermals as winter temperatures can fall as low as -30°C in the winter!

For more information on the destinations served by Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, click here.

Read related:

10 things to see and do in Ventimiglia

Photo source: Jordi Vich Navarro, Unsplash

Month: August 2024

F1: Charles Leclerc takes P3 after tough weekend on the Circuit Zandvoort

U Cavagnëtu picnic invitations extended to all Monegasques and their families