The Riviera Woman

And you thought I was talking about myself, right?!

Well....sort of…..since I am A Riviera woman, and am featured in THE Riviera Woman, an online magazine, as the author of “Solitary Desire – One Woman’s Journey to France.  Watch book trailer HERE.

A big merci to Anna Fill, the e-zine presenter and promoter, who I met a few years ago at one of her events.  Anna started the magazine to “develop a platform that allowed (her) to meet inspirational women and men on the Riviera who are part of the community, giving (her) the chance to raise their profile and hear their story.  (She) also wanted to have a website that promoted art and artists of all kinds.”

The Riviera Woman magazine’s slogan is: “Talk to us because we’ll talk about you. It’s what women do.”  And Anna certainly does it very, very well – Bravo!

The name’s Bond…..James Bond!

Supercars and luxury toys

It’s a world of jaw-dropping supercars and captivating luxury gadgets, where the wealthy mingle with the curious, and multi-million euro cheques are signed amid the revving of V8 engines. It is Top Marques Monaco and it is celebrating a 10-year milestone this April.

Top Marques will feature six new car releases

So what is planned for such an important anniversary of the most exclusive car show in the world? Well, the Principality will play host to no less than six new car launches this year. It is an unprecedented honour and one Steven Saltzman, Top Marques Director, is particularly proud of given that the companies could have chosen to launch their cars in Geneva one month earlier.

In addition, AugustaWestland will be launching its official James Bond helicopter – a VIP 007 version worth three million euros. “The inside is designed by Karl Lagerfeld and it’s all tricked out to be a special edition,” reveals Saltzman. “When you get in you automatically hear the James Bond theme song and it has a special design that is only available on this model.”

Interested parties will have the opportunity to be Bond for a short while thanks to a fly before you buy philosophy. In fact, the show’s motto: ‘See it, drive it, buy it’ applies to most luxury products on show. A section of the port will be privatised and up to 40 cars on show in a pit area that simply oozes speed, action and pure class. “It’s the fourth year we’ve been doing this and it’s just perfect because you get to try the car on a Formula 1 closed circuit,” adds the director.

Is it an effective tool in convincing people to instantly sign on the dotted line? “We estimate that there were about 200 million euros worth of sales last year, so the cars are there to buy, it’s a selling show,” says Saltzman.

If you’re not in the market for a supercar, there’s a 3D racecar simulator that can also give you some cheap thrills. But the show isn’t just about cars. There’s everything from a 302-carat diamond to motorised surfboards and limited edition watches – luxury gadgets, Saltzman calls them, to keep one person entertained while the other is transfixed by cars.

According to the organisers, between 30,000 and 35,000 people visit Top Marques every year, and 2,500 of those individuals are very wealthy. “They come with their cheque books,” says Saltzman, “and 60 per cent come from this area or within three hours drive.”

The 10th edition will take place on 18th to 21st April in the award-winning Grimaldi Forum. 

Credit: Cassandra Tanti for the Riviera Times

Not Your Typical Travel Guide!

FORGET THE FLUFF – get concise and comprehensive information!

Announcing the new release of 

“Sun, Sea & Savoir-Faire”

Includes most everything but the kitchen sink!

A comprehensive, travel information E-book, focusing on the French Riviera. Includes concise transportation information, itinerary suggestion, website links, cultural tips, my personal recommendations, a recipe from my French family, and much more – even a visit to a village house.

Information at your fingertips, to easily access what you need to know and the savoir-faire for how to navigate the Côte d’Azur!

BOOK TRAILER VIDEO:

LOOK INSIDE at the Table of Contents:

Available as an E-book on Amazon &

Available for all E-reader formats on Smashwords

(Coming Soon in paperback)

“Merci beaucoup” to John Stephenson and Debra Fioritto for their valuable input and suggestions.