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MONTE CARLO - or, as Somerset Maugham famously said, "A sunny place for shady people!"
Some of those crimes have made international headlines, especially the sad, sorry tale of the death of international banker/financier billionaire Edmond Safra. Let's talk about the happier times, and more fun crimes.
Most people think the country is MONTE CARLO. It's not, it's MONACO, in fact the Principality of
MONACO, and sits perched at the end of one of France's mountains. But, the clever and wily Prince Rainier found two ways to expand his Principality. Building up as far as his landline would go via ginormous skyscrapers, rivaling anything New York has. And, reclamation of the sea by landfill.The whole new area of Fontvielle is reclaimed land, and the brand new harbor jutting way out into the sea allows the largest tourist ships to dock and disgorge their passengers effortlessly. Ah progress. Perhaps, or not.
Monte Carlo is that part of the Principality perched atop the "middle hill" containing it's most famous landmark. THE CASINO DE MONTE CARLO has since the late 1800s been the place the world's richest people and most notorious thieves go for divertissements. A magnificent "palace" in the style of the Grand Epoch, the Casino sits at one end of Casino Square, with it's back side overlooking glorious gardens and the shimmering sea. Standing in front of the Casino, to it's right is the more fun and low key CAFE DE PARIS, where 24/7 you can wine, dine, take a breakfast of any preference, sip cafe au lait all day, and watch the world go by. On the
left side of the Casino is the famed HOTEL DE PARIS, where the ever watchful door staff will elegantly ask "Is Madame registered?" just in case you're wearing less than your Dior and jewels.
Stepping into the lobby of the Hotel de Paris, is again stepping back into the pages of history - and the movies - and the fame and glamour of Monte Carlo. A landmark bronze state of St. Charles, Patron Saintof Monte Carlo, greets all guests, and legend has it that if you rub the horse's hooves you will return to Monte Carlo. The poor thing has been rubbed so often, even the bronze is worn away.
A little to the left of the Hotel de Paris is the equally famous L'HERMITAGE HOTEL. Again, in the grand and glorious Belle Epoch style. This magnificent building is perched precariously on the edge of the mountain. A quaint story Princess Grace once told me was that as Prince Rainier liked to pull down smaller buildings and build much taller buildings (so much more money for the coffers), L'Hermitage was doomed to the builder's wrecking ball.
Princess Grace then told the Prince, over breakfast, that she was on record that, if the builder's even approached the building she, the Princess of Monaco, together with some friends would chain themselves to the doors of the Hotel. Then, if the plan were to go through, they would have to bulldoze through the Princess. With that, and I am sure many other fierce arguments, Princess Grace saved the L'Hermitage for all of us to love and enjoy forever.
Both these hotels are owned by SBM - or, the Societe de Bains de Mer, a collaboration with major gambling influences and the Prince and Principality. It's most notorious regime - and it's most successful needless to say - was when it was co-owned by Aristotle Onassis and the Prince. Those were the halcyon days of elitist Monaco/Monte Carlo. And those were amongst the shadiest days.
MORE TO COME....................
July 4, 2023
