If you're anything like me, you'll be panicking this week because suddenly, Christmas is only a few days away. It's easy enough to get the tree and tinsel up, and I've got a stack of cards stamped and ready to send. What about the gifts 'tho? The Man and I usually exchange bottles of wine and boxes of Puyricard chocolates, but for Secret Santa and for family, a bit more imagination is required. So over the weekend I toured the Metropole Shopping Centre and trawled the internet for ideas for Monaco themed gifts. Here's what I found:
Chocolates
Established in 1920, the Chocolaterie de Monaco has a cafe and shop on the Rock (20 Rue Princesse Marie de Lorraine), and sells online too. You can buy individual chocs in a box (1.80 euros) or, if you're expecting family, friends, neighbours, Father Christmas and all his elves, you might be justified in purchasing the 2570 g Coffret Princier (229.90 euros). For something less ostentatious:
- Declaration, three chocs in a heart-shaped box, 7.90 euros
- Revelation, six crown-shaped pralines, 14.90 euros
Booze
For an authentic taste of Monaco, L'Orangerie uses bitter oranges harvested from the trees that line the Principality's streets to make its liqueur. We visited the boutique and workshop in September and were treated to a Monaco Spritz, which uses the orange liqueur as its base. For Christmas lunch, splash some on your pud or drink it straight, over ice to enjoy as a digestif.
- 500 ml bottle in gift box, 28 euros
- pack of three 50 cl bottles, 18 euros (if you're flying home, suitable for hand luggage)
Baubles
Last year I made the mistake of buying a Monaco FC home kit for my nephew, whose father is a huge fan of Newcastle United. If the intended recipient is not so partisan, the club's pack of two Christmas tree baubles (15 euros) is pretty and decorative. One is white, the other red, and each is stamped with a gold Monaco FC crest. Buy from the club's online store or visit the shop at Promenade Honore II.
Books, Music, Movies
Louis Vuitton's Fashion Eye albums are coffee table books for lovers of travel, fashion and photography. The Monaco edition takes a tour of the Principality through the eyes of Helmut Newton, the German-Austrian fashion photographer. His erotic, stylised images featured primarily in Vogue magazine.
- Monte Carlo: Helmut Newton, 50 euros
Plenty of fictional stories use Monaco and Monte Carlo Casino as settings. One of my favourites is a lesser known 1955 novella by Graham Greene, Loser Takes All. It was written as an "entertainment" by Greene, who is considered to be one of the greatest English writers of the 20th century. Available from Amazon for Kindle (5.13 euros) or in paperback (17.23 euros).
Classical music connoisseurs might prefer a CD released by Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra on its OPMC Classics label. The album contains Stravinsky's The Firebird, Pulcinella, The Rite of Spring, and Petrushka (50.50 euros from Amazon). Russian born, American Yakov Kreizberg conducts the orchestra.
Or how about a DVD of the 1972 documentary Weekend of a Champion (7.98 euros from Amazon). Directed by Roman Polanski, the movie follows Jackie Stewart around Monaco as he prepares to compete in the Grand Prix.
Motoring Memorabilia
Monaco's fame is largely spread around the world by its annual automobile competitions. Monte Carlo Rally was first organized in 1911, and the Grand Prix in 1929. So my final suggestions are for a couple of knick-knacks that draw on the motoring history of the Principality:
- Monte Carlo Rally mouse mat, 8 euros
- F1 tyre key ring, 14 euros
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