Parties and more Parties in Punta...

As it happens every year, by December 26th Punta del Este gets crowded. And suddenly, from no activities at all, we start having three or four invitations a night to parties, dinners and other diverse gatherings.

Of course, the first one to "open fire" was the already famous Lacoste Party in La Huella, on the 27th.

Even some French friends of mine told me that on the Air France flight from Paris to Buenos Aires there were people interested in getting the brazelet to get inside.

I was there, together with other 999 people, because in total we were a thousand.

As usual, it was very well organized and this year it had a plus hit: Cyndi Lauper, 80s' rock icon, gave an-hour-long concert with her band at a specially designed stage. With excellent voice and charm, Cyndi was hilarious and even sang barefoot. There was a lot of wind and a little cold, so of course our hair-dos (which hair-dos?) disappeared the minute we stepped out of the car!!

But who cares...? Everything's allowed in Punta... Among other attendees, were sportsmen Diego Forlan, Marat Safin (with a massive tan) and Gaston Gaudio.

Yesterday I also went out, this time to the opening night of Sipan, a peruvian-japanese restaurant in Manantiales. Exquisite cuisine and very beautiful people (Valeria Mazza, for example).

Tonight there's even more events... Will I feel like going to any?

We'll see...
PS: For those who were wondering... Peter Dundas por Pucci dress, Louboutin shoes and Judith Leiber minaudiere...

Feliz Verano 2011... Happy Summer... Buone Vacanze...

Dear Readers,

I want to wish you a wonderful summer of joy, rest, love and luck.

Of course I will be writing my posts, specially every time something calls my attention or moves me, I will be sharing it with you...

Best of luck!

Leaving my green shoes in Paris...

I left my green Charlotte Olympia shoes and my hairy UGGs to switch for the sandals and Havaiianas... I got back from Paris and I'm going to Punta del Este.

Behind are now the cold and the snow, the museums and the exhibits, Paris' shops... Ahead, Christmas and New Year's and the sun of Punta.

Each place and life has its charm and difficulties... as it should be.

All the same, I'll still be posting my stories, my adventures and my feelings.

Although there's a week to go, I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

The cocktail to present Bulgari's Exhibit at the Grand Palais...

... according to the mag Point de Vue, from France...

"Lake Swan," at the Opera Bastille...

As every second Sunday in December, today we had the matinée "Rêve d'Enfants," organized by AROP (Association pour le Rayonement de l'Opera) so that more than a thousand kids can enjoy a performance of the Ballet of l'Opera de Paris. This year, fortunately, the ballet chosen was Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," my all-time favorite.

With the brilliant choreography of Rudolf Nureyev, created in 1964 and specially updated in 1984 for the Opera de Paris, it was a unique show: a marvelous luxury for the eyes, a display of pastel costumes and unreal light when all thirty swans appear on stage with their tutus, white as snow and purity... And the music! And the excellence of the dancers of l'Opera de Paris, who achieve such standards after hours and hours of repetitions and practice. Of course, there are no tickets from now on till February 2011.

I enjoyed it a lot and, as usual, when death captures the Princess-swan, leaving the Prince by himself, I choked with emotion...

Bulgari in Paris...

The remains of yesterday's snow and the strong cold could not prevent the 500 special guests to show up today at the opening of the fantastic exhibition "Bulgari, 125 ans de magnificence italienne" at the Grand Palais.

I wouldn't miss it either so by 7 pm sharp I entered the Grand Palais, with the help of my brave friend Frédérique, who held my arm so I wouldn't stumble and fall in the ice. My green 15-cm-high Charlotte Olympia heels did not make it easy for me. But we made it and were able to greet the host of the evening, Nicola Bulgari, and his wife, who sparkled with an impressive necklace of emeralds and diamonds. But we were unaware of what was waiting for us inside... Over black velvet panels, the jewels reflected all the light!!

A truly spectacular collection because of the designs, the quality of the stones, the size of them (gigantic) and above all, their style, so modern and contemporary, although most of the pieces have 40 to 50 years and still remain perfectly up-to-date.

What I liked best was Elizabeth Taylor's private Bulgari collection, shown on a separated section. Liz Taylor begun by 1962, year in which she shot "Cleopatra" in Rome, a love affair with the Maison Bulgari and became a loyal customer. Well, in fact, it was Richard Burton who gave her in 1964, as a wedding gift, the famous necklace of 16 Colombian emeralds, which included the huge brooch he had already given her for their engagement. I can assure you it's breathtaking... as the rest of the pieces.

Many, many actresses used Bulgari jewels in their movies or premieres... Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Magnani, Ingrid Bergman... In the exhibit at the Grand Palais, various screens constantly show images of those actresses wearing such masterpieces.

Of course many of today's stars were there too and I saw Claudia Cardinale, Clive Owen and, of course, Julianne Moore, who shot Bulgari's latest campaign. She too needed help to climb the steps of the Grand Palais: her Louboutin booties were really high. She was wearing a long-sleeved Lanvin dress and her hair tied in a chignon.

I got back home with my eyes full of sparkles... as it should be...

Julianne Moore

Clive Owen

Julianne Moore, in Bulgari's ads.

Snowy afternoon in Paris...

La Règle du Jeu...

On Tuesday evening I had the honor of being invited to one of the most incredible cocktails in my entire life. Incredible because in a very limited space, that of the famous Café Flore in Boulevard St. Germain, the most distinguished people in today's Culture were gathered together. 

Bernard-Henry Levy celebrated the 20th Anniversary of his cultural magazine "La Règle du Jeu," which he created on a cold November day of 1990 together with 5 other intellectuals and which he commanded with a strong hand all these years, against all obstacles and difficulties. 

The magazine publishes articles on Literature, Philosophy and Arts and now has its own digital version online. No one would miss Bernard's invitation so the place soon turned too small. People waited outside, trying to escape the freezing snow. I first run into Alain Delon, handsome as ever, not minding the cold, with his unbuttoned shirt and grey suit. I told him I have re-seen his movie "La Piscine" this month in Paris and that I've loved it again. He answered me with sadness: "But I'm no longer the same...," so I told him he would be the seductive Alain Delon to Eternity. He then kissed my hand... and the palm of my hand...

Then I had the joy of being introduced to Milan Kundera... As he is one of my favorite writers, I almost fainted in front of him. I told him so, and then again I received two kisses, this time on my cheeks... I also met Vera, his charming wife.

Following the movement of the crowd, I saw Patrick Bruel and Vincent Lindon, another actor I admire. I chatted with Umberto Eco, wearing a green trench, a wrinkled hat (which he kept on all night), and a cigarette hanging from his lips. I told him I was reading his book "Il Cimitero di Praga" and said I've reached the first half... "Well, go on, go on," he said, "the best is yet to come..."

Marisa Berenson also walked by, with a calotte hat on her head, blonder and more beautiful than in pictures. A small grey man passed near me too: it was Roman Polanski.

Around 8 pm Bernard did a speech to thank all of us there, specially the writers and journalists that have contributed with their pieces and articles to the success of La Règle du Jeu.

He then mentioned his latest battle and that of his magazine: avoiding the stoning of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, a woman in prison in Iran, charged for being adulteress (although not yet proved). That's BHL, always fighting to help and support the weakest...

Alain Delon and Bernard-Henry Levy

Dubai...

What could be better than escaping to Dubai for the week-end to avoid the cold and the snow?

Dubai is only 6-hours away from Paris by plane and this time around has the most amazing weather.

So it was not hard for me to decide to visit this incredible city on the Persian Gulf, which is also one of the Emirates belonging to the United Arab Emirates. It is, though, the most cosmopolitan, modern and luxurious one. For the past 20 years, its growth has been impressive and it had become a true metropolis in the middle of the sea and desert, with skyscrapers, malls and 5-star hotels. But the economic meltdown has also affected Dubai and many of those new projects were left undone... enough to see half-made towers, unused cranes and abandonment. 

I've been to Dubai several times and I've seen the changes in urbanization: in 2001, when I went for the first time, big projects were just beginning. Then, in 2008, it was construction at its peak... just before the damn crisis...

Yet, Dubai is still a box of surprises and I loved the new One & Only The Palm Hotel, in the fantastic Jumeirah, one of the three palms... the other two are Jebel Ali and Deira. The palms are a group of streets that link to a main one, which is the trunk, and are completely built over the sea. They are not fully finished, but Jumeraih, with the gigantic The Atlantis Hotel (it has aquariums for walls) is the one with the more significant progresses.

In Dubai everything is excessive. I went to visit the new Burj Khalifa Tower, with its 160 floors, and the Hotel Armani in the first 40. It is said that the Emirate of Abu Dhabi financially helped so the tower could be finished... Anyway, it's still marvelous. I dined at "Il Ristorante," and was impressed by the elegance of the china, of the tablecloths (Italian, of course) and the exquisite cuisine. Still, in Dubai, you can eat properly everywhere.

In the malls, most women wear a foulard over their heads and many the burqa. I try to blend in and respect local traditions, so I use a djellaba, which I love and find very classy.

Pity the stay was so short: only four days and so much to see...

It was snowing when I landed in Paris...