Sanremo Festival: Chapter 1

As a child, one of the most awaited events was the Sanremo Song Festival!  I wished for it with a mixture of excitement, pleasure and curiosity...

Do remember that I lived in Montepulciano, a small, antique and chic town, but a town after all, where nothing ever happened, and by the end of the 60s... Internet was very far from existing in my life!

Anyway, I loved preparing my dolls for the big event, to sit them next to me in front of the TV set (which, obviously, was black & white). Beautiful night dresses and gowns were required. I loved it all... the music, the singers, the scandals...

Many decades have gone by now and I come across the Festival once more... I thought I have forgotten all about it... But I'm in Europe, and I've been to Italy the past couple of days, and EVERYONE there was taking about the big musical event of the peninsula! 

So I decided to take this week to enjoy this incredible kermess: a true symbol of my beloved Italy in 2010.

To begin with, Festival's nights, which used to be three, are now five.

The live broadcast lasts three hours minimum and has already shown princes (Emanuele-Philiberto de Savoia, already a winner of 2009 Dancing with the stars, is presenting with Tuscan singer Pupo and a tenor a lousy version of "Italia, amore mio," which, in case you don't know, is about the exile of the Savoia, ex kings of Italy), queens (yesterday's guest of honor was Queen Rania of Jordan, stunning in her black Armani Privé, who happily talked about her humanitarian work, relaxed and visibly in love with Italy), Susan Boyle (the talented English singer who's a complete success in spite of her looks) and even Dita Von Teese (the famous stripeuse presented a show in which she ended with an olive in a huge Martini glass, with almost no clothes on - but hey, not entirely naked... it's the RAI, remember?).

Dita Von Teese

Special Guest, Queen Rania of Jordan

And then, of course, there's the singers, all of whom present new songs to compete for the grand award of this year's Sanremo Festival, which celebrates its 60th edition. 

My personal favorite?

Malika Ayane. Lovely song. A true symbol of today's Italy. Her father's from Morocco and her mother's from Milano... When I was little it was enough to come from Naples to be considered a foreigner...

Thank God the World changes...

I must say something about the Festival's hostess: Antonella Clerici, a very blond, curvy Italian of 46, who used to have a daily cooking TV show around noon.

She moves very spontaneously around the huge stage (which no longer is black & white but instead very colorful and full of lights) and is not afraid to laugh at her own gaffes. 

I'll keep watching tonight and tell you all about it tomorrow...!

Malika Ayane's song

Mardi Gras

Today's Mardi Gras, a celebration that I've always found intriguing, even as a child.

Today's the last day of the Carnival season, before Lent begins tomorrow. So we can say that's the last day to celebrate before the 40-day-period of prayer, fasting and penitence. 

Mardi Gras is the name given to the famous Carnival celebrations in New Orleans, Luisiana and Mobile, Alabama (US). The name derives from the French and could be translated as Fat Tuesday and it's always celebrated before Ash Wednesday.

Tradition in US began when Louisiana was conquered by the French. There are documents circa 1699 mentioning Mardi Gras celebrations, although it is hard to point an real origin date. However, by 1743, it seemed a quite established tradition. Along all these centuries, authorities tried to ban the festivities, but Mardi Gras would reappear stronger than ever... even in spite of the restrictions.

After the Katrina disaster, New Orleans' Carnival celebrations were a bit humble, but they were never cancelled or postponed, because they occupy an important role in the city's cultural tradition.

Happy Mardi Gras to you all! 

Year of the Tiger...

Happy Chinese New Year!!!
And good luck to all of you belonging to the sign of the Tiger!

The tragic death of Alexander McQueen...

I've just arrived home wanting to write a post about my lovely afternoon of window shopping around the trendiest boutiques in Paris, in spite of the cold winter day, full of snow...

But as I checked my mail, I got a message from my producer, Carla, with the saddest news... Alexander McQueen was found dead, after killing himself at age 40.

He was so talented... It's worth remembering him and let's hope his soul may find eternal peace...

Born in 1969 in London's East End, son of a taxi driver, at an early age Mc Queen started making dresses for his three sisters and then announced his intentions of becoming a fashion designer. He graduated from the prestigious St. Martins College of Art & Design of London and his talent soon caught the attention of Savile Row's tailors Anderson & Shepard. He then worked for Koji Tatsuno and Romeo Gigli before opening his own boutique. 

With his own brand he became famous among the British thanks to his revolutionary designs, supported by a loyal clientele with many fashionistas, as stylist Isabella Blow, who also committed suicide three years ago.

In October 1996 he won the Best British Designer of the Year Award and later that year he was chosen to replace John Galliano as Head Designer at Givenchy, because of his "brilliant creativity and craftsmanship." 

In 1997, year in which he presented four collections for Givenchy and two for his own brand, he shared the Best Designer Award with John Galliano.

In December 2000, Francois Pinault's Group, owner of Gucci, bought his label, which allowed him to quit Givenchy and LVMH which, he said, limited his creativity. 

Also considered an "enfant terrible," his talent and artistic vision transformed him into one of the big names of fashion design of all time.

McQueen's style was brutal but lyric, gothic yet sensitive, as if becoming from a Fairy tale. His critics, none the less, accused him of being too gore and misogynic. 

However, his designs always had a certain femininity that attracted clients as Björk or even the Duchess of Westminster.

In 2003 he launched his first perfume, Kingdom, and a Men's Collection done to order at Savile Row. 

He also presented collections at Paris' Fashion Weeks and had stores in the main cities of the Word.

Rest in Peace, Alexander.

Images of his last Spring 2010 Collection.

You can see the entire photos of the runway show here.

Valentine's day!

Next Sunday's Valentine's day, a world feast to celebrate love and lovers!
Take this week to prepare for the occasion and surprise your significant other...
There's much to do: buy sexy lingerie, prepare a candle-light dinner, imagine erotic encounters and much, much more!
Let you imagination run wild...

Wedding in Paris, on a cold Saturday...

I've just returned from a grand Parisian wedding....

Five-hundred guests in the Hotel Gueneguad of the Rue des Archives, which holds the Maison de la Chasse et de la Nature. Paul-Charles Ricard, heir of one of France's most important industrial families, wed this afternoon, at the antique and amazing Saint Eustache church, with his all-time girlfriend, Alice Déchelette.

Saint Eustache Church is famous for having the largest organs in France. Its construction began in 1553, in the heart of Paris, near Les Halles but it was finished almost a 100 years after, in 1637.

Louis XIV, Colbert, Molière, among others, were baptized there.

So back to the wedding, it was Jean-Paul Gaultier himself who designed the dress of the bride and that of the mother of the groom, who's a dear friend of mine and one of the most important ladies in Parisian society.... and a very beautiful one. As the bride is very young, only 23, Gaultier thought for her a dress inspired in a classic ballerina, with many tulles and a cashmere cache-cour to resist the cold of winter.

In her hair she used big roses in pastel colors, à la Frida Kalho. A very fresh and juvenile look.

The mass was sensational, with organ concerts of Bach and Vivaldi, and a soprano singing Schubert's Ave Maria, bringing everyone to tears!

For a change, it was raining outside, so we had to run to get ready for the grand soirée.

An enchanted winter garden was "built" on the huge terrace of the Hotel Gueneguad, kind of resembling Narnia. Of course, tout Paris was there, from the famous millionaire and art patron, Francois Pinault to Dita Von Teese, girlfriend of Louis-Marie Castelbajac, musician and son of designer Jean-Charles. Among other guests were Roselyn Bachelot, Rachida Dati, the Rothschild, the Boucheron, the Guerrand Hermés, the Bragance and even Inés Sastre.

All the women wore their best diamonds and rocks and couture dresses from Dior, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino...

I wore my black Valentino dress, the same Jennifer Aniston wore to the Golden Globes this year... which I already had.

Francois Pinault, who sat at my table, followed the football match between Bordeaux and Rennes, which he owns, by phone and all the while he was telling us of the new exhibitions to be opened in Paris, specially that of Lucien Freud, who has not been showing his art here for 15 years. That's to open on March 10th.

After an excelent dinner with Chateau Petrus wine, we went to the dance floor below, to dance to the music of the DJ of "Le Baron," one of Paris trendiest discos.

I danced a little but I came back home early to be able to share all of this with you.

Good night!

Paris, Paris...

February in Paris, cold and rainy... but beautiful all the same!

February is the month of the Winter Holidays and French ski areas and resorts, such as Courchevel (the St. Tropez of the snow) are full of people... it seems that there's a lot of snow this year! 

And for those who stay in town, as myself, there's plenty to do too. 

To begin with, many exhibitions in museums and galleries. And then, there's the many charming and unique restaurants, such as the one at the Hotel Costes, or L'Avenue, or the old Stresa, or Al Dente and, why not, the lovely Brasserie Lipp, at St. Germain, a classic. And to have the best foie gras in all Paris, L'Ami Louis. I do go often, but I usually ask for the grilled chicken... a pity, really. In all those nice places you feel like home, which is just what you need in winter, when it's cold and grey outside.

Another thing to do, of course, is going to the cinema. There are plenty of new movies now and it's best to go see them on the theaters around Champs-Elyseé.

Today, for instance, I went to see "A serious man," directed by the Cohen brothers. An exceptional film about the Jewish religion and the many questions Larry, the main character, poses to three Rabi unable to answer him. 

It's worth seeing it, with its black humor and all...

Have a good night sleep!

New Beauty Section on our Blog!

Dear readers!

Due to the many requests and questions we've been receiving, we want to tell you than from today we have a new section: BEAUTY, entirely dedicated to subjects related to beauty, personal care, health and well-being.

You can find it on the left column of our blog.

We really hope you like it and enjoy it!

Escape to New York...

1After a 10-hour flight and leaving behind Buenos Aires' overwhelming hot weather, I've finally arrived to a  freezing New York, with snow and temperatures below -1°C!!

How will my body react to such climate shock?

Well, so far so good, but I had to unpack my ear-muffs, my coat, my gloves and socks... in fact, everything I've been avoiding these past 6 weeks...

And how did I find my beloved New York?

Calm, very calm. "Everyone's in Palm Beach," my friend Debbie told me at lunch, "or in Aspen, Bahamas or Punta del Este..."

It's because January and February are low seasons for tourism here, there's the winter holidays and it's so cold... There's not much shopping to do either: there are some remains of past sales, 75% off the original price, but all very manipulated and in extravagant sizes only...

And as for window shopping, many stores are presenting their 2010 Spring-Summer collections, although with the cold and all they look weird and little tempting...

So it's mostly a time for visiting exhibitions. The Guggenheim has a few good ones: there's one on expresionism before World War I, there's another one called "Paris and the Avant-Garde", which opened on January 23rd, and there's the Thannhauser Collection also.

Another option is to visit (again!) the Frick Museum, which never disappoints...

New York has something for everyone!

Last Saturday in Punta del Este...

The weather is lovely, it's hot and tonight there was no need to use my usual rubber band to tie my hair during the dinner party offered by Ada de Maurier at the Parador Acqua... There was no wind so my hair-do resisted all night! There were stars in the sky and a bellissima croissant moon...

But all must come to an end and on Monday I'll be leaving... Buenos Aires, New York and Paris. Everything different: food, languages, weather, clothes (I've forgotten how to dress for winter!), houses, friends... A 180º turn just when I have gotten used to living in Punta...

However, I will still be writing my posts, telling you rather more international stuff than local...

But I'll for sure miss my daily trips to Tienda Inglesa (Punta's top supermarket), the events organized by Grupo Mass+, Diana's hairdressing salon, reading El País every morning, going to Maldonado's street markets every Sunday and the Uruguayan drinking mate with their thermos under their arms...

... And my morning walks (6 km a day!) following the Mansa coastline.

Another summer comes to an end, at least for me. Another of the many summers spent here in Punta del Este, many joyful, others extremely painful. But that's Life, right? With its miseries and splendors.

Ciao Summer in Punta. See you next year...

Hello Paris...

Here I come...

Golden Globes 2010... under the rain!!!

And for once, we had a rainy Golden Globes...
How weird to see all those Hollywood stars under umbrellas, so like normal people...
I know that they are common mortals like us, but seeing them on screen, playing so many different roles, gets you under the impression that they are immune to stuff like rain, cold or any other human misery...
But yesterday it rained hard in Los Angeles and all those actresses who chose curly, wavy or straight hair-dos, had it difficult! Or as Young Victoria's Emily Blunt put it: "I'm English, I'm used to it..."
Anyway, the rain took nothing from a ceremony that was traditional, elegant and glamorous as always...
There were so many fantastic dresses that I get confused... All I can say is that there was a clear tendency to one-shoulder straight long dresses... Of those I saw plenty! They were just like the one I want to wear for the big wedding party I have in Paris on February 6th... But I want mine in red!
I loved the dark green Dior that Marion Cotillard wore and it went perfectly with her chignon...
I also liked Penélope Cruz, who's one of my favorite actresses and looked charming yesterday with her black Armani Privé and her loose hair.
Awful was Nicole Kidman's beige Nina Ricci... it matched her skin tone!
On the contrary, and not because she's Italian as myself, I liked what George Clooney's girlfriend, Elisabetta Cannalis, wore: it was a creamy Versace, that went well with her skin type.
I saw many Elie Saab (a libanese designer who works in Paris), various Roberto Cavalli and some Marchesa (like Kate Hudson's)... also a lot of mistakes!
As for the men, my favorite was Thomas Jane... He's not so popular here yet but he's gonna be a huge star... You must see his TV series "Hung."
I also liked Robert Downey Jr., a great actor and quite goodlooking. Among the elders, Jeff Bridges was OK.
All in all, it was a nice show, an entreé before our main course: the Oscars, coming soon in a month...

Marion Cotillard's Dior

Penélope Cruz by Armani Privé

Robert Downey Jr., nominated for "Sherlock Holmes"

PS: I'm thrilled by the Foreign Film Golden Globe awarded to Michael Haneke's The White Ribbon... great movie!

Last party of the summer in Punta...

Three weeks after going to the first party of the 2010 summer season, today I went to the last one: Fiat's at Tequila, the best and most popular nightclub here.

Again, I met Franco Macri, Cristiano Rattazzi (tonight's host), Nacha Guevara, with her lovely Louboutins, and all the socialites of this summer...

Many nice people, models, actors and businessmen... Cristiano is much appreciated by us all...

And of course, all the press and paparazzis...

I wore a black Azzaro with a stone necklace.

Tomorrow I'll be back in Buenos Aires and I would have left behind this huge bubble of pleasure, distraction and frivolity. It's time to pay attention to much serious stuff... like providing help of Haiti's survivors for instance.

As Scarlet O'Hara says on the last paragraph of Gone with the Wind: Tomorrow's another day...

Gente's Vamp Rock Party

As I've been telling you for some time now, the party season is coming to an end...

Tonight I went to the one organized by Gente Magazine, a classic...

The dress code asked for pink, which could be on your entire outfit, or just on accessory or even only on your make-up.

Where? At the terrace of the Conrad Hotel, which has a beautiful view but it's windy enough to ruin any hairdo or brushing... As I have learned from past experiences, I placed a rubber band on my glitter pink Judith Leiber minaudiere and, after the usual pictures at the entrance, I tied my hair in a more comfortable pony tail.

The party was fun and it still looked like it was going to last for long when I left... People fought hard to get past the strict controls at the entry. The terrace was full. Fortunately there were one or two VIPs (private places, slightly elevated from the rest of the floor, where friends and hosts can sit and see everyone comfortably) and though the wind was worst there, no one wanted to get back to Earth...

The party begun with a hard rock show by Pablo Bañares, plastic surgeon and mesotherapist on his free time, a true rocker in soul. Then there was a long demonstration of spectacular fireworks on the beach in front. And just after that I would have gone back home when someone whispered that we had to wait for the special guest, to arrive in a private plane from Mar del Plata: the one and only, Ricardo Fort, Argentina's new popular icon.

I wouldn't miss it, so I stayed and saw most of the runway-show, inspired in vamp rock women: the best bodies of the season walked the runway barely covered, with horns, devil tails and all... The men were mad!

Pampita, Dolores Barreiro, Deborah Bello and more...

But the cold was stronger than me and I went back home defeated...

I asked my friends that if Ricky Fort finally showed up, to tell him that I would gladly invite him home, all healthy food, of course. He could explain to me his gym routine and, in return, I could give him some fashion advice...

Will he come?

More pictures of the party here.

Nacha Guevara and her shoes...

Last days of parties here in Punta del Este... that is, last days of events followed by journalists from Caras and Gente... there's still going to be private gatherings...

Or at least, I hope so...

Tonight, at Yoo, the building designed and decorated by Phillippe Starck, in the theatre near the magnificent pool on the first floor, the active and efective guys from Mass+ Group (Wally Diamante and Facundo Garayalde) gathered a group of people to attend a show by Nacha Guevara, with Alberto Favero by the piano.

Julio Bocca, Ricardo Piñeiro and many others (but not that many) were among the invited.

It was fun, mainly because of the general mood, very relaxed, with people sitting on comfortable couches and sofas, listening to the music.

Nacha, of course, was fantastic as ever, full of energy and youth.

I was marvelled, though, by her Christian Louboutin shoes... with lace and extra high heels. Definitely a pair of his latest collection which I don't have and have included on our Object of Desire section some time ago...

They looked great on her...

Ok, so Good Night to you all.

I'm exhausted.

Nacha's Louboutin

A night with Julio Iglesias...

Last thing I imagined this morning is that I would end up going to the first of three shows Julio Iglesias is offering at the Conrad Hotel, in Punta del Este...

I haven't thought of him in years... except when, from time to time, I check the Hola at the hairdresser and see pictures of his wonderful family and his absolutely perfect five children.

As for his music... well... I grew up listening to him, but now the oldest band I follow is Coldplay!!

But today, when a journalist friend came home for my usual summer interview for her TV program and said that she had tickets, we decided to go.

Entering the Conrad lobby is a show itself... it feels like being in Las Vegas (although, as I told you before, I've never been to Vegas... but did see many movies!), and I loved that atmosphere, as if  we were somewhere else in the World. Among the audience I saw Valeria Mazza, who's not giving interviews these days because she does not feel like wearing make-up, and Ricardo Fort's mother, who very much feels like doing so...

But above all, I loved seeing once again the most popular Spanish artist on Earth. Or at least, he used to be...

The show was well produced, with a couple of Argentine tango dancers, and two very, very beautiful choir girls... One of them, the one from the Dominican Republic, could perfectly well run for Miss Universe or even challenge Megan Fox. And there was also a solo singer, with a voice similar to that of Leona Lewis, and a great orchestra.

And then, there was him... the same voice still, or maybe better, I think...

His look is stuck in 1973, though: black jacket, and a black vest with four buttons. It killed me. And his hair... so abundant and... dark. I'm not being mean about this... it's just some considerations on style.

The audience, though, mainly between 35 and 70 years old, seemed not to care about those details...

And he is such a professional, always joking about himself, age and sex, and still kissing the women on stage with him, vampire-like, as if sucking youth from them... no exaggerations here...

But we loved it. After 40 years of shows (how many has he done? 6.000... 10.000?), he still has it.

A true artist.

More tips for dressing on a budget...

It's true that it's not easy to find something elegant, chic and glamorous while being on a budget... but hey, it's not impossible!

For starters, avoid embroidered stuff because if they are not first quality or hand-sewn, then they sure look ordinary and cheap. Also run from synthetic silk... And you well know how I feel about prints!

What I do like is night dresses in one single color. All-black, of course. But also an all-red look, which at night makes every girl look sexy and beautiful, mysterious and intriguing... I've never been happier than when dressed in red. In summer, a long white dress can do wonders, specially with a light tan, achieved thanks to good sunscreens.

If you have nice shoulders and arms (you can shape them with hard wotk and exercise), go for strapless dresses. And if you want to feel sexy, wear a gown with no cleavage on the front but a good one on the back. Pair it with long earrings (you can get cheap ones on the beach, for instance) and use your hair naturally or untidily done into a bun. See the Golden Globe Awards on 01/17 or the Oscars in February for some red carpet inspirations...

And don't forget shoes... heels!!! They are a must with night dresses, unless you are 1.78 mts.

If you have an important occasion  and want to be sensational, ask your boyfriend, or husband, or best friend to take pictures of you, with the dress and make-up on a few days earlier so that you can see how you look and feel... You can even ask them to tape you too! Then see what you like and what you don't of the entire outfit... and proceed!

This will give you confidence, which after all is the best of garments.

I've been told Nicole Kidman and many other stars do this...

So why not you...?

Tips to get dressed with small budgets...

For some time now, many readers of our blog have been asking me for advice to get dressed with style but on a budget...

On this particular summer night I feel inspired and, instead of dinning out or going to some party, I rather stay home and share with you my views on the matter...

To begin with, it is important that you know yourself, know the pros and cons of your body. To achieve this, nothing better than a full-body high-quality mirror...

If you are slightly overweight, then say no to flounces, prints, flowers and wide skirts. Go for complete ensambles in one color, such as black or maybe blue, which is not so popular but very chic too. Grey is another good option, specially if it's winter or if you are blond.

If you have big breasts, use cleavages in V forms and avoid the squared ones. You can also wear turtlenecks that are very elegant.

Of course, if you are skinny thin and tall, do use clothes with flounces... but prudently, though.

A last key point: the length of the skirt.

I hate skirts that cover the knees! That length looks good on no-one. It makes us look smaller and with shorter legs. It's a must for me. Every time I buy a garment, I adapt it to my desired length no matter the views of designers... How many times have I redone an Oscar de la Renta dress to fit my body!

If you are on a budget, buy basics and take good care of them. Iron them every time you use them and if you find a stain, send it right away to dry-cleaning or, if allowed by the label, wash it at home. Brush your clothes and keep them in special plastic bags (which are not expensive).

As basics I understand a straight skirt to the knee (it's what Americans call the pencil skirt), preferably in black, and a white well-ironed cotton shirt, to be used folding its sleeves right to your elbow. To that outfit add a wide important belt and your are done!

Use black classic shoes, please. Or sandals, with a comfortable heel. I love extremely high heels... but I understand that it's not something for everyone. If you want to try how sky-high heels feel like, practice at home: wear them a few hours every day and see how they suit you. Do not go out with them till you are completely sure.

Don't go for too much jewelry. A pair of discreet earrings will do. And as for bags... please say no to FAKES!!! My mother used to say that it's better a plastic purse than a fake Hermés or L.Vuitton. I totally agree.

The same straight skirt works well with a white t-shirt in summer or a turtleneck sweater in winter. And to achieve a super sexy look, try a white or creamy silk shirt as the ones I saw on the Di Doménico runway show (the best items of the collection).

Well, more on my next post...

Delayed Flights...

For three weeks now I've been traveling back and forth from Buenos Aires to Punta del Este. And everytime I travel, flights are delayed. Sometimes it's 40 minutes... others is 3 or 4 hours!

My friends who have visited me here in Punta haven't been any luckier.

But what's going on?

Until today I have never come across a single article on the press explaining the reasons for such annoying delays, specially on a high holiday season here, where every minute counts and one does not feel like spending a lovely sunny day waiting in the airport, with no one giving an explanation above "inconveniences at the control tower in Montevideo..."

On an Aerolíneas Argentinas flight on January 5th, the Captain of the flight very kindly explained to us passangers, while we were seated on the plane under the killer sun, that employees at Montevideo's control tower were working to rule and allowing planes every 10 minutes. And, if for any reason (such a Customs problem or a passenger delayed on the Duty Free shops) we lost our turn, we had to go back in line, after all the other planes waiting... just as if we were playing Monopoly!!

I ask myself: is it now, in the middle of Summer, the time for employees at Montevideo to be working to rule, specially in a country which receives mayor income from Tourism? What about the foreign visitors who came convinced by myself speaking wonders of the beaches of Punta del Este, took flights from Rome, Paris, London or New York, did 14-hour travels to Buenos Aires and from there tried to fly here and worst, return back to Buenos Aires in time for there connecting flights??? What explanation can we give them?

Finally today one of Uruguay's most important newspapers, El País, published an article with a distressing title: Punta's Airport: no solution for delays.

According to the article, in a high season like this 16 employees would be needed at the control tower, but there's only 8 and all the inconveniences begun when one called-in sick and there was no one to replace him. On December 31st, Laguna del Sauce's Airport registered 170 flights... so you can imagine the delays. Airlines do not take responsibility for the loss of connections, the changes in the schedules of the crew or any other complaint passengers make. Many Ministers of Tabare's Administration expressed their concern, but it seems there won't be a solution for the lack of personnel till 2012!!!

It takes time to prepare and train new employees...

A rather disturbing panorama for us travelers between Punta del Este and Uruguay...

Maybe we should prepare ourselves to travel as Caronte, not with a load of souls, but with our luggages and take Buquebus?

You can read the full article on El País by clicking here.

Di Doménico's Fall-Winter 2010 runway show

Another classic Punta del Este event: today, at sunset, I went to the Fall-Winter 2010 runway show of Carlos Di Doménico and César Juricich.

Apart from being talented designers, Carlos and César are really charming, funny and nice people! They complement each other... Carlos is a Leo and César is a Scorpio so, for those who understand astrological personalities as I do, there's nothing more to say!

Their annual summer show is usually held on the gardens of Shirley Serna's house (she is Hotel Conrad's  manager), but this year as the demand for tickets increased, a few days ago they decided to use the terraces on the second floor of the Conrad. There's an unbelievable view of the Mansa beach from there and by 8.30 / 9.00 pm you can enjoy the loveliest of sunsets... and if you are lucky enough, maybe you can even experience the green lightning appearing as the sun hides under the sea.

The only thing bothering us on the terrace was the unstoppable wind, tangling up our hairdos.

But you can have it all!

So we arrived at the hotel and got seats on the front row, just beside Susana Giménez, who was there with daughter Mercedes. Susana is an incredibly charming woman, natural and spontaneous, just as she appears on TV. As she sat, like a horde of annoying flies, photographers, cameramen, fans and women seeking a picture with her, fought to get a glimpse of her. It was maddening!

Security people were unsuccessfully trying to keep everyone in place. Even I felt harassed!

It must not be easy to be such a star as she is and still be charming and nice to everyone and listen to compliments and say nice things to each one... I congratulate her!
For those who are wondering, she was wearing a tight black sequined pant, with an also sequined vest and a white shirt.

After all this fuss, Teté Coustarot appeared on stage and announced the beginning of the show, which was really good actually, with lots of colors and many many dresses, some in electric blue... a color that looks great with a summer tan!

Most of Ricardo Piñeiro's models were there, from Mariana Arias (very chic) to Dolores Barreiro and Ingrid Grudke, and many young new girls whose names I don't know. All of them were wearing untidy chignons because of the wind.

By the end of the show, Carlos and César walked the runway to greet everyone. They were both identically dressed: jeans, black smoking jackets, and blue ties.

They are definitely our Dolce & Gabbana.

I left for home soon to tell you everything on this post.

PS: The hit of the night? Judith Leiber's Swarovski parrot minaudière my sister wore. The name of the parrot-bag is Scarlett and Scarlett in Italian can be translated as Rosella.

Une Nuit à Phuket

Party Night in Punta del Este...

As every year, Chandon gathered the "tout Punta" for their traditional all-white party.

This year it was held at the new facilities of the splendid new private neighbourhood called Pueblo Mío, on the route 104, behind Manantiales.

Official guests? 800.

Party-crashers? Many...

This is one of Punta's favorite summer sports: crashing at parties everyone is talking about when you are not invited. This summer we had crashers at the parties of Shakira, of the financier JP Bailey on December 31st and of the Libanese magnate Laith Pharaon last saturday. So security crews here have a big time screening people at the entrance, checking whether they have the mandatory colored bracelet that enables the entry to Paradise...

Sometimes these people get to physically fight their way in... it's just something that adds to the mythology of summers in Punta.

But back to Pueblo Mío and the Chandon party, the dress code at the invitation was rather intriguing: all-white with a touch of Thai.

I was perplexed... a Thai detail?

I've never been to Thailand, nor to the world-celebrated beaches of Phuket.

The only Thai thing I know is the food...

A friend called at night to suggest that the Thai detail had to be orange...

Orange? Why? So that we could pass as one of the Dalai Lama's followers?

Bah. A white and gold long Marchesa saved the night for me, as an embroidered Azzaro (with some orange stones in fact) did the trick for my sister, my best partner for this type of excursions...

The party was great... Many friends and Punta's usuals: Franco Macri, Cristiano Rattazzi, Adolfo Cambiaso, Sebastián Eskenazi, many models with never-ending legs, young good-looking men and the last Europeans enjoying their time here before hitting the cold weather of the old continent. All the journalists and paparazzis working here showed up to see who was coming and who wasn't.

Champagne à gogó, white and rosé, and lots of music. Of course, we all wore white.

Oh... and what about the Thai detail? Well, some wore necklaces, others chose pashminas, some preferred hindu shirts...

There was such a party mood... it was hard to think of the situation in Yemen or the possible new war, of the existing wars, of the recession, of the cold or the efforts some must make to earn their living...

So much white got me thinking on Angels. Was this really Paradise on Earth? Is this why there were so many party-crashers fighting their way in.

It's hard for some to go back to reality.

As for myself... I went back home early, as usual.

Beauty tips for your skin...

Many readers of my humble blog have been asking me for some beauty tips for their skins, specially around this time of the year.

I know it might be hard to put this into practice but my main advice is... DO NOT sunbathe without protection!!!

And I'm telling this not only to protect your face, but also your body. Sun-exposure wrinkles the skin of your face, but also that of your arms (then women of more than 40 wonder why they have their skin hanging all over), your knees, your belly and your calf.

In the morning, before going outdoors, may it be sunny or not, and after using a cleansing milk or lotion (that depending on your skin type), wear some hydrating cream and then sunblock, and with it cover face, neck and neckline (+ 50 SPF minimum). For the rest of the body, a +30 protection will do.

A good nice tip to avoid looking white and corpsy is to mix some drops of colour foundation or self-tanner to your sunscreen. If you'll be spending all day on the beach, use a hat and re-aply your sunblock at least twice, specially if you like swimming.

When I get back from the beach I like cleansing my face again and using a refreshing and hydrating face mask. Only after doing so, I think about make-up.

I do agree that a tan on your face does look nice and even makes us feel younger and healthier... But beware... it's just a trick!

After the tan fades, only spots and wrinkles will stay...

Your is the choice...

Sigfried and the others...

... And so came the sun!

Finally, after days and days of grey skies, rain and fog, today we had a wonderful sunny day...

And Punta del Este is a fabulous place with sun, and an awful one with lousy weather.

As any other place, one might say. But I don't agree...

Why?

Because it is my theory that everything men did in this place is mediocre, while everything Nature did here is grandiose.

And with the sunny weather, along came the turists and visitoris. Brasilians, Argentines, Paraguayan and celebrities...

That's a new category of visitors for Punta del Este. And I mean top celebrities as those who go to St. Tropez, St. Barth, Miami or Marrakech. The first one to show up was Kevin Bacon, with wife Kyra Sedgwick. But his visit was a matter of timing... he is in fact shooting in Argentina.

It is said that Uma Thurman is in José Ignacio; so is Naomi Campbell and Eva Herzigova; that Bruce Willis is to arrive on January 4th to be DJ in a private party.

And I found out today that Richard Gere is, not exactly in Punta, but in Minas, Lavalleja. It seems that that particular place in Uruguay has a Budist temple (more like a retreat, actually) near Aguas Blancas, 30 km from town. Gere is a loyal follower of the Dalai Lama and the Budist religion. He was even seen doing some groceries at the Ta-Ta supermarket.

Monday night I went to have dinner at Marismo, an open-air restaurant beyond José Ignacio, which is my absolute favourite place in the East. Tables under the stars, lit only by candles, a campfire in the middle and your feet sunk in the sand. Small menu: only six or seven options to choose for starters, main courses and desserts. It's worth the 35 km to go and return from my house!

And just that very Monday at Marismo I run into Alfredo Etchegaray having dinner with a couple from Las Vegas: he was very blond and was wearing a white jacket with golden drawings.

I don't know why but he reminded me of Sigfried of Sigfried & Roy, the famous illusionists from Las Vegas, the ones with the white tigers! I never got to see them, and I never been to Vegas... but in that dark night at Marismo, I thought of Sigfried.

And it was him!

So I was told later...

Sigfried, having a canle-lit dinner at José Ignacio...

Reflections in Punta del Este...

So Summer 2010 here in Punta began today!

Why today?

Because tonight we had the Lacoste Party at La Huella. A classic. It is always THE social gathering that initiates Summer's social season here. Weather though was not an ally... fog so thick to cover the first three floors of the tallest building at La Barra. Heavy rains most of the day, grey skies and stormy seas.

But we went to the party all the same.

At 10 pm we drove the 35 km that separates José Ignacio from la Punta, we sunk our 14-cm-heels in the wet sand and walked with determination towards the Parador La Huella.

(A note: for quite some years now, the very best of Punta del Este seats at José Ignacio. The best restaurants (La Huella, Marismo, La Caracola, etc.). The best parties. It's all kilometers and kilometers away if you live at la Punta, as myself.)

Anyway, I got the see our all time friends... In fact, I guess we went for them, the socialites that made what Punta is now. Franco Macri, always cheerful. Alfredo Etchegaray, an Uruguayan that did a lot to promote his country around the world. Pancho Dotto, Cecilia Zuberbuhler, Pablo Santamarina, Wally Diamante, Christiano Rattazzi, and many others that have their houses, or work or come to Punta del Este for summer.

Many many beautiful girls... dressed exactly as I was, to my great surprise! Minidresses (mine was a grey blue sequined one from Topshop) and "booties" (a mixture of short boots and high-heels sandals). I wore ones from Burberry's Summer 2010 Collection, that a good friend of mine was kind enough to bring them to me in his luggage.

And, above all, the must-have black leather jacket.

If you don't have one, do not come to Punta. It's not a matter of pure snobism... It's simply because it's chilly at night and it's rather damp. 85% of the girls tonight were dressed this way.

Except for my sister... she wore a sophisticated green long Lanvin. Very chic.

Lots of food, and drinks, and even a rock band from Colombia.

All in all, we stayed for 40 minutes. Why so little?

Because I had already ate at home before going, a number-one rule to attend any party. Two reasons:

One, to avoid eating things that are not on my diet.

Second, because eating ruins your lipstick. And that doesn't look good.

Then you get to smell like fish or grilled brochette... and that is not ok in a country were you kiss everyone just to greet them.

And another good reason for leaving so early was that once you spoke about the awful weather, the high prices of everything here in Uruguay, the trips you made during the year and whether you are dating or not... then there's not much more to do...

So you turn back, step again the wet sand, drive the 35 km towards home... and at least you have something to tell on your blog...

And you go to bed, wondering... Will it be sunny tomorrow?

Nutcracker at Opera Bastille

Cold Sunday afternoon in Paris, 2ºC and some snowflakes dancing here and there...

Christmas coming nearer by the second...

What a great opportunity then to go see Rudolf Nureyev's Nutcracker at the Opéra Bastille!

It was a special matinée organized to gather funds to support the educational programs "Dix mois d'Ecole et d'Opéra" and "Reve d'enfants, " and also to allow handicapped children to enjoy a spectacle of these unique characteristics.

And it was such a lovely afternoon!

The magic of Tchaikovski's music, the incredible perfection of Nureyev's choreography (created specially for the Opéra National de Paris in 1985), the profesionalism of the corps de Ballet, the Etoiles, Kevin Rhodes' musical conduction and the costumes... What can I tell you?

Fantastic the silvery white ones of the first act, the red ones of the second act and the golden yellow ones of the grand finale. I was quivering with excitement!

Such a pleasure for both ears and eyes...

Of course, tout Paris was there, starting with model Inés Sastre, acting as godmother to the event. She went with her new boyfriend, journalist and TV host, Jean-Luc Delarue. Together they've become one of the most exposed couples in show-biz. There were also many European Princes and Princesses and many important businessmen, always eager to support good causes.

But above all, there was plenty of children, all amazed and with their eyes clouded with fantasy, an effect this eternal piece has provoked and will continue to do so years and years on...

The day Alain Delon kissed my hand...

... and that day was today, in Paris.

My favourite actor in my teens, the Samurai, Rocco from Rocco and his brothers, Fabrizio de Il Gatopardo, Borsalino, the hero from A plein soleil, from La piscine, the number one actor in France, the unique, never matched, kissed my hand... mine!!

So the story goes like this. Alain lives in Paris, and so do I. He goes to the same restaurant I usually go. In Marrakech I even ate at a lunch party he attended. And I saw him once in Punta del Este, when Roberto Giordano flew him specially from France for one of his runway shows...

And today as I was having lunch at 154, a small restaurant at Boulevard Haussmann, near the Museé Jacqmart-André, with some friends... oops... there he was, right next to our table, with a woman who looked like some kind of secretary and another man.

Absolutely ashamed, I couldn't even look at him... But I could see that he was gorgeous in spite of being 75, with a grey suit, a tie-less light blue shirt, a suntanned face and his hair... another story...

White but dense, cut untidily, but with straight locks... only women can understand this.

Did you know that a picture of him, taken in 1966, is now being used in the Eau Sauvage fragance by Dior add?

All of Paris is wall-papered with those adds.

I grew up watching his movies.

I remember vividly my joy when, at 13, I saw La prima notte de quiete, by the Italian director Valerio Zurlini... I can still see myself going out of the tiny and only cinema in Montepulciano, on a rainy Sunday...

So, back to today, he and his party finished having lunch before we did, and before leaving, he stoped by our table and greeted my friend. And then he turned to me, took my right hand and with his deep blue eyes, he looked at me and said: "Vous etes très belle, je vous felicite."

And he kissed my hand.

Believe me, I almost fell from the chair!!!

So he went on: "What do you do?"

"Nothing," I said stupidly...

He kissed my hand again with his unique smile and he left, followed by the gaze of all of us there, walking his personal walk, that neither life nor age, could change.

I know, I know, he tells every girl what he told me... That's Alain Delon, a legend...

But... who cares?

December 1st in New York City...

It's cold, as usual around these days of December...

First thing in the morning, today I went to get a pair of ear-muffs, great American invention.

Just in case you don't know, it's a head-band, of black or brown velvet, that has two round cushions, of fake or real fur (who cares?), to protect the ears from the cold wind that blows untamed from the Hudson River.

The advantage of ear-muffs opposite to hats is that they protect you from the cold without ruining your hair-do.

NYC during Christmas' eve is such an event... legendary, actually. So many traditions, that do not seem to diminish with the recession.

Everything kicks-in in Thanksgiving, the last Thursday of November and one of the most important celebrations of the year. From then on, retailers create different events to attract shoppers... for instance, Black Friday, were sales begin, specially in house apparel, bedding, etc. Then, there's Cyber Monday, were customers are bombarded with promotions and discount coupons to shop online, specially electronic and computer stuff.

And today, December 1st, it was Ladies' day... discounts in all labels and designers, ranging from 40%  to 50% off.

Bergdorf & Goodman was a runway of women in fur coats and Hermès bags fighting over Christian Louboutin booties.

I do have experience in Pre-Christmas sales, so I do not think I could say that recession brought less enthusiasm or less display of Holiday decorations...

On the contrary, I was struck (as usual, really) by the fantastic window display of Bergdorf... Such an ode to fantasy and immagination, luxury... so against recession!

Magic at Bergdorf

NYC is NYC, recession or not.

To prove it, enough to grab a bite at Cipriani on 5th Ave., one of the hotests spots in town.

By 7 pm it was already crowded.

Next to my table I had Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood producer and Tycoon from Miramax, having dinner with his two small daughters... He was having a milanesa steak with spaghetti... Pasta with meat? An heresy for an Italian like myself...

I walked back home some blocks on 5th Ave... It was so cold... but I had my ear-muffs on...

Abercrombie & Fitch in Milan

Short visit to Milan, one of my favourite cities in the World, because of its elegance and charm, the professionalism of its people, the way everything works to perfection and, of course, its SHOPS!

On a tiny square of only four streets long you can find all the boutiques of the mayor fashion designers from Italy, France, England and the US.

Our walk begins on the legendary Via Montenapoleone, all the way to the corner with Via Sant'Andrea, where you'll find Café Cova, a mandatory stop to rest from the shopping spree with a buon cappuccino and one of its unique sweet pasticcinis.

Then, continuing on Via Sant'Andrea, you'll see, one next to the other, Chanel, Hermès, Fendi, Michael Kors, Prada... all of them squeezed in one hundred meters... such a sight for sore eyes!

Make a turn on the famous Via della Spiga (pedestrian street) and you'll find two Dolce & Gabbana stores, two Roberto Cavalli shops, one Gio Moretti and a concept store with one-of-a-kind outfits. They are followed by as many jewelry stores as you can possibly imagine...

It is always a pleasure to come here and walk around these world-famous streets... except that they are empty now: few people passing-by and no-one in the stores!!

What is going on?

I ask this to my friend, Adriana, a true "Milanesa" and a manager at Les Copains, a good clothing label.

She tells me we are facing great changes in our relationship with fashion and women, due to the global recession, no longer feel like spending a lot of money on clothing nor investing on key classical pieces to wear over and over. Everything now is about buying outfits and accessories that make a statement from low-cost retail stores as Zara, H&M and Topshop.

She then takes me to take a look to the new fashion temple in Milano...

Not far from the golden streets of fashion, in the corner of Corso Matteotti and Via San Pietro dell'Orto, behind a huge front gate, rises the new pride of Milano: Abercrombie & Fitch.

Voilá where people were hiding!

Long lines to get inside, as in NYC, and gorgeous guys in their twenty-somethings, wearing unbuttoned plaid shirts (in spite of the cold), to welcome you to the store. And once inside, beautiful girls in the casual sexy look that shapes the spirit of the brand, created in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, two Americans who loved trekking and out-door recreation. The label was modernized a few years ago by Michael Jeffries and it became something of a cult thanks to some few secrets: as I said. beautiful men and women welcoming shoppers, sexy-but-not-tacky outfits, and above all, low prices.

Every store in the world feels the same: extremely-high music, scented air, and an American-sporty look circa 1892 decorating the walls.

It was common to ask for an A&F t-shirt to all those travelling to the States.

Now, Milan has its very own A&F Temple and in 2011 so will Paris.

As I wait in Milan's airport, I see that 1 of 5 fellow travellers carry an A&F bag...

Tiziano, Tintoretto, Veronese...

After waiting since its opening (on September 17th!) to get tickets, today I finally visited the exhibition "Titien, Tintoreto, Véronèse... Rivalités à Venise," at the Louvre.

I must say it was worth the wait!

Absolutely marvellous!

Such a privilege to be able to enjoy these Masters of the 16th Century Venetian Art (the Golden Era of Venice) together, with their painting gathered according to subject, so that we visitors can compare their diverse visions on the world, their technics and personal use of color. One can even dare to chose the best... among the best in Art History!

I was personally impressed by Tiziano (Titian) and his paintings. They were outstanding because of his outlines and portraits... in many you can even feel the souls of those being portrayed. And what can I say about his Danaë? The whiteness of her skin, her celestial curves... almost as beautiful as his "Venus with a mirror."

It was amazing to see his "Pilgrims of Emmaus," a subject the three of the Masters painted, and that in this exhibition are shown side by side, so that visitors can appreciate each version and its differences...

Of course, I still prefer Tiziano's...

Tintoretto's Pilgrims of Emmaus

Tiziano's Pilgrims of Emmaus

Veronese's Pilgrims of Emaus

Tiziano Vecellio was Michelangelo's pupil and became so talented that even Charles V visited him at his studio. Shocked by his presence, Tiziano dropped one of his brushes, and the Emperor himself kneeled to get it for him!!!

Some say that's how his downfall began... but that's another story...

Unfortunatelly, this incredible exhibition will be open til January 4th, 2010.

What a pity.

Tiffany in Paris

Fancy dinner party at the private residence of the US' Ambassador in France to honour the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the first Tiffany boutique in Paris.

As usual, wonderful American organization.

Mandatory ID to get inside the Residence, located on Faubourg St. Honoré, not far from the Elysium Palace.

Time: Arrival 7:30 pm, departure 10:30 pm.

One hundreds guests only.

Two long tables, standing side by side, with 50 people each, both of them decorated with Tiffany's light pale blue and centerpieces with white orchids and crystal candelabra, also signé Tiffany. So were the silver serving pieces and the china. Because Tiffany is not only a Jewelry store but it also is, and has been since President Lincoln, the provider of table sets to the White House and its Presidents. So Ambassador Rivkin told us in his warm speech. As you can see, there's always been a close colaboration between Tiffany and the US Government.

Dinner was exquisit: souffle as an entreé (for a party of a 100!) served coordinately to everyone at the same time by disciplined valets. And chocolate simphony as dessert.

Guests?

Some princesses, many well-known journalists, as Claire Chazal (TF1 News host), Ambassadors of fellow countries (the English Ambassador spoke wonderfully about his recent visit to Buenos Aires), business-men, mannequins (as Farida), top-models from the 80s... and many more.

What I wore?

Oscar de la Renta, of course... what else?

Montepulciano

Just for a two-day visit, today I came back to my home-town. Well, it's technically more than just my home-town.

Wikipedia would say that Montepulciano is a medieval and Renaissance hill town and commune in the province of Siena, in southern Tuscany (Italy). It has an elevation of 605 m, sits on a high limestone ridge, and it is inhabited by 13.870 people.

It has one of the most important architectonic masterpieces of Humanity, the Sanctuary of the Madonna de San Biagio, built between 1518 and 1545 by Antonio da Sangallo The Elder. It has a circular (central) plan with a large dome over a terrace and a squared tambour. The exterior, with two bell towers, is built in white travertine. Turists, specially in Summer, come from the four corners of the World.

In Montepulciano, apart from my sister and I, in 1454 was born Angelo Ambrogini, known as Il Poliziano, one of the most important Humanist poets of the Médici Era.

Montepulciano is also well-known by its red wine, the Nobile di Montepulciano,  an excellent chianti, produced in many of the vineyards sorrounding the city.

Except for some minor changes, everything looks like it was back in 1500, and in this particular November night, cold and humid, with no turists in sight, it seems as if time has not gone by at all.

But from November 18th, Montepulciano will be known by many others.

That will be the date of the world premiere of  "New Moon", the second installment of the Twilight Saga.

As it happens, the movie has key scenes that were shot here, in Montepulciano, during March and April of this year. Its Medieval streets, its Piazza Grande and its aristrocratic palazzos were used as scenarios.

If the movie has the success everyone predicts, next summer we'll be invaded by turists and vampire-lovers.

What a shame.

Autumn in Paris.

First week of November... and such vivid sensations...

To begin with, the beautiful colours of Autumn, with its yellows, its reds and oranges in every tree of the many Parks of the City: the Parc Monceau, the Butte de Montmartre or even the Jardin de Luxembourg, with its many ghosts of past artists throughout the centuries. Writers as Gérard de Nerval, poets as Baudelaire, paintors as Modigliani or even Françoise Sagan, who lived in front, spent time at le Jardin. Such a leyend, really.

But around these days you can also see some very premature Christmas decorations and the very first sales at the big department stores such as Galeries Lafayette or Printemps. We are on the 8 of November... Sales already? Even offering 50% off? Some labels try to resist them, but most of them play by the new rules of the market. Everything better than getting stuck with merchandise!

Sales at Printemps!

The recession here has been strong and you can feel it everywhere. For example, restaurants around town have reduced the TVA tax from 16,90% to 5,50% and have even cut off some prices on the menu to get some clients back to dinning out. You can also see the crisis on the many no-funds checks than have been given by so many desperate pleople... Never has there been so many as this year!

But appart from all this, the first weeks of November are famous in France because of the many Literature prizes being given out these days. The most wanted one is the Prix Goncourt, the dream of every writer, which this year was awarded to Marie NDiaye, quite a surprise for women seldom get this prize. In fact, the last one to receive it was Paule Constat in 1998. There's also the Prix Renaudot, which was given to Frédéric Beigbeder, for "Un roman francais", my very favourite one! The Prix Flore, organized by the legendary Café Flore, was awarded to Simon Liberati, while Jean Marie Blas de Robles took home the Prix Medicis. To be announced are the winners of the Prix Fémina and the Prix Interaillé...

... And so, after that, another season would have gone by...

My favourite, Frédéric Beigbeder

Halloween in New York

This weekend New York was hot... You'll see why!

As you probably know, on the night of October 31st., everyone here celebrates Halloween. For US it is almost like a National Holiday. Halloween has its roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints. It is said that it was the Irish immigrants who trasnfered versions of their traditions in America during the Famine of 1840. The word Halloween represents a Scots variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even, which means the night before All Saints Day.

For Halloween everything turns black and orange, kids go around the neighbourhoods trick-or-treating, cinemas and TV channels showcase horror-movies marathons, and there are costume parties everywhere.

No city celebrates Halloween as New York.

Since I got here, early in the morning, I got to feel the Halloween spirit first-hand: all the staff and employees of the Airport greeted visitors dressed as vampires, witches and huge pumpkins. And it was six in the morning!!

Parties in the Big Apple had begun earlier, on Friday Night actually and, since September, about 725 "Pop-up Shops," selling tricks and costumes literally poped-up in key places around the city. They will last till the first week of November. Why? Because of the recession, of course. As many shops had to close, owners prefer to rent the free spaces temporally. After Halloween, they will become All-Christmass boutiques.

I saw many of this shops in Downtown and I was surprised by the fact that the biggest selling masks were those of Michael Jackson and Bernie Maddof... a dead and a convict!!!

The best shop for costumes and make-up, I have to say this, is definitely Ricky's on Broadway.

Halloween in New York is real fun, everyone gets dressed and yesterday we had a lovely mild weather to enjoy it.

Walking down 5th Avenue towards the building I was staying at, around 5 pm, people passed me by dressed as witches, vampires, monsters and even as sado-masochists!

As I got closer, I saw a huge crowd surrounding the building while ambulances and fire trucks were stopping the traffiic. The appartment below mine was on fire!!!!!

They already were evacuating everyone, many barefoot or half-naked, as if they were just taken from their showers. The fire-fighters (many!) looked so Nicolas Cage or John Travolta!

Tourists took pictures and some even called their hometowns to tell everyone the huge adventure they were witnessing...
I sat on the steps of St. Patrick's Church to wait... I even got to meet many of my neighbours.
Finally, a couple of hours later, the Fire-Fighter-in-chief, with its incredible suit, allowed us to get back inside. No mayor damages, thanks God.
But what an advenure!

This morning, under a light rain, the 2009 ING New York Marathon was held around town: 42 km from Staten Island to Central Park and almost 40.000 runners. By far, the most popular marathon in the world!
As usual, an Ehiopian-born Meb Keflezighi won the Men's Marathon (but he's an american now) and another Ethiopian, Derartu Tulu, won the women's.
It's a fact: next year I'll run it too. I'll start training right now, going down as fast as possible the 25 floors of my NY building.
You never know... Where there was fire...