Sandi's Great Riviera Rail Trip (2025) Season 1 Episode 4

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Transcript

00:00Riviera, playground of the rich and famous, and one of the world's great dream destinations.

00:06This is paradise.

00:08And by taking a simple rail trip of just over 100 miles from end to end,

00:12you can see all its sun-drenched glories.

00:16And that's what I'm doing.

00:18Wow.

00:18It's luxury beyond all measure, and I've got the best seat in the house.

00:24As well as the rather nice sea, sand, and sun, I want to explore the region's rich past.

00:31We're sitting pretty much in the exact spot.

00:34And vibrant present.

00:35What a way to toast a new friendship.

00:37I'll discover the famous characters that made the Riviera glitter.

00:41You could say that they invented the Cotezio in the summertime.

00:45And I'll visit the places and meet the people that keep it shimmering today.

00:50Oh, I love this.

00:51What's not to like about my great Riviera rail trip?

01:04I love my old suitcase.

01:06It is surprisingly roomy.

01:07It's got everything in it that I need.

01:08So, for example, I always travel with my tea bags.

01:12Of course, I don't have a kettle, so.

01:13But watch and marvel as I turn this ordinary train carriage into an haute cuisine dining car.

01:21I've got wine.

01:23I have got camembert.

01:26And a loaf of bread.

01:29I mean, it's luxury beyond all measure.

01:34And I've got the best seat in the house.

01:37So, I'm entering the last leg of my Riviera journey.

01:55And while it's the shortest leg of the trip, I'll be passing through not just a few towns,

02:00but two actual countries.

02:03From France, I enter the tiny principality of Monaco, and then hop back into France to visit the lovely old town of Montan,

02:11which is practically on the border with Italy.

02:14But first, it's the country within a country that is Monaco.

02:24In fact, Monaco was once a colony of the Italian city-state of Genoa.

02:29But around 1300, everything changed.

02:32One of the best ways to do well in life is to be born into a family that's already done well.

02:43On the 8th of January, in the year 1297, François Grimaldi landed here on the Rock of Monaco and took control.

02:52And ever since then, the Grimaldi family has been in charge of what is one of the wealthiest places in the world,

02:57with the current ruler, Prince Albert, inheriting from his father, Prince Rainier.

03:02All I inherited from my father was a sense of humour and a letter opener.

03:07I mean, both have been great, but, you know, a principality would have been nice.

03:14The Grimaldis are actually the longest ruling royal family in the whole of Europe.

03:19And they rule over a bejeweled population.

03:23An estimated 30% of the people are millionaires.

03:27Apart from all those luxury shops, Monaco's spectacular mountainous location is a massive part of its appeal.

03:34The coastline here is the smallest of any non-landlocked sovereign state in the world.

03:40But what the place lacks in width, it makes up for in height.

03:45There's some fantastically located buildings,

03:47of which this oceanographic museum is perhaps the most spectacular.

03:53It literally sits on a cliff edge.

03:56The Grimaldi family have been putting their money to good use over the last 120 years

04:01as massive supporters of marine conservation around the world.

04:06The museum is a part of that mission,

04:09and its aquarium is home to hundreds of different fish species.

04:12It's all helped make Monaco a tourist mecca today.

04:17But it hasn't always been this way.

04:20In the 1850s, the principality was facing severe financial difficulties.

04:24So, had to find its own USP for the growing number of rich tourists coming to the other towns in the region.

04:31This is the great casino of Monte Carlo.

04:37Even if you don't care about gambling, I am confident that you will have heard of it.

04:42So, back in the 1850s, Monaco was facing bankruptcy.

04:45But the wife of the ruler, Princess Caroline, had a fabulous idea.

04:49Let's start a gambling den.

04:51Some very curious people decided to put money into it,

04:54including a cardinal who went on to be Pope,

04:57which is ironic, because lots of people thought this small country hadn't a prayer.

05:14Everybody who comes here is hoping to make their fortune,

05:17but everybody knows Lady Luck is blind.

05:20She's not even noticing all the gold coins spilling out of her horn of plenty.

05:26Oh, look, there's one now.

05:32The Grimaldis hired Charles Garnier, architect of the famed Paris Opera House,

05:37to create a shimmering gambling palace that became an instant success.

05:42By 1869, it was generating so much revenue that Monaco abolished income tax for all its residents.

05:52It's still the biggest employer in the principality and a pretty glamorous place to work.

05:58Croupier Thomas Solario works on the tables of the casino's most famous game.

06:03Okay, Thomas, I need you to explain the basics of roulette to somebody who's never played it.

06:08All right, so roulette is a game of luck, as is any game in the casino.

06:14You have a wheel with 37 numbers from 0 to 36,

06:18and people play chips on their numbers.

06:21This is all very well.

06:23What I really want to know is how much can I win, or more accurately, lose?

06:29So, I've got 100 euros, but I'm a big gambler.

06:34I like to bet all of it.

06:35I like to go big.

06:37For once?

06:38Yeah, so I would like to put it on my lucky number.

06:40This is what people do, right?

06:41They put it on a lucky number?

06:42So, my lucky number is three.

06:43All right.

06:44Okay, can you put it on number three for me?

06:46Of course.

06:46Thank you very much.

06:47Just throw it out.

06:48Messieurs, faites le jeu.

06:50And does that mean that nobody else can play now?

06:52That means start your games, and then people still can play during the spin.

06:57Okay.

06:59Oh, I can see you can get very focused on what's happening.

07:02Go, go, go, go, go, go, go.

07:0322.

07:0422.

07:0522.

07:0622.

07:0722.

07:0822.

07:0922.

07:1022.

07:1122.

07:1222.

07:1322.

07:1422.

07:1522.

07:1622.

07:1722.

07:1822.

07:1922.

07:2022.

07:2122.

07:2222.

07:2322.

07:2422.

07:2522.

07:2622.

07:2722.

07:2822.

07:2922.

07:3022.

07:3122.

07:3222.

07:3322.

07:3422.

07:3522.

07:3622.

07:3722.

07:3822.

07:3922.

07:4022.

07:4122.

07:42to reinforce the rules that are set and giving them leniency.

07:47Right. And do they tip you if they feel you help them win?

07:49Definitely.

07:50Am I right, Thomas, that if you live in Monaco,

07:52you can't play here at the casino?

07:54Yes, that's a rule that's been in the casino

07:57for basically since the inception.

08:00It's been there to protect the Monegasque

08:03from, well, actually giving back their money

08:06at the time where Monaco was trying to rebuild itself

08:10to gain back the money.

08:12So they wanted to be able to control basically

08:16where the money went in and where it went out.

08:20But because of the casino, I think it's right,

08:23people in Monaco don't pay income taxes.

08:25That's part of it, yes.

08:27Well, that seems reasonable.

08:31If, unlike me, you do win big on the tables,

08:34you might choose to blow your winnings

08:36in the casino's rather swanky restaurant.

08:38The beautiful decor here is an homage

08:42to the legendary Trin Bleu,

08:44which whisked glamorous English passengers

08:46from Calais to the Riviera

08:48in style back in the early 20th century.

08:52This lavish dining room recreates that era

08:56with astonishing detail,

08:58from the polished wood panelling

08:59to the rich upholstery

09:01and Belle Epoque chandeliers.

09:04Oh, well.

09:05Next time.

09:06Maybe I could have a go at blackjack instead.

09:09A bit more skill involved.

09:10My father taught all his kids to play bridge

09:16because he thought it was a great way

09:17to make friends.

09:19And I realised I haven't played cards for years,

09:21but it did remind me of a story

09:22about Sir Winston Churchill.

09:24He loved to play cards,

09:25and indeed he did so at the casino in Monte Carlo,

09:28but he gave up for six years

09:29because in 1939,

09:31he sat down to play cards with a group of men

09:33and he was interrupted by the Second World War.

09:351945, he sat down at the same table

09:38with the same group and said,

09:40gentlemen, let's carry on where we left off.

09:43He did, unfortunately,

09:44end up with a debt of 1.3 million francs

09:47and wrote a cheque to the casino,

09:49who never cashed it,

09:50to thank him for everything he'd done in the war.

09:53It's a good story.

09:55I just need to find three more people now.

10:05It's no surprise, perhaps,

10:20that there's quite a few flash cars

10:21knocking about in Monaco.

10:24The Principality is also a mecca

10:25for motor racing enthusiasts

10:27as the home of the annual iconic Formula One race,

10:31the Monaco Grand Prix.

10:32It's a hundred-lap duel,

10:35scenic but dangerous,

10:36with tricky curves and hairpin turns

10:38at Monte Carlo, Monaco.

10:41Aficionados will know that the Grand Prix

10:42takes place on the actual streets of Monaco

10:45and fans come here from all over the world

10:48to take their fancy cars

10:49for a spin round the iconic route.

10:52Hey, Connie, hi.

10:53Where are you off to in your very smart car?

10:56Well, we're off to Maranello

10:58to take the cars back to their spiritual home

11:00and to visit the factory and go around

11:03and have the tour.

11:03So we're all in convoy on the way

11:06from the Midlands in the UK.

11:09OK.

11:09If I wanted to lift with you,

11:10that's not really possible.

11:13Not with us all,

11:14but yes, it's a two-seater,

11:15but yes, every time.

11:16We'd have to leave him behind,

11:17Connie, I don't think we're no good at all.

11:18But you can welcome to have a seat

11:19if you want to have a seat down.

11:20Can I?

11:20Can I have a try?

11:21Yeah, let me get that for you.

11:23You're used to this.

11:25Opening doors.

11:26Oh, Charles, this is...

11:29Well, bye.

11:31It's fantastic.

11:32Wow.

11:33It's been a pleasure knowing you, Sandy.

11:35Enjoy.

11:36I love this.

11:38Oh, I can see the attraction.

11:40My curiosity piqued by this encounter

11:42with the travelling petrolheads,

11:44I want to find out more

11:45about Monaco's motorsport connections.

11:47So I'm meeting Canadian journalist

11:49and author Nancy Heslin,

11:51who's lived here for 25 years.

11:53Though she's keen to tell me

11:54she's not your typical émigre resident.

11:59You know, there's a big theory

12:00of trailing wives.

12:02A lot of people come to the south of France

12:03and to Monaco

12:04because their husbands are transferred here.

12:07I left a very awful marriage

12:09and just came to the south of France

12:11thinking, oh, I'm 30 years old,

12:13it's going to be like sex in the city,

12:14which it was not.

12:15And basically,

12:16Monaco's the size of New York's Central Park.

12:18Yeah.

12:19I mean, did it feel small when you arrived?

12:21Do you have a sense of it being claustrophobic?

12:24Can I tell you the first time I came here?

12:26I was invited by Red Bull

12:27to come here and cover the Grand Prix

12:29for People magazine.

12:31So at the time,

12:32I'd never been to a Grand Prix.

12:33I didn't know anything about cars.

12:34And here I am.

12:35I've only lived in the south

12:36for about five years.

12:37I thought, oh, Monaco, Grand Prix,

12:40People magazine.

12:40This is just going to be

12:41the most extraordinary thing.

12:42And I stayed at this hotel 20 years ago

12:44and my experience was this paddock

12:47that they had created for Star Wars.

12:49I interviewed George Lucas at the Grand Prix.

12:52Even the bathroom that they had

12:53in the makeshift paddock

12:54was bigger than my apartment.

12:56And I thought,

12:56how come nothing jiggles,

12:58nothing moves,

12:59what is this place?

13:01And so, you know.

13:02Is that the boys or the girls?

13:03Both.

13:03Oh, both.

13:04Okay, just checking.

13:05And I realized, like,

13:06you know,

13:07there is this curiosity.

13:08There's this very deep curiosity

13:10about what this is.

13:11And I didn't really pay much attention

13:13to the size or anything like that.

13:15It was just the people.

13:17The people just looked different here.

13:19Well, it's very interesting

13:20because I've been to Monaco a few times

13:21and you can walk along

13:22with all the superyachts and so on.

13:24You really only have to walk

13:26one street back

13:27and suddenly you see

13:28people's laundry hanging up

13:29in the balconies

13:31and you can see people living here

13:33that maybe the people in the superyachts

13:35are not fully aware of.

13:37Oh, I would agree with that.

13:38I am a member of the rowing club

13:40and it's women like me.

13:41Like, if I go to interview someone

13:42and I've never met them,

13:43I'm like,

13:44oh, you'll know me

13:44because I'm the only one without Botox.

13:46The club that I go to,

13:47everything jiggles,

13:48the women are natural

13:49and we found, like,

13:51a friendship amongst ourselves.

13:52I mean, it's rowing

13:53and it's sporty

13:54but there are people like that

13:55that exist

13:56and you just have to be good

13:57in your own skin

13:58to know that, you know,

13:59people that have big lips

14:01that enter the room

14:02before they do,

14:03there's nothing wrong with them.

14:04That, you know,

14:05it's not them versus us.

14:06We all are finding our own way

14:08to be beautiful as we age.

14:09Yeah.

14:11Nancy's flourished here

14:12and now edits the Monogasque,

14:13the local English language magazine

14:15and she's formed

14:17even stronger connections

14:18in Monaco's motorsport scene.

14:22I had the opportunity

14:23about two years ago,

14:25almost exactly,

14:25to have coffee with Susie Wolfe.

14:27So Susie Wolfe

14:28is the managing director

14:30of the Formula One Academy

14:31which is really bringing women

14:33into motorsport

14:33and probably

14:34we'll see the next person

14:36in the Grand Prix

14:37come from Formula One Academy

14:38as a woman.

14:40And she and a few other women

14:41in Monaco

14:42very much in motorsport

14:43were talking about

14:44how to motivate young people.

14:46I'll be honest,

14:46in Monaco

14:47there's not a lot

14:47for young people to do.

14:48Okay.

14:49I've heard girls grow up

14:51and say when I grow up

14:52I'll have lunch,

14:53you know,

14:53and I kind of think

14:54let's try to change that

14:56and give them something

14:58to dream about.

14:59Maybe there's not lots

15:00of activity to do here

15:01but you can still dream

15:02of being something.

15:03Oh, well, I'm listening

15:04to lots of helicopters

15:05going backwards and forwards

15:06and I want the little girl

15:07to dream of being

15:07the helicopter pilot

15:08or owning the helicopter

15:10is where I want them to be.

15:11Yeah.

15:12Right?

15:12Exactly.

15:13Exactly that.

15:14Dream big and it can happen.

15:15I thought as a journalist

15:16what do I know

15:18about motorsport?

15:19And then I thought

15:19I could write a book.

15:20I know how to write a story.

15:21I'm pretty good at that.

15:22And I talked to a friend of mine

15:24and I have ideas all the time

15:25and my girlfriend said

15:26well, if we write the book

15:28she has a daughter

15:29and she's like

15:30I would like that

15:30but if we write a book

15:31we'd have to open

15:32a publishing house.

15:32And I was like

15:33okay.

15:33Let's do that.

15:34Let's do that.

15:35So we're two middle class women.

15:37It's our own money

15:38and we're Monaco's first

15:39100% female-owned publishing house

15:41and our idea is

15:43to support women financially.

15:45And in January 2025

15:47Nancy's own book

15:49about women and motorsport

15:50became their house's first release.

15:54The book profiles

15:55racing's female pioneers

15:57including Gotti Mertens

15:59who in 1925

16:00became the first woman

16:02to make the podium

16:03of the famous

16:04Monte Carlo Rally.

16:05She came second

16:06in her Lancia.

16:07In this era

16:08of digital overload

16:09it's unbelievable

16:10that this historic feat

16:12is not recorded

16:13in more detail.

16:15And all we have

16:16are a few remaining photos.

16:21This is great.

16:22These are wonderful,

16:23aren't they?

16:24Mm-hmm.

16:24This woman is interesting,

16:27Katie Brunel,

16:27because when we looked

16:30at the archives

16:31of the Automobile Club

16:32of Monaco

16:32there are so many

16:34beautiful photos of her.

16:36So it tells me two things.

16:38The photos are all very staged

16:39and there's more photos

16:40of her than all of

16:41most of the women combined.

16:43So I thought,

16:44why is this?

16:45And it turns out

16:45that her father

16:46is the photographer

16:47for the automobile racing

16:49and he also did do

16:51the rally himself.

16:51I was going to go for her.

16:52But the photos of her

16:53are spectacular.

16:54Somebody loves her

16:55is what I was going to go for.

16:56Yeah.

16:56So your book

16:59is very inspiring

16:59in terms of suggesting

17:01that not only can women

17:03be in motorsport now,

17:05they've always been

17:06in motorsport.

17:06And I think that's the bit,

17:08you know,

17:08if you can't see it,

17:09you can't be it

17:09is what they say.

17:10But I think that history

17:11is something people

17:12don't know about.

17:13There was a woman

17:14who invented

17:14the rearview mirror,

17:16which makes sense to me.

17:17There was a woman

17:17who invented

17:18the windscreen wiper.

17:19Makes complete sense, right?

17:21Men are driving along

17:22going, no predictors, dear.

17:23I can see perfectly well.

17:24You know?

17:25So, and it was a woman

17:27who invented Kevlar,

17:28which is the stuff

17:29that keeps tires safe.

17:30So I love the whole history,

17:32but I'm not sure

17:33that many people

17:34are aware of it.

17:35For me,

17:36I think that this book

17:37came to be,

17:38it's not a book

17:39you need to be a fan

17:40of motorsport.

17:41You need to be a fan

17:42of just people

17:42that are adventurous.

17:43Yeah.

17:43Because it's each,

17:44I want people to open up a book

17:46and go, on this page,

17:47I've read this story.

17:48We focus on

17:49who's the first,

17:50who's the next.

17:51And the beautiful element

17:54of this book

17:55is talking to the women

17:56who are still alive

17:57and knowing how much

17:59it means to them

18:00that their little effort mattered.

18:02And what of the future?

18:07Well, Nancy is keen

18:08for me to meet

18:09Lena Salamanca,

18:10who is only 10 years old

18:12and has been selected

18:13to be part

18:14of the Formula One Academy

18:15that Nancy mentioned earlier.

18:20The Academy has found

18:21a real star

18:22in little Lena.

18:23She's already winning titles

18:25in karting,

18:26where every aspirant

18:27Lewis Hamilton

18:28begins their journey

18:29to hopefully the top.

18:32So we're off

18:33to meet Lena

18:33at Box 98,

18:35an indoor karting circuit

18:36in the heart

18:37of Monte Carlo.

18:38I mean,

18:59oh, oh, oh.

19:01Okay.

19:02I mean, wow.

19:11I think at her age

19:12I was just learning

19:13to ride a bike.

19:14And I don't mean

19:16a motorbike.

19:20My French,

19:21not being as good

19:21as I'd like,

19:22I got Nancy

19:23to translate.

19:25So, first of all,

19:27how do you say

19:28congratulations?

19:30Felicitation.

19:32Merci.

19:32Formidable.

19:34Everybody was so much

19:36bigger than you.

19:37So, can you say

19:39that I thought

19:40it was incredible?

19:40Oui, parce que

19:41tout le monde

19:41était beaucoup plus grande

19:42et ils étaient adultes

19:44et toi, tu étais petite.

19:46Oui.

19:47Was she pleased?

19:48Tu étais contente?

19:49Oui.

19:50Ça va, oui.

19:51Yeah?

19:52On a l'air

19:53que tu n'étais pas contente.

19:54It doesn't seem

19:55you were happy.

19:56Yeah, parce que

19:57j'ai l'habitude

19:58d'être plus devant.

19:59Ah, she's used

20:00to being in front.

20:02Oh, doesn't like

20:02to be behind.

20:03That's okay.

20:05So, Lina's human

20:06after all.

20:07Maybe it's a good

20:08moment to take her on.

20:09So, I still want

20:10to race you,

20:11but they won't

20:12let me drive

20:12because I'm so old.

20:14So, if you move

20:16your helmet,

20:17move the helmet here.

20:19Okay.

20:19C'est pour trois.

20:21Okay.

20:22This way?

20:23Uh-oh.

20:24You ready?

20:24This is very serious.

20:26Okay, say when.

20:27Three, two, one, go.

20:30Oh, you were...

20:31Oh, even that.

20:34I did not win.

20:35You are a champion.

20:37Right.

20:37Bravo, Lina.

20:38It's always thrilling

20:40to see somebody

20:41who's got passion

20:42and drive.

20:43I mean, obviously,

20:44she's got drive.

20:45It sounds like

20:45a very bad pun.

20:47What an extraordinary child.

20:48She is ten years old.

20:49She was competing

20:49against adults.

20:50There was even

20:50a professional

20:51in that group.

20:52She was one second

20:53off being in first place.

20:55She's certainly

20:56got the energy

20:57to be a Formula One

20:57driver,

20:58but has she got

20:59the money?

21:01On average,

21:02the baseline,

21:03it's about

21:04£100,000

21:05to be in

21:06the Formula One

21:07academy,

21:08and that's before

21:09all the travel

21:09and all the extras,

21:11and, I mean,

21:12the truth is,

21:13she's a girl.

21:14It's going to be

21:15harder to get the money,

21:16harder to find

21:17the competitions.

21:18I don't know

21:19what she's supposed

21:19to do, you know,

21:20take up knitting?

21:21Now it's time

21:22to speed off

21:23to my next

21:24Monte Carlo adventure.

21:26OK, Julien,

21:28let's do this.

21:29Let's go.

21:30Let us go,

21:30win the Monte Carlo rally.

21:33Sure.

21:33Yeah.

21:34100%.

21:34You and me.

21:36Let's go.

21:37Bye.

21:38Bye-bye.

21:39Thanks for coming.

21:56I'm in the tiny

21:59principality of Monaco.

22:01Most of the residents

22:02are rich

22:03and live here

22:04because they don't

22:04have to pay any tax.

22:06But not everybody.

22:07Some people actually

22:08live here because,

22:10well, it's rather nice.

22:13Over the course

22:14of my trip,

22:15I've seen how this region

22:16was historically

22:17a magnet

22:17for iconic British figures

22:19from Queen Victoria

22:21to Winston Churchill.

22:23And even today,

22:24British residents

22:25form a big

22:26chunk of Monaco's population,

22:28including the odd

22:29modern icon.

22:30Yes,

22:31this really is

22:32Paula Radcliffe,

22:33ex-marathon world champion

22:34and British sporting legend.

22:37The former golden girl

22:38is now a long-time

22:40Monaco local

22:41with a fabulous home

22:42in the hills above town.

22:44So I had to ask

22:45why she left

22:46the wind and rain

22:47of a British winter

22:49for this.

22:50I mean, seriously.

22:52As I was a young kid

22:53growing up,

22:54my mum and dad

22:54used to come

22:55every year

22:56with a trailer tent

22:57camping around the continent

22:58and particularly in France

23:00and as a family

23:00loved that.

23:02So that definitely

23:03steered me

23:04into wanting to do

23:05languages and French

23:07at university.

23:08Is that what you read

23:08at university?

23:08Yes.

23:09Oh, well,

23:09that's a starting point,

23:10isn't it?

23:10Absolutely.

23:11And then as part of my year

23:13abroad,

23:14I spent the six months

23:16that I needed to spend

23:16in France

23:17in the French Pyrenees.

23:18So I went and found

23:18a job in Germany

23:19to earn enough money

23:20to stay in the high altitude

23:21training centre

23:22in the French Pyrenees

23:23and absolutely loved it.

23:25The motivation

23:25that eventually took her

23:26from the Pyrenees

23:27to this lovely spot

23:29on the Côte d'Azur

23:30came in 2004.

23:32Paula went into

23:33that year's Olympic marathon

23:34at Athens

23:35as the overwhelming favourite

23:36for the gold medal.

23:38But within touching distance

23:39of the finishing line,

23:41she tragically collapsed

23:42with stomach pain

23:43and was unable to continue.

23:45The media reaction

23:46was vicious

23:47and Monaco was calling.

23:50Paula found

23:50that shorter Pyrenees commute

23:52slightly more acceptable

23:53than her 13-hour trips

23:54from England,

23:55so she stayed

23:56and started laying down roots.

24:00The Athens Olympics

24:02came along in 2004

24:04and I felt like

24:06I needed to escape

24:08the UK for a little bit

24:09after that.

24:10I mean, the press

24:11were not kind.

24:13I've had that myself

24:14when the press is not kind

24:15and when you're

24:16in the middle of it,

24:18I don't think people

24:19can understand it

24:20unless you've been in it.

24:21I always say

24:22it was nothing to do with it.

24:23I had some lovely,

24:24lovely support

24:25from the people.

24:25It was nothing to do with that.

24:27It was just I felt

24:28I'd let people down

24:29and you're right,

24:29the press wasn't great

24:30so we just decided

24:31okay, for a year or so

24:33we're going to just

24:34have a clean break,

24:35spend some time here.

24:36It's a country that we love.

24:38So we came and based

24:39here in Monaco.

24:41It's what,

24:42five and a half hours drive

24:43down to the Pyrenees instead

24:44so it's still very much

24:45in my career

24:46and at that point

24:47we weren't sure

24:48how long it was going to be.

24:52Isla was born in 2007,

24:53Raphael,

24:54in 2010

24:55and it's like

24:56the longer we stayed here

24:58the more routes

24:58we put down.

25:00It is,

25:00I mean it is

25:02a privileged community

25:02but it is very much

25:03a sporting community

25:04as well

25:05and I love that.

25:07I love the cosmopolitan mix

25:09of all the different nationalities

25:10and it's a very safe community

25:13particularly when you're

25:14bringing up young kids

25:15and so you walk to school

25:16you will see the same people.

25:18It's almost like a village

25:19in that respect.

25:20So your kids born here

25:21do they feel,

25:23what is the correct word

25:24is it,

25:24Monarchesque?

25:25No,

25:25they're not Monarchesque.

25:27I think they would say

25:28they would have mixed

25:29but that's certainly

25:30a big factor behind my daughter

25:32was adamant

25:33she wanted to go

25:33to university in the UK

25:34because she said

25:35mum I'm British

25:36but I've never lived in Britain

25:37and so I want to go

25:39and I really,

25:40she said I'm done

25:40with the French school system

25:41which is a tough system

25:42and she wants to go

25:44to university there.

25:45Tough in what way?

25:48It's quite high demands

25:49in terms of the school work

25:51and memorising things

25:52and the level

25:53they have to conform

25:55and fit in the box.

25:56I think there's

25:56a little bit less

25:57of education

25:58kind of outside the box

25:59in the French system

26:00but she's managed it

26:02very, very well.

26:03Well, you tell her

26:03if she gets in any trouble

26:04in the UK

26:05she rings Aunty Sandy

26:06I'll sort it out.

26:07I'll sort it out.

26:09So what keeps Paula busy now?

26:11A mix of things still

26:13so I do the broadcasting

26:14for the BBC

26:15and for other road race events

26:18which I love

26:19because it keeps me involved

26:20with the sport

26:20that I love as well

26:21and it's kind of

26:22learning a new skill

26:23a new hit of adrenaline.

26:25I also do a podcast

26:26it's called Paula's Run Club

26:28and then I also do

26:29Paula's Families on Track

26:31which is an event

26:33that I brought to life

26:34with Steve Cram

26:35and his events company

26:36and I basically had a goal

26:39to get families exercising together

26:40and I started along

26:42the Eckerdon Relay

26:43which is like

26:44we break 10k down

26:46into a relay.

26:46I love that.

26:47Yeah, it's not intimidating

26:48it's really good fun

26:50and we have as many generations

26:52as possible.

26:52Okay, so here's the thing

26:53new thing

26:54I'm going to suggest to you

26:55so I'm now

26:56hard to believe

26:57the grandmother of four

26:58right

26:59I want you to start a thing

27:00called

27:00I'm going to call it

27:01Granny's in the Groove

27:02right

27:03and I want you to get

27:04Granny's running

27:05who haven't run before.

27:06Oh, we have that

27:07in Families on Track

27:07so absolutely

27:08Can I join who?

27:09We have the grannies

27:10absolutely

27:11I have a friend

27:13who said she absolutely

27:13can't run

27:14by the end of it

27:15she was running

27:15we had a teenager

27:16who turned up in jeans

27:17and she said

27:18I'm too cool for this

27:19and then by the end

27:20she was doing

27:20250 meter loop

27:21in jeans

27:22So I'm going to challenge you

27:24I'm going to challenge you

27:25in a year's time

27:27let's see if we've managed

27:27to get more ready

27:28Shall we do it?

27:29Granny's in the Groove

27:30I want that

27:31Paula is such a representative

27:38of Britain

27:39so magnificent

27:41and yet she's also made

27:42a wonderful life

27:43for herself here

27:44in the south of France

27:45which continues to attract

27:47artists, writers

27:48and of course

27:49world class athletes

27:50and I loved visiting with her

27:51she did offer to run

27:52back down the hill

27:53with me

27:53it's a few miles

27:54but I knew I could take her

27:56so I said I wouldn't bother

27:58and before I leave

28:03this enclave

28:04of some of the wealthiest

28:05people on the planet

28:06there is one more thing

28:07I really have to do

28:08there are

28:11let's face it

28:11a lot of yachts here

28:13they're the ultimate

28:14status symbol

28:15of the super rich

28:16this for example

28:17is the Martita

28:18it will set you back

28:19a cool 45,000 euros

28:21per week

28:22to charter

28:22for eight lucky friends

28:24but really

28:25is it value for money

28:27well I thought it worth

28:28checking out

28:29just in case

28:30so I'm hopping aboard

28:32to meet experienced

28:34steward

28:34Natalie Kluver

28:36oh this is lovely

28:39I wore the sunglasses

28:40so I thought I'd look cool

28:41do you think

28:41you look great

28:42do I look cool

28:43you look real cool

28:44this is a little bit above me

28:45I'm sure you look cool

28:46with Afton too

28:47you and I

28:48are going to get on just fine

28:49thank you

28:50so my partner's

28:55coming into town

28:55yes

28:56haven't seen each other

28:57for a couple of weeks now

28:58and I was thinking

28:58of doing a special thing

28:59do people sometimes

29:00just hire it for the day

29:01and say

29:01indeed we do do

29:02day charters

29:03or week charters

29:04so day charter

29:05is 46,000 euros

29:0646 for the day

29:074 to 6

29:084 to 6

29:09and then for a week

29:11is between 45 and 55,000

29:13for the week

29:14so I would plan it

29:16you'd need to

29:16I mean I may have to

29:17look at the whole thing

29:18to see if I like it

29:19indeed

29:20and we all

29:20I'd love to show you

29:21shall we do that

29:22I would love that

29:23thank you

29:23please follow me

29:24I love the town

29:25I'm pretty certain

29:27my budget won't stretch

29:28to this

29:28but you have to have a look

29:30don't you

29:30would you like to come

29:35and have a look inside

29:36thank you

29:37up to you

29:38oh

29:39it's a completely

29:40different temperature

29:41yes it is

29:41we are very grateful

29:43as it is

29:43I'm going to

29:44maybe shut the door soon

29:45oh

29:46please

29:47it's so big

29:48from the outside

29:49you have no sense of it

29:51please have a seat

29:52so how many people

29:53eight would be the maximum

29:54or

29:54eight guests

29:55so we have

29:56four cabins down below

29:57each sleep two people

29:59so we can host eight guests

30:01and we three crew

30:02so yes

30:03so what happens

30:04somebody will rent it

30:05say for the week

30:06that's right

30:07do they then say

30:07I like this kind of wine

30:09or champagne

30:09or I like this kind of food

30:11or what happens

30:12certainly

30:12so what we prefer

30:13is we send a preference sheet

30:14to our guests

30:15prior to them arriving

30:17so a big part of

30:19a charter week

30:20is provisioning

30:21yeah

30:22and the more information

30:23we have

30:23we always try and say

30:24to guests

30:24give us every little bit

30:26of information

30:26so that we can make sure

30:28we have it on board

30:29often we on anchor

30:30and we can't actually

30:31get off the boat

30:32to go and get more wine

30:34or you know

30:35certain cheese

30:36so if we have

30:37the more information

30:38we have

30:39the better it is

30:40we have it on board

30:41I love this railing

30:51it's so beautiful

30:52it's wonderful

30:52yes

30:53so we have four cabins

30:55sleep for guests

30:56we're going to go

30:56into the master

30:57obviously

30:58I'm still preparing

31:01the towels

31:02in the master bathroom

31:03but very spacious

31:04oh wow

31:05so when somebody

31:07books one of these

31:08and there's four couples

31:09how do they decide

31:10do they draw lots

31:11or is it the person

31:11who's paying

31:12it generally is

31:13the person who's paying

31:14gets the master

31:14and I let them choose

31:16so I always bring them

31:17downstairs

31:17and I'd say

31:18VIP master

31:19two twin cabins

31:20and then they generally

31:22say where they go

31:23apparently there's still

31:25work to be done

31:25for tonight's guests

31:26so Natalie is getting me

31:28to roll up the towels

31:29and of course

31:30there's a particular way

31:31to do this

31:32you have to place

31:33the towels

31:34on the bed

31:34at a specific angle

31:35and don't forget

31:37to stick some

31:38in the slim

31:39but stylish bathroom

31:40nice quality

31:42nice quality

31:43nice fluffy white towels

31:46and after that

31:48Natalie wants me

31:49to help her out

31:49with food prep

31:50in the petite kitchen

31:51known as the galley

31:53in yachting speak

31:54so a nice fresh fruit platter

31:56I thought we could do

31:57I've got some nice

31:59and in your job

32:00do you have to do

32:01this kind of thing

32:02this is not what

32:03the chef is up to

32:03you do a bit of everything

32:05I do a bit of everything

32:06and I like that

32:07I do a bit of everything

32:07you know

32:08if anybody needs

32:10some help

32:10in all departments

32:11I tend to

32:12want to know

32:14where I can help

32:15and how I can

32:16so even in the engine room

32:17when captain does

32:18work in there

32:20I'm always asking questions

32:21I'm always wanting to know

32:22where everything goes

32:23so what is your title

32:25what is the

32:25if somebody grew up

32:27and said I want to do

32:27that job

32:28what is the job

32:29so I'm a stewardess

32:30or chief stewardess

32:31being a soul stew

32:33on this boat

32:34but my years of experience

32:36when I meet other crew

32:37they like you chief stew

32:39so

32:39but I'm not really

32:40too faced with the title

32:41and did you want to do this

32:43when you were growing up

32:44I know

32:45I've always been in hospitality

32:46as well as corporate sales

32:49so I was doing both

32:50at one stage

32:51I was doing both jobs

32:53working in the evening

32:54and repping in the day

32:55and I've always enjoyed it

32:57people

32:57you know people

32:58are

32:59it's fascinating

33:00and then

33:01I met a sailor

33:02oh

33:03this is a story

33:04I like that story

33:04okay

33:05so you met a sailor

33:07met a sailor

33:08and ended up going

33:08to the Caribbean

33:09to work on my first yacht

33:12when I was

33:1330 actually

33:14I didn't start yachting

33:16like most of

33:17most of the crew

33:18really really young

33:19I started much later

33:20is it a profession

33:22that is kind of

33:23for young crew

33:24is it

33:24yes

33:25why is that

33:25well I guess

33:27the stamina

33:28which I can disagree with

33:30because I've had

33:30many years in the industry

33:32and I still have that

33:34but it's

33:35you know

33:35many

33:36many start

33:37finishing school

33:38or finishing studies

33:39and they want to go

33:40and do

33:40most of it is about

33:42travelling isn't it

33:43yeah

33:43and they start

33:45their career in yachting

33:46so it's been

33:47for me

33:48I always think

33:49I'm retiring

33:49I've been home

33:50a few times

33:51I worked in Saudi Arabia

33:52for a year as well

33:53can't say for who

33:55but

33:55okay

33:56so I think

33:57I would rather

33:58yes

33:58get on the boat

33:59with you there

34:00than somebody

34:01I don't know

34:02in their 20s

34:03or whatever

34:03because

34:04I don't know

34:05I just feel more secure

34:06that I would feel

34:07like you know

34:08what you're doing

34:08and that you'll

34:09look after us

34:10I mean as soon

34:11as I met you

34:11I felt at my ease

34:12and I guess

34:12that's part of

34:13that's your professional

34:14yes

34:15and it's

34:16it's something

34:16I do naturally

34:17I'm very grateful

34:18for that

34:19is to have that

34:20ability to

34:22be able to

34:23chat

34:23and have various

34:25conversations

34:25yeah

34:27and makes my

34:28makes my job

34:29easier too

34:30you know

34:30you don't have to feel

34:31so formal

34:32all the time

34:33and I've met

34:33some wonderful

34:34wonderful guests

34:35have you

34:35oh yes

34:36in particular

34:37this past charter

34:38we've just had now

34:39wonderful guests

34:40so they even

34:41messaged last night

34:42saying we miss you

34:43and the Aperol spritz

34:44isn't quite the same

34:45we can

34:46can you make

34:47an Aperol spritz

34:48I can indeed

34:48it's one of my

34:49favourite cocktails

34:50to make

34:51mine too

34:51yeah

34:52could we sneak one

34:53yes I'll have to

34:54get the ingredients out

34:55but let's do that

34:56I think that's a great idea

34:57as long as you sit

34:59with me as a friend

34:59I shall do

35:00thank you

35:01look at that

35:01I haven't tasted

35:02one of my own

35:02Aperol spritz yet

35:03no I'm making them

35:04I'm never really

35:05drinking them

35:05we need to change

35:06this immediately

35:07this looks fantastic

35:08thank you

35:09shall we take this outside

35:10yeah

35:10shall I carry it

35:11wonderful

35:11thank you

35:12this looks mom

35:13fabulous

35:13truth be told

35:15I never really

35:15wanted to hire the yacht

35:17but I was hoping

35:18I'd get a free drink

35:19so are we making

35:20Aperol spritz

35:21yes

35:21perfect time of the day

35:22to have one

35:23so

35:24oranges

35:28love it

35:28a piece of orange

35:29yeah

35:29it's not bad

35:34I mean film quick

35:35because you know

35:35I'm drinking this

35:36that's really good

35:40that's one of the best

35:41ones I've had

35:42thank you so much

35:43it is a signature

35:44you are the woman

35:44thank you

35:45that was extraordinary

35:56unimaginable luxury

35:58and who would not

35:59want to spend time

35:59with that crew

36:00but here's the thing

36:01I've been married

36:01for nearly two decades

36:03and what I know

36:04is if we had

36:0550,000 pounds to spare

36:06my wife would want

36:08to give it to charity

36:08so I've got a better idea

36:10hey beautiful

36:19hey babe

36:20hi

36:22how are you

36:24I missed you

36:24I missed you too

36:25okay so

36:27got a surprise for you

36:28yeah

36:28see all these luxury boats

36:29yeah

36:30we're going on this one

36:31I thought you'd like it better

36:33this one

36:33yeah

36:33it's two euros

36:34okay splashing out

36:35splashing out

36:36excellent

36:37I love it

36:38it's more our kind of thing

36:39isn't it

36:39I love it

36:40oh god I missed you

36:44I missed you too

37:09after that very brief reunion

37:30with my wife in Monaco

37:31I'm travelling solo again

37:32and crossing the border

37:34back to France

37:34for my final stop

37:36on this Riviera journey

37:37I travelled a lot

37:41by train as a child

37:42and in fact

37:44we had an aunt

37:45who lived in California

37:46we lived in New York

37:46so we used to go by train

37:47and it took five days

37:49I think

37:49and my brother and I

37:51were quite little

37:52and there wasn't much to do

37:53this was before

37:53any kind of electronic

37:55entertainment

37:55but also back in the day

37:57the toilets on the train

37:59all of their contents

38:01dropped directly

38:03onto the track

38:04so we used to go

38:05to the very last carriage

38:06on the train

38:07flush toilet paper

38:09down the toilet

38:09and run to the back window

38:11and watch it fly out

38:13across the prairie

38:14I mean environmentally

38:16not sensible

38:17but kept us entertained

38:18for hours

38:19the lovely little town

38:36of Monton

38:37is known

38:38as the pearl

38:38of the Riviera

38:39and it's easy

38:40to see why

38:41its beautiful

38:42pastel coloured buildings

38:44are framed

38:45by the spectacular mountains

38:46that lead

38:47into nearby Italy

38:48it's yet another

38:50perfect place

38:51for painting

38:52and many artists

38:53flocked here

38:53over the years

38:55the town's also known

38:57for its zigzag staircase

38:58this historic set of steps

39:00is known as

39:01Lerand Saint-Michel

39:03and leads

39:04from the seaside promenade

39:05up to the basilic

39:06Saint-Michel

39:07Orchanges

39:08Monton is only

39:10seven kilometres

39:11or four miles

39:12from the Italian border

39:13which might explain

39:14why the ice cream

39:15is so good

39:16so being a connoisseur

39:18I had to look

39:19for the best

39:20gelateria

39:21in town

39:22what do you recommend?

39:25I recommend

39:26lemon and basil

39:27fresh from Monton

39:28the lemon

39:29feels amazing

39:30you want to try?

39:31yeah I try

39:32okay

39:32oh it all looks good

39:34is it all freshly made?

39:36yeah we all made it today

39:37here

39:38wow

39:42okay can I try

39:43the lemon

39:43normal lemon

39:44ginger?

39:45is it ginger?

39:46I don't know

39:55they're both so good

39:56lemon and basil

39:57you were right

39:58the first time

39:58yeah can I have it

40:00in a cone?

40:00a cone?

40:01one scoop?

40:02yes one scoop

40:02please thank you

40:03so are you both from here

40:05are you both

40:05French?

40:06Italy

40:07yes

40:08okay and you as well?

40:09I'm from France

40:10but I was born in Italy

40:11you were born in Italy

40:12so do you go

40:14can you go

40:15straight to Italy

40:16from here?

40:17yes

40:17in the train

40:18in the train

40:19yes

40:19okay

40:19unusually

40:22they don't just make

40:23the ice cream

40:24on the premises here

40:25but also the cones

40:26I mean they say

40:46Italian ice cream

40:47is the best in the world

40:48and here I am in France

40:50enjoying it

40:51where am I?

40:52it's the thing

40:53we are so close

40:54to the Italian border

40:55it was in the 1860s

40:57that Napoleon III

40:58who was the last ruler

41:00of France

41:00the last monarch of France

41:02broke it a deal

41:03whereby the kingdom

41:04of Sardinia

41:05gave Montand

41:06to the French

41:07but honestly

41:08it's one of those borders

41:10that's always been

41:10a bit fluid

41:11I don't think people

41:12really mind

41:12you can go backwards

41:13and forwards

41:14at will

41:15between France and Italy

41:16and imagine that

41:17going to another

41:18European country

41:19without any fuss

41:20a marvellous idea

41:22Italy of course

41:27is renowned for its lemons

41:28and being nearby

41:29so is Montand

41:30it just so happens

41:32that the Mediterranean

41:33microclimate here

41:34is perfect for growing

41:36citric fruit

41:37the Montand lemon

41:38is famed in its own right

41:40and has a special

41:41protected status

41:42now I've heard

41:44that the best place

41:44to try this local lemon

41:46is Maison Ganac

41:47in the centre of town

41:49so time to continue

41:50my informal foodie tour

41:53of lovely Montand

41:54Bonjour

41:55Frederic

41:56Oui

41:56Bonjour

41:57Je suis Sandy

41:57Bonjour

41:58Enchanté

41:59Merci

42:00The family Ganac

42:02started their own

42:03citrus orchard

42:04on the outskirts

42:05of Montand

42:05just over 30 years ago

42:07and they've never

42:08looked back

42:09Maison Ganac

42:10we are the most

42:12important organic

42:13citrus producer

42:14here in Montand

42:15and we transform

42:16all our citrus

42:18on fine products

42:19liquor

42:19jam

42:21a salty corner

42:23to cook

42:23with the citrus

42:25I've had some food

42:27here with citrus

42:27and it's fantastic

42:28where do the lemons

42:31grow

42:31where are they

42:32we got

42:33landscape gardener

42:35we got

42:36domain

42:37here

42:37on the

42:38upper side

42:39of

42:39Montand

42:40and we got

42:42something like

42:43800 trees

42:45wow

42:46and we produce

42:47several tons

42:49of citrus

42:50each year

42:51all organic

42:52and we obtain

42:53PGI

42:54my protected

42:55geographical

42:57indication

42:58for the

42:59Montand

42:59lemon

43:00can I try

43:01yeah of course

43:01please try

43:02this is for you

43:03and you can

43:04you can eat

43:05everything

43:05including the

43:06white part

43:06this is a

43:07specificity

43:08of the

43:08Montand

43:08lemon

43:09so you

43:10can eat

43:10the skin

43:11exactly

43:11low acidity

43:13a lot of

43:14juice

43:15and the skin

43:16contains

43:17essential oil

43:18and full of

43:19vitamin C

43:20this is really

43:20the specificity

43:21of Montand

43:22lemon

43:22it's

43:23I was expecting

43:24it to be

43:25I don't know

43:26a bit sour

43:26but it's

43:27delicious

43:28and then

43:29Frederick got me

43:30tasting

43:31the sweet

43:32stuff

43:32we got a

43:34large range

43:34of jams

43:36produced with

43:37our citrus

43:38maybe we can

43:38try

43:39in a previous

43:41life

43:41I was a

43:42cheesemonger

43:42and I love

43:43this

43:44lime

43:45lemon

43:46jam

43:47combined

43:47with cheese

43:48so in

43:49Denmark

43:49which is where

43:50I come from

43:51for breakfast

43:51we have

43:52cheese and

43:52jam

43:52on bread

43:53delicious

43:55so maybe

43:55this is my

43:56new

43:56lime

43:57lemon

43:57jam

43:57with

43:58our

43:59lime

43:59lemon

43:59I mean

44:06you think

44:07it's just

44:07going to

44:08I don't

44:08think it's

44:09just going

44:09to be

44:09jam

44:10but it's

44:10more than

44:11jam

44:11and it

44:12stays

44:12with you

44:13yeah

44:13it's

44:14heaven

44:15absolute

44:15heaven

44:16Frederick

44:17saves the

44:18best

44:18for last

44:19the

44:19limoncello

44:20everyone's

44:21favorite

44:21Italian

44:22holiday

44:22after dinner

44:24tipple

44:24just one

44:25second

44:25I bring

44:26my

44:26limoncello

44:27in a

44:27freezer

44:27honestly

44:28it's like

44:29being in a

44:29kind of

44:29lemon frenzy

44:30I like

44:32lemon

44:32but I would

44:33never ever

44:33eat a

44:33piece of

44:34lemon

44:34but while

44:35he's not

44:35looking

44:36I'm going

44:36to eat

44:36another

44:36piece

44:37I'm

44:37stealing

44:37some

44:38more

44:38lemon

44:38yeah

44:39don't

44:39look

44:40don't

44:40look

44:40okay

44:42now we're

44:43going to

44:44try our

44:44limoncello

44:45made with

44:45citron de

44:46menton

44:46lemon

44:47like a fairy

44:50cup

44:51oh

44:57it's so

44:58good

44:58thank you

44:59fantastic

44:59so it's a

45:00digestive

45:01but you can

45:01mix it as a

45:03cocktail with

45:04prosecco with

45:05sparkling water

45:06with champagne

45:07or you can put it

45:08on a

45:09chocolate cake

45:10I'm just going to

45:10check I really

45:11liked it

45:11second check

45:12okay

45:13just check I

45:13really liked it

45:14so if you could

45:18wrap one of each

45:18up for me

45:19I'll take them

45:20all

45:20okay

45:21we're going to

45:21do a pack

45:22what a wonderful

45:26way to end

45:27my Riviera

45:28rail trip

45:28ah well

45:30nothing lasts

45:31forever

45:32F Scott Fitzgerald

45:37called the Riviera

45:38a playground

45:39for the world

45:40and he wrote

45:40something which

45:41I absolutely

45:42feel in my

45:43heart

45:43he said

45:43when your eyes

45:44first fall

45:45upon the

45:46Mediterranean

45:46you know

45:47at once

45:48why it was

45:49here

45:49that man

45:50first stood

45:51erect

45:51and stretched

45:53out his arms

45:53towards the

45:55sun

45:55it is

45:56glorious

45:57and he

45:59and he

46:08does

46:09and he

46:09can

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