Why Saint-Tropez?
When Brigitte Bardot and her film crew arrived in the 1950s, this once small fishing village was transformed into a star-studded, jet-set magnet, and every year a shiny new coterie of A-listers hop off their yachts for some light shopping, poolside lounging and fine dining. From the glamorous yachties gracing the decks of their glistening white cruisers in colourful Port Suffren to the Ferraris and Lamborghinis circling the harbour's glitzy designer boutiques, Saint-Tropez is undoubtedly the most dazzling jewel in the French Riviera's crown. But it's not all glitz and glitter. An underlying simplicity remains in its warm colours and cobbled streets, and Pampellone's beaches, edged by pine forests in Saint-Tropez's Ramatuelle district, offer simple fish suppers on white sand beaches: an idyllic escape from the chaos of everyday life.
A comfortable bed
High-tech jet-setters will love the latest luxury boutique hotel, La Muse in Ramatuelle (www.muse-hotels.com; 00 33 494 430440) where guests are given iPads and iPods for use during their stay. This stylish, new 15-suite gem, located in the vineyards between Pampellone's beaches and the centre ville, offers the epitome of five-star service with a "sun butler" to supply lotions for tanning by the pool and a silver vintage Bentley to shuttle you to the beach. Suites cost from €350 (Dh1,776) per night, including breakfast and taxes.
Mick Jagger, Beyoncé and Naomi Campbell, former regulars at the classic Hotel Byblos (www.byblos.com; 00 33 494 56 68 00; open from May to October), have enjoyed the hotel's Provence-meets-Moorish style and spot-on service, as well as automatic entrance to the exclusive Les Caves du Roy club. Classic double rooms cost from €410 (Dh2,074) per night, including taxes.
For thinner wallets, the Hotel Lou Cagnard (www.hotel-lou-cagnard.com; 00 33 494 970424) is one of the few bargains you'll find in Saint-Tropez. Breakfasting amid sunny gardens and Provençal decor makes this a treat for those on a budget. From €58 (Dh294) per night, including taxes.
Find your feet
Decide what type of holiday you want before you book your hotel. If you plan to amble around designer boutiques, ogle the owners of the mega-yachts in the harbour and wander aimlessly while occasionally stopping by a patisserie, stick to Saint-Tropez's centre-ville - eminently walkable, it is filled with shopping and hosts a twice-weekly market (Tuesday and Saturday) in Place des Lices. For sun worshippers, Pampellone's beaches are closer to the chic rural retreats of Ramatuelle's beach roads, where you're more likely to need a car to get around, although themore expensive hotels provide shuttle services and taxis are readily available.
While the cash-rich can choose to hire a yacht to flit between town and beach, mere mortals can hop aboard the Brigantin II (www.lebrigantin.com) at Vieux Port, for a €9 (Dh46) one-hour boat tour of the villas of Saint-Tropez's celebrity residents. Stop for maps at the Saint-Tropez tourist office, which has English-speaking staff, on Quai Jean Jaurès by the port.
Meet the locals
Steep yourself in tradition on May 17 and watch villagers turn out in full costume at Les Bravades for a procession through the streets of Saint-Tropez to pay homage to Saint Torpes, the beheaded Christian centurion after whom Saint-Tropez was named. Big-name bargain hunters will enjoy battling with the locals on the first weekend in October at La Grande Braderie, when a massive end-of- season sale is held. The rest of the year, meet them buying and selling the day's catch in the market at Place des Herbes.
Book a table
The arrival of its very own "super chef" has finally put Saint-Tropez on the serious gourmet's map. Last summer Pierre Gagnaire (his Parisien restaurant boasts three Michelin stars) launched Restaurant Colette (www.hotelsezz-sainttropez.com; 00 33 494 445311) at the Hotel Sezz on Chemin des Salins. Gagnaire focuses on Mediterranean cuisine using the freshest locally produced ingredients to create dishes such as delicate lobster fricassée; sublime beef tenderloin with red onion petals and divinely fruity desserts (a three-course meal costs approximately €90 [Dh462] per person). For beachfront dining, Club Cinquante-Cinq (www.club55.fr; 00 33 494 555 555) or "55" at Pampellone beach is the place to see and be seen.
For fashionable dining and modern French-North African fusion cuisine in town, head to Avenue du Maréchal Foch and the Saint-Tropez outpost of Alain Ducasse's concept restaurant Spoon (at the Byblos; 00 33 494 566 820). Here, the cool decor, all candlelight and hanging Moroccan lamps, encourages reclining on over-sized chairs while feasting on dishes such as tuna à la plancha and chicken tagine with olives and lemon, brought to the table by friendly staff. The "spoon experience" menu, a set of dishes suggested by the chef, costs €86 (Dh442) per person.
Shopper's paradise
Like its clientele, the shops in Saint-Tropez are more designer boutique than department store. French designer clothes shops surround the Place des Lices, selling everything from classic linens and Jimmy Choos to the more glitzy lamé and sequins from the likes of Le Dressing and Lily.
Between the streets of Rue Gambetta, François Sibilli and Georges Clemenceau you'll find small boutiques among classier options like Tod's, Armani and Louis Vuitton. For traditional Provençal footwear, visit K Jacques on Rue du Genéral Allard, who've been making Tropezienne sandals since 1933, before crossing to Rue Jean Mermoz for some fashionably loud Vilebrequin mens trunks, perfect for Pampellone beach.
What to avoid
The hordes of summer tourists and the hellish traffic on the single road to Saint-Tropez in July and August. Unless you have a yacht, high season can involve thronging masses, steaming radiators and a three-hour snail's-pace drive that, during the rest of the year, takes about 30 minutes.
Don't miss
Matisse, Dufy, Seurat and Paul Signac, just a handful of major artists whose works can be found at the Musée de l'Annonciade (www.saint-tropez.tv/html/annonciade) in Place Gramont, an exquisite collection of 20th-century Fauvists, Cubists, Expressionists and Pointillists exhibited in a former 16th-century chapel. Entrance is €6 (Dh31).
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
RESULTS
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jordan Sport, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Jungle Cat, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Kimbear, Patrick Dobbs, Doug Watson
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner: Hawkbill, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
65
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Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
THREE
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The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
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