A different world

Winding down after the whirl-wind that was Monaco Yacht Show 2014, and processing the conglomeration of video and photos allows me to reflect upon this intriguing event.   This is my 4th year in a row attending as a photographer, and my work here has been evolving with new clients and cool experiences which make the show a must for my business and reputation.   "Ahhh... Monaco",  I hear you say... and well justified, as I am surrounded by exotic supercars, superyachts, and most likely some of the best dressed people on the planet.   But this is all just a facade hiding many things very wrong with this place... a tax haven of a bygone era, being held together by the rich and not so famous.   Here is the largest Yacht show in the world, and yet the WiFi internet speeds remind you of how it was to surf in the late 1990's... you walk down to a well established restaurant, stepping over crap left behind by some small trinket dog used more as an accessory than a pet, and when you do sit down to eat, you are hard pressed finding anything but the finest Italian cuisine (what is 'French cuisine' here anyway???)...  Yes, I am aware that many years ago Italy occupied this part of France ;)    And while you soak up this atmosphere, you are listening to a chorus of rather delightful exhaust notes spelling out the hundreds of thousands of Euro's spent on 4 wheels with Monaco plates, only to be annoyingly drowned out by the near continuous emergency vehicle sirens echoing through the streets - honestly... what is going wrong so often!!??   The pretentiousness can be cut by a knife in all directions, with a 'get out of my way' attitude only stopped by someone walking across a zebra crossing.   4-Euros for a coffee so bad they should be ashamed of serving and never sleep at night... and don't get me started on why, at the show, the food and drink venues don't accept ANY credit/debit cards... such an arrogant French attitude piss-take!

Now it is over, all the yachts of various sizes disembark to destinations scattered around the Med to get ready for the Caribbean season or just finish some final charters, Port Hercules returns to normal, crowds vanish, and I wonder why I am still here... might hang out in Nice for a few days... at least the pizzas only cost 10Euro.  I chuckle to myself a little, knowing I will be back next year, and remembering what an Exhibitor said to me in the elevator during the show, "we should stop complaining... god we are spoilt working here".   So true, so I will shut up now :)