Wed, May 27, 1998
At the Swiss mountains of the Kanton Engadin the idea of winter holidays were actually invented. In St. Moritz holiday makers sip champagne at the ski station and drive to the lift station with the hotel's Rolls Royce. Millionaires who have never stayed at the Badrutt's Palace, played curling at the ice rink of the Kulm Hotel or has danced all night long at the Dracula Club, founded by Gunter Sachs, cannot really claim to be rich. Gunter Sachs once produced a film like a love affair on his favourite resort. And he can still tell stories about the air and the new spirit of liberation among the young heirs and the other young rich of the so called jet set of the roaring sixties. Being allowed to have a ride down the Cresta run ice tunnel, lying on a skeleton, was the ultimate award for the crazy generation. At least according to Sachs and Krupp heir Arnold von Bohlen. Breaking a rib on the Cresta Run was like the graduate of the times. Nowadays Albert of Monaco is firing down the bobsleigh run in more serious, more worldly competitions, trying to get fit for Olympic Winter Games. While Ex-007 Roger Moore is raising serious monies for UNICEF, of course at Badrutt's Palace.
Sun, May 31, 1998
Sylt Island in the North Sea is the closest Germany ever gets to being glamouros. Around the Sansibar in the dunes and the island village Kampen industry captains rub shoulders with the elder statesmen of Germany's entertainment business. Private parties at Günther Schmidt's Sylt home have people like the Prince of Liechtenstein on the guest list. Schmidt has made a fortune with the production of head-ache pills. And when you ask him for his favourite spot on the beautiful island he answers: "My bed." Sylt used to be a bit more exciting yet. In the Sixties Gunter Sachs was cruising around on his motorcycle, even bringing his wife Brigitte Bardot. Publisher legends like Augstein and Springer came here to relax, and probably have a look at the first nudist beaches of the country. Today the nouveau riche show their Lamborghinis and Ferraris, but some can still tell stories about the times before mass tourism took over. Like former government spokesman Peter Boenisch or smash screenplay writer Wolfgang Menge.
Thu, Dec 26, 2002
"A castle," says baron Andrea Franchetti, "is a poetic adventure." Also adventurer and mountain climber Reinhold Messner, lord of castle Juval in Vinschgau, dreamt of a castle since he was a little boy. Castles can spark our imagination like nothing else. We think of Knights and sword fights, of princes and princesses, ghosts and dark corridors leading to the dungeons, of fairytales, legends and myths and films and series, like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, keep that spirit alive. But what is it really like to live in a castle today? The two last episodes of Mondän follow modern lords and ladies of castles Europe, uncovers the reality of their daily lives behind strong and sturdy walls, a modern fairytale of luxury and maintenance.
Thu, Dec 26, 2002
"A castle," says baron Andrea Franchetti, "is a poetic adventure." Also adventurer and mountain climber Reinhold Messner, lord of castle Juval in Vinschgau, dreamt of a castle since he was a little boy. Castles can spark our imagination like nothing else. We think of Knights and sword fights, of princes and princesses, ghosts and dark corridors leading to the dungeons, of fairytales, legends and myths and films and series, like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings, keep that spirit alive. But what is it really like to live in a castle today? The two last episodes of Mondän follow modern lords and ladies of castles Europe, uncovers the reality of their daily lives behind strong and sturdy walls, a modern fairytale of luxury and maintenance.