One hundred issues and counting

100 issues of the Riviera Times have been produced

Here was a sober reminder of what havoc nature can play in this idyllic part of the world. Indeed it seems a lifetime ago since the canicule of 2003 and the terrible fires which ravaged the Var (Issue 19 - Sept 03) that summer. Five months later the RT reported on the affect the drought had had on the mimosa festivals (issue 23 - Feb 04) and returned to the worst-affected area for fires around Plan de la Tour to see how they were faring (Issue 24 - March 04).

Floods and fires apart there's been so much water under the bridge since the RT was launched in March 2002, and we have been riding that wave ever since to help the English-speaking interna-tional communities enjoy life better in this privileged region.

We've seen the relentless rise and in some cases fall of the low cost airlines that have had such an impact on residents (issues 1, 22 and 49). Our "lock your car doors at all times" battle against the vol à la portière criminals was a campaign that drew criticism from some local authorities for painting a negative picture but was, for us, crucial for ensuring visitors had a good experience. Then there was the driving licence shake-up,  the carte vitale updates and the pool security laws... as you can see, not much escapes the eye of an RT scribe.

Yet it is also about sharing the good things in life: our beach reviews, our surveys of  surfing venues and cool water spots to explore, the Côte d'Azur "through the eyes of the Masters" itinerary, a dangerous sports round-up, the tranquil gardens - the list of information we constantly try to put together for our readers knows no bounds.
And of course there is the Monaco Times, devoted entirely to the Principality where a new era beckons with the engagement of Prince Albert II. We were there for you when Prince Rainier III passed away; our freelancer Rolf Palm's tribute (Issue 38 - May 05) opened the eyes of many to what the sovereign had achieved.

Today, the RT continues to bring you the "insiders" view of the Principality as it does of the whole region from Marseille to Genoa. Here's to the next 100 issues!

Claire Lathbury