Generally speaking, I relax by watching films, surfing the net for art, furniture, or home decor, reading design books, drinking tea, washing my face with my 10-step Korean beauty process, waking up without an alarm and going to a late brunch with girlfriends in the West Village, working on my City Guides, taking long baths, and traveling to foreign lands. I guess you can say that I’ve been doing a number of those things to help me get rebalanced again on this trip.
The Monaco that I once knew doesn’t really exist in today’s world. Personally, I would rather have skipped over Monte-Carlo and have just headed straight to the SOF, but still it was nice to be back even if it was just a quick 24-hour jaunt. Sarah and I stayed at the Le Méridien Beach Plaza that was right on the water off Princesse Grace, so it was just a short walk away from all the casinos and nightlife.
Taxi’s are incredibly expensive and they don’t have meters. They simple just tell you what it will cost per person to get from point a to point b, so be prepared to shell out some cash. You hail a taxi by calling them, so be prepared to pick up the phone and order one. Everything is expensive in Monaco. Everything. Also, it’s impossible to park; it’s chaotic during the summer months with tourists, and the police are on the prowl to write you a ticket for absolutely everything (in which you must hand over cash and tell them everything from you fathers maiden name to your 1st grade teacher and promise that you are in fact, sorry for your crimes). It was all quite bizarre, but nonetheless, we still enjoyed our stay.
I’m wearing a swimsuit that my grandmother gave me that she used to wear in the late 60s. I quite enjoy my grandmother's unique sense of taste and style. Growing up in Seoul to a rather affluent family, she was able to design most of her pieces or get them custom-made based on her own dimensions, so many of the pieces that I have inherited over the years are one-of-a-kind. Quite frankly, that makes it all the better.
Coco Wears: Grandmother's Swimsuit from the 60s from Seoul, Vintage Frames. Photography: Sarah Son. Location: Le Méridien Beach Plaza, Monte Carlo Hotel, Monte-Carlo, Monaco. City Guide: Monte Carlo