Join us on our new journey to Monaco and Europe! We are so excited, and want to share with you all of our exciting adventures...and maybe some, not so exciting! Thanks for joining us...

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Vintage Formula One Racing...in Belgium

Formula One Race Car...so cool!



Pit Row...right ON the tracks...

The end of April, Art and I flew to Brussels, Belgium. We drove to Spa Francorchamps, a famous Grand Prix Race Track in a lovely area of Belgium. There are many quaint towns adjacent to this course, which is 5 miles long...through the hills of this village. We went as "groupies" of a good friend, Peter Dunn, who races Vintage Formula One Cars as a hobby.

We stayed in Jalhay, at a darling inn, owned by a gentleman who worked for many years for Club Med...in the US, Paris and Monaco. He ran a quaint, clean, and charming place. It was Peter, his race team, Kevin & Melvin from England, Art and I, and a team of Interclub Golfers from Antwerp, Belgium, that consisted of about 20 crazy men! They were much fun! And we were a good audience!


We arrived Friday night in time for dinner, at the Inn. The next morning, after breakfast, we headed out to the race track for Peter's qualifying time trials. The place was amazing...with all sorts of vintage cars, lots of people, RV's, Tandem Rigs, and just a great atmosphere. It was cold and windy...but we had a great time. I did learn the use of those ear mufflers...when they started one of these cars in the pits, goodness, I jumped out of my SKIN!!!

Peter's car was quite spectacular...his racing was great, and we enjoyed our weekend of racing!

Monte Carlo's Japanese Gardens...springtime!





The gardens in the principality of Monaco are amazing...and the Sunday before Art's surgery, we took a walk through the Japanese Gardens. They are just amazing, and when you are in them, you would not know you were in the South of France....Here are some gorgeous photos of the flowers in bloom! Enjoy!

Amazing...Jonathan came to visit!



Jonathan Livingston Seagull came a knocking at my window one day...I had a package of food on my window sill, thawing out...and, with us being on the 31st floor, he spotted it...and came a hunting!

ATP Masters Series Tennis, AGAIN!! 2009


The middle box...with the flowers on the wall in front, is the Royal Box...with Albert, his girlfriend and royal friends!!! Nope, we weren't invited!

Monte Carlo's sponsoring a hot air balloon team now...and you could get a ride at the tournament...up and down...amazing!!!


Novak Djokovic, a local favorite, he lives and works out in Monaco, at the Country Club...they all just love him!!!

Ball boys and Girls and Line umpires...before the Finals...
The finals...place was packed...amazing day!

Professional Tennis...in Monaco...on RED clay...between the sea and the mountains...need I say more?Wow, what a week of tennis it was. Spent many a day in the stands, watching Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and of course, the champion...Rafa Nadal!!! What a week! We were able to see the Quarters, Semis and Finals...as well as the Doubles. Awesome stuff! Here's a picture show of the great event!!!

Prince Albert & Madame de Massey handing out the awards to Nadal and Djokovic!
Nadal...hugging another MC Cup!!!
Bryan Bros...in the doubles finals...nope, didn't win...not too impressive, either!