There's something about seeing an artist or rock group perform in their hometown that is truly remarkable. Imagine having the good fortune to be able to see and hear Tony Bennett crooning in some smoky piano bar in New York City. How about U2 performing in Dublin, REM in Athens, Georgia, or, if you were in the right place at the right time, Nirvana ripping through a set in Seattle during the early 1990s?
Italy isn't known for its rock or pop stars, although it has spawned more than its fair share of opera singers. But Italy does have rock cars. It has Ferrari. And even if there was no other Italian car company, the fact that it has Ferrari would be enough. There's more, however; Italy is home to the most famous road race of them all: the Mille Miglia. And, when the two things combine, Italy spontaneously combusts into a celebration the likes of which I have never before witnessed.
It happened for the first time last year, after Ferrari managed to do a deal with the Mille Miglia's organisers whereby a side event could be run: the Mille Miglia Ferrari Tribute. In essence, this enables owners of Ferraris built after 1958 (or perhaps older ones that never raced in the original competition series) to take part, albeit separately. The same roads and the same regularity sections are used, the same town and city centres are driven through; it's just that Tribute drivers set off at different times. Last year saw 130 Ferraris take part; this year has 150 and I'm fortunate enough to be in one of them: a new California.
There's a caveat, however. Because I'm a journalist I don't get to compete. Which, having taken part in historic rallies before now, is no biggie. For starters I have no co-driver and, to be honest, the thought of having to concentrate on average speeds and distance covered when I'm in an unfamiliar car in unfamiliar surroundings doesn't appeal. I can just kick back, get the roof down and enjoy Italy at its very best; all the while in a high-speed convoy of some of the finest cars ever built. And I get paid to do this? Pinch me, I must be dreaming.
Only I'm not dreaming. This is very real. But when I ease my car out of the hotel car park on the outskirts of Brescia and make my way to the town centre to join the others, it still feels like an out-of-body experience.
I mean, I'm driving a Ferrari, being escorted by a group of motorcycle cops who ride on ahead to stop the traffic, sirens blaring and blue lights flashing. I'm sure I've had dreams just like this.
Brescia is the starting (and finishing) point for the Mille Miglia, and today it is full to bursting with Maranello's finest. The narrow streets reverberate to the deep rumbles and shrill barks of Ferrari V8s and V12s and onlookers swarm around the cars like bees around a honeypot. We have a few hours to kill before the competition begins and, a couple of streets from where I'm parked, the 300 or so actual Mille Miglia competitors are being treated like long-lost prodigal sons. A fever has swept through Brescia and it's highly contagious.
But we have some serious driving to do and, before I know it, we're off. Off on a journey that will cover about 1,600km of Italy's finest roads in the space of three days. The 150 Ferraris are closely followed by 300 historic race cars that took part at some point in the original race rally that ended in 1957. If the pope was on live television turning up at one of Berlusconi's bunga bunga parties, the nation would not be interested. All eyes are fixed firmly on the Mille Miglia - it's the highlight of the year for millions of people in this exquisite country. For the next three days I will be a rock star. Actually, I won't; my car will be.
I'm sharing the roads, considered hallowed ground by automobile aficionados the world over, with owners not only from obvious countries such as Italy, Britain, France and Germany, but also from Switzerland, the US, even Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. The efforts these people have gone to (and the sheer expense) shows just how passionate they are about this brand and the Mille Miglia. There's magic being created here. Seriously.
And, like any touring rock group, there's a greatest hits collection to be enjoyed. Ferrari receives many more applications from owners than there are available spaces, so not everyone with the requisite funds (€6,360 or Dh33,076 per team, to be exact) gets to take part. What we have at this year's event are classics worth millions of dollars, such as the delectable 250 GT SWBs mixing it up with less rare, less valuable (but no less desirable to my eyes) 328s, 288 GTOs, Dinos and F40s. But this rock group has new material it wants to showcase. So as well as the old favourites, there's an inordinate amount of newer Californias, 599 GTOs and 458 Italias taking part; something the cynic in me is disappointed by. Still, as marketing opportunities go, this is a pretty good one and it's their party so they can invite whoever they want.
I leave Brescia to the roar of thousands of appreciative Italians and drive into the evening sun, in the middle of the pack. It's still warm, so the roof is down, and it's now I start to feel what the California is all about. It's comfortable and refined, yet focused and extremely quick when you want it to be. I think, despite my reservations about its looks, we're gonna get along just fine.
We drive until 1am, when we arrive for an overnight stay near Imola. Bed by 2am, up again at 5.30. I'm already feeling drained. This next leg is Imola to Rome and, after 90 minutes or so, I decide this is no fun whatsoever. We're driving on motorways and through industrial landscapes - there must be more to the Mille Miglia than this, surely. But then, when I least expect it, we peel off the main roads and enter the countryside. Vistas of unparalleled beauty unfold before my disbelieving eyes and I do the decent thing: switch the steering wheel "manettino" to Sport and floor it. The California, for all its refinement, goes like a scalded cat when you do this. It corners with poise and precision, feeling stiff and composed no matter how much I throttle it. And the noise, oh my, the noise. With the gearbox set to manual, with every up or down change, the quad exhausts emit coughs, splutters and bangs that sound like shotgun blasts. The seduction is complete; I love this car.
It takes a good 12 hours to reach Rome and, when we do, it's rush hour and we need to get across the gridlocked city. I'm going nowhere fast. And then, just when I'm stuck in one of the subterranean tunnels in four lanes of car park, the police arrive. Sirens screaming, they push their way through the sea of stationary metal. The noise must be making my ears bleed but it's a surreally brilliant experience to see them part the traffic, creating a channel for 150 Ferraris to push their way through. My body is coursing with adrenalin - I can't quite believe what is happening but if it wasn't for the police I get the feeling I'd still be stuck here a month from now.
Next day it's Rome to Brescia and we need to do it in one hit. The 800km in one day after, at best, three hours sleep? Bring it on. The route is stunning, taking us through Tuscan hillsides, across mountain passes and through unspeakably beautiful cities like Siena, Florence, Bologna and Modena. And everywhere we go, there are crowds lining the streets, sometimes 10 people deep, expressing their appreciation for these incredible cars. Every age group, from toddlers to old ladies, is on hand, gesturing for us to rev our engines to make their favourite music. It's our civil duty to oblige as they cheer and wave us on our way.
When we finally reach Brescia, the heavens have opened. We've had three days of unbroken sunshine but the thunder and lightning has arrived, almost as if to assert nature's authority as it drowns out the cacophony of our engines. It's been a blast, a privilege to share this experience - as a participant, an observer and a fan. I leave the California with its exhausts ticking and steam emerging from its brakes and crawl into bed to get another measly three hours of sleep. I'm full of admiration for the crews that did the Mille Miglia as an actual road race in cars that were cramped, uncomfortable and dangerous to drive fast; I wouldn't swap places with them, thanks. But I'd do this event again in a heartbeat and, if I had to do it in a new Ferrari, I reckon the California would be my chariot of choice.
Italy might be a republic but, after three days in the company of its people, it's obvious that Ferrari is its royal family and the Mille Miglia its wedding day route. Will and Kate who?
States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
More on Quran memorisation:
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
'O'
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The years Ramadan fell in May
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
The%20specs
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Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
FINAL RESULT
Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Price, base: Dh198,300
Engine: 2.0L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 280hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque: 400Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7L / 100km