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princessgracekelly1956 · 6 years ago

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The Philadelphia Inquirer - July 19, 1979

Monaco royalty ending N. J. visit

By RUTH SELTZER

Princess Grace and Prince Rainier will be concluding their visit to the New Jersey seashore today. They arrived Sunday at the Ocean City beachfront home of Grace's mother, Mrs. John B. Kelly Sr. Monaco's sovereign and his Philadelphia-born wife have enjoyed a quiet stay there. They haven't wanted to do much - just relax with cousins and members of the immediate family.

This morning, Grace and Rainier will be leaving Ocean City by automobile and will drive south, where they will be vacationing with friends.

On Monday, Grace and Rainier went to the Atlantic City Race Course, where they were dinner guests of track president Robert P. Levy and his wife, Cissie. They watched the night racing. After the sixth race, Bob Levy escorted Princess Grace to the winner's circle where she presented a trophy.

Grace's cousins, Elaine Beyer and Mary Daly, accompanied her to the track.

On Tuesday, Prince Rainier played golf at the Atlantic City Country Club with Donald C. (Don) LeVine, who is a steward at the Atlantic City Race Course. Don's wife, Lizanne, is Princess Grace's sister. Their son and daughter, Christopher and Gracie, are working again this summer at the race track. Chris, who was graduated in May from the University of Pennsylvania, is a placing and patrol judge. Gracie is Bob Levy's secretary.

Mike Douglas tapings

Earlier this month, Mike Douglas taped television shows with Princess Grace and Prince Rainier in Monaco. Material for five programs (to be aired in September) was taped in the principality.

Mike's wife, Genevieve, was with him. Said Mike: "The royal family could not have been warmer. We were able to do an interview - a first - with Prince Rainier at the palace. We also did interviews with Princess Grace and Prince Albert at the Monte Carlo Country Club. Princess Caroline participated in the awards ceremony at the tennis courts. And we show her in tennis action with her father, her husband, Philippe Junot; her brother, Prince Albert, and all the stars and tennis pros.

Mike and Gen Douglas were there during the week of the Almaden-Monte Carlo pro-celebrity tennis tournament with Sean Connery, Franco Nero, Lynda Carter, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Rogers, James Franciscus and Cathy Lee Crosby.

In the mixed doubles, Cathy Crosby and Don Budge defeated Princess Caroline and Vince Van Patten, the actor son of Dick Van Patten.

Peter Ustinov, who had been a spectator at Wimbledon, flew to the Riviera to team up with Prince Albert in the pro-celebrity tournament. They played against Prince Rainier and James Franciscus.

Prince Albert told Mike Douglas that he gets his competitive nature from the Kelly side of the family. Albert, who has been playing tennis since he was 7, will be playing varsity soccer at Amherst College in the fall. He is now on a singing tour (Europe and the Middle East) with the Amherst Glee Club.

Prince Rainier told Mike that "things went informally" for his son in college. The heir to Monaco's throne is known as Al around the campus.

During their interview, Prince Rainier confirmed that his job "isn't very easy even for a small country like this. It's very difficult. You know everybody and everybody knows you." Rainier likened his duties to those of the head of a corporation. To get away from it all, he plays tennis.

Monaco memorable

Mike and Genevieve Douglas are now "enjoying a vacation" in their newly decorated Beverly Hills house. Before jetting home, they went with the Douglas contingent (20 other former Philadelphians) from Monaco to England, where Mike taped five more shows.

About the week on the Riviera, Mike said: "The combination of production, social and tennis activities in Monte Carlo made it one of the most memorable weeks in my life . . . Prince Rainier and Princess Grace hosted a reception for us at the palace. The following night, they attended the farewell dinner for us at the Hotel Hermitage. I sat next to Princess Grace; Gen was next to Prince Rainier, and it was a very cordial occasion."

During their visit to Monaco, Mike and Genevieve Douglas had few idle moments.

Said Mike: "There were two other social events of note - an opening-night party in the top floor Le Grille of the Hotel de Paris, where we stayed, and the traditional Friday night gala at the Sporting Club. There was a performance by Sylvie Vartan, the sensational French singer and dancer, and a fireworks display that helped us through that strange feeling - being out of the United States on the Fourth of July."

The gala was hosted by Prince Louis de Polignac, who is a cousin of Prince Rainier.

In the interview that will be shown to television audiences in the fall, Princess Grace says: "The principality is very small, and so Rainier and I are involved in just about everything that goes on."

#Princess Grace #Mike Douglas #Ruth Seltzer #Philadelphia Inquirer #1979 #70s #newspaper

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ericotrips · 5 years ago

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One of my favourite places to be at this time of the year is with my family, friends and loved ones in my beloved country home, Nigeria. First, it’s the fatherland and then the “Giant of Africa.” So why not?

Home to over a 100 million people and only becoming a sovereign nation in the year 1960, the country has been quite progressive since independence. And Lagos, one of its coastal cities, is predicted to be one of the most populous in the world in the next decade.

Before we specifically get underway, I’d like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year! May all your dreams and wishes come true this season. Let me know how you’re celebrating the festivities in the comments below.

#1. Food

When asked what she missed about Nigeria in an interview with Gist Nigeria, Wendy Okolo, a US based aerospace engineer replied, “I miss the food, fried yam especially.”

Evidently, there’s a sticky crave for Nigerian delicacies that often hit our brothers and sisters in diaspora. Maybe that’s why they’re always prepared to splurge huge wads of cash at Nigerian restaurants.

From the Tuwo Shinkafa up north to Isiewu and Nkwobi of the east, Efo Riro of the west and did I forget to mention, the ingenious Afang Soup of the south and finger foods – Akara, Bole, Moi Moi and Suya alongside many other mouth watering delicacies like the legendary Nigerian Jollof. The country delivers on all fronts of culinary pleasure.

#2. Culture

A colourful way of living, the several cultures in Nigeria are definitely worth exploring. Experience the traditions of the three major ethnic groups – Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa. And let’s remind ourselves of the prominent empires that reigned in time past, the Benin Kingdom, Kingdom of Ife, Nok and Igbo Ukwu Cultures.

Nigeria is pregnant with many cultures and societal references. You should see as much as you can.

#3. Weather

Don’t mean to throw no shade at citizens living in chilly or extreme climes but I’m sure you’ll agree that the weather in Nigeria is near perfect. Sometime ago, a lady trended on Twitter for the wrong reasons, she took to the social media platform to rant about the cold in Canada! Swearing and Cursing at the weather in yoruba language.

The best time to travel to Nigeria is after the wet (rainy) season when flood prone areas have dried up. That’s the worst that could happen asides droughts or pale harmattan. The rainy days are from May to September while the dry season lasts for the other six months.

We don’t panic about winter over here, you’ll never have to buy jackets, socks, boots or scrape snow off windscreens during your stay. It never comes.

#4. Entertainment

And the winner of the Grammy for the World Music Album is… recently, the king himself, African Giant, Burna Boy got nominated for a Grammy and he’s not the first to accomplish this feat in Nigeria.

In the same tune, Davido and Wizkid alongside Queens, Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade have carted a bunch of prestigious international awards. From shutting down the o2 Arena, topping billboard charts, featuring in colorful tracks with top players and impressive appearances on the Daily Show. The Nigeria Music Industry is one that should be reckoned with.

As if that’s not entertaining enough, our Movie Industry, Nollywood is supposedly the second largest in the world in terms of film output! Genevieve Nnaji’s hit movie, Lionheart was bought by Netflix, the big screen star also went on to play the role of Tolu, in Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s new movie, Farming.

Our collaborations with Hollywood have birthed movies such as Black November, The Accidental Spy and Half of a Yellow Sun. If you didn’t know, now you do, Nigerians don’t play when it comes to entertainment.

#5. Tourism

Nigeria is blessed. I repeat. Nigeria is blessed with abundant tourist destinations and cultural centres splattered across the nation. The Osun-Osogbo Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Osun state is renowned for a large foreign community that travels to Nigeria every August for the Osun Festival.

Not only that, we’ve got Art Galleries, Musuems, Beaches and Resorts, Mountains and much more especially with the tourism advocacy and participation in recent years. So glad I’ve visited a chunk of this places but I can likely do better.

The Kajuru Castle, Azumini Blue River, Emotan Statue, Moremi Statue, Agbokim Waterfalls, Gurara Waterfalls, Agodi Gardens, Lake Chad, Susanne Wenger’s House, New Afrika Shrine, Queen Amina Statue and Zuma Rock to mention a bunch are splendid tourist attractions for everyone who comes visiting.

Last Words…

Sadly I’ve come to the end of today’s blogpost and the last one in 2019. To my avid and new readers, thanks so much for sticking with me on this ericotrips journey. Likers, Commenters and Sharers. I feel you.

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