My Luv Letter to Goodbye in Monaco

Isabella Drenthen
11 hours ago
8 min read

Dear Monaco,

Even though it has already been two weeks since I left you, now that I have officially ended my year at IUM, I feel like I can finally express my Luv fully.

These past ten months have been absolutely crazy. I don’t think I have ever had a year where so many things happened all at once. From the best dinners to meeting the Pope, going to Italy for a field trip, seeing the Monaco Grand Prix, going to an open casting for The White Lotus, and somehow trying to pass all my exams in between… it has been a lot.

So much has happened that a proper recap is definitely needed. If you want the full stories, I’ll link my previous Luv Letters, because honestly, Monaco already had a few chapters before this final goodbye.

The Year That Refused to Be Boring in Monaco

The year started with an Indian summer that made everything feel slightly unreal. My parents helped me settle into my apartment in Roquebrune; there were far too many Ikea trips, my friends from home came to visit, and I slowly started becoming a tourist in my own new life. There were lunches in Menton, walks through Monaco-Ville, evenings on the balcony, nights at Twiga, spontaneous dinners, student parties, coastal hikes, and those first little moments where Monaco started to feel familiar.

Then came the Italy study trip, which was six days of espresso-fuelled chaos, Venice magic, Milan fashion, Acquera Yachting, Harry’s Bar, Aman Venice, Fendi, rooftop spritzes, and a whole lot of laughter with my class. And as if that was not enough, the week ended with me somehow being part of Monaco history, seeing the Pope up close and even shaking his hand.

So yes, you could say this year really did not believe in being boring.

The Final Three Months

And then came the final three months.

I was lucky enough to spend my days in class with a very fun group of people. We really grew together, and I don’t think I could have handled everything without the sarcastic jokes on the side. There was just a lot of support from everyone, so with all the presentations we had to give, I never felt ashamed if something went wrong. If anything, it just became another thing to laugh about later.

Even though I am not the biggest city girl, Monaco started to feel like a small town by the end of it all. I would go for a quick coffee with a friend after a workout, or suddenly decide to have lunch with someone at the last minute. Nothing had to be planned days or weeks in advance. We became regulars at our favourite places. We had our routines, our inside jokes, our “should we go for a drink?” moments that somehow always turned into more than one drink.

It is always the moment you have to leave that life finally starts to feel right. Exactly one week before everything changes again, everything suddenly feels settled. Everyone either stays behind for internships, goes on summer holidays, or starts writing their thesis at home.

It will never be the same as those final weeks. Life can be unfair like that, giving you a glimpse of what could have been, just before taking it away again. But then again, I am just grateful I got to experience it at all.

Mamma Mia, here I go again…

One of the best nights I had was a very spontaneous karaoke night. I had never done karaoke before and, my lord, I think I am now hooked. My friends had already invited me the week before, but my father was visiting, and I did not want to leave him. I also did not want to take him, because I think karaoke would have been his personal hell.

Nevertheless, I had an amazing time with my dad, and together we had one of the best dining experiences at the Michelin-starred restaurant La Chèvre d’Or. I was absolutely obsessed with the flavours, the interior, the exterior, the view, everything. It was all done down to a tee.

But back to karaoke.

I went with Jenna and met up with Gabby, Emily, and so many more people from our class. I love singing in the car or when I am alone at home, but definitely not in front of people. However, there was one song that could convince me to go up front: Mamma Mia. One of the girls said she would do that song, and if it came on, I had to do it with her. So when it finally did, I could not back down anymore.

And there I went.

Singing Mamma Mia with two other girls at the top of my lungs, not a care in the world.

I laughed so much that night. Again, it showed me the potential Monaco could have had for me. Not because karaoke suddenly changed my life, but because it reminded me how easy and fun everything had become with the right people around me.

And as if that wasn't enough yet, the day after I sang my lungs out, I hosted my last dinner in Roquebrune with my friends. It was a great success hihi.

Pre Grand Prix Madness

Then there was Monaco Grand Prix week. The most important week for most people in Monaco, and honestly, it did feel like the whole country had been building up to it.

Already during the week, I met up with an old friend from Hotelschool who now works in F1. He took me through the motorhomes and paddock while everything was still being set up, which was so cool to see. Afterwards, we had a big catch-up over a drink, which was definitely needed after not seeing each other for almost two years.

The madness really started on Wednesday. We went to the World Stars Football Match, which was horrific to look at as an actual football game, but amazing for celebrity spotting. Ronaldinho, Sainz, Gasly, and so many more were there. Even Antonelli came to watch, and I am 99% sure he waved specifically at me and my friends.

The celebrity spotting did not stop there. Jenna and I went for a drink afterwards and saw so many people walking past us towards the MSC Explora. It just felt like the madness was happening right next to us. It also gives you a tiny bit of imposter syndrome, because suddenly everyone around you looks like they own either a yacht, a Formula 1 team, or at least a very expensive blazer.

I was very lucky to score tickets for the girls and me for qualifying, which I had to pick up on Thursday, right in the middle of the craziness, while test laps were happening. I had a quick coffee with a friend, and everything already felt so cool and significant with all the F1 team members casually getting coffee at Starbucks as well. On Friday, I had a calmer day and went for a quick drink at the beach with Jenna, looking at all the yachts stationed in the bay.

Qualifying Day With the Girls

Then came Saturday: qualifying day.

I wanted to make the most of the tickets, so I asked the girls to meet early to watch the start of the F3 sprint. The location of our seats was absolute madness. We were not even three metres away from the track and maybe five metres from the start-finish line. We spent the whole day completely exhilarated by the noise, the food, the drinks, and the whole atmosphere.

I tried to take photos with my camera, but panning a good shot through two fence lines is, unsurprisingly, very difficult. I tried my best at least, and luckily, I am going to the Spa Grand Prix in a couple of weeks for some actual photography practice.

After all the spectacle was done, we went for dinner, had more drinks, and then went to the pit lane party, where I met up with my friend from my bachelor’s again. Eventually, the girls and I wandered off and found the best bar with the ultimate white girl 2000s and 2010s playlist, so naturally, we stayed there for the rest of the night.

I was home by 2 a.m., and it was one of the best days of the year. It would not have been half as fun without my girls there.

One Last Monaco Weekend

On Sunday, I went to see the race start near Marlow, but it was not the greatest spot, so I went home quite quickly after hearing about Max’s DNF. That night, we went out for dinner again at Maya Bay, because we had always wanted to go but somehow never did. Again, the food was so good. We even saw an F1 driver dining with his friends behind us, because apparently, in Monaco during Grand Prix week, that is just a normal Sunday dinner.

And as if that was not enough, on Monday, we celebrated Valeria’s birthday at a beautiful rooftop bar, Amù. It felt like the perfect ending for us as a friend group this year. Of course we will all stay in touch, but it felt like a beautiful goodbye for now.

A Place I Loved, But Not My Forever Place

And then came the actual goodbye on Friday.

We had our final presentations in class, which went really well for everyone, and afterwards we had a quick ice cream before my parents picked me up.

And that was that.

Two semesters at IUM. Ten months in the south of France. Living like a French queen, as some might say.

I have always loved the Côte d’Azur, and I always will. But I also know that I could never fully live there right now. My heart still pounds harder for South Africa, something I am currently working towards. Because even though I spent ten months at IUM, I still managed to take three little trips to South Africa during the year. I just can’t stay away for long. And now, I also have the best reason not to stay away for long...

Maybe one day I will return to the south of France as a retiree. I am sure I will return many times for holidays, because holiday-me is absolutely in Luv with France. Working-me is a little less in Luv.

But one thing is certain: this year in Monaco will always stay with me. Especially the amazing people I met along the way. This year would not have been as cool, funny, chaotic, dramatic, or lovely without you girls.

So, thank you, Monaco.

For the sunsets, the sea, the glamour, the stress, the Spritzes, the presentations, the Pope, the Grand Prix, the karaoke, the dinners, the inside jokes, and the friendships I did not know I needed.

You were never fully my forever place.

But you were exactly where I needed to be this year.

Spread the Luv,

Isabella

P.S. Because I could never leave Monaco without leaving a few recommendations behind, here is my little Luv List for anyone who finds themselves on the Côte d’Azur.

My Little Monaco & Côte d’Azur Luv List

Best restaurants for a more upscale dinner

Marlow

Zeffirino

La Note Bleue

La Chèvre d’Or

Mada One

Beefbar

Amazónico

Zephyr

LouLou Pirate

Maya Bay

Em Sherif

Best cafés

Cova Plage

One Love Café

YumeCafé

Lacoste

La Rose des Vents — stay upstairs, not downstairs

Woo Café

Best bars and easy restaurants

Madame Bleue

Ferdinand Bar, Menton

La Pecora Negra, Menton

Ici Salad

Garden Perk

Maison des Pâtes

The Duke Monaco — for the best karaoke on Fridays

Trinity Pub Monaco

Maison des Sœurs

Best ice cream

Le Paradis de la Glace

GC Gelato & Cioccolato

Any Amorino, because they never really disappoint

Best museums and pretty cultural escapes

Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild — a classic

New National Museum of Monaco — Villa Paloma

Villa Masséna

Matisse Museum

Musée du Palais Lascaris

Villa Kérylos

The old village and fort on top of Roquebrune

And that is my very unofficial, very personal Monaco survival guide. Use it wisely, preferably with good company, comfortable shoes, and the willingness to spend slightly more money than planned.