Archive for August, 2011

I have mentioned countless times just how much I love having a Bucket List.  Well, I am more than excited to announce that Hilton Garden Inn also loves Bucket List’s, in fact, they love them so much so that they have decided to have a contest in honor of them.  They are currently hosting Life’s Ultimate To-Do List contest on Facebook.  10 lucky winners will be given the opportunity to travel the world to fulfill their ultimate to-do item.  The prize is a 3-day/2-night trip totaling approximately $5,000, which includes round-trip airfare to the destination of their choice for the winner and a guest, hotel accommodations at any Hilton Garden Inn around the globe, and money to spend on the activity.

Contest Information

1. Like the Hilton Garden Inn page on Facebook.
2. View the contest rules.
3. Click on the “enter now” button and submit your ultimate to-do item.

Contribute your dream goal by September 2, 2011 for a chance to make it a reality.

My ultimate to-do item is to step foot in all 7 continents.  I have traveled to 6 out of the 7 continents, the last 1 remaining for me is Antarctica.  I love that it is my last one, as well as the most difficult to reach, because when I finally step foot on the continent the journey there will feel that much more sweeter.

To encourage people to participate in the contest, Hilton Garden Inn has given me a fabulous bag to give away to one of my reader’s!  I think this bag is a great reminder to dream big and to never give up on accomplishing your goals in life.

Giveaway Information:

1. Leave a comment telling me what ultimate to-do item you submitted in the contest.
2. Like my new My Beautiful Adventures page on Facebook.

I will announce the winner, which will be chosen at random, on Friday, August 19th, 2011.

Public transport can be a bit of a nightmare to negotiate if you have a disability, thus if you are planning to go on holidays this year then you will want to make provisions to get to the airport in a way that is as hassle and stress free as possible.

If you have access to a vehicle then one of the easiest things to do would be to take the car to the airport.  Most of the major UK airports have excellent provisions now for people who want to park right by the airport and travelers are finding it one of the most convenient and efficient ways to make sure that they arrive at the check-in desk on time to catch their flight.

Public transport can prove unreliable and when you are faced with additional challenges, such as a disability, then it can be quite a journey in itself.  Instead, it would be so much simpler to take the car and park in one of the airport’s onsite car parks.  These are literally situated right next to the terminal building and are just a short distance to the departures hall.  Parking onsite at the airport does cost extra, but for many it is worth the money.  If you want to park your car in one of the onsite car parks then it is a good idea to book your space as soon as you book your flight, as the car parks can get booked up quickly, especially at peak times.

Another choice that you would have would be to park with one of the offsite airport parking companies.  These are often independently run and offer you a secure place to park your car during the duration of your trip.  Most companies will offer a shuttle bus that will take you the short distance to the airport and these run regularly, so even if you return in the early hours of the morning you will still be able to get taken back to your car without any problems.

However, if you are worried about access to the shuttle bus, then you could always request a valet parking service.  This will enable you to take your car right to the airport drop off point, where you will be met by someone who will drive your car to the car park.  You will already be onsite and can proceed straight to check-in.

It does not matter which airport you are flying from in the UK, since most offer a good airport parking service.  Heathrow airport parking, Gatwick airport parking, and Leeds Bradford airport parking all offer these services.

While my parents argued over where Lucas and I’s second wedding in the States would be, I decided to grab my husband and my grandparents and make our marriage legal in the local City Hall.  It was not the most romantic of places to wed your beloved, however we had already had the wedding of our dreams (I promise I will resume blogging about it soon).  Thus, to us it was irrelevant where our second wedding would take place.  The only thing that was a must, was that my grandparents be our witnesses.  Unfortunately, they were not in good enough health to attend our first wedding in Buenos Aires, Argentina, so it was important that they be an essential part of our second wedding.

Since the decision to get married at City Hall was last minute, I did not think that I would be able to find someone to photograph the event.  2 days before, without any expectations, I decided to send out a tweet to see if anyone in the area would be interested.  Within minutes someone responded saying they knew someone who knew someone and within hours I had a date to meet the photographer, Emily Chidester, the next day to discuss the details.  I do not know why I continue to be amazed by the powers of social media, as it has made so many of my wildest dreams come true!

On the morning of our special day, Emily met me at Ambiance Salon, the only place in my city that I trust getting my hair done at.  Nell, the owner, is truly my hair angel and if you live in or are visiting Charlotte, North Carolina, then you simply must stop by for the best haircut/color of your life.

One of the benefits of having a second wedding is that you can actually have fun.  Do not get me wrong, I had fun during my first wedding, but I was also insanely stressed and nervous, as I wanted everything to be perfect.  Now I was able to completely enjoy and appreciate every single moment of the experience without a care or concern.  I wanted this carefree attitude to reflect in my hairstyle and ensemble as well.

I chose pink orchids for my hair, because pink is my favorite color and orchids are my grandmother’s favorite flower.  She wanted me to carry orchids during my first wedding so badly, alas that was not a possibility, though now it was!  I also went with an updo since I wore my hair down the first time around.

The next photo displays the gorgeous necklace that my grandparents had specially made for me to match my engagement ring.  I wore it during my first wedding as a reminder that they were there in spirit.

My lovely bouquet was made by my Mother.  When I was a young girl I was obsessed with daisies.  So much so, that when I was 14, I sneaked away from my family during a trip to the Bahamas and got a tattoo of the flower on my ankle!  The roses were a nod to my first wedding and the orchids were the leftovers from the ones I used in my hair.

We decided to take some photos outside, which despite the intense heat turned out beautifully.  Of course it was 105 degrees with 100% humidity — that is the South for you!

Then it was time to leave for City Hall (in our matching aviators).  I could not wait to marry this man, again.

Emily also wrote a blog post regarding her perspective of the day, I encourage you to check it out, as well as the rest of her incredible work here.  I feel so blessed that she came into my life, not only because she is a phenomenal photographer, but also because I now have a new friend!

What is your favorite photo?  More photos post-ceremony to come. . .

From silver-screen stars like Fred Astaire and Brigitte Bardot to rock-stars like Mick Jagger and Madonna, holidays in Rio have always been de rigeur for the international jetset.  The grand art deco hotels of Copacabana have been home to more than their fair share of royalty, financiers, and plain old international playboys over the years.  Today, Rio is recapturing some of that glamor and once again becoming a prime international destination and we look at how you can live it up on your own.

Take a yacht tour of Guanabara Bay

You might not have your own ocean-going luxury yacht, at least not yet, but that need not stop you from enjoying the Rio skyline as if you did!  Holidays in Rio allow you lots of options for taking boat trips out into Guanabara Bay, including aboard some lovely sailing schooners, so you can relax and enjoy drinks from the bar while you feel that warm tropical breeze and the wind in the sails.  You can even stop off at some of the many islands in the bay to enjoy some snorkeling and beach time away from the hoi polloi on Copacabana beach.

Guanabara, Brasil

Make like Bardot in Buzios

To escape from the paparazzi back in France in the 1960′s, a young Brigitte Bardot took a holiday in Rio and up to the Buzios peninsula just north of the city, where she could enjoy some anonymity whilst sunning herself on the dozen or so world-class beaches that surround the small town of Armaçao de Buzios.  Her presence helped turn this small fishing village into one of the most sought after spots on the Brazilian coast, but even today it has retained its charm with small owner-run pousadas providing stylish boutique accommodation to mere mortals like you and me.

The girl from Ipanema

For many years the famous neighbourhood of Copacabana was the trendy spot for holidays in Rio, but these days the more stylish hotels, bars, and restaurants are to be found further west in Ipanema.  More laid back than Copacabana, for many Ipanema sums up what is great about Rio: on the same day you can check out the famous Hippie Market, enjoy lunch at one the city’s best restaurants, go jewellery shopping on Ipanema’s famous Diamond Row, and then finish up watching the sun set at the beach with just a can of beer or a caipirinha from a street vendor.

Take tea at the Palace

No, not that palace, although the Queen has been there!  The Copacabana Palace is the grand dame of Rio hotels, and the white art deco façade is famous throughout Brazil.  Since it first opened its doors in 1923, it has been home to royalty, film stars, and the crème de la crème of international society enjoying their holidays in Brazil.  Even if you cannot afford to stay here yourself, it is worth dropping in for afternoon tea on the terrace so that you can enjoy some of the old-world luxury which has kept the Palace at the top of the Brazil holiday tree throughout the decades.

Supper at Satyricon

If you are looking for something a little more substantial than afternoon tea, then we cannot recommend anywhere more highly than Satyricon in Ipanema.  This classic Italian seafood restaurant is where Madonna eats when she is in town, and it is also one of Ronaldo’s favorites (and that is a guy who likes to eat!).  It is certainly not the cheapest place in town, but for quality it cannot be beat, thus perhaps it is a good place to do a little star-watching on your last night in Rio so you can finish on a high note.

Dan Clarke works for Real Brazil Holidays and cannot wait to get back to Brazil and sink a few caipirinhas at the Azul Marinho while he watches the sun sinking into the ocean.

My days in the Dominican Republic were filled with activities from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep.  Thus, I was quite excited when I realized that on my last day in the country I was free from obligations.  I could have easily decided to spend it at my all-inclusive resort, Allegro Puerto Plata, sipping cocktails by the beach, however I decided to do something a bit more adventurous with some new friends in a new city.

A sight I do not normally see while driving around Charlotte, North Carolina.

What adventure would be my last on this trip?  I would have never had heard about this experience if I had not met my new friends, which is one of the reasons why I am so open to meeting people while traveling.  You never know who you will encounter and where that friendship might take you.  In my case, it was taking me to bat caves in Cabarete!

The scenic drive from Puerto Plata is a little under an hour and to get to the caves you must pass through a developing part of the town, which within minutes transforms into a lush, tropical rainforest named El Choco.  You can either explore the national park by foot or by horse.  Since my body was still recovering from my horse ride the previous day, we chose to explore by foot.

Our guide spoke excellent English and explained that as part of his college education he had to lead tours several times a week.  I really admired his passion for keeping El Choco protected and for wanting to teach both locals and tourists about the power of environmental sustainability.

Making decisions is probably one of the most difficult things a person is faced with throughout many times in their life.  There are the kind of people who never decide anything and others who need to be in control of everything.  Yes, there are people who take enjoyment from deciding!  The point is that every time we make a certain decision in our lives, we may be leading our fate towards one place or another, one job or another, one person or another.  Thus, making decisions is important.

We should agree, then, that making decisions is not an easy task, both for people who like deciding and for those who hate it.  The reasons are as follow:

• If you do not decide about your own life, somebody else will.  And you will feel miserable.
• If you decide a lot, you may also fail a lot.  And if, moreover, you decide over other people, and you fail, you will feel guilty and probably many people will not like you.  Then you will feel miserable too.

Now, imagine that you are offered to go to Italy to do a project staying in one of the Rome apartments or, the contrary, to carry out the same exact project in Indonesia and stay with a tribal family.  Both options are appealing, but how can you be sure you are making the right decision?  Of course you cannot be certain, as when a way is taken you will never know what would the other way have been like.

However, there is something you can do, and it is: when you have to make a decision, pay attention to what your first impression is and to what your intuition is telling you.  This is essential in decision making.  Why?  According to research, the result will very likely be the same if we follow our instincts than after assessing our decision deeply for weeks or even months weighing out the pros and cons.  So, you can take your time — seek advice from your family and friends and ask them whether you should go to the comfort of those apartments in Rome or go through the experience of living with a tribe in Indonesia — although in the end you might be surprised because you will most likely make the decision you would have made in the first second of knowing about the decision.

Of course, it is not always this way, it is good to contrast and reflect about things.  But what is essential, is that when we are faced with a new situation, a new person, or new decision, our intuition does count.

Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady.  After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger.  This is how she is now a mother of no one and a better person.  She also cooks her meals.

There are sunsets and then there are sunsets.  This was definitely the latter.  Both the sky and water looked as though they were on fire with a kaleidoscope of colors.

It was the perfect introduction for the even more vibrant colors I would be witnessing later in the evening at Ocean World Casino.  I was there to see Bravissimo, a Vegas-style show that takes spectators on an enchanted journey throughout the Caribbean.  The show is located on the third floor of the the aquatic themed casino.

Bravissimo has been given the title, “Best show of its kind in the Caribbean,” by many and it is easy to see why.  The twenty-six dancers and singers definitely know how to entertain.

Between the electrifying music and costumes, I was instantly transported to an exotic and glamorous world.  My favorite act of the night was the much beloved song, “Por Amor,” which was passionately performed by the two main singers.

The finale was spectacular as well.  It was a representation of all of the animals found in Ocean World and the costumes were works of art.  With performances every Tuesday – Saturday night beginning at 9PM, this show should not to be missed if visiting Puerto Plata!

And make sure to stay until the very end of the show, because that is when you can take pictures with your favorite performers.  I only wish that I had been able to try on one of those headdresses!

For the best and most affordable Dominican Republic holidays, make sure to visit Low Cost Holidays.

They call her Ojos Unicos.  She is unique, because she has one brown eye and one blue eye.  My guides for the day at Rancho Veragua told me that they had chosen her especially for me, as not only was she beautiful, but she had a temperament that would make me fall in love with horseback riding.  I had not ridden a horse since childhood, thus I did not know what to expect on my equestrian journey.

Ojos Unicos blue eye.

Rancho Veragua is located about an hour’s drive from the center of Puerto Plata.  It is a 3,500 acre ranch set on a nature preserve rich with organic beauty allowing guests a direct commune with their surroundings.  It is a place where I had no objections to slowing down.

Horseback riding in the Caribbean does not get any better than this.  My guides and I set off on a 2 hour trail where I was treated to constant narration of the scenery and area that changed with each gallop.

The trail took me through the scenic northern countryside and provided me a unique opportunity to take in the Dominican Republic first hand.  Although it was quite a feat to balance riding a horse up mountains and through rivers while taking photos, I still found the ride to be incredibly relaxing.

My friendly, accomplished, and trained guides upon my arrival to the stables and from the beginning to the end of the trail ensured that I felt comfortable and confident at all times.  I highly recommend using Rancho Veragua to experience the thrill of riding a horse through a part of the country that you might never had had the chance to see otherwise.

It was true, Ojos Unicos could not have had a better temperament and saying goodbye to her was difficult.  Had I fallen in love with horseback riding?  I believe it is still too soon to tell, thus I simply need to return to see if it might be something more than just a crush. . .

For the best and most affordable Dominican Republic holidays, make sure to visit Low Cost Holidays.

I remember when I was a kid my parents took me to Trotavia park.  We stayed at one of the Seville apartments, as it was not far from there.  It was the first time I rode a horse and indeed I loved it.  The reason I am divulging this information, is because I have always been curious about animals.  I have had a dog for 12 years now and at many times I have wondered what he  must be thinking.

After doing some research on the matter, I have discovered several studies that prove interacting with animals or taking care of a pet improves one’s health — both physically and psychologically.  For example, the following are some of the benefits a person who likes animals can get from the bond created:

• Improved cardiovascular health
• Reduced stress
• Decreased loneliness and depression
• Animals facilitate social interactions amongst people who have pets
• Kids that have pets in their house acquire skills to take care of other people
• Increased empathy and a more responsible attitude regarding health and welfare
• Increased non-verbal communication
• Stronger immunologic system

I was quite shocked by this information.  I did not expect them to influence humans this much, although after all we are animals and it is not so strange to have the need to interact with them.  I often have the same reoccurring dream, where I swim with dolphins or that I speak with monkeys.  But I will tell you more about that another time!

Of course, everybody has the right to dislike animals.  However, if you do, hopefully this information might change your mind?  So, enjoy your pet as much as you can and remember to visit that park near the apartments in Seville; there are animals there that are not usually at hand and which will probably make you experience different emotions.

Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady.  After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger.  This is how she is now a mother of no one and a better person.  She also cooks her meals.