Archive for January, 2012

There should be a sign on the door of Villa di Maiano at Fattoria di Maiano: Warning entering this villa may make your heart stop.  It certainly caused mine to skip a beat.  The first thing that I noticed were the magnificent chandeliers.  If I owned a Tuscan villa every single room would have one (even the bathrooms).

The villa features all original furniture from the 17 and 18th Centuries.  The rooms are filled with richly colored frescoes, elegantly refined tapestries, and furniture fit for royalty.  Can you imagine getting married in such a grand place?  Count Francesco Miari Fulcis’ wife is in charge of organizing all of the events on the property.

The history of Villa di Maiano is incredibly fascinating, in fact I hope that someone writes a book about it one day, since I would be the first person to buy a copy.  The details are what make it so special and are which I chose to photograph.

Our walk through the villa was brief, as we had a tour of the olive oil factory and a Trafalgar Tours Be My Guest lunch awaiting us.  But first, I took a moment to stop and smell the roses olives.

Of course, I had to pick one, so that I could now say in the future: I remember that time that I picked an olive from a Count’s olive grove in Tuscany. . .

Golfing has always been a special part of my life, even though I do not necessarily follow the sport or play it regularly.  However, my Mother was the first woman to work at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia and I have very fond memories from my childhood searching for errant golf balls in the surrounding woods and catching tadpoles in the lakes scattered around the courses.

While I personally do not golf when I am on vacation, many people enjoy getting active with their clubs and plan their trips completely around golf courses.  Some of the best are located in the United States and the following three cities are perfect examples.  However, there are excellent golf courses in other cities as well — some are even a part of the upcoming 2012 LPGA tour schedule.

Las Vegas Golf

When most people think of Las Vegas, they think “party capitol.”  That is in fact true, but outside of the Strip lies an abundance of golf courses that are worth skipping the casinos for.  One of the best is the Arroyo Golf Club, which affords players not only challenging courses, but also spectacular views of Red Rock Canyon, one of Las Vegas’ most famous landmarks, and sweeping panoramic views of the cityscape.  Another place that is worth checking out is the Badlands Golf Club.  It is set amongst some of Nevada’s most breathtaking desert scenery and offers an exciting day out for all players, regardless of  being a novice or having a low handicap.

Myrtle Beach Golf

Can you imagine anything more relaxing than zoning out on the golf course to the sound of the ocean in the background?  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has quickly become a golfer’s paradise — attracting thousands of players every year and for good reason.  The Myrtle Beach area is recognized as the leading packaged golf vacation destination in the world, as it has over one hundred courses to chose from.  Legends Resorts is home to six of the finest golf courses in the state, as well as the country, including the famous TPC.  It is the former home of the Senior PGA Championship and is a both a masterpiece to look at and a joy to play.

Augusta Golf

Golfing will always and forever remain immensely popular in Augusta, Georgia thanks to the Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club.  It is easily one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world, attracting players such as Presidents of the United States.  The course is a tough test of skill, though renowned for its beauty with the greens lined with flowers and hundred year old trees.  It is not the only grand course in the city, thus if you are not able to gain access to its greens there are plenty of other places to make a tee time.

Not all cars are created equal, but that is not a bad thing.  We all have different lives in different cities, which at times bear little resemblance to one another, so having a wide spread of cars to choose from is a must.  But what will work best for you in your city if you live in Australia?

If you are in Melbourne, you will want something pretty small, fuel-efficient, and maneuverable.  It may not be able to fit down the most cramped of laneways in the city center, but at least it will be able to park in those tight spots with a lot less stress.  And do not forget those hook-turns either: an agile, flexible car feels far better on those 90-degree corners than a hulking wagon.  Consider something like the Volkswagen Golf or Beetle, which have enough space in the back to fit your belongings (or family members), but can still squeeze into spots which bigger cars cannot.  They are also renowned for being fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly, something which will put you in good stead with the neighbors.  A slightly bigger model like the Kia Rio offers a good compromise for families with small children, however is a bit more unwieldy as a result.

Of course, someone in Perth will not want a pipsqueak car stuttering around the place.  The expansive city area and long, long roads into the Outback mean that you will want something reliable and rugged which will not buck at tough landscapes.  If you are doing regular runs out to Fremantle or other far-off cities, you will also want something fuel-efficient.  The Hyundai Santa Fe is comfortable for long-haul drives and handles well for such a large car, though it is not really one you would want to take off the beaten track.  With the Hyundai, Perth becomes a lot smaller, though your fashion sense may balk at its odd shape.  Otherwise, go for the Volkswagen Touareg with its imposing design and steadfast engineering.

What about a city like Sydney, which sprawls out like Perth, but has the same tightness of Melbourne?  You will want something mid-range, which combines sizable space with good handling.  The Ford Falcon may sound pretty boring, however it is a good reliable performer that has the benefit of decades of experience behind its design.  The only thing is it is a bit wide for parking in the CBD or surrounding areas.  In that case, the Hyundai Getz may be more appropriate, since it is pretty small and nimble with a lot of features packed into its four doors.  It also handles medium distances well, but is not built for any long-range driving (although it can hold its own better than lots of models).  Having said all of that, nothing will help you avoid the notoriously bad peak-hour traffic, except perhaps catching the train!

One of the things that I most enjoy when I travel is going to the markets and buying the necessary ingredients to cook local recipes.  Sometimes I am lucky and I can count on the inestimable help of some native friend, but other times I just have to rely on my culinary abilities and a good recipe book.  I truly believe that markets are always a good opportunity to enjoy being surrounded by the real spirit of the city and are special places where you can discover an abundance of interesting things, such as different kinds of local ingredients, what the locals like, the locals behavior — in fact, this is one of the best parts about renting one of the apartments in Seville.

Very close to the Isabel II Bridge and the Guadalquivir River in Seville, Spain is the Mercado de Triana Food Market.  It was built during the Arabic period in 1171.  Once you enter through the gates, you will be amazed at the color mixture produced by all the stands that they create with their variety in products: vegetables, meat, fish, olives, seafood, etc.

Another attractive aspect of the Mercado de Triana is that you can observe the special behavior of Sevillians at their best.  The people are very cheerful, always in a good mood singing and dancing.  Shopkeepers have what they call mucho arte, which means “lots of art” — referring to that they have a special ability to sell with their cheerful slogans.  Remember when I told you that I sometimes have the help of some local friends for cooking local recipes?  Seville is the perfect place for making said friends.

The following are some tips in case you decide to spend time in one of the Seville apartments.  If you want to cook a local recipe, remember that you can ask the shopkeepers to prepare what you want and be at ease during the cooking process.  I am talking about cleaning a fish, cutting a chicken — all perfectly prepared in a few seconds by them.  And remember to buy only what you are going to eat, because when you travel all the excess baggage will stay on the ground when you have to eventually fly home.

Aurelio is a self-proclaimed geek who doesn’t understand life without comparing it to Star Wars, Star Trek and a lot of other geeky stuff. In his travel writing he is still looking for the great question, because as we already know the answer is 42.

Trafalgar Tours certainly knows how to take your mind off of the sadness of a trip coming to an end, as the second we stepped foot on the grounds of the magnificent Fattoria di Maiano estate, I no longer cared that in less than ten hours I would be starting the long journey back home.

Tucked away in the hills just outside Florence is the town of Fiesole, whose origins date to the 15th Century.  In the heart of the town lies Fattoria di Maiano, the estate of Count Francesco Miari Fulcis, whom had graciously invited our group into his house, so that he could personally show us around the property where his family has been making olive oil for generations.

Imagine living in a place so grand that it has its own chapel.  I wonder if there is a Patron Saint of olive oil that the family prays to?

Fattoria di Maiano covers almost 300 hectares of land.  This was my first time visiting an olive grove, which is surprising considering my healthy love for olive oil.

The main building on the estate, Villa di Maiano, is drop-dead gorgeous, so much so that it has been used in several films, such as Tea with Mussolini and A Room with a View.  The surrounding Tuscan views are equally as dazzling.

As we wandered around, the intoxicating scent of the fragrant olive trees was overwhelming and I could not wait to sample the different oils later with lunch.

It was now time to see the inside of Villa di Maiano.  Considering how stunning the exterior was I could only imagine what the interior looked like. . .

The final day of our extraordinary European trip with Trafalgar Tours had unfortunately arrived.  Thankfully, the day was packed full of more unforgettable experiences in three magnificent parts of Italy: Tuscany, Florence, and Rome.  Before our last Be My Guest experience, we made a quick stop at Piazzale Michelangelo — arguably the best place for a panoramic view of Florence that promises to take your breath away.

If you are not fortunate enough to visit The Academy to see David, do not worry because the famous square, which is dedicated to the prolific Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo himself, has an impressive replica of him.

As well as a replica of the four allegories found in the Medici Chapel of San Lorenzo.  While the originals are made of white marble, the copies are made of bronze.

In front of me was one of the best view’s the world has to offer, however my eyes were drawn to something else.  Since it was 11/11/11, seven couples from China had decided to celebrate the auspicious day by getting married in Piazzale Michelangelo.  Our timing was perfect, as we arrived just as two weddings were taking place.

Having been recently married myself, I could not help but get emotional watching these young couples in love commit the rest of their lives together with such a romantic backdrop.

As we were leaving the square I happened to spot one of the wedding present’s.

My Italian Travel Director Marco whispered in my ear, “In Italy, the couple that drives a Lamborghini together, stays together.”  Maybe I should have had my wedding in Italy and not Argentina?

Maybe New Year’s resolutions are the tritest topic in the world, but every cliche has a little bit of truth to it!  The beginning of a year is the beginning of something, right?  And beginnings are always good (you can totally disagree with me at the end of the post).

The point is that, for me, it is time to do those things we have been thinking about doing and have been postponing for “later.”  For example, changing our look, declaring our love for someone, getting in touch with an old friend, or spending some months in one of the gorgeous apartments in Seville, Shanghai, or Bikoro.

Let us take a look at the benefits of making these personal commitments:

1. A change, whether it be little or huge, is a way of reaffirming yourself, your personality.

2. I once heard that “to keep feeling young, it was essential to have more projects than memories.”  This means that having projects keeps your illusion live and helps you be happy.

3. Your self-esteem will grow as you see you are doing what you intended to.

4. Emotion is perhaps what gives sense to all the other words, since emotion is what encourages you to change and emotion is what you feel when you succeed.

However, be careful, as the effect can be the opposite if you do not succeed in accomplishing these resolutions.  So, here are some tips to help you not fail in the attempt:

• Before making any resolutions, you should get happy.  Motivate yourself or simply make them in a good-mood moment.
• Start in the beginning of the New Year.  Sometimes there is a long path before getting what you want.
• Be realistic.  Do not underestimate yourself, but thinking, “I am going marry Brad Pitt this year” will most likely be frustrating.
• Do not set yourself too many goals.
• And, more importantly, do not try to change all your habits at once.  This means that you can not give up smoking, start going to the gym, move to another city, and get a puppy at the same time.  In just a few days you wil be giving up everything.
• Be brave and confident in your possibilities.
• Think that you are free and that your life is yours.
• If what you have in mind is starting a long trip that involves staying in one of the Seville apartments or touring around the world — get informed, leave your fears behind, and think: “If there are millions of people doing it, why not me?”

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.

If you should find yourself in the stunning city of Paris wondering what weird and whacky things to do, we have some ideas that may tickle your fancy.  Instead of just viewing the typical sites like the Eiffel Tower and trawling the expected venues like the Louvre, you might want to do something a bit different, right?  Right!  Well, there are plenty of unusual things to do in the French capital, especially if you stay somewhere central like the Holiday Inn Paris.

For interesting things to see, the Centre Georges Pompidou is a must for your list.  This building was built in the 1970′s and is named after the President of France.  It boasts high-tech architecture that is certainly not like most buildings you will walk past on a regular basis and houses the public library and modern art museum, so you can always entertain yourself with both the outside and inside of this structure.

While you may consider museums to be run-of-the-mill, think again because Paris is a city crammed full of unusual museums to delight, thrill, and possibly turn your stomach.

If amusement parks featured in your childhood and still hold a certain charm, check out Le Musée des Arts Forains, or the Museum of Carnival Arts.  This place is not at all dusty and has a special feel to it, with lots of old amusement rides on display.  You can even ride on some of the attractions and play the old games.  It is worth checking in advance the opening times as this museum is not open to the public all-year round.

Le Musée d’Histoire de la Médecine, or the Museum of the History of Medicine, is well worth a visit too, although probably not straight after you have eaten a meal.  This weirdly wonderful museum is home to numerous artefacts including: prosthetic limbs, ancient medical implements, and a table decorated with body parts — a foot, four ears, vertebrae bits, blood, lungs, and more!  We did warn you not to visit on a full stomach.

But if food really is your thing, you have come to the right city.  Not only can you discover some of the finest restaurants in the world in Paris, you can also have a go at cooking some classic French dishes yourself.  Companies like Promenades Gourmandes and On Rue Tatin Paris run cookery classes that include a tour of the local markets and best shops to find the freshest products before preparing them back in the kitchen.

When it comes to sightseeing you can also do this with a twist in Paris.  You could hire a bike and view the city on wheels with an English-speaking guide as your host or see the city in a Citroën 2CV car which lets you stand up to take photos.  And do not forget to look out for the Statues of Liberty in Paris.  Yes, the original Statue of Liberty was presented to the US by the French in the 1880′s and was crafted by Frédéric Bartholdi between 1870 and 1884.  However, the city is home to some miniature versions as well.  A 6-foot tall model is located in Luxembourg Gardens, made by Bartholdi during the planning stage.  A 35-foot copy is located near the Eiffel Tower, on the island of Ile des Cygne and near the Pont De l’Alma Bridge is a same-size replica of the flame from the torch, called the Flame of Liberty.

Of course, not many people who come to Paris can resist the lure of shopping thanks to famous streets like the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.  Although if you want to add an extra dimension to your standard shopping expedition, you could try a guided shopping tour.  Chic Shopping Paris offers trips by native Parisians to the best boutiques and little gems this city has to offer and you can even select your own theme such as “unusual Paris” or “made in France.”

Looking for conference facilities?  Visit Holiday Inn Meetings to find perfect meeting rooms across the France.