Travelling with Class

Stratford upon Carriacou

2012-02-22T00:31:13Z


The reenactment of any of Shakespeare's plays
(well, a piece of it) is a tradition and very 
particular of Carriacou Carnaval. 
It happens on mardi gras. 

Early in the morning a group of “revelers” descent 
from the village in the mountain arriving in the main 
village on the sea, Hiilsborough, 
around mid day, under a shining sun and a 
temperature around its 34 C. Dressed in a makeshift 
“armour” which is a table cloth which 
covers a padded cardboard “vest” that protects the 
“duelers” from the hits they give each other with a 
rod, a real one. 

Apparently they do not harm each other but they need 
to be separated by other people. I do not know if 
it is part of the show or it is because they really 
will not stop beating each other. 
Anyway see it in the video. 

The Shakespearean reenactment happens between two 
people, just a brief part from a 
Shakespeare play, what I could recognize and know was 
a part from Julius Caesar: Cassius soliloquy. 

Also the kids are involved doing just the soliloquy 
not the beating. I guess the beating is a reenactment 
of a duel which as in the spirit of Carnival, 
becomes a “releasing” act: a way to let the “poisons” 
come out of you so every act becomes exaggerated and 
distorted . 
Look at the Venetians 
masks or the Celebration of death in Mexico. 

You could try this kind of 
“releasing” home, with the proper padding, to release 
your stress instead of taking Xanax or Abilify and 
the sort. Of course it will be 
absolutely necessary to find the other dueler: 
I am sure you can think about one.

Tuesday lunch (late lunch)

2012-02-20T17:45:47Z

So, I was swimming as my working break and I see this man coming out of the water with a bunch of fish, one octopus and some lobsters. The octopus was sold so I had to be content with a lobster, what a sacrifice.

Next thing I know we were having lunch on the same beach.

Menu? Fettuccine con aragosta (the whole aragosta).

The Chef? Moi, of course.
Guests: Cathy-Ann (wonderful host and cook of La Playa, Bistro-Bar), Rod (eclectic Fab-Dub DJ) and my LOVE. Ahhhhhh, and the family on the beach: we had a lot of pasta so we shared.

A lunch break (no, seriously).

2012-01-27T18:35:53Z

Let me first clarify that I am not a fan of burgers, it's simply not in my head when I am looking for something tasty and nutritious: fish is.

Today, actually for lunch, I had the best cheese burger I have ever had and to top that: on a beautiful beach. That was our first lunch break in this Island. Yes indeed: lunch break, the one that you do after a morning working, in our case in front of the computer (excellent internet connection by the way).

The little cottage bar that offers this succulent burger with awesome potato wedges (all local cows "walking" happily in the island pastures) is called La Playa.

Where? I can't say yet. Give me some weeks and I will reveal the location, anyway it is the Caribbean.

The cottage bar serves also Panini, fish when it's fished, of course, wines, cocktails etc with the ubiquitous Carib and Stag.

A dream. Open from 10 to 10 except on Thursdays, so maybe, who knows, we will be there for after hours looking at the sunset with a nice cold Sauvignon Blanc.

Cheers.

Still on time

2011-12-31T19:18:14Z

A wish of a prosperous 2012, first of all and second, you are still on time
to pop a bottle in a very classy place for me, in the Caribbean: http://couples.com/sans-souci/
If you can not make it for midnight, try it for the first weekend of the year.

It will be memorable.

All the best and new post in January from a "secret" place in the Caribbean.

A CLASSY SECLUSION

2011-09-05T20:44:23Z

What made this bucolic, secluded spot, CLASSY, was Piero's dinner and as in Babette's dinner (the movie): love, passion, sincerity and joie de vivre made everything a symphony.

A special role was played by the divine Italian Cheeses and Yoghurt made in the same place by the Master Cheese Maker: Massimo. Way to go Massimo.

All made with Cows' Milk of their farm: DOLCE VALLE DAIRY with milk and love, ABSOLUTELY nothing else. Check the site: www.dolcevalledairy.com (still to be completed).

Also check the hotel website: http://www.mtplaisir.com/ and book a room with the view, right on the beach. Ask also for their refined Italian cheeses.

Ahhhh, I almost forgot: Piero's dinner.
Appetizer: a plateau of Italian cheeses made by hand, by Massimo with their cows' milk. Absolutely perfection. Soon on the market but when you are at the hotel, ask for them. It's a must.
Entry: enormous fish, fabulous, cooked to perfection in the oven with only few local herbs, salt and a splash of white wine.
Side Dishes: rosted potatos, rosted slices of eggplants, string beans with herbs
All accompanied by Champagne.
To finish with a hand made, in location: coconut ice cream.
Grappa and Limoncello "per gradire".

BRAVO PIERO.

Classy seclusion.

A panorama

Great DOLCE VALLE YOGHURT

CAPRI anybody?

2011-06-30T18:16:00Z

For that touch of Italian snobbery and extreme show off experience, Capri is the place.
Once upon a time it was a place to mingle with artists, real movie stars, undercover Heirs and get a whiff of their fame.
Now only the show off part remains and the new money attitude, spread around like another Montecarlo, is a front without anything behind and if there is something behind those bling bling, well...it belongs to a shadowy world, you do not want to explore.

Still, Capri remains a dream of an island: difficult to explain it in words (probably for me), like Venice if you are not there you will not understand.
Few things I can describe from my experience there: the concentration in a very tiny place (most of the social life happens "in Piazzetta" and around it) of everything stereotypical of Italy or what the American movies project of Italy.
The thing is: it is true.

Well, in Capri actually, those stereotypes are true and also kept alive by the act, yes the act of being what the people from there, simply are: warm, loud, funny, great momentary friends, all experts in food and with a great joie de vivre.
Plus add the fashion components and all the top Fashion Brands you can imagine and: " Les jeux sont faits".

All the above on this charming little rock, really a rock, I think there are only 2 very very small sandy coves.
A little rock around one hour by ferry from Napoli which is another Italian real stereotype on its own.

The garbage story is actually another ugly reality of another jewel, Napoli, another jewel of that splendid Crown that is: Italy.

So, beside these sentimentalisms, I have an address for you; I have not stayed in these charming apartments but a few days there in Anacapri will make you feel on top of the world. Really and truly: class + nature + great food and relaxation in style.

My recommendation: http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/122991

Also to have an idea of Capri, visit this succulent site: http://www.postcardsfromcapri.com/

Enjoy.

A "knot" closer to Kitesurfer status

2011-06-02T19:49:13Z

It was not a shining weekend regarding my level of Kitesurf but I learned few more fundamental things so I think I am very close to "fly".
Them going like crazy
Me watching and dying inside

I watched the good ones flying and looping, it was a mix feeling: envy and admiration and respect and "I will be there" soon.

All of that, wrapped in great hospitality by our friends Katrina, Mila and Andre, always super nice. Great hospitality, great location, profuse food and drinks and a relaxation as it should always be.

Ahhhhhh, the best Club Sandwich? Kariwak hotel, Tobago, also their menu is always fresh and so natural. Can't go wrong.

Wind and sea, here I am coming.

By the sea

2011-04-04T18:57:00Z

Salute

2011-04-01T22:21:00Z

April folly

Avoiding the Cruise Herds

2011-04-01T15:26:00Z

It is very difficult, especially when there are 5 mega cruise liners docked at the bay at the same time.

Unbelievable and easy to spot even if you are blind, you will hear their distinctive sounds.
Usually the Americans are the loudest and when you see them, generally, they just roam the street, in a daze, like lost in a desert, all sweat and usually with a beer bottle in their hands.

They, (all the cruise herds) are not really looking for anything and I think they do not know exactly where they are, in the Caribbean.
They are just regurgitated out of the belly of these mega floating motels and they will do exactly what they were doing in the vessels: eating, drinking, sweating.
The attire? Sneakers, some in bikini, others just showing their enormous stomachs like they are a piece of art:
"the art of dullness". Very "Jerseylicious"

We?
We found a restaurant in this hotel: Holland House Beach Hotel in Front Street, Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten.
Welcoming, acceptable food with a chic touch, nice design, enjoyable background music and the view on the bay, the beach, the cruise liners and the Herds walking on the beach walk.

OUR REFUGE (the pool with the view)))))))

St. Martin (same place as St. Maarten)

2011-03-31T15:25:00Z

For you Alberto! "Working for YOU".

St.Maarten perspective

2011-03-29T21:35:00Z

Actually there are two perspectives: one Dutch and one French in one "rock" in the middle of the Caribbean.
Beautiful island as any Caribbean island but this one has been more developed as the "Las Vegas-Miami-Montecarlo" of the Caribbean.
Everything but everything food wise is imported and you can find anything from Europe and USA.
Bizarre.
I still have to go around but from my perspective there is:
1) a fantastic lap pool,
2) the" Yachts bay", I called it that because there are all the yachts you can see in St.Thropez in a busy day and much more.
3) Some hills and Caribbean vegetation.

All the above did not make me wonder around yet because between a swim and another I have work to do, on line and the cappuccino and a wonderful pastry is provided by the Boulangerie just 2 piers down from the villa I am in.
I am sure you will understand.

For my cousin Alberto: I think I have found a place that you will love, it's perfect for what you like. I will keep you posted.

So more details coming in the next few days.

Actually it is raining now but it is Caribbean rain, so I still can swim.

Happy Birthday Italy (150)

2011-03-17T18:03:00Z

Wishing all Italians to brush off the scum, the servile and crass attitude that is sinking our Country.

GOOD LUCK.

A Gourmet Dinner by a Gourmand Friend

2011-03-02T10:54:00Z

Very simple and tasty but simplicity is the other name of Class.

Crudites (salary, carrots, fennel, pepperoni) bawl as center table with little porcelain cups for "pinzimonio" (an italian vinagrette" to wet the raw vegetables into)

Starter: an almost crudites of vegetables (various kind of lettuce, olives and cooked pepperoni: the peperone is slightly cooked in the grill oven and then peeled and sliced by hand) in a vinegar and oil classic mix with a savory toasted slice of bread.

Entry: Salmon cooked in vapor and served on a bed of young spinach leafs nor cooked, topped with a sprinkle of hazelnuts.

Ending the dinner: a plateau of pepperoni and zucchini slices covered with pecorino cheese and cooked in the oven grill.

Two cakes, one with pears and chocolate and the other with cherry marmalade to sweeten the event.

Ahhh, i forgot, the overall dinner "wet" by a Greco di Tufo" (white wine) and the entire dinner served over an off white and elegant linen table cloth.

Perfection, Maurizio, BRAVO.

To the next one my friend, in the Caribbean this time.

LAST TRAIN TO...

2011-03-01T12:39:00Z

Shutting down the station

THE GUIDE TO THE STARS

2011-02-28T16:15:00Z

Carnival in Venice is in full swing right now (Feb. 28) and the masked crowd will evaporate on ash Wednesday (March 9), as the Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago.
We missed both, one regretfully and one willingly.
We did not miss the opportunity to open our way the carnival in Venice and as usual we did it in style, with a guide, not "a" guide but someone that will reveal to you the inner secrets, history and real facts about Venice.
Not the usual mambo jumbo that any guide will tell you but details and history searched and studied with the passion of someone that loves to discover the origin and roots of an event, a fact of history an architectural style and also the reason of a certain legend.
I guess that's why He is the Guide to the Stars, for real and the guide to people who prefer to stay low profile when they come to Venice.
Try to book him for a tour you will never but never find through the usual tourist booking channels.
Email him at: marcogagliardi@tin.it
Do not expect to bargain. Quality has its price (and it's not water).

I suggest a visit to the "Gheto" (the Jewish Quarter of Venice). Amazing stories of an Amazing people.

To eat, of course our favorite: "AL Gislon", calle della Bissa, close to Ponte di Rialto
A classic: "Frittura mista di pesce and a piece of Polenta" with a Bianchetto (white wine) but the choice is sublime and vast.
So keep on going and indulge.

SOMEONE IS HOME
Captain PEA overcoming the Gondolas.

Now. this is "ARRIVING TO VENICE".

Go figure: Museo d'arte Contemporanea dei Magazzini del Sale by Mr. Pinault
(who knows, knows) but it was closed, it opens the 4th of April 2011.

Carnival comes with FRITTELLE. Ask for them: Veneziana o con Zabaione

A rest after all that walking in freezing cold

The energy be with you

The Thrill of Milan Fashion (Hmmmmm)

2011-02-25T18:22:00Z

Probably not the right one to "breathe" fashion with the big "F". In 4 words: primary-pret-a- porter.

Blumarine video1

Blumarine video2

Blumarine video3

But This Famous Model ())))) enjoyed it.

Blumarine video4

Bottoms Up: a Prosperous 2011

2010-12-29T20:40:00Z

Well, a lot of you will have their plans for the New Year eve, let's say.....changed.

So my suggestion is, as far as you have the following:
a bottle of bubbly (possible the good one),
your love one,
a bed
or
a pool
or
a nice party (but do not exaggerate), you will be fit to welcome the new year, properly.
Me????
A beach, a bottle of bubbly (the very good one) and most important, my Love One. More then properly....perfect.

All the best.

Andalucia: final part, three: Sevilla

2010-10-24T20:37:00Z

The cherry on top of............that was Sevilla to our trip. Not to diminish Granada but I guess having warmed up to Andalucia after Granada and Cordoba, Sevillla gave us the royal welcome, the splendor of everything Gitano, Flamenco, south of Spain concentrated in one "Ciudad". La hermosa Sevilla.

The river Guadalquivir is still the one that wet one side of Sevilla, yes, exactly the same river of Cordoba and as Cordoba ones was, the jewel of the Moorish empire.

I will not go into history "channel" now, but bottom line is that after different Moorish kings built and made flourish the city of Sevilla, after several centuries, the Christian "took it over" and made their own "transformations". In few words, all the Mosks were destroyed and on top of them Churches where buit or they where transformed into churches as the "Catedral" de Sevilla is a typical example.

Actually at its place a mega super duper (for those times) Baroque-Gothic church was built and still the bell tower is the original Minaret,
but elevated of more floors crowned now by the statue of the Giralda.

Please google it for your own culture and the rest of the story.

And there we were, right under La Catedral or in front of, it depends on how you see it.
The hotel?
EME Catedral Hotel, you can not mistake.
Enchanting, cool, low key but sophisticated, wonderful and warm staff, great breakfast, great and cozy room (we were upgraded for some reason) and to top it all a pool on top of the hotel, overlooking the Catedral, lounge bar, restaurant at night and 24 hours lounge music anywhere you go.

Bottom line: my kind of hotel.

3 thumbs up from us. we loved the bath tab right in the bedroom, the spacious strong shower, the cozy bed, the overall design-colour of the room, a fabulous refuge from the 40 degrees C of the outside.

Very complicated if it is the first time in Sevilla to find the hotel, since you have to find the point of entry into the old city. You would not believe it but after several attempt, driving around, the main boulevards to find the point of entry I just stopped the car and asked to two guys that were just coming out of their parking space and driving off.

Yes they knew, and after few seconds they just told me to follow them.
Not only they guide us to the entry point but they drove us up to the very entrance of the hotel.
What a welcome. I offered them a cerveza or a caffecito but they politely said "thank you" and drove off.

Guys...muchas gracis.

And that what we encountered during our trip all over Andalucia: amiable, friendly, polite people, courteous drivers in the roads in the city and on the highway.

Ohhhhh, the hotel, go check it out: http://www.emecatedralhotel.com/

What else?????

Catedral, must visit, well if you stay at EME it is just....right there and try to go in the afternoon or early in the morning if you are there in the summer. The heat....hits you after a while.

Also, the old Roman city of ITALICA. you have to take a buss from the bus station, meaning the main bus station just few minutes walking from the hotel. It is worth. But with a bit of preparation before, otherwise you will just see......ruins upon ruins without understanding a damn thing about it.

And just walk around the town, the old one. the beauty is that the old city is vibrant, meaning that is not only for tourists, people work there, at lunch time you will see layers, bankers, shop keepers and other taking a break in a restaurant or better a tapas bar, so you will feel part of the buzz of the city not just a tourist to be squeezed for its money.

Walk around and a suggestion: one night, walk over the river in the new town, there will be no tourist at all, only Sevillan enjoying some tapas, a drink and eventually much later in the week and later in the night, some real Flamenco joint.
The direction is: the bridge of la Torre dell'Oro, the bridge: puente de San Telmo, go over Calle Genova, around there there are a lot of Tapas bars and restaurants, one in particular is about fish and only fish, a Marisqueria. Grand. Go in and order.
That is the same area where you will find late at night, some true flamenco joints. Enjoy.

Ahhhhhh, almost forgot: for lunch, well around the hotel it is full of bar-caffee, restaurants, tapas bar and more but I suggest this one.
I do not remember the name, sorry, but it is very easy, follow my directions: when you go out of the hotel, on your right until that road meets its perpendicular road (the one where the tram passes by). Now right in front of you on the corner building on the left there is this Bar- Restaurant-Tapas-Pastry and more.
Excellent. Please go in, choose a table, see the prepared food behind the glass counter, there are even the names and what is inside the dish, so it is going to be easy to order. Sit down , order and have a Cerveza. Grand, tasty, classy and at a very good price.
Desfrute.

What else can I say???????
Sevilla will see us again for the Semana Santa, Easter time, where the costumes and the Madonna procession is the culminating event of the Easter week.
A must and we must.

Andalucia: truly ENCANTADO.

Andalucia, part two: Cordoba

2010-10-23T15:05:00Z

Probably the memories play a part of adding an allure to this latest trip but strangely enough I chose Andalucia in the first place, only because of this.....fascination and attraction that was already in me. A flavour of past Arabian splendors, flamenco soul that permeates everywhere and although you do not stumble on every corner in Seville or Granada in guitar players or in a Flamenco "cantador",
the air somehow was filled of all that. From a very rich Arabian influence in everything to a Gitano melody.

I wanted to breath in all that and I was not disappointed.

Granada was a great welcome, Cordoba a confirmation of a splendid past, now petrified in a frozen architectural chaos: the linear clean Arabic architecture and the over done Christian baroque, which to me it is a testimony of a blatant "now it's our turn and we will do everything possible to be noticed". Well they did that and more and to me the result is an ugly and violent "intervention" on that jewel that must have been before, see the Mesquita in Cordoba and let me know.

Hey but I have to write about hotels, food and curiosity..............enough of historic nostalgia.
Maimonides (the one on the left)
I was saying.............right: Cordoba.
Well...we arrived on a very hot Sunday afternoon, very difficult to find the hotel, which it is right in the middle of the old Cordoba, but difficult because of all the one way very small streets and as I said before my guide is my nose, so having seen the map before and having memorized it....well it took me half an hour from our arrival into the city before reaching the gate of the hotel. Not bad since I understood people just gave up after hours looking for it.
So.......my nose is still the best satellite guide and I am sticking to it. All right!!??

Now, the hotel: Palacio del Bailio, http://www.hospes.com/en/hotel-cordoba-palacio-bailio/
the same Hospes chain of the other hotel in Granada.
An ancient palace, of course, so ancient it has even a roman villa in the basement: you can see it through the glass floor of the hotel restaurant or just stepping down in the basement. Very enchanting.

Our personal Guide: Manuel Sanchez Cruz
We met him at at the exit of the Mesquita and he just revealed Cordoba to us as few people have the honor to discover.
Look for him next time you are there.

Actually the hotel has the atmosphere of a convent and I do not say it in a nice way.
Probably, as I said it was because it was Sunday....well the personnel in the hotel was very formal, but of a formality that borders into falsity and insecurity, yes I am sure it is insecurity because as I discovered just "teasing" the guy who accompanied us to our room, he was working there from one day. I guess Sunday is "training day".

In any case, a bit because of the staff very stuff attitude and a bit because of the convent like architecture style of the hotel, the atmosphere was indeed a bit cold even if outside was 40 C (dry heat).
So we decided to go to the pool, in the courtyard, a tiny garden in the center of the structure (as in a classic old palace), orange trees and a tiny pool but very quaint.
The Roman bridge, of course on the Guadalquivir river.

The problem was that almost all the guests decided to be around the pool at the same time, so here we are and the other guests trying to have a lap into the tiny pool. Well I did without waiting for the "enough space", just "here I am,and I am swimming, move".

But hey, I guess the hotel gets into the people. All the guests were so uptight, I do not know???????
I personally think that if you are an insecure "tourist-person" the 5 stars or 4....whatever, it gets to you. You start to act like you are on a set of photo shooting for Luis Vuitton where everywhere has to be super staged.
So..the right sun glasses, the right upper lip position, the staring from head to tow of the other guest who has just arrived, stripped to his speedos (that's me of course) and jumped into the pool and having so much fun....but you?????
No you have to be under that very fashionable sun-sofa in that "trendy" position you just saw in that Vogue magazine you are "reading".....yeahhhhhh, right "reading" (what's there to read).
But you are dying inside, because it is so hot, you are having muscles cramps and you wish you could have the character to just be yourself and jump in the pool and scream to the waitress for a glass of a cold white wine.

Well....that was exactly the kind of people surrounding the pool, with some exceptions but that was after they drunk few glasses (mostly English, of course).

Ok.....ok, enough of scrutiny. We enjoyed our late little lunch after pool, under an orange tree in that garden, served by a young German, polite and not stiff lady.

Of course we had to discover all the amenities of the hotel, also because until 9.00 pm, out there it is hot and desolate.
So we went to the SPA. Under ground right attached to the rest of the roman villa.
Very impressive location: round ceiling with 3 pools, the first 2, hot and warm and the other a quasi lap pool that develops into another subterranean room.
That was fun and enjoyable. Very very....sexy, also because nobody else was there.

Unfortunately I had an....angry moment with the lady at the Spa concierge which insisted (in Spanish) to make an appointment for us when there was nobody inside at the moment we wanted to go and it was open.
So, in Spanish I let her understand very clearly: " to chill the stupid-stiff by the book attitude and we were there to enjoy the hotel with no stupid rules, so "back off".
She was quite shocked and my Spanish evidently quite effective. Sanity came back and we enjoyed the rest.

Restaurant?
Remember the other restaurant in Granada? Well go read the post.
This one , being of the same chain, well......just multiply the stiffness, emptiness by 10 and there you have it.
I tell you: it is so important, well at least for me and that what I always look for, to have a staff that is truly welcoming and of course the
Brand (the hotel), the way the interiors are set, displayed should be welcoming, warm, inviting.

All the interiors of this hotel, especially, the restaurant and the hall ways are so cold, sterile that really influenced people.
I even met in the hall way, going back to my room, a father and a young kid and the father was whispering to the kid and inviting her to be quite. i told them that although it was Sunday they were not in a church so they could talk...normally.
He did not lough.

Did we eat in this restaurant? Of course not. So I am not commenting.

LUPINI, the name of this "fruit" where I am from (which was for 400 years under the Spanish crown, hence all the affinities) but I do not remember the name of this "fruit" in Spanish. Any Andalucian, please email me. Thank you.

We end up having "dinner" some tapas, on the outskirt of Cordoba, that means outside the old wall in a ......so called restaurant, watching on TV, Real Madrid against Maiorca surrounded by very nice people which started to arrive around 10.00 pm. we were the first there,at 8.30 pm.
We definitely had a local experience.

Ahhhhhhh, sorry, the room in the hotel: I got the standard one (through Expedia). Cool, although not exceptional like the other in Granada, but very comfortable and good enough for one night and to let us rest for our next day.
Destination: Sevilla. Grand.