Favorite Destinations: Zambia
Reply
Category Archives: Celebrations
A&K 100 Club with Royal Malewane’s Liz Biden
VinaVik with our host Gonzague de Lambert
Harvest time at Vina Vik
We are delighted to find that we have arrived at harvest time!
Harvest depends on the perfect time of grape maturation – four factors influence the harvest timing: tannins, chemical analysis , maturation, and sugar level.
Grapes at Vina VIK are a combination of Carmenere and Cabernet Savignon , Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. The Vina Vik winery aims to be the top wine in Chile – 100 points. They also strive to be the greenest and most organic in Chile. Tonight they begin picking the grapes at 1AM while it is cool.
Vina VIK vineyard is located 2 hours above Santiago. The valley is spectacular- green, green, green- mountains circle all around . Our host is Gonzague de Lambert.
One fact I learned: sulfites are in all wines for a fruit preservative. Vik keeps the sulfiltes very low for a more natural taste. A good harvest depends on weather conditions, light, rain, soil, the subjective decisions made during the growing year and the timing for harvest.
Cristian Vallejo is the winemaker; he along with Gonzague, make an invincible team. The combination of vast winemaking knowledge, dedication to detail for the year in- year out effort and passion for great wine is impressive. I have no doubt Vina Vik Vineyards will have the number one red wine, and it will be very soon
Sunrise at Singular Patagonia
Rooftop bar. W Hotel Santiago THE place to be!
At the bottom of the world
Suite 206. Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat
Pool Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat
Lobby Grand a hotel du Cap Ferrat
Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat in St Jean Cap Ferrat
Another fabulous hotel I visited was Grand hotel du Cap Ferrat in St Jean Cap Ferrat. Old world service, gorgeous rooms and public areas, a delightful pool at the bottom of the property that can be reached by a finicular. A Terrace restaurant that was so peaceful. Gardens again were beautiful. Their spa was awesome by the way- it leads out into it’s own private garden. They have also done fabulous renovations and I am posting pictures of some of the rooms.
Lunch selection Eden Roc
Suite Hotel du Cap
View from suite 33. Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc
View from suite 33. Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc
Carlton hotel Nice – all done up for Christmas!
Cap Estel, Eze France
Lobby of Cap Estel, Eze
.
Bar Cap Estel. Not for the faint hearted- gin and tonic was 18Euros.
View from my terrace. Cap Estel. Eze
Nice place to have margaritas
Room inspection Las Alamandas
I found the rooms at Las Alamandas to be bright, spacious, and authentically Mexican. I felt a great sense of place staying there. Renovations had been done recently and everything was light and very colorful. There is a choice of 30 pillows, and the linens were quite fine. Most of the rooms have jacuzzis, some have
private plunge pools. All are either oceanfront or ocean view. All the bathrooms have been recently renovated.
The only drawback is the 2 hour drive fro PV to the property, but the owner is exploring the air shuttle service from PV airport, and the transfer would be 30 minutes.
One of the rooms -Las Alamandas
One of the rooms
Casa Isabelle-las Alamandas
View from one of the villas Las Alamandas
Unspoiled luxury Las Alamandas
Entry Las Alamandas
Las Alamandas
Las Alamandas
Las Alamandas a little gem near Puerta Vallarta
I always forget how green and fresh the Hamptons are in July.
I travel to Montauk each summer to visit a client and friend. We plan his coming year’s travel adventures. He has been to so many places, it is really becoming a challenge. We are looking for more and more unique and exotic places. I love a good challenge. He is showing, and doing a book signing at the Bridgehampton Antique show this weekend, so I get to help.
Each time we pull into the Hamptons, we are greeted with clean cool breezes, and the most amazing trees and flowers. It was 73 degrees at 6PM last night. A divine break from 95+ in Georgia. Everything is green and fresh. The colors of the hydrangeas are a feast for my eyes. We cannot grow them like this in the South. All the lawns are manicured and the houses are so charming behind the very large hedges.
Restaurants are fabulous. Last night we ate at Sarafina, really delightful Italian. Tonight it will be East by Northeast in Montauk- rated best on the village.
St. Regis Atlanta is offering a great Brownell Travel weekend rate.
The fabulous St. Regis Atlanta is offering a Brownell Travel weekend rate of $209.00 per night plus tax, till the end of the year. The rate can be reserved through any Brownell or Sterling Brownell consultant if rooms are available.
Cottars 1920’s camp
Tent 14 Olonana
.
Olonana view from the bed
.
Olonana Masai Mara- one of my favorite camps in Kenya. View from Tent # 3 deck
.
Deck of main house, Sirikoi -Lewa Downs, Kenya
Sirikoi living room
.
Sirokoi / villa bathroom- fab new camp Lewa Downs
.
Sirokoi/ Villa bedroom-Another fabulous new camp – this one in Northern Kenya, Lewa Downs
.
Sirokoi/ Villa bedroom-Another fabulous new camp – this one in Northern Kenya, Lewa Downs
.
View when riding at Ol Donyo
.
Bathroom with huge tub Ol Donyo Wuas
Ol Donyo Wuas family suite terrace
.
Dispatches from the Road 