// May 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized, europe, just cool, road trip
They aren’t just rocks, they are giant stones in the middle of the UK. And like so many others, I had to see them first hand. Here’s a look at my day trip to Stonehenge.
// December 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized, airplanes, europe
Imagine a time when you could score a round-trip ticket to Europe for under $400. I’m here to tell you that time is now! You have one day left (today) to book travel (thru March) on Lufthansa via this link to score awesome fares to Europe. Enjoy!
// September 30th, 2009 // No Comments » // europe, italy
Jet-setter Jennifer Niejadlik shares this story of a recent trip to lovely Lake Garda, Italy.
A recent road trip led us to Lake Garda, Italy. We stayed three days in the country side 30 minutes outside Verona beside Lake Garda and the Alps in Palazzo Arzaga Hotel Spa and golf resort. My fiancé took advantage of the PGA quality golf course. The first 18 holes, Arzaga I, were designed by Jack Nicklaus II. While he was out on the green, I relaxed at the spa with an aroma oil massage and an exfoliant glycolic bio-treatment facial. The service of this 5 star hotel was nothing but top quality. The hotel itself was built in the 15th century and once was a monastery. The stone detail of this historical building was museum quality. Each morning we awoke to the chirping of small birds on our windowsill and enjoyed a traditional Italian buffet breakfast of thinly sliced meats, cheese, and fruit, in the cobblestone center courtyard.
Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake and was created by glaciations. Garda is an ideal spot for windsurfing and sailing. It hosts famous regattas such as the Centomiglia.
One evening we drove to the small inlet harbor island town of Sirmione. There we took in the local sights of the grand castle, Rocca Scaligera. It was built by Mastino I della Scala in the 13th century. Once through the tower and battlements of the castle we walked around the center town square. The square was lined with tiny boutique shops and restaurants with terraces where we enjoyed a gastronomic meal of duck risotto, local wine and farm fresh cheeses for desert.
Another evening we sat right on the edge of Lake Garda at restaurant Arpege in Desenzano. There we enjoyed a mix of seafood such as a salted Branzino, and fried smelt white fish and shrimps. Again a choice of local wine was like discovering new taste buds. This restaurant was decorated in a way to ignite romance. Outside there was a beautiful fountain and a gazebo. Inside there was another fountain flowing right down one of the marble walls like a waterfall. The restaurant was newly open and treated its customers to a specially priced menu where none of the fine cooked cuisine was priced more than 14 euro. A walkway beyond the garden terrace led right to Lake Garda itself. This restaurant would be an ideal place to host a wedding reception.
In the heart of the Desenzano center is Piazza Malvezzi. It is home to an antique market known for its silverware and prints.
On the road again we spent the majority of the rest of our two week vacation in the South of France with day trips to neighboring towns outside Cannes. One day we drove to Monaco and took in what I like to call the ultimate car show with the entire lot of Ferrari’s, Porches, and Rolls Royce’s outside the Monte Carlo. Ventimiglia is just over the border and we couldn’t resist fresh baked Italian pastries, a canola and mid afternoon cappuccino. This small Italian town is known for its open market on Fridays and Saturdays.
If you are heading to Italy for a summer vacation, Lake Garda and its surrounding towns are a must see.
// July 10th, 2009 // No Comments » // europe, road trip, travel tips
Got some time to kill? Then why not take a drive to Mongolia! Check out this story I produced on the coolest roadtrip ever!!!! And if you like what you see, you too can take a ride by clicking here.
// May 14th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized, europe, greece, restaurants
Jet-setter Light Silver sent me this clip from Mykonos, Greece, where he tells me he had an amazing Gyro at a place called Jimmy’s. Take a bite in this video.
// April 14th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized, europe, spain
Barcelona, Spain is a destination not too far away but for some it may feel like a world in its own. XM writer Jennifer Niejadlik traveled there recently and she gives some advice on what to do and where to go.
The locals call it Catalan. Barcelona is a city of wonder when it comes to its architecture and food. In the La Ribera neighborhood you’ll find one of the best tapas restaurants, Cal Pep. You may have to push your way to the bar seating as there are only five small tables available. Eighteen stools adorn the eat-in bar. There is no menu and no price list. It is best to leave your tapas choices to the waiter who will suggest dishes made from the catch of the day. A few things not to miss are: “cloisses amb pernil”, the clams with pancetta ham, or the “trifasic”, a basket of deep fried calamari, whitebait fish and prawns. Another combination that will melt in your mouth is the calamari tossed with a light tomato sauce and chick peas. The local red wine from Rioja is another pallet defining choice that will tickle your taste buds. The earthy flavors are rich and velvety. Moving on to dessert, the Catalona crème mousse is rich and creamy. It is just enough sweetness to leave you feeling complete. Now that you have a full belly it’s time to take a walking tour of the Antoni Gaudi designed church, “Temple de la Sagrada Familia”, and grand residence “Casa Batllo”. Gaudi’s architecture is unique where it displays characteristics of nature. In the “Temple de la Sagrada Familia” the beams are shaped like giant tree trunks. Gaudi oversaw construction of this church for forty years and it is still being worked on today. In the “Casa Batllo” shaped of wooden turtle shells are seen throughout. The environment plays a big part in Gaudi’s influences. The street sidewalks are even made of octagon shaped concrete tiles with a serpent and flower in each one.
Fundacio Joan Miro is an extraordinary museum located on the hill top of Montjuic, with the largest collection of art from Joan Miro. He was born in the Barri Gothic in 1893 and lived until 1983. The Miro museum consists of 300 paintings, 150 sculptures, some textiles and more than 7000 drawings spanning through his entire life.
After a full day it’s time to rest your head, Hotel Claris is a stroll away from the main international designer shopping street, Passeig de Gracia. Hotel Claris features junior suites with an upstairs living room within your accommodations. The hotel would be an ideal place to stay during warmer days as it has an outdoor roof top pool. And if you haven’t seen enough the hotel houses a collection of Egyptian artifacts, a fifth-century Roman mosaic and original Warhol lithographs. The best place to book a flight and a room is on tablethotels. This travel web site is offered in eight languages and has a currency converter built in. KLM and Transavia also offer direct flights.
// March 29th, 2009 // No Comments » // europe
There are few places on the planet that rival the beauty of The Swiss Alps. It truly is nature at its best. See for yourself in this little short I made.
