Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Hub








The Hub, located in one of the most upscale blocks in Buenos Aires, is a new hotel I want to recommend, cause I love it! and I think you will too.

Need a break? go rest and feel like a tourist, relax and breathe. 


 Images, courtesy of the HUB.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Life is too short to...























* not fall in love deeply

* have a job that you don't love

* postpone getting a ticket to go to that place (or places) you've been dreaming of

* not tell people how you feel

* not be who you really are

* not dance and sing MORE

* not spend a quiet day with yourself

* not help make a difference

* not feel gratitude (for the small things also)

* not be a better sister, brother, daughter, son, mother, wife, husband, father, friend, grandfather, grandson, grandaughter...

* not tweet

* not be the best at whatever it is that you do

* not smile

* be too worried about consuming chocolate, coffee, wine

* not read more

* not do sports as often as you can

* not spend more time in contact with nature

* not hug

* not take risks

* not be more curious



Please tell us what other things "life is too short to..." miss. We'd love to know your thoughts on this. xx

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Punta del Este



































Some people ask why Punta del Este vacation rentals cost so much, so I thought I'd write a little about prices, why I think some things cost what they cost and why renting a property in Punta del Este is not so easy on the pocket.

When you pay (what you consider) a high price for something it's usually because it has been recommended, you're familiar with the brand, like it and trust it or because your perception is that it's a good product or service and that it's worth it. For every authentic, luxurious product or service out there, there is a (not authentic) version of it at a cheap price. This, we know and this applies to almost anything you can think of: clothes, watches, wine, travel, handbags, coaches, brokers, etc.

So why not get the cheaper version? is a question that may rise. Cause deep inside we know that the cheaper version of our object of desire is not (really) our object of desire - even if at times we do end up getting the "other" version. However, if we are lucky enough to have the possibility to choose, in the end, we are most likely to choose (and support) upscale products/services. 

I would, therefore, like to extend the above concept to the cost of vacation rentals in Punta del Este without even going into details about perhaps more technical relevant variables such as land and construction prices, demand, etc.

So what are the other aspects that make exclusive properties expensive? Aside from the fact that Punta del Este is one of the most beautiful and desirable places on earth (and, I've done a great deal of traveling, since I was ... hmmm... born?) And it's not just me. Please ask anyone. It is a magical place. And so are these beautiful houses.

Each one of these villas has been hand picked by an experienced group of people who not have not only taken the TIME to personally inspect and photograph each villa in their portfolio, but also spend a lot of time with each one of the owners of these summer homes. Some (if not most) homes belong to Curiocity's owners, friends and family so the houses are known by heart; others are strangers who kindly open their doors to Curiocity (yes, just to them).

Clients of Curiocity are not just going anywhere. We are going to a magical place. In the experience of staying in one of these homes, we discover the love and effort that each one of the owners has put into their summer home. Each corner has a story, there are furnishings and objects from all over the world, books and music for lazy afternoons, flowers and candles, objects that have been passed from generation to generation, stunning art pieces, meticulously manicured gardens; ocean views, surrounding forests and lakes, helicopter pads. Semi-private beaches. Perfect lighting. Technology. Al- fresco dining; generous decks and swimming pools. There is soul and personality in each house. More importantly, behind each villa rental experience, there is a welcoming team of people (house staff, assistants, drivers, chefs, concierge, etc.) that wants us to feel at home and rest!

Just like other luxury products, Curiocity Villas' properties are ideal for people like us. People who love their work and work hard, people who get high on life and appreciate the good things: a nice dinner with friends, a sunset, or simply relaxing in a quiet, inspiring and private location with family, friends or your soul mate in one of the world's most beautiful places. Curiocity are always seeking unique villas that have something that makes them special. It's about memories that last. It's about emotion. And yes, the cost is on the high(er) side, but so is the experience. 




Thursday, December 29, 2011

Happy New Year!!




























I'm sorry that I haven't been posting so often, but I'm taking a little (much needed) break in Uruguay.

Although I usually stay in José Ignacio, this time I'm staying at "la brava" which is super beautiful also and I'm loving every second. The weather has been glorious!! luckily.

I'll be posting more often soon, but I wanted to wish you a happy New Year!! hope 2011 was amazing and that 2012 brings lots of love, joy, magic and success into your lives!

xo

Photo: Isabel Marant, Spring 2011. Love the setting and this perfect little dress for New Year's Eve in the South American summer!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Barcelona!

I heart El Xampanyet












































































































































































































































The best part of a journey is the people you meet along the way. And the food.

Photo above is brunch at PICNIC

Monday, October 17, 2011

October





















The course of true love never did run smooth.
- William Shakespeare

Saturday, October 15, 2011

living it up




















Photo: "hot springs" by Ryan McGinley



The concept of a bon vivant is associated with the idea of leading a good life, to live well. But what is to live well?

The other day I read an article on LNR where they talked about the good life with Argentinian chef, Mallmann.

For some, the concept of a bon vivant is overly idealized. It means having a life of luxury, 5 star travels, eating at expensive restaurants, buying big brands, a socially important status and collecting art.

For me, that sounds about right, but I also think a good life is related to living life with passion and intensity. To find the beauty in whatever you do. Whether it’s appreciating a painting, feeling the music with your eyes closed, reading, enjoying a good meal, the smell a flower, dancing, visiting a new place, laughing with a friend, reaching a goal and celebrating the love you receive and that you give every day.

That's also happiness.

In this article that I read, Mallman said something that I'd like to share:

A bon vivant "is a person who tries to live romantically, a person who likes to live each day the best way possible. It has to do with your mood, with who you are, with the time of the year, the clothes you like to wear, where you go, what you eat...”

When I was writing this post, I also ran into this definition: "a bon vivant is someone who can say, I live very well, my children are alright, I am not the richest but I can still do pretty much everything that I want to do; I have a partner who has always loved me and who I love and have fun with, I have achieved most of my goals and I'm satisfied"

Finally, I leave you with the definition that Coco Chanel gave when they asked her: "what is fashion?"

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

Well said Coco! I love this definition of fashion and I find that it has much to do with the concept of a bon vivant. But more importantly, what is it to you?

Enjoy today!




Post by: Valeria Mendez Cañas

Monday, September 5, 2011

Roads and Flavors



















Next week, people, traditions, places and products from all over Argentina will gather at La Rural to display their products as a way of showing the true meaning of identity.

This year, joining the food fair, we will also find crafts and tourism stands from several provinces.

For five days, food, wine and routes from all regions of Argentina will be in one place.

Hand in hand with more than 400 farmers and craftsmen the whole country will have the opportunity to discover itself. Organized by Fairs & Exhibitions for the seventh consecutive year, Caminos y Sabores (Roads and Flavors) establishes a channel with no intermediaries between the producer and consumer.

Sponsored by the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI), Export.Ar Foundation, the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and the Organization of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Roads and flavors is not just an opportunity to taste typical local products of the country but also a good way to understand the processes of local producers. It’s an invitation to explore a myriad of Argentinian culinary and sensory experiences, where the relationship between producers, environment and community is key in achieving outstanding quality.

Roads and flavors market is an opportunity to buy a wide range of products directly from each province and people of Argentina. The fair is an invitation to learn about the products we consume and how our choice of food can support local economies and small families. The link between producers and consumers acquires a new dynamic and allows closer ties.

Roads and flavors 2011 is simply an appointment with the roots of Argentinian identity, the scope for regional economies and a path to strengthen small producers. There are foods, drinks, crafts and special areas for the promotion of tourist destinations and festivals.

The fair offers a business model that seeks to promote family and local production of each region. Caminos y Sabores wishes to create awareness of the value that small businesses have in all provinces of Argentina. There are no middlemen, so most of the percentage of sales go directly to the artisans and producers.



From 14 to September 18 at La Rural

Friday, August 5, 2011

Happy Weekend!




















Fazenda São Francisco do Corumbau


Need a break? This remote boutique resort surrounded by untouched nature and white sand beaches is an ideal place to enjoy nature, peace and sunshine.

Aside from ocean views, hammocks, and access to the lagoon-style pool, Fazenda São Francisco provides organic produce and fresh fish daily.

How do I get there?

Fly from Buenos Aires to any major Brazilian city and from there into Porto Seguro. Then, drive, fly, or helicopter into Ponta do Corumbau. By car, this trip will take just under three hours.

Enjoy! xx

Thursday, July 28, 2011

it's love

















What happens when things don't go the way we expect them to in a relationship? What happens when your partner becomes someone you don't like so much? Are you willing to retrace your steps? Is he or she? Are you willing to recognize your own doings or are you the one to blame it all on your partner?

Miguel Espeche is an Argentinian Psychologist whose work we have set our eyes on. He has coordinated workshops in Buenos Aires for 22 years. These workshops are quite famous in the city. The topics are so varied (bonding, sexuality, family, aging, working), there is something for everyone.

Here is an extract of one of his cases we have translated:

"He didn't take everything away"

"His departure left loneliness and a lot of pain. He took everything when he left". She felt lonely, infinitely sad and most of all, deserted.

For her, he had been the mirror in which she had reflected and recognized herself for many years but her mirror was no longer there. She found herself caressing her kids at night, telling them words she wasn't sure of, looking at the world through a cold glass. All this because he wasn't there, because she remained at their home surrounded by their furniture and the objects that had been theirs for ages, objects that now seemed soulless, like her.

For good or for bad she had given him everything, even her own identity. She had chosen to be the verb instead of the subject, not because she was foolish, but because that was the way things unfolded. For her, it was a relief to have someone assume matters concerned with her own being and she went with it, she did what she thought was expected of her, she turned into an echo, instead of being the source of sound.

Time went by and she was surprised to feel alive again. She began to feel new emotions, these emotions were not his echo, they came from her own self, a source she started to like and value as others did. He, on the other side, felt that he had taken with him his own shadow, the one that was obstructing her personal feelings, her voice. She began to have her own dreams and desires and realized that he didn't have much to do with that anymore. She started feeling better, happier. She concluded he hadn't taken everything, he had only taken a part of her history.

Today they are flirting again, although they are still separated (this is a real story that is taking place). I don't know how this story will end but it is interesting to see how it is developing. He has already said that he felt saturated by what first attracted him to her "being everything for her", the undeniable center of her attention. She had also liked delegating her own being in that man. He had "broken the rules" of the game saying he felt lonely and in need of the company of someone else's voice, not just an echo of his own".

We think that if things get out of balance, it is up to each person in the couple to rediscover love without turning the other person into (or becoming) the subordinate, which as the extract shows, can ruin a relationship.

There are no villains in relationships. If there is love, difficulties can be overcome by trying to understand what each person's contribution to its wrong doing is. By working together finding healthier ways of relating to one another the relationship will obviously bring a lot of satisfaction and happiness.

Migue Espeche once said: "Healthy people suffer from love, that doesn't just happen to fools or ill people. The people that have the courage to assume the risks love requires are however, probably the healthiest."




Translation by Valeria Mendez Cañas extract from the July issue of Sophia Magazine

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

The great Outdoors





































































































Arelauquen Golf and Country Club.

If you are looking for a mix of relaxation, romance and action for your coming vacation, Arelauquen Golf and Country Club is the place to go, specially if you have kids.

Arelauquen is conveniently located 15 minutes away from Bariloche's airport. The property is surrounded by the Andes mountains and the Nahuel Huapi National Park; it's close to Cerro Catedral, Bariloche's major skiing center and in front of Lago Gutierrez. No matter where you stand, there are magnificent views and the most breathtaking sunsets over Lake Gutierrez.

Arelauquen has an office that takes care of all your requests. You can either choose to rent a villa or stay at the lodge. Someone will always be waiting for you on the date of your arrival regardless of the time (I've tested this many times!). You can arrange to hire housekeeping service so you can go out and enjoy your activities, perhaps a romantic dinner with your soulmate? and have everything taken care of when you get back to the house.

There are so many activities in Arelauquen, we recommend you to plan ahead! If you like horses, you can go horseback riding up in the mountains, get ready for the views! they are something hard to describe or even picture. You can take riding lessons, polo lessons or watch polo matches. You can take gym classes or lift weights, choose the kind of massage or treatment you would like to receive at the spa, relax in any of their gorgeous common spaces, swim, rest and/or have a drink in their indoor-outdoor heated swimming pool, practice kayaking, windsurfing or fly fishing, go sailing, go mountain hiking, play tennis or golf and you can also arrange to send your children to the Kid's Club where a similar array of activities are organized for them by very experienced staff, including camping!

Arelauquen's Club House has a living room section, a quiet library "for adults only" (very important!), a TV Room, besides the spa, fitness area, pool and coffee-bar. There is a recreation area for children and teenagers that has ping pong tables, pool tables, "metegol" games (soccer), wii and wii games, and toys and games for little children and toddlers.

Keep in mind that you will need a car to move around Arelauquen and to explore Bariloche and its surrounding areas, such as Villa la Angostura. The villas offered for rent look good in the photos but are always better than that in reality.

Taking all this information into account, you can enjoy a two week vacation and go back home knowing that you'd love to come back for more Patagonia magic.

We've experienced Arelauquen and we highly recommend it.
Co-post: Vale and Mich

Photos 2 and 4: Vale's kids with their grandfather.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Natural Selection




















































































































































Photos: Florian Von der Fecht


About fourteen European countries could fit in Argentina and there would still be space left.

With over 210,000 acres of pristine land, Bahía Bustamante - a private farm in Southern Patagonia, is a good example of the vastness of land that Argentina is blessed with.

Upon arrival, one is enchanted by stunning views of magnificent landscapes and wildlife. The deep-blue ocean in front of you, the austerity of the accommodations which enhance the beauty of the vast, natural surroundings; the cold, crisp air that energizes. It's a gift of the Gods. Perhaps the answer to a crazy life in a modern world. The answer to a prayer for a bit of calm and connection with nature. An undisturbed view of the horizon: "look at me, I'm here" it says. Yes, Mr. Horizon, it's you that hides behind those tall buildings in noisy cities. It's you that I miss.

Bahia Bustamante is far, yes. It's also beautiful because of that. A desirable destination for those who have covered much of the world and are in search of a wonderful place to chill in peace and enjoy nature. A destination with no crowds cause nobody even knows this place exists. And, for those few lucky ones that do, know this: only 18 people are allowed there at once. Soriano, owner of the property, would like to keep it this way. He's very much into protecting the environment, and more so when it comes to his own heavenly land.

Bahia is quiet and breathtaking. It offers no more and no less than the great and simple pleasures of life: a sky full of stars, home-cooked meals, wine, comfortable lodging, beautiful sceneries, sunny mornings, penguins playing around you, attractive guanacos (kind of like a llamas) carelessly walking around; AND, when you get tired of sleeping, eating and reading, there are plenty of exciting things to do: horseback riding, kayaking, walking on the beach, or exploring the property's 65-million-year-old petrified forest.


Special thanks to: Bahia Bustamante