turkish delights
Wherever you look these days, Istanbul is being lauded as the coolest/hippest/most exciting/diverse/trendiest/upcoming (select as appropriate) destination; most recently voted Best City by British Airways’ 2011 Travel Awards.
i know what you (probably) didn’t do this summer
Whether it’s hiking, dining or driving, here are three things you shouldn’t miss this summer.
the sound of the waves
Arriving at Réunion’s Roland Garros International Airport is a bit like arriving in Nice: you descend over the sea, you only see the runway appearing beneath you moments before touchdown, as a European you only need an ID card to pass border control, flight connections displayed in the terminal are mainly Air France to Marseille and Paris, posters advertise helicopter transfers and there is a steep mountain backdrop – although here it is an active volcano instead of the Alps. All in all: the same jovial atmosphere than at the slightly provincial (no offence) South of France airport.
moroccan cowboys
Experiencing the busy hustle and bustle of Morocco’s Marrakech is a must, but few manage the true art of mastering the medina. After perfecting it for three days, this time based at the wonderfully charming Dar Mo’da in the very heart of the medina, I was in need of some peace and solitude.
waltzing through vienna
The Wiener Walzer or Viennese waltz is certainly the most Austrian of all dances. It’s also the opening dance at the annual Vienna Opera Ball, held at the prestigious Vienna State Opera. The ball marks the pinnacle of the Austrian capital’s social calendar as 180 dance school debutants dance the legendary three quarter time tempo on center stage in front of 12’000 international guests.
details that make dresden delightful
I often say it’s the smallest details making the biggest differences. So, not surprisingly during my recent trip to Dresden it wasn’t the impressive baroque architecture, the majestic Semperoper or the beautifully restored Frauenkirche that left the biggest impression, lovely though those are. In the end it was a cup of café latte over breakfast at the Kempinski Hotel Taschenbergpalais that I remember most.
my race through istanbul
The Turkish Formula 1 Grand Prix at Istanbul Park Circuit is one not to miss: one of only four counter-clockwise circuits, this track is not only nestled in the uneven topography of the Turkish countryside but also boasts the incredibly fast, quadruple apex corner 8, nicknamed Diabolica and by many drivers considered one of the trickiest corners in the entire F1.