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.
my parisian home i never had
I can’t recall how many hoteliers explained the unique factor of their hotel being that it’s ‘a home away from home’ for guests. I have heard this so often I am at a point of questioning this argument: don’t some people who stay at hotels do that because they don’t want to be at home? Simply for the pleasure of staying at a hotel and everything this experience entails? If they want a home, why travel at all?
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.
the new, old fairmont hotel vier jahreszeiten hamburg
Is it old? Is it new? The answer is it’s both. And it’s beautiful. Dating back to 1897, this Grande Dame of Hanseatic hospitality presents itself in immaculate condition. One reason for that is that General Manager Ingo Peters is extremely attentive to the property’s maintenance, the other reason is that she recently enjoyed a EUR 25 million facelift.
polo, snow, bubbly and beautiful people…
St. Moritz, here I come.
Who could resist an invite to watch the 27th St. Moritz Polo World Cup – on snow? So off I went to the elegant village in the Swiss Alps, located 1800 meters above sea level, ready for an action-packed weekend in one of the most glamorous capitals of the world.