Help!
Virtuoso says they need a photo of me. What to do? Which to chose? Never happy when I have these kind of decisions to make. 
Maybe  on the Continental divide  or riding my favorite horse at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming at the Hideout Ranch?

Where am I?

Water Jousting in Sete, France

Oft forgotten little Sete has more going for it than I envisaged.  Many years ago I took a barge trip down the Canal du Midi ending at the medieval village of Carcassone , just a few miles from the small port of Sete. 

With a chance to watch the ancient sport of water jousting I decided it was time to revisit the area. Sure, there were also other reasons for our visit to this part of the world,   but water jousting dating back to 1666 happened to be the first.

Seated along the Royal Canal, we watched two opposing boats position themselves as each team of 10 oarsmen rowed towards their opponents with their selected jouster standing tall and steady  on the ‘tintaine’ about 2 meters above  the water level. The red team selected the captain of our ship, a young and agile Englishman; the blue team selected the town’s 7^th year in a row champion jouster.  One look at my photo tells you who won and the video shows our captain succumbing to the cold waters of the Royal Canal.    

and the charm of ranunculars and tulips all along the canal  heralded  the arrival of Spring. 

Barcelona, The Ramblas, and hop-on hop-off busses.

On my return visit to Barcelona, actually my fourth visit, it hit me why my clients always  ask for a hotel on the Ramblas.   There’s the,  Ramblas de Catalunya north of Plaza de Catalunya and as the street leaves the  plaza heading to the port the name changes to Las Ramblas.  Well meaning returning friends  and  family from their wonderful experience in Barcelona talk about the joy  of  the Ramblas without specifically defining which one.  Both wide boulevards carry the charm of everything Spanish, but the noise and safety factor  around Las Ramblas should be considered before any final decisions on where to stay are made.

And then there's the super value of the Barcelona city tourist busses to consider. Cost of one day E26.00 hop-on hop-off  all day long  - and two days  just E34.00 per person - there are two different routes which will cover all areas and with careful planning one can jump from the blue to the red route at certain points.  Using these busses you can see  all the Gaudi famous buildigs including the famous Sagrada cathedral, the Gothic quarter and so much more     All hop-on hop-off busses are narrated in several languages and leave from the Plaza de la Catalunya including the airport bus.

Barcelona - The Mirror hotel

Supersonic travel hasn't returned yet   but there are times when I feel it has. 

Sitting in our hotel in Barcelona, resting weary feet, Bill exclaims, "Will you look at that!"  Not only is it a double rainbow  but a complete one with deep  rich colors.   Rushing to unpack my camera, I almost get catch all of it on film  before it disappears.

That was looking outside the hotel and if the weather was better you could see the meditteranean right where the rainbow ended.  Instead,  time to look inside the hotel. Opened two years ago it's new and white and full of surprises with angels to guard you.  

The Mirror hotel practises a  fully sustainable  management, prefering a paperless environment, hires 90% of it's staff from surrounding areas and uses produce and wine from local producers 

The White Angels of the Mirror  are designed by a German sculpture from Berlin - who moved to Barcelons in 2003.

 Don't look for your room number on the door as you won't find it. Instead it is lit and sunken into the floor beside your door.

A profile of a white angel in our room - being the only form of artwork in the room 

  The door to our bathroom.
White laminate floors and walls with about half the walls being mirrors don't allow for bad hair days

As if a flat screen TV opposite the commode isn't enough options of the three TV's in our room,  there is also a reading light should you prefer that form of pastime during morning ablutions.   

...and a two star Michelin restaurant  renown for it's amazing fish dishes . Closed Sundays and Mondays. This is a great hotel for the budget conscious jet-setter.  Yes, that's me.

  

Australian Outback

So where is the Australian Outback?

 Some say it's red rock country,  others call it Ayers Rock  or more correctly Uhuru and others say if you stand on the east coast looking out to the ocean it's everything behind you......and that's the better discription, in reality it's any part of Australia that isn't a city. 
I've spent hours, days and weeks traveling around this vast land, and seen more of the country than most Aussies. From my colonial background I may sound like a Sydneysider to some, which is far from the truth but it doesn't stop me from loving this amazing city and all that the country has to offer from the old fashioned 6 o'clock swill  to the 'no problem mate' answers.

If the idea of  a green outback experience grabs you when you don't have time to travel further than a few hours from Sydney, do please try turning to the beauty of New South Wales and a bit of 'adult' luxury camping, known in some circles as glamping. 

These days camping is not all boy and girl scout style with a swag thrown over your back .
 

Head south from Sydney just a couple of hours and you'll be  ready to experience the wildlife of PaperBack Bark Camp.


   Not everywhere in the outback is hot, dry, brown and dusty with incessant fly attacks.

Kent Farm, Australia

Downunder, there's a freshness about life not often found in other parts of the world.  Life, downunder brings a fresh spirit, a happy soul, and rebounding energy that keeps pulling at the heart strings of love, (take a moment to listen to their prime minister).   So when my client, who became a friend,  started farming in New South Wales and sent these photos I knew I needed to share this serenity and know I have to go back and have a look see for myself.  

Galapagos

For years, visiting the Galapagos Islands has, for so many visitors been synonymous with taking a cruise around the islands  - and not everyone wants  that  -  not everyone loves to sail  - I remember so well the first time I saw my husband on a boat  - he turned green and stayed that way for the next 11 days  -it took years to persuade him to try a modern stabilized cruise line.

But with the soon to open new Small Luxury Hotel  The Pikaia Lodge with only 14 rooms  it's time to let the world know how visiting the Galapagos is changing.
Already there is the Royal Palms Hotel, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World  on Sant Cruz island and now  Pikaia Lodge, also on Santa Cruz island opens 16  December 2013; just in time for the holidays .  It's a carbon-neutral lodge  with infinite pool and spa that offers private yacht excursions to neighbouring islands and has it's own giant tortoise preserve.  The perfect way to see the Galapagos, especially for those that don't like groups or  cruises.
Stays are restricted to Monday arrivals for 5-7 nights or Friday arrivals for 3 nights 

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Yes there are other hotels, with such attractvie names as Iguana Crossing, Finch Bay Eco Hotel, Casa Natural Hotel  so dont give up if you can't get into your first choice. 

March 23 is Earth Day 8.30pm - 9.30pm join the world as all non essential electricity is turned off and live by candle light for an hour.

In anticipation of  this event The Four Seasons hotel in Singapore has created  some eco cocktails to be sipped by candle light as the global community celebrates this event .

 In the Chilli Martini, barflies will appreciate the fresh hint of spice arising from the chilli garnish, while one of the key ingredients in the Strawberry Kiss comes from the banana tree. The Lychee Mojito tastes all the more refreshing due to the freshly picked lime and mint leaves. Other selections include the Banana Daiquiri, Mint Julep, Morning Glory and Banana Belafonte, which is served with a banana rim

Of course if drinking a Singapore Sling in Singapore is still on your bucket list, you'll find this at the same bar.  

Here's more on this SPECIAL OFFER - Take an African Safari that includes The Zambezi Queen river boat on the Chobe river and receive a free European cruise for yourself or you can give it away to family or friends.

 

Book an Africa Safari & Wildlife Cruise & Receive a FREE 7-night European River Cruise in a French Balcony stateroom!* Book a 2013 Spring or Summer Africa Safari & Wildlife Cruise (select departures) and earn a FREE cruise for two in Europe! Choose either an “In Celebration of Wine” cruise or a Holiday cruise departing November or December in 2013 or 2014. Already have plans? Surprise a loved one with the ultimate gift - a luxurious European river cruise (as your free cruise is transferable)! STARS OF AFRICA Enjoy 3 nights in Cape Town, 3 nights in Kruger National Park Area and 1 night in Johannesburg before embarking on your 4-night safari cruise, ending with 2 nights in Victoria Falls Hotel Check-in Dates: March 11, April 15, 29, May 27, June 3, July 8 & 22, 2013 Starting from $8,995* per person   GOLDEN TRAILS OF AFRICA 1 night in Nairobi, 8 nights at game reserves in Amboseli, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti, 1 night in Johannesburg, then a 4-night safari cruise & 2 nights in Victoria Falls Hotel Check-in Dates: March 8, May 24, 31, July 5 & 19, 2013 Starting from $11,495* per person   NOW FEATURING SOME OF AFRICA'S MOST PREMIER LODGE AND HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS Africa Wildlife Cruises & Included Features 4 nights in a Balcony stateroom | Full day Chobe National Park game drive Exclusive private picnic in Chobe National Park | Cultural interaction with Kasenu villagers Excursions in a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe | Traditional African Boma Dinner onshore All meals included with complimentary wine and beer on board | Premier hotel accommodations Exclusive luxury safari lodges | Daily morning/afternoon/evening game drives All meals, drinks and laundry included at lodges Unrushed, unspoiled, up-close...Africa as it was meant to be seen! SPECIAL LIMITED-TIME OFFER!

Adventures on the High Seas - What exactly are Pirates, Buccaneers and Privateers ?

Sea- Going bandits of the high seas can be classified into three categories:-

A Privateer:-
Countries hired Privateers. England would hire them to  attack Frenchm Dutch or Spanish ships and ports.

A Pirate:-
Pirates hold no allegiance to any country or person. They would plunder and attack any ship of port  - excpet those owned of occupied by another pirate.

A Buccaneer:-
The Buccaneer had a vengeance against the Spanish. They attacked only Spainish ships and ports.

The Bucholic Days of Life on Board a Tall Ship

Our Star Clipper sailing ship left St Martin for the Leeward Islands sailing around the British Virgin Isles.

Suite 507 - Star Clipper Outside Deck Entrance.

Owners Suite - Star Clipper

This is a cosy cabin with plenty of room providing you are not over 6 feet tall. The ceiling is quite low -

Suite 302 - Star Clipper

On Board Repairs. Fixing a main sail.