Travelling with Class

Petit Paradis

Travelling with Class — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:03:23 GMT

A best kept secret. From Trinidad keep on sailing north pass Tobago, pass Grenada and Voila'...you're here.

It all started from a pot of boiling water...

Travelling with Class — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:04:39 GMT

...filled with a couple of "just fished" lobsters while the "soffritto" was sizzling (olive oil, onions, garlic, salt and a splash of white wine). All accompanied by a rose (hmmmm, ok rose, not top....just ok).

It always ends in here. Few steps from the lunch table, in a bigger scale: sailing north pass Trinidad and Grenada...almost there, on the Atlantic coast. Clear!? No?!!!

Ahhhhh, what a fairytale!

Travelling with Class — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:35:49 GMT

Few words and I will let the music and the sea do the "talk": La Luna simply is a fairytale made by superb taste, elegant intuition, nature and a perfect location.

Just go: laluna.com

Stratford upon Carriacou

Travelling with Class — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:31:13 GMT


The reenactment of any of Shakespeare's plays
(well, a piece of it) is a tradition and very 
particular of Carriacou Carnaval. 
It happens on mardi gras. 

Early in the morning a group of “revelers” descent 
from the village in the mountain arriving in the main 
village on the sea, Hiilsborough, 
around mid day, under a shining sun and a 
temperature around its 34 C. Dressed in a makeshift 
“armour” which is a table cloth which 
covers a padded cardboard “vest” that protects the 
“duelers” from the hits they give each other with a 
rod, a real one. 

Apparently they do not harm each other but they need 
to be separated by other people. I do not know if 
it is part of the show or it is because they really 
will not stop beating each other. 
Anyway see it in the video. 

The Shakespearean reenactment happens between two 
people, just a brief part from a 
Shakespeare play, what I could recognize and know was 
a part from Julius Caesar: Cassius soliloquy. 

Also the kids are involved doing just the soliloquy 
not the beating. I guess the beating is a reenactment 
of a duel which as in the spirit of Carnival, 
becomes a “releasing” act: a way to let the “poisons” 
come out of you so every act becomes exaggerated and 
distorted . 
Look at the Venetians 
masks or the Celebration of death in Mexico. 

You could try this kind of 
“releasing” home, with the proper padding, to release 
your stress instead of taking Xanax or Abilify and 
the sort. Of course it will be 
absolutely necessary to find the other dueler: 
I am sure you can think about one.

Tuesday lunch (late lunch)

Travelling with Class — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:45:47 GMT

So, I was swimming as my working break and I see this man coming out of the water with a bunch of fish, one octopus and some lobsters. The octopus was sold so I had to be content with a lobster, what a sacrifice.

Next thing I know we were having lunch on the same beach.

Menu? Fettuccine con aragosta (the whole aragosta).

The Chef? Moi, of course.
Guests: Cathy-Ann (wonderful host and cook of La Playa, Bistro-Bar), Rod (eclectic Fab-Dub DJ) and my LOVE. Ahhhhhh, and the family on the beach: we had a lot of pasta so we shared.

A lunch break (no, seriously).

Travelling with Class — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:35:53 GMT

Let me first clarify that I am not a fan of burgers, it's simply not in my head when I am looking for something tasty and nutritious: fish is.

Today, actually for lunch, I had the best cheese burger I have ever had and to top that: on a beautiful beach. That was our first lunch break in this Island. Yes indeed: lunch break, the one that you do after a morning working, in our case in front of the computer (excellent internet connection by the way).

The little cottage bar that offers this succulent burger with awesome potato wedges (all local cows "walking" happily in the island pastures) is called La Playa.

Where? I can't say yet. Give me some weeks and I will reveal the location, anyway it is the Caribbean.

The cottage bar serves also Panini, fish when it's fished, of course, wines, cocktails etc with the ubiquitous Carib and Stag.

A dream. Open from 10 to 10 except on Thursdays, so maybe, who knows, we will be there for after hours looking at the sunset with a nice cold Sauvignon Blanc.

Cheers.

Still on time

Travelling with Class — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:18:14 GMT

A wish of a prosperous 2012, first of all and second, you are still on time
to pop a bottle in a very classy place for me, in the Caribbean: http://couples.com/sans-souci/
If you can not make it for midnight, try it for the first weekend of the year.

It will be memorable.

All the best and new post in January from a "secret" place in the Caribbean.

A CLASSY SECLUSION

Travelling with Class — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:44:23 GMT

What made this bucolic, secluded spot, CLASSY, was Piero's dinner and as in Babette's dinner (the movie): love, passion, sincerity and joie de vivre made everything a symphony.

A special role was played by the divine Italian Cheeses and Yoghurt made in the same place by the Master Cheese Maker: Massimo. Way to go Massimo.

All made with Cows' Milk of their farm: DOLCE VALLE DAIRY with milk and love, ABSOLUTELY nothing else. Check the site: www.dolcevalledairy.com (still to be completed).

Also check the hotel website: http://www.mtplaisir.com/ and book a room with the view, right on the beach. Ask also for their refined Italian cheeses.

Ahhhh, I almost forgot: Piero's dinner.
Appetizer: a plateau of Italian cheeses made by hand, by Massimo with their cows' milk. Absolutely perfection. Soon on the market but when you are at the hotel, ask for them. It's a must.
Entry: enormous fish, fabulous, cooked to perfection in the oven with only few local herbs, salt and a splash of white wine.
Side Dishes: rosted potatos, rosted slices of eggplants, string beans with herbs
All accompanied by Champagne.
To finish with a hand made, in location: coconut ice cream.
Grappa and Limoncello "per gradire".

BRAVO PIERO.

Classy seclusion.

A panorama

Great DOLCE VALLE YOGHURT

CAPRI anybody?

Travelling with Class — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 18:16:00 GMT

For that touch of Italian snobbery and extreme show off experience, Capri is the place.
Once upon a time it was a place to mingle with artists, real movie stars, undercover Heirs and get a whiff of their fame.
Now only the show off part remains and the new money attitude, spread around like another Montecarlo, is a front without anything behind and if there is something behind those bling bling, well...it belongs to a shadowy world, you do not want to explore.

Still, Capri remains a dream of an island: difficult to explain it in words (probably for me), like Venice if you are not there you will not understand.
Few things I can describe from my experience there: the concentration in a very tiny place (most of the social life happens "in Piazzetta" and around it) of everything stereotypical of Italy or what the American movies project of Italy.
The thing is: it is true.

Well, in Capri actually, those stereotypes are true and also kept alive by the act, yes the act of being what the people from there, simply are: warm, loud, funny, great momentary friends, all experts in food and with a great joie de vivre.
Plus add the fashion components and all the top Fashion Brands you can imagine and: " Les jeux sont faits".

All the above on this charming little rock, really a rock, I think there are only 2 very very small sandy coves.
A little rock around one hour by ferry from Napoli which is another Italian real stereotype on its own.

The garbage story is actually another ugly reality of another jewel, Napoli, another jewel of that splendid Crown that is: Italy.

So, beside these sentimentalisms, I have an address for you; I have not stayed in these charming apartments but a few days there in Anacapri will make you feel on top of the world. Really and truly: class + nature + great food and relaxation in style.

My recommendation: http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/122991

Also to have an idea of Capri, visit this succulent site: http://www.postcardsfromcapri.com/

Enjoy.

A "knot" closer to Kitesurfer status

Travelling with Class — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:49:13 GMT

It was not a shining weekend regarding my level of Kitesurf but I learned few more fundamental things so I think I am very close to "fly".
Them going like crazy
Me watching and dying inside

I watched the good ones flying and looping, it was a mix feeling: envy and admiration and respect and "I will be there" soon.

All of that, wrapped in great hospitality by our friends Katrina, Mila and Andre, always super nice. Great hospitality, great location, profuse food and drinks and a relaxation as it should always be.

Ahhhhhh, the best Club Sandwich? Kariwak hotel, Tobago, also their menu is always fresh and so natural. Can't go wrong.

Wind and sea, here I am coming.

By the sea

Travelling with Class — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 18:57:00 GMT

Salute

Travelling with Class — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 22:21:00 GMT

April folly

Avoiding the Cruise Herds

Travelling with Class — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:26:00 GMT

It is very difficult, especially when there are 5 mega cruise liners docked at the bay at the same time.

Unbelievable and easy to spot even if you are blind, you will hear their distinctive sounds.
Usually the Americans are the loudest and when you see them, generally, they just roam the street, in a daze, like lost in a desert, all sweat and usually with a beer bottle in their hands.

They, (all the cruise herds) are not really looking for anything and I think they do not know exactly where they are, in the Caribbean.
They are just regurgitated out of the belly of these mega floating motels and they will do exactly what they were doing in the vessels: eating, drinking, sweating.
The attire? Sneakers, some in bikini, others just showing their enormous stomachs like they are a piece of art:
"the art of dullness". Very "Jerseylicious"

We?
We found a restaurant in this hotel: Holland House Beach Hotel in Front Street, Phillipsburg, Sint Maarten.
Welcoming, acceptable food with a chic touch, nice design, enjoyable background music and the view on the bay, the beach, the cruise liners and the Herds walking on the beach walk.

OUR REFUGE (the pool with the view)))))))

St. Martin (same place as St. Maarten)

Travelling with Class — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:25:00 GMT

For you Alberto! "Working for YOU".

St.Maarten perspective

Travelling with Class — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:35:00 GMT

Actually there are two perspectives: one Dutch and one French in one "rock" in the middle of the Caribbean.
Beautiful island as any Caribbean island but this one has been more developed as the "Las Vegas-Miami-Montecarlo" of the Caribbean.
Everything but everything food wise is imported and you can find anything from Europe and USA.
Bizarre.
I still have to go around but from my perspective there is:
1) a fantastic lap pool,
2) the" Yachts bay", I called it that because there are all the yachts you can see in St.Thropez in a busy day and much more.
3) Some hills and Caribbean vegetation.

All the above did not make me wonder around yet because between a swim and another I have work to do, on line and the cappuccino and a wonderful pastry is provided by the Boulangerie just 2 piers down from the villa I am in.
I am sure you will understand.

For my cousin Alberto: I think I have found a place that you will love, it's perfect for what you like. I will keep you posted.

So more details coming in the next few days.

Actually it is raining now but it is Caribbean rain, so I still can swim.

Happy Birthday Italy (150)

Travelling with Class — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:03:00 GMT

Wishing all Italians to brush off the scum, the servile and crass attitude that is sinking our Country.

GOOD LUCK.

A Gourmet Dinner by a Gourmand Friend

Travelling with Class — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:54:00 GMT

Very simple and tasty but simplicity is the other name of Class.

Crudites (salary, carrots, fennel, pepperoni) bawl as center table with little porcelain cups for "pinzimonio" (an italian vinagrette" to wet the raw vegetables into)

Starter: an almost crudites of vegetables (various kind of lettuce, olives and cooked pepperoni: the peperone is slightly cooked in the grill oven and then peeled and sliced by hand) in a vinegar and oil classic mix with a savory toasted slice of bread.

Entry: Salmon cooked in vapor and served on a bed of young spinach leafs nor cooked, topped with a sprinkle of hazelnuts.

Ending the dinner: a plateau of pepperoni and zucchini slices covered with pecorino cheese and cooked in the oven grill.

Two cakes, one with pears and chocolate and the other with cherry marmalade to sweeten the event.

Ahhh, i forgot, the overall dinner "wet" by a Greco di Tufo" (white wine) and the entire dinner served over an off white and elegant linen table cloth.

Perfection, Maurizio, BRAVO.

To the next one my friend, in the Caribbean this time.

LAST TRAIN TO...

Travelling with Class — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:39:00 GMT

Shutting down the station

THE GUIDE TO THE STARS

Travelling with Class — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:15:00 GMT

Carnival in Venice is in full swing right now (Feb. 28) and the masked crowd will evaporate on ash Wednesday (March 9), as the Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago.
We missed both, one regretfully and one willingly.
We did not miss the opportunity to open our way the carnival in Venice and as usual we did it in style, with a guide, not "a" guide but someone that will reveal to you the inner secrets, history and real facts about Venice.
Not the usual mambo jumbo that any guide will tell you but details and history searched and studied with the passion of someone that loves to discover the origin and roots of an event, a fact of history an architectural style and also the reason of a certain legend.
I guess that's why He is the Guide to the Stars, for real and the guide to people who prefer to stay low profile when they come to Venice.
Try to book him for a tour you will never but never find through the usual tourist booking channels.
Email him at: marcogagliardi@tin.it
Do not expect to bargain. Quality has its price (and it's not water).

I suggest a visit to the "Gheto" (the Jewish Quarter of Venice). Amazing stories of an Amazing people.

To eat, of course our favorite: "AL Gislon", calle della Bissa, close to Ponte di Rialto
A classic: "Frittura mista di pesce and a piece of Polenta" with a Bianchetto (white wine) but the choice is sublime and vast.
So keep on going and indulge.

SOMEONE IS HOME
Captain PEA overcoming the Gondolas.

Now. this is "ARRIVING TO VENICE".

Go figure: Museo d'arte Contemporanea dei Magazzini del Sale by Mr. Pinault
(who knows, knows) but it was closed, it opens the 4th of April 2011.

Carnival comes with FRITTELLE. Ask for them: Veneziana o con Zabaione

A rest after all that walking in freezing cold

The energy be with you

The Thrill of Milan Fashion (Hmmmmm)

Travelling with Class — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:22:00 GMT

Probably not the right one to "breathe" fashion with the big "F". In 4 words: primary-pret-a- porter.

Blumarine video1

Blumarine video2

Blumarine video3

But This Famous Model ())))) enjoyed it.

Blumarine video4