Skiing in St. Moritz, Switzerland

The Adventure Kids travel to St. Moritz, Switzerland

to ski the most famous of its slopes, Corviglia.

By Debra C. Argen

To view the article with photographs please see Skiing in St. Moritz, Switzerland in the Adventures section of Luxury Experience Magazine (www.LuxuryExperience.com).

There are some places that are almost iconic when it comes to the sporting world; for scuba divers it is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, for golfers it might be the K Club in Ireland or St. Andrew’s in Scotland, and for skiers, it is definitely St. Moritz.

As a skier, I (Debra) had been waiting a long time to ski St. Moritz. I was first set to ski St. Moritz when I was 16 years old, however, due to an abrupt change in plans, my dream of skiing this remarkably breathtaking area was put on hold for a few short years, ahem, okay, for a few long years. Anyways, when Edward and I decided to take a trip to St. Moritz in January 2008, I knew that this time, without fail, I would finally ski St. Moritz and realize a longtime dream.

After many years of dreaming, the day that I had eagerly anticipated had finally arrived. It was as if St. Moritz knew that I had long been waiting for this moment, and the weather was gorgeous, bright blue skies, dry, and –1° C (30° F). Okay, perhaps the writer in me gets carried away sometime, as St. Moritz boasts a remarkable number of 322 days of sunshine per year, in fact their logo has a sun on it, and then again we could have been unfortunate and experienced one of their rare cloudy days.

Our friend Priska Zahner met us at the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz where we were staying, and dressed in our ski clothes, we walked the short distance to the ski shop to rent our ski equipment. Fully outfitted, we left the shop, and since Edward is a novice skier, Priska decided that we should forego taking the lift, and carry our skis up the hill so that Edward could practice while we would ski the more challenging pistes. Huffing and puffing we walked up the steep hill carrying our skis with altitude taking its effect, wondering if Priska was trying to kill us, as well as wondering if we would have the strength to ski once we finally reached our destination. Thankfully, miraculously, we finally arrived at our desired location, and with Edward left to practice on his own, we set off to experience the pistes of Corviglia, which has an impressive height of 2486 meters/8156 feet.

Taking the lifts and seeing the majestic mountains stretching out before me was incredible; I felt like I was seeing an old friend whose beauty was intoxicating. The fact that I was actually here, at Corviglia, was almost impossible to believe, but I quickly snapped to my senses when my feet touched the ground and it was suddenly showtime! With my heart racing with adrenaline, I followed Priska as she traversed the piste while muttering under my breath to myself that I could indeed do this! It had been several years since I had last skied, but I could do this! My muttering must have helped, because finally the connection between my brain, which often thinks that it is still 16 years old, and my legs, which did not quite feel like 16 years old at the moment, fell into the old rhythm and I was skiing. Yes, I was skiing, in St. Moritz! I felt like yipping with joy, although since I was already muttering to myself I thought better about doing this, lest my fellow skiers and snowboarders skiing past me question my sanity, and kept my joy safely restrained inside.

Edward: Always ready for an adventure and awestruck by the unparalleled beauty of the mountains surrounding St. Moritz, I snapped on my skis and readied for a fun filled day of hitting the trails. Though my history with skis does not go back as long as Debra’s (days versus years), I none-the-less had been anticipating experiencing the slopes of St. Moritz. The beauty of the area and splendor of the snow covered mountains far surpassed anything I could have imagined; I realized how truly special this moment was and I was determined to succeed. I knew I may meet the snow face-to-face a few times, but through determination, perseverance, and a high threshold of pain, I was resolute to not let a chance like this slip through my ski gloves.

With perfect temperatures, crystal clear blue skies, and immaculately groomed slopes, I practiced my skiing skills that were taught to me a few days prior. Snowplowing, stepping, cutting, traversing, and using my poles to turn and pick myself up after a ‘practice fall,’ I was on my way. As the day progressed the weather became unbelievably warm at +5 Celsius (+41 Fahrenheit), and though I had to walk to a few of the areas, which lead to a bit of excessive sweating as I wearing my ‘cool’ ski outfit, I thought of it as the perfect workout in optimum conditions. I was hooked and how could I not be; though the runs were shorter, it allowed me to work on control and technique. I was having a fantastic time, and even when I fell I was right back up and I wanted to make another run. I only wish I had a few more days to really master the skis and the slopes so I could have skied a piste with Debra.

Per our plan, after making several runs in the morning, we all met up for an al fresco lunch under a bright blue sunny ski at the Chesa Chantarella “where angels meet devils.” Sitting on sheepskin throw covered chairs at a wooden table, we compared notes on how we had passed the morning. Edward told us that he has spent the time practicing his skiing on the easier runs, and when I remarked to Priska on how challenging I thought the blue pistes were that we had been skiing that morning, she looked at me, smiled, and replied that they were challenging because we had been skiing the red and black Kulm Hotel St. Moritz pistes. Well, believe me folks that came as a huge surprise for me. Since I had not been skiing in several years, and had only made a few runs with Edward two days prior in Arosa, Switzerland, I thought that we were going to take it nice and slow and easy for the first few runs of the day. To face facts here, I thought that the only black that I would be seeing of the slopes of St. Moritz would be the black and blue marks left on my body if I fell.

With an extreme feeling of exuberance and confidence, I smiled with the knowledge that I had skied red and black with some finesse and had managed not to fall; this was an incredibly wonderful day thus far, although I still had an afternoon of skiing awaiting me, and if Priska had her way, more red and black pistes!

We savored our lunch of salad followed by Swiss fondue to replenish the energy that we had used skiing, and with the sun basking down on us, we enjoyed a needed respite while gazing at the mountains.

Chesa Chantarella
Via Salastrains 10
7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland
Telephone: +41 81-833-3356
www.chesa-chantarella.ch

Priska and I returned to the slopes for several runs traversing and schussing the pistes, while Edward continued skiing on his own. We met at the end of the day and took the cable car up to Piz Nair (3057 meters/10,029 feet), the highest point of Corviglia, for a spectacular view from the top of the world where we had a much-deserved drink and savored our memory of skiing in St. Moritz.

Although it took me several years to realize my dream of skiing St. Moritz, I finally made it happen, and perhaps the memory is all that much sweeter because of the wait. If it is at all possible why not go for it and realize your longtime dream? I guarantee that the thrill of accomplishment will be worth it!

Read other articles on St. Moritz in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs’ Recipes, Gastronomy, Spas, and Adventures sections of Luxury Experience Magazine (www.LuxuryExperience.com).

Read other articles on Switzerland in the Destinations section including: Zurich, Switzerland; Bern, Switzerland; Interlaken, Switzerland; and Lucerne, Switzerland; Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, Spas, Liquor Cabinet, Wine Cellar, Gastronomy, Luxury Products, and Adventures sections.

For information on Switzerland, please visit the website: www.myswitzerland.com. For information on St. Moritz, please visit the websites: www.stmoritz.ch and www.engadine.stmoritz.ch. For information on the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival and all of its events, please visit the website: www.stmoritz-gourmetfestival.ch. For information on the Cartier World Cup Polo on Snow, please visit the website: www.polostmoritz.com

For information on Swiss International Air Lines, please visit the website: www.swiss.com. For information on the Swiss Pass, please visit the website: www.swisstravelsystem.com.

For information on Arosa, please visit the website: www.arosa.ch. For information on Lucerne, please visit the website: www.luzern.org. For information on Interlaken, please visit the website: www.interlakentourism.ch. For information on Bern, please visit the website: www.BernInfo.com. For information on Zurich, please visit the website: www.zuerich.com.

© April 2008. Experience Luxury Blogspot. www.ExperienceLuxury.Blogspot.com All rights reserved.

Snowshoeing in Arosa, Switzerland

Always ready to experience a new adventure, the Adventure Kids try the art of snowshoeing in Arosa, Switzerland.

By Debra C. Argen

To view the article with photographs please see Snowshoeing in Arosa, Switzerland in the Adventures section of Luxury Experience Magazine (www.LuxuryExperience.com).

The origin of snowshoeing is believed to date back to around 4,000 – 6,000 years ago with its beginning in Central Asia. Although it was adopted by the United States and Canada, this was one sport that to be honest with you, really never had any appeal for us; that is until we tried it. First of all, there is the equipment, traditional snowshoes are made with hardwood frames and rawhide lacings, and they are large and somewhat cumbersome in order to distribute your weight over a large surface. Somehow trying to walk over snow with these very large appendages strapped to our feet really never captured our imagination. What exactly was the attraction? Okay, for hunters or forest rangers they could be an important means of getting from point A to point B, but why would anyone else want to do this?

Curious and adventurous souls that we are, we decided that we were up for the challenge and signed up for snowshoeing lessons when we were in Arosa, Switzerland in late January 2008 to learn about this interesting sport. Dressed in ski clothing for our lesson, the driver from the Tschuggen Grand Hotel drove us to meet our instructor at the Langlaufschule Geeser. We walked the short distance to the steps of the shop and with the sun blazing down on us, realized that perhaps we had dressed in too many layers of clothing.

Although Ernesto, our instructor wore traditional snowshoes, he equipped us with more modern snowshoes, titanium snowshoes (for Edward), plastic snowshoes (for Debra), and provided us with snowshoe poles, similar to ski poles, which would help us with our balance. Snowshoes are worn over regular shoes or hiking boots, and although (Debra’s) Moon Boots were very fashionable, they would not be useful for snowshoeing, so he also provided a pair of hiking boots.

Fully outfitted, we were now ready for our lesson to begin; namely putting on the snowshoes, and then maintaining an upright position while trying not to step on our snowshoes and fall down before we even began. Step one was to actually take a step, which felt rather awkward with these unfamiliar appendages attached to our feet, but somehow we managed to take a few steps without falling down, and thus Ernesto felt we were ready to start on our snowshoeing journey.

Ernesto told us that the trick so to speak of walking with snowshoes is to learn to kind of shuffle your feet along and not lift your feet too far off the ground in order to conserve energy. So, walking with the grace of elephants wearing stilettos, we set off across the cross-country ski area being careful not to step on the ski tracks as we made our way to an area with pristine snow where we would begin our snowshoeing trek. Following in Ernesto’s tracks, we learned to climb a slight incline as we leaned a little forward as we walked up the hill. We were rather amazed as we watched where we placed each foot and saw that we were actually walking across the top of the snow supported by the snowshoes. We kept watching our feet until Ernesto teased us that we already knew what our snowshoes looked like, that we now needed to look around us and enjoy the beauty of the trail.

Snowshoeing is a great workout and when we stopped for a few minutes to catch our breathe, we looked around and saw the way the light filtered down through the amazingly tall pine trees, and how if we looked closely at the ground, we could see deer, rabbit, and fox tracks in the pristine snow as well as on old snowshoe tracks that the animals use to conserve their energy, which was an interesting concept of man actually helping nature. There was also something very exciting about walking over the pristine snow where no one had been and leaving our mark like explorers.

We learned to not only to look where we were walking, but also to listen as well to the different textures and sounds of the snow from walking through fluffy, new powder, to snow that was soft and wet from the bright sun, to the crisp and crunchy snow in the shade of the trees, because when walking on high ground, one has to pay special attention to the sound of the snow and to be aware of possible avalanches that could occur.

Stopping for a tea break along a high ridge, we were surrounded by the majestic mountains, and with the sun beating down on us, we realized how lucky we were that we had the opportunity to experience this little bit of heaven.

Edward: Tea break over, we started walking again when suddenly I caught the tip of my snowshoe in the snow, fell to my knees, and promptly sunk in the snow up to my waist! Naturally, Debra starting laughing hysterically and snapping photographs before checking on my safety, as I tried to use my pole to push myself back up. However, no matter how I tried, the pole only sunk farther below the snow, and suddenly I realized how deep the snow actually was that we were walking over. While Debra managed to regain her composure, Ernesto with infinite calm and patience, told me to try to turn on my side, and then to push myself up, which I finally managed to do after a few misguided attempts. A valuable lesson that we learned is that when snowshoeing in an unfamiliar area, it is always best to go with a guide.

We continued our snowshoe trek walking down valleys and up small hills while soaking up the beauty around us. By the time that we returned to our starting point, we had walked for 2 hours, had a great cardio vascular workout, and had covered more than 4 km (2.5 miles) of territory. What a fabulous accomplishment! No wonder people get hooked on snowshoeing.

Langlaufschule Geeser
Reto Geeser
Orchis
7050 Arosa, Switzerland
Telephone: +41-81-377-2215 (Winter)
Telephone: +41-81-377-2983 (Summer)
Email: reto.geeser@befree.ch
www.geeser-arosa.ch

Read other articles on Arosa in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs’ Recipes, Spas, and Adventures sections.

Read other articles on Switzerland in the Destinations section including: Zurich, Switzerland; Bern, Switzerland; Interlaken, Switzerland; and Lucerne, Switzerland; Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, Spas, Liquor Cabinet, Wine Cellar, Gastronomy, Luxury Products, and Adventures sections.

For information on Switzerland, please visit the website: www.myswitzerland.com. For information on Arosa, please visit the website: www.arosa.ch.

For information on Swiss International Air Lines, please visit the website: www.swiss.com. For information on the Swiss Pass, please visit the website: www.swisstravelsystem.com.

For information on Lucerne, please visit the website: www.luzern.org. For information on Interlaken, please visit the website: www.interlakentourism.ch. For information on Bern, please visit the website: www.BernInfo.com. For information on Zurich, please visit the website: www.zuerich.com.

© March 2008. Experience Luxury Blogspot. www.ExperienceLuxury.blogspot.com All rights reserved.

Riding ATVs in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo

Riding ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles) with Aventuras en ATV’s in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico offers visitors the opportunity to experience the ultimate thrill of the ride!

By Debra C. Argen

To view this article with photos please visit Riding ATVs in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo in Luxury Experience Magazine (http://LuxuryExperience.com).

Ignacio “Nacho” Leon, owner of Aventuras en ATV’s, started his company in October 2007, which we had the pleasure of experiencing in December 2007 during a trip to Mexico. Hooked on riding ATVs since we first rode them in Brazil, this was an adventure that we had to experience in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Adventura en ATV’s is a member of Asociación Mexicana de Turismo de Aventura y Ecoturismo A.C. (AMTAVE) (www.AMTAVE.org) (Mexican Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism), whose mission is to promote and protect ecotourism and adventure-related activities and sites in Mexico.

Equipped with brightly colored helmets, goggles, and facemasks, we climbed aboard “our” brand new 260cc automatic ATVs, and after receiving operating instructions from Nacho, we were ready for the fun to begin.

Led by Nacho and Rosendo, the mechanic for Aventuras en ATVs, our 2-hour adventure began by driving through the small town of Pantla where we waved to the residents who smiled and waved back at us as we rode past their homes. Our journey continued as we drove over dirt trails taking us through a coconut plantation where the towering trees were abundant with nature’s bounty, and past a cattle farm where the cattle grazed as they looked at us with what appeared like amusement in their eyes at these strange creatures (us) on these even stranger machines (ATVs).

The scenery was amazing as we watched many variety of birds flying in the distance including a bright pink Roseat Spoonbill, and the interesting play of dappled light filtering through the trees and onto the trails edged with colorful tropical flowers, and as for the ride, it was fantastic as we flew at top speed navigating the hills and valleys like true professionals. There is something about riding ATVs that brings out the spirit of adventure in anyone who experiences them, and since they have four-wheels, they are easy to ride, stable, and with automatic ATVs do not require any special skills to ride them other than a sense of adventure.

We rode over dirt trails with the dust flying in the air around us, navigated the ATVs through small streams, and when we finally arrived at the entrance of the long stretch of beach on Playa de Pantla, Nacho informed us that we would be riding in an ecotourism area known for turtle hatcheries, and that we needed be respectful of not riding near the residences located along the beach, as well as to only ride behind the leader on the edge or the hard parts of the beach, where they know that turtle hatcheries will never exist.

Our hearts raced in anticipation of the thrill of being able to ease back the throttles on the handlebars and open up the motors and ride full speed ahead over the hard packed sand. Riding on Playa de Pantla was almost dreamlike with its seemingly endless stretch of white sand outlined with majestic swaying palm trees, rolling waves lapping at the shore, feeling the warmth of the bright afternoon sun shining on our backs, and the extreme beauty of the land.

Reaching the end of the beach there was a rock wall covered by vegetation, and we stopped to relax savor the moment, knowing that we would later want to recall this memory. It was a peaceful day where we watched a man ride his horse down the beach, others who came by bicycle, to come and enjoy the beauty and to play in the waves.

Dusty and warm, and with the Pacific beckoning invitingly (Debra) decided that it was time to go for a swim, and removed her tennis shoes, then dove into the waves fully clothed. Refreshed from the swim, we sat on our ATVs and watched Bruno, an experienced ATV rider, have some fun with his ATV by riding on two wheels along the beach. It was definitely exciting to watch him, and although we did stand up on our ATVs, riding on 2-wheels was not something that we were ready to experience on this trip, perhaps that will be something to try on our next adventure, as we are not called The Adventure Kids for nothing!

As we rode back along the beach and over the trails, we waved to whomever we passed, as we committed to memory this extraordinary experience of riding ATVs in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.

Aventuras en ATVs is open to drivers 16 years and older, and passengers with a minimum age of 12 years. If you have always longed to feel the thrill of riding ATVs, you will love this experience!

Ixzitours/Aventuras en ATV’s
Calle Zihuatanejo Manzana 40, Lote 01
Centro
Pantla, Gro. 40881
Mexico
Telephone: +52 755 553 57 51
Fax: +52 755 553 5967
Mobile: +044 755 120 25 76
Skype: Ignacio.leon.nunez@skype.com
Email: imcleon@prodigy.net.mx
Messenger: ixzitours@msn.com
www.ixzitours.com

Please read other articles on Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Chefs’ Recipes, Music Scene, and Adventures sections.

Read other articles on Mexico in Destinations: Cancun, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, Spas, Liquor Cabinet: Xtabentun, Adventures: Scuba Diving in Cancun, and Travel News: Luxury Avenue.

For information on Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico, please visit the website: www.visit-ixtapa-zihuatanejo.org.

For information on Aeroméxico, please visit the website: www.aeromexico.com, or call them at 1-800-237-6639 in the United States.

© February 2008. Experience Luxury Blogspot. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.

Diving in the Maltese Islands - Gozo, Malta

Diving in the Maltese Islands with Blue Waters Dive Cove is a magical experience.

By Debra C. Argen

To view this article with photos - Diving in the Maltese Islands in Luxury Experience Magazine (www.LuxuryExperience.com).

The Adventure Kids were off on yet another adventure, this time exploring the underwater beauty of Gozo in the Maltese islands. As avid scuba divers, we have traveled the world in our continual quest to expand our undersea knowledge, traveling to Australia, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, throughout Mexico, the Hawaiian islands, and braving the cold coastal waters of New England, and without a doubt, diving on the island of Gozo presented us with our most historic diving.

When we were planning our trip to Gozo in the Maltese islands for June 2007, we were thrilled to learn that not only was there excellent diving on Gozo, but that there was a dive center conveniently located on the premises of the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz where we would be staying.

We had barely settled into the hotel before we made a beeline straight to the Blue Waters Dive Cove shop located beside by the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool. After meeting with Itzi, one of the knowledgeable, professional, and very charming Divemasters, who told us that the visibility on Gozo ranges from 30 – 40 meters (98 – 131 feet) we immediately made plans to dive with PADI-Certified Blue Waters Dive Cove the following day. After completing our diving forms and presenting our Divemaster C-cards, Itzi outfitted us with fins, BCDs, and brand new dive suits emblazoned with the Blue Waters Dive Cove logo, and with our equipment stored in separate boxes, all we had to do the next day was meet in the hotel lobby.

Finally, the big day arrived, and Itzi came to wish us well on our dives, before introducing us to Owner/Instructor, Franco Bugeja, who would be our dive partner and guide. With Simon, also of Blue Waters Dive Cove, at the wheel of the truck, and two other divers, we set off for a quick 10-minute drive to the historic area of Dwerja Bay, where a 1651 watchtower remains from the days when the Knights of Saint John protected the Maltese islands.

We broke off into our separate groups, and walked with Franco for a dive briefing and to take a closer look at the Azure Window, which we would be diving beneath in the site known as the Blue Hole. We made our way down 2 sets of stairs and across the salt beds to watch as other divers made their entrance into the Blue Hole. Franco explained the topography begins with a shelf at the opening of the Blue Hole where we would put on our fins and enter, and that the average depth would be around 25 meters (82 feet) with a maximum depth of 60 meters (197 feet). The depth by the outside wall is 15 meters (49 feet), is 12 meters (40 feet) at the corner of the Azure Window, 25 meters (82 feet) at the swim through, and directly under the window, an impressive 60 meters (197 feet). The huge cave has a series of shelves at 15 - 30 meters (49 – 99 feet), reefs, and a “chimney.” Mentally visualizing the underwater topography, we walked back to the truck to put on our diving gear.

Walking back across the exposed fossilized shells and sand dollars, we tried to envision what this area must have once looked like when it was submerged under water, as we slowly made our way down the steps and over the rocks wearing our full equipment. After what seemed like an eternity, although actual elapsed time was closer to a few minutes, remember we are wearing tight fitting, heavy two-piece neoprene wet suits, weight belts, air tanks secured to BCDs, and the air temperature hovering around 32° C (90° F), we finally reached the site. Entering the water brought instant relief, as we finalized our preparations before entering the Blue Hole. Sitting on the shelf, we put on our fins, did last minute safety checks, and slowly began our descent into the Blue Hole.

Jellyfish undulated close to the surface, mesmerizing us with their balletic maneuvers, as we continued our descent along the wall covered with an amazing display of colorful polyps, sponges, corals, sea urchins, small lobsters, tunicates, feather dusters (Sabellastarte sanctijosephi), and bristle worms (Pharecardia striata). The underwater topography was a series of crevasses, and reefs that occasionally were so teaming with schools of small, brightly colored fish including breams and damsels, that we felt like we were swimming through an aquarium.

We looked up as we passed under the archway of the Azure Window, and were amazed at the incredible beauty above us. Traveling back through the cavern, we slowly made our way back towards the entrance passing large sea cucumbers laying on the sandy bottom, a conger eel (Conger conger), and flying gurnards (Dactylopterus voltans). We took one last look around and at the Picasso-like profile of the face in the archway, before surfacing and committing this incredible experience to memory.

Climbing out of the water, and walking along the rocks, we encountered many tourists who had come to admire Dwerja Bay, Azure Window, Alligator Rock, Fungus Rock, and the Knights of Saint John Watchtower, who found the sight of divers equally interesting as they questioned us about what we had seen “down there.” If you have ever stood with a heavy air tank on your back, combined with a weight belt, and a wet suit, you know that the very last thing that you probably want to do is stop and chat while someone asks you questions, but as “ambassadors” if you will, between the land and the sea, it is important to stop and share the beauty of the sea with those who will never have the opportunity to go below and partake of the unique frontier, the undersea world. So, we politely answered their questions, before hurrying as quick as we could to the truck so that we could shed our gear like snakes shedding their skins.

One of the many wonderful things about diving on Gozo is that there are dive sites located on three sides of the island, making it possible to dive every day without concern for the weather, and without the fear of a “washout” day, divers can relax and pace their dives according to their own schedules, instead of according to the weather. Most of the dives are conveniently located close to shore, making diving easily accessible and very affordable since there is no need for a boat for most of the dives.
For our second dive, we walked 2 minutes down the road from the Azure Window to a spot known as Inland Sea. Once the area of limestone subterranean caves, millions of years ago when the ceilings of two caves collapsed, they created a protected lagoon with impressive cliffs. There is an opening in the rock face creating a tunnel for boats and divers to pass through. Archeologically historical, the area attracts boaters, divers, and of course tourists, who come to see the spectacular cliffs, and also take boat excursions through the tunnel to see the Azure Window from the water.

Since we had to make a surface interval between dives, we sat under a market umbrella at a small restaurant set amidst colorful doors of the fishermen and boater’s dwellings and enjoyed a light lunch as Franco explained about the area and about Blue Waters Dive Cove, which he and Antoine Portelli started 5 years ago, and for the past 3 three years, they have had a shop at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz in addition to their shop in Qala. If you are interested in learning to dive, Blue Waters Dive Cove provides trial dives in the outdoor swimming pool of the hotel, as well as provides diving certification classes for all levels from novice to divemaster, and all specialties.

We walked down to the boating ramp where we would make our entrance as Franco gave us our dive briefing for Inland Sea. We would first swim a short distance to the opening of the tunnel. The depth upon descending would begin at 4 meters (13 feet), progress to 15 meters (49 feet), and continue to 25 meters (82 feet). At first we would swim in semi-darkness and then as we reached the tunnel, which has a maximum depth of 80-90 meters (263 – 295 feet), we would see a most brilliant blue unlike anything that we had ever seen before. After taking a look at the silhouette, we would turn around and follow the wall back to the entrance, again making a safety stop at 5 meters (16 feet) by holding on the wall.

Once again, we donned our equipment, and made our entrance into the water holding onto the pier where young children played with small fishing nets trying to capture fish and small crabs climbing the pier wall. We swam on our backs to the entrance of the cave, took a look at the soaring cliff walls, and could not help but wonder what the Knights of Saint John must have thought when they first saw this area.

We began our descent, and as Franco said, the descent was indeed semi-dark as we followed one another, and then there was the promised brilliant blue silhouette of the tunnel opening that leads out into the open sea. Trying to describe the feeling and the actual color of the intensity of the blue is nearly impossible. Suffice it to say, that it was both a memorable and highly magical experience.

Taking time to explore the wall during the safety stop we discovered more of the singular beauty of diving Gozo. Surfacing with a rush of adrenaline, our memories of diving Gozo will last a lifetime. Franco drove us back to the hotel, where we said farewell until we can return to this enchanting island. Until then, we will always treasure our underwater discoveries and our new friends at Blue Waters Dive Cove.

As divemasters, we always recommend that when visiting somewhere new that you dive with a local guide, as you would not enter the forest without a compass and working knowledge of the area, or drive without a map or directions to reach your desired destination. Local guides will not only make sure that you see the best spots, but that you have a safe and enjoyable diving experience. When selecting a dive center, remember to ask questions to pick your best diving partner. The Maltese government is highly progressive when it comes to supporting the diving industry, and have sunk new wrecks, installed steps to dive sites, as well as have provided parking, benches and picnic tables to assist in facilitating divers with donning their equipment and a place to relax between dives. Gozo also has a Decompression Chamber nearby in Victoria, making safety an important factor to consider when selecting a diving destination.

Blue Waters Dive Cove
Kuncizzjoni Street
Qala, Gozo
Malta GSM 103
Telephone: +356-2156-5626
Mobile: +356-7953-6874, Franco
Mobile: +356-9922-4114, Antoine
Email: info@divebluewaters.com
www.divebluewaters.com

Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz
Triq ir-Rokon, San Lawrenz
SLZ1040 Gozo, Malta
Telephone: +356-2211-0000
Fax: +356-2211-6373
Email: reservations.sanlawrenz@kempinski.com
www.kempinski-gozo.com

Read other articles on the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz and the Maltese Islands in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs’ Recipes, and Spas sections.

For information on the Maltese Islands, please visit: Malta Tourist Authority, www.visitmalta.com.

© July 2007. Experience Luxury Blogspot. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.

Mystery Masterpiece - Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc

Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc – Mystery Masterpiece

By Edward F. Nesta

The luxury houses of Van Cleef & Arpels and Montblanc celebrate the start of their second centuries with a collaborative one-of-a-kind creation.

When the renowned artisans from the storied houses of Van Cleef & Arpels and Montblanc collaborate on a design, the result is a magnum opus. On February 8, 2007, the two houses introduced the impressive, ultra-chic, stylish, and the most expensive writing instrument in the world – known as the “Mystery Masterpiece.” The Mystery Masterpiece would make a fabulous gift for any collector of fine jewelry or exquisite writing instruments, and for the mere price of USD $730,000 it could be yours. The Mystery Masterpiece will be available in the Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques.

For the two houses, this was their first collaboration with another company, but as both companies celebrated their 100th Anniversary in 2006, they opened their creative doors to a venture that will mark the beginning of their next 100 years as progressive leading edge companies. The limited edition Mystery Masterpiece will be released in three variations, set either with rubies, sapphires, or emeralds, and accented by diamonds, and there will be only three pieces of each design worldwide; the setting will adorn the Montblanc meticulously crafted skeleton body of delicate white gold.

The settings use the legendary “Mystery Setting” technique, patented in 1933 by Van Cleef & Arpels, which completely conceals the gemstone settings; the result creates an illusion where the blossoms formed by the rubies, sapphires, or emeralds literally float on the backdrop of transparent resin. There are up to 70 gems set, with each setting requiring at least 90 minutes of work.

I saw the first Mystery Masterpiece, which was set with rubies, and I knew I was gazing upon exquisite form and unparalleled function; the piece took over a year and a half to create with artisans from both houses working together. As I gazed upon the glistening red rubies that formed spectacular leaves and blossoms, I let my mind wander as I imagined who would be the first person to procure this masterpiece, and what documents it would sign. This was an instrument destined to be a part of history; I could envision it being prominently displayed as part of a ceremony leading up to the signing of an international peace treaty; ok I am a dreamer, but I like to think positive, and with the Mystery Masterpiece, only positive things will be a part of its history.

Experience Luxury Blog had a chance to meet and speak with Mr. Stanislas de Quercize, President & Chief Executive Officer, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Mr. Lutz Bethge, Managing Director, Montblanc. Mr. Bethge commented on how well the two teams worked together and how the ideas just flowed between the groups as they created something so extraordinary. Mr. de Quercize commented on how unique it was to have two masters of their craft join forces, and how each wanted to outdo themselves, he stated, “This is the best of both houses.” Mr. Bethge and Mr. de Quercize commented that there was a tremendous amount of passion by the artisans that was put into the design and development of the Mystery Masterpiece, and that there were many master craftsmen from both houses that had butterflies in their stomachs awaiting feedback from the unveiling. Mr. Bethge noted that although he personally writes with each of the new designs before they go into production, that in the case of the Mystery Masterpiece he felt that the piece was so special that it should be the pleasure of the owner to be first to write with the pen.

To experience the Mystery Masterpiece for yourself, or for additional information, please contact Montblanc or Van Cleef & Arpels.

Montblanc
www.Montblanc.com

Van Cleef & Arpels
www.VanCleef-Arpels.com/en/

To read this article with photographs please click on Luxury Experience Magazine - Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc - Mystery Masterpiece.

© April 2007. Experience Luxury Blog. All rights Reserved.

Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski, Beijing, China

Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski, Beijing, China

By Debra C. Argen

(To read this article with photographs please click on following: Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski, Beijing, China in Luxury Experience Magazine)

The Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski in Beijing, China offers guests the unique experience of waking up each morning in architectural dream design houses with vistas of the Great Wall.

Some hotels go beyond the imagination, and the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski in Beijing, China is certainly one of them. While hotels will go the extra length for a prestigious location, the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski goes beyond expectation with its unique location of being by the Great Wall, one of the eight scenic wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Edward F. Nesta and I arrived very late at night at the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski in October 2006, so we were totally unprepared when we woke up in the morning and stepped outside of our Forest House, to be greeted with a magnificent view of the Great Wall bathed in the early morning light. When I read about the hotel I knew that it was near the Great Wall, but little did I expect that I could almost reach out and touch it. Perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration, but the Great Wall is literally in the backyard of the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski. We marveled at the history of the Great Wall while having breakfast at The Terrace Lounge in The Clubhouse with direct views of the Great Wall.

Unlike other hotels where guestrooms are located in one building, the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski is an inspired setting of 32 Villas and 10 Contemporary Chalets for a total of 236 rooms and suites. Ms. Zhang Xin was the mastermind behind the original design project consisting of 11 villas designed by 12 famous Asian Architects. Gary Chang (Hong Kong): Suitcase House, Shigeru Ban (Japan): Furniture House, Cui Kai (China): “See” and “Seen” House, Rocco Yim (Hong Kong): Distorted Courtyard House, Chien Hsueh-Yi (Taiwan): Airport, Antonio Ochoa (China): Cantilever House, Kengo Kuma (Japan): Bamboo Wall, Kanika R-kul (Thailand): The Shared House, Kay Ngee Tan (Singapore): The Twins, Nobuaki Furuya (Japan): Forest House, Yung Ho Chang (China): Split House, and Seung H-Sang (South Korea): The Clubhouse. As the names imply, the private houses have artistic vision, and whimsical appeal.

Based on the original 11 villas that opened in 2002, the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski added 21 villas for its grand opening on September 23, 2006, inspired by the original designs of the Cantilever House, The Shared House, Forest House, and The Bamboo House. Inspired contemporary architecture deserves prestigious interior design, and the villas are furnished by acclaimed designers Serge Mouille, Thierry Hoppe, Von Robinson, Philippe Starck, Alex Strub, Claudio Colucci, Ross Menuez, Kaname Okajima, Jonas Damon, Karim Rashid, Matthew Hilton, Marc Newson and Michael Young.
The Clubhouse is the pulse of the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski, and is the home of the restaurants and a private theatre. Guests can read in the library in the aptly named Peacock Room, where the walls are covered with peacock feathers, relax on a sage green sofa covered with colorful pillows in tamarind, cinnamon and curry, or sit in the curved deep purple velvet chairs. In the evening guests can enjoy a drink in the Pink Bar, or admire the art in the Gallery Lounge furnished with plum and mauve colored chairs, fur beanbag chairs, and large fur cushions. The hotel has an arrangement with a prestigious Beijing art gallery to provide a rotation of art by important artists every three months. While we were at the hotel, there was an exciting collection of paintings and sculptures including two large sculptures by the artist Zhu Wei, entitled China China, made of beaten bronze in 2003.

Other amenities at the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski include The Kid’s Club with special programs for children ages 2-11 years, and the Anantara Spa, with 21 gorgeous spa suites offering pampering Asian-inspired treatments.

Staying in the 3-bedroom Forest House nestled against the mountains, with its soaring glass walls and open design, I felt like I was staying in an architectural design museum and I mean that in a good way. The Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski combines the beauty of contemporary design with lush creature comforts, featuring stimulating colors, innovative interiors, and tactile textures. The Forest House has 2-levels with a shared living space and an open design concept living room with an orange and white poppy design carpet, white chairs, a large square coffee table, 2 tall beige guest chairs, a Philips television, and a potted tree in the corner of the room on the first floor. The kitchen has a 2-burner stove, a coffee/tea maker, a large refrigerator filled with complimentary beverages, and a spacious dining room with a large square table with 8 chairs. There is a powder room and one bedroom also located on the first level.

Our king-bedroom was on the second level, reached by a wide stairway. The bed was dressed with an inviting white duvet, and fluffy pillows, the room had white walls and an accent wall the color of new green leaves, with wood floors. There was a beige contemporary chair with wood accented armrests where we could watch the flat screen television or use our laptop using the WIFI Internet. There was a safe in the closet, along with fluffy robes, and slippers. The large gray tile bathroom featured a walk-in shower and Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski amenities. In addition, there was a second bedroom and a conversation area on the second level where guests could relax on large orange pillows.

Edward and I took a tour of the unique collection of houses, which must be seen in order to be truly appreciated. I loved seeing all of the designs, however I must admit that my favorite was The Bamboo House with its inspired design and original photography by the owner, Mr. Pan Shiyi, with the Cantilever House with its bold red color and creative design coming in a close second. The 11 Villas in Phase I have 4-6 bedrooms and are reserved in their entirety, and have the added benefit of a butler. The 21 Villas of Phase II may be reserved by the room or by their entirety.

After an al fresco lunch, we took advantage of the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski location and went for a short walk to see the Great Wall. Surrounded by densely forested green mountains and deep valleys, I felt like I was literally on top of the world. Imagining the Great Wall and reading about it in books is one thing, but actually seeing the Great Wall is almost unfathomable. Built from the 3rd century BC until the beginning of the 17th century, the Great Wall stretches for 6,352 km (3,948 miles), where it winds and weaves at the highest point of the mountain range.

However, after traveling from New York to China the day before, our calf muscles were making themselves heard after our strenuous hike. Not to worry, we had sensibly reserved two days of spa treatments at the Anantara Spa, where we emerged renewed from our massage treatments ready to climb the Great Wall again.

We ended our day having a lovely dinner in the pretty Courtyard restaurant. The location alone is perfect, but combined with the award-winning contemporary architecture, gastronomic restaurants, and Anantara Spa you should pack your luggage and immediately book a trip to China to experience the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski. Nestled in the mountains, and located 1 hour from Beijing Capital International Airport and 50 minutes from Beijing city center, the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski offers the best of both worlds of Beijing, it close enough to go Beijing city center, yet the serene and tranquil setting is worlds away from the hustle of Beijing.

Read the other articles on the Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski in the Restaurants, Chefs’ Recipes, and Spas sections.

Read other articles on Beijing in Luxury Experience Magazine in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Adventures, Chefs’ Recipes, and Spas sections.

Commune By The Great Wall Kempinski
The Great Wall Exit at Shuigan
Badaling Highway
Beijing 100022
People’s Republic of China
Telephone: (86 10) 8118 1888
Toll-Free: 00 800 426 313 55 (Europe)
Toll-Free: 1 800 426 3135 (North America)
Fax: (86 10) 8118 1866
Email: reservations.thegreatwall@kempinski.com
Email: reservation@commune.com.cn
Websites: www.commune.com.cn
www.kempinski-thegreatwall.com

© January 2007 Experience Luxury www.ExperienceLuxury.blogspot.com. All rights reserved.

Porsche 911 Carrera S Driving Experience

The Luxury Experience of driving a Porsche 911 Carrera S in Switzerland.

By Edward F. Nesta

[To read this article with pictures click on the following - Porsche 911 Carrera S Driving Experience]

I may have trouble with one horse power (horseback riding), but give me 355 horses and I am on my way. I had the luxury experience to drive a new 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S while in Switzerland, which was made available from the hotel Palace Luzern. The Palace Luzern, in conjunction with Porsche, makes available, for the price of the gas, a Porsche for guests staying at the hotel to drive. You only need to provide your signature, acknowledging the insurance responsibility, and you are presented the keys and a map for your drive around the breathtaking area surrounding Lucerne, Switzerland.

As any good race car driver or actually any driver would do, I had to check out all the features available to me for my drive. So, what did I have to work with? A 6 speed manual transmission, a 6 cylinder 355 hp engine at 6,500 rpm with 295 lb-ft torque at a compression ration of 11.8-1; translated, I was not going to be riding behind any cars during my drive. To balance out the ride there is a 4-piston aluminum monobloc fixed calipers, vacuum servo, ventilated, and drilled, ABS braking system, as though I was going to need this feature, but it was nice to know that it was there. I made sure to kick each of the 19’’ Carrera S light alloy wheels as I walked around ‘my’ RED (of course it had to be red, what other color equates power and speed for a car) 911 S (I was now on a first name basis). I familiarized myself with the plush interior starting with the 3-spoke sport leather covered steering wheel, eyed the on-board gauges for mileage, time and speed, and the on-board navigation system, which conveys direction via the voice of a beautiful woman (ok, I am not sure what the woman looks like behind that great voice, but this was the only time that I listened to a woman when she gave me directions) directing me throughout my journey, and of course there was all the other great toys such as a 9 speaker Bose surround sound system that delivered the ‘beautiful woman’s’ voice to me during the navigational requirements, a sunroof, and on and on, but let us stay focused, this is a 911 S we are talking about. The only thing I was missing was a 3 point harness for the seats, a flashback to my racing days. So, with the beautiful Debra C. Argen beside me, and the unknown woman navigating, I was off to the races, so to speak.

The weather was favorably warm for a late October journey through Switzerland, so of course we had the sunroof open and we enjoyed the beautiful sunshine. Lucerne is located in such a beautiful location with the mountains and the lakes surrounding it, although having traveled a bit of Switzerland I guess that this statement would fit most of Switzerland. It was a bit hard taking in the scenery when most of the surroundings are a blur, but we did slow down as we passed through the many charming towns. Short shifting and powering through turns, downshifting for speed so we could watch the cars in our rearview mirror; I believe that Debra had wished we had a 3 point harness for a seatbelt. We cruised a few hours north of Lucerne before doubling back to meet with a friend in the town of Willisau where we went on a tour of the Diwisa Distillery where they make Xellent Swiss Vodka (read the Liquor Cabinet for articles on Xellent Swiss Vodka, and The Making of Xellent Swiss Vodka). I, being of sound mind, body, and remembering the insurance note I signed regarding the Porsche, did not partake in any of the samples. We enjoyed the educational and informative tour of the Diwisa Distillery, but alas it was time to fire-up the engine and cruise back to Lucerne, though we did take a few turns to extend our seat time.

Recalling my physics classes, “two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time,” translated, that is what the accelerator pedal was for; I used this feature to its proper functionality. The navigation system worked to perfection as it told me in a calm and engaging voice ‘where to go,’ and I enjoyed it. I did notice that people stare at you when you pass them in a red Porsche, and I noticed that people like to show you how fast their car could go as they try to pass you, but Debra and I dealt with this situation in a professional manner, we smiled and waved. Again, recalling the insurance note I signed, I drove in control and within the designated speed limits, most of the time. I did test out the various numbers on the digital speedometer readout, it was our special experiment as I yelled out 130, 140, 145, …, and Debra noted how smooth the ride was regardless of the speed, so our experiment was a success. The navigation system came alive, so to speak, when I made a few wrong turns; it was great as it calibrated the change in location and then proceeded to inform me what I needed to do to return to my proper course, and there was no one telling me to get out of the car and ask for directions. I had an exceptional time driving around the back roads and byways around Lucerne, Switzerland, and you could do the same when you stay at the incredible Palace Luzern.

Read other articles on the Palace Luzern in www.victoria-jungfrau-collection.ch.

Palace Luzern
Haldenstrasse 10
CH-6002 Lucerne
Switzerland
Telephone: +41 (0) 41 416 16 16
Fax: +41 (0) 41 416 10 00
Email: info@palace-luzern.ch
www.palace-luzern.ch

Read other articles on Switzerland in Luxury Experience Magazeine in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs’ Recipes, Spas, Liquor Cabinet, Wine Cellar, and Adventures sections.

For information on Switzerland, please visit: www.MySwitzerland.com. For information on Lucerne: www.luzern.org.

© December 2006. Experience Luxury. All rights reserved.