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Entries in Holidays (103)

Monday
Apr112011

Beach stalking 1

Monday morning has come and gone in Australia (I'm always 14 hours ahead of Kim) and I had a severe case of Monday-itis. I must have suspected that that would be the case when I loaded pictures for my posts for the week on Sunday (yes I was that organised). I've been stalking seaside resorts. I think I needed to wake up in this Pearl Beach house. Only meters from the beach north of Sydney it comprises 2 pavilions combined by an outdoor dining area. Looks like plenty of room for everyone else suffering from Monday-itis. We could start a support group ... on Tuesday. Link here while it lasts. P.S. The real estate blurb says it belongs to an interior designer. Any idea who?

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Wednesday
Apr062011

Salvinia

I am stricken, yes stricken, with love for this 18th century half-timber house hidden in the dunes and marshes of the Vistula River down on the Baltic Sea coast of Poland. 3 apartments contained within an historic building. Old and new, history and the stylishly comfortable here and now. I just can't come up with the right words to describe this house. Nothing seems worthy enough. I speechless (or should I say rambling). I wouldn't want to leave this holiday lodge.  Salvinia Lodge. That's the name of my new home. I'll be renting it forever and I'll expect you to join me soon. Tomorrow I'll introduce you to the architects.

  

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Monday
Apr042011

Achingly beautiful

Oh the view! The view! It takes my breath away. A simple, stylish holiday destination housed in a 300 year old Spycher high above Lake Lucern in Switzerland. "Simple and stylish" doesn't really describe it does it? Spectacular and sensitive. A bygone era and a very special place. A spirit. A genius loci. It makes your heart ache with its beauty and your spirit soar. Im Spycher is truly as close to heaven as you can get.

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Tuesday
Mar222011

Temptation

Every so often an email lands in my inbox from perhaps the cruelest man I know. Chris from Welcome Beyond dangles dream designs in front of me and it is all I can do to stop myself from hocking everything I own, jumping a plane and escaping to the hand picked boutique vacation properties that litter the pages of their website. Chris has cruelly tempted me again with a Spanish beauty and oh the temptation! Alemanys 5 ...  "located in the core part of Girona's medieval quarter, within the scope of the first wall and overlooking the Plaça de Sant Domènec, is the property Alemanys 5, whose original building dates from the Sixteenth Century. Its recent restoration integrates old and new, where sober and clean lines look for the enjoyment of essential elements such as space, light, shadow, fire, stone, water or silence." Two apartments, "El Badiu" (The Veranda) and "El Jardí" (The Garden) designed by architect Anna Noguera. Thanks Chris for the link and double thanks for the extra photos. I'm packing as I type!

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Thursday
Mar032011

la vallée blanche

I have expressed on this blog several times that I absolutely detest winter. How I have managed to make it through 35 winters here in Ottawa I do not know (trips south help let me tell ya). Some people actually enjoy winter and the activities that go along with it, such as skiing. When I saw this apartment which is part of a ski resort, I almost had a change of heart. La Vallée Blanche is a luxury four-bedroom apartment situated in the heart of Verbier, an alpine village and holiday resort located in the South Western corner of Switzerland, close to the border of France and Italy. It is world-famous ski resort and is frequented by both the world’s greatest skiers as well as the celebrity elite. La Vallée Blanche is conveniently situated just off the slopes, a few minutes stroll down from Medran ski lift and is centrally located near Verbier’s shops, bars and restaurants. I am a huge fan of rustic decor with some modern touches, and this place is FABULOUS. I could stay here - I would just forgo the skiing and hang out by the fire with a bottle of wine instead.

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