BLOG - Travel

Today's blog really comes to you courtesey of Charlotte. She was telling me about the amazing Tcherassi Hotel and Spa in Cartagena, Colombia. The converted colonial mansion is located in the historical city center. Colombian fashion designer, Silvia Tcherassi, renovated the 250 year old house into a luxury boutique hotel and spa. Daniel Castaño is the chef of the hotel restaurant, Vera. I don't know about you, but my plane ticket is booked.

It seems like everyone I know is traveling. Whether it's for work, weddings or just vacations, everyone is on the move. It doesn't take much for my travel lust to kick in to high gear, and today I have my sights set on Vienna. My dad's family lived in Vienna for a while when he was young so I've always had a desire to go. Meeting a dear friend at Parsons who was from Vienna only strengthened my resolve to get there one day. I hope when I get there I can stay in this "urban luxury" hotel : Daniel. The design focuses on the opposite of lots of heavy and sedate hotels. This light space encourages travelers to stay on the move.

One of the best features of this hotel (besides the bakery) is the 1952 Airstream that has been converted into a private bungalow. At the very reasonable rate of 119 Euros a night it seems like it would be insulting not to stay here!

Last weekend I attended my first opera at the Metropolitan Opera House. I felt as if I should be wearing my best Mad Men attire and sipping a martini in this fantastic 1966 building. Designed by architect Wallace K. Harrison, it has all of the hallmarks of Atomic and Space Age 1960s architecture as seen in the sweeping curve of the staircase. The constellation chandeliers where a donated gift from the Austrian government and are an extravagant compliment to the rest of the interior. This is simply one of my favorite buildings in New York. 

To top everything off, they have two 30 x 36 feet murals by Marc Chagall.

 The production was Georges Bizet's Carmen. Carmen was not an instant hit when it premiered in 1875. It wasn't until the revival in 1883 that the production started to gain steam with audiences. It has remained popular ever since with its familiar, ubiquitous music. Set in Seville, the sets were dusty earth tones with splashes of red light. The palette of the show felt like a continuation of the opera house itself. 

Flamenco dancers in Seville, Spain

Interior of Alcazar of Seville

Seville Cathedral

One of our clients is currently in the southern part of India. I am hoping she'll bring back some beautiful pieces for her apartment. Since she's been there, I've been looking up places just to feed my own curiosity. This collection of 13 tents in the northern state of Rajasthan is called Chhartra Sagar. Each tent is east facing so every morning is greeted with a sunrise over the lake. It may just be worth it to become an early bird to pay this place a visit!

Georgia and I were discussing how we much wished we could have attended the Maison-Objet show in Paris last week. Paris is definitely one of my favorite places to visit. As I followed my friends on Instagram and Facebook who were at the show, my desire to be there only intensified. We vowed that next year we will attend. In the meantime I find myself looking back on photos that I took during last trip there. I thought I would share them with you.

When I was a young girl, the thought of air travel was so exciting. Getting on an airplane and flying to an exotic local was, to me, the height of sophistication.

As I've gotten older, some of the charm has been lost as I have to coordinate all means of subways, taxis and busses to even get to the airport. (Sometimes, in the case of Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, it is even required to take a shuttle bus from the gate to the plane.) I recently had to fly to Raleigh, NC. While the travel was hectic, the airport itself, with warm wood and geometric sculptures was surprisingly welcoming and soothing.

Raleigh Durham International Airport - RDU : by Fentress Architects

A nicely designed airport can make all the difference. I hope that with holiday travels coming up, some of you can enjoy these more aesthetically pleasing airports.

Denver International Airport - DEN : by Fentress Architects

Denver International Airport - DEN : by Fentress Architects

Beijing Capital International Airport - PEK : by Fosters + Partners

Carrasco International Airport - MVD : by Rafael Viñoly Architects

Carrasco International Airport - MVD : by Rafael Viñoly Architects

Kuala Lumpar International Airport - KUL : by Kisho Kurokawa

Kuala Lumpar International Airport - KUL : by Kisho Kurokawa

Madrid-Barajas Airport - MAD : by Richard Rogers

Madrid-Barajas Airport - MAD : by Richard Rogers

Marrakech Manara Airport - RAK : by E2A and C2 Architecture

Marrakech Manara Airport - RAK : by E2A and C2 Architecture

TWA terminal - JFK : by Eero Saarinen

TWA terminal - JFK : by Eero Saarinen

TWA terminal - JFK : by Eero Saarinen

Since the moment I saw pictures of Francis Ford Coppola's hotel, Palazzo Margherita, in southern Italy it has been top on my list of must visits.  A vacation seems a lifetime away as I'm having a baby in 7 weeks, but I can daydream.  I have big plans for next summer so why not start planning a trip now.  

French designer; Jacques Grange collaborated with Coppola to create this luxurious Italian oasis. With just 9 rooms and private cooking classes offered daily it seems like the perfect escape from life in LA and NY. 

Iceland has never been on the top of my places I need to visit list.  That is until now.... I was playing around on Pinterst the other day (my newest obsession) and came across images of a spa called the Blue Lagoon. I went to the website immediately!  The entire hotel is powered by Iceland's Geothermal Energy and the spa offers a variety of skin and body treatments.  Guests spend their days soaking up the geothermal seawater and indulging in various treatments.  Don't the pictures just make you want to plan a trip today!   I'm dying to go!