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Breakfast in Bed: An Included Luxury at Iberostar Grand Resorts

Posted by Carlos Morales in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)



Breakfast in bed: It’s one of those luxuries that define an experience beyond the ordinary. For many, it may be a once-a-year Mother’s Day occasion with burnt pancakes and the best intentions, but for those fortunate enough to stay at an Iberostar Grand Resort, it can be a daily feast, whether they choose to savor their first meal in bed, at a desk while checking email, or on a breezy balcony enjoying the view. “So what?” you might ask. You can get room service just about anywhere, right? Yes – and no.  Trust us: At our Grand Collection resorts, breakfast is, well, different.

When you stay at a Grand Collection property, you see, every night you will find a menu waiting in your room with a vast variety of tempting foods  – so vast, in fact, that you may wonder whether you’ve found the breakfast menu, or the menu for the New Year’s Eve party!

Everyone knows that Iberostar’s breakfast buffet offerings are exceptional, but to be able to choose among that tempting array of delicacies – and have them brought to your room! – now that’s an experience beyond the ordinary. With an Iberostar Grand breakfast to fuel your day, how could you not feel like a star?

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“Soaked” But Happy in Oaxaca’s Street Festival

Posted by Ignacio Izquierdo in Snapshots - (0 Comments)

Oaxaca Mexico

The rain did not stop the crowds from invading the main streets of Oaxaca, México, as they danced to the rhythm of the orchestra with such joy you’d think their traditional cotton and straw costumes, typical of the town, weren’t getting soaked. Nothing was going to stop the giants, or the dances, or the wooden bulls packed with firecrackers that went off like fireworks in motion.

Nor did the tequila or mezcal stop flowing. Homemade bottles were opened and all were welcome. If you didn’t have a glass, they gave you one, and amidst the crowds, there was always someone who made sure it was full. Nothing could prevent you from participating in the happiness and smiles. Corn cakes were handed out and the Mexican music went on, until dawn said “enough.”

Street Party Capital of Mexico?

People say Oaxaca is constantly celebrating. It is. Every week there’s some excuse to have a festival, with people going out into the streets and sharing what little they have with everybody. Oaxaca de Juarez, the small capital city of the province of Oaxaca, is brimming with beautiful nooks and corners, but its true charm lies within its genuine, unassuming people who, no matter where you hail from, make you feel at home.

Photo | Ignacio Izquierdo

 

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Fireworks: Live Your Own Music Video Experience in Budapest

Posted by Susana Alosete in The View - (0 Comments)

Budapest Széchenyi Chain Bridge

The beauty of a classic city like Budapest is undeniable and, for that reason, more than one movie director has chosen it as a film location, due to both its own merits and similarities to equally gorgeous destinations. Cities like the capital of Hungary are also a special gift for creators of music videos, who need to pack a musical story into no more than three or four minutes and make a visual impact from the very first chords. To do so, these directors take advantage of aerial shots of classic buildings and gorgeous nocturnal views in which the street lights and tourist attractions make the beauty of certain sights stand out even more.

As for Budapest, this city was used in one of the latest pop hits, the song Firework by Katy Perry, which showcases two of the most emblematic structures in the city: the Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge, a representation of the classic European city, divided by a river with a stunning palace one side and the classic charm of an old Eastern city everywhere.

Despite its name, the Buda Castle bears no relation to the Oriental deity, but rather to the original name of the city where it was founded, and is at the root of the current name Budapest. The royal palace, which dates back to the 14th century, is today one of the best conserved national treasures of Hungary and has been declared a World Heritage Site. It is precisely the need for union between the two old cities of Buda and Pest that give us the symbol of the city, the Chain Bridge, the first to span the Danube in Hungary (until it was built, the only way to travel from one city to the other was by way of an old ferry). You will find it on many if not most postcards and souvenirs; it will surely fill your memory card with its charm as well.

And if you want to live the Firework experience and be there on a special day, take the opportunity to spend the night of August 20th, when they celebrate the founding of the state, and watch as the obligatory fireworks display lights up the sky.

Photo | Wizzard

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Against All Odds: Football, With a Maya Twist

Posted by Andy Jarosz in The View - (0 Comments)

Maya Ball Court at Chichen Itza Iberostar

An out-of-favor football player turns up in Cozumel in search of a girl. They fall in love amid danger, dirty deals and murder. Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward add the necessary sparkle while a soundtrack featuring the well-known Phil Collins title song ensures worldwide success.

But it may be the spectacular locations on the Yucatan peninsula chosen for “Against All Odds” that really steal the show. Chichen Itza, recently listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, forms a spectacular backdrop for the movie’s pivotal scene, where modern-day football is compared to the ball games once played at this ancient site.

Maya Ball Games, Anyone?

You thought American football was rough on the players? Maya football was a brutal game with a particularly gruesome finale and is considered to have been an important part of Maya culture. The game was played on a T-shaped ball court, examples of which can be found at sites across Mexico and Central America. Players would wear heavy leather padding across their chest, arms and knees, along with a stone belt with which they would make contact with the ball. The aim of the game was to keep the ball (similar to a soccer ball but far heavier) from touching the ground and this was done by using the elbows, knees or hips. Points were scored if the ball was hit against a stone ring on the side of the court (above right, in the picture).

Exactly how the game was played is largely unclear, yet perhaps it’s the gruesome ending of a Maya football game that is most disputed. Many believe that the losing captain was beheaded and his life offered as a sacrifice to the gods. Others suggest that it was in fact the winning captain who was sacrificed; after all, it was important to offer the most valuable gift to gain favor with the deities. That someone was killed at the end of a game is the one thing that’s not in doubt.

Visiting Ball Courts at Chichen Itza and Tulum

Apart from being an admittedly high-risk sport, the ball games were also an integral part of religious observance during the centuries of pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Every community of significance had a ball court, and easily accessible examples can be found in both Chichen Itza and Tulum. Trips to both sites are within easy reach of the resorts along the Yucatan coast, and make for a great day trip from Playa Paraiso or Cancun.

Photo | Andy Jarosz

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Chopin’s Unusual Hotel in Majorca: La Cartuja de Valldemossa

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La Cartuja Monastery in Majorca Spain

According to a local myth in Majorca, that sun-drenched Mediterranean island off the northeast coast of Spain, when God decided to create the world, He first made a scale model. He liked it so much, that He used the model (which lacked only one detail: rivers) in His final work, and today this model is none other than the island of Majorca.

And this, the largest of the Balearic islands, is indeed divine in many ways: Its Mediterranean climate, for one, so healthful and invigorating that composer Frédéric Chopin was drawn to Majorca in the winter of 1838 to rest and convalesce from a respiratory illness.

There were, of course, no Iberostars back then, and not much in the way of hotels in Majorca, so Chopin chose to stay at La Cartuja de Valldemossa, the ancient palace of King Sancho which for centuries had served as a Carthusian monastery before opening its doors in the nineteenth century to such distinguished guests as Miguel de Unamuno and Rubén Darío.

Apart from admiring the palace interiors and strolling through its beautiful gardens, by visiting the monastery we can also see how the cell occupied by Chopin and his lover, the French writer George Sand, is practically intact.

In this cell you will find a bust of the pianist, just a few feet away from the piano where he finished his Preludes (Opus 28), and started other magnificent works such as Scherzo No. 3 (Opus 39) and the Polonaises (Opus 40). During this time, Sand wrote A Winter in Majorca, whose manuscript you’ll also find in this cell, which today houses the Chopin Museum.

Sadly, the composer’s health deteriorated and his worst fears were confirmed: He had tuberculosis, which forced the couple and Sand’s children to abandon the island quickly in search of medical assistance on the mainland.

Standing on the terrace of cell 4, the views of the town and the green mountains beyond inspire us to think that, despite all the difficulties, Chopin and George Sand found what they were looking for in Majorca: a landscape and a serenity capable of inspiring compositions and novels worthy of the Romantic era of which they were true representatives.

Any time of year is good to travel to Majorca and visit La Cartuja de Valldemossa; still, if you go in the summer, you may be fortunate enough to attend the Chopin Festival, which every August fills the monastery cloister with the composer’s unmistakable melodies.

 

Photo | Romy Schneider

 

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My First Golf Lesson at Iberostar

Posted by Carlos Morales in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

The golf course at the Iberostar Bavaro resort in Punta Cana is, without a doubt, one of its fortes – whether you’re a pro or a total beginner. If, like me, you fall into the latter category, I can personally vouch that this is your big chance to take your first golf lessons.

The van that takes you from the resort to the course gets you in the mood from the get-go, as it’s upholstered with Astro-Turf. When you get to the club house, first stop is the pro shop, with all the golf equipment you could ever need, as well as a restaurant and bar. This is where your instructor greets you and explains the differences among the golf clubs before you start practicing your swing with an actual iron – and that famous hip turn that takes years to perfect.

Golf for Beginners

After a few dozen swings, you feel to start yourself getting better. At a certain point, the ball makes that unmistakable “floop” sound that, even if you’ve never played golf in this particular incarnation, you’ve heard it on TV and you know it means you done good. That fraction of a second when the ball goes exactly where it should, after a long session of practicing your swing, gives you a kind of rush that’s hard to explain, so I won’t even try. That’s when you think, with just a little bit of pride, “I did that.”

After practicing your swing for a while, you’ll move on to putting. Putting consists of hitting the ball with a special club to get it into the hole. Here you must forget everything you’ve learned so far about swinging, as now is the time to tap gently, controlling your strength as you calculate the curvature of the ground.

If you decide to practice this sport in the Dominican Republic and don’t want to bring your clubs along, you can always rent them at the club house. Finally, don’t worry if you’re not particularly strong: golf is more about skill than strength. If you try it, chances are you’ll get into it. Maybe you won’t be the next Tiger Woods, but at least you will have had your first golf experience.

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Salvador da Bahia: Charming, Colonial and Oh So Warm

Posted by Susana Alosete in The View - (0 Comments)

Moon Over Parador

“Moon over Parador” is a little-known but deeply entertaining film starring the amazing Richard Dreyfuss and the beautiful Sonia Braga. The movie tells the story of a failed actor forced to take on the role of a dictator who had recently passed away and whose right-hand man was not willing to lose his privileges. Thus obliged to make this role his life, Dreyfuss’s character transforms into the dictator, wins over the heart of his lover and lives in a never-ending loop of situations that are as funny as they are tense.

As the backdrop of this story, set in a small, fictitious Latin American country called Parador, the production team chose, among other locations, the Brazilian city of Salvador da Bahia, capital of the state of Bahia. This city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the third largest in the country and a wonderful blend of beautiful colonial architecture and tropical beaches where you can sit back with a cold beer or one of Brazil’s specialty drinks under the shade of rustling palm trees.

The primary tourist attraction in Salvador da Bahia is truly the happiness of its inhabitants, but one can also enjoy a romantic walk through its streets, live music everywhere, and (of course) shopping. No wonder Jack Noah and Madonna, the characters played by Dreyfuss and Braga, end up falling in love, as there’s not a human being in the world who could spend a few days in this city without falling under its spell (yes, it’s a cliché, but don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!).

The best part of Salvador, though, is the climate. It’s summer nearly all year long, and when temperatures fall, it’s never below 53ºF (12ºC). Short sleeves are required, and coat manufacturers are simply out of luck in this city. If you’re the type who seeks warmer temperatures for your vacations and likes going home with an envy-inducing tan without the tedium of a tanning bed, Salvador da Bahia is definitely the place for you.

Image | Universal Pictures

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Jamaican Patois: A Musical Language unto Itself?

Posted by Ignacio Izquierdo in Snapshots - (0 Comments)

What to do in Jamaica Patois

In Jamaica they speak English, it’s true, but as I approached a group of smiling locals on a street corner, I have to confess I couldn’t make out a word of what they were saying.  Wha ah gwan. Frah wha pawt yuh deh… Excuse me? Could the tropical sun have baked my brain to the point I couldn’t understand my own language?

As it turned out, they were speaking Jamaican Patois, and there was more English in their words than I at first imagined. Also known as Jamaican Creole, it’s practically a language unto itself, a descendant of English, if you will, just as Spanish and French descend from Latin. Patois was born hundreds of years ago, back when the island was a melting pot of African slaves from different tribes and regions, who were forbidden to speak their mother tongues. They had to learn English, but over time, they adapted the language of Shakespeare to their needs, adding African words, changing some syllables, dumping some letters and adding others, eventually giving birth to the beautiful musical language spoken today by the majority of the population of Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.

Of course, Jamaicans speak standard English as well, but why not learn a few Patois phrases for your next trip? Here’s a fun selection:

Wha ah gwan? – What’s going on?

Ah wha dat? – What’s that?

Memba mi tell yuh. – Remember what I told you.

Nuh seh nutting. – Don’t say anything.

Ah weh wi ah guh guh. – Where are we going to go?

Tank yu. – Thank you.

With a little patience, you’ll pick it up quickly enough as your ear adjusts to the sounds. The reward for your efforts will be smiles as warm as the Caribbean waters that hug the island. On your next trip to Jamaica, why not give Patois a shot?  Memba mi tell yuh!

Photo | Ignacio Izquierdo

 

Star Wars: Waiting for Han Solo in a Bathing Suit

Posted by Susana Alosete in The View - (0 Comments)

What to do in Tunisia Hotel Sidi Driss

When you read how “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (that’s actually the original flic, btw) was developed in its first installment, it seems impossible that even one person involved in the production could have predicted the gargantuan success it would have decades later. The technical glitches, the new production system using scale models, the costumes that seem so fitting now, but at the time verged on the ridiculous – none of it seemed to foreshadow anything positive. Not to mention the constant delays in the production plan, which almost caused the filming to be canceled, orphaning one of the most famous films in movie history.

Outer Space in the Sahara

But despite all the setbacks, the good will of those working on the project was enough to produce a story that began filming on March 22, 1976 in the Sahara Desert, chosen as the set for the planet Tatooine. The name comes from Tataouine, a real city in Tunisia, situated only a few miles south of where the movie was shot.

Stretching into Morocco, Egypt and Algeria, the hottest desert in the world is a must-see if you are lucky enough to travel to these destinations. It won’t be difficult once you decide to venture out of the hotel, as the Sahara occupies 40% of Tunisia, leaving us the gift of an unforgettable landscape that goes beyond Spielberg’s amazingly captured images.

Film Locations in Tunisia

Some scenes from the movie, like those taking place in Luke Skywalker’s house (pictured above) were shot in other cities, such as Matmata, known for cave dwellings that are still in use today.

One of the most paradisiacal places in this North African destination, especially popular among newlyweds, is the island of Djerba. The scenes at Mos Eisley, the spaceport where Luke and Obi-Wan Kenobi meet Han Solo, were filmed in a small fishing village called Ajim.

If you, like Spielberg, are about to launch a complicated project that truly excites you, Tunisia is the best place to recharge.

Photo | Neil Rickards

 

Managing the Wilderness: A Chat with Iberostar’s In-House Biologist

Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

Anyone who has stayed at one of our Caribbean properties has witnessed the diverse and colorful animal and plant life that create so many memorable moments for our guests. It’s not exactly wilderness, though, as Saúl Juan Solano, our in-house biologist in charge of the Management Unit for Wildlife Conservation at Mexico‘s Iberostar Paraíso, explains.

Have you been “wild” about animals since you were a child?

Yes, that was when I first got interested in learning about and understanding certain aspects of nature. This led me to become a biologist, specializing in ecology and wildlife behavior, as well as in the sustainable use of natural resources.

What do you like most about being part of the Iberostar family?

Being able to work in a place that cares about conserving natural environments; that promotes policies compatible with protecting the environment; having the right channels that allow me to do my job efficiently and effectively; being part of a diverse and pleasant team; these are some of the reasons why I’m proud to be part of Iberostar.

Could you describe the biodiversity of Iberostar Paraíso?

Basically, it consists of a natural setting where flora and fauna interact. Among native flora, we find the typical palms that characterize tropical jungle environments, as well as diverse tree species that include Manilkara zapota (sapodilla, a.k.a. the chewing gum tree) and Brosimum alicastrum (“ojoche”, or Maya nut), a highly important species in Maya culture. Local fauna is represented by diverse bird, reptile, fish and small mammal species, among them the coati, the tzereque, and the howling monkey, all of them species with a unique behavioral repertoire that enhances the enjoyment of our jungle scenery.

What is a typical day like for you? What is your routine?

The cool thing about working with nature is that not everything is predictable, so that every day we must be prepared to address the different challenges our fauna presents.

Among other things, my work consists of keeping the Iberostar jungle fauna in optimal health, so that it satisfies our guests’ expectations. This involves a series of activities that range from daily monitoring of animals in the field to quality control in the diets of certain species, as well as maintaining structural and hygienic conditions in our shelter areas.

Properly managing the care of our collection of native and exotic fauna, however, doesn’t mean working in the field exclusively; there’s also work behind the desk. That’s where I plan and analyze our short-, medium- and long-term strategy, as well as establish relationships with wildlife management institutions, contact providers of specific veterinary services, and maintain a detailed log of fauna-related activity, which we also rely on to prepare reports for the Mexican Secretary of the Environment. We also offer environmental support to any departments that need it, and provide our guests with information on a daily basis about the animals that inhabit our neck of the woods, so to speak.

In your opinion, why is it so important to respect our planet’s biodiversity?

Basically, because the biodiversity we currently know is the result of a process of millions of years of evolution; and because the loss of one component can drastically alter an entire ecosystem. Likewise, biodiversity is directly linked to people’s health and quality of life; therefore respecting and guaranteeing its continuity must be a priority for all.