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The Twelve Grapes of Fortune for 2012

Posted by David Paul Appell in Snapshots - (0 Comments)

If you find should yourself spending New Year’s Eve at an Iberostar resort in a Spanish-speaking country – say, Dominican Repubic, Cuba, Mexico, or Spain itself – you may notice that the locals have an interesting tradition of their own for this special night. As the big moment nears, participants will suspend clusters of grapes over their mouths (or have a loose handful of them) and eat one with each clock strike of midnight. These are “las doce uvas de la suerte” (the twelve grapes of fortune), which of course is what everyone wishes themselves and others for the coming year.

This colorful – and tasty – tradition dates back to the end of the 19th century in Spain. Personally, I would recommend they be seedless – makes it a little easier. And as you can also imagine, most people can’t get them all down by the last stroke of the clock, so you end up with everyone standing around with mouths stuffed full of grapes and trying not to laugh or choke. Here’s a fun video of how it was done one year at a party in Granada, Spain.

¡Feliz año nuevo!

Photo |  Ibán

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Pirates of the Caribbean: The True Story

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

Under water Ship Wreck

A little over 300 years after it was scuttled and left to lie at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, the Quedagh Merchant was recently discovered just off the coast of the Dominican Republic. This famous shipwreck is now being opened up to the diving public as an imaginative new attraction, the Museum of the Living Sea. The story of how it got there is a real life tale of Pirates of the Caribbean and one of which Captain Jack Sparrow himself might be proud.

The Rise and Fall of Captain Kidd

Captain Kidd had arrived at Catalina Island in 1699 in the Quedagh Merchant, a ship he had recently ‘acquired.’ Kidd worked for the English government as a privateer, his task being to keep the seas clear of pirates to allow the Crown’s trading to carry on safe from attacks. Unofficially his task was also understood to include taking possession of enemy ships and it was this element of the job that landed him the prize of the Quedagh Merchant. Having been a successful privateer for many years he saw the treasures on the ship as just reward for his hard work.

His exploits by this time had caused anger and concern back in London, and having left his newly won treasure at Catalina Island he was arrested and taken to London for his trial. Despite his defense that he was only carrying out his duties, Captain William Kidd was convicted as a pirate and hung in 1701, with his corpse left on display in an iron cage for several years as a warning to others.

Shipwreck

With Kidd out of the way, the ship was quickly stripped of its gold, silver and other precious materials and cut loose to break up and fall to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.  It sailed barely 70 meters from the shore of Catalina Island before sinking, yet for some reason it lay undiscovered until 2007. Several cannons and anchors were still attached, and while the marine life had grown around the wreck it was still easy to identify it as the Quedagh Merchant.

Living Museum of the Sea

The government of the Dominican Republic has collaborated with Indiana University to open up this unique underwater museum.  Visitors can follow plaques that guide them around the wreck and offer information on the rare corals that are found at the site. It seems that after a three centuries-long pause, the Quedagh Merchant is attracting interest once again.

Photo | SeRVe Photography

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Jamaican Me Married: Destination Weddings in Style at Iberostar Rose Hall Suites

Posted by David Paul Appell in Mystery Guest - (3 Comments)

I first started covering destination weddings more than a decade ago while working for Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel. Why budget travel? Because given the ballooning costs of holding a nice knot-tying even in your backyard, resort weddings can be surprisingly affordable, both allowing couples to better control costs as well as enjoy a luxurious experience (with or without guests) in a beautiful tropical setting.

Jamaica’s an especially popular place these days for couples to combine getting hitched with a great tropical honeymoon, and while many resorts offer destination weddings, I found that the elegant Rose Hall Suites near Montego Bay goes the extra mile to pull out all the stops for couples. The “Golden Coast Wedding” package not only provides the basics – marriage license, minister fees, wedding cake, champagne, decorated venue, and music of your choice – but great extras such as a couple’s massage at the beautiful on-property spa.

It’s a pretty simple process – you can show up just 24 hours before the ceremony (though it’s recommended that you come two or three days ahead to meet with the wedding planner and iron out the final details). I recently caught up with the planner at Rose Hall Suites, Nicole Barnett, to get the nups 411:

How did you come to your job here at the Rose Hall Suites?

I came to it in 2009 from the resort’s public relations department, and it has been fantastic. I enjoy the enthusiasm of people planning their weddings; it’s honestly been an amazing experience so far.

How far in advance do you recommend couples book?

The most popular months are March through July, but regardless of the month, I’d recommend that couples try to book their dates at least a year in advance.

How many spots on property are available as a wedding venue?

We have four locations for a wedding ceremony: the beach, the lobby terrace, the lazy river island, and the pool gazebo, plus a backup-plan location if it rains: our lobby staircase.

What’s the most unusual request you’ve had?

A bride who wanted me to rent a white horse for her to ride down the aisle.

Can you share with us a particularly special moment you remember from an on-site wedding?

The most memorable experience I have had was a Hindu wedding that lasted  for two whole days. They asked me to participate and I even got my hand painted! The most memorable wedding thank-you I have received was from a special couple, Andrew and Jennifer. They were so loving to each other, and instead of focusing on the materialistic aspect of the wedding, they gave me their ideas and left the planning  and organizing to me. They were always concerned about ensuring that the family was included and taken care of. Despite their anxieties, they never lost sight of what was most important to them and that was their love for each other. In the end the wedding was beautiful and they thanked me every so often by always sending emails from time to time to say how they are doing and to check on me.

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A Night of Opera in Bulgaria with Boris Christoff

Posted by Nellie Huang in Local Characters - (0 Comments)

When visiting Bulgaria’s capital city of Sofia, one of the many essential things to do is to visit the National Opera House. Standing in the heart of its historic quarter, the opera house is home to the Sofia Opera and Ballet Company, which puts up regular performances throughout the year. While the imposing building doesn’t look too welcoming from the outside, step in and you’ll be surprised to find a lavishly decorated theatre connected with twirling stairways, laid with red carpet, and lit up with shimmering chandeliers. Today, the building stands as a testament to decades of glorious opera history in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Opera has been a big part of the city since the founding of the first Bulgarian opera company in 1890. As the company evolved, so did the opera scene in Bulgaria. But the opera activity was ceased for a while during the 1944 bombing of Sofia and since then, it barely revived.

Boris Christoff, a pioneering figure in the world of opera in Bulgaria, brought it back to life. As a boy, he demonstrated amazing singing talent when he sang at the choir of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia. He continued to achieve success as a chorus soloist and soon attained a government grant to pursue his musical studies in Italy. Although he spent much of his musical career in Italy, he never forgot his hometown – he was ultimately buried at the cathedral where he sang as a boy in Sofia.

Today, Boris is still considered one of the greatest basses of all times and his achievements are still very much celebrated in Sofia. Each year, the Sofia Opera and Ballet Company co-organize the Boris Christoff International Competition for Young Opera Singers in a bid to draw a younger audience and to support upcoming singers. You can also watch regular opera and ballet concerts in the hall – if you’re a music fan, be sure to book your tickets for the program in advance.

Photo | Nellie Huang

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City of God and the story of the Brazilian favelas

Posted by Andy Jarosz in The View - (1 Comment)

Tancredo Neves through Fence

In 2002 the movie City of God brought to the eyes of many a picture of Brazil that was uncompromising but gave a glimpse of life inside one of Brazil’s many favelas. Telling the story of an ordinary young man and his struggle to survive in a rough, tough world, the movie won over 50 awards and received four Oscar nominations. But how does the drug-fueled gun-toting world of the movie compare with the reality of life within the favelas in Brazil?

Brazilian Favelas

The term favela is often confused with slum, but if you travel in Brazil you are likely to find people quick to point out the difference. While slums are typically temporary make-shift structures a favela is a more permanent feature of the Brazilian urban landscape. Indeed those who occupy a plot of land for five years acquire the right to remain there. It is not unusual for people to be born in a home in a favela and live their entire life there.

Salvador de Bahia

Favelas in Brazil are not confined to the two southern megacities. In Salvador de Bahia there are around 100 favelas making up the neighborhoods surrounding the city center. Precise census figures are hard to obtain but anything from 15 to 25% of the city’s population is thought to live in one of these impoverished communities.

While noone denies there is a problem with crime and drugs, there are plenty of signs to suggest that we should not write off the favelas or their residents as beyond hope. In recent years in the favelas of Salvador many initiatives have sprung up to try and improve the lives of residents and provide opportunities for young people. Internet access, improved sanitation and investment in housing have all helped foster hope for a better future, while favela tours are bringing tourists to the region into contact with local people in a way that should provide a mutual benefit.

Image of Brazil

Another positive sign is the way that the Brazilian media have slowly started to redress the perception that outsiders, including the majority of Brazilians, have about those who live in the favelas. A number of TV shows and movies have recently focused on the ordinary lives of the 95% of favela residents who have no involvement with criminal gangs.

And as the Brazilian economy continues to grow it is likely that more of the poor will move socially upwards into the middle classes.  As a result they are likely to relocate to modest city apartments and it is expected that the population of favelas will slowly start to fall.

Photo | AlmostBrazilian

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Why Is Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraíso TripAdvisor’s 2011 Traveler’s Choice Winner?

Posted by David Paul Appell in Mystery Guest - (0 Comments)

On a recent visit to Iberostar’s Playa Paraíso complex on the Riviera Maya between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, I had a chance to check out a resort that hadn’t yet existed during my previous visit (it was built in 2007). In my 20-plus-year journalistic career I’ve experienced quite a few all-inclusives, both plain and very, very fancy, and even for me the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraíso was a real eye-opener. It starts right in front – every Iberostar lobby I’ve ever seen has been cool from a design standpoint, but here add to creative elements like a hanging forest of delicate blown glass, not to mention the space just beyond the reception area and lobby lounge: a soaring atrium filled with plants, flowers, and shrubs, surrounded by shops and specialty restaurants. It really feels like one of those gorgeous Belle Époque botanical gardens, and is a majorly peaceful place to just hang out.

The rest of the décor definitely continues that feel of Old-World elegance, in a fairly classical vein (featuring the likes of soaring columns and gilt-framed oils of old Venice). Looks aside, the vibe, too, is more subdued and sedate than your usual all-inclusive (including the Iberostar properties right next door) thanks to the adults-only policy and the lack of rowdy college kids and such. Not to say it’s dead – I certainly saw plenty of young professionals and couples as well as older folks, and the swim-up bar at the main pool certainly was buzzing the afternoon I was there. But this is definitely a place for those looking for laid-back luxury and an extra level of pampering including very attentive room, pool, and beach butlers, pillow menu, and more.

Thus, I was not surprised to learn that this spectacular resort is the 2011 top all-inclusive in the world, according to Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice. Actually, maybe I should just let Tripadvisor speak for itself, to see what past guests are actually saying. Here’s a random recent sampling just in a recent three-day period (if some comments sound suspiciously over-the-top, believe me, the exaggeration is relatively mild):

Oct. 29:  “We thought it was the most beautiful resort we have ever been to and that says a lot… The shows here are quality shows, not just thrown together… ”
– annacass21, Mufreesboro, Tennessee

Oct. 27: “Simply amazing! People very friendly, food exceptionally good… The tranquility pool was something I had never seen before. Very relaxing. The beach service was wonderful as well.”

– gorgeousmom, Toronto, Ontario

Oct. 27:  “The service from the entire staff is beyond belief. You never need to leave your beach chair for a beverage or meal. If there is anything you need your Concierge or Butler will make sure your needs are met…immaculate from the rooms, grounds and beach…food is amazing…each time that I’ve vacationed at the Grand, I’ve run into at least two or more couples that I have met there before.”
– tbone1616, Brunswick, Ohio

Naturally, I’m pestering the Iberostar people to send me back for more “research.”

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From the Dominican Republic to the NBA: Local Hero Francisco García

Posted by Nellie Huang in Local Characters - (0 Comments)

The Dominican Republic is best known for pristine turquoise beaches, pearly white sand and luscious inland forests – nature takes center stage here. Colonial architecture dots its cities, creating a mélange of colorful culture and ethnicity. The Dominicans are the country’s biggest draw: a chirpy, carefree nation always happy to welcome you with open arms.

While you would imagine the Dominicans to be dancing carefree on beaches, they seem to be indulging in a very different form of past-time these days. An NBA basketball trend has swept the nation – thanks to the rise in the number of talented Dominican basketball players.

Francisco García is one of the most popular Dominican basketballers these days – the force behind this wave of basketball obsession in the Dominican Republic. Born in Santo Domingo, García moved to the United States at a young age to play for the University of Louisville, where he enjoyed tremendous success. He then entered the ranks of the NBA, appearing in 67 games in his rookie season alone.The NBA player currently plays for the Sacramento Kings in the United States, having just signed a five-year extension worth $23 million.

García is not the only basketballer playing in the NBA – the Dominicans are slowly conquering the basketball arena. The nation obviously takes pride in their local heros and continues to show them support. If you’re ever in the Dominican Republic during the NBA playoffs, don’t be surprised to find everyone glued to their TV, eager to see how their country does in the basketball arena.

Photo | Avatarshark

 

 

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Cesária Évora, Cape Verde’s Immortal Gift to World Music

Posted by David Paul Appell in Snapshots - (1 Comment)

Not too many people know much about (or have even heard of) the tiny, 10-island West African country of Cape Verde (home to Iberostar Club Boa Vista, on Boavista island). But even though relatively few actually understood her song lyrics, plenty in Europe, Africa, and the rest of the world certainly knew and loved its most famous native daughter, a soulful singer whom we lost on December 17 at age 70.

Like one of my favorite U.S. jazz icons, Alberta Hunter, Cesária Évora started her career young and at one point left music, only to stage a spectacular comeback, in Évora’s case starting with a hit album in France, La diva aux pieds nus (“The Barefoot Diva”; she always sang barefoot because she said it was more comfortable). She won a Grammy nomination for 1995’s Cesária, and international fame didn’t lag far behind; her album Voz d’Amor (Voice of Love) later won her a world music Grammy in 2004. Évora’s health started declining in 2010, and in September 2011 she finally retired from her beloved music.

But the lady has left behind a gorgeous legacy of more than 20 studio, live, and remixed albums (including Club Sodade, a cool bunch of dance-club remix tracks), that have taught the world about Cape Verde’s distinctive national music, called morna. Like Portugal’s fado, it’s usually sung in a minor key and deals with loss, regret, and longing. As executed by Évora, it’s rich and jazzy, with lush arrangements and hints of blues and bossa nova. The language is crioulo, an Afro-Portuguese sprinkled with local African languages like Wolof and Fulani. Her success – and the video below, one of her better-known songs, “Sodade” (“Longing”) – prove that you don’t need to understand the words to be moved by the music and that evanescent voice. Still, for your delight, here are the simple yet powerful lyrics:

Quem mostra’ bo ess caminho longe?
Who will show you that long road?

Quem mostra’ bo ess caminho longe?
Who will show you that long road?

Ess caminho pa São Tomé
That road to São Tomé

Sodade sodade
The longing, the longing

Sodade
The longing

Dess nha terra São Nicolau
For this land of mine, São Nicolau

Si bo ‘screve me ’m ta ‘screve be
If you write to me I’ll write back to you

Si bo ‘squece me ’m ta ‘squece be
If you forget me I’ll forget you

Até dia qui bo voltà
Until the day you return

Sodade sodade
The longing, the longing

Sodade
The longing

Dess nha terra São Nicolau
For this land of mine, São Nicolau

Muito obrigado (thank you so much), Cesária. Today, December 20th, may be your funeral; but your music will always live in our hearts. Rest in peace.

Photo | Bruno Bollaert

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Dubrovnik: Jewel of Croatia and of Europe

Posted by David Paul Appell in Snapshots - (0 Comments)

Croatia’s Dalmatian coast is chock-full of historic, architecturally charming towns and cities, but few would question that the queen of them all is the walled old quarter of Dubrovnik, thought to have been founded in the 7th century but according to some theories dating back even much earlier, to ancient Hellenic times. In any case, this eight-square-mile cluster of stone buildings and red-tile roofs has as a result become one of Europe’s more popular cities and tourist destinations – not to mention a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And it’s just a dozen miles from the trio of Iberostar resorts down the coast in the small, also quite pretty town of Cavtat.

For most of its history the city was called Ragusa, in the Dalmatian language of its founders and early inhabitants as well as in Italian, which became its official language due to the influence of the Venetian Republic (like Italian, Dalmatian is a Latin-descended Romance language ); it got its current Slavic name Dubrovnik when, after World War I, it became part of the new Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. From the Middle Ages through the early 19 century, Ragusa was an increasingly powerful, tolerant, and progressive maritime republic like Venice at the time – although due to the ups and downs of history and politics it became subject to various kingdoms, states, and empires including Venice itself, Hungary, and the Ottomans. In the 19th century it became part of the Habsburg Empire of Austria-Hungary.

A Full Recovery

Dubrovnik tourism benefited from the boom in Dalmatian tourism in the 1980s during the last years of Yugoslavia, but was extensively damaged by bombardment during the war that followed the declaration of Croatia’s independence in 1991. I remember visiting in 1997 and seeing shattered buildings and teams picking landmines out of the surrounding hills. But by the middle of this past decade, everything had been made good as new, and tourism came back stronger than ever.

It’s not that there are a huge number of “sights” to see (though there are some not to miss, including St. Blaise’s Church and several fine museums). For me, more than anything it’s about basking in the beauty of the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture; people-watching at sidewalk cafés; shopping for traditional jewelry; and taking in cultural events like the delightful Dubrovnik Summer Festival. At night, especially, the main street, the marble-paved Stradun (above), takes on a romantic, almost magical gleam. It’s good to see Dubrovnik back.

Photo | Jeff Miller

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‘Tis the Season to Be Jollier, with Another Fun Iberostar Travel Contest

Posted by Iberostar Hotels & Resorts in Mystery Guest - (1 Comment)

‘Tis the season to be jolly, indeed: with our new and totally fun ChristmaSTARS travel contest, you have another chance to earn a fabulous Iberostar beach getaway for two, with flights included!

Here’s how it works: through the tab on our Facebook page, you trim your Iberostar tree by inviting your friends to hang a star. Each time a friend accepts your invitation, a new star appears on your tree. It’s that easy!

You may invite as many friends as you wish, and it’s necessary to have at least 10 stars (friends who have accepted) to enter the final prize drawing, which will take place among the 20 trees that have the most stars (and that have at least 10 stars). The winner will be selected through a random drawing on random.org.

And the prize!! One lucky resident of the Americas will win one round-trip flight for two people to Cancún and an all-inclusive 5-night stay for two at our paradisiacal Paraíso resort (not including the Grand Hotel). In Europe, one lucky winner will get one round-trip flight for two people to Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands and a 5-night stay for two at the Iberostar Anthelia on the Costa Adeje, on a breakfast-only plan.

Let’s be honest: if you’re just a wee bit tired of wrapping presents and the crowds at the mall, shouldn’t you take a quick break right now and start trimming your Iberostar tree? :-)

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