Santo Domingo: Exploring the Capital of the Dominican Republic, Colorful Houses and Great Shopping! (Part 3 of 3)

5/12/2015
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5/12/2015

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Santo Domingo: Exploring the Capital of the Dominican Republic. Colorful Houses and Great Shopping!

Santo Domingo. After the writing about the first part of our trio in the most authentic Dominican Republic and showing you photos of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the last episode of our journey is in Santo Domingo, the capital city.

Santo Domingo is an incredible city. Coming from the desert roads and the quiet atmosphere of the southwest, we’ve been overwhelmed by a sudden wave of noises, colors, cars and modernity. Here is not like the poorest, authentic and quiet southwestern area, the capital is about many different influences, music, clubs, markets, the botanical garden, boutiques and history… Our visit in Santo Domingo started from the colonial city, the oldest party of the capital, with colorful houses, small boutiques, colonial ruins and ancient buildings: a really nice place to be! Just imagine that 500 years ago, the first colonists of the New World walked along this narrow streets with palm trees, colorful houses and the fragrance of coffee, chocolate and tobacco in the air… The Colonial City is an UNESCO World Heritage Site: the first settlement dates back to 1496 when Christopher Columbus’ brother was exploring the island for the Spanish Crown…So Santo Domingo is the most ancient ever founded in the New World. An actual outdoor museum: you still spot some ruins of the first buildings ever made by Europeans in America. The Chu Chu train brought us in a tour through the city to show us the best areas where we then went back to walk around and explore more extensively.

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If you want to read more…

READ the FIRST part of my Travel Journal about the Dominican Republic

READ the SECOND part of my Travel Journal: Bahia de las Aguilas, one of the most beautiful and uncontaminated beaches in the world.

SEE all my journeys on the world map

SEE the Travel section of my blog

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Wellness Weekend in Venice: JW Marriott Venice Resort and GOCO SPA

21/10/2015
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21/10/2015

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Wellness Weekend in Venice: JW Marriott Venice Resort and GOCO SPA

Wellness weekend in Venice. JW Marriott Venice Resort and SPA is one of the most amazing resort with SPA in which I’ve had the pleasure to stay in. The hotel is located on a private island , l’isola delle Rose (island of roses), reachable only by boat. Once I got then from Venice the impression was to be on a true oasis of tranquility with a wonderful view on Venice lagoon.

The facility occupies the entire island and it was born as a clinic for respiratory therapies due to the favorable position of the islet: exactly between Vanice and the Lido of Venice. For this reason, Isola delle Rose has a peculiar micro-climate that, among other things, allows the the growth of many unusual plants for that area, like palms and olive trees. Since I love nature and authenticity,in my opinion, one of the most interesting features of the facility is the amazing private park where you can have a healthy walk and enjoy the view of the entire lagoon.

Wellness Weekend in Venice: Dream Stay at JW Marriott Venice Resort and SPA

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Whene you get on the island I recommend you to have a coffee or a refreshing drink at Sagra Poolside Bar on the rooftop of the main facility of the hotel. The panorama is breathtaking: a 360° over the lagoon. There, Giovanni and I enjoyed some romantic sunsets and bright sunrise. You shouldn’t miss them for no reason!!! On the rooftop there’s the heated infinity pool where the protagonist is..Piazza San Marco that you can clearly see on the horizon.

Rooms are not just in the main facility but also located in the whole island with the other remarkable attractions of the resort. First, Goco SPA , the biggest in Venice with a convenient covered dock. With its view on Venice, it’s a bright and cozy SPA. No detail is left unturned: from the teapot infuser to the heated loungers, from the brightness to the design of the building. In the SPA you can enjoy the use of hammam, sauna, 40°C sauna and an indoor/outdoor heated pool that gives exactly onto Venice. The pool area offers different kind of whirlpool (the one for legs is fantastic!). Giovanni and I enjoyed a 50 minute couple treatment Inside the SPA suite, a relaxed and elegant space that for one hour and a half has been all ours (fruit and Champagne included!)

If you want to read more… 

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Il Ciocco – Reinaissance Tuscany: Resort and Wellness Oasis in the Heart of Garfagnana

22/07/2015
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22/07/2015

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Il Ciocco – Reinaissance Tuscany

Il Ciocco. You know when you’re absorbed in your daily routine,a lot of things to do, lot of pression and the only thing you think is “I want to run away from all this and relax for a couple of days!”. That was my mantra, in the last few weeks. My wish came true last weekend with a proper escape toward a wellness oasis, good food and relax in a place that feels like home called il Ciocco, Renaissance resort and SPA , only few steps from Barga, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, located in the heart of Garfagnana, not far from Lucca and Versilia, and only 1 hour and a half from Florence.

Il Ciocco is at the foot of a verdant mountain which is exclusive property of the owners of Il Ciocco and of the conference center, the stables, a SPA, a sport center and much more. Once there, you feel like being in a little Tuscan village where every detail is perfect and from the breath-taking swimming pool you have a n amazing view of the valley where at night other villages shine like stars.

Il Ciocco – Reinaissance Tuscany: relaxing resort in Garfagnana!

We spent three relaxing days at Il Ciocco. I enjoyed to be cuddled in the luxurious
SPA with dozens of private rooms and an actual menu of amazing treatments: for couples (including a private Jacuzzi with rose petals); treatments with natural local products (like wine!), and wellness programs with complete body treatments lasting more than one hour. I tried a complete facial treatment that in 1 hour and a half includes exfoliation, deep cleansing, eyebrow and eyelashes shaping (I’ve nrver tried it before and it was incredible!) and deep skin hydration with ultrasounds.

HERE ALL THE INFO ABOUT IL CIOCCO RESORT & SPA  

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Caribbean Islands: Discovering the Guadeloupe Islands

25/05/2015
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25/05/2015

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Caribbean Islands : Discovering the Guadeloupe Islands!

Carribean Island.  When you think about the Carribean Islands, you probably imagine green and lush islands, white and golden sand shores,  palm trees loaded with coconuts, crystal sea… And that’s exactly what you’ll find on the Guadeloupe Islands. No, I’m sorry, I mean you’ll find more than that, much more… it’s so weird that to go there, you don’t need  a passport or exchanging currency! (These islands are part of the overseas land of France).

Guadeloupe Archipelago is located just in the middle of the Carribbean and is composed of 5 islands: Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La Désirade, Les Saintes, Marie-Galante.

I spent 8 amazing days on these islands, accompanied by  Ruddy Manne, a wonderful person and our excellent guide and driver for the whole week. A trip through the most beautiful bays in the world, dolphins, sea turtles, catamarans, kayaks, horses, history, aromas of spices, of coffee and cocoa…

After a flight Florence – Paris, Paris – Pointe-à-Pitre, on an Air France plane, we headed immediately towards Saint François on Grande-Terre Island, to our first hotel La Cocoteraie, welcomed by the typical aroma of tropical islands: sea, flowers and fruit… just extraordinary!

Caribbean Islands – The Guadeloupe Islands. Let me introduce you Petite – Terre!

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We started our adventure, discovering the Guadeloupe Islands with an entire day on a catamaran with Paradoxe Croisieres (setting sail from Saint François). After 2 hours of sailing into the crystal blue of the ocean, complete with an encounter with dolphins (so exciting!) we arrived on the island of Petite-Terre, a real paradise on earth, protected and safeguarded. There, we had a close encounter with iguanas, bossy inhabitants of the island, also populated by nesting birds, sharks, dolphins and sea turtles. One tropical fruit at the time, Giova and I went on exploring the island, so wild and pure, a delight for the eye and the soul. (Have you noticed the “tiny”seashells?). Enjoy the photos!

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Brooklyn ed il ponte di Brooklyn: la mia guida di New York parte 3

3/04/2015
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3/04/2015

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Brooklyn ed il ponte di Brooklyn: la mia guida di New York parte 3

Brooklyn. Durante il nostro soggiorno a New York, per la visita di Brooklyn, ci siamo spostati allo Sheraton Brooklyn hotel che è perfetto perchè si trova nel Downtown di Brooklyn a soli 20 minuti a piedi dal ponte di Brooklyn (Attraverso il quale, con una piacevolissima passeggiata, si raggiunge il Lower Manhattan!) e a due passi dal centro più animato di Brooklyn.

Brooklyn: la mia guida di New York parte 3

Sì perchè Brooklyn è sempre in fermento: qui ben 130 etnie convivono insieme (Anche molti italiani!) compresi moltissimi artisti e artigiani. Tantissimi neworkesi hanno scelto di vivere proprio qui perchè e’ a due passi da Manhattan ma meno caotica (e più economica.. o per lo meno lo era!): così negli ultimi anni è diventato un quartiere estremamente cool con un sacco di musei, mostre, negozi, locali, pub e anche laboratori artigianali. Insomma… cosa vedere a Brooklyn?

(Continua..)

GUIDA DI NEW YORK PARTE 1: da Central Park al Queens ; Long Island City

GUIDA DI NEW YORK PARTE 2: Williamsburg shopping Vintage e Downtown Manhattan (Giorno 2 a New York)

Grazie a Brussels airlines e NYC & Company

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