Amazing Grace Bay Club

You know when there are times that you just need to sit quiet

and let the photos do the talking??  Well, the photos below of

 Grace Bay Club in Turks and Caicos defines that moment.

It's hard to believe all of this beauty and luxury is just a short 

flight away from the mainland.  Situated on Grace Bay beach on

  the island of Providenciales, this stunning all-suite resort offers

junior suites to 3- and 4-bedroom residences along with the 

 award-winning restaurant, Anacaona, two additional restaurants 

and a 5,000 square-foot spa.  All suites, bars and restaurants are 

oceanfront which means your eyes never have to be taken

  off of this magnificent view!

And, did I mention the impeccable service?  It all makes
for the most perfect island paradise getaway.  So, 

put away those high heels and tassel shoes, hop on a 

 plane and before you know it,  you will be on island-vibe 

in ever-so beautiful Turks and Caicos.

TRAVEL M GIRL

The Air Up There

 No one ever wants to see lightning and this blown up 

storm cloud out of their window while flying.

Especially when it seems to get closer instead of further away.  This is

not my idea of fun and it's usually about this time I start to wonder why 

I really wanted to go on this trip in the first place.

Nothing can make the palms of my hand sweat faster as I tighten my seat belt for the unavoidable bumpy ride.  However, on a recent trip when that was my view out my window,  I was somewhat comforted by the fact that I had recently read an article by Conde Nast Traveler entitled Ten Things You Need to Know About Turbulence.  

It emphasized that turbulence-related injuries are rare which they stated "only 20 passengers -- out of the 800 million who fly each year in the United States -- are injured due to turbulence".  My sister, who is a flight attendant for Delta Airlines, has always told me that turbulence is just like a rocky road.  Of course, never mind that it's a rocky road that is 30,000 feet in the air.  It never really brought me comfort unless she was sitting in the seat next to me whispering it repeatedly in my ear.  However, Conde Nast confirmed that as well saying it's just a "rough patch".  The most reassuring part of the article is that they say pilots know when turbulence is going to happen and they are not only trained to deal with it but they are trained to avoid it as well.  And, according to this article,  "the safety of the aircraft is rarely in question".  

And, even more convincing that staying buckled is a great idea is because clear turbulence is not detected by weather radar.   That means flight crews are unable to forewarn passengers, therefore Conde Nast says, "most turbulence-related injuries are due to clear air turbulence".

And, while you are not required to purchase a ticket for children under the age of two, you are putting them at greater risk for injury should your child not be in a child safety seat.  The G-forces are simply too strong for you to be able to hold your child in your arms should you hit unexpected turbulence.  Just this past February a baby went flying out of it's mother's arms when a United Airlines flight hit unexpected turbulence.  Some people say getting a bulkhead seat is a good idea if you choose to hold your baby but there really is no substitute for a baby being strapped in a child safety seat.

 I only needed to read the Conde Nast article once to convince me that I will

 be wearing my seat belt from start to finish on my next flight.  Bottom line is

I am always a happier flyer when I see the sun out my window but from now 

on, sun or storms, I will be buckled up!

BUCKLE UP!

TRAVEL M GIRL

Discovering Dubrovnik All Over Again

Visiting this Medieval gem again only confirmed

my deep love for this city on the Dalmation coast.

  Dubrovnik is a one-of-a-kind beauty with its

white-stone buildings which are enclosed by the

ancient fortress walls that jet out of the shimmering

sapphire waters of the Adriatic sea.

Walk atop the centuries-old walls to encompass

the beautiful views of this ancient Croatian city

with its forts, cliff-side bars and cliffs that jet

out over the sea.  In the Venetian-style Old

 Town you'll be enamored with the secret piazzas, 

   the medieval churches, the limestone streets, and

  all of the shops and cafes tucked into the vast alleys. 

                                                                                        

Dubrovnik never ceases to amaze and surprise me.

 If I were lucky enough to travel here 100 more times,

I imagine I would find something new and intriguing

  that I previously never discovered.  I came upon
this chair at a cafe in Dubrovnik and it reminds
me that I'll never be able to say "goodbye" to
this majestic city.  

TRAVEL M GIRL

Drinking Up The Good Life In Venice

Ahh, Venice!  One of the most romantic and spectacular 

cities in the world.  There are so many reasons to

love Venice and I discovered one more reason...

You can't go to Venice and not end up somewhere 

close to Piazzo San Marco...

Just around the corner from the Basilica

de San Marco and it's bell tower you will find 

a spot to sit and relax with a great cup of coffee. 

And what could be better than enjoying a cup

 of coffee in Italy?  It's called Caffe Florian

where romance fills the air much like

the smell of the freshly brewed coffee.

However, Caffe Florian is not just a coffee shop serving aromatic

  coffees, hot chocolate and tea with light snacks and 

sandwiches.  It's anything but a coffee shop.  Especially

 when you consider it the oldest cafe in Italy and its setting under the 

arcades of the Procuratie Nuove is architecturally breathtaking.

Caffe Florian was established in 1720.  It is full of

rich history and has been luring everyone from 

politicians to entertainers since it opened its doors.  

It even housed the wounded during the uprising 

in the fight for the Republic of Venice in 1848.  

It's not necessarily the aroma of freshly perked coffee that

will grab your attention but rather the beautiful sound of 

music echoing throughout the Piazza.

Have a seat outside for the ambience of the Piazza...

while your senses soak in everything around you.

The people-watching isn't so bad either.

Step inside Caffe Florian and you will find rooms

 decorated from the works of artists, sculptors and

 cartoonists from the time.  Many of the Florian's 

own private art collection are loaned to museums 

around the world. 

You will be hard-pressed to find a

 more opulent presentation from 

the bow-tie waiter to the silver tray.

You will not only feel royal, but you 

will pay royally for that cup of coffee, 

tea sandwich and, yes, even the music!

But, sit back and enjoy...this is Venice after all!

This is one coffee you won't soon forget.

You'll carry the memories of that moment

for a lifetime.  It's worth every penny.

Bere la bella vita!

TRAVEL M GIRL