La Perle at Al Habtoor Palace

La Perle at Al Habtoor Palace

The Habtoor Palace at Al Habtoor City in Dubai, is part of a grand complex associated with the Hilton hotels chain. With over 1,000 rooms, an array of restaurants, meeting and conference facilities and on-site entertainment like La Perle, this really is a City unto itself.… Read the rest

Cruising Again, At Sea

Cruising Again, Strait of Hormuz

And here we go! Again. A little week long interlude for mid term break has seen us escaping from Dubai to go cruising again on the Costa Diadema. Some R&R is in order. Actually, I will be working and there is some concern over the current COVID-19 pandemic but, here we are, decision made and ready to cruise again.… Read the rest

Cruising Again, Dubai

Dubai on our doorstep

And here we go! Again. A little week long interlude for mid term break has seen us escaping from Dubai on the Costa Diadema for some R&R. Actually, I will be working and there is some concern over the current COVID-19 pandemic but, here we are, decision made and ready to go cruising Dubai again.… Read the rest

La Mer

Sunset over La Mer

It is the UAE National Day long weekend and while many friends are out of town or on local staycations, given the five days of celebrations made possible by the 3 days of declared public holidays, we have elected for a quiet extended weekend at home with a little La Mer celebration.… Read the rest

Cádiz

Cádiz Cathedral

Cádiz is an ancient port dating back to Phoenician (Gadir) and Roman (Gadas) times although what exists of the historic centre today primarily dates from between the 17th and 19th centuries as this was a prosperous time for trade, particularly with the Americas.… Read the rest

Málaga

Cartojal – Málaga wine and festival sponsor

The Málaga marina is perfectly tropical today, palm tree lined with whispy clouds floating high in the otherwise clear sky. There is also music floating on the air from the annual fair, already underway, and the fortress at the top of the hill promises sweeping views.… Read the rest

Valencia

Valencia

Valencia is a city with an old soul and a modern heart. The centre is a typical Medieval gem with a towering cathedral, Spanish and Roman historic architecture and museums to fulfill those intellectual yearnings. However, venture just a little further afield and you discover that the moat of yesteryears has been turned into sprawling parklands and swaths of land in close proximity (walking distance) have been transformed into modern day art and cultural hubs including the district with the Opera House x and xxxx all joined by walkways and undulating water features.… Read the rest

Ibiza Blue

Ibiza Blue

Ibiza is one of the Balearic islands, an archipelago of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. Although it is well known for the lively nightlife in Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni, where major European nightclubs have summer outposts, it is also home to quiet villages, yoga retreats and beaches for swimming, sun baking, dining and water sports.… Read the rest

Barcelona

Barcelona

We are excited about our day exploring Barcelona. Of course, there are plenty of sights to take in in this city, Spain’s second largest, with a population of 1.6m and a sprawling city centre of approximately 100 sq km. We know we cannot possibly fit it all in today, so we have planned our day around our visit to La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona’s famous unfinished basilica.… Read the rest