Once again we were pleased with the Emperor at Caesars Gauteng, part of a large 1.3 billion rand hotel and entertainment complex. Its location near Johannesburg International Airport , Italian Empire décor, gate and hotel security, quiet and elegant style and welcoming staff were a winning combination for us. An added bonus was the access to a health club, spa, casino, and exhibition and business center in the adjacent Emperor complex.
The Metropolitan Museum, more accurately a collection of museums, was a must for art lovers in the New York area. With two million artifacts spanning 5,000 years of art history, the sheer size of the Metropolitan Museum was daunting. It was the kind of place best enjoyed in multiple viewings and visits. There are only a small number of museums in the world with such large and diverse collections. Of those, few allow visitors as much room to admire and enjoy their extraordinary collections. When we visited The Metropolitan Museum, there were tours, audio guides, several eateries and souvenir shops to enhance the experience.
Visited by more than five million people a year, the Metropolitan Museum was a bustling art reservoir. In spite of large crowds, the afternoon we were by there was plenty of space to enjoy the fine art; we were even able to approach individual sculptures and paintings to observe a detail or identify a signature. This was noteworthy because getting within a couple of feet of major artworks at other comparable museums can be a tricky.
For a step in a different direction, Morikami offers a wonderful alternative to the usual tourist attraction. In a beautiful setting, coupled with art exhibits, classes and other special activities and festivals, it provides restful escape from the everyday.
: Founded in the 12th century as a castle, the Louvre has one of the most extraordinary art collections in the world. It houses an extraordinary collection of approximately 290,000 works, including the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and many others. For the curious or moderate art lovers it merits at least one visit in a lifetime; for dedicated art lovers, perhaps there are never enough visits to satiate their need.
We thought this small museum, situated in a luxurious late 19th century home in the tony eighth arrondissement, was a treasure in a city of treasures. Visited by 600,000 people a year, the Jacquemart André Museum was home to the art of 150 masters including Rembrandt, Tiepolo, Della Robbia, Botticelli, Uccello, Carpaccio, Mantegna, Bellini, Boucher, Chardin and Fragonard.
: Cirque du Soleil Alegria is not a new show, it was first introduced to audiences in the mid 1990’s. We found the show likeable, especially for theatre and circus lovers who have never seen a Cirque du Soleil show. The show included acrobatics, trapeze performances, Aerial High Bars, flaming knives, a strong man, clowns, a contortionist act, Russian Bars and synchronized choreography. Though veteran Cirque du Soleil fans may prefer more dynamic shows such as “O,” Mystére, and Dralion, first timers may appreciate Alegria’ s understated efficiency.
I much prefer the classic beauty of the Opera Garnier to the cold impersonal ambiance of the Opera Bastille. Still, our visit to the Opera Bastille for a performance of Johan Strauss “Die Fledermaus” was pleasant.
As Monet lovers, this is one of the museums we enjoy visiting whenever we get a chance. Located in a house in a quiet patrician neighborhood, we think it has the perfect size for its collection. Visiting the entire museum is manageable in a half a day or less, even for first time visitors. We enjoy viewing our old favorites like the famous Soleil Levant and water lilies; and discovering temporary exhibits.
Though only a short distance from Florida’s east coast Andros might as well be a world away. We encountered friendly Bahamians the way they used to be 20 years ago at Kamalame Cay. We shared the secluded hideaway with a maximum of 8 other guests during our visit. While we were there we enjoyed a laid back, unhurried ambiance and wonderful, inventive food.
Overall thumbs up. An especially good property for those wishing to be near the airport and still have access to Nassau’s popular tourist attractions. When we were there, the restaurant provided great service and high quality food in a lovely setting on the ocean. The property is very colorful and has a tasteful island atmosphere.
This is a wonderful way to get a modest peek of the enormous Vatican collections. Regardless of your religious inclinations, these artifacts, artworks and jewelry, dating as far back as the 3rd century, are of historical significance and worth at least one visit. If you expect to see the Vatican collection, Rome is the place for you. Although the exhibit stands out for the quantity of pieces exhibited for the first time outside the Vatican, and there are some lovely items on display, they provide only a pale glimpse that cannot do justice to the immense (in size and artistic quality) Vatican collection. It whet my art and history appetite and motivated me to plan a visit to the Vatican Museums, among the most wonderful in the world .
We were pleasantly surprised by the staff’s professionalism and emphasis on safety. The tour was fun, worth the time and expense, especially for ecotourism oriented travelers visiting ‘Vegas.
We were six passengers on a 1997 helicopter for the Grand Canyon Celebration Tour, which included aerial views of 400-foot deep Lake Mead, one of the largest man made lakes, and the Hoover dam. We made a brief stop to fuel the helicopter. The high point of the tour was breakfast at a small Papillon owned covered picnic area near the bottom of the Grand Canyon with a wonderful view of the Colorado River. It was great to stand near the bottom of the 277-mile long and 3,000 to 6,000 deep majestic Grand Canyon
There are a lot of hotels in Las Vegas, many of them with rooms and suites just as nice as the Four Seasons. But for the overall experience, from check-in to breakfast to evening turndown, this was the hotel for us. No slot machines and casino to walk through to access the elevators, quick check-in without velvet roped lines of dozens of travellers.
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