So your flight has a long layover in Paris and you’re stuck at Charles de Gaulle—so near and yet so far—for at least six hours. What to do? Admittedly, CDG is a lot nicer than a lot of other airports I’ve been in, but wouldn’t you rather see a bit of Paris?

The Republic of the Seychelles is made up of a group of 115 islands situated in the western Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. Within this magnificent archipelago there are 41 mid-ocean inner granite islands and 74 low-lying reef islands and coral atolls.

The main island of Mahé, home to the international airport and the capital city of Victoria, is the main tourism center and boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Originally settled by the French, the islands were ceded to the British in 1814, after Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, and continued under British rule until 1976 when they achieved independence and became a republic. The rich and diverse culture of the Seychelles reflects the diversity of the people—Africans, Europeans, and Asians—who have settled there over the islands’ history.

What struck me most about the Seychelles when I visited recently were not only their stunning beaches, but also their unusual and beautiful plants. The Seychelles’ Praslin Island is home to the Coco de Mer, a coconut palm with the largest seeds and leaves of any plant in the world. The palms, which can take 25 to 50 years to mature and bear fruit, are prized and cultivated in botanic gardens throughout the world. The male and female flowers grow on separate trees, and the unique two-lobed form of the coconut, suggestive of a woman’s buttocks (truly, you won’t believe your eyes!)… Continue here for my photos & and to read on! Click here for delicious Creole recipes.

Recently I had the pleasure of spending more than a week in the Seychelles. You have heard about their gorgeous beaches, but did you know that they are also known for their delicious Creole cuisine?

First, a little background about this spectacular location. The Republic of the Seychelles is made up of a group of 115 islands situated in the western Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa.  Within this magnificent archipelago there are 41 mid-ocean inner granite islands and 74 low-lying reef islands and coral atolls.

The main island of Mahé, home to the international airport and the capital city of Victoria, is the main tourism center and boasts some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Originally settled by the French, the islands were ceded to the British in 1814, after Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo, and continued under British rule until 1976 when they achieved independence and became a republic. The rich and diverse culture of the Seychelles reflects the diversity of the people—Africans, Europeans, and Asians—who have settled there over the islands’ history.

One of the most charming and interesting spots I discovered was La Plaine St. André. Located in a 200-year-old, beautifully restored plantation house, there is a rum distillery, gallery, and  newly opened bar and restaurant. There are guided tours of the Takamaka rum distillery and of the grounds, where a variety of herbs and medicinal plants are grown and you can see the ruins of the original plantation’s kitchen and boathouse. Then, when you’re done, relax and enjoy a lovely meal.

The owners of La Plaine St. André have been gracious enough to share two of their special recipes with me —one for a fabulous Bourgois Fillet (red snapper fillet) with passion-fruit sauce, accompanied by steamed vegetables, and an herb-butter rice. And the other for their special Creole Cervesa Mojito made with (the passion fruit is listed, but optional), mint leaves, lime juice, their Takmaka rum, and—yes—topped off with beer. (For more information about the Seychelles and stunning photos read my extended article here: The Seychelles, A True Island Paradise)

Bourgois Fillet

Bourgois is a large, local red snapper and is considered a special delicacy of the Seychelles archipelago. A wonderful way to enjoy this fresh and delicious meal, you can serve the red snapper drizzled in passion-fruit sauce with steamed, seasonal vegetables and herb-butter rice.

 Ingredients You Need… [Read more →]

Sure, when the snow is on the ground it’s great to throw off scarves and boots and warm up with an island getaway. But sometimes it’s great to do something different, and people are always asking me for new ideas. So here are a few winter vacations you probably haven’t thought of before. I haven’t actually been to any of them myself, but they’re really tempting to try.

1. How about staying in a treehouse?

No, this isn’t like the treehouse your daddy may have built when you were a kid. Wipfelglűck Treehouse Hotels has two properties in Germany where you can lie in bed at stare at the stars, then wake up to be served a delicious breakfast of fresh baked goods with ham, cheese, butter, honey, and jam, along with juice, coffee, tea, or hot chocolate before heading out to visit a vineyard, a gallery, a castle, or even the famous caves of the Black Forest. To me this sounds like the perfect combination of adventure travel with a bit of culture and all mod cons thrown into the mix.

2. Take a symphony cruise

Love the sun? Love the water? Love music? A symphony cruise may give you the best of all possible worlds. Celebrity Cruises offers luxurious Symphonic Voyages with a 54-piece symphony orchestra, world-renowned solo artists, and a chamber music group. See the sights when in port, sit back and enjoy the music while at sea. Get some sun, and enjoy the many other activities Celebrity offers its well-pampered guests.

3. Visit Uruguay; see the art

Estancia Vik in José Ignacio, Uruguay boasts an unparalleled collection of contemporary Uruguayan and international art in a beautiful, luxurious setting. Now guests also have the opportunity to spend a day with local artists in their ateliers, take private workshops, and tour local galleries and museums with a knowledgeable guide. And when you’re not immersed in art you can sit by the pool, go to the beach, take a horseback ride, or simply luxuriate in the outstanding landscape and architecture of this unique resort. [Read more →]

When I was in London recently, I was both amazed and charmed to see a classic London cab “wrapped” like an iconic Tiffany blue gift box complete with a golden chain and a lock on the hood in front. Of course I knew there were Tiffany shops in every major city throughout the world, but I’d never seen a Tiffany’s on wheels before.

It got me thinking about what else Tiffany might have to offer the traveler beyond jewelry (of course), key rings, and passport covers.

Then, not long after that, I discovered that the one of New York’s most luxurious hotels, the St. Regis, had recently opened a Tiffany suite created by Tiffany’s own renowned design director emeritus, John Loring.  An elegant yet playful mixture of modern and deco design, the rooms are done in tones of white, charcoal gray, and silver with Tiffany blue accents throughout, including the headboard on the bed. So now you really can have breakfast—in bed—at Tiffany’s.

And when you’re ready to do a little shopping, you can pack up your handy Tiffany reversible tote and walk two blocks north to the store itself!

The travel friendly bag, which comes in either Tiffany blue and platinum or camel and gold, also has a detachable zipper pouch. It’s soft enough to pack easily in your suitcase and roomy enough to hold a few of those famous blue boxes.

Tiffany making handbags? Who knew!

Last year, when a friend of a friend told me about a week-long adventure vacation she’d taken off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, I was intrigued. She said it was an “absolute tonic” that she’d like to repeat every few months. Quite a recommendation, I thought.

It’s called “The Island Experience,” and is described on the company’s web site as “a unique adventure spa, yoga retreat and fitness vacation program that takes place on the spellbinding island paradise Ilha Grande, just off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.”

Well, I do work out a lot, but truthfully my idea of a vacation had always been something more like relaxing on a beach somewhere in the south of France with a glass of Rosé and people watching. Not this time. This trip promised at least six hours a day of activities, including trekking, kayaking, and snorkeling, along with 2 x daily yoga classes, and a mainly vegetarian (there were two nights when we had fish) detox diet plan. I hadn’t taken a yoga class in 15 years, never kayaked, and I certainly didn’t own a pair of hiking boots (or clothes for hiking). This was going to be something completely new and different for me, but I was excited to try it.

I went through the packing list provided by the organizers, bought what I needed (sort of like getting ready for sleep-away camp), and tried to keep an open mind. I didn’t really want to know too much in advance because I wanted the entire experience to be fresh, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect in terms of logistics.

One thing I didn’t expect was that the “island off the coast of Rio” would be a three-hour car ride plus a one-hour boat ride away. I knew that the island was almost entirely rain forest, but I didn’t really translate that into the degree of humidity I’d encounter. I’d recommend packing everything you bring in large zip lock bags so that your clothing stays dry (that’s how I usually pack, but I was feeling especially brilliant this time around)—and be sure to bring enough shirt changes,  probably twice as much as you think you should. All that activity creates a lot of perspiration that never really has a chance to dry. And there isn’t any hotel laundry.

Also, when they recommend a medium sized backpack, they mean it. I went backpack shopping with one of my friends (former Air Force) thinking he would pick the best bag. I ended up with a huge pack (military and man-sized) which was like carrying a body bag on all my hikes… not so brilliant. Another tip: take all the toiletries you need because you won’t be able to buy them easily, you would have to go to “town” for them. And bring cash, Brazilian Reals that is—I didn’t see any banks or ATMs on Ihla Grande (they may be around, but I didn’t readily see them). When our last day’s hike ended “in town,” we had about 30 minutes to do some shopping I noticed that many establishments did indeed take credit cards.

What the island does have beyond the exquisite and magical rainforest is 23 great beaches, one of which, Lopez Mendes, was voted one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world by Vogue magazine. If you go there, be on the lookout for the adorable Squirrel monkeys in the trees as you approach the beach. [Read more →]