NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COOL - THE 21C & CRYSTAL BRIDGES

A LOT MORE TO OFFER THAN ONE LOUSY FOOTBALL TEAM & TWO POLITICIANS

James Dickey, poet and author of Deliverance, a very dark novel about southerners at their worst,  once said that Arkansas has thirteen verifiable dialects, making it almost impossible for people from Northern Arkansas  to understand people from Southern Arkansas. Unfortunately, more than a few people think that the only things of interest in Arkansas are its perpetually underperforming football team at The University of Arkansas, Walmart and those purveyors of dirty politics at its best, the Clintons. Not so fast my friend!

In addition to the incredible geography of the Ozarks, Arkansas can claim one of America's most celebrated architects, E. Fay Jones, as a favorite son. An apprentice to Frank LLoyd Wright, Jones became best know for his poetic interpretation of organic design, which is evident in the many houses and other structures he designed. I had the great fortune to hear Jones speak while in architecture school. Unlike the "starchitects" of today, Jones was a soft spoken, almost humble gentleman of immense talent. In addition to Jones, other cultural icons hail from The Natural State, including Johnny Cash, founder of The Band, Levon Helm, and Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton. With luminaries such as these, the good people of Arkansas can be proud of their state and its citizens for their contributions to the cultural landscape of the good ole USA.

THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDADDY'S ARKANSAS

Or Bentonville for that matter. Leaving the confines of Architect Wright's Price Tower skyscraper hotel earlier in the week - the tree away from the crowded forest - and the rather pedestrian environs of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, we enjoyed the easy drive to another time and another place, literally and metaphorically. Check my last post if you want the scoop on the Price Tower Hotel.

Bentonville, Arkansas - the home of Walmart, the world's largest employer. The following Wikipedia account of the transition of Bentonville from a rural backwater to the corporate epicenter of the world's largest retailer sums up the immense impact on Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas.

 

Bentonville has been home to Walmart since Sam Walton purchased a store on the town square in 1950 and renamed it Walton's 5 & 10. The retailer continued a rapid growth, but Helen Walton wished to remain in Bentonville to raise the family, and thus by the time Walmart became the #1 Fortune 500 in 2002, it was still based in Bentonville. The impact from the Walmart Home Office is multiplied by the over 1100 prospective Walmart vendors who have established sales offices in the region. The large number of satellite offices for companies of almost every industry means a large number of transplants from around the United States can be found in Bentonville. This phenomena impacts the culture of Bentonville in addition to the city's economy.

 

And yet Bentonville still remains  the quintessential small American town, complete with locally owned storefronts, village squares and friendly citizens. However, like any urban enclave with yuppies and millennials around every corner, you can get a nice 20 ounce white mocha latte for a cool $4.75 at the Pressroom, a local coffee/breakfast/brunch/lunch eatery, complete with un-painted concrete floors, exposed galvanized ductwork and funky objects de art. Trendy is as trendy does! There are multiple food choices in Bentonville to please the palette of any discerning vagabond.

THE 21C AND A WADDLE OF PENGUINS MAKE A THING GO NICE

Our destination in Bentonville was the art centric 21C Museum Hotel. Strategically located in downtown Bentonville, the 21C brings one of the best examples you will ever find of a "concept" hotel to this small  community, a  magnet for vendors and entrepreneurs from all over the globe.  Visionary hotelier Kentuckians Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson have embarked on a completely new approach to the boutique hotel. The sleek, minimalist design by Deborah Berke Partners combines with great service and uncompromised comfort to create a truly unique hotel experience for nomads and vagabonds in search of the best. And it doesn't cost a fortune. At $199 per night, our deluxe king, complete with fabulous bed, large couch,  table and a massive, subway tiled shower/bathroom, exceeded any standard you would expect in a large urban four star hotel, sans the snooty concierge. The staff at the 21C was fabulous.

And to further heighten the "this is a different kinda place" vibe, the owners of this sweet little boutique number decided to insert penguins, lime green at Bentonville, around every corner. According to OurInventionGeneration Blog, the idea for the penguins came as a result of a visit to an art exhibit in Venice where several red penguins were being displayed. Upon noticing positive reactions to the penguins, eureka! The placement of penguins everywhere in the 21C enhances the already unique quality of this hotel wrapped around a vibrant art museum.  You can  get my take on the Louisville 21C, the first of what will hopefully be many more to come, from my post back in March 2011.

For a town of 35,000, Bentonville offers many ways to enjoy a unique blend of commerce, nature and simple small town pleasures. If American art is your thing, then Bentonville is your place. You can enjoy work from Audubon to Warhol by  taking about a twenty minute stroll from the 21C to Bentonville's  Crystal Bridges Museum, designed by international architect Moshe Safdie. There is actually a designated trail from the hotel to the museum. Funded by the Walton family, with a collection estimated at $488 million, this world class museum, with its sweeping curved metal roofs, polished concrete and locally harvested wood is designed to create an exceptional experience  surrounded by innovative architecture and art. And get this - It's free! That's right, due to the Walton endowment for operational costs, the museum is completely free to all. Though lunch in the glass walled restaurant, Eleven, is a bit pricey, it's a small price to pay to enjoy world class art for free. Finally, a stroll down one of the many art laden paths through the Arkansas woods is a great way to end the day for vagabonds desirous of enjoying nature and art at its best.

And after wandering around Bentonville or visiting the Crystal Bridges for an art filled afternoon, dining in is the recommended choice - The HIVE. This well appointed eatery showcases a unique blend of locally grown everything, which has come to be known, in some circles, as High South Cuisine. And do not skip dessert! As they say in some parts  - It don't git no better!
 

So the next time you want to get away, enjoy the sites and sleep and eat like a Nomad who refuses to settle, a trip to Bentonville will scratch that vagabond itch. And it won't break the bank.

d.l.Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT

Next up - The ultimate side trip that brings architecture and the meaning of life into focus like few other places.


Travel Quote of The Week - "Live, Travel, Adventure, Bless and Don't Be Sorry" - Jack Kerouac

Video Artist of The Week - The son of an Arkansas farmer, he started out as the drummer and lead singer for The Band. Later in life, he became one of those voices that cuts through all the junk and makes you think about important things, better thing. Which he was still here - Levon Helm.



 

Food Nazis, Canned Sodas, A Wee Bit of Cheese and Baseball - Oh Atlanta!!!

These Guys (aka Food Nazis) Have a Different Approach To Customer Service

Like the line from the Mick Ralphs tune Oh Atlanta  says - Oh Atlanta I Got To Get Back To You. So we usually get to Atlanta several times a year. Fortunately, the weather was fabulous during one of our recent trips to visit our very handsome and brilliant son and his even more brilliant and adorable wife, giving us ample reason to venture outside. Atlanta always impresses when it comes to places to eat, both fine and low rent, so we decided to try some old favorites and a few new ones. The design of many of these newer places, particularly in Midtown, with an eclectic mix of avante garde, industrial chic and Jackson Pollock,  is often at the cutting edge of trendy, which makes for a great aesthetic, if only temporary, before the next wave brings about new hipness requirements. Design now becomes fashion. As an architect and interior designer I get that. However, as my old Professor Gettle used to say, trendiness begets tediousness.   

 

Good architecture is NOT akin to a  pair of Gucci's or a $600 Michael Kors bag. However, in retail and food service, in particular, the line between the latest Armani soon to be on the half price rack suit and the industrial-rusty walled-spilled paint on the floor-retro graphics-ooh isn't this just the hippest place you have ever seen design aesthetic is very thin. Don't get me wrong, I am a lover of all things new in design. I just don't see Frank Gehry's creations being included in the pantheon of great western architecture like, say, a Richard Neutra house or the Chrysler Building. But, in Atlanta, at least they are trying. 

 

Design and aesthetics aside, one thing must be said about Atlanta. If you've a mind to, you can enjoy some very cool culinary delights in all manner of places, from the simple joint in a repurposed urban hay barn where they claim they grow everything on their menu in their very own backyard  to the more highbrow penthouse revolving eatery where they claim that  the beef in their restaurant comes from the offspring of a single bull named Bastion who feeds only on special organic free range grass in a small village in the Andes and they fly  it in fresh every day on their own refrigerated high speed modified F-15. Only beautiful people, or at least more attractive people with money,  eat in this beautiful enclave high above the city where Bastion's little ones are served only on sustainable extra virgin bamboo dinnerware. Now these places may or may not exist, but, any town that has a restaurant where patrons literally eat in the dark - Dining In The Dark - will surely have unique choices such as these I have imagined for Nomads traveling to The Big Peach.

 

No Nothing For You!

 

After visiting several new dining establishments in A-Town, I discovered a disturbing trend among some of Atlanta's more hip eateries.   Many of these places have developed a business model similar to the renown Soup Nazi of Seinfeld fame. The food is killer with an attitude to go with it, and I don't mean that in a good way. In their quest to become the NYC or Chicago of the south, these places are slowly taking a path which many young Millennials and Gen Y'ers have come to accept but this old Baby Boomer finds annoying and tedious.

Case No. 1 - Taqueria del Sol

This place has some of the best Mexican meets Old South cuisine served anywhere. With items like Memphis Tacos (pork & jalapeno cole slaw) or Fried Chicken Tacos (fried chicken & jalapeno mayonnaise) you can't go wrong. And with sides like spicy turnip greens or blue cheese mash potatoes, you can enjoy a well rounded meal to die for, literally. And the prices are very reasonable. However, you must follow these rules to ensure an incident free dining experience:

• Do not bring small children. To prove the point, they have no high chairs.
• Do not even think about asking to be seated until your entire party has arrived. If you try this, it can get ugly. And, of course, never, ever try and seat yourself.
• Make absolutely certain that you have studied the menu during your 30-45 minute queue so that you are ready to order quickly, without delaying the Colonel Klinkette at the counter. And she really prefers that you already have your cash or credit card in hand BEFORE you arrive at the counter. 
• And one item that annoys me. The soft drink you order comes in a twelve ounce can - i.e. no refills. I have always been afraid to order another one from my table, as I fear it would upset the natural flow and the precision with which this place cranks out more great food in less time than any place I have ever been - I think.  

Bottom line - Nazis or not - the food's worth the wait and the prices won't force you to dip into your Quicken Line of Credit. Just don't bring a kid or dilly dally at the counter!

 

Case No. 2 - Antico's Pizza  Napoletana 

The sign says BENVENUTI TO WORLD CLASS PIZZA. I don't think so! You are not welcome and the pizza is, well, read on. A partial list of Nomad complaints:

• These people at Antico's make the Soup Nazi look like Shirley Temple. The staff went to a special class to learn the nuances of being rude and disinterested.
• You have to sit at tables with strangers. Now I love new experiences as much as the next guy and I am not anti-social. However, the ambiance of this place is akin to eating in a muffler shop. Everyone is always yelling - at each other, at the wait staff or at the guy trying to steal their seat. And actually getting a seat usually involves some sort of threat of bodily harm.
• And best of all - The pizza just ain't that good. And the prices are ridiculous. Cucinella's in my current home town of Madison, Florida (population 2,769) made by a transplanted New Yorker and his kids and grand kids leaves Antico's in the dust.
• The last straw was the twelve ounce canned coke and no ice!

Bottom Line - On the Soup Nazi Scale - these guys take it to a whole new level. Unless you like average food in a loud, not particularly friendly atmosphere, pass.

 

Case 3 - Gio's Chicken Almafitanoi

This little place is in the same building as Antico's. Great food, decent prices, mediocre staff. Must be something in the air. Some thoughts on Gio's:

• The Pollo Tradizionale is all good. I had the Sorrento Lemon and it was worth the fifteen bucks.
• Though not Naziesque, the front counter girl was an obvious trainee, with that look that can only be described as a cross between bored and condescending.
• Like their sister place next door, there is only group seating. That was actually ok, because, the decibel level was considerably lower than next door. Call me picky if you like, I just don't like paying theses prices and eating in a room with the acoustics of a sewer pipe.
• And finally, when I asked the half hearted girl who was very interested in her I-phone if they had wine by the glass, she pointed to a row of "mini" wine bottles. So I ordered one and she disdainfully handed it to me after ringing it up. What is it with liquid refreshment being offered only in a small can or bottle in this town? I think I see a pattern here.

Bottom Line - I will go back. When the food is that good and not that expensive, the annoyances can be forgiven. And the itty bitty bottle of wine didn't suck.

 

Case No. 4 - Café Gio 

Advanced Nazi training is most evident at the gelato counter. This very small place is in the back of Gio's. Only three things need to be said:

• They informed us, rather rudely, that they don't give samples. Sorry, I am just not going to try goat cheese and raspberry latte gelato without kicking the tires.
• You have to pay before you select. No big deal. It's just weird and, may I say, somewhat Naziesque
• The gelato is not that good. If you think you are going to be transported to Firenza, where they have insane gelato on every corner, think again.

Bottom line - If you can find a parking space, go ahead. But you could do much better at Pelatos Gelato in the Virginia Highlands. Great people and great gelato.

 

And Then There's Bacado's - No Nazi's, Soup or Otherwise

 

At least one restaurant in Midtown Atlanta is bucking the Soup Nazi trend - Bacado's. Located in Midtown, this unique eatery has everything you need for a great night out - a funky, very hip interior design, complete with an open air "porch" at the back and supremely pleasant and helpful staff. From a very diverse menu, I took my son's advice and dined on the best twelve dollar hamburger this side of anywhere. Expertly prepared with a blend of brisket, pork and angus beef and cooked to perfection on a fresh grained bun, this burger will set you free, indeed.

 

One word of advice on the appetizers. I ordered a "plate" of the Thomasville, Georgia Goat Cheese. The cheese was excellent, but it was the single smallest piece of cheese ever served in restaurant. We had a good laugh and, I , being a good Nomad, actually cut up the cheese into four pieces for all to enjoy along with a nice, and pricey, bottle of Pinot Noir. As we enjoyed our morsels of cheese and wine, we had a great laugh at the lilliputian size of the cheese produced just thirty miles north of my home town. And finally, an entirely new concept in today's new urban restaurant obsession with long lines that prove we are the hippest of the hip - They take reservations - How Quaint!

 

And Then There Was Baseball

 

To top our weekend off in the Capital of the South, my son and I attended the Georgia Tech vs Florida State baseball game. With the great weather and a beautiful college setting on the GT campus, there is just no better way for a Nomad to appreciate the best parts of life than attending a baseball game with his son. What is it about food purchased at a baseball game? It just taste better for some reason. A burger and nachos with fake cheese - Oh Yea Baby! And, in this setting, the canned coke works. As luck would have it, we trailed until the sixth inning, when we took the lead and held on to beat the Yellow Jackets. All in all, a pretty good day. It's nice to know that you don't always have to go around the world to savor the best that life has to offer.

 

So next time you are in the hometown of the one and only Ted Turner, aka MOUTHOFTHESOUTH, enjoy the food and notate the attitudes for future reference.

 

Bon Appetit Y'all

 

D.L. Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

 

Travel Quote of The Week - "If I ever get back to Georgia, I'm gonna nail my feet to the ground" - Lewis Grizzard - humorist, writer and raconteur.

 

Video Artist of The Week - Little Feat - These LA rockers combine blues, R&B, jazz and southern rock to bring a sound that makes you move. Check out an old Midnight Special performance with none other than Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt singing back up on the classic tune Dixie Chicken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RANDOM VAGABOND ALERT - A VERY COOL RESTAURANT IN THE MOST UNLIKELY OF PLACES

I Take Back Everything I Ever Said About Valdosta - Well Almost Everything

 

And the beat goes on. Several days ago, we had to make the thirty minute trip north to Valdosta, GA from the underground bunker here in North Florida for some needed car repair on a vintage automobile that shall remain nameless. I called and made the arrangements with the mechanic and said to my fellow life partner, nomad and very fine southern cook - Hey, why don't we have lunch in Valdosta at someplace other than a Chic-Fil-A or other road warrior haunt on the I-75 corridor? And she, never one to turn down an adventure, no matter how trivial, says sure. So I go on line and find a couple of local places that sound really interesting. This is Valdosta, Georgia after all. A town utterly defined by fast food joints, discount hotel chains and bad barbecue restaurants. Every tourist from Ohio, Michigan and Jersey stops in Valdosta for a little R&R on their way to the big prize - Disney or Universal.

So we drop the beast off for repairs and check out the restaurants on my cell. We land on a place we know nothing about except that it has a name that conjures up visions  of southern cool - Steel Magnolias. I check out the menu and turn to my betrothed and say - OK? She says - OK. And we are off to downtown Valdosta. When we get to Patterson Street, we see several other eateries and I, being the architectural critic of the family, make note of some really fine vintage buildings on this particular street. Nice brickwork, colorful awnings, a few minimalist storefronts here and there. Very un-Valdosty, if you catch my drift. We park on the street - for free. How weird is that? We walk up to the front door to the place and there on the chalk board is the following axiom:

Wine does not make you fat. It makes you lean against

walls, floors, chairs and funny people you don't know!

 

I turn to the Suse and say - I'm in. She rolls her eyes and says - OK! After thirty nine years, she so gets me. We walk into a very hip, minimalist southern chic space. Fifteen foot ceilings, exposed galvanized ducts, old painted ceiling boards, old wood floors, white washed walls replete with ancient relics and mirrors and a facing wall with a very southern print wallpaper render a space perfectly adorned for hungry Nomads. I notice a tray with French Press coffee makers for the dinner and dessert crowd. More evidence that we are not really in Valdosta anymore. We are seated by a very nice staff person and greeted by a nice young lady who appeared to be the owner. This would later be confirmed during our meal.

This Place Says Bon Appetite With A Nice Southern Accent
 

The website for Steel Magnolias proclaims "our food base is urban Southern, taking the roots of classic Southern cuisine and showing a new way of looking at them". Reading the menu, it is clear that these people take their culinary reputation seriously. After checking out the various delicacies on the menus in brown file folders, we place our order. My lovely gets the Oyster Po Boy with slaw, tomato and remoulade  and I order the Chicken Salad Wrap with mixed greens, tomato and cucumber. What happened next hooked me. The chicken wrap was just not to my liking. It wasn't bad - I just didn't like it. So, the owner walks by and asks- "How is everything". Without saying anything, she read my mind or my hesitancy to agree and asks - "You don't like it do you?". I said "Not really". She immediately says "Why don't you take another look at the menu and select something else".   After perusing the menu again, I selected the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with cabbage slaw, tomato and garlic aioli. After two bites - WOW! Great service with classic southern charm and even better food. I am now officially committed to this cool little eatery.

 

As we were finishing up, the owner came over a sat down for a brief chat between servicing other diners. Come to find out, she has been open since October 2011 and has many years in the restaurant business. In the short conversation, I also found out that she has the ONLY Steel Magnolias Restaurant in Georgia. There is nothing quite so impressive as an entrepreneur and restaurateur who is this passionate about serving food this good.  

 

So, fellow Nomads - put this intimate little eatery on your must stops for some cool R & R as you travel down the busiest interstate on earth from parts north or south. It's a short ten minutes from  Exit 16. You will have a great lunch or dinner at very reasonable  prices, run by people who really care about the quality of food they serve and the people that eat it.


From the Hinterland

d.l. stafford
thenomadARCHITECT

Two Vagabonds & A Lake - Varenna, Lake Como & Emero Gaudio Seconda Parte

The Mountain, The Lake, The Town - In Our Dreams

The last time I spoke of Varenna, the little hamlet on Lake Como, way back in November, we had crashed in the minimalist interiors inserted into the massive stone walls of an ancient monastery after a nine hour flight and two hour train ride. Like so many small hotels in Europe, the Emero Gaudio proves that quality modern design and ancient forms  can not only coexist, but, can actually create unique spaces that render the sum of the parts much greater than the whole. Of course it doesn't hurt that the original structure was built into the side of a very steep mountain overlooking one of Italy's most beautiful bodies of water.

And that beautiful body of water came in very handy our first morning in the Italy of our dreams. We awoke refreshed with all traces of jet lag banished from mind, body and spirit. It was the lake that provided the breathtaking backdrop for our first breakfast on the grand terrace of our little boutique in Varenna. I say little, because The Emero Gaudio only has twenty five rooms. By American standards, that is positively itsy bisty! I must admit, after staying in the smallest of hotels in Europe, I have become spoiled. The intimacy of a small boutique makes one feel like one is part of the landscape, not just a detached observer along with the throngs clamoring to hopefully get a decent room, located somewhere with a decent view without breaking the bank. You actually get to know the staff, the environment and a real sense of the place on a very personal level. That just does not happen at a thousand room resort. "Vagabonding small" allows you to "Live like a local", as Rick Steves points out in his many books, even though you really are just  passing through.

Funiculars are Simply The Coolest Vertical Transportation Ever Invented

One of the most rewarding aspects of traveling  on the unbeaten path is the little things that make travel adventurous and unique. Even though I knew what a funicular was from my days in architecture school, I had no idea that they actually existed in our modern over-teched twenty first century. Well, they do exist at Emero Gaudio and they add to the simple romance of this tiny little hotel overlooking this quintessential Italian village. For the uninitiated, a funicular is basically an inclined elevator or tram that is pulled up and down a mountain on tracks with steel cables.  As I stated in the last Lake Como post, the hotel actually has two, requiring you to take one half way up the mountain and then go the rest of the way on another. Completely enclosed with glass, you can enjoy an ever expanding panoramic view of the town and Lake Como as you slowly climb to the hotel approximately 1,200 feet above the lake.

After finishing our well prepared breakfast on the hotel terrace, we headed down the mountain in the Jules Verne-esque inclined rail car not knowing quite where we would go or what we would do. Since both of us abhor any kind of fixed itinerary when we travel, we were ready to soak in all that is Italian in this little slice of heaven on the lake.

What Do A Couple of Wide Eyed Vagabonds Do In A Town of 800?

After getting off the funicular, we walked the short distance into this small hamlet nestled  on the eastern shore of Lake Como. According to Wikipedia, Lake Como is a lake of glacial  origin. It has an area of 56.4 square miles, making it the third largest lake in Italy. At over 1320 feet deep, it is one of the deepest lakes in Europe. The bottom of the lake is more than 656 feet below sea-level. And of course, American movie start George Clooney has a little villa right on the lake south of Varenna. Even though Lake Como is a favorite haunt of the famous and infamous, according to various reports, a star of his magnitude has not exactly been embraced by the locals. Paparazzi and all that.

Since we didn't have a personal invite to George's place, we decided to just relax and enjoy the day. In early May the weather is perfect for simply sauntering and taking in  the sites and sounds of a place that is completely at ease with itself, both as an ancient city and a modern destination for people who, like the two of us, loathe malls, airplanes and big hotels. The first thing that struck me was the tendency in this great country to embrace the small things that make life better. When you combine the Italian sense of design with an unwavering embrace of tradition, what results is a truly eclectic, intimate sense of place..  Even though you are a temporary visitor, a nomad no less, the idea that you are just another tourist never crosses your mind. After years of travel, I am more convinced than ever, that the feeling of belonging in a foreign land can only come from a natural comfort with a place's culture and way of life. And the people. Don't get me wrong, I love America and its people. But, experiencing the people of Italy and their simple love of life changed my thinking about travel and other cultures in this world.

Gelato Is What Saint Peter Will Give You When You Arrive At The Pearly Gates!

We all know what the Italians have given the world food wise. Spaghetti, pasta, pizza, chianti, mozzarella, olive oil - the list of  Italian delicacies to eat and drink is endless. How many chapters in how many books have been written on what the Italians have done just with the simple tomato?Delizioso!

But Gelato - real Italian Gelato - is proof positive that you can experience a little bit of heaven right here on earth. Just saying the word brings a smile. Even though Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream, it is NOT ice cream. The combination of milk, cream, sugar and various fruits or flavorings, when made by hand, creates a desert that transcends our notion of ice cream. True Italian gelato is made with a much larger percentage of whole milk and churned at slower speeds, giving it a much creamier and smoother texture. Where else but Italy can you actually get cantaloupe gelato? I know it sounds weird, but trust me - you will thank me for this culinary tip. The Italians, known for their passion in just about all endeavors, apply that same obsession to the preparation of gelato. From that passionate process you get a tasty delicacy you just can't buy in a grocery store.

Gelato dates back to ancient Rome, when the Florentine architect Bernardo Buontalenti is said to have invented modern ice cream in 1565. I think you would agree that we owe s. signore Buontalenti a debt of gratitude for this cornerstone of western civilization. The passion that is engendered by this wonderful culinary confection really cannot be explained or fully understood until you actually experience it. My first taste of gelato, sitting beside the bucolic Lake Como, will forever be etched in my mind as one of those seminal moments when travel, like life, really is about simple pleasures.

Varenna Was Made For Walking

 

Enjoying a lakeside gelato is just one of the many things that the peaceful nomad can enjoy in the little town of Varenna. For three days we basked in the glow of the people, the food and the beauty of this slice of heaven on earth. One traveler described Varenna is utterly lacking in "tourist" shops and other faux things designed to make you think you are in a unique environment. It's all true. Because Varenna is off the beaten path, across the lake from the more  famous lakeside  tourist destination Bellagio, you get to enjoy all the delights of this great little place with none of the annoying aspects of a typical tourist destination. The website for Varenna eloquently describes this special lakeside village:

 

Varenna - A corner of heaven dipped in the blue...a  pearl set between lake and mountain, nursed by the breeze and kissed by the sun...a place at the limits of the time where modern services marry with its old notoriety that touch every corner of the world.

 

After numerous walks along the romantic, arbor covered lakeside walkway, taking lunch at one of the many lakeside cafes or enjoying a fine Italian dinner in one of the many top flight restaurants in this romantic, rustic village, we reluctantly left Varenna with memories of the real experience of traveling as a true Nomads, feeling fortunate to have dropped anchor in this little corner of God's country on the big lake.

 

Mangiate, bevete e siate felici in Varenna,

d.l. stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

Travel Quote of The Week - "I could have bought a Mercedes. But a Mercedes can't make gelato, and this machine can" - Robert Davidson

 

Video Artist of The Week - If you like jazz, you will love these guys. From Italy - Marsico & Organ Logistics with guitarist Lorenzo Frizzera performing a composition called Lou - dedicated to the late great Lou Rawls.

New feature -For Quick Nomad Info - Click under Random Vagabond Alerts! at the top of the right margin.

 

 

UK's Natural Retreats Welcomes A Big Time Chef From Downunder

I have not really discussed our upcoming trip to The UK because I want the posts about the various places we plan to stay to be immediate and timely. However, after receiving an E-mail from the on-line concierge at Natural Retreats (Natural Retreats - Yorkshire Dales), a modern hotel retreat in the countryside of central England, with news about a visit from Aussie celebrity chef Bill Granger (Bill's Website) from Sidney, I just couldn't resist. Since food is such a critical part of traveling well, I would be derelict in my duty as a true Nomad Architect to ignore the serendipitous timing of a renown chef doing a tv show that also highlights the uniqueness and architectural quality of a place we will be staying.

The Introductory Video (Bill Granger Chef at Natural Retreats) gives a brief glimpse of the kind of place Natural Retreats is.  Great Britain is known for its traditional B&B's with old beds, old curtains, old furniture... well old everything. Natural Retreats is part of a new breed of hotels in the UK that is bringing fresh ideas and high design to travelers. With minimalist green designed cabins, set in the breathtaking countryside of central England, it has been on my radar since we started planning our UK trip.

One other item to keep in mind when you are making travel plans. Customer Service. How quickly do they respond to your questions? Is there web site easy to use and informative? Is the staff knowledgeable about the hotel and its amenities? Natural Retreats happens to have an Online Concierge to answer questions and assist with reservations. Not only was she helpful, answering every question while confirming our reservation, she was also witty, engaging and professional in every sense of the word. In this world of impersonal customer service, it was refreshing to deal with someone that truly cared about me and mine as we planned our stay.

The Thames , The Castles, Parliament, Snowdonia, The Lakes, Blenheim - It won't be long now!!!!

Travel Quote of The Day
Las Vegas: all the amenities of modern society in a habitat unfit to grow a tomato.  -  Jason Love

G'day   DLS