THE BEACH - THE PLACE - THE KIDS - THE FOOD - THE LAUGHS - ALL GOOD
Nothing makes you appreciate what shows up in your path as you wander down the road of life like kids and family. I must brag on my family - I have two amazing 40-something kids who make their parents proud every single day. They are both hard-working, successful people who have grown up to impress. I have the opportunity to see this quite often. However, as all Vagabonds know, travel with anyone, particularly kids, has ups and downs. The comic Jim Gaffigan captures the essence of the downside with some funny takes on traveling with his five kids.
I cannot agree with Mr. Gaffigan. It's all about attitude. There are several aspects of kids on vacation - they are usually loud, demanding, and intensely interested in a world they have yet to experience. So, you must have an attitude that enjoys loudness and kids always in motion. Watching my seven-year-old read all day fills his grandmother, known as Ya Ya, with immense pride. She is an obsessive reader with a book always close by 24-7. I read too, but, I'm not ridiculous! Then, of course, the latest addition to our family, our fifteen-month-old grandson had a blast. The beach, the laughter, and the love all around ensured that the boy completely enjoyed himself on his first trip to Ormond Beach. And yes, he was loud and involved.
For a "crew" with Grandma and Grandpa, their kids, and their kids' kids, you're going to need a nice three-bedroom for sleeping, eating, and having lots of fun on the beach. And a nice oceanfront balcony doesn't hurt. Ihighly recommend Ormond Beach to ensure your posse enjoys the beach, the sun, and the water. It's more exclusive, without the crazy stuff that happens on Daytona Beach to the South. My daughter-in-law, a very smart Nomad, found the perfect place - The Ormondy Condominium - with three bedrooms, three baths, and a large oceanfront balcony. She found it through VRBO . Traveling requires some creativity to get it right! The place had just been completely renovated with comfortable beds, large bathrooms/showers, and nice furniture in well-designed spaces.
In all honesty - everybody in my family LOOOVES the beach! I do not. The inactivity of lying on the beach on a hot day is just something I have never enjoyed. My primary job on this trip was the never-ending trips to Publix about a half mile from the condo. It worked to perfection - they all went down to the beach to enjoy the nice breeze while I was always coming and going to get various groceries as needed. There was one trip with my daughter-in-law. That was a unique experience - Oat Milk and many other "special" food items to ensure her kids don't end up in the emergency room! LOL!! When I wasn't in transit, I simply enjoyed a nice glass of Pinot Gris on the balcony.
So, the clan loved every minute of our trip to Ormond Beach. Never a dull moment and minimal crying. LOL!
There's only one group to put on the record player when you're discussing Beach Music - The Beach Boys! I concur with a great quote by the actress and musician Zooey Deschanel - "I remember having this friend in school who said she didn't like the Beach Boys. And in that moment I knew we couldn't be friends anymore."
I had the distinct pleasure of seeing this innovative group in the early seventies at Tully Gym at Florida State University with my girlfriend, now wife. Back then you could bring your own bottle of wine! My My - things have indeed changed! In honor of all Vagabonds who love the beach - The Beach Boys perform on The Ed Sullivan Show - 1964 - I GET AROUND!
One of the interesting things about travel in Europe is the size and diversity of the countries. The United Kingdom is 40 times smaller than the United States. Italy is about the size of New Mexico. Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe - about the size of Texas. Greece is smaller than Louisiana. France is 18 times smaller than the US. And Portugal, one of the smallest countries in Europe, is about the size of Maine. So, what do all these comparisons mean? Traveling in all of these countries is easy and immensely pleasurable. You spend far less time traveling and far more time exploring all of the ancient and modern places in European countries.
Today's post is about a special place for romantics who love to relax and enjoy being with and exploring with their significant other in one of the most interesting parts of the world. If you want glitz and glamour don't go to this place. If you desire unique beauty and pleasure - sign up and go. The Areias do Sexio is not cheap. However, IMHO, it is worth every penny. Even though I stress Value and Excellence in this travel blog, sometimes all Vagabonds have to go above and beyond, especially for a special occasion with the one you love. We went in early May six years ago and the prices were respectable. Mid-fall, when the weather is still pleasurable, is another good time to go for lower prices.
So - What To Do?
Just look out the floor-to-ceiling glass from your Love Room, your Tree Room, or your Land Room and you will see one of the most compelling ocean views ever created by nature. If you like walking in nature, put on your walking shoes and enjoy. You can rent a bike and ride through an enchanting habitat. I'm not a surfer, but, if you are so inclined, you can rent a surfboard and hang ten! You might want to reserve a spot with The Body & Mind Studio for Yoga, Pilates, Massage, and other activities for a holistic approach to physical and mental balance. They have a very cool restaurant, Noah Surf House, which serves up delicious choices of interesting cuisine. And, at the end of the day, head to the Rooftop for some flavors from the sea and a nice wine to enjoy the sunset over the Atlantic and watch the stars come out. It's Romantic to the nth power!
As an architect and an obsessive traveler, I look for places with great design, comfort, interesting food, and things to do. The Areias Do Seixo Hotel has everything you may desire to ensure your time there is distinctive and pleasurable. The hotel, the seashore, the natural environment and the people serving you will ensure your visit to this interesting country will be memorable.
“Travel opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your life with stories to tell.” Paula Bendfeldt
This week's tune was written by the great Bob Dylan in 1997 and is performed by the great Garth Brooks. It is one of the most romantic songs ever written and it has been recorded by many great artists. This arrangement by Garth, accompanying himself with only an acoustic guitar, is one of the best versions I have ever heard. I hope you enjoy it - TO MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE.
I am an architect. I love great design. I passionately love modern design. This place, The Ecork Hotel, shows the elegance, and minimalist grammar of great modern architecture. In addition to the sophisticated design, this hotel is the perfect place to lay your weary head after a day of enjoying the Alentejo Region.
This boutique hotel, with only fifty-six rooms, has it all - great design, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, spa, Turkish Bath, sauna, gym, rooftop bar, and one of the most interesting environments to explore and enjoy. Portugal is the largest producer and importer of cork in the world, and it is seen everywhere at Ecork.
From Ecork Hotel's Website:
"Among cork oaks, holm oaks, and native vegetation, it is the ideal destination for those looking for a sensory experience associated with the comfort, flavors, and colors of the Alentejo landscape. Here you will find the ideal conditions to enjoy a sabbatical break, as a couple or with the whole family. Regardless of the company, a peaceful and relaxing stay is always guaranteed for leisure or business."
Of course - All Wanderers need stuff to do. Walks, massages, swimming, day trips, etc., etc.. Ecork delivers everything. Whatever you and yours want to do, this hotel can provide. Take a quick short drive to the World Heritage City Evora, a member of the Network of Oldest European Cities. Additionally, the hotel is about an hour from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Like all large cities, there is a lot to see and do.
This hotel, in one of the most unique environments I have ever seen, is on my Top 10 List of places to stay before you die. And its price? A Suite Deluxe - from $108 / night - complete with a gorgeous interior, comfy bed, large shower, and nice terrace to enjoy the views. You also have access to the luxurious spa.
So, get crackin' and enjoy this hotel and one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. Next week we enjoy a very cool hotel on the Atlantic coast.
This week's tune is by the multi-award-winning British Folk Rock Band - Mumford and Sons. With innovative writing and performing this band turns out great power rock with a folk underpinning. They take rock music to a completely different place for their loyal listeners. We had the pleasure of hearing them along with 9,000 of our closest friends at Red Rock Amphitheatre about thirty minutes from Denver. Just copy th link below. The blog people are not cooperarting this week.
OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN PORTUGAL - WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELING WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE, JUST POUR SOME LOCAL VINHO AND ENJOY ROMANCE AT ITS BEST.
We had enjoyed a trip to the amazing country of Greece on the island of Santorini. If you want to read about that beautiful and interesting place just click - Santorini! The people, the food, the buildings, and the colors of this romantic island make travel a truly pleasurable experience.
We took a fairly quick flight from Athens to Lisbon, rented a car, and drove to the cool, inexpensive Convento Hotel in the small fishing village of Olhao in the Southern region of Algarve. We checked into a large double room with easy access to a small light-filled courtyard and a rooftop pool with views everywhere. This place confirms this blog's always-opined viewpoint of travel - All Vagabonds must travel for high pleasure at low cost. Our first-rate designed room is $165 in today's high-cost world.
There we were! A shorefront boutique hotel with views to die for. Beautiful sand, beautiful waves, and the sound of nature with my one and only. Plus, there are many things to see and do in this small village with beautiful buildings, some great museums and restaurants everywhere.
After three nights of pleasure in Southern Portugal, we headed north to one of the most interesting areas of Portugal to enjoy a first-class stay in an absolutely modern hotel just outside the ancient city of Evora. I'll give some thoughts and opinions on this place and hotel next week.
When in doubt all Wanderers must just get up and GO!
“I have found out there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” - Mark Twain
Travel Tune of The Week - From one of the greatest drummers in the world of jazz - Buddy Rich and his Big Band perform a classic jazz tune written by Weather Report - Birdland. We had the distinct pleasure of hearing Buddy Rich and his band perform this classic and many other great tunes while in architecture school.
Great Hotels Are Like Great Art - Know What You're Looking At!
My favorite professor in architecture school was on a mission. Both in the studio and in his favorite class - History and Mystery - his obsession was a long and arduous journey to impart knowledge to his students. As a former student of the founder of TheInternational Style - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, he insisted his young charges leave his classroom and studio with as much knowledge of the aesthetics, structure, and meaning of great architecture, art, and other artistic accomplishments, great and small, as he could impart. Many people are fond of the statement - I don't know anything about art, but I know what I like. Statements like that, in the presence of Professor Gettle, would get you a stern reprimand and an intense lecture on the nuances of Renaissance painters versus Cubism or the reasons for the fluted grooves in Greek columns, which are many and beyond the scope of this post.
Determining the coolness factor or the aesthetic worthiness of a small hotel and its surroundings requires much the same level of "knowledge" about what you are looking at and looking for in a place that can take your vagabonding to the next level. It's similar to comparing a Frank Lloyd Wright house to one designed by a lesser talent. By combining the notions presented throughout this blog with your own timely travel research, you will develop an appreciation of all the factors that make a place worthy of your time and money. Ultimately, the goal is to develop the knowledge and experience to ensure you know what you are looking at. If you believe, as any aesthetic vagabond believes, that architecture and design, when done well, can actually make your travels, indeed your life, better, then read on. Otherwise, skip the esoteric lingo and check out the latest "deal" from Kayak or Hotels.com. As someone once said when asked why he would spend $1,000 on a new suit as opposed to $200, he replied - Because I look much better in a $1,000 suit.
But Wait - It's Not Always About The Money
The focus of this blog has slowly transitioned, over many years, into an obsessive search for great hotels or other unique places to sleep that don't require a second mortgage to pay the rent. If you stay at The Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, for the princely sum of $3,500 to $4,800 per night, everything, and I do mean everything, better be otherworldly, or there will be trouble. Just sayin'.
If you have unlimited funds, you will always have the perceived best at your disposal. Expensive hotels, especially "resort" hotels, spend an inordinate amount of time and money on services that a true vagabond doesn't need. You really don't need your luggage hauled to your room with the mandatory explanation of how the television works or where the hair dryer is. A hotel we stayed in a while back in Jacksonville Beach, of all places, did not have a coffee maker in the room or ice makers on the floor, requiring you to call room service to have those rather pedestrian conveniences delivered to your room with the expectation of a tip for each delivery. All part of the "total service" hotel experience - tedious!
Finding a great hotel at a great price is not always easy. It depends on where you are headed and what you are looking for. It's easy in Europe, the UK being the one exception. Italy, France, Spain, Greece et al have scores of great places at great prices. And it's harder in the good ole USA. If you do a lot of homework, you can find reasonably priced hotels in parts of California, the Northwest, and the East Coast. Florida? Fugetaboutit, unless you go to Miami. And why would anyone do that on purpose? Boutique hotels are, indeed, rare in the Sunshine State. When planning a trip, you should include a few places where you would never tell your in-laws what you spent because they would try to have you committed. As my old roomie used to say - What's a few hundred dollars in a lifetime? As in life, travel is about balance, right?
Many factors go into the creation of a great hotel. Today, I am going where no other travel blogger has gone before. I am taking the plunge. I am waxing eloquent. I am going out on a limb. I am barking up the big tree. I am going to give my favorite nomads a short version of the unadulterated, unfettered, unabashed, and extremely opinionated checklist to use when searching for the perfect place to R & R like a true Nomad.
My List
i-escape - This hotel website is my favorite place to find great hotels with reasonable prices. They even have some great reasonably-priced hotels listed in California. They only list 15 hotels in the USA. They list 157 hotels in Italy, 165 in Spain, 124 in Greece, and 173 in the United Kingdom. One unique, castle-turned-boutique hotel in Tuscany we stayed in a few years ago is $154 per night in today's high-priced world - Castello di Tornano.
AIRBNB - A close No. 2 for sites to find amazing places to lay your head after an eight-hour day trip. They list thousands of homes, apartments, condos, and villas in America and Europe. If you're planning on visiting the West Coast of the USA, this site will be of immense help.
Mr & Mrs Smith Boutique Hotels - Another great site to find reasonably priced boutique hotels. Some as low as $50 per night.
VRBO - This site is decent, but, IMHO, not as good as AIRBNB. But it does have many places to lodge.
Tablet Hotels- A bit more expensive, but every hotel on any of their lists will be high-end and they do have places that are reasonably priced, mostly in Europe.
Aesthetics DO Matter
A well-designed hotel, like a beautiful woman, gives one pause to smile. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In hotels, less so. One of the discussions we have around here fairly regularly is the attempt to answer the modern architect's lament - Why do Americans embrace the McMansion model of residential design, as opposed to the beautiful, simple, and elegant "modern" residential designs that were immensely popular in the fifties and sixties but gave way to the faux estatelettes that litter suburbia today. Whether it's a sleek modern, minimalist design or a repurposed prison built in the fourteenth century that is now an elegant twenty-room boutique, the design of the place makes a difference.
Size Really DOES Matter
If anyone within the sound of this blog has ever stayed in a mega hotel and thought it worthy of their hard-earned cash, by all means, please let me know. Nothing is more tedious than a thousand-room hotel that is overstaffed and overpriced to respond to your every need. You become a bit player in a kind of Groundhog Day of valets, room service with average food, and lobbies full of hundreds of people thinking they have found the best of the best. The smaller, the better in my book. You get more real personal service because the people serving you are usually the owners who have invested their money and their lives in running their little part of paradise. Only in environs like the AIRBNB featured in the photo above will you truly appreciate the pleasure of sleeping in a special small place -Joshua Tree Olive Farm -Serene Farm Retreat - Spa. Cool romantic place with a hot tub in the middle of the desert. I recommend going in late Fall as it's very hot in the summer. Honesty always - we have not stayed there, but the reviews are all five-star.
And Speaking of Food
Food is the WD-40, if you will, of travel. We all agree you have to have a great place to sleep, but, without great food, you will eventually become a creaky, cranky vagabond. If you are staying in an urban hotel, the food choices are usually many. You should always check with the owners of your hotel for the best spots. Many boutique hotels are located in places far away from the madding crowd. This fact usually requires that food be served on-site. Dining on rabbit at Castello de Tornano, in the heart of Tuscany, was both a culinary and sensory delight that we still talk about. The fact that it was served in the former great hall of a vintage castle built in 1110 didn't hurt.
You Need Stuff To Do Too
OK, you've slept well. You've eaten well. And you have money to burn because you didn't spend the ridiculous sums and you didn't pay all the fees and tips associated with a big fat resort. No, if you followed all the Do's and Don'ts of finding the perfect little place, you ended up in an intimate boutique with a view to die for at a price you can brag about. But after the sleeping and the eating, a vagabond needs something to do. That's where the local environs of a hotel come into play. And personal preference becomes critical. If you happen to be one who lives for the urban delights of Paris, then, an isolated former hayloft turned country chic suite to die for in the middle of nowhere probably isn't your first choice. But, if communing with cows and rural artifacts is your thing, then say hello to the country life.
Recently, on our annual anniversary trip to a small five-unit boutique, Wild Springs Guest Habitat, in the even smaller town of Port Orford, Oregon, we enjoyed the wild beauty and isolation of the Pacific, as well as world-class art galleries and edgy art exhibits. All in a community with no more than three traffic lights. If you do your homework, you can have your travel cake and eat it too.
At The End Of The Day
When it's all said and done, the perfect vagabond hotel comprises those attributes that take you to a different time and place that feels right. Everyone is looking for God's Country. If you are passionate about travel and do your due diligence while planning your dream vacation, you will find your little piece of heaven on earth. In the city, in the country, by the sea, or in the desert. Travel changes you in ways you never expected. And it goes a lot better when you are in a place that meets your aesthetic, emotional, and cultural needs. So, happy hunting. Great travel requires inspiration and an unwillingness to settle. But when you sit with the ones you love and raise that glass of local vintage, under the big tree overlooking the big sea, you will know that it was worth it.
I hope 2024 takes you to places you never knew existed. Remember, the yellow brick road had a lot of curves in it, not to mention the interesting characters along the way.
Travel Quote of The Week - “The major advantage of domestic travel is that, with a few exceptions such as Miami, most domestic locations are conveniently situated right here in the United States.” – Dave Barry
Video Artist of The Week - Here's a very unique group of artists/singers I recently discovered performing their take on a great song written by Ben E. King in 1962 - STAND BY ME by Music Travel Love.
I SEARCHED YOUTUBE NORTH, EAST, SOUTH & WEST TO MAKE THIS POST - FUNNY STUFF!
To give my legions of fans a break from my erudite offerings and opinions on where to go, where to sleep, and where to eat (LOL), I thought I would share some funny, often hilarious takes and scenes on travel.
Here Goes!
1 - One of the most popular comics performing today - Jim Gaffigan on Disney and other thoughts on travel!
2 - The crankiest comedian in America - his take on traveling in Canada!
3 - A comic that really understands - K-von - Air Travel isn't what it used to be!
4 - Another comic that tells the truth we all know - Kevin Bozeman on Air Tavel!
5 - Something we can all relate to - a classic scene from Seinfeld!
6 - Traveling with five kids - Jim Gaffigan!
7- A scene from Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - he's not happy and needs a taxi!
Always remember my Fellow Vagabonds - Travel will always bring things into your world on the road, on the train, on the boat, or in the air that are funny!
Today's tune is from one of the most unique Texas Troubadours to ever write and perform great music. Someone once said - "Texas is like a whole other country". We've been to Texas numerous times, and that statement is the perfect description of the second-largest state in America. Here's a song about travel and Texas by one of the greats - LYLE LOVETTE & HIS LARGE BAND performing THAT'S RIGHT YOU'RE NOT FROM TEXAS.
lovers of travel to see the only skyscraper designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. The building is located in the old oil town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, a quick 45 minutes from Tulsa International Airport. We only stayed two nights to enjoy this unique place - there's not a lot to do in Bartlesville. LOL! However, like all Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, this restored boutique hotel will be a great place to experience. You can listen and view the history and current-day standing of this one-of-a-kind place to repose at your leisure. Just click on the video.
Bentonville!
Then we drove a pleasant 2-1/2 hours to the ninth-largest town in Arkansas. Its claim to fame is the location of the headquarters of WALMART. Bentonville has been the home of Walmart since 1950, now the largest private employer in the world. Because of Walmart's location just outside the small quaint downtown of Bentonville, there are many things to see and enjoy. Number one on the list of things to do - CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARTestablished by Alice Walton, the daughter of the late Sam Walton. There is a beautiful nature trail you can walk to this amazing museum from the boutique 21C Hotel downtown. This hotel, in addition to great rooms with comfortable beds and huge showers, has over 12,000 square feet of modern art space within the hotel. And, depending on when you go, the prices are not too high.
One last place to see, only a short drive from Bentonville, is THORNCROWN CHAPEL. This beautiful wood and glass chapel, built in the forests of Northwest Arkansas, is truly amazing. It was designed by E. Faye Jones, the most famous architect in Arkansas. This ingenious architect studied under Wright. I had the distinct pleasure of attending a lecture by Jones in architecture school. One of the most memorable experiences we had when we visited this chapel - an older gentleman, in a wheelchair, rolled into the chapel from behind a screen and sang several religious hymns acapella as about forty people sat and listened intently.
So, if you and your favorite Travel Vagabond are venturing west, The Nomad Architect highly recommends these places.
Since today's post is all about cutting-edge architecture and art, this week's music features one of the most cutting-edge jazz artists to ever sit down at a piano. We had the pleasure of seeing this innovative pianist and his quartet twice - 1969 at The First Atlanta Pop/Rock Festival and 2006 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida at the age of 86 - Never missed a beat! This tune - TAKE FIVE - features his quartet with Dave Brubeck-piano, Paul Desmond-alto sax, Joe Morello-drums & Eugene Wright-bass recorded live in 1964. This song is the highest-selling jazz recording of all time.
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