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Song and Family Go Together in Lowell

Tags: hotel in Lowell, Merrimack Repertory Theatre

International Music Summit in Ibiza

Traveling in Ibiza is all it’s reputed to be.  Even if you’re not planning on setting foot near the clubs, there are many wonderful things to do here that will live in your memory for years to come.  A rich island with a fascinating history, there are beaches to enjoy and a city to explore.  Settled in the heart of the Spanish Mediterranean, your in a perfect place to relax and let the worries melt away.  For accommodations, we’re pleased to present the best hotels Ibiza has to offer, with a generous combination of old-fashioned hospitality and all the conveniences of modern life.

It’s easy to stay connected to the world at large while you’re here, but you may not want to.  The call of the sea, and the thought of blending into a perfect moment on a perfect day are always options, and there are worse things that could happen than enjoying yourself for awhile.  If you happen to find yourself being lulled by the muffled sounds of electronic beats from a club nearby, and you have an interest in following the sounds, then you will very likely be pleasantly surprised.  It’s no secret that Ibiza is a prime spot for hearing techno in lavishly designed clubs, but some of the developments in the business are pretty fascinating.

At the International Music Summit in May of 2009, there were plenty of live shows to keep the hungry crowds satiated and thrilled.  The conferences and discussions behind the music reveal some interesting trends.  From Andrew Keen’s  review of the summit, there’s been a lot of discussion about the viability of the music industry, faced with the rapid changes brought on by file-sharing and open source internet music.  It turns out that in electronica, the money is in the djs, who perform week after week, and this live experience builds a respect in the fans, who are more likely to pay for their music than other listeners in the world.  While the electronica revolution marches on, it seems to be dancing to some pretty remarkable beats in the hearts of the music fans.  It’s as good a reason as any to check out those sounds down the beach.

Tags: Andrew Keen's review, best hotels Ibiza, International Music Summit

Awareness in Spain

Today’s mission is awareness. Awareness of me, how I feel, what I think and how I react to the encounters I have in the world today. Today from my best Madrid hotel I sit on the balcony and feel the warm morning sun on my face. Aware of its warmth and its increasing as I sat with face pointed sun ward. Awareness is a chore. With all the distractions in the mind and from the outside world awareness is generally fleeting at best. Remaining focused on awareness requires work, focus and most of all awareness. breathing I feel the air pass over my upper lip and flow into my nostrils cool and dry filling my chest and belly. At he top of my breath I begin to release it slowly feeling the warm moist air pass out of my nostrils and over my upper lip and back into the ocean of air we are all connected to. The breathing continues rolling in and out like waves on the ocean drawing in from the seemingly limitless ocean of air into my lungs and the releasing it back to that same ocean that we all are breathing from. Aware that I am one of billions of creatures currently connected to this ocean of air. All dependant on the same ocean and involved in the same rhythm of drawing in and releasing back into the same ocean of air. I continue on for a few more moments when this awareness is changed to the awareness that my stomach is growling. This brings in the awareness that things are ever changing and it is time to get something to eat. Yet the food preparation, and the eating process are act of awareness in themselves. Awareness of colors, shapes, textures, smells and flavors. The input to the senses is great, the awareness of all the input can be difficult and therefore sometimes easier to wander off into the world of distractions. After eating breakfast with awareness I continued throughout my day with this same intention and desire to be aware!

Tags: awareness, Best hotel Madrid, meditating, Spain

Ibiza Serenity

We found an Internet cafe and we were able to send some photos back to friends of our day at the beaches of Ibiza. Then we gathered up and had a light lunch and a lot of water and returned to our room for a quick nap, getting ready, we giggled, for a night of Ibiza opening parties. We rousted up and had a shower and went to Cafe del Mar to watch the incredible sunset. We had paella with lots of prawns and sausage and red wine and a small dish of house made ice cream for dessert then went for a walk down the beach, then to the harbor. We then went to the old historic part of the city. We had clubbed it for a few days now and looked forward to a quiet and serene evening, just missing one of the Espuma parties at a club called Amnesia where the club becomes  filled with foam and people get soaked. We thought though tonight we’d investigate a few of the fifty beaches on the island and we watched the moon come up in the Mediterranean Sea, just out of earshot of the throbbing nightlife of Ibiza.

The next day Sally had hurt her foot so we grabbed a couple Segways and made our way up the cobbled street. We were both familiar with their operation so we didn’t need lessons on how to operate them. Lean a bit forward and there you go forward, lean back and you go back. Handlebars right you go right and left to correct back again to the left. It’s easy. It was easy on our feet too as the machine smoothed out the bumpy scenic street and took them all the way to the top of Dalt Vila, the old town of Ibiza.

Tags: Amnesia, Cafe del Mar, Ibiza opening parties, Ibiza Serenity

Marbella Lifstyles of the Rich and Famous

If you are one of the rich and famous, if you drive a Rolls Royce or Ferrari, if you own an obscenely decked out yacht, if you have the paparazzi following you or if you just wish that were your life, then you know where Marbella, Spain is. If on the other hand, you are none of the above, then let me tell you. Marbella is part of the Spanish region, Andalusia on the Costa del Sol by the Mediterranean Sea and has less than 100,000 residents. However, it has the highest per capita income in Europe. Back in the 1940’s it was just another small fishing village with a very ancient and documented past dating back to the 7th century BC.

Something happened and it became the in place for the in crowd and everyone that was anyone wanted to live or vacation in Marbella and the surrounding area. Antonio Banderas and wife Melanie Griffith have homes there, as does Joan Collins. Sean Connery was at one time a Marbella property owner. The Golden Mile is a stretch of beach for the very wealthy and their expensive toys and tastes. Bling is everywhere…money is here and it is spent here. The luxury hotels Marbella offers has the same amount of bling, the same richness, the same lavish display of wealth with the staff and service to match. Talk about paradise, you find it when you walk through the doors of one of these fabulous hotels. And of course there is the average population that is hoping to spot a favorite movie star or sports celebrity, maybe shake their hand or get an autograph.

There is a very popular, less expensive area in Marbella, which is delightful, and that is Orange Square in Old Town. With the superb restaurants offering mouthwatering local cuisine and quaint shops nestled among lush foliage and lots of trees, you can have a tremendous experience without the hefty price tag. Whatever the depth of your pockets, Marbella is a definite experience.

Tags: Joan Collins, Lifstyles of the Rich and Famous, luxury hotels Marbella, Marbella, Rolls Royce

James Dean Acted in New York

New York is a great American city. It is a standard cultural icon and also house some of the best museums and theatres in the country. It is known as the city that never sleeps and it works hard to maintain this distinction. It is the career icon for many artistic genres and many people believe they need to work in New York City to be successful. In addition, it receives tourists from around the world who are attracted to the many shopping, entertainment and cultural experience opportunities the city offers. Broadway is one of the most famous boulevards in the world, and the theatre scene is internationally known. Any boutique hotel in New York is guaranteed to be filled with visitors who are in town for a Broadway show. Many film actors had a start in the theatre and also return to it after they have achieved commercial success in Hollywood. James Dean is another American icon, and he too had his career begin in New York.

James Dean was born in Marion, Indiana. He is one of the most famous American actors and is often considered to be an icon of the method acting system, though he only made three films in his short career. Before moving to California, he acted in New York, getting his first Broadway role in the production of See the Jaguar. His first film was East of Eden, in which he played the troubled youth Cal. This part brought him incredible respect from the community and helped to land him the role of Jim Stark in his next film Rebel Without a Cause. This is his most famous role, and the one that defined him in the national and historic eye. In this film he also played a trouble youth, which contributed to his recognition as the icon of this major national theme. His final, Giant, also starred Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. Unfortunately, Dean died before the film was finished. Some of his scenes had to be dubbed over by another actor, and it was after the film opened that he became so nationally known and loved.

Tags: acting, boutique hotel, James Dean, New York

Mumbai Film, Food and Fun

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, India is the legislative and financial capital of the Indian State of Maharashtra. It lies at the mouth of the Ulhas River on the west coast and with over 14 million residents is considered the second most populated city in the world. There seems to be two distinct seasons, one humid the other dry. Both appealing, both attracting different types of tourists looking for different activities. Mumbai has become an exotic world mixture of cultures, traditions and beliefs. The entertainment industry is abundant here with the numerous festivals throughout the year. Theatre is very prominent and in the forefront with The International Film Festival and the awards ceremony for the Filmfare Awards, which is the oldest and most renown in the Hindi film industry. The Wadala neighborhood boasts the world’s largest IMAX theatre. Marathi, Hindi, English and other neighboring languages are spoken in the theatres, making it very easy to attend a performance you will understand.

Whatever your needs, select a Mumbai Bombay hotel where you will be pampered and spoiled by the ever attentive and friendly staff. The many fabulous restaurants, both in hotels and on their own offer the finest cuisine where you can experience savory and mouthwatering local dishes. The nightlife is exciting and plentiful with the many nightclubs and bars located throughout the city. You can party and dance all night as you take in this side of what to do. There are beautiful gardens, museums, art galleries, water parks, and the zoo all offering hours of entertainment and pleasure. In February, the Elephanta Festival is held, highlighting the many talented musicians and dancers. This annual event attracts participants from all over India and spectators from all over the world. The beautiful architectural designs of the ancient and modern buildings are drawn from many time periods. You will never be lacking for something to do when visiting Mumbai.

Tags: Bombay, Film, Food, Fun, hotel, IMAX, Mumbai

The Spiritual and Scientific City of Jaipur

One of the aspects of Indian culture that tourists will notice upon their visit and their stay in the Jaipur luxury hotels, is the the city stresses the importance of scientific thinking, the idea the the logical mind is the part of the soul that supports the beliefs of religion.  This is evident in the Jaipur Observatory, the same observatory built by the king three hundred years ago upon his insistence that the stars and the night skies, that the study of astronomy held importance.  Jaipur is the site for many festivals and cultural events and religious celebrations.  To be in the Pink City during one of these events is truly spectacular, as the pale pink walls are the perfect contrast to the colorful parades and processions.  The people are dressed in their best, and decorated heavily with gold and silver bangles and necklaces.  March is one of the times of these such festivals, as the Elephant Festival takes place.  For not only are the people dressed in their colorful best, the gentle beasts are as well.

And any time of year is good for a visit to Old Jaipur.  This is a place for sweet tooths, where it is not fresh fruit in the markets and the stands, but some of the most exotic candies and pastries in the world.  There are so many different kinds of sweet treats, that one will simply loose count, especially in the shops of Laksmi Mishthan Bhandar.  This is not an area for those concerned with calorie or sugar content, this is an experience for those on vacation from every aspect of real life, including their diets.  And many of the restaurants in the area serve up food from various ethnicity’s, while live dance and music is performed or maybe even one of the elegant and delicate Indian Puppet shows.  Jaipur is city of many colors, set in a back drop of pink, and should be visited at least once in ones lifetime.

Tags: Indian Puppet shows, Jaipur, luxury hotels, Scientific City, Spiritual

The Fabulous City of Bilbao

Bilbao is a Spanish city that is steeped in history, and it is pretty much written on the walls of the all the buildings, the restaurants, the museums and the luxury hotels.  Bilboa is also a city that was built over a span of seven hundred years, and the architecture and the various influences and designers set the background for one of the most stunning cities in the world.  It is culturally aware city, and extremely art driven.  From the Guggenheim to the Basque Museum, and centuries old paintings and sculpture to the archaeological artifacts and remains, the two comprise just a couple of the dynamic and vibrant locations and activities for tourists to soak up while on holiday.  Aside from the larger museums there are more than twenty smaller independent galleries that line the city streets, many of them with permanent collections as well as touring exhibits of the hottest and most talented artist of the modern and contemporary world of art today.

As as far as finding shows to attend in the world of performing arts, there is the Palacio Euskalduna, an Opera house that seats more than two thousands.  On stage here, as well as the long-running seasonal Operas, international bands and musicians perform, as well as the local orchestras of Bilbao and the Euskadi Symphony.  And as with the larger museums and smaller galleries, there are more than seventy five smaller venues in the city performing live shows as well as cinematic festivals and current films.  And many more are built as some of the most famous architects today have signed on to a variety of projects including, Calatrava, Gehry and Pelli just to name a few.  There are just around one million people living in the city today, and is  the force that is driving the economic and social development of the entire Gulf of Biscay region.  Carnivals and festivals celebrated in the region are celebrated in Bilbao, and there are certain festivals as the Semana Grande, and the Carnival that are geared especially for young children.  This one vacation spot that is perfectly suited for the entire family.

Tags: Basque Museum, Bilbao, Fabulous City, Gulf of Biscay region, luxury hotels, Palacio Euskalduna

The Artistry of the Punjab Embroiders

India has a very long tradition of arts and crafts, based on age old skills and attention to detail and techniques passed down through generations of artists and artisans.  Different cities have their specialties, and the city of Punjab is known throughout the country for their embroidered materials, scarves, pillows, bedspreads and table cloths are some of the pieces that tourists from other parts of the country as well as those traveling abroad, come to purchase and trade.  There are many India five star hotels located in Punjab, that make these global shopping trips a pleasure and a luxurious way to spend time in the country.  The Punjab artists are well known for their intricate design work using a multitude of colors.  One of the motifs used most often in the work from this region is the Phulkar motif.  This is to indicate flowers that are growing.  Many of the patterns thus contain these various floral creations.

This form of design combined with the vibrant colors has been one of the traditions of the artists for close to two thousand years.  References to this type is found in the ancient texts, the poetry of Wais Shah, the most beloved Sufi poet, and even in the scriptures of the Vedas.  The present design forms can be traced back to those in use during the fifteenth century under the rule of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh.  Many different forms have developed throughout the years.  The designs are placed on cloth that is hand-spun called Khadi.  The Punjab designs are specific and require a delicate touch and attention to detail which has been responsible for the works to be the most sought after and cherished.  Some of the pieces are so entrenched with the floral designs that the embroidery from Punjab got the nick-name “Bagh” which is the word for garden.  Every bit of the material is covered with flowers.  This colorful work can be found in the studios of the artisans in Punjab as well as in many of the open air markets throughout the city.

Tags: Artistry, arts and crafts, Embroiders, five star hotels, hotels, India, Punjab