Luxury Patrol

A stroll down the National Mall in Washington D.C. is captivating. Flowers bloom all around as children enjoy the smell of freshly cut grass. National landmarks surround the grand avenue sprinkled with museums and gardens. The Potomac River flows into the Tidal Basin surrounded by cherry blossom trees. This is the first sight many think of as Washington D.C., a powerful city filled with history. I know it as a city of opulence and splendor.

Its very name captures magic in the minds and hearts of those who have visited and experienced this incredible miracle of vision, architecture and design. And, it awakens desire in those wanting to see this global landmark for themselves.

Lerner and Lowe captured the Magic of Ascot so brilliantly in the sequence for “My Fair Lady.” Cecil Beaton captured the Magic of the importance of Dress, Style, Fashion and Decorum for the Opening Day.  Beaton had a sea of "color" from black to white.  Reality is a rain bowed hue of every color on earth, blending and clashing in exuberant fashion. Gentlemen are required to be attired in Morning Dress - either pearl grey with matching hat, or Black coat, grey trousers and black hat. Military are uniformed and beribboned, ethnic dress is worn by some.

For those of us who always considered ourselves travelers, and never tourists, this part of our lives is even more luxurious because we have so much more money to spend!!!  Hey, there has to be some advantages in getting older - aging gracefully - call it what you wish, but here are a few tips for you to follow when traveling anywhere in the world.

One of the world's most beautiful Cities, and one which seems to be in constant fear of just floating away on the flood tides.

Because of its breathtaking beauty and grandeur, Venice is a place that makes you decide whether to spend most of your time outdoors, taking in the unparalleled beauty of the City.  Or, you still have a passion to traipse through Museums, Art Galleries, Churches/Basilicas or other cultural/historical buildings. 

Just like the American Great Lakes, there are several of note in Italy, and we'll visit them.But, let's take a first look at Lake Como, in English and American, but the more romantic - Lago di Como in Italian. Whilst it has been a popular tourist destination for many years, with the advent of George Clooney and his villa full of Hollywood friends, Lago di Como is a paparazzi mecca. 

The Castles of the Emerald Isle are featured.

America's East Coast Riviera, that's how locals feel about the Hamptons.Then again, there are locals, and locals.  The real locals are the people of Long Island who live in the Hamptons year around.  The other "locals" are rich owners and renters who inhabit from May till September.  New Yorkers, for some strange reason, have come to regard summer as that time between Memorial Day (third Monday in May), and Labor Day, first Monday in September.  So, every piece of action is crammed into three oh so short, super-revved up months of summer.

THE FRENCH RIVIERA - the bluest blue water, the clearest bluest sky, yellow perfection of the sun, and indolent days spent on a beach, a boat, or partying all night.  That's what most people think of the French Riviera, the Cote d'Azure, and of St.Tropez in particular.

“Come with me to the Casbah!”

Who said those immortal words, in which movie, or book?

They certainly capture the magic of what lies ahead when you chose to visit this beautiful city on the water.  For such a small country, Morocco is blessed with several “major” cities, all with their own real and distinctive feelings and fabulous flavors.

We all remember the FIRST TIME! Yes, that first time, but all the other wonderful ones that fill our lives with joy and happiness. I was living in San Francisco, a fine place to live, and like so many places I have lived; it’s in the center of so many other things. It’s a hub, to the north and the wine country, to the south LA, Palm Springs, the heat and Hollywood. And, just a short ride away into the mountains for skiing.  And there I fell in love – with skiing and Squaw Valley.

Few destinations are as charming and poetic as Salzburg, Austria.  This cherished city, protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, has no end of enchanting qualities.  Flowing rivers, snow-capped Alps, baroque architecture, castles, cathedrals, and a preserved “Old Town” transport you back in time.  It is home to one of the world’s most beloved composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Every summer, the city hosts the Salzburg Music Festival, a renowned celebration of music and drama, to honor their favorite son.  The Von Trapp family, from the beloved film The Sound of Music, also calls this city home.  Throughout Salzburg, you will recognize churches, gardens, and castles featured in the picture.  You may even hear Julie Andrews’ voice echoing from the hills themselves.  

Long Live the King...
And with the arrival of Prince George Alexander Louis Wales, there are now three Kings in Waiting and Her Majesty looks as young and robust as ever.  But the tale of England, the United Kingdom, and the British Isles is long and tortured.  Power and Control by the Houses of Lords fought for hundreds of years to wear the Crown of England.   

Puerto Vallarta – located just below the Sierra Madre Mountains on the Pacific Ocean’s Bahia de Banderas where the states of Jalisco and Nayarit meet. There are beaches with sand so white it looks like it was poured fresh out of an hourglass. Time almost stands still in this place that is noted as the friendliest city in the world. Enough about the lesson in geography – the reason this place is on the map is because of Elizabeth Taylor! Elizabeth’s affair with Richard Burton was highly publicized in the 1960’s.

The Czech capital is a small city, but don’t let its size fool you. From an infamous 5-storeyed nightclub to some of the most breathtaking castles in the world – Praha will leave you swooning. There are innumerable ways to explore the city – on foot, bike or segway or even in a majestic vintage car. Whatever your choice of transport might be, the awe-inspiring Prague Castle and the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral are not to be missed. 

If you like deserts, you’ll fall in love with PALM SPRINGS!  It’s like a giant mirage built in the desert, in the suffocating heat, with a/c spritzers cooling you as you walk the action packed streets.

The French Riviera explodes with famous cities, and places, restaurants and museums, choose one, choose them all. It's guaranteed you'll have an amazing time and come back again, and again, and again.

NEWYORKANDFOOD - yes, they're inseparable.  As any New Yorker knows, and any visitor too, from the vendors on the Streets, to the five star restaurants, New York has the best food in the world.  Any discussion on New York has to talk about it's foodies! Yes, we invented the word for those distinctive people who seemingly live, breathe and eat their way through life and New York.

Ludwig II of Bavaria – “the Mad King of Bavaria” of drama and history. He may have been mad, but what he created with Neuschwanstein, and other palaces could only be divine madness. 

SBM rules and reigns supreme in Monaco.  In addition to the grande hotels of bygone years, they own the two major Beach Hotels.  The famed Monte Carlo Beach Club, with its world famous concert facility the Sporting Club.  And the new SBM shuttle buses take you between these destinations during your stay at the SBM hotels.

MONTE CARLO - or, as Somerset Maugham famously said, "A sunny place for shady people!" Some of those crimes have made international headlines, especially the sad, sorry tale of the death of international banker/financier billionaire Edmond Safra. Let's talk about the happier times, and more fun crimes.

Marbella, deep into Southern Spain, the region known as Andalucía, is one of the world's greatest and most famous resorts for the super-rich and very famous.  Its renewed popularity came with the advent of two concepts spearheaded by several great and famous men.

NICE is the arrival and departure point for the South of France, but that's what you should consider it to be and not a real stopping off point.  Nice is France's third largest City, is industrial by work, and a new City which grew up around an old City.   And, that's the nicest part of NICE, the old port area.