Monday 22 February 2016

New Year

MY PRIVATE MEXICO

I begin to write this Blog today...This is a very important date. HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY…27th January 2016……..Lest we forget…..!

There are many very prominent Jewish Families throughout Mexico.  I have had the pleasure of working on some fabulous Jewish Weddings.

Mexico City has many   centrally located synagogues. Plus Hotels with Kosher Kitchens. One such property is a particular  choice for me.  Suites Obelisk. Situated in Polanco. This Hotel is firmly featured in “My Private Mexico” www.suitesobelisk.com

September is the last  time I wrote a Blog…..  So a lot has happened since then!!

EUROSTAR...
October began with my Birthday... and what a Birthday!!… I did not know until the morning in question that we were to leave at 9.30a.m. for PARIS…. Everything had been arranged by our good friend Mike Clark. www.hospitalityline.co.uk
All a total surprise to me….The journey was fantastic!!!… I threw together a picnic …which was completely unnecessary since the food sold on board is super not to mention the great wines.…Nothing can compare with the
Comfort, luxury and total no hassle of this travel..!! No Airports,  No Crowds. .Bliss! We walked to our little Hotel…personally selected by my Dear husband www.hotel-opera-faubourg-paris.com...I was immediately off shopping of course what joy I was within walking distance of Galeria La Fayette! Our evening was just an explosion of excitement and Romance!!! This is the only way I can describe it all!! A Dinner Cruise but not just any cruise…My oh my it was out of this world….Yachts de Paris www.ydp.fr…..I was in heaven!!……..The Next Day my same Dear Husband insisted… we visit a Restaurant by the Gare de Nord!!!I thought “Why on earth would he choose here!!… I argued of course because I had wanted to visit Le Petit Zinc a blast from my past!! but No he would not budge we were going to go here www.terminusnord.com  adamant!!  Guess why…. As we sat there in the glorious sunshine with our Oysters and Champagne who should be running across the road but my adored little Charlie with his Mother and Father!!All the way from Kings Cross!! I have no words!!

I cannot wait to do this all over again..!!

EUROSTAR TICKS ALL MY BOXES..! Thanks to Sarah Gaze for all her efficient help.
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CANCUN TRAVEL MART. OCTOBER 2015
We attended this Industry Travel Fair expertly put together by the great LIZZIE COLE.…. www.cancuntravelmart.com

LGW/CUN THOMAS COOK… Excellent Service. Excellent Flight…….

Met by our Ground Handlers MAYALAND TRAVEL… lovely Car. Gorgeous Pink Roses….I have worked with Mayaland for 30 years! Owned by Fernando Barbachano, My dear Friend. The Barbachano Dynasty…..
A Story all its own to be told another day! www.mayaland.com  
LE REVE….Arriving just as the sun was setting….. at this my treasured Boutique property… Cocktail awaiting … Room Gorgeous!  Dinner a small triumph. Toni and Julieta have made this Gourmet all inclusive plan something really special ……My Home from Home…… www.hotellereve.com
Many visits to The Private Mexico Hotels Collection …made very difficult by the fact that I had by this time managed to break my Leg!!! Not knowing it was actually fractured I literally walked through the pain and just drank loads of margaritas!! 
Attended the grand opening of this property. Daniel Mellado (probably the best Sales Director in the World!!) had asked me personally to attend so broken leg or not I was determined to go!! Journey made easier by the fact that lovely Eugene Rybeki owner of AMSTAR had us chauffer driven there www.amstardmc.com

MELIA PARADISUS…             www.paradisus.com
KIN SOL SOLEIL ……              www.kinsolsoleil.com
ESCENCIA…….                        www.hotelesencia.com
CASA TURQUESA…                www.casaturquesa.com
SECRETS AKUMAL.                www.secretsresorts.com/akumal-riviera-maya
VICEROY…                              www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/rivieramaya
All these Hotels have been personally chosen by me to be included in “My Private Mexico”!!

COZUMEL… yes of course I went over to “My” Island… to see my Dear Friend Nassim Joaquin… I can never be too far away from Cozumel….!  How wrong people are about this my adored place. It is not just a “Cruise “destination it has beautiful, rolling, undisturbed beaches  ...My good friend Rita Morales introduced me to “Aura” www.secretsresorts.com/aura owned by Rafa Nadal!! Not a lot of people know this!! …..
SCUBAFEST……This is an event held every year in Cozumel... www.cozumelfest.com/eng

LEOBARDO MORALES… www.leomorales.net   
I was put to absolute shame complaining of my Leg when I met this marvelous man!! Leobardo is the World champion disabled diver who lost his leg to cancer 7 years ago…..The man is a genius. He honed his craft growing up on Cozumel…….Learning from the Master…Jacques Cousteau!!!
Please come to know this idyllic place……

Before my Broken Leg incident I was due to travel to Mexico City and onto CUERNAVACA...

I have a small selection of favoured Hotels in Mexico City:

This was originally known as the CASA VIEJA. Still with same Owners.  A true hidden Gem situated in the elegant Polanco district.  A delightful tree lined street and completely “different”.

OBELISK...  www.suitesobelisk.com
Also situated in Polanco, as I have mentioned it is a favoured Hotel for Jewish functions. Great Apartments, extremely elegant but excellent value for money.

STARA SUITES... www.starahotels.com
Anyone reading my blogs will know I love this out of Town Hotel. Situated very close to the Diego Riviera/Frida Khalo museum so a good stopover for the touring visitor.

STARA SUITES. Have now opened a new property in the ZONA ROSA DISTRICT OF Mexico City…
STARA HAMBURGO
You will be reading more on this property in due course…………………

I intend in my next Blog to talk in depth ref Food/Restaurants…Meanwhile my readers might be interested to know that from the 50 BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD…three are based in Mexico City!!!  Not forgetting of course my absolute favourites
CUERNAVACA AND THE HACIENDA CORTES

THE ICING ON THE Cake! What a glorious, wonderful place to visit.  Originally the former 16th century home of Hernan Cortes who conquered Mexico!

I long to revisit here soon… I love this area. Cuernavaca known as the City of Eternal Spring. To some extent overlooked these days by the Tourist…How sad since it is so beautiful.  Many Mexico City Dwellers have their weekend homes in Cuernavaca.  When I first began to work with Mexican Tours the circuit of MEXICO CITY/CUERNAVA/TAXCO was a regular weekly departure. And then always onwards to glorious ACAPULCO…So overlooked these days…

We now have an added attraction to see in Cuernavaca...

HACIENDA DE CORTES… www.hotelhaciendadecortes.com

I will also be designing for “My Private Mexico” a sample of the specialised Bespoke Itineraries  we put together to cover lots of these “Off the beaten Track Mexican Trails” Covering the entire country.
For example “THE COPPER CANYON” I wonder how many people heard the Radio 4 programme on the Tarahumara Indians  based in the COPPER CANYON  mountains…. No Blood pressure,  No diabetes  They just run!!!

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET…November 2015… www.wtmlondon.com
So we came to the famous event hosted at EXCEL… All very well attended… Mexican stand as always one of the very best.

I found it all somewhat difficult trying to get around on crutches!!

2015… WENT OUT WITH A Bang... So welcome to 2016…and “My Private Mexico”…..

F.I.T.U.R. FABULOUS TRAVEL MARKET IN MADRID. As wonderful as ever.

FITZPATRICK HOTELS….. www.fitzpatrickcastle.com
Attended a terrific event at DUKES HOTEL…Our hosts were my good friends from Fitzpatrick Hotels… What wonderful memories I have of the great Paddy Fitzpatrick what a character… For years Mr. TWA!!…Then he even became the Guatemalan Ambassador for Ireland. His daughter continues in his famous footsteps plus Grandson….

I have stayed at the Hotel…I cannot praise the property enough… and the food!!! I died and went to Heaven!! Their Hotel in NYC is perfect and guess where it is?...almost next door to Bloomingdales….Paradise for me!!! www.fitzpatrickhotels.com

F.A.A.  (Foreign Airlines Association)…..First meeting of the Year always held at MELIA WHITEHOUSE…

HOT OFF THE PRESS…..ALITALIA TO BEGIN A DIRECT FLIGHT ROME/ MEXICO…!!!!

Wishing everyone a very late HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

More to follow late February /March. I am going to dedicate my next Blog to Mexican food. Mexican restaurants/Mexican daily life….My absolute favourite Mexican Restaurants! Meanwhile take note one of my Favourite Restaurants in London…
SEAWISE…http://www.seawisecamden.com…FISH AND CHIPS  CAMDEN TOWN!!!