“nüvi” could be your new versatile travel assistant that’s approximately the size of a deck of playing cards. The “nüvi” is a portable GPS navigator, traveler’s reference, and digital entertainment system, all in one coming from GARMIN. Combined with detailed maps, the nüvi provides automatic routing, turn-by-turn voice directions, and finger-touchscreen control—making it easy to find your way anywhere. The unique “text-to-speech” feature calls out turns by street name. Additional audio and content support is provided for the optional Garmin Travel Guide and Garmin Language Guide software packages.
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Thanks to Josh Spear, we have made two wonderful new friends this week end: Charles and Marie. His new project is an amazing roller coaster ride when it comes to all things life style, which we obviously adore. A shop which will feature limited editions and pre launches, discerning city guides full of juicy stories, and a daily special really impress us here. And Charles and Marie are some pretty amazing personalities…

So make sure to say hello to Charles and Marie, hopefully you know somebody who knows them as well so you can get an invitation to the ‘invitation only’ area, if not… well, patience is a virtue…

…is a Gaetano Pesce exhibition of the Triennale di Milano curated by Silvana Annicchiarico. Until January 8, 2006 you can enjoy the exhibition at the Vitra Design Museum in Weil/Germany.

Born in La Spezia, Italy, in 1939 and a resident of New York from 1980 to the present, Gaetano Pesce is one of the most internationally influential designers of the last 40 years with his politically engaged and highly authentic body of work. Yet the exhibition is not honouring him with a classic retrospective. Instead, it employs individual stages of development to illuminate theoretical approaches and problems in Pesce’s work that have their roots in the past and yet were and continue to be forward-looking. Didactically, it does not focus on distanced objects, drawings and texts but also engages visitors on an emotional level through its radically staged presentation.

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As promised I’ve double-checked “the pure” yesterday.

The hotel is not yet totally crowded, but first guests are booked in. Three ladies at the reception desk welcomed us and one of them presented the hotel.

I’m not sure whether I really like that ultra-clean lounge and breakfast area. I definitively like the complimentary wireless internet access with two Apple ibooks at your disposal. Fitness room and Spa were not yet ready - they are small but elegant.

The rooms are not very large-scaled but elegant and modern furnished. The 20″ flat screens and a huge Media Jukebox supply sufficient entertainment. During the summer you should take care to make a reservation for the 5th floor as these rooms are the only climate controlled ones.

At the moment they charge roughly 150 € per night - but during a trade fair this will double.

To sum it up: I will recommend my guest to check in at “the pure”!!!

www.the-pure.de

Fortunately we could spent some time for store checking around Madeleine and Rue Saint-Honoré… Established in 1886 by Auguste Fauchon, Fauchon is one of the world’s leading gourmet food and specialty companies. As an “epicure in the know” you should have seen this being once in Paris. Its gastronomic selections encompasses tea, coffee, chocolate, cookies, caviars, fois gras, black truffles from Perigord, spices and dozens of further ingredients.

The modern shop with its product presentations and all the lovely packaging is a well worth seeing piece of art!

26/30, place de la Madeleine
75008 Paris
www.fauchon.com

Finally!!! Every time when people asked me to recommend a hip hotel in Frankfurt, they got me into deep trouble with their request. What a relief to announce this:

Today was the official opening of “The Pure“. The Pure is a four-star hotel with 50 rooms, located in Frankfurt’s city center closed to the main station, banking district and the trade fair.

As you may see from the pics…it’s really pure… white, white, white… and a little orange

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Get ready for three days of thrills at the action-packed MINI United event.

Misano in Italy will be the place to be at the end of october, if you are a Mini aficionado like I am!

Check out their website for your sign up, take part in their sweepstake or look for your lift share to arrive at Misano…

They will entertain us around the clock with historic models, racing Minis, heli-rides, top-notch live music, leading DJ’s, a chill-out pool, Play-Statiom-games and many many more…

I’ll be there and hope to meet you!!!

www.miniunited.com

Growing up part time on Mallorca, I remembered this little B&B as, well a usual B&B. Small, quaint, a little old and dusty, but full of charm. S’hostal d’esporles was one of many small hotels in the small, by tourists unfrequented villages, that are so compelling by the mere fact that they withstand the urge to attract hundreds of potential guests. How stunned was I when I saw the pictures of the remodeled, now Hotel Rigel Esporles. Blame it all on Rafael Trobat and Miguel Miró who run the only acceptable interior decorating company on the island, Puigdorfila. Their impeccable taste and sensibility have transformed this little mom and pop into a precious little gem. Still only 10 rooms, the exterior remained unchanged, yet the inside is a new world. You needed a reason to visit the island of Mallorca? It doesn’t get much better than this. Great location, great food and an attentive young staff should make this visit one to remember. Make sure to travel in October, it wont be as hot as it can be in the summer and the tourists will have disappeared by then, leaving you to explore one of the most amazing islands you’ll ever visit.

MM

…Juan Amador.

“Feinschmecker” Germany’s leading Gourmet magazine is electing the top German restos every year in different categories. This year’s overall winner is “AMADOR“.

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This summer a lot of my friends spent their vacation on this beautiful Balearic Island IBIZA…

I’ve been there several times… but this was many years ago. I really loved to be there and every time being there we had so much fun and enjoyed the unparallel flair that much…

During the last years I’ve heard many people posing the question, whether Ibiza is still that very special place to be. New destinations - for example in Turkey and Malta - occurred and were said to be the hippest places in Europe!

I’m convinced that - at the latest during this summer - Ibiza had its great comeback.

Being back home to rainy Germany everybody was daydreaming… what a wonderful time and what wonderful places to be…

And El Ayoun is one of their outstanding recommendations!

Open the portal you see above and enter to The Moroccan Nights…
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