Budapest- A Beautiful Surprise

View from our room at Ritz Carlton Budapest

The Austro-Hungarian monarchy of the Danube came into being in the year 1872 when the three separate settlements of Pest, Buda and Óbuda (literally “Old” Buda) were united into one city. Occupied by the Soviets until 1989, Hungary saw the end of communism and political freedom through the collapse of the soviet system. Heavily bombed in World War 11, the city has recovered and restored it’s major attractions with careful sense of it’s bountiful history.
Another food, music, and artistic haven, Budapest is a must visit destination.

Budapest’s Parliament – one of the most beautiful and largest in the world
Stunning interior of Parliament

Iconic St Stephens Basilica
Night lighting of the city is unforgettable

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Brenner’s Park Hotel, Baden Baden

Brenner’s Park Hotel Baden Baden. Ultimate 5 Star classical hotel in the Mineral Spring Spa city- Baden Baden. Spectacular amenities. Incredible warm welcome and impeccable service. A place for relaxation and wellness.

Iconic Hot Springs Destination, Baden Baden is in Full Bloom

Iconic Baden Baden in full bloom

An ancient Roman Town, known for it’s healing mineral springs, Baden Baden never fails to entice. I went in college and it is still the same beautiful town. Revisiting Oetker Collection’s Brenner Park Hotel is a complete pleasure. More to come.

Driving the West Coast of Japan

Wild Rugged Noto Peninsula West Coast Japan

Stunning Vistas along the west coast of Japan and the Noto Peninsula. Often secluded, the drive is a treasure trove of rugged coastline images.

Dream Destination for Art Lovers -Benesse House, Naoshima

Benesse House – Park

Benesse House was a hotel/ museum concept, started in 1992.
Based on the concept of “coexistence of nature, art and architecture.” Designed by Tadao Ando, the facility is built on high ground overlooking the Seto Inland Sea and features large large glass expanses that serve to open up the interior to the natural surroundings. In addition to exhibiting the painting, sculpture, photography, and installations in its collection, the Museum also contains permanent site-specific installations that artists have created especially for the building, selecting locations on their own and designing the works for those spaces. The hotels consist of Park- 47 rooms, Beach – 8 suites, Oval 6 rooms and 2 suites and the museum hotel- 8 rooms. Among the artists featured are Claude Monet- Water Lilies, Jean Michel Basquiat, James Turrell, Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg, David Hockney, Yayoi Kushama, and Niki de Saint Phalle.

Oval at Benesse House

Beniya Mukayu- A Relais & Chateaux Gem

Library

Tea Ceremony Beniya Mukayu

A marvelous addition to the Relais & Chateaux Japan collection is the beautiful Beniya Mukayu. Tranquil rooms with open-air baths in a hot springs hotel offering a garden setting, spa, and spectacular dining. The rooms have a traditional Japanese Mineral Spring tub. Located near the western coast of Central Japan, the drive offers spectacular coastal views.

Japanese Style Mineral Spring Tub

Typical bedroom Beniya Mukayu

Restaurant Kaiseki Horin

Iconic Miyajima Island

Miyajima

Itsukushima is an island in the western part of the Inland Sea of Japan, located in the northwest portion of Hiroshima Bay. It is popularly known as Miyajima which in Japanese means “Shrine Island”. The island is one of Hayashi Gahō’s Three Views of Japan designed in 1643.
What a thrill to see.

Buddhist Pagoda at Miyajima