http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com Welcome to our new weblog. On this site you will find an archive of articles and information, as well as news and feedback on a broad spectrum of topics. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/the-clarence-dublin/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-clarence-dublin http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/the-clarence-dublin/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 09:53:12 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=868 Going to spend some time in Dublin and want to do it in style? Then expect the Clarence to come up whenever you search for references to ‘Dublin’s finest hotels’. Given such overwhelming evidence, we took everyone’s word for it and booked a few nights of delicious R&R at the iconic city centre pad. It proved a popular decision – not just with ourselves, but with virtually everyone we mentioned it to. Our taxi driver further added to a sense of anticipation that had been raised by Irish friends back home, as he drove us to the very place. “Ah, the Clarence, now that’s one of our best.” The fact that Bono and The Edge of U2 own this fine establishment naturally adds to its glamour, but you sense this is certainly not the only reason for the hotel’s fame. `]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/the-clarence-dublin/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/vanilla-go-on-a-culinary-voyage-of-discovery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vanilla-go-on-a-culinary-voyage-of-discovery http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/vanilla-go-on-a-culinary-voyage-of-discovery/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 11:05:20 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=853 Vanilla can easily be described as one of the coolest new eateries in town. Descending steps from street level you have the impression of entering a club, a sensation that is enhanced as you step into the Vanilla Lounge, the bar and lounge area that makes up the ‘vanilla flower’ as it were. Following this theme the tones are soft creams, diffused with coloured lighting that creates a wonderful blend of vodka bar cool and retro futurism. Call me crazy but the latter always gets me a little excited. No dreary standard contemporary décor here then; that interior designer was not hired for the job. Instead, this is definitely a place where you could picture the cool set. In fact, you feel pretty cool just sitting here, reclining on sculpted seats and ordering one of the vanilla shakes that the Vanilla Lounge specialises in. If the lounge is the ‘flower’ then the restaurant is the ‘vanilla pod’. Soft, light shades turn to an ambient black punctuated by warm lighting to create an intimate dining environment. The same can be said of the scale, for while it seats enough people to create a lively atmosphere it is in no way cavernous. Romantic tables for two alternate with cosy booths, another personal favourite. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/vanilla-go-on-a-culinary-voyage-of-discovery/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/baile-atha-cliath-the-friendliest-capital-in-europe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=baile-atha-cliath-the-friendliest-capital-in-europe http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/baile-atha-cliath-the-friendliest-capital-in-europe/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:03:04 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=831 From opulent shops, restaurants, hotels and trendy night time spots to thriving culture and beautifully renovated historical sights, Dublin is at the forefront of a modern revival boosted by high economic growth and the rise in wealth that accompanies it. Gourmet, Michelin-star aspiring restaurants have mushroomed, as have avant-garde design hotels and bars, not to mention a plethora of shops and boutiques where it is surprisingly easy to spend profusely. Amid all this new energy and forward-looking confidence there are still the old famous sights to enjoy, like Trinity College and the town castle. Chances are they’ve had a recent clean up and look as revitalised as the city feels, but search a bit deeper and you will still find the Ireland of old, with its sticky-carpeted pubs that smell of stale beer and haven’t seen a decorator since the Suez Crisis. Such places offer little to please the eye yet it is here that you will get a glimpse of the character and sense of humour for which these islanders are famous. Whatever your preference, seek and ye shall find…]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/baile-atha-cliath-the-friendliest-capital-in-europe/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/interviews/the-obauer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-obauer http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/interviews/the-obauer/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:29:07 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=823 Tucked into the verdant Salzach Valley, not far from Salzburg, is the pretty alpine village of Werfen. A fairytale town in a fairytale setting, it wouldn’t be complete without the impressive Hohenwerfen Castle that overlooks it from an imposing position. From here, you survey an alpine wonderland of pastures and forest that is transformed into white finery in winter. Other attractions of the area include the Eisriesenwelt – the world’s largest ice cave – and the Obauer, a celebrated two-Michelin Star restaurant that draws visitors from across Austria, and indeed far beyond it. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/interviews/the-obauer/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/palma-de-mallorca-a-truly-mediterranean-port-of-call/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=palma-de-mallorca-a-truly-mediterranean-port-of-call http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/palma-de-mallorca-a-truly-mediterranean-port-of-call/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:32:46 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=813 Although small in area, Mallorca’s diversity of landscapes, climates and impressions allows it to cater to a great many different tastes, something that has helped to preserve its age-old appeal as a cherished beacon in the seas. Indeed, the fact that Palma’s international airport is the third largest in Spain is an indication of just how prosperous the island has grown on the tourist trade. But Mallorca’s popularity as a place to soak up the sun, splash around in azure seas and just get away from it all is not a new phenomenon. Evidence suggests that Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans alike used this jewel of the Mediterranean as a place of retreat and repose, making it one of the oldest known tourist destinations in the world. What drew them to this fair isle becomes evident once you lay eyes on its sandy beaches, sheer cliffs, rocky alcoves and deep blue seas. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/palma-de-mallorca-a-truly-mediterranean-port-of-call/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/royal-siam/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=royal-siam http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/royal-siam/#comments Sun, 10 Jul 2011 11:05:41 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=770 At once mysterious and welcoming, Thailand is a tropical paradise with hidden depths beyond its beaches, spa resorts and nightlife. Typically South East Asian, Thailand is the confluence of three great cultures. Dominated for centuries by the neighbouring Khmer, the people of Thailand have also been strongly influenced by India and China. From early Hindu influences through to Buddhist conversion, the Thai have borrowed from their Indian and Chinese neighbours to create a distinctive identity of their own. While many of these traditions may have their origins in the India of classical times, and while a large percentage of the population is of Chinese extraction, the resulting mix is a spicy blend that can be rightly labelled as Thai. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/royal-siam/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/vienna-classic-capital-of-europe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vienna-classic-capital-of-europe http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/vienna-classic-capital-of-europe/#comments Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:04:41 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=752 Forever associated with the classical music inspired by the waters of the Danube River that flows through its heart, and the Baroque palaces and operas built to give those immortal tunes a home of their own, Vienna is also a wonderful city in many other ways. One might be tempted to think of the Austrian capital as an open-air museum, where waltzes play to a backdrop of elegant classical buildings and handsome couples dressed in their finery, yet even though this is one of the best preserved cities in the world Vienna is very much a vibrant, modern metropolis too. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/general-interest/vienna-classic-capital-of-europe/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/grand-hotel-bellevue-gstaad-the-high-life/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grand-hotel-bellevue-gstaad-the-high-life http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/grand-hotel-bellevue-gstaad-the-high-life/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 11:08:05 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=736 The Grand Hotel Bellevue is a jewel of opulence, style and comfort in the millionaire’s playground of Gstaad. All around are the valleys and wooded slopes of a paradisiacal Swiss landscape, green in summer and white winter wonderland at this time of the year. In keeping with its jet-set location Bellevue is indeed a Grand Hotel in the finest of traditions—a place where well-travelled people come to be pampered in unabashed luxury. No need to apologise for having a good time here, it’s understood that that’s what people come for, and with sumptuously styled suites, fine dining restaurants, jet-set night spots and one of the best spas in Europe, it’s exactly what they get.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/design/grand-hotel-bellevue-gstaad-the-high-life/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/environment/classic-safari/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=classic-safari http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/environment/classic-safari/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:22:39 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=695 It is hard these days to see and experience the Africa of old, as described by the likes of Ernest Hemingway in the days of the classic safari, when wildlife roamed the open African savannah and tom-toms sounded from within hidden villages. Fortunately there are still pockets where Africa lives on in all its glory. One such pocket, indeed a sizeable one, is Namibia. Situated to the northwest of South Africa, this is a country that stands out for its peace, stability and relative prosperity. Quite in contrast to most of the continent, it is not plagued by coups d’etat, unrest and famine, but has enjoyed many years of growth, building on natural resources such as minerals, its wildlife and scenic beauty, and a population that is small enough in relation to resources to allow a good standard of living.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/environment/classic-safari/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/paris-city-of-many-faces/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=paris-city-of-many-faces http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/paris-city-of-many-faces/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:18:57 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=686 Paris: City of Light, beacon of romantics and capital of fashion and elegance. Yes, this beautiful city is all these things, but much more besides. More profound than the sum of its famous parts, such as the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe or Champs Elysées, Paris is a city of many layers, its history and [...]]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/paris-city-of-many-faces/feed/ 0