February 10th, 2015

Destination? Walking on Ashford, Condado, Puerto Rico, Art Deco Building, Miami, Mission/Spanish Revival Hotel, Condado Vanderbilt, Localista, Puerto Rico Designs, La Isla del Encanto

Walking on Ashford in Condado is a past time for many that are visiting the island of Puerto Rico….plenty of upscales shops, restaurants, and hotels on this very popular Ave.  I hear the community is involved in making sure Condado lives up to its name.

Ashford Avenue is within walking distance of beaches and everything else to make your vacation a special one.  As a matter of fact Ashford Avenue is parallel to the beach.  Taxis, and public transportation can take you to Old San Juan, a city over 500 years old.

The Art Deco Buildings are beautiful and one in particular is the Miami building located at 868 Ashford Avenue and built in 1936.  The colors are peach and light blue.

“The Art Deco style represented luxury, glamour, exuberance and faith in social and technological progress.”  Bold geometric designs, lavish ornamentation, and colours characterized this style.

Congratulations to San Juan, Puerto Rico since the National Register of Historic Places has recognized 3 iconic hotels and has welcomed them as members.  They are the Caribe Hilton San Juan, built in 1949, Condado Plaza Hilton built in 1963 and the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel built in 1919.

The Condado Vanderbilt is located at 1055 Ashford Avenue.   http://www.condadovanderbilt.com The style?  Mission/Spanish Revival.  This is a 5 star hotel, known for luxury and special services.  Ballrooms, banquet meetings…the hotel is oceanfront.  So, I stopped to check it out with my Puertorican cousins, Sonia, and Margie.  Resort wear is the choice for dressing.

The hotel has been updated completely.  The marble floors, I believe are the original ones.

We stepped into the Vanderbilt Court…here are some of the photos.

Please visit http://www.condadovanderbilt.com/our-story-condado-en.html to learn more about the history of this gorgeous hotel, which is very interesting.

LOCALISTA – Puerto Rico Disena.  Location?  Condado Vanderbilt Hotel.

A must stop shop for everything designed by independent designers.  Local brands and Puertorican designers, promoted by Localista.  Website?  http://www.puertoricodisena.com.  Catching our attention…..

La Mantilla by Marx Rosado is a modular surface that works well as a wood carpet, a flexible parquet, a non-permanent wood flooring or a cover for horizontal and vertical surfaces.  It is open modular assembly.

Jewelry by Marcia Budet.  You can find Marcia Budet on Facebook as Designer Marcia Budet.

The clutches made in crystal clear acrylic Plexiglass with original photography, I loved.  They were made by designer Natalia Subira.

Promoting Puertorican designs, buying local…http://www.puertoricodisena.com/localista-a-design-store.

And then, as you come out of the hotel head over to Ventana al Mar….and forget that is winter at home.  Have a good one!!

December 9th, 2014

Poolside at The Breakers Palm Beach, Bungalows, The Reef, Florida, Luxury Resort, South Florida, Palm Beach County

It is past midnight as I write this post.  I am wondering if my plane will be on time.  Southern Delaware is being hit with one of those Mid Atlantic n’or easters.  Nasty weather event!!

So I started thinking about that Bungalow at The Breakers Palm Beach….what a setting!   Warm breezes, swaying palm trees, personal service.  Visualization, that’s what I am doing.

The Breakers Palm Beach is located at One South County Rd., Palm Beach, FL 33480  Tel. 561-659-8488, or, 888-273-2537.  Website?  http://www.thebreakers.com

There are 4 pools at the Breakers Palm Beach for guests and club members.  They are all gorgeous.

At poolside?  Yes, the beach by its side, as well, and two restaurants.  But Cindi and I were looking for Bungalow 15…The Reef.

These bungalows are only for the hotel guests and club members, as well.  They are about 300 to 400 square feet.  Do you like to lounge?  Take in the scenery?  This is a real treat.

Private patios, living room, refrigerator, flat screen t.v., bathroom, well appointed with spa necessities…..and food.  Some, not all have open sky showers….ours did.

The idea is to relax, to just stay at the water’s edge and enjoy your well deserved vacation.

Molly, our personal concierge, received us with fruits and a something to quench our thirst.

So, the girls in the next Bungalow were having a nice time…then a delivery of red roses, champagne, and chocolate covered strawberries….the giggles and the excitement of a birthday surprise by a significant other.  They told us at The Breakers that nothing is impossible to make your dreams come true at The Breakers Palm Beach!

Still pouring…..and still dreaming….Have a Good One!!