Porto Cervo, Summer 2k19
Located near the northern tip of Sardinia, this city is most certainly a playground for all those who are members of the three comma club. The idyllic scenery would cause any person to wish they had enough money to buy a property by the marina.
The real magic of Porto Cervo is only seen after getting into the main promenade, where on one side a labyrinth of designer shops, ranging from Hèrmes to Richard Mille. When you're done with lunch at Novikov, you can walk down to the other side of the Promenade du Port in your £700 carefully crinkled Brunello Cuccinelli linen shirt and Vilebrequin swimshorts you can waltz into one of the uniquely-overpriced furniture stores or vintage and coffee table book stores to get a lookbook for the Balenciaga AW2018 collection or maybe even buy a new Lamborghini Urus!
For those of us mesmerised by the arts, the promenade du port is a great place to invest in some acrylic paint on a canvas or a bronzed bird. Alessandro Stefanini Antiques, The Simonbart Gallery and Rossana Orlandi where you can find unique pieces by designers or emerging or established artists.
Monaco, Summer 2k18
Monaco, Perhaps the most famous place in this visit, home to the Hotel-de-Paris and the most well known Grand Prix circuit. Monaco is infamous for its casinos, bars, fast cars and tax shelters.
We only reached around the evening so strait to the Café-de-Paris for drinks and ice-cream sundaes. I suggest taking an outdoor table looking out at the casino, that way as you sit at the café until 10 when you go for dinner at the restaurant of the same name, you can bask in the
exhaust notes and petrol fumes of the ultra rich's ultra-fast cars, from Ferraris to Bentleys Monte-Carlo most definitely has it all. After a nice dinner and an even more beautiful walk to the marina back to the humble floating abode waiting for your grandmother to show up from the casino, you can take in the beautiful hills of the nation.
Next day is go go go. Up at 9 am and run straight up the stairs crossing Nobu up to the Hotel-de-Paris straight to Les Pavillions Monte-Carlo For the highest concentration of any designer you could want all within a minutes walking distance from each other. Now after you're done wasting a few hours shopping at the pavillions, you race back to the marina bags in hand, praying that your family doesn't leave without you. The second you get again start all the fake apologies and classic excuses like, "my phone died" or "one of the Grimaldis showed up, and they had to close the roads". All this for some stuff you could get anywhere in the world
St. Tropez, Summer 2k18
Here we are back again, almost exactly a year later. St Tropez, the place I would gladly call my second home. But before we head into the main town, a long drawn out lunch at some overrated, overpriced beach club that has food that probably tastes worse than the sand that's flying into your eyes is in order. What will it be this time? Turned out to be Le Club 55, I ordered a veal millanaise that probably had more grease than the entire country of Greece. I tried to get done as fast as possible, took half the family with me and popped on back to the yacht.
After finally getting to the port. Just taking a look around, not much has changed. I got in only in the evening to straight to the old town for some light pre-dinner drinks at one of the many buzzing bars, blasting loud, unrecognisable music for about an hour. Through this time, this particular evenings salon topic was the world cup. Centring around the Croatia vs. Nigeria match nothing worthy of a Nobel prize came in conversation. To Le Quai for dinner, I started with the vapeurs de crevette sauvage, or in layman's terms, the prawn ravioli, which was good but a little overdone. For my main, I tried to stick to truffles, but sadly I did not manage as I wound up having the notre filet de boeuf, morilles, canelloni foie gras, or in plain english, the beef filet with morels and foie gras cannelloni. after that we headed home to recuperate and then headed to L'Opera for some desert and the after dinner show at around one.
Start off the day with a coffee and macarons at Ladurée before the whole family splits up frantically running from store to store, breaking mannequins and tripping over packets from Dsquared2. After many tiresome hours for the credit cards, and some weight loss for your bank accounts, everyone meets at the cafe in front of Hèrmes for lunch before heading to Barbarac For what I have stated to have the best gelato that has ever been created.
Portofino, Summer 2k18
Ciao amici miei e benvenuti a Portofino. The Beautifully quaint city right on the Amalfi coast; Italy's answer to the Cote d'Azur. What makes Portofino different to every other quaint port city frequented by the massively wealthy? Absolutely nothing, and thats what makes it perfect.
See, at some point, we all get bored of waiting and looking around for something new, something different. Sometimes it's nice to feel at home in a place that's maybe a thousand miles from your home. Portofino is a small city centred around the port and about a 45-minute drive from Genoa. It's great for those arriving by superyacht as you needn't have Giovani or Francois Carefully manoeuvre the car out of its tight onboard parking space and into the crowds of people taking photos and videos, hoping for a Kardashian. Once you get out on the deck and the tourists and locals see that you probably don't have 11 pounds of makeup on and implants or fillers, they wistfully disperse, that's when you head out and walk along the port jumping in and out of stores picking up quaint items made by the locals along with quaint items made by Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Ferragamo. Get a bite to eat and have a glass of wine at one of the many cafés, pizzerias or gelaterias in the close vicinity before you take in a little culture. Many art galleries are showcasing exquisite pieces from world-renowned artists along with beautiful examples of local Italian art and maybe if you have a couple of bucks... or 100,000 bucks to spare, why not pick up some art? Once done with all this it's time to head back to the yacht or hotel because that's about all there is to do in Portofino
Tokyo, Spring 2k18
"Yōkoso ni Tokyo", or "Welcome to Tokyo". A city, unlike anything you've ever seen before. A city that seamlessly blends it's a rich history with the most advanced echelon of high-technology. Tokyo has food as you've never seen before. To start, I suggest waking up at dawn and venturing out to the city's fish market for some of the freshest sushi in the world. The fillets of certain toro or tuna from this market can sell for as high as $40,000 per 100 grams. I happened to be in the city during the cherry blossom season, so it was perhaps one of the most amazing sights I have ever seen.
As a result of Japan's rich history and strong traditions, Shrines are still very prevalent. Perchance maybe the most famous shrine of all is the Meiji Shrine. This shrine dedicated to the late great emperor who first brought wine to the country is housed in a vast and beautiful park-like area with a high density of trees as you walk toward the shrine you can see barrels or wine put in memory of the former Japanese emperor. People may go up to the shrine and pay their respects as well as pray for good fortune and fulfilment of their desires.
As is with many other cities, Tokyo is divided into districts. Some of them are Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, Odaiba, Akihabara and Harajuku. I was staying in the upmarket Ginza district where like any other upmarket area you will find every designer store imaginable. Still, the Tokyo Natives take designer shopping to a whole different level. Streets were filled with rows and rows of triplex Céline stores and entire buildings for Hèrmes.
But along with all of that were some other interesting stores, such as the 12 storey Itoya where you can get any kind of stationary imaginable. From multicoloured Paper to Mont Blanc pens. The Shinjuku district is a slightly more tourist-heavy area as it is precisely what you think of when you think of Tokyo. Bright billboards with all sorts of exciting contraptions being advertised, From vacuum cleaners that talk to you to toilets with disco lights and massagers. Colourful people dressed in cosplay costumes roam the alleys of this busy area. But none of this compares to the busiest train station in the whole world housed right in this area. If you're into the history of ancient Japanese warriors, there's a samurai museum here as well. In the Shibuya district, You can sit at a cafe looking upon the busiest crosswalk in the world; jaw dropped wide open staring at the thousands walk by in an assembly or businesspeople to busboys. Let's not forget perhaps the best thing in the entire city, the store that is Cookie Time. A place for cookie lovers with chocolate and flour and the building blocks of diabetes galore. Get a Nutella milkshake with three cookies stacked on top, or maybe you fancy a couple of packets of mini chocolate chip cookies, they've got you covered. Now bounce on over to the Harajuku area to see the most tremendous explosion of colour that your eyes will barely be able to notice, and your brain register. This buzzing district is known for its array of colourful people and street style. Quirky vintage and cosplay stores dot the streets. On Omotesando avenue are the more well known and upmarket boutiques.
Tokyo undoubtedly has the best examples of cherry blossom trees, and the natives know it. Entire Parks were dedicated just for people to gaze upon these rare beauties and wonder " I bet I could grow them too " when the reality is that they can't. So instead of thinking of where to plant your fictitious cherry blossom, enjoy the beautiful scenery and try not to think of the fact that you grossly overpaid to look at some pink trees and the fact that people are capitalising off of nature, something that technically belongs to everybody. You could even bring a nice lunch and sit in the park and enjoy it.
London, Winter 2k17-18
For my first post of the new year, I had to go with an all-time favourite. London. The place I'd gladly call home any day of the week, what is and has been the second home of my family for the last 20 years never ceases to amaze. Each time I visit London. I discover a hidden new gem, each better than the previous one.
Start with a classic, Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Wake up at a leisurely time and bask in the winter sun as you enjoy your almond milk matcha latte, or whatever the hipsters are up to, and head on over to the park for some fun in the sun.
As you walk in through the gate, your five senses will be used more than ever before. Take in the glorious smell of freshly made churros dipped in Nutella, look upon the excitement running amok in the children that have had far too much sugar.
If you get there and are craving some food, then take your pick amongst the vast array of restaurants, stalls and kiosks. I'd start at the Bavarian village with a spicy bratwurst and then make a bee-line for the fastest rollercoaster in the park - but if you're the kind who isn't really into rides or can't keep down their food, go and shoot a few ducks in the hopes of winning a giant teddy bear, or gamble away your life savings at roulette all to win a 2-kilo Toblerone at the carnival booths. Once you're done with the first set of rides, take a break and have one of the many different types of hot chocolate at the park.
Next, I suggest going straight for the highest ride in the park, which while moving at a relatively glacial pace, allows you to take in the beautiful sites of this magnificent city. After this set of rides, I highly recommend a churro break. Take your pick out of plain, cinnamon sugar or Nutella dipped. The churros at winter wonderland are what I feel to be the best in the world. Now, you should most definitely make a move toward the haunted houses with adventures and mazes within. Upon ending this last chunk of rides, make your way toward the exit, grab a candied apple snd buy a few trinkets that are sold at all gates, for your friends back home.
To cap off the day walk out through the Knightsbridge exit and indulge yourself a little with some retail therapy at Harrods of Harvey Nichols. Dinner at Bar Boulud is the perfect way to end a perfect day
Goa, Autumn 2k17
Goa, A city in India where people from all across Europe flock. The many beach clubs and restaurants add to the charm of this gem—a small town from all accounts, but extremely lively. Traditionally I would only be in Goa During the high season, December through April. Although this time I was there during the offseason. I was left with the question, what on Earth am I supposed to do for the next four days?
I was there during the monsoon season where all the European restaurant owners had packed up and gone back for a few months, so we survived out of restaurants we knew would be open, such as the burger factory, which has one of the best burgers I've ever eaten and incorporates the Goan wildlife into the indoor/outdoor restaurant. Gunpowder, essentially a hole in the wall, with great South Indian food, This restaurant brings in the very essence of South Indian cuisine. Cream Choc is one of the best Gelato places in India; their various flavours give your taste buds a high you cannot compare to any other gelato in the country.
The terrible weather meant that I had to stay in the hotel most of the time, which was no difficult task, as the hotel itself had an excellent environment throughout. The lobby had a bar and DJ and a great indoor/outdoor lounging area. The rooms had an incredibly modern feel, with floor to ceiling windows and floor to ceiling mirrors covering the bathrooms.
To conclude, I cannot possibly suggest a visit to Goa during this time of year if you are someone who enjoys the beach being outdoors and exploring and trying new things, but if you are someone who likes staying in their rooms or the confines of their hotel, this time is just beautiful to plan a visit to the city.
Edinburgh, Summer 2k17
The moment I found out I was going to Edinburgh, I thought, "Oh crap. Another boring city in another boring country."
To get to Edinburgh from London, you can either fly, take the train, or drive. I suggest taking the train because it allows you to see the beautiful English countryside in a way you never could from a plane 30,000 feet above the ground, but also travels at speed faster than any car could achieve.
If you're staying right in the city, then as soon as you touch down, you'll want to head straight to a pub for traditional English food and maybe a few pints. I highly suggest just walking up and down the streets of this magnificent city and just taking in the culture and the crowd. There are many little shops scattered all along with the city where you can pick up various novelty items like some mini bagpipes. You can even check out The Queen's residency in Edinburgh, one of her majesty's only four residencies (if the flag is hoisted that means The Queen is currently there)
If you are a massive fan of the Loch Ness Monster, then the 8-hour roundtrip is nothing. If you aren't Ness Obsessed, then a trip to Loch Lomond is a far better alternative with much shorter driving time. Both these lochs are supremely beautiful and make for some great photos. There is even a lovely hotel at Loch Lomond where you can stay for a quick relaxing trip.