Cartier

Love Cartier

Oh Yeah!

American Boy

Hell or Heaven?

Britney Spears shows off her new private jet.

Aiii Portugal que nao mudas!

De volta a Portugal a matar saudades da minha pequenina e pobrezita Maria Lisboa. Ainda te amo!


Uma musica para a Amelia e para as outras que me querem mal ou bem...Divertam-se mulheres! A vida são dois dias...

Be Happy...

Edit Piaf

Edith Piaf - Milord

Christmas is here and the world is perfect!

Trafalgar Square

Carol of the Bells...

WOW!

Eartha Kitt

C'est Bon

Marilyn Monroe

While still an unknown model, the 19-year-old Norma Jean Baker poses for a Douglas DC-6 sales brochure. Rarely seen photographs of Marilyn Monroe before she became famous.


I agree...

Beirut

Hell or Heaven?


aSmallWorld.net talk...
I have been planning a trip to Beirut since summer...
Unfortunately things seem to be getting worse. Should I avoid a trip there for now or is it OK?
Being half Spanish I'm quite used to ETA but would be great if I can get back to London with my two legs and arms...!
Any advise on what to do or the areas I should really not go?!
Author: Pedro Caldeira

I just cancelled plans to attend a friend's wedding this weekend. Painful decision. The view from Cyprus is that things are becoming progressively worse.
Author: Demos

Wrong timing my friend ..wait till things cool down
Author: Omar

Hey Pedro
I dont really advise u to come to Beirut. Its not really safe. After 9pm, the roads are empty. I think coming now is not a good idea. If u could wait till July and see how the situation gets, it would be better.
Author: Lama

Not my lucky month then...! :(
Will make it to Jordan then! Thanks for the advise, will keep it in mind!
Author: Pedro Caldeira

Don't know what u guys are talking about.. i was there last week and the place was ROCKING!
even went north to the beach and we were partying like crazy 20km from the bombardments..
Author: Oliviero

Guess you are a lucky guy then!
Author: Pedro Caldeira

@Oliviero: you go dude!
Come on guys... Beirut is most charming right when its being torn apart... beirut is not used to things quiet and peaceful...
I fly to beirut at the break of every war to console my lovely city. when im not embedded with the UN on cluster bomb excursions in the south, you'll find me hugging gemmayzeh's walls...
You go give beirut a hug Pedro. She'll appreciate it. and you'll never forget it.
Author: Jehad

Apparently Bairut is my kind of city (so my friends say)!!
Im quite sure I will fall in love with it. But maybe book it when things are calmer is a good idea. Dont want to have a bad experience in the first time...
Author: Pedro Caldeira

I arrived in Beirut the day things flared up and during the double bombings. It was all a bit too close to comfort - I missed the first by 10 minutes, and the second was by the hotel.
Though an amazing city, with unbelievably fantastic people, I think it's not the best idea to venture there currently, particularly since troubles have just begun in the south of the country too.
Author: Seena

The thing is Pedro, it is safe and not safe at the same time... I can give you an example which is amazingly true and funny: before 10:30 - 11, as Lama mentioned, the roads are empty, but the funny part is, everybody is waiting for the explosion to go off... once it went off, and everybody heard about it and knew where it was... Beirut starts partying, and most of the people go out after the explosion.. sort of a consolation, knowing that the second one won't be for the same night...
Anyways, if you decide to come, and need anything, honestly feel free to contact me: +961-3-233749 would be glad to help you in any way...
Author: Michel

@ Michel- I heard that also. And some friends gave the adress of some rooftop bars that look amazing.
Never thought being stuck in such a simple decision. Will book things anyway and see how it goes.
Thanks for your contact by the way! Will keep it and call you when I get there.
Author: Pedro Caldeira

Will be waiting... take good care... and as for the rooftop bars, they are amazing :)
Author: Michel

Gave up! :(
Will meet you next year I guess...
Author: Pedro Caldeira

Life goes on in Beirut as always.
The people are resilient and doing their thing.
Author: Kareem

Dear Pedro.
If You Can Wait A Little Bit To Come To Beirut It will Be Better.I Am Lebanese Christian Leaving There.Situation Is Not Very Gooc For The Time Beeing.Hope To see You There One Day.
Best Regards.
C.V.T.
Beirut-Lebanon...
Author: Cyril

You have to be a Lebanese to come to Beirut! or simply an aventurer
Lebanon life is going on despite all.
Check the situation towards Mid Sept.
Early October is a superb month to come over here!
Author: Cherine

Will do that! Changed my trip from Beirut to Jordan but will def go another time. Got some names of nice hotels but the more the better. Want to have the best time ever when I get there...
Author: Pedro Caldeira

You will.
Beirut is the most beautiful city in the world , but right now it is going through a rough time...but we will be up and runnig in no time ... so just be patient and when you visit you will hopefully see the REAL beirut
Author: Dana

@ Dana. Hope its this year! :)
Author: Pedro Caldeira

Hello Pedro,
When you are there its not as worth you may think...people unfortunatly are getting used to it...
If you really wanna go, don't hesitate, i am sure you will still enjoy it,,,
marwa
Author: Marwa

Its a tough one...I am desperate to go too but keep putting it off...thing is I guess one has to live one's life...no-one on their holidays a couple of years ago expected the Tsunami to hit Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, etc.
Author: Reema

I am french, I live there, ok, situation is not so great..but that;s safe.I am on my way back there tomorrow. Have a nice week end, suzel
Author: Suzel jakouloff

@ Remma- To be honest, dont think that is a very good exemple...
Author: Pedro Caldeira
To the rest...Sounds to me that Beirut rocks!!
Author: Pedro Caldeira

Go for it.
And let's all never leave Beirut alone!
Author: Emanuele Maria Bertodo

Ive been DYING to go to beirut for years now, the promoters i was set to dj for have been forced to cancel three gigs there over the last two years, i was set to go play this weekend and again we had to cancel due to safety concerns.
I hear nothing but amazing things about the city and its people
Can't wait to go
Author: Max

Pedro and all...
if u dont have a Leb passport / some Leb origins, pls avoid as much as possible right now....
We donno where the next bomb will be, and to be honest the last thing we want is that the holder of a European/non-Leb passport gets injured there....this would kill the bit of faith that is remaining in Leb :(
sorry to be negative...
Author: Rita

Pedro if you can go, go! I want to go but I can't :(
There are a lot of great people on this site from Beirut (go into any of the discussions on Lebanon in the threads) and I am sure if you contact them they will tell you where the best places are. I am sure you will have a great time.
Don't let the newspapers spook you...
Author: Ariel

Its a deal...will go to Beirut. But Ill wait till things calm down a bit.
@ Rita- Think you are right...why not wait a bit and have a great time in Bairut then going now and have some kind of bad feeling!
Many ASW in Birut!?
Author: Pedro Caldeira

Pedro Beirut is amazing, I went there 2x in 2005 and had the time of my life, was going there last summer when the war broke and had to cancel. I dont feel that it's safe right now to go, you will not get the feel that I got when I was there and things were relativelly quiet... It'd such a atmosphere... the people are great, the beaches lots of fun and the night life one of the best I have been to, somehow I dont think I would have the same feeling if I went there right now. However, I hope I can go back soon and have another ball there, but for the moment I will wait and wish the best for lebanon and beirut...
Author: Marli


That makes two of us. Will keep my fingers crossed for them!!
Author: Pedro Caldeira

So- Off to Beirut the 26 of Sep. for four days. Whats going on there?
Anymore recomendations?
Safe or not really? Going anyway! :)
Author: Pedro Caldeira

Pedro keep your eyes to the news and Good luck and Bon Voyage
Author: Janan

Sounding scary...!
Author: Pedro Caldeira

Go and have fun. i was there 2 weeks ago...
Anyway if you like, i am planning a trip to Lebanon with my friends in Feb/March to go skying if you are interested inform me.
Author: Allen

LIVE BEIRUT...

Courchevel (1850)

Courchevel (1850) is THE place for ski lovers! Fun and relaxed crowd, great restaurants and nightclubs... The negative side? Not that cheap!

Get Fat in La Bergerie, La Saulire and La Chabichou.
Dance in the Black Dragoon and Les Caves de Courchevel
Sleep in the Byblos or the Melezin Aman Resort.



The Dj

The Chef and M

Me

The Restaurant

Barcelona

A city of split personalities—at once trendy and traditional, upscale and down-to-earth. It is also Spain's most fashionable city, where inhabitants pride themselves on their style. On an evening stroll along Passeig de Gràcia, couples gaze into shop windows and at the buildings' grand facades. It can be a pricey city, but if you book well in advance, you can find smart accommodations that won't break the bank (V.F.)

Hotels:
Arts (the most expencive coffee I ever had!!),Hotel Omm, Axel (Hetero friendly!) Prestige Paseo de La Gracia, Casa Fuster and 1898

HOTEL ARTS


Restaurants:
A Contraluz, Abac, Aqua, Arola, Can Sole, Quimet I Quimet, Thai Lounge and Ximei.


Nightclubs:
Amber Lounge, b-ROOM (b-ROOM is a Private Members' Network), Club Fellini, La Terraza, Satom and Club.

THE HOLY TRINITY PROJECT @ CLUB FELLINI

The best first class worldwide

Now THIS is flying high!

(For a more modest priced First/Business Class try SilverJet, Oasis, MaxJet and Eos.)

The closest most air travelers will ever come to a first-class seat is the humiliating "perp walk" to the economy-class section during boarding.

No, we aren't criminals, but we sure feel like second-class citizens when we shuffle past the already boarded elite passengers, who glare at us between sips of their mimosas as if we're no better than cargo. Squeezing our frames into the tiny steerage seats is arguably the final insult.

Yet a fortunate few - by luck or through the miracle of frequent-flier miles - will one day ascend to the coveted front of the cabin.

According to a recent survey by the Orlando marketing firm YPB&R, that's where everyone wants to sit. One in 10 business travelers craves lots of legroom, nearly two-thirds say they value the extra-spacious overhead compartments and almost half would die for the full meals served to first-class passengers.

"It isn't just the comfort and service of first class that's appealing," says Joel Widzer, author of the book, "The Penny Pincher's Passport to Luxury Travel: The Art of Cultivating Preferred Customer Status." "If you want to arrive at your destination well-rested and ready to get to work, you need that upgrade."

The question is, if you're going to go first class, which airline should you fly? The conventional wisdom says the domestic airlines have lost their touch when it comes to the big seats. (Indeed, three of the top five airlines in Travel + Leisure magazine's 2003 list of the best domestic airlines operate a one-class configuration.)

In order to come up with my list of the five best first-class sections, I took a look at several recent surveys, including those conducted by Travel + Leisure, British pollsters Skytrax Research, Zagat's, and, of course, J.D. Power and Associates. As always, I compared the numbers against your experiences and my own (even though, to be completely honest, I can count the number of times I've been upgraded on one hand).

Singapore Airlines. It's difficult to find a survey of the best first-class sections without a mention of Singapore's front-of-the-cabin service. On long-distance flights, the seats turn into lie-down-flat beds, complete with a down-filled mattress, duvet and a large pillow. You're also issued a pair of designer pajamas and a toiletry kit with body lotion, lip balm and towels. The service is beyond attentive, according to passengers I've spoken with. And the food? Decadent. Caviar, Dom Perignon and gourmet, cooked-to-order meals are on the menus. "All in all," says Jeff Tucker, a technology consultant in Kalaheo, Hawaii, "Singapore Airlines is the best there is."

Virgin Atlantic Airways. Limousine service to the airport. On-board masseuses. An in-flight bar. If you didn't know any better, you'd think they'd turned the clock back 40 years to the golden age of flying, when first class really was a first-class experience. Virgin, which is constantly trying to outdo archrival British Airways, recently introduced a new first-class cabin called the Upper Class Suite, with seats that are nearly 80 inches long and 33 inches wide. You certainly won't get any complaints about seat room in this first-class section. (Technically, Virgin's first class is considered a business-class service, with its "premium economy" subbing for business class. But that's just semantics - Upper Class is a real first-class product.)

Cathay Pacific Airways. Talk about being pampered. If you're flying from Hong Kong, your experience starts at a special lounge called The Wing, where you can watch a movie, catch up on work in your own personal space or grab a bite to eat at its in-lounge noodle bar. On long-haul flights, Cathay pulls out all the stops, with luxurious sleeper seats which feature luxury duvets and pillows, toiletry kits designed by La Prairie and gourmet, cooked-to-order cuisine. Cathay also waives some of its rules for folks sitting up front, permitting a special checked-baggage allowance of two pieces that weigh up to 70 pounds each. So you can travel in style and take along the kitchen sink - almost literally.

British Airways. Flying can be stressful, which is why British Airways operates a spa out of its London first-class lounge. That, and perhaps a little competition with Virgin (which, after all, has an on-board masseuse), have driven this carrier to offer a range of treatments and massages "designed to relieve the stresses of the journey and prepare you for a relaxed and comfortable flight." The first-class section is impressive, too. Each individual seat is called a "demi cabin" because it converts not only into a bed, but an office of sorts with a separate seat where another passenger (presumably also from first class) can "visit" with you. British Airways also has a reputation for having an excellent on-board "cellar" with a selection of wines, champagnes and spirits - but alas, no bar.

Thai International Airways. The last thing Thai wants its Royal First Class customers to be on those tedious transcontinental flights is bored. Which is why you're issued a personal Video Walkman when you sit down. There's a library with first-run movies, classic films, a ballet or music videos, to pass the time. And, of course, there's luxury - and lots of it. Sleeper seats. Food served on china with silverware (nothing plastic here). Cuvée des Roys champagne. Plus, the service is said to be second-to-none, with cabin attendants constantly patrolling the aisles to make sure every passenger is happy. Needless to say, it would be very difficult to have a bad flight on Thai.

Don't forget business class

Not all airlines offer a first-class cabin. In fact, some of the best premium airline services don't even carry a "first-class" label. This is done mainly because so many companies have policies forbidding their employees from flying first class. So the airlines wisely renamed their top-of-the-line product "business class."

A good example is Austrian Airlines' "Grand Class," which showed up on several of the surveys, despite being a business-class product. Austrian Airlines is a sentimental favorite of mine because I grew up in Austria and still have family there, who I visit frequently. I admit it, I shamelessly beg for an upgrade to Grand Class every time I fly on Austrian, and I've actually gotten an upgrade on two occasions. It's worth the groveling.

"It's the best business class around," raves Alf Wirth, a financial adviser who is a frequent traveler to Vienna, Austria. "In fact, except for the seats only reclining to 160 degrees, it would win even against any other first class." Wirth likes the food, service and ambience - and even though my friends who handle public relations for Austrian Airlines cringe whenever I call, I wholeheartedly agree.

Before booking that ticket, though, I'd like offer a reality check. A New York-to-Vienna ticket in Grand Class will set you back about $5,022. Want to fly from Los Angeles to Singapore on Singapore Airlines? Get ready to part with $9,368. That's big bucks.

If you can't afford to do that, or just think that the money would be better spent on something like oh, say your mortgage, then you can always do the "perp walk" and follow the rest of the livestock to the back of the plane.

First Class '77

Hong Kong (Part II)

Jumping in Asia...







The best restaurants in Hong Kong this season are...

Azure www.azure.hk -Bar and restaurant on the 29th floor of the LKF Hotel. Split leval with an amazing outdoor terrace.

Aqua www.aqua.com.hk -Very stilish restaurant with separate bar in Kawloon with the best view over to Hong Kong. The right place to see and be seen but the food is expensive and not as good as they would like to think it is. Opt for the Italian over the Asian. The wagyu beef rice was full of grissle!

Isola www.isolabarandgrill.com -Great Italian cuisine in the IFC mall. Beutiful white interior and a big outdoor terrace with water views.

Tokio Joe www.lkfe.com -Fun, easy local Japanese in the middle of the hectic Lan Kwai Fong. Often noisy and full of excited post work diners.

Megu www.megunyc.com -Modern Japanese cuisine in Kawloon. In the new Essentials mall. Proper and lovingly prepared, even the wasabi is freshly grated at the table. Not light for the pocket!

Where to shop...

Prada Warehouse -Last seasons items at up to 50% discount.
Shangai Tang
Harvey Nichols
Essentials -The new place for shop addicts!

New York & Hamptons (Part II)

My love affair with NYC continues…It just gets better every day! More new tips for having the best of New York:

Hotels.

*London NYC Hotel – Well priced, cool atmosphere, and great design. HUGE suites!
*Chambers Hotel – Bad, bad, bad! No gym, showers don’t work, wrong attitude, too dark…Don’t go there!

Restaurants:
*Da Silvano - Still great for an outside lunch.
*Cafeteria – SO OVER!
* Spice Market – Reborn and kicking ass.
* The Kitchen (Mercer Hotel) – Deserves every five stars. The food is to die for and the service is perfect.
* Le Bilbouquet – My favourite for lunch. Small, smart and sharp!
* Spotted Pig – The new place to see and be seen. No reservations so get yourself ready for an easy hour waiting. Not so sure if its worth it…Especially if you know proper gastro pubs in London.
* Bakery & Café – Very local. Went for a drink there and heard dinner is amazing.

The Hamtons experience:
For a long time that I wanted to visit this part of the Empire state. Imagined beautiful beaches with nice restaurants, lively bars and smart nightclubs, small charm hotels, young atmosphere…Almost like the Cote D'azur of America.
I could not be more wrong! The Hamptons (albeit out of season) is boring as hell!! Its like Boca Raton but with no white Rolls with red interiors.
* Vine Street Café – Can't say I didn’t like this restaurant… buzzy and a sweet ferry ride to the door!

London NYC suite