In Grecia con ClubMed

May is coming and with it my desire to vacation. In these days, in fact, I already beginning to think and fantasize about the possible destinations where summer 2016 will take me; I dream an holiday in Greece, famous throughout the world for the beauty of its islands and its beaches. Actually it is one of those destinations that appeal recurs every year and perhaps now it is time to venture in the footsteps of Ulysses, between the turquoise waters of the Aegean and Ionian Sea and its ruins perfectly preserved.
The Greek islands are so many and for this reason I am looking for that perfect island which is not the usual (and beautiful) Santorini, Mykonos or Crete.
After a search, I found it..the island I was looking for, perfect to relax and regenerate.
Standing on the azure waters of the Aegean Sea, Gregolimano cape in Evia island, overlooking the sea with its white sand and challenge the mountains that stand face to face. And right here, between sea and mountains, lies the ClubMed Gregolimano resort.
From the hotel to the bungalows surrounded by pine forest, the Resort is a succession of arcades, flower-filled walkways and charming patios in a joyous labyrinth of dazzling white.
The fresh air and the heady scent of the pine trees that surround the beach of Gregolimano, are ideal to regain energy and give way to an unforgettable holiday. ClubMed Gregolimano is perfect for families and sports enthusiasts due to the many activities offer and the largest school of sports in the world.
I imagine myself already there, in that atmosphere made special by the colors that dye the resort, with the shades of blue and white typical of Greek culture, to enjoy sunrises and sunsets from spectacular views of the cape, tasting the delicacies of Greek cuisine leaving me charmed by the stories and history of the Olympian gods.
I wonder if Ulysses would choose to rest here during his trip...?

Come apparecchiare una tavola formale

A well-set table is index of sophistication, elegance and good manners, also it demonstrates the attention and care on the part of the hosts towards the guests.
The table must be large enough, so that the guests are at ease, but at the same time not too much otherwise you risk having too much distance between a guest and the other.
The first step consists in covering the table with a molleton, a fleece cloth towel used as protection. The tablecloth can be in different fabrics and patterns, it is important that it is appropriate at the reception.
Sure effect is the centerpiece, which can be of different types: a vase of flowers, a composition of fruit or vegetables, a piece of furniture. If the evening is particularly important or romantic, a pair of stanchions which will go on only after sunset.
The centerpieces must not be too high and bulky as not to impede the view and the movements of the diners.
Do not underestimate the choice of the right lighting, trying to avoid a single light source and instead opting for different intensity lamps. Beautiful suspended lamps on the tables.
The correct seat allocation, by the hosts, is very important: we must take into account the personality and the character of the diners. The hosts should sit facing each other, the rest of the guests will see the alternation of an invited men and women.
When the number of diners exceeds 10, the placeholders become an indispensable decoration for the table, as it exposes the first name in case the occasion is informal, or the full name with if the invitation is formal.
The glasses, Crystal recommended, should be aligned to the right of the plate, in sequence from left to right: water, red wine, white wine and set back the champagne glass or glass for dessert wine.
To the left of the plate is folded the table napkin, but it can also be located on the right, its position is not binding. The bending is a crucial detail, usually triangle or rectangle. In the French tables, the table napkin is placed inside the glass or on top of the plate, optimal solution in the case where there is little space between a diner and the other.
Regarding the plates, it is retracted using the underplate which must always be left under each rate and can be silver, glass or ceramic. The dishes are arranged in this order: saucer, dinner plate, appetizer plate (small), flat bottom (put after removing the appetizer plate), fruit plate.
The bread plate, placed on the left of the dishes, must have a cloth laid over doily, if in silver.
Finally, the cutlery should be chosen based on the expected menu and are arranged starting from the outside towards the inside. To the right of the plate: the knife (the blade is always turned inward), spoon and appetizer knife. To the left of the plate: forks, whose numbers and sequence varies depending on the planned course. Top: arranged with the handle to the left, the fork, and to the right, the knife and spoon. To these, if necessary, will be added the cutlery for fish.

Il Riccio - Capri

The Mediterranean atmosphere, blue wooden tables overlooking the sea, white fluttering curtains, two-color tiles and a flash of yellow here and there. If you think about Capri, you think about beauty.
The sea, the rocks, the views are still as Jackie Kennedy had to see them when she came here, to Capri, up to the Blue Grotto.
On a stunning terrace overlooking the rocks above the Blue Grotto, so sheer that seems to be hanging over the sea, in one of the loveliest spots in one of the most beautiful islands in the world, is located Il Riccio.
With one of the most exclusive beach clubs on the island, the restaurant Il Riccio, awarded a Michelin star in 2013, is a place of signs and symbols, women with sponge hair and sea nymphs created by Sandulli, with kitchen decorated with colorful Vietri tiles.
Everything here speaks of Naples and sea, from the traditional cuisine, that of fish ofcourse, simple but requires impeccable raw materials, to the design of the location.
The sea urchin, which gives its name to the restaurant, is present everywhere: in the glass jars on the tables as in the ceramic plates and the aprons of the waiters, but the sea is to lord it, in the landscape and in the pot. Declined in its most traditional form, triumphs in grilled fish and seafood salads, in the plateau of raw seafood, in the classic seafood risotto and the even more classic spaghetti with clams.
 To end, the "secret room of sweets", where the children's dreams materialize in the form of babbà, small capresi, lemon delights and puffs.
An experience surely to live, given by the perfect combination of one of the best Italian cooking and stunning scenery of one of the most beautiful places in Italy.

Rendez-vous à Paris

A pink rose, my favorite, in the mailbox and a note:

"For my Princess,

I am waiting for you under Arco della Pace... 18:00 o'clock...
I have a surprise for you <3 "

I read the note a couple of times. We never met at the Arco della Pace, it goes like Paris! I smile to the idea and I start to daydream... I wonder how it would meet in Paris, the city of love.
Let's meet in Paris, under the Arc du Triomphe.
Let's meet there in a sunny day of March, among a caress and an embarrassed smile. Among a kiss on the wind and scent of roses.
Let's meet like this. Eyes into eyes, like the first time.
A kiss on the cheek, "bonne journée cherie!" and a cadeau pour moi. A walk along the Seine eating macarons and a laugh that is lost on his mouth among a bites and a kiss.
Paris, with his homage to the splendor of the past and Latin atmosphere, where peace and love are floating in the air as the music of the street performers.
The Champs-Elysées with its cafés and luxury boutiques. A casquet to Place de la Concorde, with its stately elegance as a backdrop, and then lose ourselves in the eighteenth-century atmosphere, calm and relaxed, of the Jardin des Tuileries. Among the wonderful allegorical statues and endless green spaces, two pastel-colored chairs under a blooming cherry tree, just waiting for us and our laughter.
A champagne flute overhanging the city from the Eiffel Tower and a dinner by candlelight in the festive atmosphere full of life of the Latin Quarter, then end the evening observing, embraced, the lit "Lady" sailing on bateau mouche, continuing to enjoy its atmosphere of total peace and tranquility.
18:00 o'clock and a figure under the arch to expect me. A smile that I know and a bouquet of roses hidden, until I arrived, behind his back.
After a kiss, the return to reality.
Back to Milan, under the Arco della Pace.
He took my hand and we move in that city that, tonight, has that Paris' sweet and romantic taste.

Dior Glowing Gardens

Fresh, romantic and colorful, like a bouquet of freshly cut flowers. The Dior make-up collection for spring 2016 sees subtle colors from discreet brightness, inspired by an extraordinary garden.
Pastel shades and romantic hues make up the Dior Glowing Gardens collection: blush, palette, bright powders, nail polishes and lipsticks.
A floral explosion that makes the make up fresh and joyful.

Un pomeriggio alla SPA Cà de Figo

The man manages to be in peace when is alone with himself. And sometimes is not enough.
 Last week I really needed peace and quiet. The peace that only the hills can give, made of nature and silence, infinite horizons and pampering. So I packed my travel bag, some romantic dress, pink as the season wants, a pair of sandals and the new Elie Saab fragrance, Rose Couture (here); I took the car and drove to the hills of Varzi. Here I let myself be carried away by the tranquility and the stunning beauty of Cà de Figo farm.
The quiet of the woods and Lombard Apennines hills, Cà de Figo is much more than a country, it is the ideal place to relax in total tranquility without giving up refined pastimes.
Located in Varzi, Cà de Figo farm also has a riding school where you can organize walks or riding lessons, a wildlife park of 28 hectares, a tennis court and a wellness center with a modern SPA, swimming pools and all kinds of massage and treatment for the face and body based on natural products.
This set of activities make Cà de Figo a very special place to forget the stress of every day and fully regenerate the mind and body, enjoying the beauty of the place and the unspoilt nature.
In this wonderful place, where the view is lost in the horizon and hills up to not discern one from the other, where the sense of smell is caressed by the scents of essential oils and Elie Saab rose, I was searching for peace and peace I found.

Abu Dhabi, la Grande Moschea dello Sceicco Zayed

Vistosa, bianca e scintillante sotto il sole caldo degli Emirati Arabi, la Grande Moschea dello Sceicco Zayed è un vero capolavoro architettonico che ogni anno attira fedeli e visitatori da ogni parte del mondo.

Guerlain - La Petite Robe Noir make up

Inspired by one of the most popular women's fragrances in the world, colorful and lively, it is the new makeup collection for spring 2016 Guerlain La Petite Robe Noir.

A shower of lipsticks and nail polish inspired by the iconic Guerlain fragrance.

20 different lipsticks and 8 unreleased nail polish, limited edition, all inspired by the colors of the flower petals that distinguish the scent of the Maison.

The lipsticks Guerlain La Petite Robe Noir, gloss finish and opacity modulated, fully recall the fragrance symbol of French maison with an innovative texture. The lightweight formula-based oils and nutrients leaves a long soft lips, covered with a light veil and floral fruity inspired by the fragrance. 20 shades: from nude to fire red, passing through vibrant fuchsia and the intense berry.

The nail polish, however, declined in 8 vitamin and super feminine shades, shiny finish and long-lasting, have a perfumed texture inspired by red fruit and floral petals of the iconic fragrance that will last on the nails up to 24 hours. The pack takes over the packaging of the fragrance.

An irresistible and tempting collection for all the beauty addicted!

Flowers

"The charm of a flower is in its contradictions - so delicate in form but strong in fragrance, so small in size but big in beauty, so short in life but with such a long effect."

The meaning of life is rediscovering love with his own existence. It is the journey, the path, in its simplicity and grandeur.
It is the value that we give to every moment and each to ensure that the next one is even more wonderful. We should live like this, without worrying about the after but only that now is just amazing.
Fall in love with life, flowers, spring. Fall in love with smiles, the real ones, the alive ones. Fall in love with everything that makes you happy and all that is beautiful.
Love life as the companion of all time, this is the simple rule to live a fulfilling life. Make you beautiful every day like you have to meet the most important person in your life. Behaved as if I had always beside you. Smile to her. Kiss her. Take care of her. Clasp her. She will never betray you if you will not betray her.

Come una principessa al Melià Milano

I move down the taxi window, just enough to breathe the spring air that surrounds Milan. I look at the buildings sliding along with my thoughts. The taxi driver carried out and enveloping heady scent shakes my soul, the same fragrance that will accompany me in every room, corridor of Melià Milano.

"Welcome home", this is what I think in front of the elegant entrance. Soon I will remain completely speechless before the majestic hall with marble staircase that leads in the most exclusive part of the hotel, The Level and suites.

Located in the most dynamic and further development area of Milan, near the MiCo Convention Center, the San Siro stadium, AC Milan with its legendary museum and the trade fair ground, the hotel Melià Milano is ideal for more demanding customers.

At Meliá Milano every wish will be realized, in most cases without the need to ask. Guests are pampered throughout their stay with small details that make the service unique in its kind.

The atmosphere is elegant and welcoming, it is clear from the wealth of tapestries in the salon, carpets, marble colonnade, the spaces of the rooms and the sophistication of the lounge bar instead the reception: the Jigger Food & Cocktail Bar. The ideal place to disconnect after a day of work or, for nightlife lovers, an excuse to pamper yourself with the exclusive and sophisticated service offered by the staff. Here you can pamper your palate while enjoying delicious appetizers, Mediterranean cuisine but also enjoying some of the best Italian wines and the finest cognacs. The cocktail menu offers a unique experience blending modern trends with the classics of the past.

Do you want to know a curiosity about the name? Jigger, shaped like a bow tie, is a tool that the barman use to measure the liquor to be paid into the shaker.

This set of attentions are the foundations on which the local bases, which reflect the approach to the customer in "Melià style", the signature of which is denoted in detail, step by step during the preparation of cocktails.

Melià Milano is also one of Milan's best hotel for congresses and conventions with 15 meeting rooms. The new plenary meeting room can accommodate up to 520 delegates. The staff, dealing with all the details, will help you to organize a successful event or business meeting.

But that's not all, because Melià Milano thinks everything. Have you ever thought how it would be nice to have a tailor at your disposal, ready to help you and to manufacture a tailored suit, perhaps for a gala dinner or a wedding? At Melià is possible, too, thanks to the very good tailor Matteo Mora, well-known figure in the industry.

The facilities offered are really many: from the excellent restaurant to the gym, from the hairdresser to the spa, an heaven on earth divided in 4 cabins of treatments and massages, and a relax circuit. In the Wellness Center, at your disposal, you can take care of the body and mind while you rest in the relaxation area enjoying a delicious herbal tea or fruit juices.

And when you think, with eyes still dreamy, had seen all, the Melià Milano will still have a way to surprise you. You will only have to go up to the first floor for access to The Level, the most exclusive service of Meliá, where every detail is designed and tailored to the guest, to give a truly unique and unforgettable experience. Here is the biggest lounge in Europe, where the exclusivity and personalized services come together in a unique and modern space, open 24 hours on 24 to offer you everything you need, from herbal tea good night accompanied by biscuits and pastries to snacks and also aperitif. In this space are transmitted, mixed together, functionality, sense of belonging, sophistication and tranquility in order to make it versatile depending on the needs and the type of customers, making them feel pampered and answered anyone who accesses.

As if it were not enough you will have the possibility to check-in and check-out privately and enjoy room service.

Once you cross the threshold of your room or suite we hit by a wave of light reflected from the floor parquet veins, sinuous lines of the ceiling arches and the white sheets.

On the elegant dresser sweet pampering and welcome cards, again catches the eye the intention of the hotel staff to pamper its guests; for coffee lovers is available a Nespresso machine, bathrobe and slippers exclusive The Level, teapot and an assortment of teas, bath products and more.

After a hearty breakfast I prepare myself to close the suitcase and to greet, with that mixture of happiness and sadness, one of the most surprising hotel in Milan.