Luxury Travel Review
Basilica, new book about the building of St. Peter’s, a fun read for history buffs
Basilica: The Splendor and The Scandal: Building St. Peter’s
History buffs and Rome enthusiasts may find it interesting to know that Pope Julius II caused a scandal when he ordered the construction of St. Peter’s, the symbol of one of the most revered religious centers of that time. It may also surprise some to discover that the pope rejected Michelangelo, one of the world’s most famous sculpturers and an artist of renown in his own time; and later after the artist’s departure wanted to lure him back to Rome.
The author’s fluid writing style and ability to condense hundreds of years of political rivalry and architectural and building activity of the construction of one of the world’s most famous architectural marvels, make Basilica: The Splendor and The Scandal: Building St. Peter’s an entertaining and instructive read.
A religious magnet for millions of faithful, friends and enemies, the curious and the profane, St. Peter’s history is closely entwined with the history of Rome. The book is written for fans of Rome and the Vatican, whether faith or art driven. Author R.A Scotti distills centuries of history, intrigue, and religious and pagan lore, painting a picture that, though wracked with human failings, inspires.
Author R.A Scotti
By the 15th century Rome had become a broken down medieval town. The efforts of the Vatican’s most flamboyant popes and some of history’s most gifted artists and the creation of the new basilica, made Rome one of the centers of the world once again.
The Basilica took 200 years to complete, outlasted 27 popes, and sparked the Protestant Reformation. Over the centuries of its construction, Guttenberg invented the printing press, Columbus stumbled on a new continent, Magellan sailed around the world, Henry VIII married six times, Shakespeare wrote all his plays, and the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock.
Through Scotti’s eye the reader can see the failings and successes, the political intrigues, financial, architectural challenges and countless other obstacles the project supporters faced. In the end, it’s a tale about larger than life figures committed to making the basilica a reality.
Scotti, the author of two previous works of nonfiction, including Sudden Sea: The Great Hurricane of 1938 and four novels, lives in New York City.
Click here to purchase Basilica: The Splendor and The Scandal: Building St. Peter’s
Botswana is a hot destination for exclusive safari tourism
By Elena del Valle
An elephant at the Chobe Safari Lodge
Visitors to Botswana are almost guaranteed an elephant sighting
For those thinking of going on safari in a remote area, this might be a good time to visit or revisit Botswana. The small and sparsely populated country is best known as the largest producer of gem quality diamonds in the world. The landlocked country, home to exclusive and remote safari camps and one of the largest herds of free roaming elephants in Africa, is making travel and tourism a priority.
Thanks in part to its mining wealth, this southern Africa country took the time and effort to develop its travel and tourism industry by planning ahead and focusing on luxury. Setting aside a large portion of its land for game viewing, the Botswana government issued concessions to private companies to establish temporary luxury oriented camps with minimum impact on the environment.
Although foreign companies and workers were allowed in initially, the government places strong emphasis on recruiting and training locals. The goal is for the luxury game viewing concessions to eventually be managed by Botswana natives. As part of the process, thousands of families were relocated from their ancestral homelands to make way for the game viewing reserves. At the same time, promising youth who grew up in farming and fishing families, were hired and placed on the fast track to training and promotion opportunities. This formula, though at times bumpy, seems to be paying off for Botswana.
The future of tourist travel in Botswana is bright according to the Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) report produced by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and commissioned by the Government of Botswana and the Botswana Tourism Board. The report estimates the travel and tourism industry in Botswana will generate $1.6 billion in economic activity.
Over the next ten years Botswana’s travel and tourism industry is expected to achieve an annualized real growth of 5 percent, exceeding the world average at 4.3 per cent and the Sub-Saharan African average at 4.5 percent. According to the forecasts detailed in the report, travel and tourism already contributes over 10 percent of total employment and 16 percent of the non-mining gross domestic product of the country.
World Travel & Tourism Council report on Botswana
“Although this growth is positive and the country is one of the Africa’s most exciting travel destinations, it remains relatively unknown and is heavily dependent on intraregional tourists. Indeed, as far as long-haul markets are concerned, it is probably Africa’s best-kept secret,” said Jean-Claude Baumgarten, World Travel & Tourism Council. ”However these forecasts show that, with the right policy framework, Botswana has the potential not only to expand rapidly but also to significantly broaden its tourism product base, appealing to much a wider range of tourist tastes and budgets.”
Baumgarten believes the Botswana government has set many examples on how to run a country’s travel and tourism industry and preserve its environment, culture and heritage. Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, Botswana’s Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism indicated that travel and tourism will be a priority for the country’s economy, which can no longer depend on its mining industry.
“This report comes at a crucial point for Botswana and will help the government to reach the highest level of potential that can be realized,” said Kitso Mokaila. “Travel and tourism will contribute enormously to the country’s economy and we are committed to running a conscious campaign to publicize the strategic role and benefits of tourism in order to stimulate a more positive perception to the wider public.”
The World Travel & Tourism Council is the forum for the chairs and chief executives of 100 prominent travel and tourism companies. The Council works with industry and governments to raise awareness of the strategic importance of travel and tourism, one of the world’s largest industries employing more than 230 million people and generating over 10 per cent of world GDP.
To find out about our travel teams experiences in Botswana click on the hyperlinks Botswana, Camp Okavango, Chobe Safari Lodge, Deception Valley Lodge, Kings Pool Camp, Kwara Camp, Kwetsani Camp, Lebala Camp, Nxai Pan Reserve/John Chase Safari, Savute Safari Lodge, and Xigera Camp.
Crown Court 44A – Sajo’s Reef
Crown Court 44A – Sajo’s Reef waterfront view
When our travel team members visited Bonaire earlier this year they stayed at Crown Court 44A – Sajo’s Reef, a waterfront luxury rental villa, for a week. Read all about their visit, in the articles we published on the island including Crown Court 44A (see below for more on the villa); Harbour Beach Village Club, the island’s premier resort; and a couple of the top dive operators, Great Adventures Dive & Water Sports Bonaire at Harbour Beach Village Club and Buddy Dive at the Buddy Dive Resort.
Crown Court 44A – Sajo’s Reef
We were delighted to discover the southern Caribbean island of Bonaire offered many accommodation options, including luxury rental villas. After a few email exchanges with Sunrentals, one of the largest rental agencies on the island, we were rewarded with last minute space in Crown Court 44A, one of their most popular rental homes and one of very few waterfront homes with WiFi. The roomy three bedroom waterfront $2 million villa was in Bonaire’s most luxurious residential neighborhood.
Click here to read more about Crown Court 44A Sajo’s Reef
Forest Health Spa at Cybele
One of our travel teams was in South Africa recently and visited several luxury properties including the spa at the Cybele Forest Lodge & Health Spa near Kruger National Park. Below is an excerpt about the spa and the fun treatments they offer:
Millions and millions of chocolate bubbles swirled at my feet; foaming in a chocolate lover’s fantasy. In the dimly lit room, rose petals and candles transported me to an imaginary cloud of soothing silence; while chocolate morsels and chocolate liquor tempted my sweet tooth during the Cybele Spa 45-minute Chocolate Balneotherapy. Prior to that, I enjoyed a back and massage with hot stones and 15-minute stopover in the spa’s oriental style steam room with a garden view. My final treatment was a scalp massage right before the spa closed for the day.
Blue is for Bonaire
Bonaire is surrounded by a protected marine park
Two of our travel team members visited Bonaire, part of the Dutch Antilles, earlier this year. Following their visit, we published articles on the island (read part of the article below); Crown Court 44A, a waterfront luxury rental villa with high speed Internet access; Harbour Beach Village Club, the island’s premier resort; and two of the top dive operators, Great Adventures Dive & Water Sports Bonaire at Harbour Beach Village Club and Buddy Dive at the Buddy Dive Resort.
Bonaire
For a small island Bonaire really packs a punch. When few spoke about ecotourism in the Caribbean, Bonaire was busy establishing marine and national parks. Island authorities still oversee those areas with care, ensuring unspoiled waters for locals and visitors alike. At the same time, although for years it has been a diving Mecca attracting countless European and United States visitors, locals have not rested on their laurels. We observed pleasant, well organized, modern operations staffed by enthusiastic divers with a professional attitude.
Ivory Lodge at Lion Sands
Ivory Lodge, a family built owned and managed lodge on the banks of the Sabie River, offered first class Big Five game viewing, luxury accommodations, appetizing meals and the kind of personal service only a small property can provide. Among its many distinctions was fronting the Sabie River for which the Sabi Sand Reserve was named. It offered eco-friendly game viewing following strict policies to protect the land. The Lion Sands Reserve on which the property was located, employed a full-time ecologist to manage and oversee the care of the land. Click here to read about Ivory Lodge at Lion Sands
