Travel with Sheila

Playa Venao a Beautiful bay and a must visit place in Panama with Great surf

Sheila Baron — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 20:51:11 +0000

Panama is full of wonderful places -empty beaches, exotic islands an amazing capital city and many more places that you shouldnt miss…
But if you ask the young travelers and the surfers where to go in Panama? They will tell you: PLAYA VENAO
I totally understand them, Its a lovely bay with many diffrent sleeping options, almost year-round surfing, comfortable weather and the most delicious food we ate in Panama.

For our story from Playa and Nao click here.

How to get to Playa Venao?

The coolest town in Panama (according to the surfers and all-Israelis) is not that easy to get too.

Location:
Playa Venao is on the Pacific coast of Panama about 5 hours by car from Panama City (about 3-4 hours on the main road and then descends to side roads)
The coastal strip is near the town of Pedasi (a sweet little town from which you can take tours to Isla Iguana Island)

recommended:

Rent a car – you can do whatever you want, get anywhere (also to get around in the bay and beaches near by you need a car).
Public Transport – I found a site that explains all the ways to get to Playa Venao
We rented a car from a local company that brings the car to the airport. They were professional, kind and charming. But they don’t allow for Panama’s circular route where you need to leave the car in a diffrent location .

Our first rental company is called CORONADO CARS

Where to Stay in Playa Venao

.Playa Venao is developing very fast. because the town is suitable for both young travelers, families and couples, it has a wide range of accommodation options
This is a large strip of beach filled with charming and unique hotels

Playa Venao Hotel Resort

We chose this hotel because we got a lot of great recommendations on it and also because it has an infinity pool to the sea and we were not disappointed.

Lovely hotel with great service, spacious rooms, a number of restaurants and plenty of space between places. Breakfast is served in an open space by the pool, and cocktails flow into the pool area at sunset.
We were at the hotel for a week and enjoyed every moment.

More Hotels in Playa Venao

Link to our perfect hotel: Playa Venao Hotel Resort

Link to the travelers hotel with a cool surf club: Selina Playa Venao

If you stop first in Pedasi you can also sleep in Selina: Selina Pedasi

Link to the non-smoking lighthouse with the cool vibe – located on the sea: El Sitio

Link to Tipi hostel is suitable for those who want to spend more time in the area: Tipi hostel Eco Rural

Link for Wildlife lovers Far from the Center: Eco Venao Lodge

I would love to receive more recommendations for hotels since the area is developing very fast.

What to do in Playa Venao

We were in Playa for a week, but don’t be surprised if you stay there longer, most of the people we met really loved the place.

Surfing – There is nothing like surfing in Playa Venao (and if you are not a surfer its likely you will start ) there are good conditions for both beginners and advanced throughout the year. A lot of Israelis go to the club in Selina – Its a great surf club with a great atmosphere.

Food – You will eat really well in Playa Venao, there is a large concentration of diverse restaurants.

ZIPLINE For details click here

Pedasi – a charming little town about half an hour before arriving in Playa Venao, From the city you can reach Isla Iguana – a stunning island with perfect water and plenty of nature.
The city itself is very nice and worth checking out especially when it is carnival time.

Sonice Venao -Around march ther is a music festival which has been around for some years now – SONICE VENAO is worth checking out if you are in the area.

Travel to Playa Cambutal – please check below more about cambutal.

Where to eat in Playa Venao

We were very satisfied with the food in Playa Venao, the restaurants there are great value for money and especially for taste,
there is a great selection: from humus restaurants (did I say there are many Israelis?) to Sushi, Italian, Thai, there is a supermarket and an ice cream and more.

Everywhere in Playa Venao is within walking distance

Recommended Restaurants in Playa Venao:

playa venao resort – Our hotel had 3 restaurants:

Micaela – maximo refinamiento – Pleasant, we mostly we had breakfast there but the hamburgers were also excellent.
Sushi at the hotel reception – was very nice.

El sito – In the hotel El Sito the restaurant was excellent not a cheap restaurant but with delicious food and well worth the price. We ate there both evening and morning.

Coleos – A small restaurant in the center (opposite the supermarket) mixed food with Asian touches – the cevice was the most delicious dish I tasted in Panama.

MAMU | Seafood & More – Just opened when we arrived simple and wonderful! The Fish & chips and everything they served was simple and delicious!

La Barca – Beach bar – Cool bar on the sea with tapas.

Panga – considered to be an excellent chef restaurant,
we didn’t think that way and thought I wouldn’t write about it, but a friend who recently returned told me that it was excellent and that they had returned a couple of times.

Playa Cambutal

About an hour from Playa Venao or 5.5 hours from Panama City you will get to “Playa Cambutal.”

A Stunning bay with black sand and lots of surfing points. Unlike the pulsating Playa Venao, Cambutal symbolizes the tranquility and so you can find retreat yoga – and quieter more secluded hotels. We arrived on Saturday and found a small local market where the locals (many foreigners who moved to the place) sold their products.

I marked myself a certain hotel that I really wanted to see and did come in for a light snack and was not disappointed, If you want quiet yoga and surfing this is the place for you. We also found a few other cute hotels and a sweet Italian restaurant. It’s totally worth spending three days here or visiting for a day from Playa Venao.

Cambutal hotels

Sansara Resort – A very special hotel that combines yoga and surfing. (The hotel we checked and found in the photos)

Hotel Playa Cambutal – This beachfront hotel is also suitable for families.

Boom Shiva – small rooms. We had dinner in the local Italian restaurant of the place.

A few more tips (because we can? )

During March there is a cold current and the water can be cold. check before and if you can bring a wetsuit. ( for surfers mainly)

Check out the surfing schools before you decide.

Get ready to stay longer than you planned.

If there are new places please update me

Look for the story from anywhere: Playa Venao

Planing to visit the Islands of Panama, you can find more great info with Adi sees world about Ina’s Island

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Glamping in the Israeli Desert a unique luxury experience

Sheila Baron — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 10:02:26 +0000

Do you know what Glamping means?
Glamping = glamorous + camping. If you love nature But dont like camping … this is exactly what you need.
Also its always nice to be able to experience nature and still feel you are spoiling yourself when you go on a vacation.
Experts say that Glamping gives you nature on your doorstep But keeps your tent as comfortable as an hotel room.

Glamping In the Israeli Desert

Our Glamping experience was in the Israeli Desert and it was absolutely glamorous… a unique and secret hotel that only pop up several times a year…

The Glow Glamping Experience

I was invited by GLOW Glamping to spend a night in their Secret location, Hotel comfort pop up luxury glamping camp.
In the last few years I’ve been to several Glamping camps in the world, but this was my first Glamping experience in Israel.

When we arrived at the campsite I knew it was something different from the camps I saw in Desert until now.
The tents are very big and are accommodated with everything you need in order to have a luxury hotel experience.

In the tents we found:

a small coffee machine, cookies and tea.
a heater. and in summer they have a air cooler in the tents.
a very comfortable bed with luxury bed linen and a pillow that adjusts according to your head shape.
flip flops and a cosmetics kit for the essentials you might need.
a bath robe and blanket.

everything needed to make our stay stylisher.

What to do while you Glamp…

First I would like to say that I recommend staying 2 nights in the camp to really experience the nature and the desert atmosphere.
In Glow Glamping we were welcomed with hot wine and the bonfire was set during the sunset ( which was an amazing experience).
A chef Dinner is served with wine and tasty food, after we went to the bonfire and continued with יhot wine, tea and marshmallows.
In the nights you can also watch the stars with a telescope.

Mornings starts with a yoga lesson, coffee and a full breakfast.
According to where the camp is located you can find more info about activities in the area or in my opinion:

Just rest, relax and enjoy the Desert.

More Info

For more info you can contact Glow Glamping:

Facebook
Instagram
Mail: Booking@glow-glamping.com

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The Best of PANAMA – 15 photos that will make you book a flight

Sheila Baron — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 08:00:46 +0000

Panama has a lot more to offer than watching the canal ( yes, its very nice – but it’s not all).
Panama is located in Central America between Costa Rica and Colombia between the Caribbean and the Pacific.
It is said that one day you can dive on the Caribbean coast, hike in volcanoes, see wildlife in the rainforest and surf the Pacific.
In April 2019, we took a family trip for a month to Panama and fell in love. Here are 15 pictures that will make you understand why…
You can also find a lot information in my Instegram highlights.

For all the posts about Panama

Feel free to use Pinterest to Save this

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Rhodes Island the guide for a stylish vacation

Sheila Baron — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 07:36:01 +0000

I always thought Rhodes was full of tourists, full of tourist traps – I thought it , but I was wrong … One Saturday afternoon a friend and I decided spontaneously

to fly to Greece.

There are always cheap tickets to Rhodes and we Decided to go for it and enjoy the tourist “traps”.

The hotel – Caesars Gardens Hotel & Spa

Beeing kids free, we decided to choose an adult only hotel (a winning experience if you want a quiet vacation – I will also mention hotels that are suitable for children in Rhodes)

Location: Near Lindos town, in the southern part of Rhodes, about 50 minutes drive from the airport

Recommended: Rent a car, The hotel is not by the sea and it takes about 3 minutes to reach the nearest beach (you can go to the beachfrom the hotel but it’s downhill and it is not easy to return)

We chose the hotel without recommendations and we found it was just perfect! The structure of the hotel is not large, It is a renovated small hotel, with some upgraded rooms with private pools. The public area of the hotel is styled with lots of designed and beautiful areas, we would love to live there. The pool is stunning in shades of turquoise green and makes you want to jump in it every time you pass by. The extra part of the hotel has a huge jacuzzi (like a small pool) with other luxurious tanning beds. There is a gourmet restaurant called Tárate Restaurant which also serves a delicious breakfast.

Rooms: Our room was in the old building of the hotel, the room was renovated and equipped with lovely furniture and a large comfortable bed. You can feel the hotel was thinking about the small details with the luxurious coffee machine (free) pool bag, chocolates on the pillows at night and more. The only thing that was not renovated in this room was the bathroom, it didn’t bother us, but I asked them and in the coming year they will be renovated. * I went to visit one of the new rooms that looked like a B & B and everything was just right.

Recommended hotels in Rhodes

:Hotels near Lindos

Link to my perfect hotel (Adult only): Caesars Gardens

Link to a recommended hotel with children : Lindian Village

Link to the hotel in Lindos town, very prestigious: Melenos Lindos Exclusive Suites Adult only.

Link to the hotel between Lindos and Rhodes in the Columbia area – a hot recommendation from me: Casa Cook

Rhodes and Old Town Hotels:

Link to an expensive and recommended hotel in the Old City : Kokkini Porta Rossa

Link to a large hotel near Rhodes : Atrium Platinum Resort

Link to a boutique hotel near Rhodes : Kouros Exclusive

I would love to receive more recommendations for hotels you have been to and love

What to do in Rhodes

Not moving from our perfect hotel? there’s a lot to do in Rhodes and when I say a lot I mean to do things even without tons of people walking around the island.

Rhodes has 2 cities worth visiting: Rhodes Old Town, and White Lindos.

We were in the Lindos area but decided to go to Rhodes anyway and it was a good decision.

Rhodes Old Town

Rhodes was consistently inhabited by the Middle Ages, it has many small streets, some without names. You can fins the synagogue of a Jewish Museum, the Palace of the Order, the Archaeological Museum and more … We arrived in the evening and mostly walked around the charming streets of the Old City.

:Recommended Restaurants in Old Town

Marco polo cafe – Very famous, outdoor seating.

we were recommend booking a place Alexis 4 Seasons Seafood Restaurant Rhodes – A very large and nice fish restaurant.

Alter Ego Summer – Cool bar with modern food

What to do in Rhodes

The magical city of Lindos

We discovered Lindos at sunset when we decided to go to dinner, we just arrived that day and saw only the Acropolis but didn’t really notice Lindos’s beauty, We left the vehicle in one of the parking lots on the main road and the magical Lindos was there. You can climb the Lindos Acropolis and preferably not on a donkey! Our hotel was near and we enjoyed strolling around Lindos in the evening and eating at the lovely restaurants.

Recommended Restaurants in Lindos:

Melenos S.A -Very upscale with stunning views of the Acropolis, we recommend booking a place.

Broccolino Restaurant –A traditional Italian restaurant with a twist. Great food, we recommend booking a place.

Cesar Meze Bar – A subsidiary of our hotel, a cool bar with good food

Olive street restaurant – Nice restaurant in the middle of the city

: Recommended Beaches in Rhodes

When you travel to Rhodes it is usually in the summer, to relax on the beaches. Here are some beaches with restaurants that will make you leave the hotel and go to the sea.

Saint Paul Bay

A magical bay with clear water right under Lindos Acropolis. The bay has 2 beaches.

The southernmost beach with the wonderful Tambakio Restaurant (it is advisable to book beds during peak times or arrive early) with particularly tasty food.

Sun beds with parasol cost 20 euros per coupleץ

The north shore is smaller with less beds, cost 10 per couple + parasol. The beach there is smaller but worth every moment. Smaller restaurant a beach buffet, but looks more authentic.

:Continue Beaches in Rhodes

About 30 minutes south of Lindos you can find 2 lovely beaches worth driving to:

Mea Terra

Restaurant / Beach … A lovely place that made us feel in another world, the food was excellent, the ouzo was served cold.

After dinner we grabbed one of the beds near the restaurant and fell asleep with the music and the sea breeze, but if you are staying all day you can rent 2 beds + parasol for 15 euros.

Booking for the weekend is necessary.

Really close is the Mojito Beach Bar & Grill unfortunately we didnt not try it but I’d love to know what it was like.

Continue Beaches in Rhodes:

About 10 minutes from Rhodes Old Town we entered heaven…

Santa Marina Beach

Restaurant / Bar / Beach … When the lady at the hotel told us to stop there I checked the pictures on the internet but didn’t catch the vibe … Designed umbrellas we really wanted to take home, lovely design and crazy cocktails. Everything needed to get into a good atmosphere with some music and a magical bay. Highly recommended getting closer to Rhodes city, the cost per parasol + 2 Euro 15 beds I was told there was another cool beach called Ronda Beach Bar Located right next to the Old City it is worth checking out dinner there.

Some more tips (because then why not? )

I’m sure there are many more beautiful places in Rhodes. One bay we missed and you should check out is Anthony Quinn Bay

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Moletai Lithuania a family vacation in a perfect location

Sheila Baron — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 12:58:44 +0000

I didn’t know much about Lituania and Moletai in particularly when I was invited as a blogger to visit the area last September.
When I googled it some info came up But it was nothing like the real thing.
Moletai was a Big surprise for me, I found it extremely beautiful, relaxing, tasty, welcoming with a lot of friendly people that made me fall in love with the place.
If you are looking for a nice vacation with your family and friends, who love nature and want to breathe the clean air, moletai is a Great destination for you.

Get ready for a very long post because there was so much to do there.

Where is Moletai and how to get there

Location: Moletai is located in the north eastern part of Lithuania.
60km from Vilnius ( about 1 hour drive) and 110km from Kaunas ( about 2 hours drive)
both cities have airports and are easy to reach.

Recommended: Rent a car, you will need it to see the attractions in Moletai.

Rent a Driver: we had a driver that took us the all-time, He was so nice that I would recomand to use him if you dont feel like driving.
keleivinio mikroautobuso buoma
tel: +37-061510159
mail: ambertrans24@gmail.com

What to do in Moletai

Moletai is full of activities for the all family.
There are water activities, extreme activities, culture activities and much more.
If you ask me, also just renting a homestead (a farm house) and relaxing in the beautiful surroundings is a great activity.

Recommended Activities in Moletai:

Moletai Town

Moletai is a small town in the middle of 300 beautiful lakes.
The town is very small with a population of 6000 people.
A main long street with several shops and a small center where you can find the mayor’s office, the tourist information and a very old brick building that was once owned by the Jewish community.

The places we went to were:

Senoji užeiga – A nice resturant that also has serves as a b&b.

Vanilinis dangus – Sweet is all we need, and some coffee, a great place to stop for a break.

Slibino slėptuvė – A bakery with coffee, cakes and more.

we also found some shops, a grocery shop and a very nice ceramic center that you can come and work with the kids.

From the town center you can reach the Moletai Sculpture Park, where you can walk around ( run or bike or fish) and just enjoy the sculptures in the park and the beautiful lakes.

More Activities in Moletai:

Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology

15 minutes drive from moletai town on the top of the hill you will find the Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology.
A futuristic tower in the middle of the natural surroundings,
The museum shows the relationship of man and mankind with the Cosmic World,
There are many important pieces of collections in the museum but the main attraction is the rocket shape rooftop that is transparent and allows you to see all the area of moletai from a above.

Important: the most interesting thing to do in the museum includes a sleepless night where you have to book in advance for the sky Observatory in the middel of the night when its a clear night.
For all information go to the museum site:

More Activities in Moletai:

Night and Day at Asveja Regional Park

We just arrived to the Homestead after a long day and we were told “Dont get to comfy in 1 hour we will go the Dubingiai village” it was six o’clock and started to get dark and very cold.
lets just say I really didnt want to do this activity and it was a Big mistake.
We arrived at a Dubingiai tourist information center – an old building (200 years) very nice and organized with interactive activities for kids.
We made our own lantern and went fora walk.
When we reached the top of the hill there was an old castle. Outside we had hot tea and cookies which was a great surprise and a very recommended one to book in advance.
A must activity for the kids
In the morning we went back for a walk in the area and saw the wooden bridge and the beautiful nature.
For more info go here
the castle

More Activities in Moletai:

Alanta Manor Art gallery

In Alanta town ( about 20 km from moletai) you will find Alanta Manor. the manor was renovated and today it is an art gallery of a local artist Vaidotas Žukas.
In the manor, you will find art of Lithuanian artists and on the second floor, there is a information about the jews of alanta.
The manor is in the middle of a beautiful garden and its nice to walk around.

For more info go here

Alanta Town

We had the privilege to meet the mayor of Alanta and he showed us and told us about the Jewish history of the town ( they are rebuilding an old synagogue).
Apparently he also has an Homestead (B&B) a very nice one with horses around.
They invited us for coffee and cake and it was a very nice meeting.
If I had to choose a place to stay in the area this might be the one… very recommended.
for more info go here

More Activities in Moletai:

Traditional Crafts Center “Meniškas village”

A well organized art center with a great atmosphere, established in 2008 and is known for its preservation and promotion of traditional black pottery.
They have children’s camps and many activities involving arts and crafts.
Our activity was a Wool workshop which was followed by a delicious lunch.
Very recommended with kids.
for more info go here

Labanoras regional park + Tower and ATV

Labanoras Regional Park is the biggest regional park in Lithuania and has a lot of different landscapes and routes.
Inside the park you can find the Observation Tower and if you like the challenge you can climb the 214 steps in order to see the view.
What do you think I did?
In order to reach the tower we had to drive inside the park and we got to do that on a Four wheel drive ATV,
That was a lot of fun.
For the Park and the tower visit here
For the ATV visit here

More Activities in Moletai:

Lake Fishery Museum

A soup is always a good idea on a cold day, after the ATV drive we arrived at the fish museum.
The area of moletai is full of lakes, and fishing was the main food source for many years ( still is today)
They fish in the summer when the water is clear and in the winter while the lakes are frozen ( and this could be a very nice experience too).
We were welcomed by 2 lovley ladies that prepared the amazing fish soup, sang for us and explained to us how they prepare the soup.
I must say I loved it.
for the musuem visit here
And dont forget to order the: Rimydziai fish soup and other traditional dishes
Muziejaus g. 7, Mindūnai |Tel. +370 689 83643

Molėtai Aerodrome

300 lakes are somthing you want to see from the sky.
On our last day we went flying and it was an amazing experience, to be able to see all the fantastic colors from the sky.
The small airport is owned by 4 pilots and and you can book a flight with them.
I must admit I was afraid but once we were up in the sky I knew I had made the right choice to try this.

for the airpot site go here

More Activities in Moletai:

Moletai Old Car Museum – Molėtų technikos muziejus

Just next to the airport you will find the Old cars museum, and if you like cars you will love this place.
They have a very big collection of old cars and we were told that many tv shows use these cars – like the famous Chernobyl tv show.

for more info go here

Apple island – Obuoliu sala

When they said we are going to the apple island I wanted to know if we are really going to see many apple trees, and we did.
The island is a great place to stay and they have very basic sleeping arragments and also a caravan park.
There is a restaurant and a small sandy beach.

for more info go here

Where to stay in Moletai

There are many options of staying in the Moletai area and you can find most of them here
The places are called Homesteads and are similar to B&B.

We stayed and visted some of them:

Homestead Kliukai
Located on a hill with several water ponds, a very nice Countryside homestead with 4 rental options each with a different room arrangement between 4-8 persons,
all built by the owner- Vytis, and have a personal touch.
Each cottage has a separate yard with furniture, fully equipped kitchen with a cozy living room.

We stayed there for 2 nights and really enjoyed the place.
The owner was super nice and the main guest house is amazing with a fully equipped kitchen and a big library space.
For more info visit here

More places to stay at

Another place we had the chance to enjoy and stay at was:

Homestead Stirneles viensedis

Located inside a forest with a small water stream 4 wooden houses: 3 can accommodate 4-6 people and a larger one for 10 people.
The wooden houses are fully equipped with everything you might need and there is an option to order food from the owner – Raimonda ( we had a very tasty meal there)

There are many activities around and a big house for hospitalty with a kitchen and a sauna. we tried the sauna as the real Lithuanian people use it and it was a great experience- I truly recommend it.

For more info visit here

More Homestead & Hotels we found on the way

we visited lots of Homesteads, Hotels and B&B when we were in Moletai, in some we ate and in some we made activities:
Attached here is a list of the places. for all moletai options go here

Homestead Alantos žirgai

A beautiful Farm house in Alanta, The house is new and can accommodate 8 people.
just in front of a water pond- lovely place and lovely people.

Hotel Senoji užeiga

Located in the center of Moletai with a nice resturant.

Vila Kelmynė Hotel

A nice hotel just in front of moletai lakes. we had lunch there.

Homested Įlankos sodyba

This Homestead was bigger then the others and they were right by the lake, seems like there is a lot of water sports in the summertime.
the houses were really nice and I think this would be one of my candidates for a vacation with friends.

Pagulbis farm house

A unique house and exprience, more suitable for large groups and events.

Apple Island

The Island is a really nice Island full of apple trees. you can rent a small cabin or come with a caravan or tent.

Good bye Moletai

A Sunset of a lifetime

As I mentioned, in the beginning, I came to Moletai for a bloggers trip, I must admit I had my doughts and I have to say I really fell in love with the place.
This Part was the end of our 4 days exploring Moletai. I didn’t Put everything we did into this post But I am attaching my partner’s posts and the moletai information center.
Writing about all these activities we did, the people we met, makes me miss this unique place.
So just a Big Thank you to Moletai Tourist Information and all the amazing people that were involved in organizing this trip.

Mayor of Molėtai District Municipality: Saulius Jauneika
Moletai Tourist and Busines Information center: Daiva Kulienė, Justina Čereškaitė
Chairman of the Lithuanian Rural Tourism Association: Vytis Štelbys

Also Thanks to my fellow bloggers and especially to Ronit Shimon who without her this wouldn’t have been possible.
Thanks to my friend: tzipi Levin, mali abramovich, Inbal Zak and to my dad, Joram Baron that descided to join us and discover his roots.

Thanks Moletai, you’ve been good to us and we will see you soon again

For all the links:

Moletai tourist informating here
Ronit shimron – travelust here
Inbal zak – kvar orezet here
Mali Abramovich- turistit here
Tsipi levin – gveret-levin here

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Lithuania: Moletai – 20 Photos that will make you put Moletai on your wishlist

Sheila Baron — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 18:10:30 +0000

When I was invited to visit Moletai I didnt know anything about Lithuania and the Moletai area (although my grandparents came from Lithuania).
About an hour and a half drive from Kauans and 50 minutes drive from Vilnius you will reach the town called Moletai.

Moletai is surrounded by Nature, lakes, forests and a very relaxing environment.

It is surrounded by more than 200 lakes and wherever you go nature follows you. also you will find museums, restaurants and a lot of water sports and other activities.

In order to share my feelings of Moletai I decided to start with 20 photos that made me fall in love with this place.

For my Highlights of Moletai press HERE

More of this Beautiful part of the world in my next post.

Dont forget to Pin for later

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Monet’s Gardens – If you are a flower lover don’t miss this place.

Sheila Baron — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 05:36:58 +0000

Want to feel like you are part of Monets paintings?

A trip to the Foundation Monet in Giverny and you will feel this way for sure.

On our way to Normandie, we stopped at Monet’s gardens and I was stunned by the way it made me feel.

We were invited to a wedding in Normandie and our friend recommended Claude Monet’s Gardens at Giverny as a nice stop on the way from Paris.

Wow, it was a Must stop! I was so amazed by the power of Claude Monet’s Gardens at Giverny.

I love flowers and I used to work with my mom in our garden, I have never seen so many kinds of flowers altogether and it blew me away.

How to get to Giverny?

There are several ways to get to Giverny from Paris. we rented a car because we were on the way to Normandie ( the road was easy – WAZE did a great job )

By Train & Bus shuttle

Once you get to the Vernon-Giverny train station there is still 6 km to go and you’ll have to take the bus shuttle. Timetable

You can also take a guided tour link

when to visit Claude Monet’s Gardens?

Open every day from 22/03/2019 to 01/11/2019
From 9.30 AM to 6.00 PM

Last entrance at 5.30 p.m.

FOR MORE INFO

Some History of the Foundation Claude Monet

Claude Monet lived and painted in Giverny from 1883 to his death in 1926. he renovated the house and build the gardens.

The estate passed to his son Michel that died in 1966 from a car crash and since the gardens were neglected.

The Foundation Claude Monet was created in 1980 as the estate was declared public.

The gardens became a big success and its still beautiful and amazing today.

The Gardens

The gardens are divided into two distinctive parts:

The first part in front of the house a beautiful set of gardens and colors.

The second part ( the secret part )is of the water pools ( where the famous lilies were painted)

it was made in 1893, Monet acquired a vacant piece of land across the road which he then transformed into the famous water gardens.

Monet’s fascination for Japan made him make the water gardens with its green Japanese bridge and oriental plants.

The House

Visitors can visit the house and enjoy the details and colors of Monet life.

The impressionist museum Giverny

Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the museum on time but it seems like something you shouldn’t miss if you are already there.

The town of Giverny was very nice with small restaurants and cafes. to the museum

I really enjoyed this piece of heaven and truly recommend you to go there when you have the chance.

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A Day in the Le Marais – Paris

Sheila Baron — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 07:48:21 +0000

What did we manage to do in a day + night @ the Le Marais- Paris…

3 great Concepts Shops 2 very tasty Restaurants 1 Museum you shouldn’t miss & A very good Hotel.

We were invited to a wedding in Normandie and that was a good reason to stop for a day in Paris… last time in Paris with the kids – was not a fun time

I needed to change my feeling towards the city and this was a good opportunity.

Where to stay: Only for a day? Let’s stay in Le Marais.

I found this hotel Jules & Jim

Located in Le Marais in the third quarter. A very modern hotel with great views of the rooftops of Paris. Each room has everything you need and is soundproof. The hotel is near the center of Georges Pompidoutime. The staff was super cool and there is a really good vibe in the hotel. just next to the hotel there is a very nice coffee/ lunch place: Café Ineko

for more recommended hotels in Paris

Where to Go & What to Do in Le Marais:

Just walking around the street will make you happy, such a cool area with many Coffee places, Interesting shops, Galleries, and Museums.

Concept Shops in Le Marias that you should know:

Fleux – A very nice home concept shop that is actually 4 shops next to each other on the same street.

the spaces are well designed with lots of goodies and I am sure you will not leave there empty handed…

À Rebours – I found this one when I was looking for Fleux. a small but long shops with a lot of creation.

It’s a design shop focusing on the latest in innovations. worth a visit when you are in the area.

Merci – The definition of concept shop with a coffee place and a space that makes you want to live there.

But, that’s not all! this amazing shop that makes you want to buy everything you can carry and more is a nonprofit shop! all the profits go to educational projects and development in south-west Madagascar. THIS IS A MUST SHOP IN PARIS.

L’Atelier Lumiere the Museum you want to visit in Paris:

L’Atelier Lumiere – is Paris’s first digital art museum. an experience for all family and something completely different than a regular museum.

Located in east Paris ( we walked from the museum to Merci), you must buy the tickets in advance on the website of the museum ( remember this )

It’s one of the coolest exhibitions I’ve been too and I really recommend visiting during your Paris stay.

The Great Restaurants you should put on the list:

Dessance – A set menu with multiple courses. we went for a very long lunch ( it took a while to get the dishes)

A very nice experience and not too expensive.

Chez Janou – a small Parisian bar with the best food! it’s as good as it gets!

Try to book in advance. very popular with locals. very famous: chocolate mousse

My Le Marais Map – Paris

We had only one day. I hope you’ll have more

Attached here is my map of Le Marais – please tell me what you managed to do and send me more recommendations.

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A weekend in Milan – Design, Art and Pasta

Sheila Baron — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 19:01:15 +0000

A weekend in Milan is always a good idea especially if all my friends from London are having a party weekend there and Anette is having her 40 B day ( looking for a reason to travel to Milan? )

In this post, I will try to give you some tips about Milan that are not the usual tips you read when you go there ( and some regular tips – always good to have some )

Arrival: we took a flight to Malpensa airport.

From the airport, you can take a taxi ( expensive ) A bus (depends on traffic hours) Or a train – Malpensa express: 13 euros and 45 minutes to the city ( for more info)

Once in the city, you can use the: Underground / Bus/ Taxi or just walk ( the city is not too big)

Where to stay: my tip when you come for a weekend in a city is always to choose a very nice hotel that will make you feel good.

This time I chose the Hotel Maison Borella and this turned out to be the best decision:

Hotel Maison Borella is located in the best night area in Milan on the banks of the Naviglio Grande canal (yes, you have canals in Milan ) its a small boutique hotel, simple but elegant with different types of rooms. The staff was superb and helped me with my special requests and was always very nice while we were staying there. The room had everything we needed, The buffet breakfast was much more than we needed and the hotel feels like you are at home. I recommend this hotel for a great experience while staying in Milan.

Book it now! it’s a great hotel

For more hotels in Milan

Where to Go & What to Do in Milan:

There are several areas in Milan, We did a lot of walking in Navigli ( where we stayed )

Tortona ( the design district near Navigli and very upcoming)

Duomo ( the center of Milan where you’ll find all the big shops and the Duomo – A must see)

Brera ( the boutiques and the restaurants)

Wherever you go you will find a lot of street art… and great coffee.

The places you should not miss in Milan:

Como Corso 10 – A well-known shop that became one of Milan’s symbols. Opened in 1991 ( I was there than with my mom cause our Italian friend took us and I remember it as a beautiful place ) In the past it used to be a garage, you can find in COMO CORSO from fashion to Lifestyle, Design, Art, Restaurants and a small hotel – its an all experience and this shop particular marks the beginning of total shopping.

High-Tech – Next to Como Corso and Eataly Once an ink factory became a must visit for the design lover. But don’t be fooled by the first space, this shop is spread out over 3 floors and you can find everything you want or never thought you wanted from gadgets to gifts, kitchenware, home decor and so on.

Eataly – Started in NY now you can find in every city in Italy. A great concept store for the best food you can find in Italy. When I enter this place I just want to eat everything there. this time we had lunch there and it was very good.

As I mentioned the Duomo is a must visit in Milan- its the central piece and next to it you have other important buildings such as Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala and many more But many might not know about the surprise you will find in La Rinascente.

La Rinascente on the left side when you are facing the Duomo. is a shopping mall, But this one has 2 surprises: -1 floor is full of designed items… and the rooftop on number 7 is full of small restaurants and lots of goodies from Italy But that’s not all… it is facing the Duomo and has the best view of it. Go have some drinks during the day.

Museums to put on your list in Milan:

Mudec – Museum of cultures. located in the Tortona area was acquired by Milan in the 90s in order to promote culture and creative activity in the city. It’s a very impressive space divided into 3 floors. The museum hosts lost of temporary exhibitions.

Fondazione Prada – An institution that is all about contemporary art & culture. located in Largo Isarco, south Milan. founded in 1993

Armani Silos – Fashion art museum – Armani style. Was open In 2015 by Giorgio Armani in Via Bergognone 40 to mark 40 years of his career. He decided to call the museums also Silos because of the building it was built in, that used to store food. and for Armani clothes are a part of life such as food is essential for life.

Pirelli HangarBicocca – An institution for producing and promoting contemporary art, a site for contemporary art exhibitions, located in the Bicocca district outside of Milan. a non-profit foundation since 2004.

Museo del Novecento – 20th century Italian cultural and artistic heritage. Located near the Duomo, with the idea to promote 20th century Italian cultural and artistic heritage with the final aim of reaching an ever wider audience.

What about some food in Milan:

Langosteria Bistrot – Fine dining. the best and the freshest from the sea. Great place to have lunch – must book in advance.

Angelo’s Bistrot – Great stop when visiting the Tortona area, full of design details that give a nice touch to the place. Homemade food with a touch. we enjoyed our lunch there.

Temakinho – Brazilain Sushi… when you had enough with pasta .. located in several areas in the city.

Eataly – If you are there you will probably eat something… ( they serve food on the second floor)

Just Cavalli Milan – More for dancing, drinking and mingling with beautiful people.

My Milan Map

Since we were with a group we didn’t manage to do it all ( you never manage to do it all) Attached here is my map of Milan – please tell me what you managed to do and send me more recommendations.

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Chiang Mai Thailand Art and About – Part 3

Sheila Baron — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 09:23:43 +0000

Chiang Mai Thailand was not what I expected. I felt the art vibes everywhere we went. it was full of galleries and great shops & cafes.

Family trip to Chiang Mai – Part 3 – My only conclusion is that you need to spend more time to the city, it’s definitely upcoming and interesting.

FOR PART 2 PRESS HERE

FOR PART 1 PRESS HERE

FOR THE BEST OF CHIANG MAI PRESS HERE

Woo Cafe & Art Gallery

When I travel I love to discover unique places that will open my mind. Woo cafe was exactly that. it’s not easy to find a place in Thailand that will make you feel like you are in a great concept store in NY city combined with a tropical jungle feeling.

We went to Woo cafe in the afternoon for coffee and cake ( and some fruit shakes) already when we entered the place it felt like you are inside a tropical garden. it was full of tropical plants and colorful flowers ( the ones I wish I had at home) divided into separate areas and different sitting arrangements.

An extension of The coffee area with many rooms for the art items and just beautiful pieces you want to have at home. on the second floor, there is a gallery with painting that changes monthly.

The service was good and friendly ( we were with 4 kids after all ) and the cake and juices were served beautifully and tasty.

I wish I had more time there.

This place is a MUST see for the lifestyle traveler and for people who appreciate great spots of art and food.

When leaving Woo I realized all the street is full of art galleries and made the family walk for a bit.

Regina Garden

The first place we saw just in front of woo was Regina Garden – I must admit the cats made me enter but it was like entering a vintage store with interesting things to discover.

have a look once you are there.

Cannonball Gallery & The Meeting Roon Art Cafe

On the same street as the woo cafe, you can also find the meeting room cafe. when we were there it was packed with people having a party. it looked really cool and seemed like a nice place to have a coffee and see some art.

Great place – worth a visit.

Tita Cafe & Gallery

About 40 minutes from Chiang Mai old city you will find Tita cafe, It’s on the way to the north part of Chiang Mai. An art gallery with selected items and artwork, A nice coffee with delicious cakes and a small shop.

the place combines the tranquility of a coffee house, with a nice loft, and a casual presentation of art. while outside is nature all around.

If you are in the area or have spare time – go there it’s worth it!

One Nimman

Just 10 -15 minutes taxi ride from the old city and you will find The latest addition to Chiang Mai’s shopping scene. beautifully designed complex with the most luxury brands combine Art, Culture and Contemporary Art Center, an all-in-one complex that is an open concept designed with great taste. There is also a small food court.

But you must visit the area next to one nimman: one side has the Maya mall ( Maya Lifestyle Shopping Center)

I found tons of different markets and cool shops in that area. just take your time and walk around.

Go and see you will love it.`

Think park & Cat Nap

In front of one nimman you will find the Think park ( I love that small park it was stylish with unique restaurants and boutiques and a huge tree above it all) and next to it you will find the Cat Nap – a small street with great vibes that has markets – don’t forget to check the dates here.

In the area on the back of one nimman you can find tons of galleries and cool restaurants like: Rustic and Blue, Gallery Seascape, Fairytales and more…just walk in Nimmanheamin road.

Unlucky for us we didn’t have time and when we came it was raining too hard to walk around and discover.

Go and see small and sweet.

Fen forest cafe

In the old city, you can also enter a tropical forest to get away from the sun. we walked a lot to get there and when we entered everyone was so happy, there have fens with trees and it felt cool and inviting. the food was delicious and the pink shake was a big hit!

Defently a recomanded place. next to it, there is also a luxery spa you should try.

On our way to the fen cafe we entered my secret cafe, unfortunately, it was full but looked very nice too.

Dont miss : My Secret Cafe In Town

Sunday Market & All The Markets

THA PAE WALKING STREET – This is the biggest market in Chiang Mai and it takes place every Sunday. Open around 18:00 until midnight, this is a very big market located inside the old city, starting at the Tha Phae Gate and continuing for around a kilometer along Ratchadamnoen Road. you can find there local crafts, fashion, jewelry, and food. ‘must do’ experiences while in Chiang Mai.

There are many other markets in the city such as the:

Saturday market- located in the south part of the city.

The Warorot Market – opens every day, a food market during the day and a night bazaar at night where you can taste the best flavors of Chiang Mai.

Night bazar palace, Kalare Night Bazaar, The Chiangmai Complex- Student Market and many more:)

As you can see you won’t be able to miss the markets while you are visiting…

The regular things

Don’t worry, we also managed to do all the regular things like:

Ride the tuk-tuk or a big taxi van, Make massage every day, Saw the historic temples in the city

Tried the street food and walked in the old city.

But they were all regular Great things you will do in Thailand no matter where you are… comparing to the places I wrote above that you will probably find them on every post you will read about Chiang Mai and Thailand…

here are some regular photos :

Do regular its a must in Thailand

For Great Experience in Chaing Mai try Withlocals ( you will earn 15 euro from this link) I use this App all the time.

For part 1 | part 2 | best of

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