Category Archives: Travel

Travel & Adventure Film: ‘Ghost Of The Towers’ On Pumas In Southern Chile

Video October 3, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Directed by: Michael Blake
Director of Photography, Editor & Film Color by: Peter Trow

Last year I had the opportunity to work as the Director of Photography and Film Editor on an inspiring adventure film shot in the Torres Del Paine region of Southern Chile. The film follows world renowned National Geographic Photographer Keith Ladzinski, along with a team of expert Biologists and Trackers as they seek to document and photograph the regions legendary and elusive Puma.

This was no easy task. However, with much thanks to Director Michael Blake and an incredibly talented group of dedicated Cinematographers, such as the talented and creative Max Frank, Wildlife Master DP Federico Pardo and Aerial DP Doug Holgate (who kept things fun during the intense and sleepless schedule) , Along with expert Audio Engineer Ryan Rees, Co-Producers Ian Glass and Eduardo Minte Hess… We got it done!

I have so much gratitude for my family Erin Trow and Reina Kai Williams for their continual support and remarkable patience during the many long days (months) and late nights spent editing and in postproduction. Very special thanks to HOKA Footwear for sponsoring this incredible adventure and creative project.

Wildlife DP: Federico Pardo
Camera Operator: Max Frank
Aerial DP: Doug Holgate
Audio Engineer: Ryan Rees

Leisure, Travel, Videos

New Travel Books: ‘Great Escapes Mediterranean – The Hotel Book’ (Taschen)

October 2, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Angelika Taschen set out in search of the most beautiful hotels on a great variety of coasts, islands and beaches, taking you on a journey to the luxurious Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc and the ultra-chic Les Roches Rouges on the Côte d’Azur, to the little-known Pardini’s Hermitage on the Italian island of Giglio, which is only accessible by boat or on foot, and to Bodrum in Turkey, where the elegant Amanruya resort lies hidden in one of the most stunning bays in the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean is surrounded by three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia – and even though the cultures around this sea are highly diverse, they harmoniously share a pleasant climate, distinctive flora and fauna, and not least the intense blue of the water.

She also presents new hotel concepts, great architecture and creative design – for example the finca Menorca Experimental on the Balearic Islands, the modernist Villa Dubrovnik in Croatia and Dexamenes on the Peloponnese, where new life was breathed into decommissioned wine tanks.

Further highlights are the brand-new, stylishly designed Mezzatorre on Ischia and the Torre di Cala Piccola with its enchanting private beach on the Argentario peninsula in Tuscany, an almost unknown location that possesses the aura of 1960s Italy. Another real gem is La Locanda del Barbablù, with just five rooms in the shadow of the mythical volcano on Stromboli. Look forward to staying at the Nord-Pinus in Tangier with its fantastic view of the Strait of Gibraltar, and the charming Coco-Mat Eco Residences on Serifos, or experiencing the originality of Ammos on Crete, where the art and design are as essential as the sun and the beach!

The editor

Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, gaining her doctorate in 1986. Working for TASCHEN from 1987, she has published numerous titles on art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle.

Texts by

Christiane Reiter is a freelance author based in Brussels. She studied journalism at the University of Eichstätt and worked as a travel editor for Ringier Publishing in Munich and Zurich. Later, she established the travel section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

Homes, Travel, Videos

Italian Villa Tour: ’18th C. Tuscan Estate, Pisa’ (Video)

Video October 2, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

The first historical evidence related to this wonderful Tuscan estate with over three hundred hectares of grounds for sale are in a document dated 8 November 1044, found in Pisa’s State Archives.

Since then, this villa has seen a number of prestigious owners, including noble families such as the Counts Mastiani-Brunacci and Della Gherardesca, who gave their contribution into maintaining this property’s splendour throughout the centuries. The villa we see today dates back to the 17th century and includes a Renaissance garden that was carefully renovated and brought back to utmost splendour, framing what is currently a wonderful luxury resort equipped with all comforts.

The property is in the middle of a vast fauna and game reserve measuring 320 hectares and featuring unsoiled forests and stunning expanses of olive trees, besides being home to a big number of buildings that measure 18,000 sqm overall, part of which have beed restored and fit for residential use, while others are currently into disuse but may be rebuilt or renovated. The resort has been completely renovated and is home to two suites with jacuzzi and to ten bedrooms that have been carefully furnished in a Tuscan style with unique pieces.

Each room offers a wonderful view of its surroundings, the Italian-style garden, the villages nearby and leafy hills. The main body includes several warehouses, apartments of the agritourism resort and garages, but there are also a wonderful swimming pool measuring 140 sqm, a tennis court, an Italian-style garden and a park. Some extraordinary features of this Tuscan estate for sale are its private grass airport, with a hangar to store plane, a hangar for helicopters and a pad, a lake used for fishing and watering fields, and a private hunting reserve measuring over 300 hectares.

Travel, Videos

Top Scenic Drives: ‘Furka Pass’ In Switzerland (2020)

Video October 2, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

One of the world’s greatest driving road ! Furka Pass is the legendary Swiss mountain pass that gained fame after it was featured in a car chase scene in the James Bond movie “Goldfinger” from 1964. An Aston Martin DB5 and a Ford Mustang climbed this scenic driving road, located in the Uri/Valais region of Switzerland.

More than 50 years later the landscapes have remained almost the same, and this is most certainly a road in the Alps that those in search for the best driving roads in Europe should experience. It is many people’s favourite road, and it might become yours too. Driving Furka Pass Furka Pass is situated close to other scenic roads. If you are approaching it from north you might drive over Grimsel Pass before arriving to the bottom of Furka, and if you approaching it from south it is possible you will find yourself on top of Nufenen Pass before reaching Furka Pass.

In our personal opinion you will experience the most exciting climb if you are driving it from west to east, since this is where the tightest hairpins are located. Once you have reached the bend where the now closed Hotel Belvedere still stands we advice you to stop to enjoy the scenery, take a walk inside the Rhone Glacier Ice Grotto, or just grab a coffee with a view. Furka Pass looks incredible from all angles – whether you are looking up from the valley, ready to start your engine and tackle the hairpins up to Belvedere, or have reached it already and look down at the valley and Rhone River.

The road that continues from Belvedere and Realp is also very scenic, with nice straights and of course even more hairpin corners. The altitude of this mountain pass is 2,429 metres above sea level, which makes it the fourth highest paved mountain pass in Switzerland. Because this region of Switzerland gets a lot of snow in the winter the season for the road is not very long. It opens every year in June and usually closes again in October.

In the winter when the road is closed you can transport your car by train in the Furka Base Tunnel, connecting Realp and Oberwald. Although the Furka car train operates 365 days a year we really advice you to forget about this option in the summer, if you like us enjoy driving and spectacular views. info source : https://www.colcorsa.com/tour/furka-p…

Landscape, Travel, Videos

Wilderness Travel Videos: ‘Garibaldi Park’ In British Columbia, Canada (2020)

Video October 2, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Garibaldi Provincial Park is a wilderness park located north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The park is famous with natural beauty and stunning views on its trails.

Garibaldi Provincial Park, also called Garibaldi Park, is a wilderness park located on the coastal mainland of British Columbia, Canada, located 70 kilometres north of Vancouver. It was established in 1920 and named a Class A Provincial Park of British Columbia in 1927.

Travel, Videos

Timelapse Travel Videos: ‘Changing Seasons’ In Flanders, Belgium (2020)

Video October 2, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

https://vimeo.com/463894079

Filmed and Edited by: Jarne Buttiens (Stills & Motion)

A short timelapse film showcasing the extraordinary transformations in nature throughout the seasons. Captured in and around Flanders, Belgium.

Music: ‘Into the Moonlight’, ‘Childhood Memories’ and ‘One Step Further’ by Reasy

Website

Leisure, Travel

Destinations: ‘Maine – The Perfect Roadtrip For Fall’

October 1, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

By Dyan Machan, September 30, 2020

Lobsters, treasure hunts and really low Covid-19 numbers. This 3-day getaway up the coast of southern Maine is the ideal antidote to cabin fever.

DAY 1

Wells/Kennebunkport

From wherever you start, plan to arrive in the beach town of Wells by lunchtime. Billowy fried clams and luscious lobster rolls await at Fisherman’s Catch, via exit 19. You’ll also be greeted by wooden smiling lobsters suspended from the ceiling with rolls of paper towels dangling beneath (134 Harbor Road, fishermanscatchwells.com).

DAY 2

Kennebunkport/Wells to Camden, 108 miles

Check out of your hotel and backtrack slightly on Route 1 to Wells. Among its crucial charms is Congdon’s Doughnuts, which opens at 6 a.m. Even if you’re not the type to devour doughnuts at sunrise, you’ll want to be there early or risk missing out on the fiendishly popular maple bacon fritters (1090 Post Rd., Wells, congdons.com).

DAY 3

Camden to Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park, 77 Miles

Rent mountain bikes from Maine Sport Outfitters (mainesport.com) and drive 3.6 miles to the Camden Snow Bowl Trail head at 20 Barnestown Road for easy-to-challenging trails. During October Sundays and some Saturdays, the ski lift operates 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for prime autumn leaf-viewing.

Read full article and itinerary

Travel, Videos

New Travel Videos: ‘Mallorca – A Tiny Mediterranean Island’

Video October 1, 2020 She Seeks Serene 1 Comment

Filmed and Edited by: Martí Llavina

Mallorca (Majorca) is one of Spain’s Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. It’s known for beach resorts, sheltered coves, limestone mountains and Roman and Moorish remains. Capital Palma has nightlife, the Moorish Almudaina royal palace and 13th-century Santa María Cathedral. Stone-built villages include Pollença, with its art galleries and music festival, and hillside Fornalutx, surrounded by citrus plantations.

Travel, Videos

Travel Guides: ‘Sarasota, Florida’ (Expedia Video)

Video September 30, 2020 She Seeks Serene Leave a comment

Sarasota has long enticed visitors with its natural beauty, but while the ocean’s call is powerful, it is more than the beaches in Sarasota that travelers seek. This cultural capital boasts 10 theaters, 30 art galleries, and an acclaimed symphony orchestra and prestigious ballet and opera companies. From the spectacular contributions of millionaire circus magnate, John Ringling, and his wife, Mable, to the tranquillity of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, you can’t help but be enthralled with this piece of Florida.

Sarasota is a city south of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast that was once the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Today, it hosts a number of cultural institutes, notably the Ringling Museum of Art, which showcases old masters and modern art. It’s also the gateway to miles of beaches with fine sand and shallow waters, such as Lido Beach and Siesta Key Beach.