Istria, Croatia–Genuine Adventure Without Genuine Pain

Adventure travel is getting harder and harder to find without abandoning all conceptions of modern conveniences. Adventure is one thing, but not everyone wants to give up having a toilet for weeks on end to be able to say they’ve been to the wild. On the other end of the spectrum is what’s driving modern day Lewis and Clarks to such lengths in search of the real foreign experience.

What is driving modern adventure travelers into jungle and mountain with no hope of comfort to be found? The difficulty in finding genuine, unsterilized experiences. Any popular destination these days is likely to be festooned with American products, English neon signs and T-shirts of popular western bands. Why go to another country to stay home? Croatia is one of the few destinations gaining popularity that is not succumbing to this trend and still offers rustic adventure alongside modern hospitality.

Istria, on its own, gives adventure travel a good name. Unspoiled lakes, thick forest and beautiful vistas that require some foot work to find are the rule and not the exception, and can be reached from vacation rental homes which also are in reach of great restaurants that will not compromise their local customs for tourists. For a genuine experience, try Croatia.

Engelberg–Slow Travel’s Swiss Resort

Engelberg is not the name that pops into every American’s mind when we think “Swiss resort.” More glamorous and well known are Davos, St. Moritz and Zermatt, and they are all very worthy of their claims to fame, but it is precisely this notoriety that can turn off some vacationers.

For a renter looking for a more subdued, traditional atmosphere, Engelberg Switzerland is perfect. Centrally located in the canton of Obwalden, Engelberg is perfectly suited for the traveler who wants to take in the famous sites. It’s no problem at all to get to Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland or Zurich. With all the famous events and attractions in and around the area, Engelberg is perfect for slow travel–the growing trend of taking it easy and really getting to know an area instead of racing through it.

Engelberg’s immediate location is as enchanting as a steamship excursion over Lake Lucerne (and that’s saying a lot!). Tucked away in a valley like something out of a fantasy novel, Engelberg is watched over by rolling, verdant hills and imposing peaks. Obviously the winter makes Engelberg a skiing resort but when the summer reveals the green, Engelberg’s 18 hole golf course and scores of family activities provide more distractions for the visitors to this storybook village.

There’s no way to become a part of the place without getting the residential experience, and no better homes than the ones Interhome has to offer. Interhome knows Switzerland, and they want to know you; check out their properties and talk with a personal representative before booking.

Catalonia–Golf, Nature and Great Accommodations

For any outdoor lover considering a trip to Catalonia, Torremirona golf resort is an exclusive must. With its unparalleled vistas, rolling green hills and fields and gorgeous lakeside views the resort and golf course proper are both so naturally stunning and polished.

Catalonia is home to many wonders, both natural and man-made, and Torremirona is close to a few. Figueres is only a few kilometers away and within Figueres is the worlds largest surrealist artwork: the Dali museum, a tribute to Figueres’ most prominent son. Attempting to describe the museum’s mind bending structure is anything but indescribable is an exercise in futility. Suffice it to say you’ll be glad you took a break from the back nine, left the lavishly cloistered confines of the resort and had a day trip to see the whimsical edifice, even if it leaves you wondering what they put in your morning mimosa.

Torremirona is a credit to Catalonia and to Spain and offers the finest amenities within its residential park. Renting a vacation home in Torremirona gives you access to the health spa, fitness area, the bars, the golf course, the restaurants and everything else the resort offers. Having a vacation home also allows you the privacy to do as you wish with enough room to do it in, and while the Hotel Relais is great, it’s still a hotel, and comes with the lack of privacy.

Castello La Rocca–The Finest Villa in Tuscany?

Castello La Rocca is the name of what might be the finest villa in Firenzuola, maybe in all of Tuscany. They say that a man’s home is his castle, but this vacation home really is. Once an actual castle, the villa has gone under recent renovations with no expense spared to bring it back to, and past, its former glory. Spiral stairs, an antique walled garden and olive grove–staying in Castello La Rocca will have you feeling like royalty.

Further contributing to the medieval feeling are the remains of the medieval fortifications which are impressive even in disrepair. What remains of those fortifications illustrates how Firenzuola was erected to protect Florence back in more contentious times. A bit more of a peaceful reminder are the Saint John the Baptist Parish and the Museum of The Serene Stone, a tribute to the quarry economy of the medieval town.

Firenzuola is known for its well earned resort status and rich history, but there are many lesser known events and celebrations, like the “Show of Craftsmanship” which is held every July in the artistic center of the town to promote the local arts and artisans of Firenzuola. Bringing home some genuine local treasures to your medieval luxury home-for-a-week will give anyone the feeling of truly living in Tuscany.

Loire Valley France

The Loire Valley in France is known for its high quality fruits. Cherries, pears, strawberries, melons are all famously exported throughout Europe from the Loire Valley but are difficult to obtain in America. Loire Valley cherries range from extra large and luscious for eating to the smaller ones grown for the liquor Guignolet.

Besides its fruits this sylvan area of France’s epicurean offerings typically contain wild game, fish, lamb, specialty cattle and fowl and goat cheeses. The Loire Valley is known for its rustic culinary innovation and so there are very few dishes that can’t be obtained outside the region, but there are a few specialties that it’s much easier to get only within it.

Rilletes are one such delicacy known especially within the Loire Valley. Originally a farmer’s delight, produced from the fatty pork belly or shoulder, Rilletes is sort of a pork paté. The traditional dish is still served today–and it is a rich, overly indulgent delight–on crackers, bread or toast. As will happen with any food left in French hands, the salty table centerpiece has evolved and modernized, now being created as often from wild rabbit, fowl, beef and even fish.

In the traditional pork version you have the flavor of old French hospitality: warm, luxurious but not presumptuous, comfortable and relaxed. Try the original rilletes with a sweet wine to contrast the salty pork, or with brandy late after supper in front of the fire. The innovative forms of rilletes tend to be lighter and more delicate in flavor, perfect for a sauvignon blanc before the meal proper and garnished with the local specialty mushroom, the champignons de Paris.

Rilletes are one of those simple but labor intensive recipes that are better left to others to cook, and you to enjoy.

Croation Cuisine Worth the Visit

Istrian cuisine, from the Croatian region of Istria, has been compared to Italian food, Dalmation food and even American food. It is quite diverse, depending on where in Istria one is, and Scampi Buzara is a dish that illustrates that diversity.

Based on prawns that can be gleaned from the Adriatic Sea, or your local fish shop if you don’t have time to get to Croatia and back before dinner, this dish can be modified to accept any additional ingredients. Try tossing in anything you like that goes with a tomato base.

1.5kg fresh prawns
1/2 cup olive oil
1 small can peeled tomatoes
2 tsp garlic
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1tsp Vegeta
2 cups white wine
salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a large skillet and fry the bread crumbs until they just start to toast.

Add the garlic, parsley, tomatoes and Vegeta and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the wine, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.

Add the scampi, lower the heat, cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes.

Engelberg–Angel’s Eye View

Two things became apparent to me on a fine morning of a recent Sunday when approaching one of Switzerland’s many Alpine ski resorts. The first revelation came when I found my attention once again arrested by a view that amazes me each time. Gazing down at the breath taking panorama of a powder frosted Swiss valley I once again realized how the town Engelberg got its name–Angel Mountain, in English. No bluer skies, no crisper winds–this is truly a canvas of the Gods.

My second revelation was simply how lucky I was to work for one of the most established vacation rental companies in Europe. I know not everyone can just pack up and head out to the Swiss Alps, so I’ve decided to share my good fortune with my readers and describe the experience as best I can.

My father and I set out at the crack of dawn, just as soon as we noticed the weather would be favorable for skiing. Being Swiss and skiing go together like being American and lusting after a first car at sixteen years old. The difference is that while most twenty-somethings can out race their fathers in a car, at 67 my father is still better on the slopes than I am. Naturally he won’t take the same risks as I, but by easing back a little and concentrating on form, skiing is a sport he’ll be able to enjoy virtually his entire life. A life longer than mine, maybe, if I don’t do the same!

I’m afraid to say it was I who called a lunch break, I guess I’m a little proud that my old man can still outlast me. It’d been more than a year since my last Ski session and my legs were as weary as my senses were energized. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Engelberg and, all of them being of refined quality, we weren’t picky. Out of practicality as much as tradition we dined on a hot and hearty soup before heading out for a chair lift to take us to one of the runs we had not yet explored. The lift took us over Lake Truebsee, frozen solid. There was something else frozen solid, or rather a series of somethings. I was not sure at first, but then my memory fired on an old magazine article or advertisement and I realized I was looking at a commercial Igloo village. If you want to spend a cool night “on the rocks”, that’s definitely the place to do it.

After a few more great runs on slopes groomed to perfection, upcoming strong winds made further skiing unviable. At the peaks above us, entire clouds of snow were being blown from one ridge to be deposited against the next. We stood in awe of this powerful spectacle! The sight of something so cold can inspire anyone to seek warmth, so the rest of the evening was spent with scotch, a crackling fire, comfort food and the shared memory of a day well spent with Dad.

Master Swordsman of Castiglione

Perhaps no image of the warlike periods of the 16th century is more romantic than the master of the sword. Add to this dashing figure of a courageous duelist the pedigree of engineer and architect and you have a regular figure of a renaissance man–Ascanio Della Corgna was one such man.

Ascanio Della Corgna was the most famous man to come out of Castiglione Della Corgna and is the subject of some of the art in the duchal palace. One dramatic painting depicts Ascanio, described as an ‘invincible swordsman’, in his duel with Giannetto Taddei to settle the matter of Giannetto’s supposed insubordination. The painting depicts Ascanio’s final thrust, ending the matter in his favor.

There is more to see in Castiglione than the remnants of ancient glory, and even more to enjoy in surrounding Umbria. To really have the time and freedom to enjoy the place as you deserve and give it the attention it deserves, a vacation rental villa is the only way to stay.

Private Vacation in Salzburg

If privacy is what you’re looking for, this rental home in Salzburg is exactly where you’ll find it. On a secluded and sunny hillside overlooking the gorgeous old city and right on the wood’s edge, the villa ‘Altmarktblick’ has everything you could want in a quiet retreat, right down to a view of the bustling town to remind you how you’ve escaped.

You can head outside to the private garden or stay in the convenient modern home. Take an outdoor shower and then relax in the sunning area or head out for a walk in the woods. It doesn’t get much more peaceful than this residence or more attractive than Salzburg’s skyline.

Now when people heap praise on Salzburg’s beauty, they’re not just being nice. Salzburg is absolutely stunning. The historic center of Salzburg is a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s excellently preserved and the fortress is the stuff of faerie tale legends. Strolling through the old town, you will find yourself flanked by tall stone walls with the kind of architectural flair that is very rare in modern buildings.

Come to Salzburg and you might just find your second home, a home where you feel like the royalty of medieval Austria.

Castelling in Catalonia

In Catalonia, Spain, there is a rare breed of athlete participating in a serious competition with potentially fatal consequences. Teams of dozens, even scores of young Catalonians carry on this dangerous sport with remarkable bravery in the face of treacherous calamity.

The sport? Castelling. The objective? To make tallest tower of humans without incurring grievous bodily harm. The people towers of Catalonia are the castells themselves. The Catalonians can be arranged in any way the leader or cap de colla sees fit. It is also up to the leader to determine what castells–from one person per level pilars to five person per level affairs–from the ground, walking around the base or pinya of the castel like a stone mason watching a building being erected.

Castelling has been going on in Catalonia since the end of the 18th century with very few reported fatalities. Falling is uncommon and the spectators closest to the castel provide a base of support for the structure as well as a safety net should anyone tumble.

Interested in taking part in this festive lunacy? Rent a vacation home in Navata and practice every day. If you’re small enough, you may work your way up to the top–literally!

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