TAKING OFF FOR ARGENTINA FEBRUARY 9-19, 2012

 j e t s e tWISDOM

takes off for Argentina February 9-19, 2012

Just when you thought the chill of winter wasn’t showing it’s frigid face, it’s here. In the
20’s today! What better time than now, to choose a last minute winter getaway down to Argentina. Seasons are opposite, and what better time to enjoy mid 80’s, and long, light summer nights sipping on fruity Torrontes by day, and sultry Malbecs in the evening.
Departing on Thursday, Feb 9, you will be met at Buenos Aires (EZE) Ezieza Pistarini
airport on Friday to start our 10 days/9 nights exploring three diverse areas of Argentina.
Time to get settled in Palermo, we’ll be there for 3 nights, in other words, a perfect long
weekend in one of my favorite cities in the world - before taking off for Mendoza on Monday afternoon.
Staying at a stellar, boutique hotel, we’ll have time to relax at the pool, have breakfast, before heading out for the day. Palermo has a special ‘Circuito Diseño’, many designers on small streets, and with the 3.90 Argentine peso to our dollar - the prices are truly a bargain! Leather abounds, but also clothing, accessories are a cut above! Each day, we’ll have some time to relax, shop, or take sun in our perfect location.

If you’ve always
desired to learn
some Tango, I
have a studio
and 3 private
lessons with
Alejandro set up
for our group,
starting
Saturday
morning,
followed by an
evening of
Milonga dancing to relax and show off what you’ve learned.
Lunch is on your own, but I have a great place for calamari and pasta!
Dinner is planned down at the restored Puerto Madero waterfront, with an after dinner ‘passeggiata’.   Remember, Argentina is made up of many Germans and Italians, and even thoughSpanish is their language, Italian is very prominent! So, either way, you can get some practice!
We’ll discover the treasures of the infamous San Telmo Mercado on the
Sunday, Of course, a chance to wander through the Recoletta to see Evita and
frankly, one of my favorite photo-op cemeteries in the world. fit in either the
Palermo Botanical Garden for some shade, or cool at the MALBA (Muséo de
Arte LatinoAmericano de Buenos Aires). Sunday evening will be dinner at
the very best LOMO in Argentina, LaCabrera.
Monday morning we’ll have another Tango lesson, quick lunch at the hotel/
or last minute stops for shopping before our short flight to Mendoza at 3pm. We
leave from the small local airport, which is a mere 20 minutes from Palermo.
We’ll arrive in Mendoza Wine country, just in time
for a wine flight at Vines of Mendoza with Juliette
and Mariana. This is the best to get started on our
journey of 3 days of wine tasting in the UCO and
Lujan de Cuyo. I’ve chosen a special selection
to whet your appetite.

Settling into our town of

Chacras de Coria, we will be

centered in Mendoza for the

next 4 nights. Pool time will

always be an option after a

delicious breakfast. For the

next three afternoons, we’ll

be exploring wineries in a

different area each day, with

our guide.

On Tuesday,

it’s an overthe-

top lunch

at O’Fournier

Vineyard,

including a

special flight

of wine and

tour of their

cellar.

Dinner on

your own in

town at one of

the many

choices.

Wednesday,

15th morning

on your own,

with lunch, leaving after lunch for our wine tour. Dinner is planned at a special Mendoza

Asado.

Thursday, 16th - we will have a ‘farewell Mendoza’ dinner in Chacras de Coria after a full

day of tasting.

Friday am, leaving on the short flight back to AEP Newbery airport, we’ll be met by our

driver to take us to the

Pampas region, and

through to San Antonio de

Areco. 2 nights at a luxe

boutique hotel with pool,

to relax, have a massage,

and wander amongst the

silver and shops so very

different than Buenos

Aires. This is the region of

the gauchos.

Saturday we’re planning

on a day out at an estancia,

hiking, photography,

horseback riding, an

ASADO for lunch, and

truly an incredible ending

to our trip!

Dinner on your ownwhich

after this ASADO

BBQ, will not be necessary

most likely!!

Sunday will be your return flight back to the

US/Canada/Europe. This is an evening flight,

you will arrive home the next day, so that we

will have an opportunity to spend the day

having a massage, lunch and a last chance of

shopping before leaving for EZE International

Airport.

SOME IMPORTANT DETAILS:

PLEASE CONTACT ME AT JETSETWISDOM@GMAIL.COM for further information!

Come with j e t s e t WISDOM .... to Argentina, April 7-17th, 2010 - Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Tango, Malbec

Join me with a small group of like-minded new and old friends.  Arriving Buenos Aires Thursday, April 8 - departing Ezeiza (Buenos Aires) Saturday April 17th, 2010.

 If you've always desired to experience sultryTango (with Alejandro), sip fruity Torrontes and deep dark Malbecs (with Julia), learn a bit of Argentine history at Evita's historical cemetery in Recolleta, discover treasures of San Telmo while practicing a bit of español with Pablo - before dining on mouth-watering LOMO with Chimichurri at world-famous asados and all at incredible value...This is your kind of trip!   And wait, this is only our first stop - before flying off to the ANDEs for a mouth-watering experience in culture and  wine-tasting in the posadas of the Mendoza region for 6 more days - 3 in the middle of the UCO Valley, and 3 more in the Luján de Cuyo in the town of Chacras de Coria.   Oh, and by the way, April is our fall - so the perfect time to discover new leather jackets, vest, boots, and of course bolse (purses) of the region -beautiful quality, outstanding design, and amazing value!

  

SADLY, life has been so busy - I apologize up front for the 'tardiness' of this plan!  I just came back from Mendoza and Buenos Aires late January filled to the top with ideas, new friends and and an for-sure incredible itinerary. 

 Should I wait until next year?  I don't think so!  So please, I ask you to join me this APRIL for 10 days of pure decadence - pure joy - and tastes and smells and beauty that you have never ever experienced.  The peso is at 3.80 per dollar - as opposed to .65 Euro per dollar! How could we wait.  Fortunately, most of you have your own lives and control of stealing away for 10 days - and I count on you to just step up to the plate and savor ARGENTINA!

 This is the launch of my j e t s e t WISDOM travel - and what better place than the frontier of Argentina! Hope you can join me!  

Mendoza is a mere hour and a half from Buenos Aires - and we'll fly into this beautiful little city in time for our first wine tasting at Vines of Mendoza - before being driven down to the Uco Valley, home for the next three days.  Enjoying wine tastings, art galleries and lots of time for painting, yoga, horseback riding in the Andes, and amazing photo ops with the fall colours in full force.  Wine-pairing lunch at O. Fournier, a private tasting dinner at Posada Salentein, all included in your price. Enjoy a bit of relaxing after our four days in Buenos Aires (our first stop - which will be exhilarating and definitely not relaxing - although I have got us booked in for a great afternoon of reflexology and a massage! while in the city)  After winetasting as several of the UCO Vallely wineries - which are deep and sultry compared to Lucán de Cuyo - our next stop!  3 nights in the historical town of Chacras de Coria - a mere 8 miles from Mendoza City -but a world away from the bustle.  We'll enjoy incredible lodging, cooking fresh pasta, drinking special edition wines from the posadas, and have an incredible mix of rural and city for our final 3 nights.  Leaving for Buenos Aires on Saturday afternoon for your evening flight  -or stay with me and fly up to Salta....oh when must this end....I could stay in this country FOREVER!!!!!

The final dessert is this:  Your total cost includes:double occupancy,(single upon request/availability)  10 days, 9 nights including domestic transfers, drivers, tips, 4* accommodations for 9 nights, all tours (city and winetastings), tango, full breakfast every morning, and 7 dinners and 2 lunches (2 full meals per day), leaving you just enough time to enjoy a slice of Italian pizza or an empanada for lunch before or after your lessons (tango, cooking, wine tasting) of your choices.  You will have afternoons free in Buenos Aires, and mornings free in Mendoza - to always let you be you and enjoy the moment -whether it be shopping for those white boots, or napping in a chaise in the library...$2,750 US (not including airfare or transfers to/from Ezeiza)  Email me for a .pdf of a full itinerary and pricing at jetsetwisdom@gmail.com

The Grand Finale for a visit to Venice!

Recently, returning from a 12 day cruise, on the decadent Oceania's Insignia, we arrived in Venice, for our final day, and overnight.  There are a couple of very fine details about making Venice one of your favorite destinations.  The finest detail, is at the end of your journey. Whether you are disembarking from a cruise (in my case), or leaving your hotel, the preferable choice of transport is a WATER TAXI.  Not only is it a very efficient way to get 'out of dodge', without question, it is an exhilarating arrivederci to Italia!  Lugging luggage over the steps of St. Mark's, onto the Vaporetto, squishing into a 12" square area with your bags, and hoping to be able to hop off at the right station is not for the faint-hearted, especially after a stunning visit in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  Nor is buying into the 'excursion' fare of the ship to transport you (with hundreds of others) to the airport....Don't do it to yourself!

 My driver of the day happens to be LUCCA, my very very favorite Italian name.  Lucca, at Venice Water Taxi is your man.  24hours a day...phone is +39.041.5229040...request my Lucca, but most likely any of their drivers will indulge.  The boats are superb, spotless and it's reminiscent of   a James Bond movie in a cigarette boat....with a very fine Italian flair!...AND between 4-5 people will only run  about E25 each with a generous gratuity (read: lots of luggage:   5 girls and 12 days...madonna!!!)  I had to attach a photo of Angie from Marbella, feeling quite smug about the whole moment!  Bacione , Venezia!

Another little detail of making the most of your visit, is planning a very early visit to  St. Mark's Square. Once that's done before the crowds (that would be by 10am),  spend time over in Accademia, visiting the museums (Galleria dell' Accademia is full of top art from the Venetian Renaissance), enjoying dinner at one of the many local osterie or trattorie, one of my long-time favorites is Trattoria Ai Cugnai at 857 Dorsoduro, which is run by 3 sister-in-laws and their sons - quite a handful, I must admit!  Buy yourself a day pass on the Vaporetto, and get out of the main areas - Venice is so full of secrets and surprises. Explore!! By the way, I'd love to hear what your favorite travel wisdom is about  Venice?

Links for this jetset wisdom tip: www.venicewatertaxi.it ,  www.veniceairport.it

Orca doing Backstroke in the Gulf Islands, British Columbia, Canada

Photo and video credit  of HT.

Who says you must go to Alaska or South America to whalewatch.  Just off the beautiful terraces of my friend's home in Pender Island, the Orcas come to play. Not just once in a while - often.  This becomes the favorite 'happy hour' of each day very quickly, in fact, no matter what the day holds - hiking, Victoria, going to the market, you must get home by dusk to watch for the friends that Helen has.  For those of you not familiar with Pender Island - it can be reached by seaplane in a short 45 minutes from Vancouver, and is located very close to the (more) famous Salt Spring Island.  This is somewhere to live for your soul. It is breathtaking, quiet, simple and surprisingly, very Mediterranean in climate. Pack your bags! September is one of the finest months! And I hear the Canadian dollar is not too shabby.
See the backstroke here on youtube  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW4f7yuNLqI