Palacio del Bailio, Cordoba, Spain:
Laura of the hotel staff gave me a guided tour of the historical palace. How unique: below the large glass floor of the breakfast/living room, maybe 5 meters below us, archeologists were working at finely restoring the frescoes of a Roman house. Where else do you see that?? Next we climbed down a small staircase to get to a more intimate area, the spa, built on an ancient Roman spa.The hotel is a World Cultural Heritage Site and offers great emotions, the design furniture doesn’t spoil the sense of intimacy. Even the small garden and the plants there have something magical. We ended the tour in the bar: hanging on the walls great snapshots of a Spanish celebrity, the bullfighter Manolete. Laura told me they are all originals from the owners’ personal collection. What a great spot the Bailio!
Schloss Velden, Austria:
I look at the pictures on the website of Schloss Velden and cannot decide whether the hotel is more charming now under the snow, or last summer when I stayed there for my vacations after I developed the new tour. By any weather the hotel seems to come out of a fairytale.A modern section had been adjoined and I like the square defined and clear-cut shapes, without any attempt to look like the Renaissance curves of the ancient building. I actually preferred to stay in the newly-built wing. My luxurious suite had a fireplace and a large balcony overlooking the garden – all their rooms are like mine - where I laid lazy on my sunchair to relax after a long afternoon spent at their AMAZING spa: 3500 square meters with lakefront view of pure lush! I remember the space, light and serenity of that place. And looking at the pictures now I just wish to go back by Christmas to light that fireplace in my room!
Spain, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Travel, Bicycle tour
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