Tag Archives: greece

#WINNING – Summer Swimwear For The Win with @OrchidBoutique

Because the PERFECT swimwear to compliment your getaway will make it that much better!

bikini

Lola’s got some great summertime escapes planned that call for a few new luxe swimsuits & cover ups. After all, you cannot be a poshaholic travelista and be seen in the same thing all over the globe! Not that every last detail is firmed up but, besides returning to Miami next week, I will also be heading to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in June. Crossing my fingers for Mykonos, Greece in July. AND very likely going to Vegas for end-of-summer fun and FINALLY trying out the Vegas pool party scene. Given these different locales and the activities I’ll be participating in, I decided I should do some luxe swimwear research and found a very ‘Lola Approved’ resource.

orchid boutique logo

The Orchid Boutique™ is an online mecca of unique and gorgeous swimwear fashion. They search the world to cherry-pick an elite group of unique designers and offer the most exclusive luxury swimwear as well as a range of complementing items like jewelry and beach handbags. AND, lucky me, their flagship store is located in South Beach – Miami. Soooo, you know where I’m going shopping next week in Miami to shop for my upcoming getaways.

PLUS The Orchid Boutique and Lola’s Travels have teamed up to do a contest for you! One lucky reader will win a $200 gift card toward a #LuxeSwimwear purchase and shipping at The Orchid Boutique online store.

DETAILS, DETAILS…

In order to be entered to win please click the link below and complete the following mandatory steps:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  • LIKE both Lola’s Travels & The Orchid Boutique Facebook Fan Pages
  • FOLLOW both of us on Twitter
  • TWEET about the contest
  • COMMENT here saying which Orchid Boutique #LuxeSwimwear style you’d choose AND where in the world you would wear it. We’ve made a special Pinterest Board for the contest so be sure to check it out & share your #LuxeSwimwear choice and destination we’ve pinned!

The Orchid Boutique will choose the lucky reader and we will both announce the winner on Friday, May 17 via our Facebook Fan Pages, Twitter and to your email account.

Now for some FUN inspiration!

CABO SAN LUCAS

Screen Shot 2013-04-27 at 3.23.53 PM

When I head to Cabo I’ll be staying at the beautiful Bahia Hotel & Beach Club. Not only will I be poolside but most definitely will be spending time at their beach club as well as the legendary Nikki Beach, which is next door. So, what does one wear for lots of beach-filled days in Mexico? These are two styles I’m debating by L*SPACE & Mar de Rosas along with a hot embellished cover up! Viva la Mexico!

mexico

MYKONOS

swimming pool and sunloungers - gm38_a1e6518(1).fsp_detail

I’m going to Italy in early July and hope to extend and go over to Greece to visit Mykonos. Why? Well, even though I’ve been to Greece it just wasn’t enough time and I really NEED to check Mykonos out. One of my favorite hotel brands, Grace Hotels, has a gorgeous property on Mykonos. Not only do I want spend time at the pool and on the beach but I also think I might need some relaxation time in their boutique spa. So, naturally, I need swimwear suitable for all of these things. What do you think of these options of Sabz Luxury or Aguaclara? They shout out goddess to me – perfect for Greece!

greece

VEGAS

azure-pool-1

Can you believe Lola has yet to experience the pool party fun of Vegas? Yeah, me either. Well, my number one go-to source, Vegas Chatter tells me the BEST place for a sophisticated (read non-cheesy) pool party is Azure over at The Palazzo. I’ve actually stayed at The Palazzo and definitely agree that it’s a classy joint. So why not give it a go?! For some reason, Vegas always conjures up shiny, sparkly, metallic images in my mind. I think these bikini numbers and sexy coverup by Vitamin A fit the bill quite nicely, NO?!

vegas

Which one(s) will I choose? I think it’s going to be a tough decision with so many choices AND I haven’t even stepped into the store! Watch my Instagram account as I show you some of the options I try in Miami. Wish me luck in my shopping endeavors and, of course, I wish you luck in your possible win of a FANTASTIC $200 gift card prize to The Orchid Boutique.

XO – Lola

legal mumbo jumbo: this gift card is non-transferrable; not redeemable for cash, with no cash back from transaction; not redeemable for any previously purchased items.

 

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Filed under cabo san lucas, fashion, greece, mexico, travel, vegas

the abc’s of travel: miss lola of lola travels

A. Age you went on your first international trip:

I really don’t think crossing the border from South Padre to Matamoros, Mexico for tequila shots & beer at 19 can count! So it has to be when I was 26 and went on a 2 month European Eurail adventure alone.

B. Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where:

The MANY lagers I threw back while being “ashed-in” in Budapest & Vienna in 2010 due to the Icelandic Volcano airspace shut down. Lola’s best-tasting vacation evahhh!!

prost!

C. Cuisine (favorite):

Mexican – remember I’m a Texas girl at heart! 2nd favorite is French – YUM, YUM, YUMMY!

D. Destinations, favorite, least favorite and why:

Favorite: So hard to pick just one but if forced to do it at this point in life I’d pick St. Bart’s in the French West Indies, Caribbean. OMG everything about it is delicious – the people, the water, the beaches, the weather, the food…definitely Lola’s speed.

Least Favorite: Berlin. I know, I know, SO many people love it dearly. I guess Lola needs to go back to Berlin with you!

E. Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”:

Many acts of kindness from strangers – it restores my faith in human kind!

F. Favorite mode of transportation:

Airplane – not that I’m flying in a cushy class, mind you. It just gets me to the far off destinations I wish to travel the fastest! Then BOOM, Lola’s out there discovering!

lola's puddle jumper to St. Barts

G. Greatest feeling while traveling:

Besides being incredibly lucky – FREEDOM! That’s an overwhelming feeling I get from traveling AND I love how we as humans are really not all that different. We are all connected in some way. Lola loves this!

H. Hottest place you’ve traveled to:

I grew up in TEXAS – so, hellooo, TEXAS!!

I. Incredible service you’ve experienced and where:

Villa Galicci in Aix en Provence – it’s a Relais & Chateaux property. Their staff was beyond amazing! Other properties have come close but this one remains on the top!!

J. Journey that took the longest:

Up to now, traveling to Hawaii or Greece but soon I’ll be taking a MUCH longer one! Very excited about this longer journey – stay tuned!

K. Keepsake from your travels:

My favorite keepsake from my travels is my gold charm bracelet. I don’t get charms everywhere I go but I do have one for most and when I wear it – it takes me back to the wonderful places in the world I’ve gone. Lola wears this almost daily!

lola's travel charms

L. Let-down sight, why and where:

At this point, I guess I’d say the Berlin Wall. Beyond happy it’s gone but it was hard to really grasp the magnitude in my short visit to Berlin.

M. Moment where you fell in love with travel:

I’ve always enjoyed traveling but I think I really caught the bug my first visit to NYC. You know NYC has an allure about it. I got such a rush from walking the streets, hailing the cabs, doing it on my own that I decided to move there during that trip. Haven’t looked back since! Now I’m always trying to find ways to replicate that “rush” feeling and I get it every time I go somewhere new and undiscovered for Lola.

N. Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in:

Probably the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat. It wasn’t Lola’s favorite but it was probably the nicest. Got up graded to the penthouse!  Talk about fancy pants!!!

O. Obsession – what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?:

Don’t judge me but when I look at my photos the thing I seem to take the most photos of are Lola’s legs. A close 2nd are cocktails. This must be because Lola’s likes to travel to places that are warm and involve beach & pool time. AND, what can I say, Lola likes a good cocktail!

Curacao legs

Miami legs

NYC cucumber martini

Vegas dark n stormy

P. Passport stamps, how many and from where?:

3 passports later – I have 28 stamps. So many are repeats: the US, Canada, Bahamas, St. Martin, St. Barts, Curacao, Bermuda, Ireland, England, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands. (technically the US, Switzerland and the Netherlands shouldn’t count as they were just points of entry) Places not listed that should be are Hungary, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece. Soon to be added: Monaco!

passports

Q. Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where:

The Wax Museum in Dublin. I H.A.T.E. Wax Museums in theory and this one proved my theory was correct!

R. Recommended sight, event or experience:

The Acropolis in Athens! I feel everyone should see this once in their life. It is overwhelming and pictures DO NOT do it justice!!

The Parthenon - Acropolis - Athens, Greece

S. Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling:

My gold charms for my charm bracelet – duh!

T. Touristy thing you’ve done:

I pretty much always end up doing some of the “touristy” things when I travel. I am sorry but I think that’s probably part of why you are visiting the place you’ve gone…am I right?!

U. Unforgettable travel memory:

When traveling in Europe for those 2 months alone I had many unforgettable moments.

In Italy: After taking an overnight train to Rome where there was a strike taking place upon arrival,  an Italian man in my car took pity on me, bought me a coffee, gave me correct money and sent me on my way with directions to Rome!

In Barcelona: At the pensione where I stayed that the owners didn’t speak a lick of English, when I left, they hugged me goodbye! (maybe this was out of pity too?)

In Vienna: A cabbie picked us up to go to our train but we had failed to realize daylight savings had occurred. nevertheless, he rushed us there probably breaking all kinds of laws and when we didn’t have enough money he said to go on anyhow and RUN!

V. Visas, how many and for where?:

No visas needed as of yet but i have a BIG trip this year where I’ll need 3!!

W. Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where?

At the Chateau de la Chevre d’Or in Eze – the French Riveria. If you’ve had the good fortune of also going there, I think your answer is exactly the same!

X. eXcellent view and from where?

So hard to answer, I have several…I guess top two would be from The Caesar Augustus Hotel in Capri and from the Acropolis looking out over Athens.

Capri

Athens

Y. Years spent traveling?:

What are you getting at? Is this a trick question so I confess my age? Cumulatively or, as in, since I started traveling, how many years has it been?  Without giving too much away let’s just say it’s been awhile!

Z. Zealous sports fans and where?:

Barcelona, Spain. Football. During the World Cup. Really, need I say more?!

This was a fun exercise, I must say! Thanks, The Lazy Travelers for tagging me to play! I can’t wait to read what my travel friends and idols write whom I’m tagging next.  You’ll want to read their ABC’s too!

Leah of Leah Travels

Rease of Travelated

Lindsay of The Traveller World Guide

Kirsten Alana of Aviators and a Camera

Angie Orth of Angie Away

OK ladies…take it away!  TAG!! You are IT!

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Filed under travel

24 hour tourist in Athens, Greece

Athens gets a bad rap. being a tourist while traveling gets a bad rap. i think neither are really all that bad!

Athens seems to sometime get negative feedback but i think the 2004 Olympics drastically changed things – a new airport, new metro and less pollution for a start. it is one cool city and is way too often underrated. granted, i had a whirlwind visit and maybe this is the perfect dose of time in Athens because i left wanting more.

[slideshow]

what did i do in my precious 24 hours? well, i was a tourist. many travelers are adamant that you should not be a tourist but this was my first trip to Athens so how could i not be? it would have been criminal NOT to see the Parthenon at the Acropolis. it was built in dedication to the goddess of wisdom, Athena, for whom Athens is named. it has an incredible vista well worth trekking up to see and is an activity that’s bound to bring goosebumps to the most cynical of sorts. it’s similar to trying to describe what the Grand Canyon is like to someone who has never been. words and pictures do not do it justice. it’s an absolute must-see if you ever have the chance. after all, it’s where Democracy and Western civilization were born. i also sampled the most touristy of foods – gyros and Greek spirits – mythos & alpha beer and ouzo. it would have been shameful to my taste buds and appetite to have done anything differently.  just see for yourself – could you resist? and you know what? I’D DO IT ALL AGAIN!

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Filed under greece, travel

what’s blue & white and looks like a postcard

GREECE!

 

although words do not do the Acropolis justice, Athens does look just like all the pictures you’ve seen and Santorini looks like every postcard ever made of it. both places are so darn photogenic it truly is unreal. enjoy the photos – may they take you down memory lane or inspire you to go see Greece for yourself if you ever get the chance!

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Filed under greece, travel

i've got my eye on you

watch out - i've got my eye on you!

i am not a superstitious person but i’m fascinated with people and cultures that are AND, of course, the superstitions themselves.  in Greece there are sure to be many superstitions but one you cannot avoid is the “EVIL EYE”. that blue eye you see everywhere that makes you feel like you are being watched at all times practically burns a hole in your mind. like so many places i have visited with a variety of superstitions, i also embrace Greece and their interesting belief of the evil eye. BUT, in my case, before i could assume i had the ‘evil eye’ curse cast upon me when i felt any of below feelings while in Greece i had to ask myself – “how much ouzo did you drink last night?”

i now proudly wear an evil eye of my own to protect myself against any ill-wishing someone might have for me. (by the way, if that doesn’t work i will sick my voodoo doll on you) do you think i’m superstitious but in denial? nah…i just like to collect charms that have special meaning from the amazing places i am fortunate enough to visit.

a bit more about the EVIL EYE:

watching you everywhere (photo: hellnotesforbeauty.com)

what is the Evil Eye

A superstition that a glance can cause misfortune, sickness or even death to those on whom it falls, can come from anyone at any moment or you can draw it to yourself. The belief was found in ancient Greece and Rome as well as in folk cultures around the world, and it has persisted into modern times. Children, women and animals are believed to be particularly vulnerable. The evil eye is often thought to stem from envy and malice toward prosperity and beauty, and thus in many cultures unguarded praise of one’s possessions or children is thought to invite misfortune. Many traditions believe strangers, malformed or blue-eyed individuals and old women are most likely to cast the evil eye curse. Safeguards include amulets, charms, and sacred texts.

measures to ward off the Evil Eye

Even though the Orthodox church says that the only things that can really protect you are crucifixes and icons from monasteries and churches (as opposed to souvenir shops) and first and foremost true faith, many Greeks hang little blue eyes around their necks and wrists. Despite their dubious effectiveness at warding off evil, the blue glass charms make nice souvenirs from a trip to Greece and – if nothing else, can be appreciated for their aesthetic qualities. Either way, it doesn’t hurt to have one hanging someplace…. Just like when you knock on wood, cross your fingers or wish someone to break a leg. You can get these in almost any jewelry or souvenir shop.

warding off evil in front of homes

why the blue eye

Because light or blue-eyed individuals are likely to cast the curse – is one of the possible explanations given for the colour and shape of the protecting amulets, but there are many more, often intertwined and conflicting, theories on their origins and form. Another possible reason for the choice of the colour blue is the fact that it is associated with water, which symbolises life and healthiness – in this way it is a kind of antidote to the “drying up” – a metaphor for withering away, being sick, or even dying, caused by the evil eye.

example of when the Evil Eye curse may have been cast

There you are in an afternoon meeting, refreshed from a good eight-hours of sleep, satisfied from a healthy lunch and eager to discuss with your boss you new plans, when suddenly you head goes thick and hurts all over and your breath becomes short, nausea seeps up your trachea and you lose you sense of balance, now being unable to think or communicate properly, as if you’re moving in heavy syrup.

You feel alarm because you can’t find a rational explanation for this state. It could be a headache but it’s not just your head that hurts. Maybe it’s something you ate? Can you eat poisonous pasta? That would explain the nausea but about he head-to-toe aching and dizziness and the notion of foreboding?

In Greece you won’t be considered foolish or insane if you simply assume it’s an evil eye curse.

**evil eye info. from athensguide.com and balkantravellers.com

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