Tag Archives: travel

somewhere over the rainbow – Kauai, Hawaii

aloha lola

Hawaii – is it worth the journey? well…I’ve always been a skeptic. i am fortunate enough to be so much closer to Europe and the Caribbean so i’ve poo pooed Hawaii. it is beautiful – YES. it has the comforts of the US but feels different than other states – YES. it’s a LOOONG way to go.

it’s not something i’ll be doing often. BUT i truly enjoyed my visit there this time. people really reaaaallly love it there and there must be a reason. for me, it was the tremendous pride i saw in the local people. their culture is special and unique to the United States. for that i am proud too. their history, folklore, dancing & story telling was fascinating.  here are some other likes and dislikes from my visit to the Aloha state!

things i loved:

the ocean

the surfers

the sunsets

things i didn’t love:

the expense

the food

the rain

Best of the Best: Waimea Canyon

the grand canyon of the pacific

Worst of the Worst: MAJOR flight delays & losing 3 full days traveling

Favorite Moment: being over a rainbow at the Nepali Coast

incredible to be over the rainbow!

Biggest Regret: not trying surfing

until next time – mahalo Hawaii!!!

XO – lola

13 Comments

Filed under hawaii, travel

te amo Miami

big surprise, i know. heading back to my happy place today. can’t wait…here’s a preview of my love, my Miami!

miami beach

miami beach

Soho Beach House LOVE

Soho Beach House LOVE

playful delano

playful delano

season of the sun

season of the sun

happy hour compliments of soho beach house

happy hour compliments of soho beach house

delish eastern standard

delish eastern standard

amazing minibar - SBH

amazing minibar – SBH

a gift from the doorman at SBH...lola's fave color - PINK

a gift from the doorman at SBH…lola’s fave color – PINK

enjoy nuvo on the beach...yes, please

enjoy nuvo on the beach…yes, please

gorgeous pool ala soho beach house

gorgeous pool ala soho beach house

lola's at home at soho beach house

lola’s at home at soho beach house

ahhh relaxing in style SBH

ahhh relaxing in style SBH

one of my favorite places...delano

one of my favorite places…delano

 

2 Comments

Filed under hipster hotels, miami, swanky luxe stays, travel

the ever lovely Aix en Provence

fountains, fountains everywhere!

this trip to Aix en Provence was actually my third. i love it every time and every time for different reasons. the first time i visited it was spring and everything was in crisp & in bloom. the second visit was in the fall and Aix was colorful and romantic with cozy fires lit and warm dinners every evening. this time was full on winter and it was cold in Aix. so cold, in fact, that what struck me most this visit about beautiful Aix en Provence was how many lovely fountains there are all over the city. i hadn’t really noticed them during prior visits but because so many of them were frozen and icy they really stood out. even still, they held a magical beauty.

Aix en Provence has lured many an artist from Cezanne to Van Gogh. today it remains a bustling artsy kind of place that is home to many university students keeping Aix extra lively…just like its fountains. enjoy the photos and visit Aix en Provence if you ever get the chance – you too will be taken by the city’s joie de vivre!

[slideshow]

4 Comments

Filed under france, travel

la musique en France

when i travel i love listening to the radio. it’s so fun to hear what people like and listen to in other parts of the world. i REALLY loved listening to the radio in France. the music was fantastic but listening to the people speak and sing in French was even bettahhh! they don’t call it a romance language for nothin’! 😉

no surprise that two of my fave artists were quite popular over there…David Guetta’s ‘titanium’ and Flo Rida’s ‘wild ones’ were played over the airwaves repeatedly. both songs feature Sia! take a listen…

[youtube=http://youtu.be/glZbpdq2JRo]

[youtube=http://youtu.be/bpOR_HuHRNs]

BUT i think this group is the one to watch – Colletif Metisse! the song i heard in France was titled ‘sexy lady’. i can’t buy it itunes or find it on you tube 🙁 nevertheless, here’s a sampling of Collectif Metisse! tell me you don’t feel like dancing?!

[youtube=http://youtu.be/pDjr4TT60k8]

3 Comments

Filed under france, travel

lola’s airline allstar

lola has a secret admirer. well…maybe it’s more like a sugar daddy in the department of frequent flier miles. either way, lola was the benefactor of some good will on her Hawaii trip.

oooo FIRST class

lola’s FF sugar daddy was going to lose a tres fantastique upgrade if not used by February 29. sooo, this generous fellow gave the awesome upgrade to lola for her flight from Hawaii to LA. talk about a knight in shining armor moment! this gentleman has yet to even meet lola in the flesh but still insisted on sharing his great frequent flier perks with moi. on top of that, he had little details on my flight information but somehow still managed to switch it all up for me. this act of sweetness and follow through (i didn’t have to lift so much as a finger) makes me swoon! can i be seduced by airline upgrades? possibly!

yes, that

even though i almost NEVER fly fancy class, let’s be serious, it totally suits me. i mean, c’mon, being waited on hand & foot and wined & dined is SO lola’s speed.

yep, jeremy piven was flying first with me back to LA

flying amongst the rich and famous…i’m a high-class gal. maybe it’s for the best that i rarely fly first class so that i can appreciate the finer things when they’re presented to me. i DID truly appreciate my special 6 hour flight in fancy first. lola is one lucky girl, i’ll be the first to admit it!!

merci beaucoup, you lovely secret admirer frequent flier sugar daddy. you made my day!

XO – lola

*jeremy piven photo from chicago theater beat

6 Comments

Filed under travel