Design Destinations Magazine Summer 2014

SUMMER 2014

THE PERFECT WEDDING In The Perfect Setting LA ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA Steeped in History and Tradition BUENOS AIRES A City That Never Sleeps A TASTE OF MONTEREY

DORADO BEACH A Golfer’s Paradise

TRAVELING WITH TEENS and Finding Time for Fun

MARK GIMENEZ A Candid Conversation with the bestselling author

DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

Letter from our editor During a trip to Europe, while waiting for my flight at Heathrow Airport in London, I stopped by a bookstore and picked up a book that caught my attention. The title of the book was “The Color of Law” written by Mark Gimenez.

Prior to that time, I had never heard of Mark Gimenez, but the title and the synopsis caught my attention. I read the book during the next two legs of my trip and the book became one of my favorite books of all time.

Since then I have read all of his books and have become a big fan.

I am very pleased to have Mr. Gimenez in this issue of Design Destinations in a candid interview

by Cynthia P. Howland. For those of you who are familiar of Mr. Gimenez work, and for those who are meeting him for the first time, I know that you will enjoy reading the interview and that his books will find a place in your personal library. On Page 9 we share a synopsis of his latest book “The case against William” to give you a taste of Mr. Gimenez latest thriller.

We are also very pleased to welcome AltaGracia Resort in Costa Rica, a new

destination opening late 2014. In our next issue we will feature more about this new and luxurious resort located in the National Park of Chirripo.

In this issue we are featuring a profile of one of my all time favorite actors, Ms. Anne Bancroft in the first of a series entitled “An American Legend” and with the summer approaching, we are including an article on traveling with teens.

Anyone who is a proud parent of this distinctive age group knows how special it is to travel with them and still find time to have fun.

Thank you for welcoming the first issue of our magazine and we look forward sharing articles of interest in future editions.

Franz E. Buchhalter

What our readers are saying

“Congratulations and Best Wishes. The editorial content is very interesting” Harry Torres, Creative Director HT Creative Designs, New York “DDM Looks Great” Nancy Cassasa, Account Executive Maritz Travel - New York “Congrats on your first issue” Lizzette Hasslel, Senior Executive Sales & Marketing - De L’Europe Amsterdam

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WHAT’S INSIDE Dorado Beach - a Golfer’s Paradise page 5

THE PERFECT WEDDING In The Perfect Setting

Conversation with author

page 15

page 7

Mark Gimenez

Buenos Aires

Traveling with Teens

New France Festival

Anne Bancroft

page 10

page 14

page 19

page 20

A Taste of Monterey

page 4

Red Wine, Best Beef and Yerba Mate page 12 Social Media - Making it work for you page 13 La Antigua, Guatemala - Steeped in History and Tradition page 18

DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

Editor-in-Chief Franz E Buchhalter

Graphic Designer Werner Buchhalter Jr.

Managing Editor Cynthia P. Howland

Contributing Photographers Joseph Kohn Nilka Gissell Sue Krause

Writers Jennifer Kaminski Edmundo Ruano Cynthia P. Howland Our Cover: Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico

Contributing Writers

Karen Kefauver

Sue Frause

Radek Okienczuk

Karen Kefauver a freelance

Sue Frause is a freelance writer

Following his passions and

journalist and social media coach

and photographer whose work

professional work, Radek usually

based in Santa Cruz, California.

appears in print and online. She

split his time between the Alps, the

Since 1996, she has specialized in

started her journalistic career as a

north of Europe and traveling

writing articles about adventure

newspaper columnist in 1988, and

throughout the world.

travel and endurance sports with

today her words and images focus

Since 2005 Radek has travelled to

an emphasis on road biking and

on travel, food and entertainment.

more than 50 countries, working,

mountain biking tours. Karen also

In addition to her numerous

seeing spectacular places, meeting

offers business training for social

outlets, she's the author of three

amazing people and having

media marketing. A former

blogs: Closet Canuck, Married to

memorable moments.

triathlete and competitive cyclist,

Martha and Eat|Play|Sleep. She's

According to Radek, his passion

Karen enjoys yoga and world

also a popular speaker, an emcee

for traveling and photography is

travel. She has published in the

and host for local charity events

simply too strong to imagine not

San Francisco Chronicle, the

and an on-air correspondent for

doing it. www.questformore.com

Christian Science Monitor and

KSER 90.7 FM radio. Although her

dozens of other print and online

adventures have taken her to the

“Red Wine, Best Beef and Yerba

p u b l i c a t i o n s .

seven continents, Sue's favorite

Mate” page 12

www.karenkefauver.com

place on the planet is Whidbey Island in Washington state, where

“A Taste of Monterrey” page 4

she lives with her husband "Farmer Bob. www.closetcanuck.com “New France Festival: Celebrating Quebec City's History” page 19

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

MONTEREY WINE COUNTRY Superb soil, warm sun and cool ocean breezes create ideal grape growing conditions among 40,000 acres of vineyards, representing the 40 wineries and 85 labels produced in Monterey County.

Opportunities to taste awardwinning wines abound at vineyards and tasting rooms throughout the Salinas and Carmel Valleys and the Monterey Peninsula. www.montereywines.org

A TASTE OF MONTEREY

By Karen Kefauver

Monterey displays the best of the California lifestyle with a unique blend of natural beauty, stellar dining, a variety of festivals, and of course, superb golf courses.

Add to this mix excellent shopping, interesting historical sites, beautiful beaches and fun outdoor activities and there’s something for everyone. Situated next to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Monterey County is a two-hour drive south from San Francisco (112 miles /180 km).

To get started, visit the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf and 17Mile Drive, a scenic drive from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach. The aquarium, with nearly 200 award-winning exhibits and galleries, is located on Cannery Row, a fun place to stroll, people-watch and dine. Named for the novel by John Steinbeck, a Monterey resident, Cannery Row is a bustling hub filled with wonderful restaurants, galleries, shops and an IMAX theater.

Fisherman’s Wharf is a destination for fresh seafood as well as a departure point for whale watching, sailing and other activities. Walking along Monterey's dramatic waterfront is a great way to explore some of the most popular sites in the area. Look for sea otters, whales, sharks and fish native to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

When it comes to dining, Monterey County boasts some of the best farmland and freshest produce in the country, so restaurants and markets feature locally grown fruits and vegetables while regional vintners produce the finest wines.

For exercise, go on garden walks, bicycle tours, kayak outings or for the more adventurous — skydiving!

The world-renowned golf courses in Monterey attract top-notch players to star-studded events and there’s still plenty of room for golfers of all skill levels. For beach lovers, there are 99 miles of fabulous coastline with many places to paddle, scuba or surf. Or explore hundreds of acres of parks and gardens.

Whatever length of time you stay in Monterey, there will be something to do that suits you. www.karenkefauver.com

Photos courtesy of www.seemonterey.com

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DORADO BEACH A Golfer’s Paradise

Sugarcane Course Par 72 Championship Length: 7,119 yards Men’s Tee Length: 6,032 yards Women’s Tee Length: 5,283 yards

East Course Par 72 Championship Length: 7,000 yards Men’s Tee Length: 6,410 yards Women’s Tee Length: 5,735 yards

West Course Par 72 Championship Length: 6,975 yards Men’s Tee Length: 6,360 yards Women’s Tee Length: 5,730 yards

DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014 Dorado Beach, nestled on the famed north coast of Puerto Rico is truly a paradise for golfers. Boasting three magnificent championship golf courses, spectacular views and premier facilities, it is sure to satisfy the most selective golfer.

EAST COURSE This iconic East course is one of the premier golf experiences. Robert Trent Jones, Jr. restored the historic East Course to the original vision put forth by his father, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. more than 50 years ago bringing this classic seaside course into the 21st century with a subtle rebirth as a modern masterpiece.

The original panoramic site lines of the Atlantic Ocean have been restored on 15 of 18 holes through an aggressive tree management program. Native Puerto Rican sand harvested from surrounding beaches highlights the newly renovated and contoured bunker complexes. New ultra-dwarf Champion Bermuda greens support double digit green speeds with a premium number of hole locations on every green. A course layout that now stretches over 7200 yards is as formidable from the championship tees as it is forgiving from the forward tee.

SUGARCANE COURSE The very challenging Sugarcane Course boasts larger fairways and greens. The course features more forced carries and deeper bunkers that

can penalize you for an errant shot.

The back nine is surrounded by newly created rivers and lakes and offers a much different look, making this a hidden gem amongst Puerto Rico golf courses. Players have an opportunity for birdies early in the round, but par is a great score on most every hole on the back nine.

WEST COURSE For the Dorado Beach West Course, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. built holes running in different directions, making the ever-present breezes off the Atlantic a challenge to negotiate, but ensuring that a round on the West Course will be one of the most picturesque on a Puerto Rican golf course. The four par-3 holes on Dorado Beach’s West Course are considered the toughest group of the course complex. Ranging in distance from 150 to 200 yards, they feature sloping greens and plenty of bunkers.

The 175-yard, 13th hole is lined with palm trees while the green is in an oasis of rolling sand that seems to run right into the ocean. The Raymond Floyd Group renovated this course in 2002 keeping the original layout and vision of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. while providing all the on-course amenities of a first-class Caribbean golf resort.

For more information visit www.doradobeach.com

Stay, Play and Explore the many adventures Dorado Beach offers.

Plantation Resort Residences are luxurious three bedroom residences located in the center of Dorado Beach, overlooking the famed fairways of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and lush green mountains. Comfortably accommodating up to six people with all the convenience of home, they are the perfect getaway for a family or a group of friends this summer.

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MARK GIMENEZ Mark Gimenez grew up in Galveston County, Texas, and attended Texas State University and Notre Dame Law School. He practiced law and was a partner in a large Dallas firm. He is the author of eight novels—The Color of Law, The Abduction, The Perk, The Common Lawyer, Accused, The Governor's Wife, Con Law and The Case Against William—as well as a children's novel, Parts & Labor: The Adventures of Max Dugan. His books have received critical acclaim around the world. They have been bestsellers in the UK, Ireland, Australia, India, and South Africa and have been translated into fifteen foreign languages. The Perk won a spot in Books to Die For: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels, edited by John Connolly and Declan Burke. Mark has two sons and lives in Texas. WWW.MARKGIMENEZ.COM

DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

A CANDID CONVERSATION WITH MARK GIMENEZ

by Cynthia P. Howland Design Destinations recently caught up with bestselling author Mark Gimenez from beautiful Eastern Cape of South Africa. Mr. Gimenez was taking some personal time out from his book tour to enjoy one of the his favorite places. He shares with us insight into his projects, his process and his view of the world.

is very good. People feel we have justice in America. So many other places are struggling with that, but they want it. We all need a sense of justice and I think that is why my books are so popular around the world. That is the common theme and they are fascinated with our system and want to know how it works in America

DD: Are you vacationing in South Africa or promoting your books?

DD: When you are traveling, are you doing any writing while you are on the road?

MG: Both. I am doing some work here, but I also have a lot of friends here now, people I like to come back and see. So I try to combine both. I get so see parts of the country I wouldn’t otherwise see. I took a long trip promoting my books through New Zealand and Australia and I regretted not staying longer and doing my own thing while I was there. You never know when you will have the chance to come back.

I love traveling, I love meeting other people, and it’s fascinating to learn how other people live. I have never regretted any of the trips I’ve taken - very beneficial and always a learning experience.

MG: Yes, definitely. Every place you go, you think of ideas. For example, you see a beach and you say— what could I do with a beach? Different things inspire different ideas in your head. I always do. That’s the great thing about writing - you can do it anywhere.

DD: Tell us about South Africa as a destination and what resonates for you about it.

MG: It is a wild, gorgeous country. I have just come from Cape Town. There are few places more beautiful than there where the water crashes on the rocks. That is the most beautiful meeting of land and sea I have ever seen. I am speaking to you now from Jeffrey’s Bay on the southern tip of Africa. It is wild and free and open.

The land is gorgeous and the people are extremely friendly. Everyone is very open. And then there is the food - I have two words for you: “Malva Pudding” you have never had a dessert like this -. They admire and love Americans. I see that when I travel—how much the rest of the world admires America. I feel good to be an American when I travel.

DD: Your books do very well in the UK, South Africa and Ireland. Do you see cultural differences in how people respond to your books? Are they different than your American audience?

MG: No, it is really not any different than us. That is one thing that has surprised me. Despite how different we are all around the world, we all care about justice.

There is a sense of justice in the world. They look at America as having a perfect legal system. We know it is not perfect and that people fall through the cracks - but it

DD: Are you disciplined in terms of committing to a certain amount of time each day when you are working on a project or is it more a matter of making notes and jotting down ideas?

MG: Yes, when I am traveling it is more of making notes and developing ideas. Once I sit down to write a book I go for hours and hours at a time, maybe 8 hours a day. You get into it and you are constantly thinking about it. My problem is I am always thinking of plotting, characters, and settings. I learned from my first book to always have everything plotted out-every scene and where it is going. I find I can do that quite well when I am traveling. I am working on a book right now set partially here (South Africa) and partially in Texas. I have learned from my first novel when I just started wandering. Now I plot it out, step by step, scene by scene. I do a character book on every character. Just because we are dropping in on these peoples’ lives for a few weeks, they have had full lives, they have done things, seen things, and they will live after the story. So to write a 40-year-old man or women you need to know what happened before—where were they born? Who their parents, their sisters, brothers? All that will determine how they are as an adult, so how can you write a 40 year old without understanding their experience and life before?

DD: You have such a logical and linear approach to writing. Did you study writing in college?

MG: I did some creative writing in college and I had a professor who said I should really consider writing school. But I grew up very, very poor and I was in the

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

political science department thinking about Law School and got accepted. Everyone said I could not turn that down—that I should go be a lawyer. So I went off to Notre Dame Law School. My father taught me there is only one thing that you can control—that is how hard you work. Everybody else may be smarter than you but they can’t work harder than you unless you allow them to. I worked my butt off and got hired by a big law firm in Dallas. It was work, work, work and then after about 10-12 years, I went back to thinking about stories and the things that happen in practicing law. I wanted to start writing stories.

The genesis of Color Of Law was that my son came home one day with To Kill a Mockingbird. He asked, “Would that happen today? Would an innocent person be convicted just because of the color of his skin?” and I said, “It could if he were poor. Today the law is less about black and white—it is green.” If you have money and you’re innocent you are more likely to go home, while if you are poor you may go to prison.

In the last decade we have released nearly 50 people based on DNA. A little light bulb went off in my head.

That’s what I need to do, update To Kill A Mockingbird.

I wrote that in about nine months, found an agent in six months and we sold the book in two days.

DD: Most of us know very little about the collaboration of a writer and an editor. Is the editor making plot suggestions, or mostly language and style suggestions? How comprehensive is the editing process?

MG: What a good editor does is look at the big picture. You have copy editors who correct your grammar, thank God, but a good editor will look at the story and may say, I don’t understand this part, or you need more of the story here, or you lost this character here—so big picture issues to be sure the story is

hanging together. I have never failed to have my book improved by editors. It is like having a coach. When in doubt, do what the editor wants. It is always a good thing to listen to your editors.

DD: Once you had that first success and got the taste for writing, did you leave law practice?

MG: No, no, no. You want to hang on to your day job as long as you can because writing is so tenuous. I started just when e-books were starting to turn the world of publishing upside down. I still practice law— not with a big firm, but I enjoy the law more than I ever did before. I love the law. I get to choose my clients, I care about the people I work for. I would work for them for free if they couldn’t pay me- fortunately they can. I care about these people so it means something to me.

I enjoy what I do more than ever. As you get older, doing for others and helping others becomes very satisfying.

DD: Can we talk about reader engagement and how they influence your writing and your projects?

MG: One thing I do is that I read emails. I put up a web site so people could write to me. I have received thousands of emails and I answer every single one of them and have had ongoing correspondence with many. It has been gratifying and I get a lot more from it than they do. The biggest thing is whether the characters resonate for them; do they want more of the characters? The Color of Law started with A. Scott Fenney. People really liked him and the cast and wanted more stories of those characters. In Con Law, people really responded to law professor, John Bookman. Moving forward I am going to do two series with the casts of those two books. That is the biggest thing of what reader input has provided. We all come to life from a different perspective—they will see the same event differently than every other person.

Mark Gimenez’ latest thriller THE CASE AGAINST WILLIAM Criminal defense lawyers must make their peace with one harsh fact of life: most of their clients are guilty. But when William Tucker, a celebrated and self-centered star college football player, is suddenly arrested and charged with the brutal rape and murder of a college coed two years before, his estranged father, Frank Tucker, a drunken, broken-down,

beach-bum ex-criminal defense lawyer, cannot believe his son is guilty. No father can. So he must sober up to save his son from the death penalty sought by an ambitious district attorney.

And father and son learn that only three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and a father´s love for his son.

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

BUENOS AIRES 24/7

by Franz Buchhalter

Buenos Aires is famous for its European flair, traditional customs and especially for its sophistication. It is a city that runs 24 hours a day, with the exception of Sundays, during the traditional family lunch, and the 90 minutes of soccer. It is here where entire families gather to enjoy an asado (Argentinian barbecue) and local wine.

After a long lunch, the parents, grandparents, children, neighbors and the occasional friend, are immersed in silence in front of the TV to watch their favorite soccer team battle in a match that could be

classified as a “do or die” match. Yes, you will hear from time to time an “OOOH!” or a “NOOOOO!” and the most awaited word “GOL!” but for the most part, if their favorite team happens to lose, that may just be the only time where time stands still in pure silence.

Argentina has clear differences from its neighboring countries like Chile, Paraguay, or Uruguay; and Buenos Aires is in a class of its own. It has been compared with Madrid for its nightlife, however, even Madrid falls short when it comes to Buenos Aires. It is

only here where you will find restaurants filled with patrons at two in the morning having dinner, and there is no problem in friends making plans to meet at 2 am. In fact it is considered to be quite typical.

Buenos Aires is truly a city that never sleeps. It is here where you will find an endless selection of places to spend the night and for that matter, wait for dawn. It may be one of the city’s many glamorous and elegant restaurants or a stop by an intimate piano bar or nightclub where the dance

floor vibrates after sunrise to the sounds of “ritmo de la noche” (rhythm of the night); Perhaps you wander into a lounge where a tango show will leave you mesmerized or maybe you prefer just a simple place to meet and enjoy a nice Argentinian glass of malbec.

In Buenos Aires there is something for everyone. The choices are endless and most likely, you will find that special place and forget that it is 4am and that you are enjoying an expresso. One thing is certain, Buenos Aires comes alive when other cities are asleep.

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

BUENOS AIRES

A CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS

DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

Puerto Madero

La Boca

San Telmo

Red Wine, the Best Beef and Yerba Mate

by Radek Okienczuk Buenos Aires is an exciting city full of districts, with each district keeps its own climate, and we are not referring to the weather. My experience of exploring this amazing city begins in the district of Palermo, filled with thousands of cafes, bars and restaurants. The name Palermo is prominently used when naming cafes, restaurants and anything else that you can imagine. This district keeps an “alternative” and a “trendy” ambiance, and it is very popular among young Argentines of upper middle class, as well as ex pats, foreigners and the occasional tourist. Many traditional buildings have been converted into shops, cafes, galleries and clubs, all coming together to create an impressive atmosphere. My next stop was La Recoleta district, famous for its many historical buildings with great artistic facades. It is the cultural center of Buenos Aires. This district commands the highest real estate prices in all of Buenos Aires. Even though it is frequented by tourists, La Recoleta is a great place for people watching and to enjoy a good glass of Argentina’s famous red wine.

Puerto Madero is the newest luxury district, with highrise buildings, shops, and restaurants featuring panoramic

views of the city, and of the river La Plata - one of the widest rivers in South America. Puerto Madero provides the best placee to enjoy the best Argentinian beef in one of the many steak houses. Not far from Puerto Madero, we find San Telmo, the oldest district of Buenos Aires, home of colonial buildings, historic churches, cafes, tango parlors and antique shops located along cobbled streets. San Telmo is an excellent example of the urban scene of Buenos Aires of the early 20th century. It is here where the best tango shows are found and where cafes serve coffee throughout the night.

Our last stop is La Boca, once a neighborhood of Italian immigrants, where the Tango is known to have been born in the red district which was formerly a hangout for artists and bohemians. It is a great place to find dancing halls and see locals gather to compete against each other in the art of dancing Tango, and Milonga and between dances enjoying a moment to enjoy the traditional Yerma Mate (a local tea) For more of Radek’s stories please visit www.questformore.com

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

Appeal to your audience’s key motivation by telling a story and keeping the message simple.

All in all, your business can leverage social media marketing to win new customers and engage with an even bigger audience. Success of this strategy requires time, effort, and strategic thinking.

By knowing your audience you can interact with them as seamlessly as when they walk right through your front door elevating your business and taking your sales to the next level. Not bad for a few tweets 5 Strategies to Grow Super Fans – High quality loyal fans on social media help spread the word on your brand by purchasing, supporting, and encouraging other fans to do so.

Here are 5 tips to help you streamline your social media activity and grow potential fans to SUPER FANS!

Social Media: Making it Work for You by Jennifer Kaminski Whether you’re new to social media or just looking to connect the pieces, you already know that social media marketing can be quite valuable - even essential for your business and can lead to increased customer loyalty, brand recognition, and sales. This type of success doesn’t happen overnight or by accident.

Effective social media requires savvy, consistency, and patience. There is no need to feel overwhelmed! Here are a few tips that can help you sort through the social media jungle and start making a difference in reaching your fans online.

1) Find the Right Social Networks For You - Deciding where to focus your social media energy can be a daunting process, as time is short and resources are limited.

Don’t get distracted by the buzz and articles touting the next big thing that brands "must do." As with any marketing channel, the more thought and strategy you put into your implementation plans, the greater your chance of success.

Simple: take a step back and examine your marketing objectives, product offerings, and target consumers. It's a pretty safe bet to say that nearly everyone should have a Facebook page. With over 1.31 billion active monthly users (as of Jan. 2014), you will find a healthy number of your customers here. Same is true of Twitter.

Another way to help you narrow down where to be is to listen! Where are your customers and others in your industry having relevant conversations?

This should be quite insightful and help you make the most sense of where you need to be too.

2) Build An Engaging Community – The greatest value of social media is the

ability to foster and engage with a community online. Engagement is the magical key to social media allowing you to respond immediately to current or prospective customers when they have something to say.

This allows your business to build relationships beyond their offline experience, thus increasing both loyalty and retention. These customers have the potential to become super fans and increase your word-of-mouth advertising, which will have an amazing impact on your business!

By providing a great place of engagement for your community and helping to build valuable, authentic resources for your brand's niche, you're also building up authority for your brand within your industry. You'll find your customers increasingly trusting what you say and coming to you for resources that can help them solve their own challenges.

3) Publish and Share Quality Content – The first step is knowing what to publish, when, and where – this can greatly increase the visibility and reach of your content.

Be consistent with your frequency of posts and timing of when your audience is online. I would recommend posting at least 5-10 times a day on Twitter and 1-4 times a day on Facebook for optimal outcome.

Most importantly (and most challenging) is creating shareable posts through story telling. Fans share and engage with content that brings value, entertains, defines who they are, and what they care about.

1. Create Consistent Calls to Action Post valuable content with a simple call to action such as ‘click this’ or ‘watch this’. The valuable content will show fans that you’re an authority and consistently post good stuff.

2. Give Your Brand a Human Touch Step out from behind your logo and show the personal side of your business. The goal is to communicate with fans as though you were talking to friends, let your personality come through!

3. Cultivate Engagement with 2-Way Dialogue Mirror real-life situations and don’t just post and move-on, get involved in the conversation. You can learn a lot about your fans when you take the time to engage and listen.

4. Encourage Fans to Fan Conversations Create posts that allow fans to talk to each other. An easy way to do this is to spotlight your fans by sharing their photos or recognizing a fan of the week.

5. Monitor, Measure, & Track Your customers are now all social customers! They love to share, chat, post, like, and comment and are quick to share good, bad, or worse on their social networks. Set up alerts to monitor this and be ready to listen and to respond.

Jennifer Kaminski Heads Buchhalter International Group’s Social Media initiatives. For more information please contact Info@buchhalterig.com

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

historical sites. Plan your days accordingly and leave space for them to relax.

5. Home rules don’t apply Trying to change their habits during vacation may just make things worse.

Avoid looking inside their room and pointing out that they have worn the same clothes five consecutive days in a row. Advise the housekeeping staff that your kid’s room is not a reflection of you.

TRAVELING WITH TEENS and still finding time for fun!

by Franz Buchhalter

Traveling and experiencing different cities, countries and cultures gives us a new perspective and view of the world. I have always believed that traveling provides us with wonderful life lessons. Traveling with children, however, is a whole new experience and if those children are teenagers, the experience can be another lesson by itself. As the father of two who has had the fortune to travel the world with my family since the kids were toddlers, I dreamed and looked forward to the time we would travel with them as teens. I imagined it to be a breeze. After all, I had trained them, right? I could not have been more wrong. Instead, I learned not to be the controlling person that I am and learned to let go. And as difficult as it was, I surrendered and in the process, I learned a lesson or two.

I have put together five helpful tips which can be useful for someone planning their summer vacation with their teens. They can be adjusted based on needs, but always

remember that traveling with teens can be the ultimate joy.

FIVE TIPS WHEN TRAVELING WITH TEENS 1. Lead the way Involve them in the process of making travel decisions from the beginning. Although involving them could stretch out the selection process, it will give them a sense of participation instead of being told where they are going.

2. Follow the leader Once the vacation selection is made, ask them to read about it and to preselect points that interest them.

Have them ask questions and speak to the travel agent who is planning the trip. The more they know the more they will enjoy the trip.

3. Let them sleep!

From the start, establish the rules and leave enough time for them to sleep. Teens prefer sleeping over a hot breakfast. Using the morning to experience the local scene without them could be a blessing.

4. Don’t over do it Trying to see everything in one day can be a disaster. Remember that teens may not want to explore all the museums, or cathedrals, or

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Imanta Resort

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSEPH KOHN WWW.IQPHOTO.COM

DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

THE PERFECT WEDDING IN THE PERFECT SETTING

At Imanta Resort, Mexico, set on the edge of the jungle and the beaches, nature’s elements come together in harmony bringing magic and mysticism to a wedding ceremony and creating a life long memory for the groom and bride.

The opportunity to incorporate ancient marriage rituals where nature was an important element in the wedding ceremony can inspire ways for couples planning their special day to make it even more special, different and in a way, magical. Weddings of the ancient NĂĄhuatl indian tribe used to take place on a beach or around temples connecting the couple with nature. According to their rituals, finding the perfect setting and following traditional steps were key to the success of the union.This included the presence of the smoke of copal incense (aromatic resin regarded as sacred and purifying the environment), flowers, veils and torches. The couple was surrounded by the four elements of nature: water, earth, wind and fire, so their presence could strengthen and bless the union for many years. The marriage was sealed with the exchange of a token that represented the bond and promise of a life together. And finally, the ceremony ended with a celebration that included sounds from rustic musical instruments that extended beyond the conclusion of the festivity.

For more information on weddings and other amazing events visit www.imantaresorts.com

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JOSEPH KOHN WWW.IQPHOTO.COM

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

DORADO BEACH, Puerto Rico

LUXURY, TRADITION, AND AN EXTRAORDINARY LOCALE

Celebrate your special day and say “I do” in a place that will be remembered for years to come.

Dorado Beach offers a unique experience with a magnificent back drop as the perfect setting for an exclusive, out of the ordinary, and memorable wedding.

Imagine the whispers of a cool ocean breeze as family and friends gather for an intimate ceremony, while another spectacular Caribbean sunset lights up the sky in this unforgettable destination in Puerto Rico.

Dorado Beach

The setting of the exclusive beach, world-class cuisine options and attentive staff make Dorado Beach the perfect place for that special day. And after the ceremony friends, and family can explore the many choices available in Dorado Beach.

Dorado Beach, with its storied tradition is nestled in a 1,400 acre sanctuary reserve offering luxurious accommodation in two exclusive resorts. Plantation Resort Residences and Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Plantation Resort Residences offers 3-bedroom residences with amazing views of Puerto Rico’s mountains and Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve offers beautiful beachfront accommodations. Dorado Beach also features a 5-acre spa, three championship golf courses, miles of pristine ocean, water sports, and elegant dining options. For more information on weddings and special events visit www.doradobeach.com Photography courtesy of Nilka Gissell www.nilkagissell.com

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

LA ANTIGUA GUATEMALA ““La Antigua,Guatemala” has

preserved the Spanish colonial ambiance and will give you a magnificent view of what life was like when Antigua was still the capital of Guatemala for over three centuries. In 1773 it was destroyed by an earthquake and subsequently moved to its present location. The Spaniards could not have chosen a better location to build their city, as La Antigua has an ideal climate. At an altitude of 1530 meters, Antigua's days are sunny and warm and the nights are cool and refreshing. Antigua is noted mainly for the ruins of colonial buildings that make it a museum of Spanish colonial history. The city's original name was

Santiago de los Caballeros and served as the administrative and judicial center for the Spanish empire, as was Mexico City to the north and Lima, Peru to the south. Antigua was also the center for educational and missionary work by the Spanish priests and was home for the third university in the Americas attracting many religious orders who built their own monasteries, convents and churches.

It is a bewitched city that is sheltered between three volcanoes and is one of the finest examples of colonial architecture in the Americas.

It reflects a regional stylistic variation known as Barroco antigueño (Distinctive Baroque

By Edmundo Ruano

style which is found only in Antigua). Among the many significant historical buildings, worth noting are the Palace of the Captains General, the Casa de la Moneda, the Cathedral, the Universidad de San Carlos, Las Capuchinas, La Merced, and Santa Clara. UNESCO named Antigua “World Cultural Patrimony” for its cultural value and the Government intention of protecting La Antigua by prohibiting repairs and construction of new buildings, thus preserving the city’s 16thcentury Renaissance Baroquestyle monumental buildings and ruins along with cobblestone streets, and plazas with fountains.

As a child I spent many summers in my family’s home in Antigua. Our house was once part of a monastery that was partially destroyed by one of the earthquakes and later was divided into private homes. The house was across one of the many remaining churches that are found in Antigua. Today my visits to Antigua are less frequent but I still remember the magic of the city, the beauty of the streets and when I go back is like I never left.

Photo courtesy of Clark Tours www.clarcktours.gt

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

New France Festival: Celebrating Quebec City's History By Sue Krause Summer in the city took on a whole new meaning for me several years ago while attending the New France Festival in Quebec. Not only did I get to dress up somewhat like royalty, I immersed myself in the historic delights of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The New France Festival (Les Fetes de la Nouvelle-France) was first held in 1997 when Quebec City officials wanted to create an event inspired by the lives of the region’s first European settlers. Set against the backdrop of Old Quebec in Lower Town, the festival brings the 17th and 18th centuries to life through art, food, music and theater. The 2014 edition, which runs August 6-10, honors the creativity and ingenuity of the New France colonists with the theme The Builders’ Momentum -- a tribute to the first founders who settled on North American soil.

New France was the French colony established in North America from 1534-1760. During Jacques Cartier’s voyage from France, he landed in North America and discovered the Gulf of St. Lawrence. At the time, the territory was populated by indigenous peoples who called their land Canada. In 1534, Cartier erected a cross at Gaspé and claimed Canada in the name of the King of France, and the French presence flourished through the activities of whalers, cod fishermen and fur traders. The first permanent settlements in New France were established in the early 17th century. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain (considered to be the founder of New France) established a home base in what would later become

Quebec City -- making it a center for trade and other economic activities.

Quebec City, which celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2008, oozes European charm. As the only walled city in North America, its streets are lined with architectural treasures -- making it the ideal setting for this five-day festival. Plus, the city is steeped in the traditions of France, from the language of its people to the French-inspired cuisine. Although the official program for the New France Festival will not be available until July, more than 700 artists and performers will be dancing, playing music, telling stories and re-enacting 17th and 18th century life throughout Old Quebec’s cobblestone streets. There will be a parade, nightly stage shows, sea excursions aboard a historic sailing ship and fireworks high above the St. Lawrence River. Local Quebec products will be featured at the Food and Flavours Market, and a new venue for youth will make it an even more familyfriendly affair.

And if there’s one festival where you’ll want to get dressed up, this is it. Fortunately for festivalgoers, there’s an official New France Festival costumer designer, Creation Face-a-Faces. The Quebec City company designs and rents a variety of costume styles, and there are also several stores in the Quebec City area that rent costumes. And don’t let that costume retire early. After a day of summer revelry, book a table at Le Chateau Frontenac, overlooking the St. Lawrence River would make for the perfect finale to an oh-so French day.

Local revelers dress up for the New France Festival.

Several stores in the Quebec City area rent costumes.

Costume contests give festival-goers a chance to be in the spotlight

Photos by Sue Frause

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

Anne Bancroft: An American Legend Anne Bancroft most likely remembered for her portrayal of the seductive Mrs. Robinson in the film “The Graduate” was born on September 17,1931 in the Bronx, New York, the daughter of Italian immigrants. She made her cinema debut in Don’ Bother to Knock (1952) and over the next five years appeared in a series of undistinguished movies as a supporting actor. After a disappointing career in Hollywood she returned to Broadway where she achieved recognition in her performance of Gittel Mosca opposite Henry Fonda in Two for the Seesaw, which resulted in a Tony Award win for Best Actress. A year later she portrayed Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, a role that she reprised on the screen in 1962 winning her only Oscar. Miss Bancroft went on to give acclaimed performances in The Pumpkin Eater (1964) The Slender Thread (1965), Young Winston (1972), The Prisoner of Second Avenue (1975), The Elephant Man (1980), To Be or Not To Be (1983), 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) and other movies, but her

most famous role would always be that of Mrs. Robinson.

Her status as the "older woman" in the film is iconic, although in real life Bancroft was just 36 and less than six years older than co-star Dusting Hoffman, who played a character seduced by a woman more than twice his age.

Bancroft would later express her frustration over the fact that the film overshadowed her other work. Though usually a very selective actress, Bancroft increased her output in the 1990s with character roles in such films as Love Potion No. 9 (1992), Point of No Return (1993), Home for the Holidays (1995), G.I. Jane (1997), Great Expectations (1998) and Keeping the Faith (2000). She also started to make some TV films, including Deep in my Heart (1999), for which she won an Emmy. Sadly, on June 6, 2005, Bancroft passed away at the age of 73. At her funeral, the famous Simon and Garfunkel song Mrs. Robinson which celebrated her role in The Graduate was played.

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

Must Have apps

A little bit of everything

for International Travel 1. The Translator An app that can help quickly and correctly translate words or phrases.We like iHandy Translator Pro.

2. The Messenger One that will cover all basic needs from a messaging service. The sending of text, pictures, video and voice messages, as is group chat. WhatsApp is a winner (specially now that Facebook bought it for 19 billion)

3. The Navigator One that will guide you through streets, and give you directions of how to get there and can also look for and share recommendations — shopping and eating venues for instance. Check out Wikitude

4. The Converter Currency and Imperial-metric -- such as Fahrenheit-Celsius and mile-kilometer can be a challenge and an app that can assist you with this is priceless. Try Convert

5. The Connector Accessing data when traveling abroad can be a very expensive task and having WiFi can make your life easier.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL If you are one of the few people who have not yet seen the musical Motown there is hope, since the show is on tour. Adapted by the biography of Berry Gordy, the show takes us back to the glorious era of Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Martha and the Vandellas, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Gladys Night and The Pips, to name a few. The music is a trip down memory lane of famous songs performed by talented singers honoring the originals. The show continues to be a popular show and most functions are sold outs, but if you can’t get to New York City, you can enjoy the energy of this show in one of the scheduled cities as part of the tour. If you are lucky enough to see it, you will enjoy two hours of fun and entertainment listening to nostalgic melodies. For more information visit www.motownthemusical.com

Malbec, Argentina’s signature grape Argentina has the largest Malbec acreage in the world and to the world, Malbec is its signature wine. However, this variety originally comes from South West France, where it is called Cot and features a hard, tannic style. Due to its intense color and dark hues, wines obtained from this variety were once called “the black wines of Cahors.”

These wines consolidated their prestige in the Middle Ages and gained full recognition in modern times.

Argentina is currently the main producer of Malbec in the world, with

76,603 acres of vineyards planted across the country, followed by France (13,097 acres), Italy, Spain, South Africa, New Zealand and the USA. Argentine producers have grown Malbec extensively in every wine region of the country. Today, opulent, vigorous Malbecs may be found all along the Andes mountain range, from Salta to Patagonia.

April 17 has been designated as “Malbec World Day” and in more than 50 countries tribute is made with wine testings, food and music.

Click short video to see a video from last year’s celebration.

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DESIGN DESTINATIONS June 2014

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www.buchhalterinternationalgroup.com