TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe The Germans sleep less and get up earlier than the rest of us, according to a new study which suggests why holidaymakers from Germany get their beach towels on sun loungers first. British scientists found that an average we slept for 7 hours, 21 minutes a night, before starting work at 8.50am. In contrast, Germans citizens, famed for getting up early to secure their sun loungers with a towel, had an average eight minutes less sleep every night and started work 30 minutes earlier. Many festival fans have been left devastated this year after the announcement that Oxygen will not take place. However, the good news is that there are many alternative festival options out there that can more than hold their own against the mighty Oxygen. The Øya Festival in Oslo’s Middelalderparken (Medieval Park) is one such festival which presents an impressive line-up of live music across four stages. This four day 100,000+ attendee festival has come a long way since its days as a one day festival, when it began in 1999. The acts announced to date for this year’s August festival include Florence & The Machine, Bjork, The Stone Roses and the Black Keys. These exciting names will join over 70 other acts, on four stages, over four days. If you would like to be part of the festival fun in Oslo this summer then SAS, Europe’s Most Punctual Airline can get you there with ease! SAS fly directly from Dublin to Oslo from as little as €75 one way, including all taxes and changes. www. flysas.ie
Weekend Hotspot –Caesar Augustus – Capri – Italy
The picturesque island of Capri has enchanted visi-
tors since Roman times. Its still one of Italy’s mustsee places. It’s been one of Europe’s favorite island getaways enthralling a cast of characters ranging from emperors to 21st century luminaries and A-listers. It was a honeymoon destination for Greek ship-owner Aristotle Onassis and his bride, Jacqueline Kennedy; a playground and movie set for screen goddesses Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren; a magnet for artists and writers such as Graham Greene and W.Somerset Maugham. Today’s see-and-be-seen crowd includes Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts and supermodel Naomi Campbell. Capri has three main towns, Capri (with more shops and nightlife), Anacapri (the higher town), and Marina Grande (harbour). Some of the best views in the world are to be seen from the top of Monte Solaro near Anacapri - high above the Bay of Naples. Looking down you can see all the shades of the water, from deep blue to azure, to green, to pale turquoise. Then there is the rugged coastline with cliffs rising from the aquamarine shallows. When it is clear, Naples, Sorrento, Vesuvius and the neighbouring island of Ischia are also visible. Looking inland there are terraced hills, some with red-roofed white homes and clumps of trees, and the occasional splash of bright blue of a swimming pool. Many hotels on Capri close in winter, reopening with a fresh coat of paint and spankingnew renovations in early springtime. Leading the way at Anacapri is one of the islands most luxurious hotels” Caesar Augustus” known worldwide for its breathtaking cliff edge position and stunning views across the entire Bay of Naples. At the turn of twentieth century, a noble Russian prince took ownership of the hotel’s
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striking cliff top location and rebuilt a summer mansion on the site. The elite enclave was named Caesar Augustus, after Capri’s first celebrated visitor. Appropriately, the prince commissioned a life size statue of the emperor, and to this day Caesar Augustus still prominently reigns over the elite establishment. This season, Hotel Caesar Augustus unveiled renovated Junior Suites, which feature several new amenities in brightly colored palettes, including fine Italian linens, pillow top mattresses, contemporary balcony furniture and living room couches. New Italian handmade rugs complement the terracotta floor tiles. The suites also feature striking floor to ceiling glass doors that open to the sea and capture 360 degree views of the Bay of Naples. The rooms are all decorated classically, while the bathrooms are airy and modern. The restaurant, “Lucullo Terrace”, offers a first class menu derived from Southern-Italian cuisine tradition with flavorful cooking. Another visual stunner is the hotel’s infinity pool, designed to give the impression of overflowing into the Sea of Capri. Beside this are four open-air treatment rooms, a Turkish bath and a relaxation area using the
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natural rocks found on the cliff to create a haven for honeymooners. “Caesar Augustus” is the ideal departure point for an array of nearby attractions, including renowned Monte Solaro and Villa San Michele. The picturesque houses of Anacapri, Carena Lighthouse and Grotta Azzurra are also readily accessible from the hotel. Hotel Caesar Augustus suits those looking for romance and serenity, including honeymooners, anniversary couples, and even the occasional celebrity. As long as there isn’t a fear of heights, Caesar Augusts Hotel is highly recom-
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mended and now ranks as one of my favourite hotels on the globe. During summer months, the views of the Hotel Caesar Augustus vibrantly come to life. Fireworks erupt over the Gulf of Naples’ waters as various coastal towns organise dynamic celebrations in the warm, breezy evenings. Aer Lingus fly five times weekly from Dublin to Naples. Oneway fares start from €65.99. For more information on fares and schedules, visit www.aerlingus.com. For best rates see www.caesaraugustus.com
Kempinski Hotels expands its portfolio in Africa with a new hotel project located in Nairobi, which marks the group’s market entry in Kenya; The agreement includes a luxury Safari Camp in the Olare Orok Conservancy next to the Masai Mara National Reserve. The opening is planned for later this year. The five-star Kempinski hotel is located on the Uhuru Highway, within the Westlands area at the heart of Nairobi, only a half-hour drive from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The new luxury hotel will have 200 rooms and suites distributed over 10 floors, including a Presidential Suite on the top floor. The hotel will feature three concept restaurants, including an all day dining restaurant, a bar and a Cigar Lounge. The hotel will also manage the Olare Tented
Camp, a safari camp with 12 luxury tents next to the Masai Mara, just a short flight from Nairobi. The expansive Olare Orok Conservancy, where the camp is located, is home to an abundance of animals including all the big cats. Kempinski Hotels is no stranger to Africa: In 2005, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel management group opened its first hotel on the African continent, Kempinski Hotel N’Djamena in Chad. Currently Kempinski Hotels manages six hotels in five African countries (Egypt, Djibouti, Namibia, Chad and the Seychelles).In addition to the new project in Nairobi, the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, the first Kempinski property in Ghana, is scheduled to open by the end of this year. www.kempinski. com
with Kathleen Murray
ality, a different way of picking up information and a different way of expressing themselves. They will have their own little endearments and ways and after things settle down, life will become calm again. It takes a young dog some time to bond, to learn important things and to trust that you know what you’re doing. If your old dog was a very easy going dog by nature then a new lively natured, fun loving, through-going dog will be quite a challenge for a while. It’s not that it won’t work out but it will need a different approach and way of handling it until you work it out between you. The basics are the same for every dog but personality, and other influences can make for a little bit more work in the early years for more wilful dogs. Exercise needs also vary from one dog to another, so the old one may never have looked for, or needed, as much exercise as the new
Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com
Home and Away Extra
Do you compare your old dog to your new one? I have often heard people say that their new dog is giving them a lot of bother compared to their old dog. Maybe it was an older dog that had died and this new one was got after that or maybe the older dog is still there and the new one is playing up a bit. Whatever the reason, it is important to remember a couple of important things. When your old dog was young you may have had the same bother but you were younger then too and it might not have seemed so bad. Next up it’s good to remember that your new dog is not your old dog. It is young and has a lot to learn. It is doing many things for the first time in it’s life and the old one has it all nailed down at this stage after years of learning how. When you get used to a dog’s ways and they get used to yours life is easy and predictable. Along comes a new dog and the work begins again. The new dog will have a different person-
Weekly Best Buy
The fresh air alone on Inish Bofin island will help you relax, although you can add a treatment in the Marine Spa at Inish Bofin House, two nights B&B and one dinner from €259 midweek and €299 at weekends for two, www. inishbofinhouse.com
one. If your old dog was a big old laid back Newfoundland and your new one is a wired to the moon, Siberian Husky then you will no doubt see a change in exercise needs. What do you need to do to make it work? You need to inform yourself as much as you can about the breed of the dog and it’s needs and fulfill them. You also need to look at how it picks things up around the house. Does it watch you and show interest in you and what you are doing or do you mostly see the rear end of the dog. How does it get on with the family? Who does it listen to and who does it not listen to? Why is that? Is it easily scared or is it full of confidence? What do you think it needs to make sure that it grows into a responsible, responsive and respectful dog? If you don’t have these answers yourself then you need outside help from a trainer. You can never compare one dog to another. They are
all different, that’s the beauty of them all. There’s a place for them all. They’re all worth it so don’t g i v e up.