TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe Etihad Airways and Aer Lingus have signed an interline and codeshare agreement which follows the UAE national airline’s recent 2.987 per cent equity purchase in the Irish air carrier. Within the agreement Etihad Airways will place its “EY” code on Aer Lingus flights operating between Dublin, Manchester and London Heathrow, and destinations in Ireland, the UK, the Channel Islands, Portugal, the Netherlands and the US. Aer Lingus is to move to George Best Belfast City Airport in the autumn after five years at Belfast International. The Irish carrier will base two aircraft at the City Airport during the winter and three during the summer, Aer Lingus will begin flying from Belfast City Airport on October 28. Customers with existing bookings from Belfast International to London Heathrow for dates after the switch will be contacted in the coming days. A new-look winter schedule for 2012 targets key routes for business, leisure and transfer traffic, in and out of London Heathrow and London Gatwick. There will be three flights daily to each airport in each direction. The summer schedule, which begins from the end of March 2013, will operate daily flights to two sun destinations, Malaga and Faro, in addition to the three daily rotations each to London Heathrow and Gatwick. www. aerlingus.com
Weekend Hotspot – JK Place – Capri www.jkcapri.com
When J.K. Place Capri first opened it was immediately the talk of the European hospitality industry not only was it the first luxury hotel to debut in years on the island, it was also owned and designed by the charming Florence-born publisher Ori Kafri and Italian architect Michele Bönan who both
created nearly all the furniture, selected the art, even mixed the colors for the walls. As for the hotel, I’m picky and very attentive to detail but obviously so were the owners! They both turned this estate into an incredible mix of modernity without grandeur. The ground floor of this hillside mansion boasting stunning sea views features four ultra chic sitting rooms, including a library stocked with some of my favourite Taschen titles. The dark balustrade staircase that leads to the guest rooms on the first floor is flanked by black-and-white photographs of past Capri visitors—Audrey Hepburn, Maria Callas and Clark Gable—all of whom would have blended right into the easy elegance of this extraordinary property. The design is nautical throughout with round porthole-style interior windows, sea-blue walls, crisp white sofas, bronze imitation Greek statues opening onto a large terrace where white canvas chairs and sofas face the nearby Marina Grande coastline that once was chosen by Emperor Tiberius as the site of one of his villas. It overlooks the port and occupies a cliff-top spot that has been the site of a hotel since 1885.The twenty-two rooms, each with a different layout and design all have balconies or terraces, and seaviews. Our plush four-poster bed was dressed in flowing fabrics with sea-inspired colors blending in everywhere. The marble & tile bathrooms are spacious and contemporary with large showers, and some also have freestanding or sunken tubs. For the ultimate splurge, there are two penthouses on the top floor, which have roomy balconies. Now, not only has JK Place recaptured the essence of true luxury, it has all the fabulous statements of the decor and needs of today. They also offer a large
Pet’s Corner...
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swimming pool, surrounded by manicured gardens, and the Amalfi coast’s only ESPA, housed in a small pavilion with treatment rooms. This sanctuary provides guests with a relaxing environment where they can enjoy an ultimate wellness experience using treatments and products influenced by East and West philosophies that brings harmony of mind and body. JKitchen Lounge & Restaurant serves the best southern Italian cuisine in a chic setting inside or on the terrace overlooking the water. The menu is based on the local market and the day’s freshest catch and my choices- Carpaccio of fresh swordfish flavoured with ginger & baked local sea bream escalope served with a small seafood sauté were cooked to absolute perfection! The staff at JK Place Capri was in a class of its own and service impeccable. In fact, JK Place Capri is almost too comfortable; if you’re not careful, you’ll forget to head outside and explore this beautiful island which has enchanted visitors since Roman times. Capri in fact is 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 shipn JK Place Living owner ArisRoom Capri. totle Onassis and his bride, Jacqueline Kennedy; a playground and movie set can see all the shades for screen goddesses Brigitte of the water, from deep blue Bardot and Sophia Loren; a to azure, to green, to pale magnet for artists and writ- turquoise. Then there is the ers such as Graham Greene rugged coastline with cliffs and W.Somerset Maugham. rising from the aquamarine Today’s see-and-be-seen shallows. When it is clear, crowd includes Harrison Naples, Sorrento, Vesuvius Ford, Julia Roberts and su- and the neighbouring island permodel Naomi Campbell. of Ischia are also visible. Capri has three main towns, Looking inland there are Capri (with more shops and terraced hills, some with nightlife), Anacapri (the red-roofed white homes and higher town), and Marina clumps of trees, and the ocGrande (harbour). Some of casional splash of bright blue the best views in the world of a swimming pool. Aer Linare to be seen from the top gus fly five times weekly from of Monte Solaro near Anac- Dublin to Naples. One-way apri - high above the Bay of fares start from €65.99. For Naples. Looking down you more information on fares
and schedules, visit www.aerlingus.com. Set far enough away from the island’s buzz and bustle to feel like a retreat, but still close to the action, JK Place Capri is the perfect place to kick back and admire the ocean from the chic pool terrace. Go there! www.jkcapri.com Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com
Weekly Best Buy This summer there has never been a better time to visit the west coast of Clare. At The Lodge at Doonbeg, the “Out and About” package will ensure that you see the best of the area in one action packed weekend. Upon check-in at Doonbeg you can work up an appetite and head for a cycle using one of the route maps provided at reception to discover the surrounding area. When returning, try your hand at fishing in the lagoon and if you’re lucky enough to catch a
brown trout the chef in Darby’s restaurant will happily cook it for youth enjoy as your evening meal. Before you leave don’t forget to spend a day horse-riding and enjoy a breath-taking trek on Doughmore Bay. This offer starts from €580 per room for two adults sharing and includes two night’s bed and breakfast and one evening meal in Darby’s. It runs from June until August. For bookings or further information please contact reservations@doonbeglodge.com
with Kathleen Murray
Things that some people do….wrongly Someone once said “A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing” and another person once said “The more you learn, the more you realise how little you know.” People often make decisions based on very little information, or on what someone else, with very little information, told them would work. This can cause so many problems, and in some cases, can be downright dangerous. One example of this is the myth that raw eggs are good for a dog. Raw eggs are not good for a dog... full stop. Your vet will
be happy to tell you about the problems that raw eggs can cause in dogs. Any healthy dog should have a glossy coat (especially a young dog) otherwise it is lacking in the right type of feeding, it is not being brushed enough, it is in need of a worm tablet, or for a variety of other reasons. Next up is the way that some people worm their dogs (and other animals). Worm tablets are supposed to be given according to body weight. Going into a shop and buying worm tablets and then giving them to your dog, without knowing
the weight of the dog, can make your dog suffer a lot for no good reason. The wrong dosage can make the dog sick and cause severe cramps, or not be effective at all. These things are best done under veterinary advice, to make sure you get it right. Playing the vet at home with not enough information can be cruel to an animal. Another thing that is done to dogs, if they have a problem in their eye, is that the eye is washed out with salt and water (sometimes a herbal tea). This is nuts. Try putting some in your
own eye. Ask your vet why this is not the thing to do. I feel so bad for dogs that are treated like this. The needless suffering is awful. So many things from a bit too much chocolate to slug pellets are poison to your dog. It is so important to get the right information. Each dog is an individual and each problem is different. If an animal has been poisoned people often try to treat it themselves. Don’t do this. Ring your vet immediately!!! People that put down poison have a big responsibility to put up a sign stating that there is poison
in that area. Different poisons have different treatments. You could kill an animal by giving the wrong treatment. Ask your vet before you act. If we all know more than the vets, after all the years and money that they had to spend going through college, then we have a problem. They are the experts in animal medical matters... please ask for their advice before you act. It will cost you less in the long run and your animal will thank you for it. If an animal is already
suffering, why add to it? When people take on the responsibility of an animal then these are the things they need to take into consideration. Animals get sick and the vets are not a charity. Showing up without the money doesn’t work. Medicines and time cost money. If money is an issue for you then ring your local charity to see if they can help... and in return how you can help them.