Ford Mustang California Special is now available in Europe as well.

The Ford Mustang California Special is available in Europe only in convertible form with a canvas roof, but with an exciting V8 gasoline engine and a special design package that enhances the spirit of the American sports car. A car that represents "true driving pleasure and freedom on the road" for the brand and many fans.

To understand this California Special version, we must first go back to the Mustang's inception in 1964. Soon after, the model became an icon, with owners' clubs springing up all over the country, to the point where dealers were designing their own custom models. The California Special was one of them, and it was inspired by the 1967 Shelby GT.

The darkened grille of the original is recovered in this new reinterpretation of the car that Ford produced in a limited edition for the first time in 1968, now with honeycomb pattern finished in black and sporting the GT/CS badge in red. Lower side stripes in black, red, and gray have also been added, extending toward the rear of the vehicle and incorporating "California Special" lettering that is especially visible in bright light.

A one-of-a-kind Mustang on the outside... and inside.

When compared to the Ford Mustang on which it is based, this edition has a larger front splitter, and optional rear side air intakes improve the aerodynamics of this version, which also has exclusive 19-inch carbon gray wheels. "California Special" badges have been added to the rear and suspension turrets. Among the nine available body colors are the eye-catching Grabber Blue and Cyber Orange, which stand out against the black roof.

The interior also reflects the Mustang California Special's distinct personality, with heated and cooled seats as standard. The upholstery is made of leather, with door inserts made of recycled polyester. Embossed GT/CS logos on the floor mats and an aluminum-carbon Mustang California Special badge on the dashboard round out the cabin details.

The Mustang California Special, which joins the Mustang GT (available in coupe and convertible versions), the Mustang Mach 1, and the electric-powered Mustang Mach-E and Mach E-GT, retains the 5-liter V8 engine with 450 hp under the hood, mated to a six-speed manual transmission or an efficient 10-speed automatic transmission, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.

Image: ford

Travel to Iceland in winter

Winter is a good time to visit the Nordic countries if you don't mind the cold. As previously stated, temperatures are not as low as in other lands of comparable latitude and longitude. Norway or Sweden, for example. The reason for this is that its west and south coasts are influenced by the aforementioned Gulf Stream, which originates in the Caribbean, but there is another factor.

Iceland is situated in one of the world's warmest regions. It has a high level of geothermal activity, with numerous volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers. Despite this, don't expect to be free of the cold during the winter.

In the cold season, Reykjavik, the country's capital, has an average temperature of one or two degrees Celsius above zero, though it can reach negative ten. Furthermore, snow easily isolates the western part of the country. In any case, Icelandic weather is notoriously unpredictable. In fact, locals have a saying that if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes. It will evolve.

Winter, on the other hand, is the best time to visit some of Iceland's main attractions. This is the case with the well-known northern lights. They can be seen from all over the island, including Reykjavik. However, there are some places in nature where you can see this wonderful phenomenon better.

In the north, the northern lights appear. As a result, that part of Iceland is the best place to see them in all their glory. There are several places in particular that, aside from allowing you to see them, are truly spectacular. This is the case with Kirkjufell, one of the most iconic tourist destinations.

With a height of only 463 meters, it has an unusual conical shape and a beautiful waterfall at its base. When you combine all of this with the aurora borealis, you have a dream landscape. The surroundings of Hvitserkur are also ideal for viewing this phenomenon. It's a one-of-a-kind rocky outcrop that resembles a dragon drinking.

In short, there are numerous ideal locations for viewing the aurora borealis. However, we will also mention the Skardsviti lighthouse, a solitary location where you will find yourself in complete harmony with nature and enjoy the sight of the phenomenon like in few other places.

On the other hand, you can use your winter visit to Iceland to visit the south of the island, which has a milder climate than the north. Thus, you can visit the largest glacier in Europe, the Vatnajökull glacier; the magnificent Gullfoss waterfall, which is about a hundred meters wide and thirty meters deep; the Geysir, a massive geyser; or the plains of Thingvellir or Parliament, which overlook spectacular lakes.

However, in the south, you can visit cities such as Reykjavik, which we will discuss later, Kópavogur, which has an interesting natural history museum, or Hafnarfjördur, where you can visit the church of St. Joseph, but especially attend the unusual Viking festival held every year.

The best time to visit Iceland is during the summer.

Despite everything we've said so far about the best time to visit Iceland, summer is the best time. Temperatures are more pleasant, averaging around twelve degrees Celsius on average, though they can reach twenty-five degrees Celsius in some areas of the country.

You can also see the northern lights and visit mountainous and northern areas that are more difficult to see in bad weather. Small fishing villages, for example, that preserve the most traditional aspects of rural Iceland.

This is the case in Husavik, which is regarded as one of the best places in the world to see whales feeding in Skjálfandi Bay. Puffins abound in this town of less than 2,000 people during the summer, making it ideal for ornithology enthusiasts.

Siglufjördur, on the Trollaskagi peninsula, is another small town worth visiting, with its historic center of brightly painted wooden houses. It also has a one-of-a-kind Museum of the Herring Era, when fishing was the primary source of income for its residents until recently.

More important is the city of Aureyri, which, despite having only 20,000 inhabitants, is considered the capital of the country's north. It is surrounded by mountains to the west of the imposing Eyjafjoröur fjord and sits on the banks of the Glerá river. It was an ancient Viking settlement that is now commemorated by a Thor statue. You can also go to its magnificent church and botanical garden. But, since we're talking about Icelandic cities, let's take a look at what to see in Reykjavik, the country's capital.

Because the capital of Iceland can be visited at any time. However, if you want to see all of its monuments, it is always better to visit in the summer, when temperatures allow you to spend more time on the streets. With a population of less than 200,000 people, it has a lot to offer.

You can begin your tour at the Parliament and Government House buildings, both of which date from the 18th century, and very close to them, in the same Miöborg district, are the Library and the National Theater. You should also go to the National Museum of Iceland and the Nordic House, both of which were designed by architect Alvar Aalto.

However, if you want to know the more traditional Reykjavik, you must visit the Folk Museum of Arbaer, where you can see a small village rebuilt in the original style, in addition to the old town. Finally, for religious monuments in the city, we recommend visiting the Old Cathedral, which dates from the eighteenth century, and the Free Church of Reykjavik. Above all, there is the impressive Hallgrmskirkja, or new cathedral, in front of which stands a statue of Erik the Red, a Norwegian sailor and adventurer of the tenth century who discovered Iceland. The Cathedral of Christ the King, however, is a beautiful Catholic cathedral in the city.

When it comes to deciding when to visit Iceland, these two seasons are excellent choices. In fact, because it is the least touristy, prices are lower, and you can see the coveted northern lights in both seasons. As if that weren't enough, autumn provides a natural color spectacle in the mountains and plains with a mix of plants, mosses, and lava debris.

Temperatures in both seasons are very similar, ranging between zero and ten degrees Celsius. True, their dates do not exactly coincide with ours. Autumn in Iceland begins at the end of August and lasts until early November. Its only disadvantage is that it is a windy season, which can make your excursions difficult. You should also keep in mind that some activities come to an end at this time. For example, river rafting or highland hiking.

Spring in Iceland, on the other hand, lasts from April to May. Don't be fooled by the fact that the country's natives celebrate the first day of summer on April 18. Rather, it is the start of spring. Snow, on the other hand, may fall on occasion, but it is uncommon. However, this is the time of year when migratory birds begin to arrive. As an aside, the European golden plover is thought to bring spring to Iceland. The most common species arriving in the country, however, is the puffin, which we have already mentioned.

Finally, we hope we have answered the question of when to visit Iceland. Summer, as previously stated, is the best time. However, spring and autumn are also pleasant seasons. Even in the dead of winter, the Nordic island is worth a visit. Because this is the best time to see the magnificent aurora borealis. In addition, the trip and stay are less expensive, and if you enjoy snowy landscapes, this is the best time to appreciate the beauty of its glaciers and fjords, which have nothing to envy with those of Norway. So, go to Iceland whenever you want, but don't let it pass you by. Don't you think the reasons we've given you are sufficient?

Image: wikipedia

Piaget introduces the Limelight Gala Aventurine, a new version of its iconic women's collection that offers wrist heaven.

The Piaget Limelight Gala Aventurine is one of the "pre-novelties" Watches and Wonders 2022 that the Swiss manufacturer is releasing ahead of the Geneva show. It is not an absolute novelty, but it does bring an unprecedented set of features that give it a very distinct personality.

The Limelight Gala by Piaget is a collection of women's watches that we are all too familiar with and have written about on numerous occasions. Logically, all of its external elements' aesthetic genes remain unchanged in this new version.

The case retains its most distinguishing feature, which are the famous asymmetrical lugs, only one in each direction, which make this Piaget women's watch easily identifiable even from a distance. It is made of white gold and has a diameter of 32 millimeters. The Limelight Gala Aventurine also has a feature that is shared by all watches in this collection: a gem-set bezel with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling approximately 1.66 carats.

The use of blue aventurine on its dial is the main difference brought by this new Aventurine version. It is a semi-precious stone, a quartz variant that retains the majority of its properties.

The most prized aesthetic quality of blue Aventurine in jewelry, however, is the aventurescence phenomenon that occurs in this stone. When light hits it, it creates a shimmering effect inside that looks like frost. The fact that these multiple reflections are blue creates the visual illusion of standing in front of a vast starry sky.

Piaget's dial is devoid of any type of index, as is customary for this type of watch. It only displays the two central hands, hours and minutes, as well as the Piaget brand at 12 o'clock and "swiss made" at 6 o'clock. It is obvious that the lack of indexes prevents an accurate reading of the minutes, but keep in mind that we are dealing with a jewel-watch that prioritizes its jewelry aspect above all else.

The choice of a metal bracelet to attach the Limelight Gala Aventurine to its owner's wrist, which is linked to the Aventurine dial, is the second feature that gives the Limelight Gala Aventurine such a unique personality. This bracelet features "mesh" architecture, also known as "Milanese style" in watchmaking and dating back to the 13th century when it was used to make chain mail.

The "Milanese" bracelet has always been used on wristwatches, but it gained popularity in the mid-twentieth century. This type of bracelet had almost vanished in recent decades, but it now appears to be making a comeback, albeit slowly. It appears to be one of the best fastening systems available to me because, in addition to strength and comfort, it provides undeniable elegance and versatility.

Caseback for the Piaget Limelight Gala Aventurine.

Despite the austerity of the indicators, Piaget does not skimp on sophistication, outfitting the Limelight Gala Aventurine with the 501P1 caliber, a high-level self-winding mechanical movement with a balance oscillation of 28,800 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of 40 hours.

The Limelight Gala Aventurine will be available in a limited edition of 300 pieces from Piaget.

Image: Piaget

Longines introduces the women's versions of the Spirit collection with a new 37 mm size.

The versatile and sporty Spirit collection, which is only two years old, has quickly grown to become one of Longines' most popular collections due to its excellent design and mechanical level. Striking a balance between vintage design and current trends is difficult, but the Spirit's clean timeless look has done so, thanks to a clean and effective aviator-inspired design that pays homage to the brand's past without pretending to recreate any specific model.

The current collection consists of a basic three hands with date in 42 and 40 mm and a 42 mm chronograph, all of which use silicon spiral calibers and chronometry approved by the C.O.S.C. Taking it a step further, for 2022, the company introduces the most compact version of the Spirit, with a diameter of 37 mm clearly aimed at the female audience, though given the current trend toward smaller cases, more than one man will undoubtedly be very comfortable with this size.

The satin-brushed case, as expected, has nothing new other than its diameter, with a narrow polished bezel that combines with the wide polished bevel that runs along both sides of the caseband, an oversized crown, and long tapered lugs. Similarly, the screwed back is engraved with the Longines winged hourglass emblem, and the entire piece is water-resistant to 100 meters.

Longines' new 37 mm Spirit models are available in three dial colors: black, navy blue, and pale champagne gold. They share the perimeter scale of minutes/seconds fractioned to 60 units with the collection, as well as their "v" notches made to receive the small luminescent hour diamonds, eleven large applied Arabic numerals, and long baton-type hands, all with Super-LumiNova incorporated. The key feature of these 37 mm versions, however, is the placement of the date window at 6 o'clock, as opposed to 3 o'clock on the 42 and 40 mm models. Personally, I think this is a good decision because the symmetry adds a nice sense of balance that improves on previous versions, particularly with regard to the 42 mm and its contentious interaction in which the date window cuts the hour index in half at 3 o'clock.

The black dial is by far the simplest and most effective of the three dial options, with a slightly grainy matte texture that matches perfectly with what we should expect from a vintage pilot's watch. The navy blue dial, on the other hand, is more dynamic, with a sunray finish that is complemented by the prominent red-tipped seconds hand. Finally, the new champagne gold color has a sunray finish. It is without a doubt the most elegant version of the three, and it will undoubtedly be the most popular with the female audience.

The same movement found in the larger models and other references such as the Legend Diver, the Caliber L888.4 based on ETA A31, is found inside. This self-winding mechanism has a COSC-certified chronometric precision and a silicon hairspring, and it has an excellent power reserve of 72 hours while vibrating at a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour.

Longines offers the new 37 mm Spirit with two bracelet options: steel three-link or hand-stitched in navy blue, dark mahogany brown, or dull brownish gray depending on the dial. As is customary, my preference is for the versatile bracelet, which is even more pronounced when we consider the meager surcharge of 150 €.

Authorized dealers can now purchase the new Longines Spirit 37 mm models. The Longines Spirit 37 mm costs 2,290 € with a steel bracelet and 2,040 € with a leather strap.

The Benetti Oasis 34M offers a luxurious lifestyle on the water.

The Benetti Oasis 34M promises to be the yacht of choice for those seeking floating luxury. Designed to blend in with the sea and be enjoyed with others.

The world of yachts never ceases to amaze. We haven't finished pining for one naval jewel when another one appears and steals all of our attention. The upcoming launch of the Benetti shipyard's new superyacht, the Oasis 34M, has luxury yacht enthusiasts excited.

It is, as the name implies, a private oasis on the water designed to immerse you in the splendor of the sea. This yacht was designed with the goal of being in close contact with the water. The boat, with a length of only 34 meters, is a study in details.

The exterior of the yacht was designed by the British firm RWD, and the interiors were designed by the New York-based architects Bonetti & Kozerski. As a result, the vessel is both luxurious and discreet.

It features a glass-walled infinity pool, a sunbathing area, and a 270-degree aft view. There is also a Sun Deck rooftop terrace for the enjoyment of the company. The entire yacht, from its open spaces to its equipment and distribution, has been designed for socializing.

It has a vertical bow with a graceful contour that gently descends into the water. All of the exterior lines combine a modern and sporty aesthetic. The Oasis 34M has three decks and numerous exterior areas, all of which are designed to provide unrestricted visual contact with the water.

There is a master suite, four guest quarters, and three crew quarters on board.

Sliding doors connect the interior to the aft terraces, and large windows provide unrivaled views. The rooms are designed with a recurring spatial fluidity that merges with the ocean waves. Elegance and simplicity are achieved through the use of high-quality materials and a color palette that has been meticulously chosen to the millimeter.

She has several dining rooms, a skylounge, a pantry, a galley, guest accommodations with two VIP and two double cabins, and three crew cabins in addition to a master suite.

The spaces, like all Benetti yachts, can be configured to the owner's liking. It provides the option of converting the skylounge into a cinema or a gym. A solarium and a jet ski compartment are also available. Overall, a seaside delight with a lot of potential.

Image: benettiyachts

Some of Favorite Paradise destinations

There are many beautiful places to visit in the world, whether you enjoy history, nature, or culture, but when we talk about paradisiacal destinations, we must include more nature than anything else.

Sea, sand, green, silences, natural noises, everything that works together to create moments of peace that take us away from the stress of everyday life. So, what do you think of this list of paradisiacal destinations?

Koh Samui

This is a lovely island in the Chumphon archipelago off Thailand's east coast. It has a total area of 228.7 square kilometers and is the second largest Thai island after the well-known Phuket.

Obviously, it is very touristy, but that does not detract from its allure and place among the paradisiacal destinations on our list today. Until the 1970s, there was little development; in fact, there were no roads, and getting from one end of the island to the other, a distance of about 15 kilometers, was difficult and involved walking on land and jungle.

When have things changed with tourism? However, the island has a small production of rubber and coconuts, which has contributed to prosperity, in addition to many changes in the natural environment and local culture.

The central part of the island is covered in jungle and mountains, the highest of which is the Khao Pom (635 meters). Today, the 4169 road circumnavigates the island, covering about 51 kilometers in a circular route. Nathon is the capital and is located on the west coast. Here are the two main piers.

The climate is tropical, with an average maximum temperature of 28 oC throughout the year. Hot and humid, but drier than the rest of Thailand. How do I get there? By plane, there are Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, and Firefly Airlines. There is also ferry service, as well as a bus and cabs to get around the island.

There are resorts of all types, with nearly 18 thousand rooms. The majority of tourists come from Thailand, England, and Germany.

Mozambique

Mozambique is one of Africa's tourist gems. It is located in the continent's southeast, on the Indian Ocean's coast. It has mountains, coastal swamps, rivers, lakes, and beaches. There are 12 ecoregions: wooded savannahs, shady forests, mangroves, salt marshes, coastal savannahs, jungles...

Because of the continent's political instability in general, and Mozambique in particular, it is not a well-known tourist destination. Or that much of its flora and fauna are not well known or appreciated.

The truth is that it has stunning beaches and magnificent sea islands. The civil war discouraged tourism from neighboring countries and sowed doubts and reluctance in the arrival of tourists from the rest of the world. Despite the fact that there have been more visitors since the 1990s, Mozambique remains unexplored. The magnet is ecotourism, and I believe that if you do a Google search for Mozambique's tourist attractions, you will be compelled to visit.

The most well-known tourist destinations are the Bazaruto and Benguerra islands, Cabo Delgado, Gaza province, Inhambane, Bilene, and Xai Xai. There are all-inclusive hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, luxury camps, and rental houses... Well, the pictures speak for themselves.

Zanzibar

This island is known as the "Island of Spices." Tanzania's semi-autonomous region. It is made up of several islands in the Indian Ocean, approximately 25 to 50 kilometers from the mainland coast. Unguja, also known as Zanzibar, and Pemba are the two largest of these islands.

The capital city of Zanzibar is Unguja, and its historical center, Stone Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The past tells us about Portuguese colonization in the 16th century, but later the Arabs would arrive, so this historical center has many traces and a rich history.

There is a Portuguese port, a sultan's palace, gardens, merchants' houses, Turkish baths, and numerous historical plantations where cloves, vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and other spices are still grown.

Zanzibar's coast has some of the best beaches in the world, and you must choose between sand and surf. The waves on the east coast break over coral reefs, and there are sandbanks that form lagoons teeming with colorful fish. To the north, there are white sand beaches and calm waters. Stone Town is on the west coast, and the slave caves on Mangapwani's beaches can be seen at low tide.

You should go to the Chole Island Marine Park, which is right in front of the old town, as well as the Snake Islands, the old prison, and the cemetery. The Menai Bay Conservation Area, on the south coast, is a special area that protects turtles and endangered species. There's also the Jozani Forest, which is home to red monkeys.

The best time to visit Zanzibar is between June and October, or between December and February.

Bali

Who wouldn't include Bali on a list of paradise destinations? It is a beautiful Indonesian island with rice fields, mountains, coral reefs, and beautiful beaches. How do you get to Bali? There is an airport, and once on the island, you can rent a scooter, a car, or travel by bus.

The high season includes July and August, Easter, and the end-of-year holidays, but the best time to visit Bali is in April, May, June, and September, just before the peak. It's still the dry season, so there's less humidity and fewer wrecks. Furthermore, they are good months to practice aquatic sports, and the most popular attractions, such as marine parks, temples, and others, are much less crowded.

If this is your first trip to Bali, you can take the following route: Sanur, Jimbaran, or Nusa Dua. It's simple to get there, and the atmosphere is pleasant. Then, in the north of Bali, you can add Ubud to learn about the local culture and visit some of the most beautiful natural sites. You can also travel to the tropical and more relaxed islands of Lembongan and Ceningan. Finally, a little shopping and sightseeing in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, or Canggu.

This tour can be completed in two weeks, or three if you have more time. It will give you a good taste of this paradisiacal destination, and you will undoubtedly want to return because there are always a thousand things to do.

Maldives

This enchanting island country in the Indian Ocean is a paradise destination. It is made up of approximately 1200 islands, of which only a little more than 200 are inhabited, and its capital is Malé. It has a humid tropical climate and, despite being a Portuguese, Dutch, and British colony, has been independent since the 1960s.

Since the arrival and discovery of the Italians, the Maldives has experienced a significant increase in tourism. Fearing that they would be invaded and their culture and environment would be altered, the government ordered a feasibility study, and based on the results, they designed a very successful management model.

The Maldives' tourist pearls are precisely in its nature, in the color and clarity of its waters, in the aquatic fauna that makes it a premium diving and snorkeling destination, in the quality of its hotel infrastructure, and in that enchanting being far away from the world.

Image: wikipedia

Explore the Louvre with these 10 highlights, tips, and guided tours.

A tour of the Louvre Museum's extensive galleries provides a crash course in Western civilization's finest art. Some of the world's most famous masterpieces, including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, are on display here.

Many of the paintings in the Louvre were owned by various kings who lived there when it was a royal residence; other pieces were acquired through France's treaties with the Vatican and the Republic of Venice. Napoleon I's spoils added to the collection's value.

The Musée du Louvre, the world's largest museum, houses thousands of works of art in 73,000 square meters of exhibition space divided into three sections: the Denon, Richelieu, and Sully wings, in a magnificent building that was once the palace of French kings.

Each wing contains over 70 rooms filled with paintings and art objects, as well as large rooms filled with sculptures. It's impossible to see the entire collection in a single day, let alone a week.

One of the must-do activities in Paris is a visit to the Louvre. Most tourists, however, require guidance in order to truly appreciate the art and its rich cultural heritage. To enhance your experience, this checklist of 15 Louvre "highlights" includes historical context and detailed information about each piece.

1. Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci 

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci (Denon Wing, Room 711) 

Scholars debate what makes the Mona Lisa one of the most famous paintings in the world. A sense of mystery is one possible explanation.

Although the model's identity is unknown, it is assumed that the woman portrayed is Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo (a silk merchant in Florence, Italy). As a result, the painting's Italian title is La Gioconda, which translates to La Joconde in French.

Another reason for the painting's fame is the subject's enigmatic smile, which may represent the ideal of happiness. Her captivating expression and sidelong glance captivate viewers. The Mona Lisa appears to be watching them from anywhere in the room, according to observers.

Many people visit the Louvre just to see this painting, which is arguably the museum's most famous work of art. The small painting in the Salle des États (Room 711) was created by Leonardo da Vinci around 1503 and is often surrounded by a crowd of tourists trying to catch a glimpse of it.

It is a good idea to take a small-group walking tour of the Louvre led by an expert guide to get a better appreciation of this painting. This three-hour tour allows participants to bypass the long lines at the museum entrance and go straight to the must-see works, maximizing their time at the museum.

2. Véronèse's The Marriage at Cana (Denon Wing, Room 711)

The Benedictine Monastery San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice commissioned Paolo Caliari (known as Véronèse) to create Les Noces de Cana in 1563.

This massive canvas measuring six meters high by ten meters wide covers an entire wall of the Louvre gallery from floor to ceiling, making it the largest painting in the Louvre Museum. It was originally intended to decorate the Venetian monastery's refectory.

Les Noces de Cana (The Wedding at Cana) is a masterful composition depicting the biblical scene of the wedding at Cana in Galilee, where Christ performs the miracle of turning water into wine, according to the Apostle John.

The impressive composition of over 100 figures appears harmonious rather than crowded. The bride and groom are seated on the left side of the banquet table, at the far end of the table. Christ is central, surrounded by his disciples. Modern Venetians mingle with biblical figures wearing oriental turbans.

The artist's incredible attention to detail can be seen in the realistic minutiae, such as the draping of the magnificent Venetian costumes. The action-packed scene is full of surprises, including a dwarf holding a parakeet (lower left), small birds, friendly dogs, and a funny cat (lower right) scratching his claws on a water jug.

3. Milo's Venus  (Sully Wing, Room 345)

Ivo Jansch / photo manipulation Vénus de Milo (Sully Wing, Room 345)

The Vénus de Milo is housed in the Galerie des Antiques of the Louvre, in the Salle de la Vénus de Milo (Room 345), a sumptuous 19th-century gallery clad in red marble.

This lovely statue, also known as Aphrodite, embodies the Greek ideal of beauty. The goddess statue, which was created around 100 BC, reflects the stylization of the late Hellenistic period.

Since it was discovered on the Greek island of Milos ("Melos" in ancient Greek) in 1820 and presented to Louis XVIII, the work has captivated the art world.

The balanced composition, sense of space, and way the draperies fall over the goddess's hips are what make this statue a masterpiece. Unfortunately, the missing marble pieces make fully identifying and comprehending the statue difficult.

Art historians have speculated on how her arms might have been positioned and where she might have stood. Some speculate that she was holding an apple, a crown, or a shield. Another theory is that Venus was holding a mirror in one hand, admiring her reflection.

4. Samothrace's Victory (Denon Wing, Room 703)

Victory of Samothrace (Denon Wing, Room 703) | Thomas Ulrich / photo modified

This monumental classical sculpture is a work of Hellenistic art and a sight to behold. The Victory of Samothrace (Winged Victory), displayed in its own space at the top of the Daru grand staircase, has a way of captivating visitors as they turn the corner and look up at the statue.

Nike, the winged goddess of victory, steers a ship through heady gusts of wind, perched in a brave pose on the prow of a ship. The winged goddess of victory was discovered on the island of Samothrace around 190 BC and is thought to be a religious offering made by the people of Rhodes in commemoration of a naval victory.

The Goddess's figure is so lifelike that it's difficult to believe it was created 2000 years before photography and 3D graphic modeling. With the wings held back and the right leg in front of the left, the spiraling composition creates the illusion of vigorous movement.

The Goddess appears to be drenched in water due to the subtly rendered sculptural details. Her clothes have the realistic appearance of a light fabric clinging to her hips and legs, revealing the shape of a naked female body. Simultaneously, a breeze causes the Goddess's draped robe to billow, lending it an uncanny sense of realism.

5. Jacques-Louis David's The Coronation of Emperor Napoleon I (Denon Wing, Room 702)

Explore the Louvre with these 15 highlights, tips, and guided tours.

Jacques-Louis David's The Coronation of Emperor Napoleon I (Denon Wing, Room 702) | Maureen / modified photo

As a record of his coronation ceremony, Napoleon I commissioned Jacques-Louis David to create this magnificent painting. Napoleon declared himself Emperor in May 1804 after a coup d'état following his successful military campaigns in Italy and Egypt.

The coronation ceremony followed the protocol for crowning a king in the French monarchical tradition. To demonstrate his independence from the church, Napoleon was crowned in front of the congregation rather than by the Pope.

Jacques-Louis David attended the coronation ceremony at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on December 2, 1804. From 1805 to 1808, the artist worked on this meticulously detailed and realistic painting of the entire event, which drew 146 people.

Emperor Napoleon I's Coronation is stretched on a large canvas measuring six meters by ten meters; its grand proportions give viewers the impression that they are actually present at the coronation ceremony. Napoleon is said to have said, upon seeing the painting, "One can walk through this painting!" in reference to its grandeur and realism.

David accurately depicts the ceremony, fulfilling Napoleon's request to convey a symbolic and political message while glorifying the event to give it a unique place in history.

The Coronation of Emperor Napoleon I is displayed in the Salles Rouges (Red Rooms), along with other prestigious historical paintings such as Madame Récamier by Jacques-Louis David, Le Radeau de la Méduse (The Raft of the Medusa) by Théodore Géricault, Mademoiselle Rivière by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, La Liberté Guidant le Peuple (Liberty Leading the People), and La Mort de Sardan

6. Liberty as the Leader of the People (Denon Wing, Room 700)

This evocative painting depicts one of the most significant events in French history, the Parisian uprising of July 1830, when France's republicans staged a revolt against the Second Constitution's government.

La Liberté Guidant le Peuple (Liberty Guiding the People) was intended by Delacroix to highlight the values of the 1789 Revolution and the ideal of popular sovereignty. Delacroix's creation of this work was a patriotic act, as he was a staunch supporter of the republican cause.

The allegorical figure of Liberty is depicted as a strong, inspiring, bare-breasted woman (nudity is common in French historical paintings), implying a classical Greek goddess lineage. She is holding a French flag in one hand and an infantry weapon in the other, demonstrating her determination and fighting spirit.

The figure of Liberty triumphs over a dark, smoky background, appearing to be bathed in light, symbolizing her moral enlightenment. Delacroix gives the painting a romantic and deeply emotional interpretation while also retaining a realistic quality.

7. Antonio Canova's Psyche Resurrected by Love's Kiss (Denon Wing, Room 403)

Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived by Love's Kiss (Denon Wing, Room 403) | jay.tong / modified photo

This is the most enthralling of the sculptures in the light-filled Galerie Michel-Ange (Room 403). This sculpture, Psyche Resurrected by the Kiss of Love (also known as L'Amour et Psyché in French), was inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses' mythological story of Cupid and Psyche.

Cupid sees Psyche, who has fallen into a sleeping spell after inhaling a forbidden potion, in this story. Cupid approaches Psyche gently, about to kiss her. Psyche then awakens and embraces Cupid languidly. This is the tender scene depicted in this enthralling masterpiece.

Antonio Canova created an emotional work that is typical of romantic neoclassical sculpture. Simultaneously, the sculpture is so accurate that the figures appear lifelike.

Take note of the fine sculpture of Cupid's wings, the quiver full of arrows, and the amphora's ornamentation. Admire Cupid's grip on Psyche's neck and the curve of her hip as she turns to embrace him, both of which are depicted with a perfect sense of proportion and movement.

The figures' meticulously chiseled features and anatomical details, such as Psyche's navel and graceful toes, add a sense of authenticity, giving the impression that they are made of flesh rather than marble.

Hyacinthe Rigaud, a French royal portraitist, created this iconic painting of the "Sun King" in 1701. The painting was intended as a gift for Philip V of Spain, but the French court liked it so much that it was never sent to the Spanish king.

8. Louis XIV by Hyacinthe Rigaud (Sully Wing, Room 916)

The portrait, which is exquisitely detailed, depicts Louis XIV as the ultimate image of absolute power. The opulent background and the king's magnificent coronation robes represent his majesty. When this portrait was painted, Louis XIV was 63 years old.

The king's robe is lavishly embroidered with fleurs-de-lis (lily flowers), the royal symbol. In the background, a crown sits on a stool next to the king. The purpose of this painting was to remind the viewer of Louis XIV's authority.

9. Jan Vermeer's La Dentellière (Richelieu Wing, Room 837)

The Louvre Museum: 15 Highlights, Tips, and Guided Tours

Jan Vermeer's La Dentellière (Richelieu Wing, Room 837) | tomasz Przechlewski / modified photo

Renoir thought Jan Vermeer's painting of The Lacemaker was one of the most beautiful in the world. Vermeer created the Dentellière in 1669 or 1670.

In 17th century Dutch paintings, the lace motif was frequently used to represent traditional feminine virtues. A small book, most likely a Bible, sits on the front of the painting, adding another layer of moral and religious suggestion to the piece.

Vermeer enjoyed painting everyday scenes and had a talent for depicting familiar objects in appealing ways. The young woman (most likely Vermeer's wife) is shown concentrating on her meticulous lace work.

You might be interested in these articles: 7 Interesting Facts About Liechtenstein - Big 7 Travel

The thread between the woman's fingers, as well as the pins and bobbin, serves as the piece's focal point. Objects in the background become more blurred, mimicking the natural optical field of the human eye.

This painting was praised by Vincent van Gogh for its harmonious color scheme, which can be seen in the vibrant stitched cushion and multi-hued threads.

10 Marly's Horses (Richelieu Wing, Cour Marly)

Explore the Louvre Museum with these 15 highlights, tips, and guided tours.

King Louis XIV commissioned the Chevaux de Marly (Horses of Marly) for the horse pond at the Château de Marly. This massive Carrara marble sculpture, created between 1739 and 1745, depicts two horses being held by grooms.

Guillame Coustou, the sculptor, was most likely inspired by the ancient Roman statues in front of Rome's Quirinal Palace, which depict the demigods Castor and Pollux attempting to tame their horses. The Marly Horses represent the struggle between man and nature, alluding to this classical reference (represented by an untamed horse).

Image: wikipedia

Offices of the future will have soundproof cabins and flexible seating.

Gabriel's Barcelona showroom showcases its new collections, as well as proposals from Framery One and Haworth for more flexible work environments.

The pandemic has hastened the adoption of a new paradigm in the organization and design of workspaces, whether at home, in offices, or in public places. Digitalization and teleworking have provided us with the flexibility to work from anywhere. Different workspaces optimize performance for specific work activities.

The Barcelona showroom of the Danish textile firm Gabriel recently served as a stage to demonstrate some of the possibilities raised by this new scenario. Framery One, the new fully digitalized acoustic booth from the Finnish company Framery Acoustics, was unveiled at a joint event.

In addition to sofas and carpets for lounge areas, the American company Haworth displayed a selection of high-quality ergonomic designs for work chairs, as well as Active Seating solutions that combine style and comfort in spaces for more flexible use. Gabriel, for its part, unveiled the new Athlon and Cyber collections, whose optimized manufacturing processes result in significant environmental benefits.

Framery One offers a highly adaptable workspace free of outside noise and distractions. Carlota Villacian, Area Sales Manager Iberia at Framery Acoustics, stated that "Users will be able to book a booth from their office calendar for the first time. The ability to reserve an acoustic booth changes the way different rooms and resources are used for videoconferencing, allowing for more efficient use of spaces based on their use and purpose."

Haworth introduces Active Seating, a new category of seating that allows employees to work anywhere, always with support, and enjoy the highest level of comfort while doing their job. Active Seating considers how the user may change throughout the day. With two to four hours of use expected, the user does not want to spend too much time adjusting the chair, but the chair is expected to provide adequate support with little or no adjustment.

Finally, Gabriel, which recently celebrated its 170th anniversary, unveiled the new Athlon and Cyber collections, whose optimized manufacturing processes ensure significant environmental benefits: reduced water use, reduced energy consumption, and reduced chemical use.

Cyber's environmentally friendly attributes include 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester and OEKO-TEX® and EU Ecolab Standard 100 certification. Athlon fabric meets US flammability standards CA TB 117-2013, while Athlon Plus meets European flammability standards EN 1021 1&2.

Image: gzt

Purosange, the Ferrari first SUV has been revealed.

What do you think about Ferrari's first SUV, which has just been leaked thanks to these spy photos taken on the production line?

Earlier this month, the Cavallino brand confirmed to us that it would produce its first SUV this year 2022, after being one of the most anticipated models since we first heard about it in 2018.

The new Purosangre has just been discovered without any camouflage on its bodywork, thanks to some leaks made in the same Ferrari factory. Something we haven't seen before, and it allows us to appreciate the new SUV's elegant and sporty features.

Without sacrificing its essence

Without a doubt, the new Ferrari Purosangre bears the distinctive DNA of its brand, which is deeply imbued in its design. With optical groups divided similarly to those of the SF90, a very sharp bumper with a grille with the Prancing Horse inserted in its lower part, and a muscular hood of very worked forms and great length that delays its cabin in the style of the F12 or the 812 Supersfast.

Turning 90 degrees, the Purosangre wears new wheels of a fairly classic but very successful design, some wheel arches painted in black high gloss to emphasize its SUV character and visually elevate it, and a skirt also in black, which, along with its style lines, gives it a very sporty image.

Filtration for Thoroughbreds

Already in the back, the eyes are drawn to its four exhausts and prominent plastic-colored diffuser. Although it has been added to this, its new LED lights in a horizontal arrangement to give a greater sense of width complete the Italian SUV's elegant line.

Its beating heart and the arrival of the first units

Everything points to the Purosangre being powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine paired with a hybrid system similar to that of the 296 GTB or even the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that powers the SF90.

As for the arrival of its first units, as announced by Ferrari earlier this month, the first Ferrari SUV will be available to lucky owners in 2023.

Image: youtube

Dubai has developed itself as a world leader in tourism recovery.

During the year 2021, Dubai received 7.28 million visitors. This represents a 32% increase in visits year on year. It also makes the city one of the most sought-after tourist destinations, with room demand exceeding that of London, Paris, and Oslo combined. For all of these reasons, Dubai has already established itself as a global leader in tourism recovery.

The most recent data from Dubai's Department of Economics and Tourism (DET) confirms these high figures. When we consider that its hotel occupancy rate last year reached 67 percent, we find ourselves in front of a key location, as it has one of the highest figures at the international level.

We shouldn't forget that Dubai has been named the world's most popular destination in Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice 2022. In other words, looking at what is going on in this capital city can help us understand where the sector's future may be heading.

Unstoppable expansion

International visitors to the city exceeded 3.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2021. As a result, they accounted for 74% of total arrivals during the same period in 2019. In other words, the recovery is actually happening.

According to the figures, the path has been paved for Dubai's hotels to have a one-of-a-kind performance that exceeds pre-pandemic levels. This reinforces the emirate's commitment to long-term growth, which will allow it to achieve its goal of becoming the world's most visited enclave.

According to projections, they expect the positive trend to continue not only in 2022, but also in the years following. The increasing number of travelers demonstrates the travel industry's resilience and resurgence in this area. It also reaffirms tourism as a key driver of economic growth.

The opening of Expo 2020 on October 1, 2021, marked the start of a fantastic new era for the city's tourism industry. As a result, it became the first in-person global event of such magnitude since the outbreak began, as well as a magnet for attracting visitors, with 11.6 million people arriving in those four months.

They also opened new tourist attractions, destinations, festivals, and events, such as Ain Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai, Hatta Dome Park, The View at The Palm, Dubai Summer Surprises, and Dubai Fitness Challenge. They offer a diverse range of services, including culture, gastronomy, shopping, family tourism, and beach tourism. The goal is to increase leisure and business travel to the city.

Pandemic security

"Dubai's success in 2021 is a testament to the meticulously planned strategy and measures that were put in place from the start to counter and manage the pandemic," said H.E. Helal Saeed Al Marri, director general of the city's Economy and Tourism department.

"By meticulously adhering to the strictest hygiene and safety standards, supported by the diligence and cooperation of all stakeholders," he assured, "Dubai has been able to reinforce the trust that residents [...] and tourists from around the world place in the city as one of the safest in the world."

As a result, they are confident that this trend will continue through 2022, attracting "not only tourists, but also investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators" who can "enjoy and take advantage" of all that the multifaceted city has to offer.

It is also currently one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, with more than 94 percent of the population immunized. As a result of this, the UAE will be ranked first in the world in Bloomberg's Covid Resilience Ranking in January 2022.

Dubai's hotels are thriving.

In terms of lodging, there is no doubt that hotels performed admirably in the fourth quarter. As a result, they were able to outperform pre-pandemic levels. This included more than 81.4 percent occupancy, up from 80.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019.

As previously stated, average occupancy reached 67 percent, which is a very interesting figure, especially when compared to 54 percent in 2020. Furthermore, guests stayed in hotels for longer periods of time, with an average stay of 4.6 nights, significantly longer than the 2020 average of 4.2 nights.

Furthermore, the supply of establishments increased, rising from 711 in 2020 to 755 in 2021, with a total of 137,950 rooms available. As a result, according to STR, the total number of rooms sold in Dubai in 2021 will account for nearly 1% of all rooms sold globally. Furthermore, its total demand is equal to that of London, Paris, and Oslo combined.

Markets from various backgrounds

Such a high volume of visitors indicates that the city is appealing on multiple levels. Once the impact of international travel restrictions in major world markets was mitigated, it resurfaced as the safe first choice. Tourists came from a wide range of backgrounds to the open markets.

India was the most important source market, accounting for 910,000 visitors (5.3 percent year-on-year). It was followed by 491,000 visitors from Saudi Arabia (+22.8 percent year on year), 44,000 from Russia (+50.3% year on year), and 420,000 from the United Kingdom (+7.1 percent year on year).

Furthermore, the increase in international visitors was fueled by strong tourist arrivals from regional markets. The proximity markets contributed 26% of total volume. Specifically, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Western Europe, for its part, accounted for 22% of total visitors in 2021, with the United Kingdom leading the way, followed by France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. Asia (18%) and Russia, the CIS, and Eastern Europe (18%) accounted for the remainder of the percentage (15 percent ).

A bright future

For the time being, it appears that the city is still reaping the benefits of the effective campaign of measures put in place at the start of the pandemic to contain it, which made the destination one of the first in the world to close, then reopen, and then remain open.

With everything we've seen so far, it appears that it still has a long way to go and a lot to offer. After a promising year in 2021, we must wait and see what happens in 2022. In any case, for the time being, Dubai has emerged as a global model for tourism recovery, from which we can learn a lot.

Image: pixabay

Hublot is collaborating with the Polar Pod expedition, a vessel designed by Jean-Louis Etienne to explore the ocean around Antarctica.

Hublot has signed a new partnership agreement with the Polar Pod expedition as part of its Hublot Xplorations program. This zero-emissions vessel, designed by French explorer and ecologist Jean-Louis Etienne – the first man to reach the North Pole solo – aims to study the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. Hurricane-force winds and rough seas are common in this area.

The Polar Pod is a 100-meter-high vertical vessel (with an 80-meter depth) stabilized by 150 tons of ballast that escapes surface turbulence, especially because the trellis that supports it is barely affected by the waves. Because the ship lacks an engine, it will be propelled by the circumpolar current and powered by six wind turbines.

The Polar Pod is based on the American drifting platform RV FLIP. This ship was built in the 1960s to spy on submarines in the Pacific, whether they were drifting or anchored on the bottom. It is towed horizontally to the study area and then vertically tilted by seawater ballast tanks. Hydrophones detected the propagation of underwater engine noise at a depth of 80 meters, away from surface noise. It has been assigned to scientific research by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California since the Cold War's end.

The float is a 90-meter lattice of steel tubes topped by the habitable part, a 10-meter-high aluminum basket. This gondola has three floors (living quarters, dry lab, computer room, and wet lab) and an upper deck with the navigation bridge. The search sensors are supported by two 15-meter catwalks on both sides of the gondola. They will be outfitted as crane arms, allowing them to transfer equipment and crew to the supply vessel.

In the event of a collision course or if the circumpolar current drifts away, you can deploy the sail area (260 m2 divided into two wings) to increase the Polar Pod's drift speed.

The Polar Pod acts like a weather vane when these two appendages are tilted forward, facing into the wind. The equipped assembly weighs approximately 1,000 tons, but it is the lower ballast of 150 tons that ensures vertical stability. In February 2019, it received approval from the Central Vessel Safety Commission. The Polar Pod's construction will begin in June 2022, with the launch scheduled for the end of 2023. After that, the expedition will last three years, until 2026. The circumnavigation should take two years at an average speed of 1 knot (8 km/h), 12 knots of wind, and 12 knots of current. Every two months, its eight members will run relays.

The Southern Ocean, the world's fourth largest in terms of surface area, absorbs 50 percent of the CO2 absorbed by the planet's oceans as a whole, making it a key player in terms of climate change. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), a veritable conveyor belt connecting the waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, drives this ocean. The ACC is one of the two engines that drive global ocean circulation, making it a critical component in maintaining the Earth's climate balance.

Despite the fact that its waters contain a vast reservoir of marine biodiversity, scientists are severely lacking in measurements and observations of this region of the world. The Polar Pod, outfitted with the most advanced instruments, will be able to collect valuable data on biodiversity, current dynamics, the effects of human pollution, and the exchanges between the atmosphere and the ocean that regulate the climate on a continuous basis.

The entire international scientific community will have access to these data. Researchers from 43 institutions and universities in 12 countries will participate in this research, which will be coordinated by the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in collaboration with the National Center for Space Studies (CNES) and the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer). In addition, through videos and exhibitions, school students will be able to follow the ship's adventures.

The project fits perfectly into the Hublot Xplorations program, which is built on three pillars: Space, with the creation of components for Space X's Exomars Martian robot; Earth, with support for the Sorai association for rhinoceros and other endangered animal species; and Sea, with the Antikythera mechanism and, now, with Jean-Louis Etienne and the Polar Pod mission, in which Hublot intends to be fully involved.

Image: Wikimedia

Roche Bobois new living and dining rooms collections

With its new outdoor collections, Roche Bobois invites us to extend our living and dining rooms into the garden or terrace.

Spring is on its way, and it's time to start preparing our outdoor spaces for enjoyment by planting the species that will bloom soon, as well as selecting the appropriate furniture. Today, we've set our deco sights on the new outdoor furniture from Roche Bobois.

A vibrant collection that combines solid wood, recycled wood, aluminum, and colored glass with designer printed fabrics and Dryfoam foam for sofas.

For use both inside and outside

Temps Calm Outdoor Canape Sieges Photosfournisseurs

Temps Calme, in its terrace and garden version, has nothing on its indoor counterpart. In fact, this collection, available in turquoise, green, or woven shades, is ideal for extending your living room from the inside to the outside of your home. Sofas, chaise longues, corner chairs, and poufs are all made of Dryfoam foam, which allows water to flow quickly and dries quickly.

Aurea

The Aurea collection exudes tranquillity and features earthy tones as the main protagonists. Furthermore, because it is made from solid oak panels recycled from old SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français) mineral water wagons, this is Roche Bobois' most sustainable Outdoor collection.

If Temps Calme allowed us to bring the living room outside, Aurea allows us to create stylish outdoor dining rooms with furniture with a soft and velvety touch, including tables, folding chairs, and benches.

Outdoor Mah Jong

Outdoor collection by Roche Bobois

The iconic Hans Hopfer-designed sofa is dressed in colorful floral fabrics from Jean Paul Gaultier's Around the World collection to brighten up our outdoor areas.

The modular sofa is elevated by openwork metal platforms, which are an outdoor version of the indoor wooden platforms created for the company's recent 50th anniversary.

Chistera and Echoes

The Echoes dining table and bench, which pair perfectly with the Chistera Outdoor chairs, round out Roche Bobois' outdoor furniture novelties for the spring summer 2022 season.

The new Mercedes EQS

The new Mercedes EQS is currently being hailed as the ultimate electric vehicle. The design is debatable, but the data and extremely comfortable driving experience are not.

The other day, I was speaking with a potential Mercedes EQS customer. He'd been offered one of the first six vehicles to arrive in the Kingdom. He'd been driving a Tesla Model S for several years and was about to make the switch. He was underwhelmed by Tesla's new Model S Plaid. Because, as he stated, it resembles the car he already owns. Just faster, but is it necessary to reach 60 mph in two seconds? No, I don't think so.

Then he'd consider the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. However, the actual range concerned him, so he already has another "fun" car in the garage. That left the EQS, and only its visual design provided some resistance. But after some time in the Mercedes website's configurator, he found an understated and classic look, and there wasn't much more doubt in his mind. It was a yes because, as he discovered, nothing else compares.

The point of this story isn't to fill you in on my friend's automotive musings. The point is that there was no other option in this case. The new Mercedes EQS is Strmfjorden's new King Neptune. It elevates the electric car to the pinnacle of the global automotive hierarchy and is simply the best electric car available right now.

My bias stems from a few days of intense test driving in the new EQS through the Swiss Alps. The area isn't exactly known for being a hotspot for electric vehicle testing. When the first plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles were introduced a few years ago, nearly all press test drives were held in the Netherlands. Not because electric cars and Gouda cheese are a perfect match, but because the country is densely populated and thus offers mostly city driving and 60 km/h roads. That bodes well for the range of hybrid and electric vehicles. The Alps, on the other hand, are the polar opposite. A zigzag up a mountain in a 2.5-tonne electric car is every electric powertrain's worst nightmare in terms of consumption.

The purpose of this story is not to fill you in on my acquaintances' automotive concerns. The point is that there was no other option in this case. The new Mercedes EQS is Strmfjorden's new King Neptune. It elevates the electric car to the pinnacle of the global automotive hierarchy and is simply the best electric car available right now.

My bias stems from a few days of intense test driving in the new EQS through the Swiss Alps. The area isn't exactly known for being a hotspot for electric vehicle testing. When the first plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles were introduced a few years ago, nearly all press test drives were held in the Netherlands. Not because electric cars and Gouda cheese are a perfect match, but because the country is densely populated and thus offers mostly city driving and 60 km/h roads. That bodes well for the range of hybrid and electric vehicles. The Alps, on the other hand, are the polar opposite. A zigzag up a mountain in a 2.5-tonne electric car is every electric powertrain's worst nightmare in terms of consumption.

But there's a reason the car looks like a beached whale. It all comes down to aerodynamics and efficiency. The EQS is one of those vehicles in which the engineers in aerodynamic suits have had a greater influence than the stylish designer in a tight suit. The EQS is designed to slice through frost-hard Lurpak like a hot knife. It's the most aerodynamic production model in history, with a drag coefficient of just 0.2, and it's one of the secrets to the car's impressive efficiency.

There is, however, a reason why the car resembles a beached whale. It all comes down to aerodynamics and efficiency. The EQS is one of those vehicles in which the engineers in aerodynamic suits have had a greater influence than the stylish designer in a tight suit. The EQS is designed to slice through frost-hard Lurpak like a hot knife. It's the most aerodynamic production model in history, with a drag coefficient of just 0.2, and it's one of the secrets to the car's impressive efficiency.

The car hums quietly through Zurich's outskirts. Its massive screen, which spans the entire dashboard from front door to front door, works wonders. There's the standard speed, range, and battery level information on the dashboard, as well as a head-up display with navigation info in 'augmented reality,' which means the navigation arrows pop up in your field of vision and follow the path you need to take. Overall, the command bridge appears to be modeled after the Starship Enterprise from the sci-fi series Star Trek, and Mercedes has hit the ground running. There's a larger screen for central, with more submenus than I have the patience to explore, and another screen for entertainment on the passenger side, with the option to control everything from music to in-seat massages.

A motorway replaces Zurich. I've never driven at 80 mph in a quieter vehicle. It hums silently, with only a smidgeon of tyre noise penetrating the cabin. Motorway cruising has never been more relaxing, thanks to the car's self-driving capabilities. With a relaxing seat massage, you're almost tempted to pull out the newspaper and leaf through the pages leisurely. You can't, at least not yet, but you will be able to do so on German autobahns at speeds of less than 60 km/h starting next summer. This is due to the car having all of the sensors and self-driving systems required for level 3 self-driving.

Mercedes takes full responsibility for the car and driving here, and you can watch Netflix or read the Weekend News while driving. In fact, the vehicle contains just under 350 sensors, which range from radars to cameras, sound sensors, and thermometers. All with the common goal of making your life easier as a driver easier, such as predicting challenges or requesting a seat massage and some energizing sound if your driving becomes sloppy. Some will adore it, while others will despise it. But the point is that the car is attempting to play the role of butler, anticipating your needs before you do, which will make driving less stressful overall.

When combined with Mercedes' legendary air suspension (the only place the test car shares components with the regular S-Class), the EQS is the most comfortable model on the market, rivaled only by significantly more expensive Rolls-Royce and Bentley models. In fact, the new EQS is only slightly less comfortable than the regular S-Class in the back seat. The seats are actually quite comfortable, but the seat cushion isn't as long and doesn't provide the same unrivaled airplane seat support as a regular S-Class. Whereas in the S-Class you'd prefer to sit in the right rear seat and be transported, in the EQS you'll find it more comfortable to sit in the driver's seat over long distances.

Nonetheless, the EQS is not a 'driver's car.' Despite having a whopping 523bhp, 855Nm, and reaching 60mph in 4.3 seconds, it's no fun. Even if you put it in sport mode, it won't work. This, like the regular S-Class, is a car designed with comfort in mind, and because it weighs 2.5 tonnes, it never gets elegant on a twisty mountain road. Even if the rear-wheel steering improves the car's cornering ability. It's quick and efficient, but it's not particularly entertaining or engaging.

I repeatedly try to put myself in situations where I can put the German to the test. Following the highway, the test route offers a series of winding alpine roads that would have been hilarious in a Porsche Cayman. But the EQS just eats them up with stoic calm and not even a wag of its tail. The test vehicle has electric motors in both the front and rear, giving it four-wheel drive, and it stands firm. At the limit, it becomes a little nose-heavy, which doesn't help the driving dynamics. But the EQS can be excused because criticizing it for not being entertaining is akin to criticizing a Lotus for not being comfortable. It's off-target and unnecessary in terms of the car's purpose.

In short, the EQS is and will continue to be a sublime luxury car that is also excruciatingly efficient. In mixed driving, it uses slightly more power than the small Mercedes EQA (i.e. 17-19 kWh/100 km), it can regenerate (i.e. collect energy from braking) like no other, and the car is a study in luxury and comfort. Add to that the fact that it can charge up to 300 km in 15 minutes on a rapid charger and has a range of 661 km on a single charge in the tested 523 hp version (as much as 773 km in the smaller 450+ version with 333 hp). The EQS is the ultimate electric car right now, and thus the only one that the car buyer can trade up to from a Tesla Model S.

Image: mercedes-benz

Villa Design, the contemporary seen by SAOTA

SAOTA sees Villa Design as contemporary.

The new SAOTA design villa is an architectural success in Cape Town, nestled between earth and sky, bright blue and dazzling green.

SAOTA's design villa, with its view of Lion's Head Mountain, appropriates contemporary architectural codes. Large windows allow natural light to flood the wood and stone-clad volumes through multiple entrances.

The glass roof, designed in the shape of an inverted pyramid, is undoubtedly the focal point of this contemporary home. It allows you to gaze at the changing sky as the hours pass, the sun at its zenith and the moon blazing, or the mountains dominating.

You must enter this villa through a large metal door located in a small hall connected to an interior garden. You enter this sober and peaceful living space after a few steps. The villa, which is built on three levels, has gardens or outdoor spaces on each floor from which to enjoy the spectacular view. The upper level has the best views and houses the majority of the living spaces, including the open kitchen, dining room, and living room. The work areas and family rooms are on the second floor.

On the lower level, you'll find the garage, gym, cinema, and guest room. OKHA furniture has been used to furnish the spaces. Upper and middle levels feature the Hunt Sofa, Nate, Nicci Nouveau, Vince, and Miles Armchairs. The Planalto dining table is the focal point of the second floor, which is used as a work/personal space. OKHA also provided the living room's To Be One and Lean On Me floor lamps.

The more you look around the house, the more you notice a breathtaking view of Cape Town. A view of a changing city, of a peaceful landscape of breathtaking beauty.

Image: saota

The Maserati Grecale will be launched on March 22nd

On March 22nd, the Maserati Grecale will be unveiled! The trident brand wanted to make our teeth grow long and has released some new images ahead of the SUV's expected debut in March. The new images show the new Maserati Grecale with a new camouflage, but one that is less intense and reveals many more details about the upcoming Maserati SUV. We can see the new grille and light clusters better now.

The new Maserati Grecale camouflage teases some of the features of the new SUV. It implies that the new trident model will include voice-assist technology and a large number of speakers. It is difficult to obtain additional information because the model only allows you to see the details that the brand desires. On the new SUV, messages such as "More than **** mm of legroom" can be seen. Yes, size does matter."

The Maserati Grecale is one of the models affected by the microchip crisis, and its debut has been postponed until next March. Despite the trident brand's hints, the official specifications will not be revealed until March 22. "I am the Maserati Grecale," the message on the sides says. I can't say much more.

The Maserati Grecale, on the other hand, will be positioned below the Maserati Levante in the brand's lineup and will be based on the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Furthermore, Maserati is expected to offer the new SUV with gasoline, hybrid, and even fully electric powertrains. All indications are that the internal combustion models will have four- and six-cylinder engines with mild-hybrid technology.

The Maserati Grecale Trofeo will lead the family and will be sold alongside the GT and Modena versions, according to the automaker. It is worth noting that the trident brand had planned to unveil the new Maserati Grecale on November 16, 2021. Due to the ongoing shortage of semiconductors and chips affecting the automotive industry, that date had to be discarded. Until today, the brand had not revealed the date of the presentation in society.

Image: maserati

The strange Hyundai Tiger  car with wheels and legs.

The Hyundai brand presents the ultimate mobility concept: legs and wheels.

Animals have legs, while cars have wheels. With the exception of a few strange fusions in 1980s toys like The Animal or the Transformers concept, things have remained that way. But what if these ideas were combined to create a real vehicle? That's exactly what the Japanese automaker Hyundai has done: By combining both elements, you can create the ultimate mobility design.

Hyundai Tiger Convertible

The Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled the TIGER (Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot), the company's second Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) and the first unmanned vehicle. This intelligent robot, which resembles a Transformer, is designed to transport various payloads while traversing difficult terrain in remote and inaccessible locations.

Its features include a sophisticated leg and wheel locomotion system, 360-degree directional control, and an array of sensors for remote observation. It is built on a modular platform architecture. TIGER's large cargo compartment allows it to transport goods for delivery, conduct space exploration, and be deployed to deliver aid packages in emergency situations.

The articulation of the leg wheels enables TIGER to deal with a variety of extreme situations while maintaining a more level payload than a typical ground vehicle.

A four-wheeled vehicle with legs.

TIGER drives like an all-wheel-drive vehicle with its legs retracted, using rolling traction. However, when the vehicle becomes stuck or needs to move over difficult or impassable terrain on its own wheels, it employs its walking capability to get unstuck or move more easily over that terrain. This was previously seen in Elevate, Hyundai Motor Group's first moving-leg UMV concept, which debuted at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The distinction between Elevate and TIGER is that the former can transport passengers while the latter is unmanned. Both TIGER and Elevate use robotic and wheeled locomotion technologies to traverse terrain beyond the capabilities of even the most capable off-road vehicle. In fact, Hyundai has demonstrated how the Tiger can be linked to a drone and transported to and dropped in inaccessible locations.

Tiger X-1 

The TIGER X-1 is intended to transport and recover critical payloads in difficult terrain. These capabilities make the concept vehicle ideal for 360-degree surface assessment in disaster-affected areas, navigating difficult terrain, and even exploring the surface of another moon or planet.

It is, without a doubt, a concept brimming with possibilities, one that reimagines the future of ground vehicles. Will the TIGER concept be the one to reimagine transportation and mobility in the future?

Image: worldenergytrade

Sunreef Yachts 43M Eco, the ultimate sailing catamaran.

The Sunreef 43M Eco is the true expression of sustainable yachting, with unlimited autonomy and an unparalleled level of comfort, which we will have to follow more and more to think differently about the world of yachting and make it an ecological and environmentally friendly one in the long run.

This 42.7m autonomous multihull with a beam of 15.40m is completely customizable and provides the best emission-free cruising experience. The luxury catamaran provides an incomparable sailing experience thanks to cutting-edge green technology and high-performance sails developed by the Sunreef shipyard. This electric superyacht generates green energy for unlimited, emission-free sailing thanks to solar cells that are perfectly integrated into the body, mast, and boom. The 43M Eco continues to generate clean energy while sailing, thanks to its advanced hydroelectric generation system.

The Sunreef 43M Eco is designed for sailing pleasure, with a spacious Ocean Lounge aft of the vessel and a walk-in beach club combining the aft platform, skirts, and two fold-down balconies into one large relaxation area.

The space is completely adaptable and can house a massage room with ocean views, a bar for serving drinks in between water activities, or a fitness area. The invisible aft garage of the yacht conceals two large personal watercraft, electric water toys, and an inflatable catamaran.

The spacious flybridge of the Sunreef 43M Eco allows for outdoor lounging with panoramic views of the water. The relaxation area, which is dedicated to long sunbathing sessions, late-night cocktails, and long dinners, allows for delightful oversized sunbathing, as well as a beverage bar and an outdoor movie theater.

The bright interiors of the catamaran are customized to each owner's vision, with custom-made furniture and bespoke décor made from a refined selection of ethically sourced woods, natural fabrics, and sustainable materials. Day and night, intelligent power and water management systems monitor and optimize energy consumption on board.

Image: sailworldcruising

The Sultan of Brunei and the largest luxury car collection in the world

Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th Sultan of Brunei, is not only the country's head of state, prime minister, finance minister, and defense minister, but also the supreme guardian of the Islamic state religion and, by coincidence, one of the world's wealthiest men. His family's exclusive lifestyle is legendary, with private jets, yachts, and an unrivaled fleet of cars.

Even die-hard car collectors like Jay Leno and Chris Evans would have to admit defeat in the face of such a massive car collection. While the exact number of vehicles in this impressive collection is unknown, experts estimate it to be between 3000 and 6000 luxury, concept, and vintage vehicles.

This is most likely the world's largest collection of sports and luxury automobiles! The exact number of vehicles is unknown, but it is estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 cars! Among them are 500 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, 367 Ferrari vehicles, 350 Bentley vehicles, 190 BMW vehicles, 160 Porsche vehicles, 130 Rolls-Royce vehicles, and 20 Lamborghini vehicles.

According to Forbes, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has a net worth of approximately $20 billion and is one of the world's wealthiest royals. His car collection was once valued at around $5 billion.

The Sultan's passion for automobiles is so well known that some luxury car manufacturers, such as Mercedes, have created one-of-a-kind vehicles for his collection, implying that there are vehicles in this collection that can be found nowhere else on the planet.

Among the many, many cars in the collection are:

more than 600 Rolls-Royces

more than 570 Mercedes-Benz

more than 450 Ferraris

more than 380 Bentleys

more than 200 BMWs

more than 170 Jaguars

more than 130 Koenigsegg sports cars

The collection includes official state cars and limousines, as well as rare super sports cars and limited editions. The Rolls-Royce Silver Spur Touring Limousine, finished entirely in gold, was the official wedding vehicle of the Sultan of Brunei's daughter, Princess Haja Haizah Sururul Blokiah, last year. The Sultan's cars are said to be worth 4.5 billion euros and are housed in a massive garage system the size of several soccer fields.

Image: xtraspace

The Aston Martin DBX707, a 707-horsepower English super SUV, reclaims the title.

With its new DBX 707, Aston Martin has made quite a statement of intent: 'the world's most powerful luxury SUV.' But it also claims to have the qualities to back up that title, with a number of performance upgrades and eye-catching changes to its new flagship variant of its sports SUV. Let us introduce you to the Aston Martin DBX707.

It also helps that the'most powerful SUV' title was created at this time, because just as Aston launches the 707, Jeep's Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and Dodge's Durango SRT Hellcat, both more powerful than the 707, are no longer on sale in their respective home markets.

Let's put an end to the coincidences. The DBX707 continues to use an AMG-derived 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, this time producing 707 hp and 900 Nm, 27 hp more than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, which is now in second place and does not have any electric assist like the German PHEV. The DBX707 can reach a top speed of 310 km/h in 3.3 seconds and accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds.

All of that power is sent to all four wheels via a new nine-speed "wet clutch" transmission that holds torque better than a torque converter transmission, modified air suspension, and a hardened electronic differential for the rear axle, which allows 100 percent of the power to be sent to the rear wheels for drifting. Aston claims that the carbon ceramic brakes eliminate 40.5 kg of unsprung mass.

Aside from that, it's difficult to tell the difference between a regular DBX and the new 707. As an option, new 23-inch wheels are available, the grille is slightly larger than before, and the DBX707 is completely customizable.

Inside, the Aston Martin DBX707 has a handy new dial on the center console for revised driving modes, as well as new sport seats. "You don't have to try too hard when you're the alpha SUV," says Aston design chief Marek Reichmann.

The DBX 707 is now on the market, with the first deliveries scheduled for the summer of 2022. Do you want one? Prices begin at £189,000 (€227,000) before any options are added. A standard DBX costs around 210,000 euros.

Image wikipedia

A spectacular mansion in the Hamptons has been sold for $25 million.

This $25 million mansion was built on the site of a famous racetrack in the Hamptons and is a true architectural feat.

A mansion of more than 480m2 with all the comforts and luxuries one would expect from a residence sold for nearly 22 million euros can be found in the Hamptons region, located in the north-east of Long Island in the state of New York.

This manor house, which is set to be completed in 2023, has five bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and a shower room. The Bridgehampton racetrack, which once occupied 1.5 acres, was dubbed the "toughest course in America" by British Formula 1 driver Stirling Moss. It was finally decommissioned in 1970, and much of the land has since been developed into luxury golf courses and exceptional properties.

You will be able to access the various floors of the mansion via an elevator that will be elegantly integrated into the interior of the residence. The property will also have a heated pool and an adjoining pool, a terrace, a garage, and privileged access to the adjacent golf club, which the future owner will be able to join for $1.5 million plus $40,000 per year.

Keanu Reeves, the star of 'The Matrix,' and his love for Porsche

We are accustomed to big celebrities, whether they are actors, singers, or athletes, amassing a sizable collection of automobiles of various types. Examples include Cristiano Ronaldo and Max Verstappen, to name a few. However, in this case, we have a man who is sentimentally attached to a single model: Keanu Reeves, the protagonist of 'The Matrix,' and his devotion to Porsche.

There is no doubt that the Beirut-born actor could have not only the car he desired, but a plethora of them. Money is not an issue in his case. But his heart belongs to Porsche, or more specifically, the 911.

Reeves drives a black Porsche Carrera 4S (test) with a sunroof and a manual transmission, both of which are important to him. He places the same emphasis on what he refers to as ""driving aesthetics": "Not only do I enjoy cornering and turning with it, but it's also a very fast and efficient car." I've had a very special relationship with 911 over the years ".. And it's because of that close relationship that it's his only car.

As a result, the protagonist of 'The Matrix' is monogamous. A rather uncommon quality in a world where owning a single car is as uncommon as working with the same manager for an entire career.

Keanu was born in Beirut in 1964 and grew up on three continents, living in Sydney, New York, and Toronto. He used to collect toy cars as a child, his favorites being a black John Player I with gold trim, a gray Porsche 911 Turbo, and a red Ferrari 512 BB. In terms of real cars, he recalls a Citroen from the 1970s and his grandmother's Mercedes-Benz 450 SL. But it's his grandmother's sentimental companion driving the 911 Targa that takes the cake.

When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said he wanted to be a nuclear physicist. Second, he aspired to be a racing driver after being swayed by motor racing broadcasts. He was mesmerized by the cars' shapes and how they roared. Furthermore, his sister was having an affair with a driver at the time, and Reeves had the opportunity to accompany them on several occasions on their fast-paced trips through the south of France. Finally, the third occupation on the list was that of an actor.

He bought his first car when he was 17 years old. He used to call it the "chubby one" because the seats were so loose that he had to hold them in place with bricks. It was a Volvo 122 in the same green color as the British racing cars. Nonetheless, the car made it from Toronto to Los Angeles in 1985. Then he developed an interest in motorcycles. He was swayed by the sound, speed, and pleasure of riding them. He still owns his favorite, a '73 Norton Commando he purchased in 1987.

Those were the years when Keanu Reeves' acting career took off: from independent films to teen comedies and, from there, to the famous 'My Own Private Idaho,' with River Phoenix. Then came 'Point Break' and 'Speed,' two box-office smashes that propelled him to international stardom. In 'Speed,' Reeves plays a bomb-disposal cop who becomes trapped in a passenger bus driven by Sandra Bullock that contains a bomb programmed to explode if the speed is reduced to less than 80 km/h (50 mph).

Reeves' other great passion, aside from cars and, in particular, his 911, is motorcycles. So much so that, at the time, whenever he went somewhere to shoot a film, he would buy one and then sell it at the end of the shoot. Several traffic accidents over the years taught him the physical limits of two-wheeled vehicles and his own, though they did not keep him out of the path of the engine.

However, after 'Point Break' and 'Speed,' he was ready to switch to a four-wheeler. And, because he had prior experience with Porsche, he decided that the 911 was the ideal vehicle for him. He went with a black 911 Carrera 4S (993) with a sunroof and manual transmission. The sound of its exhaust and the unparalleled driving pleasure captivated Reeves: "I would take every opportunity to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and the roads of the Grand Canyon," he says.

This was followed by training at the Porsche Driving Experience and other advanced driver courses, as well as victory in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach's Race of the Famous in 2009. Unfortunately, his brand-new Porsche 911 was stolen shortly after during a film shoot.

The'sled,' as Reeves dubbed his ill-fated 911 due to its elegance and speed, was one of the last air-cooled 'nineonces.' "That's most likely why it was stolen," he speculates. Reeves wanted to buy a new 911 after mourning it for a while, but this one had to be special, aesthetically similar to the old one and with a few extras.

So he went to the Porsche Advisory Center in Beverly Hills to learn how to customize the 911 to his own tastes. Interior trim in black anodized aluminum? Following consultation with Germany, the following decision was reached: Is there a centering mark on the steering wheel? A new consultation with the Germans yielded a yes once more.

Simultaneously, Reeves was attempting to have a Harley-Davidson built to his exact specifications. So, while searching for a custom seat, he came across Gard Hollinger, a Los Angeles-area motorcycle customizing specialist who, to Reeves' surprise, refused to tune a Harley, claiming it wasn't his style. Nonetheless, the two hit it off and came up with the idea of working together to build a new motorcycle.

True to form, Reeves took inspiration from the 911 and decided that the bike should be a modern interpretation of a technological legacy, a vehicle suitable for both everyday use and devouring miles at full throttle.

As a result, the two founded the Arch Motorcycle Company, and their initial concept became the KRGT-1, a motorcycle Hollinger built while Reeves was filming a new action film, 'John Wick,' on his new 911.

Suspension, road holding, ergonomics... all were designed in accordance with Reeves' specifications. The creation is deserving of its own label, such as 'Performance Cruiser' or 'Sport Cruiser.' However, while the KRGT-1 is an exceptional motorcycle, the idea is that it should not be the exception. So much so that Hollinger is willing to build up to 100 units per year based on demand.

The actor is pleased with the outcome. The KRGT-1, like the Porsche cars, had to be "as easy to drive as possible." Its designers also wanted to give it the same timeless character as the German company's sports cars: "Like the sports cars from Zuffenhausen, the KRGT-1 has incomparable beauty and extraordinary performance," says Reeves. In the world of motorsport, there is no doubt about who is the ultimate benchmark.

image: porsche.com

A sport car, a sedan and an SUV; this is what the three new Lexus electric vehicles will look like

We didn't know Lexus and Toyota's intentions for full electrification until a few weeks ago. We were able to see some 16 electric cars at the presentation of that plan, including the Lexus RZ 450e, which is based on the same platform as the Toyota bz4X. Moreover, at the same event, Lexus showed us what could be the successor to the all-electric Lexus LFA. We only saw the model in a front view at the time, but the brand has now published more images on the manufacturer's official Facebook account in Japan.

Along with the new images, the car has been conceptually dubbed Lexus Electrified Sport, which means "a model that symbolizes Lexus' future, focused on a challenging proposition." This is not the only concept that is about to be revealed. The Lexus Electrified Sedan concept, which the company claims is "the most sophisticated ride in history," was also unveiled.

Everything we know about Lexus' three new all-electric models.

This sedan could be the all-electric successor to the Lexus IS, which received a major update just a few months ago. The concept has the same lines as the Lexus IS but is much bolder, futuristic, and even coupe-like in appearance. These features could make it the best competitor to the Tesla Model 3.

The Lexus Electrified SUV will join the Lexus Electrified Sport and Lexus Electrified Sedan as new models. This body is much larger than the Lexus RZ, so it would be placed higher in the range. It will have up to three rows of seats and could be the ideal replacement for the current Lexus RX, which was released in 2015.

Isn't this more than enough? In addition to the possible electric successor to the Lexus LFA, Toyota's brand has revealed a cabrio model and a hatchback. For the time being, not much more information about these two new models has been provided, but it is possible that the manufacturer will provide much more information about them in the coming weeks. The year 2022 is off to a strong start, with three out of every ten new cars being fully electric. What does the future of electric vehicles hold? Which Lexus model are you interested in driving?

Image: funtasticko

Get to know the restaurants of renowned artists

Discover the most amazing artists' restaurants! 

Famous artists invest in art and, also, often invest in the world of hospitality. They want to make their restaurants centers of reference for culinary taste and where to establish their own signature. This, without forgetting that they want to undertake in a sector that offers many possibilities, both in Spain and internationally. 

7 artists' restaurants you have to visit 

If you want to get to know the 7 restaurants of renowned artists, discover them with VSM! Mark in your agenda the day when you can visit them.

The New York actor, famous for appearing in great movie classics, has been involved in numerous businesses. One of them is, precisely, the first Nobu in which he participates in its foundation. 

With a fusion style in the Japanese-Peruvian line, it seeks a new trend in cuisine that is original and daring. It can be found in New York and is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding artists' restaurants. 

Beso, by Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria also has one of the most famous artists' restaurants. This place was opened in 2008 and the famous actress ventured into the world of gastronomy together with chef Todd English on Hollywood Boulevard. 

The particularity of its cuisine is that it works with Latin dishes of exotic character. Chicken, guacamole and quesadillas are a must.

Soul Kitchen, by Bon Jovi

A different restaurant because of the way in which the payment of the consumed dishes is proposed. The singer decides that the diner pays the amount he considers. 

It becomes a daring and different cuisine; that is, a new way of eating that can be found in New Jersey.  As you can see, it is one of the most interesting artists' restaurants, don't you think? 

Ca'n Punta, by Sonja Kirchberger

Austrian actress and dancer Sonja Kirchberger has her own harbor restaurant in El Molinar (Palma de Mallorca), a small place but with an exquisite menu of fresh and varied dishes.

La Barra de Doña Inés, owned by Antonio Banderas

Antonio Banderas has another of the most interesting artists' restaurants. And the fact is that the presence of restaurants opened by Banderas in Malaga is known worldwide.

However, we want to make special mention to this new restaurant, where you can enjoy an offer of tapas that offers a more informal trend.

Gaira Café, by Carlos Vives

Gaira Café is another one of the artists' restaurants we want to mention. It is one of the most famous restaurants in Bogota, has been in business for more than 10 years and is led by singer Carlos Vives. Besides enjoying a rich gastronomy, there is also live music and theatrical plays.

Sandra Bullock's Bess Bistro

In Austin (Texas) is the restaurant of the American actress Sandra Bullock. It opts for a healthy style of food and the use of biodegradable products.

Image: dailymail

The FORM Camper for Tesla - The glamping vehicle of the future.

The Tesla Cybertruck is not yet on the market. However, a company has already developed an option associated with this electric pick-up to anticipate the future of glamping.

One of the most popular options is the FORM Camper, a motorhome that fits perfectly in the back of the Cybertruck.

If you want to get the most out of your hot new camper, keep reading and we'll tell you how.

What is Tesla's motivation for going glamping?

The FORM Camper is a fold-up motorhome that can be stored safely. When you open it, you'll find a 6.5 square meter surface area with the following elements to make your life easier:

Bed that folds

Sofa

Toilet on wheels

Shower stall

Kitchenette

And plenty of cabinets to store all your belongings.

It also has 40-watt solar panels installed on the roof, which provide enough power to run all of your appliances and even charge the Cybertruck.

It has the appearance of a large tent with several awnings. It can also be used independently because it can be decoupled from the Cybertruck. If you prefer to make it a part of your Tesla vehicle, it will visually lengthen it.

This motorhome, however, is not only compatible with the Cybertruck, but also with other similar models. Its success has been so overwhelming that orders have already been placed, despite the fact that the first production will only have 500 units at a cost of 69500 €, which is equivalent to 60000 € at the current exchange rate.

FORM, based in California, is very proud of this modern, light, and spacious solar-powered motorhome, which is compatible with the majority of vans on the market.

glamping

One of its primary advantages is its ease of disassembly. Furthermore, it is so adaptable and stable in design that it can be used alone, with a bathroom, kitchen, living room, and outdoor space.

It was made possible several years ago by a team of engineers and designers. The main goal of this motorhome is to provide a one-of-a-kind space so that camping becomes a pleasurable experience. So that everything is in order, users will have a full bed with a viscoelastic mattress and storage space just below.

Image: formcamper

According to Jeff Bezos, if you don't dare to do it, you'll regret it.

If you don't dare to do it, you'll regret it, according to Jeff Bezos.

Amazon's founder, one of the world's richest men, stated that it is preferable to see a venture fail than to stop doing it out of fear.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, the online retail giant, recently responded to an interesting interview conducted by Mathias Dopfner and published by Business Insider (CEO of Axel Springer).

They were able to discuss their main perspectives for carrying out projects in it. Bezos, as one of the world's most powerful men, certainly provided answers worth noting.

Although many people believe it is commonplace, it has been proven time and again in numerous studies, interviews, and testimonies that older people who reach old age regret much more what they did not do than what they dared to do.

Surely, in the face of age and death, there are those who recognize that there is only one life and that certain failures would not have been so difficult to forgive, and that, on the contrary, never having fulfilled a dream or having had a desired experience can lead to a greater sense of frustration.

Bezos claims that they didn't believe in him at first. Before he started working full-time at Amazon, his Wall Street boss told him it was a good idea, "but an even better idea for someone who doesn't have a good job."

According to Bezos in his interview:

"You will almost never be sorry for doing something that did not work out. It'll almost always be about what you do. They are deeds of omission."

Bezos, who was named one of the World's Most Influential Men in 2017, began his career on Wall Street in 1994. He worked for a financial firm and wanted to take a significant risk in his life by investing in Amazon.

It was a far more modest vision than what we see today. It was just Bezos selling books on the Internet and sending them to customers via mail. He has stated in other testimonials that his mind lit up when he thought:

"Hey! If people buy books through the mail, it's possible that they'll buy other things as well."

As a result, he began to expand his business. Today, Amazon is one of the world's largest corporations, processing millions of orders per second around the world.

Bezos recalls that they, too, did not believe in him at first. Before he invested heavily in Amazon, his Wall Street boss advised him that it was a good idea, "but an even better idea for someone who doesn't have a good job."

Image: blueorigin

Powerful Women  of 2021 according to Forbes

For quite some time, Forbes magazine has published a list of the 100 most influential and powerful women in the world. Among them are world leaders, directors, singers, and other powerful women who have become role models for many others.

It may appear difficult to create such a ranking, but the magazine knew how to do it very well based on several important criteria: money, impact, influence, and media allusions. Who are the women on Forbe's Women Power list? We'll tell you all about it!

MacKenzie Scott should be at the top of the Women Power list, according to the American magazine. She is one of the world's wealthiest women and the wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. When she and Bezos divorced after 25 years of marriage, she took 25% of Bezos' Amazon stock.

Following her divorce, she resolved to donate half of the wealth she had amassed over the course of her life. Without going any further, she helped many non-profit organizations with 5800 million dollars two years ago, and she has decided to donate another 2740 million in 2021.

Kamala Harris, the vice president of the United States, is ranked second on the Women Power list. She is a fiery woman who made history as the first black person to hold this position.

Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, comes in third place. She will also be remembered as the first woman to hold this position.

Ana Botin, the president of Banco Santander, is a powerful Spanish woman. She is also a current member of Coca-board Cola's of directors, holding the seventh position.

Rosalind Brewer, an American businesswoman who currently serves as CEO of Walgreens after previously serving as CEO of Starbucks, is one of the women who has risen the most positions this year. Rosalind has dropped 15 places to 17th place.

Ozlem Türeci is a well-known immunologist and BioNTech co-founder. She is currently ranked number 48 on the Women Power list and is one of the list's newest additions. She is one of the most well-known people, having collaborated with Pfizer to develop the Covid mRNA vaccine.

Oprah Winfrey, the show's host, is back on the list of the most influential people, this time at number 23.

Queen Elizabeth II is one of the women who has suffered the most. And if she was previously ranked 46th, she is now ranked 70th.

Image: Forbes

The Nestron Cube Two,  a smart mini-home for four people.

The promise of large-scale living in 25 m2 owing to Nestron Cube Two's optimized technology.

A prefabricated apartment has become the smart home's preferred option. The revolutionary small house is proposed by Nestron, a Singapore-based construction business, with a smart design that maximizes space and delivers all the comforts of home luxury.

Starting with the bedroom, the monochrome interiors haunt the entire internal (and also external) structure of the Cube Two, moving on to the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bar counter. LED lighting changes color and reacts to the outside light in these smart homes. Automated shades, integrated audio, and a smart lock security system are all included.

Nestron Cube Two has nothing on a traditional flat in terms of installation. Plumbing, sewerage, lighting, and electrical systems are all included. However, living in one of these smart homes comes with a slew of other features, including solar-paneled roofs, an economical and ecologically friendly kind of underfloor heating, a smart, compostable toilet, and air conditioning.

The interiors of the Cube Two have multiple skylights that offer a sense of vastness, as well as a completely open layout. The furniture has been integrated into the same infrastructure, resulting in a compact studio apartment with functionality.

Built-in storage rooms are also included in these smart houses, however their small size limits their appeal to individuals who prefer a minimalist aesthetic. Nestron also stresses their dedication to green construction. It does so by claiming that the Cube Two was built using approximately 90% recycled materials as a consequence of efficient manufacturing and sourcing.

The capsules start at $60,000 and can be delivered anywhere in the world in about a month and a half.

Image: itspossible

Family escape in the heart of Languedoc at Château Les Carasses and Château St-Pierre de Serjac.

Bonfils wineries, located in the Languedoc region, are known for their art of living. The entire experience can be enjoyed throughout the year and by all members of the family.

Even before arriving at the châteaux, memories are made along the bucolic roads of the countryside and the Canal du Midi.

The scent of mint and grass in the summer already carries a lovely promise. It is an entirely different planet that is unveiled in the winter. The orange-hued vines have a poetic quality to them; nature adapts and is reborn. Château les Carasses and Château St-Pierre de Serjac have worked hard to recreate the region's unique atmospheres.

With its 19th-century mansion, the establishment provides an unrivaled view. The snowy peaks of the Pyrenees can be seen from its expansive gardens, infinity pool, and panoramic roof. An similarly remarkable show takes place in the midst of the property in the early morning. The courtyard's glass ceiling, created by Gustave Eiffel, is pierced by the first rays of the southern sun.

Private villas for 8 people offer terraces, swimming pools, and barbecues all around, in addition to the Château suites that guests enjoy. The facilities with top-of-the-line equipment allow a stay in perfect privacy all year long, whether with friends or family.

With its traditional southern architecture and modern décor, it's also a great place to take advantage of the concierge's or hotel's various amenities, such as a private chef, massages, a petanque court, a meditation room, and a Mediterranean restaurant.

Local and seasonal cuisine is served at the latter, which is run by the promising Edmond Bavois. The chef's inventiveness is combined with a decidedly modern aesthetic. The chef juggles meals and seasons with unnerving ease, from his summer octopus carpaccio to his Tartar of Jerusalem artichoke with hazelnut and butternut cream with notes of arabica.

The location ideally blends art of living, unrestricted luxury, authenticity, and a sense of place. The castle of Saint-Pierre de Serjac, not far away, echoes this philosophy.

The destination is discovered through the majestic entrance of the establishment, which has a similar structure but is larger (36 private houses and 8 suites).

Its luxury is welcoming, as it is flanked by cypress trees and 96 hectares of vineyards as far as the eye can see. The ambiance is serene. The estate gives the region's wine tourism and family holidays a new lease on life thanks to its attractiveness and quiet.

The activities offered by the Kids Club are kid-friendly and complemented by a caring staff. Every member of the family will enjoy bike rides, spa treatments, wine tastings, and gastronomic adventures. Unpretentious elegance in a pleasant setting that guarantees exceptional vacations.

Image: tripadvisor

A modern apartment in Paris where you can feel at home

The Noa studio has caught the grandeur of the French city in this modern apartment with a color palette inspired by Parisian roofs. Its proprietors only desired one thing: to feel at ease.

The flat is in a classic Parisian building, and its language has been updated to reflect the twenty-first century.

This apartment, located in the heart of Paris, between buildings with blue-gray galvanized roofs and the banks of the Seine River, has been revitalized by the studio Noa* to welcome an Italian and young family who wishes to renew the feeling of being at home in their pied-à-terre.

The architects characterize the project as "an interesting task, dealing with senses, images, and memory." The apartment is located on the second floor and attic of Hôtel Nicolai, a historic building that honors the property's history. The goal of the project was to create a quiet, calm, and friendly setting in which residents would feel immediately at ease.

The residence conveys the story of its owners, adhering to the design philosophy that has always defined the Italian architectural firm's approach. The end effect depicts the nomadic nature of the people that live there.

The design team tried to convey the clients' experiences in a space journey through ongoing conversations with them. The interior of the house is compared to that of the Nautilus, a creature that has survived unchanged for millions of years thanks to its helical shell design, which allows it to feel at ease all of the time.

With this allegory as a starting point, and based on the fact of overcoming all obstacles, a design was created in which the curved line is included into the apartment's stylistic character, indicating domestic comfort. The project is replete with Parisian allusions, giving it a polished and timeless feel.

A service and guest entrance are located on the first floor. The color and materials chosen help to produce the spatial distribution. The living space is finished in a French herringbone pattern of bleached oak parquet, while the circulation corridor is finished in terrazzo.

A freestanding bathtub carved from a single block of marble, the same material used for the sinks and shower trays, is one of the master bedroom's main attractions.

A winding staircase serves as a link between the home's two stories, guiding residents to the higher level while also creating a visual extension of the terrazzo floor.

The Italian architectural team aimed to portray the refinement of the neighborhood, the Parisian 4th arrondissement, through the materials and color palette. The blue-gray marble, the materials for the cushions and upholstery, and the tones of the floors, ceilings, and walls were all inspired by Parisian roofs.

The Noa studio aimed to portray the elegance of the Marais district, where the home is located, by selecting decorations and designing oak furniture. "The outcome is a project with a serene, calm, and welcome atmosphere: an apartment with curved lines and the aroma of wood, where you immediately feel at home," the project's architects say.

Image: archilovers

Lamborghini Huracán EVO by Saturno, a unique artcar made in Spain

Lamborghini and Saturno Barcelona joins forces to produce the Ephemeral Tengu, a one-of-a-kind artcar based on the Lamborghini Huracán.

It's not the first time a car company and a renowned artist have teamed up to produce a moving work of art. However, it is uncommon in our nation, and even more so on a Lamborghini. Until now, that is.

Saturno, an international artist, met paths with Pau Coll, the director of Lamborghini Barcelona, a few months ago. Pau has a special sensitivity for art, while Saturno has been a fan of the Italian brand's sports cars since he was a child.

Not unexpectedly, the two quickly developed a strong bond, which led to an idea that was both ludicrous and exhilarating at the outset: transforming a Lamborghini from the Barcelona dealership into a one-of-a-kind work of art. What's to stop you? As a result, the proposal was quickly put into action by one or both of them. The end effect can be seen in the following images: The Ephemeral Tengu is an ephemeral creature.

The Huracán Evo Spyder was chosen to become a rolling work of art. It is a relatively unique base, a challenge for Saturn, with its distinctive lines in combination with the canvas roof. However, great ventures frequently emerge from adversity.

A work having its own distinctive style

Saturno's style is as distinctive as Lamborghini's designs: instantly recognizable and true to the brand's soul. They can show you any Italian brand prototype without the logo and you will always be able to recognize it.

Saturno's works are in the same boat. His surreal approach, which features mythological figures or fictitious animals painted in incredible depth and detail, distinguishes his work.

With "mischievous" magical entities, the Tengus, set against a beautiful landscape, the work on the Hurricane is no exception. In contrast to the power symbolized by the lava, the sky signifies the purity of the spirit. The Huracán's bodywork is a unique explosion of emotions and color as a result of the integration of all these features.

We at CAR had the honor of seeing the creation of this work live in Saturno's Malgrat de Mar studio, and I can assure you that it is captivating.

Saturno, self-absorbed and with an airbrush in hand, lets his ideas flow without thinking, making the difficult appear simple. Without any prior sketches or stencils, he paints straight on the Huracán's bodywork, layer by layer.

Saturno worked for no more than two weeks to complete this magnificent project. Two weeks of intense painting from sunrise to sunset in the peace and quiet of his studio, with the gratification of seeing his work on the car of his dreams.

The piece's aesthetic power, along with the Huracán's lines, 640hp, and the incredible sound of its atmospheric V10, results in a high-performance work of art, dubbed Ephemeral Tengu.

Saturno is a world-renowned self-taught artist with a passion for Lamborghini.

Saturno is one of those artists who is self-made, with no masters to help him on his journey to success. He has an irrepressible trajectory that has brought him to triumph halfway around the world.

His outstanding character works are currently on display in many locations across the world. From New York art galleries to Marvel movies to Geneva, where a one-of-a-kind David Candaux watch with a Saturn dial was recently auctioned as part of Only Watch and sold for up to 150,000 Swiss francs. The artist has also worked on projects such as Chris Brown's album cover and Marvel collaborations.

Being able to turn a Lamborghini model into a work of art has been a dream come true for him because of his affection for the brand.

Ferruccio Lamborghini's narrative and the Lamborghini brand are well-known. This entrepreneurial Italian, the son of farmers and a tractor builder, constructed his first sports car following a quarrel with Enzo Ferrari.

According to legend, Ferruccio acquired a Ferrari 250GT and complained to Enzo Ferrari about its technical faults, who dismissed him and sent him back to producing tractors.

Don Ferruccio's rage transformed into a resolve and tenacity to construct his own sports automobile to compete with the cavallino. And the rest, as they say, is history: Lamborghini quickly surpassed its modest target, becoming one of the top sports car manufacturers in the world, with a history written in capital letters.

Aside from technology, the Gandini lines' design has made all of its models distinctive, instantly identifiable, and unmistakable throughout history.

Saturno, like Ferruccio, is the son of a farmer. And, while his natural route would have led him to work in the fields, fate has guided him down a much more fascinating road.

Saturno had always been skilled at painting, and despite not having much encouragement to pursue it professionally, he made a personal commitment to achieve with his unique style of art.

Saturno has managed to shine internationally with his unique artwork, just as no one would expect a tractor manufacturer to wind up manufacturing some of the best sports cars in the world.

Saturno's style has allowed him to identify each model that comes out of Sant'Agatha Bolognese in the same way that Gandini's lines have.

Saturno's path met that of Lamborghini, perhaps because of these parallels and other quirks of fate, allowing him the opportunity to create this Ephemeral Tengu, a 100 percent emotional, original, and unrepeatable work of high performance art.

Image from youtube Lamborghini Barcelona Official 

The new Audi R8 V10 performance

This new version is more powerful and athletic. It's currently on the market for 179,000 euros.

The new Audi R8 V10 performance RWD, which comes in Coupe and Spyder versions, boosts the naturally aspirated 10-cylinder engine's power by 30 horsepower. With its 570 horsepower mid-engine and new amenities like bucket seats, dynamic steering, CFRP stabilizers, and ceramic brake discs, this rear-wheel-drive sports car is a viable alternative to the R8 V10 performance quattro.

This mid-engine sports automobile accelerates from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.7 seconds (Spyder: 3.8 seconds) and tops out at 329 kilometers per hour (Spyder: 327 kilometers per hour). According to Audi, a mechanical limited-slip differential distributes torque optimally according to driving conditions, ensuring optimal traction even when the asphalt is wet.

The bodywork, like that of all R8s, is built of aluminum. The sport suspension RWD, on the other hand, features a rear-wheel-drive-specific double wishbone system as well as a passive differential lock.

The weight distribution is 40:60 between the axles. In quick cornering, ultra-light 19- and 20-inch aluminum wheels ensure perfect handling and trajectory maintenance. As an alternative, Cup wheels with 245/30 R20 front and 305/30 R20 rear tires are available, giving more grip and dynamism. An 18-inch high-performance braking system with wave-design steel discs provides deceleration; a 19-inch system with ceramic brake discs is optional.

For the European market, the Audi R8 V10 performance RWD starts at 179,000 euros for the Coupe and 193,800 euros for the Spyder.

Image: wikipedia

Sama: The super yacht from Aman

The new yacht offerings from Aman and Cruise Saudi look intriguing, with 50 spacious luxury cabins, numerous restaurants, two helicopter landing pads, a beach club, and a spa with a Japanese garden. The visitors will be afforded solitude, calm, kindness, and unrivaled service on a 183-meter stretch of land.

Sama is the name of the one-of-a-kind project. In Sanskrit, the word sama implies peace. And that is exactly what the luxury yacht's guests will find on board. With the Sama project, Aman and Cruise Saudi Arabia hope to set a new benchmark for water travel. SINOT Yacht Architecture & Design, one of the world's leading yacht design organizations, collaborated on the vessel's design. The luxury yacht's eastern flair and design philosophy are seamlessly blended into the architectural idea. The stated goal was to blend the brand's interpretation of a superyacht experience with a vessel that was both timeless and modern. The boat is scheduled to debut in 2025. Fans of ship travel will, regrettably, have to wait till then.

The launch of Project Sama is a watershed moment in Aman's growth and evolution, as we continue to diversify not only our land-based portfolio, but also our sea-based portfolio, establishing sanctuaries in less-traveled destinations and reshaping the concept of luxury hospitality. Project Sama will provide transforming experiences in the respected Aman environment, with service unlike any previous yachting experience, resulting in the creation of a completely new category for water-based exploration.

Image: cityam

Sou Fujimoto's House of Music in Hungary opens to the public

In Hungary, Sou Fujimoto's House of Music opens to the public.

In Budapest's City Park, Sou Fujimoto's House of Hungarian Music, a modern cultural landmark dedicated to music, has formally opened its doors to the public. The project is embedded amid the park's trees and is conceived as an extension of its natural surroundings through uninterrupted glass volumes and a perforated roof structure, making it one of the most anticipated structures of the year. The museum provides a one-of-a-kind artistic experience that incorporates landscape, architecture, and exhibition design, all of which are dedicated to the creation of music and sound.

The architects used 94 customized, thermally insulated, undivided glass panels to form a completely translucent façade, merging the exterior with the interior, to reinforce the concept of "synergy and balance with nature" and to bring the experience of music to life through the interaction of light, sound, and nature. The roof structure of the building is perforated with 100 crater-shaped holes, which were inspired by the varied shapes of sound waves. The roof's depths alternate, allowing the trees to blend in with the architecture while filtering light into the building's lower levels. The light penetration provides a distinct ambience, as though guests were walking through the inner space under the trees.

The 9,000-square-meter project includes performance halls, exhibition rooms, and an outdoor stage that take guests on a trip through European music history and highlight Hungarian pop music history from 1957 to 1993. Two performance halls are located on the first floor, while classrooms, a library, and office spaces are located on the second story and are connected by a spiral staircase. Exhibition areas highlighting the history of European music, with a special focus on the Hungarian tradition, may be found on the underground levels.

The hemispherical sound dome, inspired by 20th century composer Karlheinz Stockhausen, who produced the first 3D listening experience in the shape of a spherical concert hall at the 1970 World Exposition in Osaka, Japan, is one of the museum's most significant elements. The structure provides a totally immersive 360-degree surround system experience for up to 60 people. Sound is projected from more than 31 speakers in all directions, generating sound walls that resemble holograms.

The project was awarded BREEAM certification because it is fitted with specific heating and cooling systems, rainwater collection systems, and a variety of indigenous and water-efficient plant species, all of which contribute to the building's sustainability credentials.

The museum is part of the Liget Budapest project, Europe's largest cultural development, which aspires to transform 21st-century museum spaces into Europe's premier cultural tourism destination.

Image: archdaily

Harry Winston Premier Chinese New Year Automatic 36mm: Celebrate the year of the tiger with an exceptional timepiece

Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with this excellent timepiece from Harry Winston Premier Chinese New Year Automatic 36mm.

Since 2016, the Holorgère House of Harry Winston has unveiled an outstanding watch at the start of each year in honor of the Chinese zodiac.

The House of Harry Winston introduces a new Premier timepiece with two baby tigers on the dial and gold rosettes inspired by the entrance to the legendary Harry Winston Fifth Avenue Lounge, in honor of the Chinese zodiac and the Year of the Tiger.

In China, the Year of the Tiger will begin on February 1, 2022, and many businesses plan to commemorate the occasion by providing merchandise featuring the animal connected with the new year. The tiger, a symbol of both terror and admiration, will be sublimated in a clock of unparalleled beauty.

People born under the sign of the Tiger, which is considered the king of animals in the Middle Kingdom, are fiercely independent, with powerful and passionate dispositions, according to folklore. Tiger cubs learn about the world around them and refine their hunting abilities by playing with their siblings before leaving their mother's care.

To commemorate this narrative, the designers of the Harry Winston timepiece firm developed a dial depicting the early stages of life of two baby tigers that appear to be exploring the world around them, not without awe, but most importantly, without questioning.

Each small fawn was crafted with 18-carat pink gold to mimic its coat. The stripes were created by excavating gold in specific locations and then putting red pearl mother-of-pearl on the surface. Their dazzling cut diamond eyes shine brightly on their whiskers and noses. The floral theme derives from the magnificent wrought iron doors of the historic Harry Winston Salon at 718 Fifth Avenue in New York, and it's the first time a rosette has been applied to a Harry Winston watch.

The sapphire transparent back displays a Swiss-made mechanical movement with a skeletonized pink gold rotor, which is water-resistant to 30 meters. The movement includes a flat silicon balance spring for unrivaled precision, as well as a comfortable 68-hour power reserve and polished finishing.

The watch is presented in a customized red case with golden images reminiscent of the watch's dial in a limited edition of only 8 pieces.

Image: udn

Carlota Casiraghi, an elegant horsewoman in Chanel fashion film

Chanel fashion film - Carlota Casiraghi plays a beautiful horsewoman.

Chanel gives us a sneak peek at the fashion video starring Carlota Casiraghi, which will be shown at the Grand Palais Éphemere in Paris on Tuesday during its Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2022 fashion show. A latest example of the strong bond that exists between the French maison and Caroline of Monaco's daughter, who has served as the firm's ambassador since January 2021.

When Carlota Casiraghi was named ambassador for Chanel, she stated, "It's almost as if she was born wearing Chanel." She and her mother, Princess Caroline, have starred in a number of classic looks created by the firm of double C. Carlota continues to contribute to Chanel's historic tradition with the Grimaldi family in the era of Virginie Viard, the house's creative director.

The truth is that Carlota Casiraghi and Chanel have a relationship that extends beyond fashion. The queen and philosopher has collaborated with the brand to launch her own book club, through which she has held exciting gatherings on topics such as art and feminism. Another of her main hobbies is horseback riding, which is the subject of the brand's new fashion film.

Carlota is back on horseback, dressed as a horsewoman and wearing an entire Chanel ensemble consisting of a tweed jacket, black leggings, and riding boots. She has admitted on several occasions that riding, a sport to which she devoted herself for years, was her escape as a youngster.

Some images that preview what we will see tomorrow on the catwalk, in whose staging the French sculptor Xavier Veilhan collaborated to create the atmosphere of the parade, which will feature various references to the equestrian world and will result in a "visual universe at the crossroads of fantasy and reality, as the magic of Chanel Haute Couture," according to the company.

Carrie Bradshaw pulls out her $80,000 gown from the closet.

The return of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) on television has given untold joy to fashion fans. In And Just Like That, the long-awaited relaunch of Sex and the City, the famed New York columnist returns to demonstrate her reputation as a style icon through updated outfits and others in which she recovers some of her iconic garments. Carrie has left us dumbfounded in chapter 8 with an outfit that will be remembered by every ardent fan of the HBO series.

In And Just Like That, the new Carrie Bradshaw shows us a variety of stylistic tips. Leaving the 1930s behind and entering the 1950s, the Sex and the City star has adopted a more practical style while maintaining a sense of theatricality. Carrie's major trump card for winning with her looks has always been her ability to play with fashion.

That is just what the new part of the series has been about, with fashion playing an important role as usual. Not in a frivolous or purely aesthetic way, but in order to appeal to her emotional side. Carrie saves one of her greatest dresses from the Sex and the City era in this episode.

It's a stunning Atelier Versace gown with a tulle skirt (an element previously connected with the character and Sarah Jessica Parker) that costs over 80,000 dollars. Carrie originally wore the outfit in season six of Sex and the City, when she and her lover, the artist Aleksandr Petrovsky, were living in Paris. The truth is that the staging did not do the story justice; Petrovsky fails to show up for their date, and she falls asleep in her Versace on a hotel bed.

"Do you want to witness something truly incredible? It is a source of pride for me "What are your thoughts on this? Carrie now tells her real estate agent and friend, Seema Patel, to show her the now-iconic design.

"It's the first and only time I've worn it. Once you've arrived in Paris. And once here, for a good time. I ate an entire bag of popcorn while sitting in the window "She adds this while staring nostalgically at the dress that, as she has already stated, will one day come into the hands of Lily, Charlotte's daughter, who is already establishing herself as a true insider at such a young age. She has, without a doubt, the best professors.

Image Vogue

COPENHAGEN CARTIER SHOW

Cartier, the French jeweller, is displaying a one-of-a-kind collection of high-end jewelry in its main store on stergade in Copenhagen until February 7th. It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see art and craftsmanship at their finest.

It is quite rare that a collection of jewelry as special as the one on show at the Cartier store in Copenhagen is brought to the city. It signifies not only that Cartier considers Copenhagen to be a strategically important location for the French brand, but also that affluents in Denmark, particularly in the Copenhagen area, are a growing target group of affluents who enjoy the unusual. And willing to pay the price.

Whether or not you have the financial means to purchase one-of-a-kind jewelry, visiting the Cartier store and admiring the breathtaking masterpieces and exquisite craftsmanship is a memorable experience. It's almost a shame not to make a visit because the sheer enormity of the jewelry can take your breath away, and there are also individual beads and stones that burst the boundaries of what has gone before.

The exhibition focuses on the jewelry's superb craftsmanship as well as Cartier's approach to gemstone use. Pieces from the Cactus de Cartier and Les Galaxies de Cartier collections are among the jewels on display.

Cartier is displaying the one-of-a-kind jewelry until February 7th, and if you're tempted, some of it is actually for sale.

Image: 2luxury2

The Four Seasons transforms the skies into a luxurious atmosphere.

While cruises are getting more popular, the Four Seasons Group is transforming the sky into a luxury exhibition.

Four Seasons owner of a gorgeous private plane, is rescheduling its extraordinary "World of Adventures" trip. The "cruises," which began in 2015 on a Boeing 757, allow you to go to extraordinary countries that we all desire to see at least once in our lives while experiencing the renowned Four Seasons outstanding service. Bookings for the 2019 itineraries have been made in record time, and waiting lists have been established for each of the itineraries.

The three overseas World of Adventures trips for 2020, including the best-selling tour to Rwanda and the Galapagos Islands, start at €176,000 per person based on two passengers and are scheduled for 24 days.

Once purchased, the trip will go from Seattle to Kyoto from June 3 to June 26, 2020, with stops in iconic locations such as Bali, the Seychelles, Rwanda, Marrakech, Bogota, the Galapagos Islands, and Miami. Passengers will be able to experience a one-of-a-kind and iconic global tour in only 24 days, thanks to typical and enchanting scenery, tiny customized attentions, and local discoveries.

The private jet will also fly around the world on two additional extraordinary journeys. From February 15 to March 9, the International Intrigue will transport passengers around four continents to learn about local cultures and traditions. You will discover the charm of unique and magical places from Seattle to Paris, via Kyoto, Hoi An, the Maldives, the Serengeti, Marrakech, Budapest, and St. Petersburg.

From March 12 to April 4, Timeless Encounters will create settings that evoke feelings of escape and romance. The allure of Kona, Bora Bora, Sydney, Bali, Chiang Mai, the Taj Mahal, Dubai, Prague, and London will entice you to visit them.

Photographer photographing a Silverback Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) in Rwanda's Parc National des Volcans.

If wisdom says, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey," Four Seasons demonstrates that both the destination and the journey are equally significant, especially when traveling with a group that strives for greatness.

image: fourseasons

Philips: With the largest auction in its history, the House sets a new milestone.

On November 17, a spectacular auction took place in New York, with total sales exceeding $140 million.

A one-of-a-kind sale for a one-of-a-kind occasion. Last November 17 in New York, this could have been the slogan of the evening, which was lit ablaze to the beat of the auctioneers' items. Raymond Pettibon, Shara Hughes, and Ewa Juszkiewicz all established new personal bests.

Raymond Pettibon's 2011 piece "No Title (Let him Come...)," which was believed to be worth between $1.5 and $2 million, sold for $3,418,000, breaking the previous record of $2,682,000. Ewa Juszkiewicz's "Girl in Blue," which was valued at $80,000 to $120,000, sold for $730,800, breaking the previous high of $600,137. Finally, Shara Hughes' 2018 painting "Inside Outside," which was anticipated to sell for $250,000 to $350,000, broke the previous record of $1,196,175 set that year.

The centerpiece of the sale, Francis Bacon's 'Pope with Owls' from 19588, which was expected to earn $35-45 million, sold for $33 million, little less than predicted.

"The success of tonight's auction, which established a new high for any auction in Phillips' history, validated our approach of continuing to offer a variety of categories that complement each other. The strong bidding for Georgia O'Keeffe and Kwesi Botchway, whose works were shockingly nearly a century apart, demonstrated this extension of taste. The auction was the first from our new offices at 432 Park Avenue, and it showcased the market's extraordinary strength and excitement. We are ecstatic to have invited collectors to the auction hall in person and to have achieved such fantastic results." Vice presidents and global co-heads of 20th Century & Contemporary Art, Jean-Paul Engelen and Robert Manley

During this historic evening for Philips, a total of $139,165,950 (roughly 123 million euros) worth of artwork were sold, reassuring once again that the art market is in fine form.

Image: phillip.com

Rolex Clock Of Magtens

A Rolex Day-Date is one of the few timepieces that screams statesmanship. This watch has been worn by a number of important men, both good and bad, who have helped to enhance its status significantly.

It is the year 1956. Elvis Presley releases Heartbreak Hotel, Japan enters the United Nations, Gregory Peck stars in 'Moby Dick,' and Rolex introduces the first timepiece that displays not only the date but also the day of the week. And it's available in 26 languages, including English.

After the advent of the first waterproof watch in 1926 and the DateJust in 1945, Rolex had already established itself as a global watch brand. The latter was the first automatic watch to feature a date display at the '3' position.

These watches were just the beginning of a long line of 'World's Firsts,' which were bolstered by Rolex's numerous sports watches introduced throughout the 1950s, including the Submariner and Explorer in 1953, the GMT-Master in 1955, and the Milgauss in 1956. "We will be the first, we will be the only, and we will be the best watch on the market," Hans Wilsdorf, Rolex's founder, proclaimed.

With the Day-Date, Rolex didn't pander to everyone. In fact, the watch was disclosed at a higher level by the maker. 'It costs a thousand dollars to buy the Rolex Day-Date, the watch you see on the arm of every president in the world,' according to one advertisement. It's worth noting that the term 'president' in English can also refer to a company's CEO.

To put it another way, you'd have to be a head of state not only to be able to afford a Rolex Day-Date, but also to wear one. Perhaps it was precisely this type of communication that contributed to the Day-uniqueness. Date's This is a watch for the select few.

"It wasn't Mr-Who-Can-Wear-A-Day-Date," says the narrator.

The unique manner a Rolex Day-Date displayed both the day and the date wasn't the only reason a Rolex Day-Date so pricey. It was even more so because the watch was exclusively available in precious metal. Nonetheless, the model was a hit from the start, and it only grew in popularity when US President Lyndon B. Johnson wore the watch during his presidency from 1963 to 1969, and even gave a Day-Date to a few White House staffers.

President Lyndon B. Johnson was a powerful figure at the time, and it's possible that it was because of his passion for watches that the Rolex Day-Date became the watch that represented success better than any other, gaining the moniker "President."

Of course, the fact that the world's most powerful man was wearing a Rolex watch didn't go unnoticed by the company. During Lyndon Johnson's presidency, an advertisement depicted a hand lifting the dial of a red telephone to the headline: 'The President's Watch.' Another 1967 ad included a photograph of the UN flag march with the text: 'If you were to speak here tomorrow, you would wear a Rolex.'

Rolex understood how to sell the Day-Date as a timepiece to world leaders.

There was no mistaking who the intended audience was. Mr. Whoever was not allowed to wear a Day-Date. While the advertisers worked hard to convince the world's heads of state to wear the Rolex watch, car salesmen and mafia figures oozed success as well. Tony Soprano (played by James Gandolfini) from HBO's outstanding TV series 'The Sopranos' sported a Day-Date as well.

A Day-Date has also been the watch on the arm of many young Chinese businesspeople for several decades, who utilize the model as an extended business card. These young, ambitious businessmen are alleged to have purchased a Rolex Day-Date before they have even left home, let alone completed their business degree.

But who today buys a Day-Date? Kristina Rosing, the third generation of the Rosing family who owns the Rolex shop Ragnar Ure & Juveler in Odense, says: "Women's Day-Date is 40mm, and men's Day-Date is 36mm. And the other way around. The Day-Date is a model that appeals to both sexes these days, as it comes in two sizes. The watch's target market has shifted to a younger demographic. Solid gold watches were once only purchased by older men and ladies. Our clientele are now in their early thirties. This is likely due to the Day-status Date's as the apex of the Rolex collection, as well as the fact that young people are familiar with the watch's history and understand how valuable a Day-Date is."

"The Rolex Day-Date is still a timepiece that costs (a lot of) cash."

Kristina Rosing, as a retailer, has seen a lot of Rolex watches. She has been wearing a Daytona in Everose for several years. But when she gets forty, she'll have a new tattoo on her arm: "I'm looking for a 36 mm yellow gold Day-Date with a diamond bezel. It's one of the most opulent items available. The Day-Date has a lot of Rolex DNA in it, and it's always been in the cards for me to own this watch at some point in my life "Kristina Rosing, 39, is under a lot of pressure.

The Rolex Day-Date is exclusively available in precious metal, just like the original. However, since 1956, the line has grown to include platinum, white, yellow, and Everose gold models in addition to yellow gold. As a result, the Rolex Day-Date nicknamed President keeps its status as a watch for the exclusive few - no longer limited to heads of state. The Rolex Day-Date is still a timepiece that necessitates (a lot of) cash. Wearing the watch without letting it wear you needs a certain grace. In a 2016 advertisement, Rolex stated, "A Rolex will never make the world a better place. That's something we'll leave up to the folks who wear it."

The Dalai Lama is one of these people, and he possesses not one, but two Day-Dates, much to the astonishment of most. However, rather than the traditional 'President' chain, the Tibetan religious leader prefers to wear them on a strap.

Image: rolex

Classic Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Watch

Few watches survive the test of time because they are regarded as flawless and historically significant symbols. The JAEGER-LECOULTRES MODEL REVERSO, which hasn't altered since 1931, is one such watch. We were in Paris for the 90th anniversary of the city.

It seems a little arrogant to call a watch a 'icon.' There are, however, some watches that earn this coveted status, not least the reversible, which has been one of the most innovative and revered timepieces still in production due to steady demand since its inception in 1931.

César de Trey, a Swiss industrialist, was inspired to create the Reverso after witnessing a polo match between British soldiers in India in 1930. Due to the difficult nature of the game, Trey witnessed polo players complaining of broken watches. Splintered glass from collisions with swinging wooden clubs or loose balls was an element of the polo game, but it was also inconvenient for the energetic riders.

César de Trey, a dental equipment manufacturer, designed the reversible construction that covered the front of the watch during polo matches, sharing his ideas with René-Alfred Chauvot, an industrial designer. Chauvot didn't simply invent a novel design when he patented his watch on March 4, 1931, which could be "driven sideways and then turned on itself" to protect the watch glass. He created an emblem that is still remembered, not least in Paris, where Jaeger-LeCoultre honored the Reverso's 90th anniversary.

The Reverso (which means "I turn" in Latin) was registered by Chauvot in the same Paris, which explains why, despite its Swiss beginnings, this model is so popular with Frenchmen of both sexes. In any case, to commemorate the extraordinary milestone, Jaeger-LeCoultre has chosen to outfit a complete mansion in the heart of Paris. On four floors, you may learn about the Reverso's history, starting with the first two models, which were manufactured in 1931: one for males, and the other, somewhat smaller, was twisted 45 degrees and fastened to a leather cord so that it could be tied over a bag's handle. The latter was most likely designed with women in mind.

The Reverso has been a favorite of both sexes since its inception and continues to be so now. When I met Catherine Rénier, the watch company's female CEO, during the opening ceremony, I inquired about the distribution of Reverso sales.

"Our Reverso sales have always been evenly split between men and women. When Rénier became the first female CEO of the Richemont group (which owns Jaeger-LeCoultre and many other luxury watch firms) in 2018, she said, "Our exhibition presents precisely a selection of Reverso models for both him and her throughout the past nine decades."

Many of the timepieces on display are from Reverso's current collection. Some versions include a caseback that serves as a blank canvas with no engraving. This can be used to personalize a greeting card or to make a miniature of a favorite painting.

"We have over 180 distinct crafts," Catherine proudly asserted, emphasizing that the various crafts contribute to Jaeger-uniqueness LeCoultre's as a watchmaker.

For many years, the Swiss watchmaker has perfected its beautiful artistry, which is crafted with the finest brushes and guided by the most expert hands.

"Our Atelier d'Antoine in the Vallée de Joux, named after founder Antoine LeCoultre, performs excellent craftsmanship, recognized as métiers d'art." Catherine told us that "craftsmanship is a fundamental strength of our stance."

Reverso is available not just in one-of-a-kind, hand-decorated variants, but also in a variety of mechanical configurations. This is especially true of the Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque, which includes 11 mechanical functions, including a tourbillon, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, draconic month indicator (a draconic month lasts 27 days and 5 hours), and much more that you won't find in a conventional Reverso. Limited to ten pieces, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque costs just over €11 million. The watch sold out in short time, demonstrating how popular the reversible birthday child is.

Limited to ten pieces, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque costs slightly over €11 million."

Thankfully, the Reverso is also available for wrists that wish to simply appreciate the Reverso's delightfully simplistic design - albeit with a splash of color. This is exemplified by the new Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green with manual winding. With a size of 45.6 by 27.4 centimetres, this watch appeals to all genders, but is more likely to be worn on a man's wrist.

Casa Fagliano, an Argentinian company that has been tailoring polo boots since 1892 and providing straps for various Reverso models since 2018, created the green strap. As a result, this leather strap is not only delectable and handcrafted, but it also pays homage to the design of polo boots.

On the various floors of Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, there's a good mix of current and vintage Reverso models, each with its own horological narrative to tell. All versions have art deco style, upper case craftsmanship, interesting features, and a long list of celebrity owners who have helped to establish Reverso's status as an icon that has remained youthful during its 90-year existence.

Image: forbes

The most luxurious candles of the season

In recent years, the candle has evolved from a decorative item to a beautiful interior asset. What are the candles that make the season when it comes to revealing the ambiance of a home?

L'emprunte signée Courrèges is the most enveloping.

Nicolas Di Felice offers five scents for his house that are as subtle as they are enveloping. Courrèges' ephemeral atmospheres range from orange blossom to patchouli and can be purchased in stores or online at www.courreges.com.

Louis Vuitton's Écorce Rousse is the most itinerant.

This candle, with notes of leather and wood, is a contemporary tribute to Asnières' artisans. The richness of vanilla, split by the bright note of cedar, will create an ultra-modern olfactory trail throughout your home. Available in Louis Vuitton locations and online at www.louisvuitton.com.

The most rocking: Saint Laurent's 37 rue de Bellechasse.

Saint Laurent Paris provides us a candle with woody notes through the Oud in particular, inspired by one of the house's most iconic locales. The basic black receptacle matches the house's DNA as well as the content. The candle is available at Saint Laurent Rive droite or on the Internet www.ysl.com as a gift or for yourself.

Ambre Nuit by Christian Dior is the most traditional.

This candle was produced from a creative game launched by the house's Perfumer-Creator, François Demachy, and has delicate oriental undertones. Indeed, we highlight two aspects of the house's identity here. Whether it's amber's silky and sensuous side or the powerful rose accents that remind you of the house. The candle is available in stores and online at www.dior.com.

The most Parisian: Diptyque's Paris

Diptyque introduces us to the booksellers of the Seine quays, evoking the ambiance where art meets history, as if we were on a Parisian promenade on the Left Bank. Paris is available in stores and online at www.diptyqueparis.com, and it combines vintage books, waxed wood, and the essence of myrrh.

The most personal: From Dusk to Dawn, my mother is my Superhero.

Give your loved ones the gift of inspiration by giving them a Dusk Til' Dawn candle. New Parisian brand, light, fashionable, and made with a vegetable wax with strong scents in an environmentally friendly manner. Their candles can be found on the website www.dusktildawn.fr.

Image: vogue

Benguela Cove, you will love this design villa

You will adore this design property in Benguela Cove.

Cape Town is one of South Africa's fastest developing towns for premium design villa construction. Let's return to one of them, the Benguela Cove, which was constructed in a famous location.

The villa's architecture is set in one of the most beautiful environments in the world, the Botrivier Lagoon, namely the Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate. The SAOTA agency and ARRCC imagined a design and discreet residence there, where structures are scarce and Nature has every opportunity to express itself. They played on transparency and light to let nature express itself.

This residence is in sync with nature thanks to its cubic shape and single level. The residence is clad in wood siding in certain parts and gray concrete in others, inspired by the barns and sheds seen in the area.

The owner had indicated a desire for a relaxing getaway for his family. The agency created three wings that are stacked one on top of the other to follow the sloping terrain and lead to the lake. The interior design of ARRCC reflects the architecture's minimalist philosophy. Quiet is the order of the day, and the furnishings help to encourage you to unwind.

The mansion, which is built longitudinally, has a 360-degree view of the lagoon. The architects created the premises using local furniture by OKHA to immerse the residents in an ambience that suits the breathtaking landscape. This company was chosen by ARRCC because of the high quality of their handcrafted and luxury furnishings.

The apartments are hidden behind the two wings, which overlook a scene of green mountains and an azure blue lagoon.

SAOTA and ARRCC have taken on the challenge of creating a design villa that is intimate and open to a more than extraordinary natural environment, in a style that is different from their regular construction.

A trip to Versailles' Trianon Palace is a must.

The Waldorf Astoria Versailles - Trianon Palace is a soothing, gourmet, and, most all, Digital Detox experience located 20 minutes from Paris, within a stone's throw from one of France's most iconic castles...

We all need a holiday in an exotic place that allows us to be pampered and isolated in this world where demands are numerous and perpetual. The Waldorf Astoria Versailles - Trianon Palace is your Eldorado if this is the case! The Trianon Palace offers a Digital Detox experience in its green and secluded location, just minutes from the Château of Versailles.

What is the mechanism behind it?

The crew offers to drop off your electronic gadgets in exchange for a Polaroid to immortalize your experiences throughout your stay when you receive your room key. A sophisticated picnic awaits you when you've gotten your bearings in the nicely arranged space. Frédérique Larquemin, Executive Chef, and Eddie Benghanem, Pastry Chef, have created a range of delicacies to be eaten on the hotel grounds!

A basket for two is filled with Niçoise salad, heirloom tomato and burrata salad, black angus and parmesan beef carpaccio, various sandwiches, fruit salad, and other treats that you may enjoy in the shade. The meal is delicious, greedy, and even abundant, and it is topped off with a bicycle ride provided by the hotel. This is the best opportunity to explore the surrounding area, the Versailles gardens, and the city, as well as to take time for two.

While the Guerlain Spa's facilities, including as the swimming pool, exercise room, sauna, and hammam, are available, the hotel also provides a 60-minute yoga or meditation class to continue your moment of well-being before dining at La Véranda!

The foods on offer are exceptional and provide a sensory experience, a fantastic culinary experience to end a day under the sign of reunion.

The Trianon Palace will recommend that you begin your day with a complete breakfast served at the table in La Veranda after a night in the most ideal of beds.

The Waldorf Astoria Versailles - Trianon Palace has all you need to feel secure in this unique environment. The Digital Detox experience, which starts at €810 for one night and two people, is a true retreat!

The advantages of this experience include:

- A one-of-a-kind, soothing, and environmentally friendly location

- An encounter imbued with goodness, health, and well-being,

- A hearty, delectable, and delectable breakfast

- A team that is attentive, dedicated, and compassionate.

Wetag Consulting - the top real estate agency in Switzerland.

Wetag Consulting, named the finest real estate agency in Switzerland by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards, caters to the needs of high-net-worth individuals in the Ticino region.

With its magnificent natural beauty and excellent Mediterranean climate, the Swiss canton of Ticino has become a popular resort for those who enjoy greenery and open spaces. Many real estate projects have been developed since then, delivering increasingly more opulent and exclusive apartments.

Since the boom, several companies have sprung up to assist you in finding the home of your dreams. One organization, however, stands out from the rest due to the high quality of its services and competence in the industry. Wetag Consulting has proudly represented the interests of the region's finest homeowners since 1973. Wetag Consulting has grown from a simple real estate agency to a full-fledged real estate brokerage service, assisting homeowners in finding purchasers and clients from all over the world.

Philipp Peter and Ueli Schnorf own the company, which works in over 70 countries to identify the right homeowner based on their preferences, hobbies, and objectives. Ticino, a territory steeped with the essence of the Italian way of life, is surrounded by lush flora, the Swiss Alps, stunning lakes, and several villages where local culinary specialties, unique architecture, and many other stories can be discovered.

The Luxury Lifestyle Awards have named Wetag Consulting as the best real estate broker in Switzerland. Wetag Consulting is a member of the European Real Estate Network, an exclusive subsidiary of Christie's International Real Estate, a member of the Luxury Portfolio, and a member of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World.

Throwback Thursday: Celebs and Their Lady Dior Bags

Christian Dior is a brilliant figure in the world of handbags.

In October 1946, the designer founded his first fashion house with one purpose in mind: to help ladies recapture the pleasure and beauty of wearing well.

For many, including celebrities, the Dior brand has been that from its beginning.

The Lady Dior, including some of the brand's most iconic bags of all time, has become a preference of celebrities since its introduction... 

China is building a full sized replica of the Titanic at a cost of $150 million and everything from the grand staircase to the steam engines will be duplicated to the last detail.

71Luxurylaunchesby Neha Tandon Sharma / 1d

China’s obsession with ‘dupli-culture’ is not restricted to designer dupes; Photostat architecture, shopping streets, and castles. Their long-standing…

Continue Reading China is building a full sized replica of the Titanic at a cost of $150 million and everything from the grand staircase to the steam engines will be duplicated to the last detail.

Section: Travel

Tags: China, Titanic

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Clip source: How to Live A Luxurious Lifestyle On A Budget | Clever Girl Finance

How to Live A Luxurious Lifestyle On A Budget

What comes to mind when you think about a luxurious lifestyle? For many people, it’s high-end items like clothing, cars, vacations, or fancy dinners. And when that’s what we picture, it’s easy to get discouraged and feel that luxury simply isn’t available to us. Especially when it seems like so many people are struggling with lifestyle inflation just to have certain luxuries of life.

But in reality, luxury has many possible meanings, and it looks different for everyone. When you think about what a luxury lifestyle really feels like for you, it’s easy to create one on a budget.

What is a luxurious lifestyle?

We all have our own idea of what a luxurious lifestyle really looks like, and you might be surprised that it comes down to a few simple elements. Let's go over what luxury really is!

Luxury is a state of mind

It turns out that luxury has nothing to do with the items you’re surrounded with or the amount of money you’re spending, and everything to do with the way you feel.

Think about something you spent a lot of money on that felt truly luxurious. The item or location wasn’t what gave you that feeling — it was your feelings about it. And you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have those same feelings.

Luxury is subjective

What’s luxurious for you isn’t for someone else. You might love the idea of being pampered at the spa. For someone else, that sounds like a terrible way to spend a weekend.

For someone else, great seats at a sporting event might sound luxurious, while that sounds like the last thing you’d want to spend your money on.

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The problem is that we often care too much about other people’s opinions of what a luxury lifestyle really means, and so we spend money on things that we don’t actually value all that much. The key is figuring out what luxury means to you.

A luxurious lifestyle is about comfort and convenience

Think about some of the most luxurious moments in your life. What did they all have in common? I’m guessing that for many of them, it was about feeling comfortable.

Maybe it was staying in a high-end resort, spending your days lying by the pool. Or perhaps it was splurging on the single most comfortable pair of shoes you’ve ever owned that also happens to cost way more than the rest of your shoes.

At the end of the day, luxury is largely about comfort. And because comfort is also entirely subjective, it looks different for everyone.

How to live a luxurious lifestyle on a budget

Are you ready to start living a more luxurious lifestyle? We’ve rounded up some tips to help you do just that on any budget!

Create more free time in your schedule

There’s just something about free time that feels luxurious, and yet so few of us actually create free time in our own schedules. Between careers, household, childcare, and kids activities, it feels like every moment is accounted for. But we forget that with some notable exceptions, we have control over our own calendars.

If you’re struggling to find free time in your calendar, schedule it just like you would anything else. Put it on the calendar, and treat it as an obligation you can’t break. Then, when the time comes, you can just relax totally guilt-free. Freeing up time in itself is huge when it comes to a luxury lifestyle.

Slow down to enjoy the luxuries of life

In addition to creating more free time in your calendar, it can also feel luxurious to just slow down as you move through your day. Think of those little moments that you rush through but that really bring you joy. Your cup of coffee in the morning. Your evening walk with your dog. Playing your kids. Sitting down to dinner with your spouse.

These everyday moments that we often hurry through can feel more luxurious than anything that costs money. These are the best luxuries of life!

Declutter your home

Think about how luxurious it feels to stay in a nice hotel or rental home. There’s open space, it’s clean, and it’s completely clear of clutter. You don’t have to pay for a hotel to feel this type of luxury. Decluttering your own home can be just as effective. When your environment is clutter-free, you’ll find that you feel more relaxed, less stressed, and better able to focus on the good things happening.

Prioritize quality over quantity

There’s no doubt that high-end items and those that many of us consider “luxury” can be expensive. And while that’s true, they’re often worth it in the long run. When you invest in high-quality items, you’ll find that they last far longer and you don’t find yourself regularly replacing them.

And honestly, quality doesn’t have to mean unaffordable. So often we purchase things on impulse. With a bit of research, you could probably find a higher-quality version of that same item on a budget.

Focus on the little comforts for a luxurious lifestyle

There are plenty of small and relatively affordable items you can purchase that will create the feeling of a luxurious lifestyle on a budget. For many people, luxury looks like a spa day, but by purchasing a few candles, a face mask, and some good bubble bath, you can create a similar feeling and treat yourself at home.

Whatever it is that feels luxurious to you, find small ways to incorporate it into your everyday life. It’ll be more affordable than splurging on a larger version, and you can get a little taste of that luxury every day.

Another way to focus on small comforts is to invest in smart home products. Many don’t cost all that much, but recent studies show that smart home technology is the most essential luxury home item for millennials.

Shop secondhand

Being on a budget doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t purchase high-end items. These days, it’s easier than ever to find gently used items on Facebook Marketplace and other secondhand sites.

You’d be surprised what you can find. You can often find designer brands used for a fraction of the cost of buying them new. While browsing at a garage sale, I once found a $300 purse priced at just $30 — it had never been used and still had the tags on it!

Shopping for luxury brands pre-owned is becoming more popular than ever. Data shows that the luxury secondhand market is growing four times faster than the primary luxury market, mostly thanks to online marketplaces. As a result, it’s easier than ever to find second-hand luxury items.

Look for discounts and coupons

If there’s a pricier item you’ve been wanting, do a little research and see if you can find any online coupons or discounts, or check to see if the store has an annual sale of any kind.

There are plenty of online discount sites that can help you find coupons and sales. For example, if you want to do a date night with your partner but money is tight, you can check sites like Groupon for restaurant coupons.

Make small but meaningful upgrades to your home

Small upgrades can make a big difference. Think about the areas of your home where you spend the most time, and consider making a few small but meaningful upgrades to make your space feel more luxurious.

Maybe it means changing out the headboard of the duvet in your bedroom. Or maybe it's changing the lighting fixtures in your office to something more appealing. Just these little changes can make you feel more comfortable in parts of your home where you spend a lot of time.

Luxury items don’t have to exist just to look beautiful. In fact, even most luxury consumers are moving away from nonessentials like jewelry and art and focusing more on investing in necessary home items.

Cook restaurant-quality meals at home

For many people, the idea of going to a nice restaurant and enjoying high-end food and wine sounds luxurious. Unfortunately, most of us can’t afford to do that on a regular basis.

The good news is that it’s totally possible to recreate those meals at home. While it might cost a bit more than your typical budget grocery trip, it will be far more affordable than eating the same meal at a restaurant. Plus you can create exactly the ambiance you want for no money at all.

Calculate the "cost per use" for expensive items

It’s easy to talk yourself out of buying expensive items, thinking they aren’t worth the cost. But in some cases, they actually might be depending on the cost per use.

Think of all the cheap items you’ve bought over the years and then barely used. This is especially common when it comes to clothes. Those items may not have cost much, but you also may not have gotten much use out of them.

But when you buy a more expensive item that you really value, you’ll use it more. It might actually come out to a lower cost per use than the far cheaper items you bought.

Make time to experience new things

Think about how luxurious it feels to try new things when you’re traveling, even if it's just taking a walk through an area you’ve never been before. It’s a part of what makes traveling so exciting.

The good news is that you don’t actually have to travel to experience this type of luxury. Chances are that there’s plenty in your own city — or at least in a nearby one — that you haven’t experienced before.

Even if it’s just walking through a new neighborhood or hiking in a new park, it can feel surprisingly exciting and recreate that excitement you get on vacation.

Prioritize what’s most important to your luxurious lifestyle

One of my favorite sayings is that you can buy anything you want, but you can’t buy everything. And honestly, it’s when we try to splurge in every area that we run into problems and make mistakes that impact our goals.

Rather than lusting after everything you consider to be luxurious, narrow down what’s really important to you. If you can identify your priorities, then you can invest more in those items and less everywhere else.

I used to find myself buying nice clothing and high-end makeup that I saw influencers sharing on social media. But when it really came down to it, those items just aren’t important to me. Now that I’ve realized that, I can splurge on luxury in the areas that really are a priority.

Focus on your relationships

When we think about luxury, we often think about things that we can buy. But the most luxurious thing we have is time with the people we love.

Think of the most luxurious moments of your life. Maybe it was a nice dinner with your partner or a spa weekend with your best friend. I’m guessing that what most of those moments had in common is that you enjoyed them with someone important to you.

By focusing on our relationships, we can create those same luxurious moments for a fraction of the cost.

You can live a luxurious lifestyle!

Often we think that “luxury” has this predefined meaning, that things are either luxurious or they aren’t. But that’s simply not true. Luxury is subjective and it means something different to everyone. The key is to decide exactly what a luxurious lifestyle looks like to you and find ways to recreate it for less.