B&B Santo Stefano, Polignano a Mare, Bari

this is a wonderful historical beach place called Polignano a Mare, about 20 minutes away from where I come from.

Two summers ago I have recommended this place and the lovely b&b owned by my friend Rosa to my friends Martin and Monika coming from Switzerland. The B&B is called Santo Stefano!

The speciality of this bed and breakfast is that the hotel is placed in the historical part of the village, in a little street corner that takes you to one of the most breathtaking balcony overlooking the sea, the perferct spot for a romantic kiss à la "gone with the wind", since it is also very windy up there;-)

This is a convenient holiday, the room cost max 90.00 euro in the high season (August) and the many fish restaurants around it make you don't want to leave the place anymore.

What is important though - you need a car, as it is known that public transportations in south of Italy is a mess! 

You can visit many locations around Polignano, like Alberobello with its special stone houses, The caves of Castellana with its impressive stalactites and stalagmites!

Enjoy your holiday - make this year South of Italy your holiday destination!

Melenos Lindos, Rhodes, Greece

Another great holiday experience was the bed and breakfast hotel Melenos in Lindos on the island of Rhodes.

The hotel is placed on a rock overviewing the beautiful  aegean sea and on its back there is one of the most spectacular acropolis, giving you the feeling that Apollo is still there;-)

But what most impressed me was the unique architecture of this place, a mix of Byzantine, Medieval, Arabic and Ottoman influences...

OPA;-)

One and Only Royal Mirage, Dubai

My one and only experience holiday at the Royal Mirage in Dubai in 2004 was so fantastic that I can't forget about it.

After arriving at the airport in Dubai with Emirates, we have been picked up with a black limo to the resort on the jumeirah beach.

We have been welcomed with a gong as soon as we stepped out of the limo, the lobby was huge and plenty of light and flowers. 

After receiving our room with seaview, we went on to the terrace for breakfast...everything was so precise and in detail, the waiters playing lots of attention and indulging us with good food...but the best part was the pool.

As soon as we placed our towels on two lying chairs in front of one of the main pool, the so called "beach boys" walking around in their white polo shirts and bermudas have started to come around every now and then to clean our sunglasses, bring us cold towels to refresh or watermelon with ice...

what an unforgettable holiday!

I can recommend it to everyone who wants to indulge themself for one week of relax, shopping and good food!

One and Only Royal Mirage - the one and only experience!

Susan Boyle loses Britain's Got Talent

After so many years Susan managed at the age of 47 to perform her biggest dream ever singing  - I Dream a Dream  

Unfortunately she did not win last Saturday's competition, but I think she reached her biggest success with herself ever anyway!

Congratulations Susan!

Pantani - the PIRATA!

Marco Pantani was an italian road racing cyclist, widely regarded as being one of the best climbers of all time in professional road bicycle racing. The zenith of his career was winning both the Tour de France and theGiro d'Italia in 1998. The bandana he often wore and his attacking style of riding led to him being dubbed 'Il Pirata' (the pirate) by the adoring fans. However, his career was beset by drug abuse allegations, following his failure of a blood test in the 1999 Giro d'Italia. He died of a cocaine overdose in 2004.

what most impresses me is the power of the press once again and their ability of making someone like Pantani feeling a looser. 

For four years I've been in every court, I just lost my desire to be like all the other sportsmen, but cycling has paid and many youngsters have lost their faith in justice. All my colleagues have been humiliated, with TV cameras hidden in their hotel rooms to try and ruin families. How could you not hurt yourself after that?