This magnificent hall in Devon is a far cry from the usual country house hotel ? it's a not-for-profit social enterprise promoting social justice, sustainability and the arts. And its newly refurbished rooms aren't bad eitherThe email announcing that 50 rooms at Dartington Hall have been refurbished in a bid to attract leisure guests, tells a fraction of the story.The hall is on an estate on the banks of the river Dart, bought, in the 1920s, by the American heiress Dorothy Elmhirst and her husband Leonard, son of a Yorkshire curate. He had graduated in agriculture from Cornell in New York and worked in India with reformer and writer Rabindranath Tagore.They breathed life into the medieval estate, and endowed the arts. They commissioned painter John Piper, and were advised by potter Bernard Leach. They also created a progressive school. Today, Dartington Hall Trust runs the estate as a not-for-profit social enterprise, promoting the Elmhirsts' passions for social justice, sustainability and advancement of the arts (with an exciting festival and performance programme).The estate is also home to Schumacher College, at which Satish Kumar is a visiting fellow and Jonathan Porritt lectures.Events currently create demand for the rooms, and the driveway winds to a large car park. More college campus than hotel. Reception is tucked into a stone arch, through which is a courtyard of manicured lawn and deep flower borders. Soon I'm trotting behind the girl who is showing me to my room. Creeper clings to pretty stone buildings ? once pupils' rooms ? and at the far end is the magnificent hall. An enchanting scene. Pity no one offers to help with my luggage.Only the staircase (boxed in by glass and heavy fire door ? thunk thunk) lends an institutional touch en route to my first-floor room. Tall windows and a window seat (my favourite thing), discreet TV, plump bed, compact tiled shower room.On this summer evening, the grounds gradually reveal their glorious expanse ? grassy terraces crowned by Spanish chestnuts, stone steps unfurl at gurgling fountains and shady glades hug unexpected sculpture. How many hotels can boast a Henry Moore?I catch a film before dinner, in the bijou Barn Cinema right beside reception, then drift over to the little pub created beside the hall. Staff are jolly, good beers and English wines on offer. Not sure why Cajun roasted sweet potato soup is on a summer pub menu ? it's pleasant enough ? but salmon with new potatoes, asparagus and white wine sauce is disappointingly dull.A sublime night's sleep, broken by sunlight edging around the courtyard and birdsong, is followed by breakfast in the restaurant, for a lacklustre buffet of mini cereals, prunes and grapefruit segments. Can I have breakfast outside? The answer is no, but inexplicably changes to yes when the bar opens. Toast in the rack is delicious but my poached egg comes on soggy sliced brown.Small niggles are beginning to stack up ? to an impression that food and service are not at the heart of Dartington Hall. I love the not-for-profit ethos, and the new rooms are a great way to further the hall's aims, but if one instrument in an orchestra is slightly out of tune, it can throw the whole performance.sally.shalam@guardian.co.uk, sallyshalamsbritain.co.ukDevonBed and breakfastsHotelsUnited KingdomEuropeShort breaksSally Shalamguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Olympians Join Efforts to Develop an Olympic Bid for the Tahoe Region
Olympic Valley, CA - Five U.S. Olympians have agreed to join its efforts of the Lake Tahoe Winter Games Exploratory Committee (LTWGEC) to develop a bid for the Tahoe region for the Winter Olympics.
Friday?s announcement of their involvement comes just weeks after the LTWGEC formed itself with civic leaders from both California and Nevada. The new organization supersedes two organizations that were previously exploring bids, the Sacramento based California Winter Games Coalition and the Reno based Reno-Lake Tahoe Winter Games Coalition.
The five Olympians ? Andy Gabel, Bret Hedican, Jonny Moseley, Tamara McKinney, and Kristi Yamaguchi ? represent a diverse array of Winter Olympic sports including alpine skiing, hockey, women?s figure skating, speed skating and freestyle skiing.
The Olympic Winter Games could possibly return to Squaw Valley and the Lake Tahoe region in 2022. (photo: Vards Uzvards)
?We are delighted to have such an impressive array of Olympians join our effort,? said Andy Wirth, CEO of SquawValley/Alpine Resorts and Acting Chair of the LTWGEC . ?The Olympic experience starts with the athletes themselves. We look forward to integrating the influence of these great champions into each and every aspect of our effort.?
?Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places on the planet,? said Moseley (Nagano ?98 ? Freestyle Skiing). ?In 1960, the world took a chance on making Squaw Valley it?s choice for the Olympics. We?re proud to invite everyone back.?
?I grew up here in Lake Tahoe,? added McKinney (Sarajevo ?94 ? Downhill Skiing).� ?It is a magical place with great mountains that would anchor some of the most breathtaking downhill skiing events in history.� Standing atop one of our peaks and looking at that beautiful Lake Tahoe will be a memory that everyone ? Olympians and spectators alike ? will never forget.?
The LTWGEC hopes to land the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, 62 years after the Olympics visited the region for the 1960 Games.
Related stories:Joint Committee Formed to Explore 2022 Tahoe Olympic Bid
2nd Annual Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week is Oct. 2-9
North Lake Tahoe?s SnowFest Takes Place March 2-11
Second Busiest Ski Season Ever for Lake Tahoe Resorts
Pro Snowboarder Jamie Anderson Gives Back to South Lake Tahoe Kids
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Friday?s announcement of their involvement comes just weeks after the LTWGEC formed itself with civic leaders from both California and Nevada. The new organization supersedes two organizations that were previously exploring bids, the Sacramento based California Winter Games Coalition and the Reno based Reno-Lake Tahoe Winter Games Coalition.
The five Olympians ? Andy Gabel, Bret Hedican, Jonny Moseley, Tamara McKinney, and Kristi Yamaguchi ? represent a diverse array of Winter Olympic sports including alpine skiing, hockey, women?s figure skating, speed skating and freestyle skiing.
The Olympic Winter Games could possibly return to Squaw Valley and the Lake Tahoe region in 2022. (photo: Vards Uzvards)
?We are delighted to have such an impressive array of Olympians join our effort,? said Andy Wirth, CEO of SquawValley/Alpine Resorts and Acting Chair of the LTWGEC . ?The Olympic experience starts with the athletes themselves. We look forward to integrating the influence of these great champions into each and every aspect of our effort.?
?Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places on the planet,? said Moseley (Nagano ?98 ? Freestyle Skiing). ?In 1960, the world took a chance on making Squaw Valley it?s choice for the Olympics. We?re proud to invite everyone back.?
?I grew up here in Lake Tahoe,? added McKinney (Sarajevo ?94 ? Downhill Skiing).� ?It is a magical place with great mountains that would anchor some of the most breathtaking downhill skiing events in history.� Standing atop one of our peaks and looking at that beautiful Lake Tahoe will be a memory that everyone ? Olympians and spectators alike ? will never forget.?
The LTWGEC hopes to land the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, 62 years after the Olympics visited the region for the 1960 Games.
Related stories:Joint Committee Formed to Explore 2022 Tahoe Olympic Bid
2nd Annual Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week is Oct. 2-9
North Lake Tahoe?s SnowFest Takes Place March 2-11
Second Busiest Ski Season Ever for Lake Tahoe Resorts
Pro Snowboarder Jamie Anderson Gives Back to South Lake Tahoe Kids
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Tiago Leal: illustrated journey from A Coruña to Santiago de Compostela
Tiago Leal is a professional illustrator from Lisbon, Portugal.In May 2012, Tiago went on a journey starting in Coimbra, Portugal and then continuing on foot over 100km through Spain, from A Coru�a to Santiago de Compostela. He travelled with his sketchbook and throughout the journey drew what he saw.He will be posting one drawing every day, Monday-Friday here. There are 23 drawings in total, so follow Tiago's journey through his drawings.We hope you like the drawings. Leave a comment on his blog and be in a chance to win a signed drawing by Tiago! At the end of August, Tiago will pick the best comment and the winner will get a signed copy of his drawing.Here are a couple of illustrations from the start of his journey:"Esta��o Nova", Coimbra, Portugal, where the journey begun (leave a comment).Town hall in Miranda do Corvo, a small village near Coimbra, Portugal (leave a comment).See more illustrations on his blog here.
26 June 2012
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26 June 2012
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Tweet ur trip: Lost on holiday
Guardian Travel readers tweet their navigational nightmaresNext week: Things in hotels that you hateTweet us at @GuardianTravel #TravelCorkboardGuardian readersguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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Stunning Aerial Shots Of Cities From Around The World
Filed under: Photos, Stories, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, United States, Middle EastExperiencing an unknown city is always exciting. That's the great thing about travel - it allows you to try new things and explore new places. While wandering through a city on the ground is interesting, it's also worthwhile to see a destination from a unique perspective you normally wouldn't get to view.
Below, you'll find beautiful aerial shots taken above some of your favorite cities. The lit up Las Vegas skyline twinkling various colors against a nighttime backdrop, the grey and intimidating buildings of the Big Apple as seen from above and the glossy and luxurious architecture of Dubai from a bird's-eye view, are some of the stunning shots captured by photographers.
To see some of the best aerial views of cities from around the world, check out the gallery below.
[photos via Big Stock]
Gallery: Stunning Aerial Shots Of Cities From Around The WorldStunning Aerial Shots Of Cities From Around The World originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Below, you'll find beautiful aerial shots taken above some of your favorite cities. The lit up Las Vegas skyline twinkling various colors against a nighttime backdrop, the grey and intimidating buildings of the Big Apple as seen from above and the glossy and luxurious architecture of Dubai from a bird's-eye view, are some of the stunning shots captured by photographers.
To see some of the best aerial views of cities from around the world, check out the gallery below.
[photos via Big Stock]
Gallery: Stunning Aerial Shots Of Cities From Around The WorldStunning Aerial Shots Of Cities From Around The World originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Behind the Scenes With Where the Hell Is Matt?
In honor of the new dancing-around-the-world video by Matt Harding (Where The Hell is Matt?), I’m releasing some never-before-seen photos of Matt at work. I know, because I took them! I got to spend 22 hours aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of California last August, part of a blogger group that included…
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Monday, June 25, 2012
Video: Did Easter Island Statues Walk?
This is one of the biggest island mysteries: How did the famous statues of Easter Island -- some of which are 30-feet tall and weigh 90 tons -- get moved around? A new video reveals how scientists were able to make an Easter Islands statue walk. Even when they aren't moving, the statues, called moai, are a sight that every island traveler wants to see. If you can't make it to Easter Island soon, you can see the video, plus the ISLANDS feature article and chart about these statues. ISLANDS writer Matthew Miller and photographer Brown W. Cannon III recently traveled to Easter Island, more than 2,000 miles west of Chile in the Pacific Ocean. They discovered what's happening now and next on this remarkable island destination.
Read the article.
See the chart.
Watch the video.
This is one of the biggest island mysteries: How did the famous statues of Easter Island -- some of which are 30-feet tall and weigh 90 tons -- get moved around? A new video reveals how scientists were able to make an Easter Islands statue walk. Even when they aren't moving, the statues, called moai, are a sight that every island traveler wants to see. If you can't make it to Easter Island soon, you can see the video, plus the ISLANDS feature article and chart about these ...
read more
Read the article.
See the chart.
Watch the video.
This is one of the biggest island mysteries: How did the famous statues of Easter Island -- some of which are 30-feet tall and weigh 90 tons -- get moved around? A new video reveals how scientists were able to make an Easter Islands statue walk. Even when they aren't moving, the statues, called moai, are a sight that every island traveler wants to see. If you can't make it to Easter Island soon, you can see the video, plus the ISLANDS feature article and chart about these ...
read more
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