The Israel Ministry of Tourism continues to help the local tourism industry, to increase the accommodation supply to lower prices. The Investment Administration in the Tourism Ministry has recently received 107 applications from entrepreneurs seeking grants to build and expand hotels.
Investors, who are optimistic about the rehabilitation of Israel’s incoming tourism industry, are seeking to establish and convert existing buildings to hotels and expand existing buildings or restore them to their original purpose. 70 applications were submitted in the building permit tracking, 22 requests as part of a track to restore buildings to hotel use and convert existing buildings into hotels, and 15 applications were submitted in the implementation track by companies who have a building permit. This year’s grant budget stands at NIS 165 million. The directives of the Investment Administration for 2022 were published last April and the deadline for applications to be submitted was mid-May 2022.
The Israel Minister of Tourism Yoel Razvozov spoke about Israels current tourism opportunities, “There is a great deal of optimism and interest among the tourism industry. This year, we broke the record for the number of grant requests for opening new hotels in Israel, with over one hundred applications submitted. The Israel Ministry of Tourism continues to invest vast efforts in increasing incoming tourism traffic to Israel and shortening the amount of time it takes to build hotels. This will inject billions of shekels into the state coffers.”
As is well known, the corona crisis interrupted the upward growth trend in incoming tourism, which culminated in record figures in 2019 of over 4.5 million tourists. During the crisis, the Ministry of Tourism focused on preserving and nurturing the tourism infrastructure and continued assistance to entrepreneurs. This is to prepare for the return of growth. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the tourism industry’s annual contribution to the economy (before the pandemic) stood at about NIS 40 billion. The ministry is working to restore incoming tourism traffic to Israel and for the industry’s recovery following the crisis.
Despite the effects of the pandemic, progress has been registered in both planning new hotel projects and in building projects that were planned before the outbreak of the pandemic. The ministry continues to work to realize the potential inherent in hotel investments, to increase the number of tourists, and, as a result, to increase revenue from tourism to the economy.
Maurice Lacroix unveils the brightest, funkiest range of watches, offered in an array of eye-popping colours.
The AIKON #tide is made to be noticed. And, best of all, the AIKON #tide is helping to make the oceans a little bit cleaner, thanks to revolutionary technology that converts discarded plastic waste into Swiss quality watches.
The AIKON #tide is cool with a conscience and it will be chillin’ near you very soon. Maurice Lacroix first released the AIKON in 2016, a model that has since enjoyed incredible success. The virtues of AIKON ownership extend to the model’s precise timekeeping, impressive readability, and extraordinary levels of wearer comfort. And, in common with all Maurice Lacroix products, the AIKON delivers high perceived value.
The AIKON #tide is formed of #tide ocean-bound upcycled plastic combined with glass fiber. The resultant composite material is twice as hard as standard plastic, five times more resistant, and has a carbon footprint significantly less than the production of virgin PET. It takes 17 bottles to make one fabulous watch and its tailor-made packaging, 100% made of #tide ocean material®. It’s a win-win deal.
The case measures 40mm in diameter and features a flat sapphire crystal, augmenting readability. Beyond its vibrant hues and case, the dial is adorned with a ‘Vague du Jura’ motif, a stylish reference to the ocean. For an additional quotient of glamour, several references are also available with diamond-set indexes.
The AIKON #tide is endowed with a screwed crown together with a screwed case-back, details that contribute to the model’s impressive water-resistance of 100m. The model is also granted with the Easy Strap Exchange system, allowing the wearer to swap the strap for an alternative without tools.
Later, in 2022, Maurice Lacroix intends to unveil a second version of the AIKON #tide equipped with a bracelet made of, you guessed it, composite material! A quartz movement is at the heart of the AIKON #tide, delivering convenience and precision. As you would expect of a Swiss watch, the AIKON #tide is a quality product backed by a 5-year warranty.
THAT’S WHAT A DROP MAKES
Sometimes when an individual or company tries to make a positive change, critics declare, ‘It’s merely a drop in the ocean’. However, apathy will never address the challenges the planet is now facing. Maurice Lacroix believes its initiative with #tide will contribute to cleaner oceans and make the planet a little better. Indeed, as they say in the Swiss Jura, ‘That’s what a drop makes.’
REVOLUTIONARY TECHNOLOGY
Modern and daring, the AIKON is made for a generation of Millennials who are connected, cosmopolitan and talented. This ambitious generation is setting out to conquer the world’s cities, embracing their unique spirit. Maurice Lacroix is an active and urban brand that thrives in the electric energy of these cities. Having won over fifteen awards, the brand has demonstrated an innovative, avant-garde and perfectionist spirit over more than 40 years.
Maurice Lacroix has entered into a ground-breaking, long-term partnership with #tide to collect plastic bottles from the seas surrounding various islands in Thailand, Indonesia, and, the Philippines.
Maurice Lacroix has committed to saving 10 million plastic bottles from polluting the oceans, which involves providing significant financial support. Indeed, the Maison will sponsor plastic collection activities, pay for longtail boats and warehouses, fund educational programs and finance various types of equipment. These bottles are sorted, shredded into flakes, washed and compacted close to the point of collection, and then transported to #tide’s upcycling facilities where the fragments are compounded into smaller granules. These are then combined with an undisclosed formula, culminating in the creation of upcycled plastic which is eventually used to make lots of lovely, brightly colored AIKON #tide watches.
Maurice Lacroix has conceived the AIKON #tide for a new generation who value sustainability, affordability, and notable style.
After 58 million streams and one million monthly listeners, EMPIRE Nashville’s Sophia Scott released debut EP, One Of These Days–a collection of six tracks. Available everywhere now, the EP illuminates Sophia’s limitless musicality which flows seamlessly through country, pop, rock and R&B. Candidly opening up about deeply personal topics like divorce, addiction, heartache and hope, Scott turns trauma into triumph with her lyrics. With her fearless first full-length body of work, Scott emphasizes her position as a country artist-to-watch with a promising career in Nashville and beyond for many years to come. She is excited to take her new music on the road this year, kicking off with a buzz worthy performance for Spotify’s Fresh Finds stage at CMA Fest on June 12.
Thematically connecting the EP with title track One Of These Days, which received praise from Entertainment Tonight, E! News, Holler Country, Just Jared and more, Sophia identifies how her parents’ struggling marriage eventually helped her to define her own perspectives on life – from her career, to friendships and romantic encounters. In April, she made her official television debut with a powerful performance of the song on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
With the EP’s opener Don’t Tempt Me, Scott immediately welcomes her fun side with the perfect soundtrack for a wild night out with friends. The track sets the stage for a body of work which balances poignant ballads with high-energy, country bops. Scott follows the up-tempo kickstarter with her powerful 2021 ballad Side Effects, which confronts her painful experiences watching friends and family struggle with addiction. As she heals her own scars with Side Effects, she hopes to give a voice to anyone who has also driven a loved one to rehab and taken steps to help them recover. Since its release in May 2021, the track has opened an important mental health conversation on TikTok, with many users sharing their own stories alongside the song.
Praised for the authenticity of her writing, her music is characterized by her willingness to be raw and vulnerable. She counters this unapologetic candor with infectious confidence on the “Charlie’s Angels”-inspired anthem titled Leather Skirt, which aims to empower women of every generation. She emphasizes that the timeless fashion staple has the power to make a girl at any age feel like her best self. Further amplifying the ‘women empowerment’ vibe, Scott’s latest single for the EP, More Me, is a fiery ‘girls night out’ anthem, an invitation to hit the dance floor and reminder to love yourself. The track debuted on Spotify’s New Music Nashville and is currently featured on the platform’s Next From Nashville playlist. The EP also features her unconventional Valentine’s Day’ single Sweetheart, which sees her reflecting on first-time love and flashing back to happy moments with an old flame who still holds a place in her heart.
“This body of work is my heart. I am so proud of it and thrilled to finally share this piece of me. Putting my experiences into songs is my way to navigate things and has been the best form of therapy for me. I hope that my lyrics offer hope to those who can relate,” says Scott. “I hope my songs empower you to also put on your favorite outfit and hit the dance floor.”
TRACKLIST:
Don’t Tempt Me
Side Effects
Leather Skirt
One of These Days
More Me
Sweetheart
Stream One Of These Days, the EP, by Sophia Scott HERE. Sophia Scott may originally hail from Boulder, CO, but the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist found a home in Nashville, TN by continuing a time-honored tradition of storytelling with no shortage of gusto and grit. When it comes to her music, she writes from the heart, shoots from the hip, and holds nothing back. Instead of retreating, she confronts heartbreak head-on and emboldens audiences with the kind of confidence only earned by a lifelong grind. After a childhood immersed in music, she settled in Los Angeles for six years. She performed around town and even headlined her own residencies. Her cover of Tove Lo’s Habits (Stay High) took off and set the stage for buzzworthy originals such as Closure. Breaking through, Quit cracked 1 million Spotify streams, while Atwood Magazine raved, “Having grown up on classic rock, R&B, and country/soul. Scott takes care in crafting both the sound and meaning of her songs – never shirking one for another.” Holler Country says,“she’s fast making a name for herself with her own unique brand of gutsy heart-on-its-sleeve southern pop.” She claimed coveted real estate on Spotify’s New Music Friday with White Fence, Drink Too Much Wine, and She Ain’t Me. Eventually, she picked up and moved to Nashville, finding a permanent foothold in Music City and landing a deal with EMPIRE Nashville in 2021. While 2021 was a major year for the rising country artist who also opened for the Jonas Brothers in Nashville and claimed a coveted spot on PEOPLE Magazine’s “artists to watch” list, 2022 is poised to be career-defining with the release of her debut EP One Of These Days.
Following extensive renovations, three-storied boutique properties located in downtown Lenox are reopening together as part of The Lenox Collection, a newly reimagined family of inns connected by their deep historical roots in the town and elevated contextual design. As part of the reopening is Ophelia’s, a 66-seat restaurant and bar offering farm-to-table comfort food in an intimate indoor-outdoor setting, with locally sourced ingredients and a curated cocktail list. New York-based firm 388 Ventures acquired the properties in 2021 and brought on an independent hotel management company, Life House, to lead design and branding, as well as oversee all hotel and F&B operations leveraging their tech-enabled management platform.
“We’re pleased to announce the launch of The Lenox Collection, with a design language that pays homage to each property’s history while catering directly to the clientele visiting the increasingly popular four-season destination that the Berkshires have become. With Ophelia’s reopening right downtown, we’re excited to be a mainstay in the already impressive Lenox culinary scene,” says Russell Lange, partner at 388 Ventures.
At the heart of the collection is the Whitlock – formally The Church Street Inn – built-in 1771 by John Whitlock, a local farmer who turned his two-room farmhouse into an inn for stagecoach travelers. The property now takes cues from its natural surroundings with a rustic and warm feel reminiscent of its farmhouse origins. The Whitlock’s bar and restaurant, Ophelia’s, pays homage to the ingredients and labors of the hotel’s namesake. With locally-inspired farm-to-table cuisine with dishes featuring herbs & garnishes from local purveyors, Ophelia’s is already becoming a favorite among locals, guests, and downtown bypassers.
Located in the historic center of town is The Constance – formally the Rookwood Inn – which was built in 1825 as The Williams Tavern. In the 1880s it was purchased by Frederick Constance Peters, a businessman from England, who turned the property into ancillary lodging for owners of Lenox’s famed Gilded Age estates. The inn has been completely reimagined with an extensive renovation to restore and enhance the elegant charm and whimsical character of the storied property with the benefit of modern guest amenities.
On the north side of town is The Dewey – formally the Birchwood Inn – which was originally built by Israel Dewey, a founding member of Lenox’s Continental Congress Committee when the town was incorporated in 1767. Over the years, the site has taken on many lives, owned by various influential figures in the Berkshires. Today, the newly-reappointed inn carries on its rich tradition of hospitality with elevated guest room interiors and stately common areas.
“We are thrilled to reintroduce The Lenox Collection as the Berkshire hospitality landscape continues to mature,” says Bryan Dunn, Managing Director and Head of Growth at Life House. “In the past year alone, the market has seen luxury lifestyle brand Miraval open their first East Coast property, world-renowned designer Ken Fulk acquire the Blantyre, and Life House breathes new life into the Wheatleigh, a Leading Hotels of World property. The Lenox Collection delivers a locally-rooted boutique experience at a more accessible price point than these Five Star luxury hotels, catering to a large and diverse audience that is currently underserved by existing options in the market.”
Life House is a vertically integrated hotel software & operations platform focused on increasing profitability and reliability for independent hoteliers. Life House was founded in 2017 as one of the only vertically integrated asset-light hotel companies backed by institutional venture and private equity investors. The company is ambitiously investing in operational systems to make it far more profitable, predictable, and seamless for owners while making the guest experience more reliable for travelers. Today the company has nearly 60 hotels in its portfolio across North America.
For a limited time only, Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday” dress —now also Kim Kardashian’s 2022 Met Gala look — is on display at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood. Kardashian visited the Attraction at Hollywood and Highland on Thursday, May 26, to see her most-talked-about Met Gala look one more time, along with other Marilyn memorabilia on display at Ripley’s.
Now on display, visitors to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood can see the gown — now valued at over $10 million — sparkle and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Kim’s Met Gala look. The “Happy Birthday” dress will be touring Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Attractions worldwide through 2023.
Filipino-Australian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ylona Garcia reveals a more vulnerable playful side to her with the release of “Vibin” via PARADISE RISING/88rising Music. With a smooth and catchy hook, and a light, airy production matched with Ylona’s crisp vocals, the track is a perfect summertime slow jam.
“Vibin is a really special song to me,” Ylona said, “because it truly captures where I am artistically, and where I plan to go sonically. The track is about meeting someone new and not wanting to feel pressured to define the relationship – we’re just vibin and enjoying every moment as they come.”
“Vibin” follows the success of her hit single “Entertain Me,” which was featured in the wildly popular game Valorant’s launch trailer of new playable character Neon, reaching #1 Trending on YouTube and amassing over 8M views. The single currently has over 15M plays on Spotify alone.
At only 20 years old, Ylona Garcia has set her sights on the global landscape in the next stage of her creative journey. With multiple song releases under her belt already, in addition to appearing on two of the biggest reality/talent contests shows in the Philippines, Ylona Garcia has become one of the fastest-rising, most prominent young voices in the Filipino music community. She currently has over 4.2M followers on Instagram and nearly 1 million followers on TikTok in addition to over 714,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and 212,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel.
Ylona Garcia’s music is released by 88rising’s sister label PARADISE RISING, which was launched in 2020 to help bring Filipino music to the forefront of culture.
Founded in 2015, 88rising has long been a champion of Asian and Asian American talent, stories and culture. The company has gone from a leading record label to a transformative media company and is now the most recognized pan-Asian music company in the world and a leader in music, media and events celebrating Asian culture. 88rising was the first company to launch an Asian-centric music festival in the United States (Head in the Clouds Music & Arts Festival), the first to have an Asian R&B artist top the Billboard charts (Joji) and the first to launch an all-Asian, multi-genre music radio channel with SiriusXM in December 2020. The brand recently announced a first look deal with Sony Pictures TV in January which allows 88rising to continue their mission of creating stories that center around Asians and Asian Americans through the development of scripted series across all platforms for Sony Pictures TV.
K-pop stage-breakers SEVENTEEN unveiled their highlight medley today, providing a glimpse into the 9 tracks on the act’s 4th studio album Face the Sun ahead of its arrival on May 27.
The highlight medley opens with “Darl+ing,” the band’s first-ever English song released last month in advance. It soon segues into a highlight from the lead single “HOT,” a hip-hop based track that encapsulates a riveting listen into the band’s dedication and passion for the path they are on.
The medley then unpacks the dynamic sonic profile of the 7 remaining tracks, seamlessly transitioning from one genre to another. All 13 members make an appearance across various backdrops and sets, singing along to the rock-infused “DON QUIXOTE,” “March,” the pop sounds of “Domino,” “Shadow,” the mellow vocals of “‘bout you,” “IF you leave me,” before closing to the trap beats of the final track “Ash.”
SEVENTEEN will showcase live performances of selected tracks during their comeback show at 7 PM KST on May 28. As anticipation peaks, Face the Sun passed the 2 million pre-order sales mark a week ahead of its release, reaching an all-time high for the band.
The K-pop performance powerhouse also recently signaled their grand return to the concert stage after 2 years and 4 months, announcing ‘SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR [BE THE SUN].’ SEVENTEEN will kick off the tour on June 25 with two consecutive dates in Seoul, followed by shows in 12 North American cities. More shows are expected to be added to the list, including cities in Asia and a Japan Dome Tour.
About SEVENTEEN:
Racking up 2 billion streams and selling 10 million albums, SEVENTEEN—comprised of S.COUPS, JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, WOOZI, THE 8, MINGYU, DK, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON and DINO—has rocketed to the forefront of the music scene fueled by a fiercely independent spirit and a nonpareil in-house creative ecosystem. The group’s innovative structure hinges on the interplay of three units: hip-hop, vocal, and performance. Living up to the title of “K-pop Stage-breakers,” SEVENTEEN has unassumingly made history and become one of the biggest groups ever due to their world-class synchronization, jaw-dropping choreography, and tight teamwork. Moving at an unparalleled pace, the K-pop stage-breakers made their U.S. television debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden in January 2021 and followed it with unforgettable performances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and MTV’s Fresh Out Live. SEVENTEEN’s latest EP Attacca debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and No. 13 on the Billboard 200. It sold over 1.3 million copies in the first week of release, earning the K-pop superstars the “quintuple million seller” title as it joins their last four consecutive releases—An Ode, Heng:garæ and ; [Semicolon], Your Choice—in selling over 1 million copies each.
The sensational Atzaró Group beach club and restaurant Atzaró Beach, situated on the sparkling beach of Cala Nova in Ibiza’s North-East, is now open for Summer 2022. Listed by Conde Nast Traveller as one of “the best beach clubs in the world for summer 2022,” Atzaró Beach has become a firm-favourite of the discerning traveller, as well as an A-list hotspot. It’s the perfect place for an upscale beach lunch or dinner hideaway with unparalleled aquamarine sea views.
The food concept at Atzaró Beach is new this year. Top London chef James Adams has created a mouthwatering menu with the emphasis on sharing plates, and grilled choices, using produce grown on the Atzaró estate. James Adams has been a chef and food consultant for over 16 years in some of London’s top restaurant kitchens and is famous for his work with Skye Gyngell at Spring within Somerset House, at celebrated country hotel Heckfield Place, chef at River Cafe, menu and planting direction at Petersham Nurseries.
The new menu this year is full of wholesome, light and delicious dishes, with plenty of seafood and vegetarian choices, created with organic fruit and vegetable ingredients harvested from the Atzaró Vegetable Garden. Sharing plates can be enjoyed on the comfortable daybeds or sofas beachside.
Watch the morning sun rise over the sea and enjoy a healthy breakfast of either chia pudding with coconut and raspberries or perhaps an acai bowl with banana and pineapple. For something a bit more substantial try the grilled chorizo with fried eggs, roasted pepper and rocket salad on toast or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.
For a sharing plate lunch with friends, choose from a delicious selection including tuna ceviche with mango, cucumber and lime, burrata with sourdough and pesto, baby squid with lime allioli, padron peppers, grilled asparagus with romesco sauce and chopped almonds or beef carpaccio with parmesan and rocket. Salad options include watermelon salad with feta and mint or a tasty beetroot and goat’s cheese salad with pumpkin seeds. There are a range of pasta dishes and from the grill you can order lobster with garlic butter, sea bass, and T-bone or Entrecôte steaks. For the more traditional there are a choice of four paellas to share.
Sweet treats include San Sebastian cheesecake with a raspberry compote, grilled pineapple with coconut ice cream and chilli or orujo panacotta with strawberries as well as homemade ice creams and sorbets.
In 2019 the interiors and exteriors of Atzaró Beach were refurbished by Atzaró Design, the group’s talented in-house interiors team. The concept is paired back boho style, with a super- relaxed authentic mood, reminiscent of 70’s Ibiza. The look is designed to work with the environment and combines natural woods, terracotta pots, an abundance of local plants, cacti and palms. The colour palette of soft neutral sand tones with pops of vibrant compliments the pristine beach and crystal-clear waters of the sea beyond.
Straw cacti and potted plants frame the tables, the rustic wood pergola provides dappled shade and the thirty double daybeds are perfect for those long hot summer days. Hanging rattan lampshades add some low-key atmosphere to balmy nights. Relax on a comfortable mix of sofas, stools, tables and chairs with hanging bamboo swing seats as well as iconic rattan peacock armchairs. An Ibizan wooden fishing boat provides an extra seating area with cushions to create a casual and relaxed feeling.
NEW! EXPLORE THE NORWEGIAN FJORDS AND MOUNTAINS ON AN ELECTRIC SUPERCAR ROAD TRIP
Weeklong program is an eco-sensitive, road-tripping adventure in a Porsche
If you’re a fan of adventure and luxury cars, this new supercar driving program is for you. Adding the glide of a luxury electric car, you’ll travel through Norwegian fjords and the Sunnmore Alps on a supercar road trip, enjoying empty open roads and breathtaking scenery behind the wheel of an electric Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. The route is pre-programmed; you do the driving.
Driving the roads along mountain passes, bridges and labyrinthine tunnels will amp up the adrenaline for any driving enthusiast. And this time, it’s done in the most sustainable, exhilarating fashion: in an electric supercar of the highest renown.
Delivering a racetrack experience along the edge of the fjords, the emission-free electric supercar Porsche comes equipped with pre-programmed routes that journey through Norway’s stunning fjords and mountains.
The Porsche has room to hold everything needed for the six-day trip and smoothly handles the winding mountain and forest routes that have inspired Norwegian folklore. Set the car on cruise control, feel the power, and take in the ever-changing scenery outside.
You’ll enjoy a night in the art nouveau town of Alesund, where a boat ride among the fjords provides an extra sense of adventure. A night in a traditional Sami tent deep in the pine forests plus all hotel accommodations along the route support the program’s sustainability emphasis. All provide eco-toiletries in the rooms, locally sourced produce in the restaurants, and use only electric or hybrid vehicles. Onsite chargers are provided for your vehicle.
“We created this program for guests to travel through the stunning Norwegian fjords in a stylish and comfortable manner without impacting the environment,” commented Jonny Cooper, founder of Off the Map Travel.
Inclusions
The adventure aspect of the trip is paramount. Travelers will journey along the spectacular Atlantic Road known as “the road across the sea” with its imposing seven bridges and network of tunnels, travel deep into the magnificent mountains to the Troll Wall, the largest rock wall in Europe; take a ferry into the gaping Geiranger fjord; journey up a gondola for the views of the North Atlantic; and experience the fjords from the sky in a private helicopter.
The cutting-edge electric supercar achieves 283 miles on a charge and has a built-in “charging planner” that calculates the optimum route based on your charge status.
The menu each day features the region’s best local cuisine including seafood from hyper-local purveyors.
The seven-day, six-night drive the fjords itinerary is priced from £7899 per person ($9747 USD at the time of this writing) including all meals and accomodations, based on double occupancy; with accommodations in Brosundet, Storfjord and Union Oye; transfers; all activities; and use of the electric Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo. Flights are additional.
Day 1: Arrive in Alesund. From the window of your aircraft, you’ll see the crystal clear fjords and jagged peaks of the Sunnmore Alps. Transfer from the airport to the art nouveau town of Alesund to check into Hotel Brosundet. Once settled, you will board a boat and head out into the fjords to Flatsea lighthouse. Enjoy a delicious lunch in the lighthouse and make use of the jacuzzi and sauna before heading back to your hotel for dinner in Apotekergata No. 5.
Day 2: In the morning, check out and meet your driver who will take you to Hotel Storfjord in the town of Storfjord. Enjoy a welcome cocktail at the Lavvu, a traditional Sami tent set deep in the pine forests surrounding the hotel. Take in your surroundings and learn about some of the highlights of the trip ahead. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing and maybe head to the spa.
Day 3: After breakfast begin your personal driving adventure along the North Atlantic Overpass. Drive north toward the Atlantic Ocean Road. Your car will be packed with a delicious Storfjord picnic basket complete with local cheese, meats, berries and sparkling wine. Arrive at a dramatic overpass that is a marvel of engineering: your car will appear to fly over the Atlantic as you wind from island to island. The scenery is breath-taking and you can find a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy your picnic. On the return journey, take in the Sunmore peaks dotting the horizon. This will be your playground for the next few days as you adventure deeper into the fjords.
Day 4: Head to the mountains of Romsdal. The first stop will be at the Troll wall, the highest rock wall in Europe. Enjoy pastries packed by the kitchen and continue deeper into the mountains where the Trollstigen will appear with a winding road up to the summit. This is one of the most magnificent vantage points in Norway. Descend the Valdel Valley which will lead you back to the fjords. A ferry to Stranda offers a glimpse of things to come as the fjords get narrower and deeper. Pause at the view point between the tunnels and stare directly into the gaping chasm of the Geiranger fjord. The final destination is Union Oye – an historic royal oasis at the end of the valley. Check in and enjoy a delicious dinner before relaxing in the evening.
Day 5: After a night’s rest and breakfast of local produce, take the quiet roads winding towards the west and leave the fjords behind you. Before long you will trace the coastline towards Stryn, the perfect spot for lunch and a journey on a gondola to take in the views over the North Atlantic. As you head further inland, the fjord hamlet of Geiranger will come into view. Board the ferry, sit back and enjoy a cruise through the grandest fjord of them all with waterfalls cascading off the mountains. Disembark at Hellesylt and drive to Union Oye.
Day 6: A visit to the Sunmore region celebrates the seafood heritage of the region. You’ll visit an island off the west coast for a five-course seafood menu. On the return journey, skirt Storfjord as you arrive back for your final meal.
Day 7: For the final morning you’ll say farewell to you luxe Porsche supercar and take to the skies for an aerial tour of the roads you have been driving on. This trip provides an immersive experience as the helicopter weaves in and out of the fjords high over the mountain peaks. At the end, a private driver will transport you to Alesund Vigra airport for your departure.
OFF THE MAP TRAVEL
The team at Off the Map Travel works with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of our planet. Specializing in Soft Adventure OTMT creates tailor-made holiday itineraries offering authentic experiences not offered by many larger travel companies. For more information on Off the Map Travel itineraries vist HERE.
JLF Architects Announces May 2022 Release of New Book “Foundations” Published by Rizzoli and Featuring 16 Stunning Legacy Houses
JLF Architects’ announces the publication of “Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects” (Rizzoli New York), debuting on May 3, 2022, and offering an in-depth look at 16 spectacular homes designed by the Bozeman, Montana-based firm in Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho and New York. The 256-page coffee-table book, already receiving media acclaim, features 200 photographs of JLF-designed houses, thoughtfully sited amid breathtaking scenery and rooted in regional history, materials and methods.
JLF Architects announces the May 3, 2022, publication of the firm’s new book “Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects.” Published by Rizzoli New York, written by Seabring Davis with JLF Design Build and with some 200 photographs by Audrey Hall, “Foundations” highlights 16 stunning JLF-designed houses set amid remarkable scenery in the mountains, on the water, in the forest and the foothills of Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Idaho and New York.
“Breathtaking houses that are built lovingly with noble materials and heritage methods, always presented in profound conversation with nature,” writes Rizzoli about the book, which has already received accolades from “BigLife” magazine in a feature on the “Modern Artifact” Park City house from the book in its recent Spring 2022 issue. And “Big Sky Journal HOME” applauds JLF Architects as the “esteemed firm [that] brings decades of experience to bear on rustic and modern design solutions” in its review of the book.
From their first project some 40 years ago, challenged with creating a Montana cabin to match existing log structures on a century-old homestead property, JLF pioneered the idea of reusing old materials. “Reclaiming the wood and rebuilding it into a new form kindled a movement in American architecture,” they write in the introduction to “Foundations.” “The early work stirred a revival of craft that launched JLF’s time-honored design-build philosophy … The authenticity of materials with their natural blemishes worn by axes, adzes, boot heels, horse hooves, and the elements seemed to belong to the Montana landscape. The buildings appeared as if they had always been there, enduring and timeless.”
JLF has taken its history-rich designs in increasingly contemporary directions in recent years, continually pushing its own limits to lead the way in what has become known as Rustic Modern or Mountain Modern design. Bringing a fresh contemporary approach to Old-World materials and methods, these JLF legacy houses retain the connections to regional history and the land that resonate deeply with homeowners, combining the highest level of artisanal craftsmanship with up-to-the-minute sustainable technology. As “Foundations” states, “Building a legacy house – large or small – with purpose is the definitive reward … we build houses that weather time, traditions, trends, and generations with practical grace.”
“BigLife” spotlights a spectacular Park City, Utah, project by JLF in “Building Dreams.” Appropriately featured in the magazine’s PLACE section, it recognizes the firm’s commitment to designing in concert with specific history and landscape since that first cabin design in 1979, which it calls “an origin story of resourcefulness and a pitch-perfect sense of place.” “BigLife” writes, “JLF has become renowned for the way that their projects are at home in their environs,” adding that the Park City house “perfectly marries the authenticity of place with a modern sensibility” and that the new book “Foundations” “offers insight into the intentionality that goes into each JLF project.”
“Big Sky Journal” reviews “Foundations” in its just-out popular annual HOME issue, writing of JLF Architects “working to build in partnership with the land through environmentally responsible, artful design” and sharing a quote from the new book to summarize the philosophy of the firm that has become known for creating “brand-new 100-year-old houses”: “The most sustainable thing we can do is design a house that will still be here in a hundred years, a place where people can gather for generations to come.”
“Foundations: Houses by JLF Architects” includes a foreword by writer, filmmaker and conservationist John Heminway, who similarly captures the mystique of a JLF house: “A home should be right in every way. It should impress, not through grandeur but through simplicity, authority, and grace. Ideally, it is located, designed, and crafted so thoughtfully that it appears the only imaginable structure for the landscape. Let others erect castles, as long as JLF can build you a home where, inside and out, you will feel better, be better … the home of the heart.”
About JLF Architects:
With over 40 years of experience, JLF Architects, pioneers in building houses with reclaimed antique timber and indigenous stone, continue as leaders in creating sustainable legacy houses that contrast rustic materials with the best of contemporary design. The award-winning Bozeman, Montana-based firm with offices in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Park City, Utah, applies distinctive solutions and Old-World techniques to create place-based houses closely aligned with the natural world and honoring history, from the Rocky Mountains to the Eastern Seaboard. Winners of “Mountain Living” Home of the Year, the JLF Architects and Big-D Signature design-build team unites passionate architects with dedicated builders to enable the collective imagination of visionary artisans working with visionary clients. For more information go HERE and follow JLF on Instagram and Pinterest.
