Mountain
biking expeditions in San Miguel de Allende
Microbrews in France
- International Living Magazine
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NEWS AND
NOTES READERS RECOMMEND
Biking en
Español
On a recent
trip to San Miguel de Allende to study Spanish, we discovered a whole new
adventure. John Kay, an American who now runs La Puertecita. Hotel high
atop a hill in San Miguel, takes groups of five to seven on mountain biking
expeditions through the countryside near San Miguel. A short van ride drops
you at the train tracks where your trail begins on some of the most scenic
bike trails in Mexico.
John provides
commentary on the areas you ride through. He talks sbout the native people,
local hang-outs, and trail conditions.
Think biking
might be too youthful? John is 65, and most of our group (all under 50)
had a hard time keeping up with him. The expedition is free to hotel guests.
Contact John Kay; La Puertecita Hotel, Santo Domingo 75, San Miguel de
Allende, Gto., te/. (415)22250.
Czar's teacups
... sold!
Would you
like to stir your morn-ing tea with a silver spoon from Nicholas I's collection?
Or drink your tea from the silver charka cup of a czar? Now you can.
J. Kugel Anitiquaires
in Paris is unveiling the most notable collection of Russian art and collectibles
ever organized. The auction will bid off over 300 items, including artwork
and keepsakes formerly owned by Peter the Great and Nicholas 1.
The most extravagant
piece in the exhibit is the famed 54-carat Potemkin diamond, worn by Cather-ine
the Great. Other items to be auc-tioned will be porcelain snuffboxes, glass
figurines, and other objet's d'art of Russian sovereigns. The auction will
be held September 16 through October 31. Admission is free. Hours are Tuesday
through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Contact Gallery J. Kugel, 279 rue Saint-Honore,
75008, Paris, IeL (33-1)42608623,fax -610672 -Gilles Stucker
Microbrew
pour vous?
Micro-brasseurs
have made their way into a city where wine has reigned for thousands of
years. Eight microbrew pubs have opened in Paris for those looking to avoid
the standard pilsner-style European beer
Even Heineken
and Kronen-bourg, after their consumption of authentic Parisian pubs in
the '70s, couldn't stop savvy entrepreneurs like the French Bonduels brewing
family from capitalizing on the steady 28 % increase in sales of smaller
French labels, imports, and special beers. Microbrews are big business
in France.
Your best
bet is the Parislytic, a malty and fruity ale, or the Dark de Triomphe,
a London-style stout. Bott are available at the Frog and Rosbif. If your
tastebuds aren't sure, most pubs offer free sample tastes and many have
demonstrations on micro-brewing that are free. Following are the names
and addresses of Paris' new brew spots: 0 La Taverne de Nesles; 32 rue
Dauphine, 6th arrondissement * O'Neil, 20 rue des Canettes, 6th arrondissement
* Frog and Rosbif, 116 rue St. Denis 2nd arrondissement * Frog and Princess,
9 rue Princesse, 6th arrondissement e La Fabrique, 55 rue du Faubourg-St.
Antoine, 11th arrondissement 9 Financiere Firkin, 15 rue de Depart, 15th
arrondissement @ Floozy and Firkin, 54 rue St. Denis, 2nd arrondissement
* Freedom and Firkin, 8 rue de Berri, 8th arrondissement. -Gilles
Stucker
Heat-driven
discounts
Right now
you can take a bar-gain vacation to escape soaring tem-peratures Stateside.
At Tamarind
Reef Hotel on St. Croix, your entire room charge is refunded if St. Croix
temperatures excee( 99'F while you are registered at the hotel. The offer
requires a guaranteed deposit for the entire reservation. This is also
refundable if the temperature goes up. Rates are valid throught December
1. Contatc Tamarind Reef Hotel; Tel (800 619-0014)
On St.
Thomas, Calypso Realty offers specials for guest booking from areas
where the temperature is 92oF or higher. You receive one free
night for every seven nights booked and a free bottle of run .Contact
Seminar
Update
Palms and
practitioners
The third
annual Health Sciences Symposium is being held at the Palms at Palm Springs,
California January 13-17. Many IL subscribers attended last year's symposium
in Florida and enjoyed the panel of heath and wellness, experts while indulging
in the spa's luxurious services.
This year,
you ran join a panel of alternative medicine experts discussing new frontiers
in medicine including anti-aging supplements, breakthrough cancer treatments,
and herbal weight-loss programs.
While you are
there, explore the spa nestled located in the foothills of the San Jacinto
Mountains. Healthful meals are prepared with herbs grown in the spa's garden
and golf courses and tennis courts are within shouting distance.
The symposium
costs $1,299 per person, which includes all meals, run of the spa facilities,
and the complete seminar program.
Contact the
Health Sciences Institute, tel. (561)243-6276, for complete details.
Calling
all Correspondents!
Starting next
month, we'll run a column with your notes from the field. Remember, it
you have joined the Agora International Press Corps, you're obliged to
submit the notes you gather on your travels. We're interested in your hotel
and airline reviews, travel, investment, and retirement ideas, and special
finds from around the world like the best place to buy silk or eat lobster.
Send your submissions
to Field Notes, c/o Lindsay Roylance, Agora International Press Corps,
105 W. Monument St., Baltimore, MD 2120 1. For more information about how
you can join AIPC, call Lindsay at 410-895- 7982. |
