Itinerary Indulgence
Mozambique, the Dodecanese Islands, and town-hopping in Liguria.
Today is a long one – it’s all itineraries. Three, in-depth. Good ones, I really think. It was going to be five, but I’m at 4,300 words with three and I think that’s all anyone (including me) has the time or energy for in one dose. First, two itineraries from the 50 trips I want to take – my dream honeymoon in Mozambique and three weeks in the Dodecanese islands of Greece. Then, a reader’s request of an itinerary town-hopping in Liguria (Italy). This was very fun to write, Happy Hotelers.
Of Potential Interest
Afar shared a first look of the new, renovated, downsized, much-awaited Waldorf-Astoria. From the writing, I’m optimistic. From what I’ve seen of photos so far, I will likely be a bar guest not a hotel guest.
Two new hotels opened on the coast of Oaxaca in Mexico this week. Hotel Humano in Puerto Escondido and Casa Yati in Mazunte. Both are likes not loves for my personal tastes.
I inspired myself with my Morocco itinerary from the other week, and am doing a very pared-down version of it in April. I’m so excited!
I have been wanting to see Paolo Sorrentino’s latest film and love letter to Naples, Parthenope, for what feels like forever. It came out in Italian theaters last October, and in the US this weekend. I was going to go see it, but I have just too much to do and I realized that that’s something to look forward to in my first days living in Florence. It’s available on Netflix in Italy. I love his films, especially the coming of age ones, and this has a hallmark scene that is supposedly coming of age…in a summer in Capri. I couldn’t relate to anything more! I don’t care about its Rotten Tomatoes rating, I can’t wait to watch.
This inspired me. Lego rocks, unless you step on them.
The Frick (my favorite museum in the US) reopens in Manhattan (finally!) on April 17.
Every year, at the beginning of it, I re-remember that I have access to NetGalley, where I can request advanced reader copies of books I’m interested in. I don’t always get approved, but often times, and it’s free to sign up for. You just need to be active on Goodreads, in some form, or have a platform where you talk about books. My first ARC of the year was A Cold Killing by Kate Alice Marshall, who’s thrillers I really enjoy and this was no different. I always guess what is going to happen, and I did not guess anything. A 4.25/5 – definitely recommend.
I saw this opening for a new exhibition in Bologna at Palazzo Boncompagni and it’s something I really want to see. I realized…I can go to Bologna for the afternoon, after Italian Class (I’m gonna be fluent by my birthday, that’s the goal). When you’re from California, nearly everything in Italy seems close.
I’ve held off on links lately because it just doesn’t feel right, right now. You don’t need a Valentine’s Day gift guide, you just don’t. At least not from me.
I restrained myself and deleted the intro I had written, about how I feel as an American and how I can positively contribute to Happy Hoteling. But I decided to stay in my lane. You likely know how I feel right now and what I stand for. But we’re here for an equalizer – travel. The opportunity to understand more, which is the key to a lot.
Forever and always, Happy Hoteling!
Itineraries from the 50 Trips I Want to Take
A DREAM HONEYMOON IN MOZAMBIQUE
Honeymoons are so individual. Some want to just go to a white sand beach and sit and have sex and drink fruity cocktails and that’s it. I want to do that, yes, but not just that.
To me, a honeymoon is an opportunity to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Again, that will mean something different to everyone. Mozambique is somewhere I’ve long thought of as a “honeymoon destination” because the places I want to go are not easy to get to. And two of the hotels exorbitantly expensive. They also require expensive added transportation, but that’s something I’m fully ok with for something like a honeymoon.
For myself, I’ve always wanted my own honeymoon to feel like an adventure. So yes, lots of luxury splurges at truly world-class hotels, but also places less-polished to make it a journey and not just a one-stop-shop, and to see and experience the most of the country and its customs and its people. I don’t want my own honeymoon to feel like just another vacation. That means staying at other special places that wouldn’t be typically deemed honeymoon-worthy, but would complete the trip.
This would be in July, largely considered the best month for both safari and sea experience. And it would start in…Lisbon. Yes, Portugal. Because there is a direct flight from Lisbon to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique and that’s the flight.
I have no idea what hotel in Lisbon I would choose as the hotel to kick off my honeymoon, but as of now, there are five contenders, Hotel des Amoreiras, Torel Palace, Palacio Ludovice, Palacete Chafariz d’el Rei, and Palacio Ramalhete.
I would not want to start my honeymoon with a nightmarish travel day, so I would stay at a strong like but not a full love of a hotel first, Machangulo Beach Lodge, on a peninsula outside Maputo. Two nights, soaking up the sea and the beach and getting a taste for the culture. It’s not too fancy, this first stop. It’s a Special Piece of Earth though, as always. And it’s cool without trying too hard. A boat bar. Lots of places to sit and talk, in style. A very good beach. Tastefully-designed rooms. It’s a yes.
