Walk on Water

The therapeutic qualities of water is something that we only really appreciate when we’re by it’s side… or when you’re swimming, or having a shower, or drinking it, or gardening, or keeping fish as pets…Ok, water is undoubtedly fantastic.

When you read celebrity interviews (the real ones, not the reality stars who want big rims and big breasts) they dream about waterfront properties, fresh and relaxing lifestyles. The dream isn’t floating to far away from us hard working people. Seas, rivers, lakes are prime land; they portray a lifestyle and are vital for the best views. We’ve got all look-out points covered. Read the rest of this entry »

Venice Architecture Biennale

Venice’s other Biennale will begin in just a few weeks.  No, not the art one. No, not the film one either. The architecture one.  With Venice’s cycle of Biennales it’s sometimes hard to keep track, but it also means that they’ve got putting together large-scale well organized events down pat.

The 12th Architecture Exhibition is directed by Kazuyo Sejima, the Japanese architect widely recognized for her talent, vision, and commitment, for which she was just awarded a Pritzker Prize.  As the first woman to ever be selected to direct the Architecture Biennale, it will be interesting to see if the event, titled “People Meet in Architecture” offers a different perspective from previous exhibitions.

We’re especially excited to check out the Irish Pavilion, which seeks to investigate Ireland’s cultural landscape through the work of de Blacam and Meagher (who designed White Line’s own Inis Meain Restaurant & Suites on the Aran Islands – pictured).  Curators Tom dePaor, Peter Maybury, Alice Casey and Cian Deegan have chosen the work of de Blacam and Meagher because it has permeated Ireland over the last 34 years through their design of houses, commercial, educational environments, and places of worship.

The Venice Architecture Biennale runs from 29th August – 21st November 2010.  If your planning a trip to Venice for the any of the Biennale, base yourself at the Art Deco inspired Ca’Pisani Hotel.

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Categories: Venice, Architecture, Events, Aran Islands

Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter

No Ball Games

Something’s going on this June. Oh yeah, that over-talked about World Cup thing.

Not all places are embracing the game because, believe it or not, it’s not everyone’s be all and end all. Life and travel does carry on around World Cup time for those who let it.

Want to escape it? Here’s how.

We’re offering you retreats and hideaways so you don’t have to put up with the bad behaviour, the tantrums, the tears, the injuries or the opinions.  Get on the ball and go and do something else, somewhere else.

The Greulich Hotel is setting the tone with their No-Goal dinners, while these other hotel gems have told us their places will be football free:

Aenea, Worthersee, Austria
Krafft Basel, Basel
Lesic Dimitri, Korcula, Croatia
Inis Meain, Arran Islands, Ireland
Hotel des Academies, Paris
Ca’pisani, Venice
Hotel J, Stockholm
Hotel Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, London

The Greenwich, New York
New Majestic, Singapore
The Retreat, Tanzania

Go somewhere where football fever isn’t being forced fed to you.

Aran Islands. Inis Meáin

Inis Meáin  – where to begin?  The unspoilt and windswept plains? The craggy wildflower dotted cliffs?  Or the cultural heritage, which inspired some of Ireland’s most notable writers?  Inis Meáin, the middle of the three Aran Islands, is located 15 miles off the west coast of Ireland just across the Galway Bay. With only 200 inhabitants and spanning just 3 miles, traditions in farming, fishing, sport and music are still held dear.

Inis Meáin is an inspiring destination.  The middle island is the least visited of the three, instilling a sense of timelessness.  The wild landscape, divided by hundreds of miles of rough stone walls, is often covered in a mist; views over the surging sea are broken only by the other Aran Islands in the distance.  The people of Inis Meáin have often been credited for their sensibility, intellect and virtues. Life here is untouched and unique, filled with the pleasures of simple traditions, or to quote Irish author Breandán Ó hEithir “The island was different and always had been.”

The island still maintains many charming mores, such as the annual St. Patrick’s Day game of ‘cead’.  Cead is only played on Inis Meáin by the local men – nowhere else in Ireland and certainly nowhere else in the world.  The men gear up for the St. Patrick’s Day game by carving long wooden bats and ‘ceads’, a small wooden tube.  To begin the game captains are chosen from last years winning team.  Captains choose players, based on assumptions of skill, since practice throughout the year is frowned upon.  Over the course of the next four hours the players hit the ceads various distances to score points.

After the game locals head to the pub to celebrate their triumph, bemoan defeat, discuss plays, and rehash critical moments.  Victory is celebrated by filling the World Cup with a hearty alcoholic concoction, served only on St. Patrick’s Day.  This very World Cup can be seen in the islands only pub – Osta Inis Meáin – year-round engraved with the local names of past winners.

White Line Hotel Inis Meaín takes the same name as the island and keeps the spirit of the island close in the concept.  Hospitality, genuineness and simplicity are at the heart of the hotel.  Designed by de Blacam & Meagher, the hotel is inspired by surrounding scenery.  The owners, chef Ruairí de Blacam (born and raised on Inis Meáin) and his wife designer Marie-Thérèse, have combined this old world approach with modern luxuries in the four suites.  Each suite has a northerly view of the island and bay, breakfast is delivered to the rooms, and soft uncluttered textures complete the atmosphere of retreat and relaxation.

The rich literary history of Inis Meáin will be covered in part II of this post.

Booking in advance is essential, Inis Meáin’s 4 suites book out well in advance.  The season runs from April to September. Anyone quoting White Line Hotels when booking a suite will be shouted a couple of pints of Guinness in the Osta Inis Meáin.

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Breandán Ó hEithir quote from “The mystery of Inis Meáin” by Colm Tóibín in The Guardian on 12 May 2007.

Category: Aran Islands – Ireland

Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter

Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites, Aran Islands, Ireland joins White Line Hotels

Warning. Seriously good for you.

The Inis Meáin Restaurant and Suites.

Whatever your beliefs – your vision of Eden might not switch to the remoteness of the Irish Aran Islands in the Galway Bay– but it should.

A soon as you catch a glimpse of the middle island (the least busy of the three) you become enchanted and realize why the island has long been the secret enclave for playwrights, artists and escapists alike.

Think here of natural barren beauty, lichen weathered limestone outcrops, clear aqua green waters, folklore woven through the resilient islanders…you following us….fresh lobster hoisted from the bay prepared by maverick chef-owner Ruairi de Blacam, who with his co-owner & wife Marie-Thérèse, have crafted a signatory island retreat that is as honest and simple as the beauty of the island itself.

With no TV, this is your chance to find yourself – bikes waiting for a ride, rods at the door looking for fish or that book waiting to be read – be active, be restful, be good to yourself. This is seriously slow living.

With just 4 suites you need to be off the mark early to get a room here – the place is only open from April to September – so get your act together and request a room as early as possible.

Discover it for yourself right here.

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Category: Aran Islands – Ireland