Explore Views November 2006
The latest news, views and events from bmi destinations including Amsterdam, Hanover and Jeddah. Plus two extraordinary adventures across the Atlantic to Antigua
ON COURSE FOR ANTIGUAN FINISHING LINE
NOT JUST A beautiful island, Antigua is also the finishing line to some of the greatest ocean adventures. Presenter Ben Fogle and Olympic rower James Cracknell (below) discovered its delights when they completed the world’s toughest rowing race across the Atlantic in January this year.
Their new book, The Crossing: Conquering the Atlantic in the world’s toughest rowing race (Atlantic Books, £18.99), is their honest account of the 2,900-mile journey, which Fogle reveals was a huge challenge for him. “I hadn’t rowed before, so I had to train hard. Just before the event, I went filming in Africa for a BBC series. I took a rowing machine with me, strapped it to the roof of my Land Rover, and trained whenever we stopped filming.”
Fogle confesses that he didn’t know Cracknell well before they left, but they got to know each other very well. “We had to row with no clothes on – for practical reasons,” he explains, “but it wasn’t embarrassing. We were 700 miles from another boat and it just felt like you were in your bathroom.” Fogle admits that arriving in Antigua was
“a great relief, but a bit of a shock for our families, as we were hairy, smelly and slightly crazed looking”.
Another adventurer, Michael Perham, 14 (below), hopes to become the youngest person to sail across the ocean single-handedly to Antigua, this November.
Perham started sailing at six. He and his father have been training in an exact replica of the yacht Michael will sail in, a 28ft boat called Tide28. They plan to sail the Trade Wind Route, which is the most “natural” way to cross the Atlantic – westward – as all the winds blow in the same direction.
A pupil at Chancellor’s School in Hatfield, Michael is going to run the ship while completing his GCSE homework via email. He will live on a diet of tinned food, and will only sleep for two hours at a time. Michael is raising money for charity.
He is also in talks with a production company about filming a Through Hell and High Water style documentary.
He sets sail from Gibraltar on the 19 November and should dock in Antigua four weeks later.
“I’ve got my mind set on it. There’s no question of turning back.”
For more information on sponsoring Michael visit www.sailmike.com
FESTIVE SPIRITS
DID YOU KNOW
that Santa Claus lives in Madrid? According to Dutch tradition, Sinkterklass, as he is known, arrives in Amsterdam by sea every year, having travelled by steamer from Spain to herald the start of the festive season.
Take to the city’s streets to watch the grand parade (19 November; www..amsterdamtourist. nl) as it passes.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Christmas tree is a symbol of friendship and thanks from the Norwegians for the Scots’ assistance during World War II. Located on the Mound, it is lit up on 23 November at 5.30pm, as part of Light Night (www.edinburghs.christmas.com).
…Skating
WHETHER YOU CAN dance like Torvill and Dean, or cling to the side as others go whizzing by, it’s time to head to a winter ice rink. Skate in historical surroundings at the Tower of London, (25 November 2006-14 January 2007; +44 (0)870 145 113). If you like to have a wide berth, the ice skating ring at the Royal Dublin Society, Dublin covers 1,500 square metres and has two ice rinks, so there is plenty of room for manoeuvre (17 November 2006-14 January 2007; www.7upchristmasonice.ie). Or, if you’re feeling really brave, grab a pair of skates and follow the locals in Amsterdam, as they take to the frozen canals.
Also in the diary…
A unique exhibition opens at The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, highlighting Van Gogh’s influence on Expressionist artists, such as Klee and Klimt (24 November 2006-4 March 2007; www.vangoghmuseum.nl).
The Lord Mayor’s Show takes over the streets of London with a spectacular parade on 11 November (www.lordmayorsshoworg..-4
The Lord Mayor’s Show is expected to attract half a million visitors
NUMBER CRUNCHER 65,000
Number of people who attended the Bonfire Night at Lewes, East Sussex (an hour from London) last year. The famous event includes costumed processions from the town’s seven bonfire societies and spectacular firework displays. 4 November; www.lewesbonfirecouncil.org.uk
Worldly pleasures
BRITISH DINING AT ITS BEST
NEWLY OPENED MEWS of Mayfair might have a bar that’s popular with the after-work crowd, but there’s a lot more to this historic London venue than smart cocktails. Head chef David Selex has devised a menu for the fine dining restaurant on the first floor which makes the most of seasonal British ingredients. It offers everything from scallop kedgeree to venison Wellington, while gourmets can indulge in five-course tasting menus (from £40). Power brokers who want absolute discretion at dinner can book the chef’s table, which is set in the building’s rafters. The walls are decorated with antique maps of the world – perfect for head-hunters and venture capitalists, the modern equivalent of conquerors.
Mews of Mayfair, 10-11 Lancashire Mews, London W1; +44 (0)20 7518 9388; www.mewsofmayfair.com
IRISH TREASURE
DISCOVER THE POETIC genius of William Butler Yeats at The National Library of Ireland, Dublin. The library holds the largest collection of Yeats manuscripts in the world, and they now have additional material donated by the poet’s wife and son. www.nli.ie
CAPITAL PHOTOS
THIS AUTUMN, PARIS becomes the home to photography. Throughout November, keep your eyes open for one of the 60 exhibitions that will take place in galleries, cultural centres and museums across the capital. The event is a celebration of photography as an art form and this year’s theme focuses on the relationship between photography and the printed press.
London
CLAUDIE DUSSOUILLEZ, CONCIERGE AT THE MAY FAIR HOTEL, OFFERS A GUIDE TO THE BEST OF LONDON
FIRST TIMER? London has so much to offer that it’s best to start with a tour. Relax on a boat trip down the Thames from Westminster pier and cruise past the capital’s historical sights (www.citycruises.com). Or, if you are looking for an adventure, take to the skies in a helicopter (www.helicopter-tour.conciergedesk.co.uk).
BEEN BEFORE? The beauty of London is that it always has something new to offer. The Wallace Collection (www.wallacecollection.org) is a national treasure, housing art from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Sir John Soane’s Museum (www.soane.org) was the Victorian architect’s home, but also the setting for his extraordinary collection of antiquities and art.
POWER LUNCH: Giardinetto (39-40 Albemarle Street) is a hidden gem in the heart of Mayfair. The owner and chef are passionate about food and the presentation is a work of art. L’Oranger (5 St James’ Street) has excellent food and you can impress your guests with their speciality seasonal dishes, which need to be ordered in advance.
TAKE A DATE: Have a romantic dinner at Lindsay House (21 Romilly Street, W1), and then take in London by night, while relaxing in a chauffeur driven car (www.kellyexecutive. com) and sipping champagne.
TOP TIPPLE: Drink with the A-list at The Blue Bar (Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, SW1), enjoy a cocktail at the stylish May Fair Bar, or sup a pint with the locals at the 500-year old pub Ye Old Mitre (1 Ely Court, Ely Place, Holborn, EC1).
TAKE HOME: Tea is a great British drink and I tell my guests to go to Fortnum and Mason (181 Piccadilly, W1) for the finest selection. The best of British tailoring can be found in Savile Row, but if you are in a hurry, our local bespoke tailor, AJ at Mirpuri (110 New Bond Street, +44 (0)207 907 9110) is highly regarded.
CLAUDIE DUSSOUILLEZ is Head Concierge at The May Fair Hotel. She is also member of Les Clefs D’Or, the prestigious society of concierges.
THE MAY FAIR HOTEL is a luxury five-star hotel, set in Mayfair in the heart of London. Opened in 1927 by George V, the hotel has just completed a £75 million refurbishment, making it one of the most elegant locations in the city.
The May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street, London, W1A 2AN; +44 (0)20 7629 7777; www.radissonedwardian.com/mayfair
