Pedalling Puglia, italy

10
Wellness
destinations
Pedalling
Puglia,
Italy
for 2014
Yecenstr.ic
Span
Baden-Bade
can be
affordable
Issue 2 – SPRING/SUMMER 2014
$4.99
traveltowellness.com
Wellness
Things to Do in
the Galápagos
WHERE TO
FIND YOUR
OM in 2014
EDITOR’s Journal
Founder/Editor-in-Chief
Anne Dimon
Publisher
Gerry Kinasz
Associate Publisher
Toni DeFino
Editorial Assistant
Kristen Sherman
Contributors
Lynn Burshtein, Alessandra Ferreri, Judi Lees,
Vickie Lillo, Kate Pocock, Kathryn Stolle,
Carol Perehudoff
Copy Editor/Proofreader
Rosemarie Barnes
Creative Director
Jonathan Carmichael
Account Executive
Anne Janakovic
Printing
WebOffset
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Anne Dimon
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Our Wellness Travel Tour 2014
A
s I write this I am in Santa Barbara watching
waves crash the shore and cyclists pedal along the paved
oceanfront path. Santa Barbara is part of my Wellness
Travel Tour 2014 and, at this point, I have been on the
road for 23 days of this 38-day journey. As a travel writer
and editor of a travel magazine, being “on the road” has
been part of my life for over 20 years, but occasionally, I
like to take an extended trip to further my knowledge of destinations and
their wellness products. I can then share relevant and timely information
with readers, but also with the industry itself.
This recent wellness travel tour included my speaking at the first
Well-Being Travel Symposium (held in Las Vegas), and being part of the
first-ever wellness travel panel at the New York Times Travel Show, in
a bitterly cold NYC.
The journey then took me along the California coast from Santa
Barbara to San Diego and into the desert hot springs region of Palm
Springs.
We’ll have a couple of stories on our findings in the Fall/Winter
issue of Travel to Wellness but, for now, you can read about several
of the discoveries we made during the trip at traveltowellness.com/
wellness-travel-tour-2014
Enjoy this issue, safe travels and be well!
Anne
Anne Dimon
Founder, Editor-in-Chief
Print subscriptions in Canada $9.99 plus GST for four
issues. Payment may be made by cheque, money order,
Visa or Mastercard to Travel to Wellness Publishing
Twitter: @annedimon
Mail to: 122 Parliament St. Toronto, Ontario, M5A 2Y8
Spring/Summer 2014
3
"
NO
W
CONTENTS
In every
issue
3 Editor’s Journal
6 Good Reads for
the Road
14
7 Health, Beauty
& Anti-Aging
8 Treatments
& Therapies
10 On Our Radar
12 Wellness Everyday
Cover story
18 Eating Well
30 Places to Just BE
Pedalling Puglia
Features
A mother/daughter spin around the heel of itlay
23 Good to Go
20 // THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
24 // MYSTICAL MOUNTAIN TREK
28 // BADEN-BADEN
On our cover
Guests arrive by bike to Castello di Velona,
Val d’Orcia, Tuscany
Photo: © Backroads / Dan Zagoren
Spring/Summer 2014
5
Good reads for
the road
by Alessandra Ferreri
Watch How
We Walk
THE Figures
of Beauty
by Jennifer LoveGrove
by David Macfarlane
Publisher: ECW Press
Publisher: Harper Collins
Canada
This emotionally charged
story by poet and first-time
novelist LoveGrove tackles
the difficult and uncertain
coming-of-age drama of a
young Jehovah’s Witness
named Emily. Moving back
and forth between Emily’s
childhood as she observes
her rigid and ritualistic
upbringing as a Witness, to
her anguished adulthood
outside the fellowship,
creates a dynamic and
dismaying narrative.
Haunted by the death of
her sister, the adult Emily
turns to cutting herself while
replaying scenes from her
sheltered past and the frayed
relationships that have
affected her. Both troubling
and fascinating, LoveGrove’s
foray into the world of
Jehovah’s Witnesses is a
detailed critique.
A summer romance, in
Carrara, Italy, finds a
young Canadian man
falling in love with a
beautiful bohemian
sculptor. Years later, the
daughter he never knew
he fathered comes to
Canada to find him. In The
Figures of Beauty, author
David Macfarlane weaves
together a combination
of stories all connected
to this picturesque Italian
town made famous by its
pristine and legendary
marble. As the title
suggests, The Figures
of Beauty takes its time
building a complex novel
that blends the many faces
of art, life and love.
Hellgoing
by Lynn Coady
Publisher: House of
Anansi Press
The 2013 Scotiabank Giller
Prize winner is Lynn Coady
for her novel Hellgoing, a
diverse collection of nine
short stories. With humour
and candor, Coady captures
a range of confusing and
engrossing moments that
can be experienced within
a range of relationships.
Digging in and exposing rich,
insightful emotion, especially
within her female characters
– including a young nun, a
bride-to-be and a teacher Coady has written a unique,
offbeat and entertaining
collection that is certainly
worth every accolade.
For more book reviews visit:
My Heart
is Not My
Own
by Michael Wuitchik
Publisher: Penguin
Canada
A heart-wrenching novel
that follows former relief
doctor John Rourke on his
travels from Vancouver
to Sierra Leone in search
of the colleagues and
friends he was forced to
leave behind during the
height of the Sierra Leone
Civil War. The novel is a
compelling, emotional
journey that explores the
strength and resilience of
Sierra Leone’s war-torn
past, giving way to a more
hopeful future.
traveltowellness.com/book-reviews-goodreads-for-the-road
6
TravEL TO WELLNESS
health, beauty & Anti-aging
Exfoliation
What’s one of the best things you can do for your skin at this time of year?
Dr. Diane Wong, MD and Medical Director at Glow Medi Spa in Toronto, says it can be
summed up in just one word: Exfoliation. Here are her thoughts and advice on the subject.
by Anne Dimon
Why is exfoliation so important at
this time of year? Following the colder months, the skin is
typically left with residual dryness and can
look dull and lifeless.
What are the benefits?
Exfoliation removes the dead cells on the
surface of the skin and allows healthier skin
to shine through.
Because exfoliation stimulates the
skin’s natural cellular turnover and leads
to increased collagen stimulation, it is
also good for aging or sun-damaged skin.
The process helps even-out skin colour,
smooth fine lines and improve skin texture.
Exfoliation also helps skin care products
penetrate to the underlying tissues of the
skin, allowing them to work better.
Exfoliating can also be the key to
preventing acne breakouts. When dead cells
are removed by exfoliation, the pores can
then “breathe” and eliminate clogged debris.
This lessens the risk of bacterial growth and
breakouts. For active acne, she recommends
calming the skin – prior to exfoliation - with
products specifically designed for irritated skin.
With make-at-home products,
what is important to keep in mind?
Even with refrigeration, harmful bacteria and
other micro-organisms in home-made scrubs
can harbour and grow and may be harmful to
skin, so use these products as soon as possible.
Not everything that is rough should be used
as an exfoliant. Almonds and oat bran are not
recommended, for instance, because particles
are too big and might irritate skin. Finer particle
scrubs such as those made with strawberries,
sugar or pumpkin are better suited for sensitive
skin as they are made up of smaller granules.
More textured scrubs, made with organic
brown sugar, for instance, may be suitable for
a rougher, thicker skin because of the larger
granules, making it a more abrasive treatment.
Sea salt is another exfoliation option but should
be used on body only, not the face.
If buying exfoliation products off
the shelf what should consumers
look for?
Products with glycolic acid or retinol are
great exfoliants but are not always tolerated
by very sensitive skins, and may need to be
introduced gradually. A gentler alternative is
a product with lactic acid as an ingredient.
Do-it-yourself hand held devices
should be used cautiously to avoid the
possibility of excess redness or broken
capillaries. Such mechanical exfoliation
may not be suitable for very sensitive skin
or red, irritated skin.
At the medi level what are the
options?
Exfoliation at the medi level can be broken
down into mechanical and chemical.
A mechanical exfoliation procedure
(the most popular is micro-dermabrasion),
incorporates a device that has a roughened
surface to gently scrape off the old, dead
surface skin. The results are generally
immediate but care must be taken to avoid
breaking small capillaries which may lead to
residual redness.
Chemical exfoliation works to break
down and remove dead skin with varying
intensities of active solutions such as
lactic acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid or
a combination of ingredients. Results may
not be immediate and there may be mild
flaking or peeling which can occur for a
few days following the treatment. All skin
types can be treated with peels as long as
the peel is properly selected, customized
and applied by an experienced medical skin
care therapist.
Most in-office exfoliation treatments
result in no down-time.
What should
we avoid post
exfoliation?
For chemical and
mechanical exfoliation,
direct sun exposure should be avoided for one
to two weeks following an in-office exfoliation
treatment and sun block should be applied
regularly.
How often should we exfoliate?
Dr. Wong suggests gentle exfoliants be used
at home once or twice a week. For specific skin
issues ( i.e. hyper-pigmentation, sun damaged
and superficial acne scars) spa treatments can
be booked once every two weeks initially, and
then for general maintenance of all skin types,
once a month at the most, and seasonally at
the least.
Treatments & Therapies
Super seaweed
hecking into the Delphi Mountain Resort & Spa on
Ireland’s west coast, a note offering fresh seaweed
catches my eye. Curious, I called to inquire and, sure
enough, within minutes, a cheery young girl was
knocking at the door with a full bucket of steaming,
leafy seaweed. Was I supposed to wash with it, wear
it, or inhale its ocean aromas?
All of the above it turned out, after the girl poured the entire
bucket into a warm bath and encouraged me to lower myself into
the brownish, fern-like tentacles. Trying to ignore the jelly-like
feel and pungent smells swirling around me, I focused instead on
this bountiful gift from the sea with its beneficial ions, vitamins
and immune-boosting powers.
Just as in Ireland, people around the world use seaweed in a
variety of ways – including for food, drink, medicinal purposes and
in spa treatments - to promote health and wellness.
Who was the first to discover the marvelous miracle of healthinducing seaweed? Some say it was the ancient Aztecs because archaeological digs in Peru found evidence of kelp dated circa 2500
B.C. In China, the earliest reference to algae eaten as food comes
from the Book of Poetry, circa 800-600 B.C. And the Japanese have
been using seaweed as food for centuries.
On a more mystical note, collecting seaweed was viewed as a
more spiritual endeavour among ancient Hawaiians. And we know
that the aboriginal peoples on Canada’s west coast packed dried
seaweed cakes into cedar boughs during winter to be boiled and
eaten with dried salmon at tribal feasts. Clearly, our appreciation
of this bountiful product scooped up from the sea is not a 21stcentury phenomenon.
8
TravEL TO WELLNESS
Fast forward to our present-day focus on health and wellness, and we are still encountering seaweed: eating it in sushi,
soaking in it, using it for medicinal purposes, and signing up
for revitalizing ocean-enhanced spa treatments. But according
to the experts, this is still not enough. It seems that some of
us are still leery about draping ourselves with strings of kelp,
‘‘
Dr. Oz, the celebrated
television doctor, lists
seaweed as number
12 of his 32 super foods
– it’s sandwiched between
cucumbers and eggs.
‘‘
C
by Kate Pocock
slurping up the leftover “sea tea” after seafood is cooked in pots
lined with seaweed (as is still the custom on Quebec’s Magdalen
Islands) or smearing something ‘sea-weedy’ on faces, or entire
bodies. And that’s a shame, because practicing ‘seaweed savvy’
could be one of the more direct and accessible routes to health
and wellness.
Want to learn more about seaweed?
Diane Bernard, known as “the Seaweed Lady,”
certainly knows the benefits of this prolific plant
with an estimated 10,000 species growing in
our oceans. With roots deeply anchored in both
Prannie Rhatigan’s Irish
Canadian coasts, Bernard grew up on the Magdalen
Seaweed Kitchen, County Sligo
Islands where seaweed was a regular part of the
diet. Today, as the owner of Outer Coast Seaweeds
Medical doctor and seaweed
on Vancouver Island, she harvests seaweed from a
aficionado Prannie Rhatigan gives
dozen of the 250 varieties found on Canada’s west
seaweed-themed workshops on
coast, oversees a wild organic seaweed skincare line
Ireland’s west coast. Her Irish
and offers tours.
Seaweed Kitchen cookbook offers
She lists the healing properties of seaweed as
150 tested recipes.
though the leafy kelp was prescriptive medicine: 60
prannie.com
trace minerals, high levels of vitamins A, C, E and
K, iodine, protein and amino acids, iron, coenzyme
Q10 (which helps to convert food into energy) and
the only vegetable source of B12 on the planet. “It’s
a highly nutritious food,” she says, “and what’s good
for you to eat is good for you to put on your skin.”
Outer Coast Seaweeds,
Dr. Oz, the celebrated television doctor, lists seaSooke, Vancouver Island
weed as number 12 of his 32 super foods - it’s sandDiane Bernard, The Seaweed
wiched between cucumbers and eggs. Recent studLady, offers products and tours on
ies from institutes of education including McGill
Vancouver Island’s outer coast near
University and the Harvard School of Public Health
Sooke Harbour, B.C.
show that seaweed helps to detox the body from chemioutercoastseaweeds.com
cals such as cadmium and lead, and may inhibit cancer
growth and lead to remission of active tumours. Seaweed may also help us live longer. A diet including dulse When heated, as it was for my bathtub soak in Ireland, it smelled a
(an edible seaweed) is thought to be a factor in helping residents bit like wet socks. But mostly, if it emerges directly from salt water,
on the south shore of Nova Scotia to live to 100 and beyond. And it smells of fresh ocean.
a 25-year study of the longest-lived population on the planet, the
Unfortunately, we can’t be like Hawaii’s Hina-Lau-Lima-Kala, the
Okinawans in Japan, who have healthy arteries, low cholesterol beautiful marine goddess who was skilled in concocting medicines
and low homocysteine (a heart-damaging chemical) levels, reports from the sea. Or like actress Ruth Goodman who, in the BBC hit series,
that sea vegetables were among the seven to 10 portions of fruit Edwardian Farm, collected fresh seaweed as a mulch for her vegetable
and vegetables they eat daily.
garden. But we can certainly take advantage of the benefits of seaweed.
“Seaweed is an anti-inflammatory,” assures Bernard, “so it’s “It’s much too good just for plants,” says Bernard. “We should be eating
hugely important to our issues around aging.” Unfortunately, sea- it, wearing it, putting it in our medicine chests and doing all kinds of
weed does have a reputation for being smelly - the ‘yuck’ factor. good things with it.”
Here are a few places to experience seaweed treatments:
CANADA
IRELAND
Ste. Anne’s Spa, Grafton, Ontario
Delphi Mountain Resort & Spa, Leenane,
County Galway
At this lovely country spa enlivened with spacious gardens, try a
Seaweed Body Masque moisturizing treatment, then let yourself
be wrapped in warm linens for scalp and facial massages.
steannes.com
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Tofino, British Columbia
In the Healing Grounds Spa at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort on
Vancouver Island, enjoy an Organic Seaweed Body Wrap or a Green
Tea Seaweed Salt Glow with Pacific sea salts and marine minerals.
wildretreat.com
HAWAII
Hawaii
Grand Wailea, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, Maui
At Spa Grande, in the heart of this spacious oceanside resort, enjoy
a Pacific Seaweed Cocoon body wrap or a Seaweed Masque.
grandwailea.com
At this Celtic-inspired adventure resort on Ireland’s west
coast, step into a bath filled with fresh, hand-harvested
seaweed for an invigorating soak. Then relax with a cup of
seaweed-infused tea.
delphimountainresort.com
FRANCE
Hotel Sofitel Quiberon Thalassa Sea & Spa,
Brittany
Spend a week as the French do—eating steamed seaweed,
drinking seaweed tea, scrubbing with algae-flecked soap,
learning to cook with seaweed, swimming in freshly pumped,
heated seawater and breathing in the beneficial ions at the
seaside luxury resort.
sofitel.com
on our radar
Five places to find
your Om in 2014
by Maria Lisella
Every day, scientists move a bit closer to demystifying what yogis have held to be true for
centuries – yoga and meditation can ward off stress and disease. Yoga retreats can help reaffirm
the lessons we learn on the mat and train us to embrace those moments of calm. Retreats are also
a gift to ourselves – a way to infuse new energy into all aspects of our lives. Here are five yoga
retreats we think you might like.
t
River-rafting specialist Holiday River
Expeditions is expanding its horizons
to include therapeutic yoga in its
vacation offerings. Led by a registered
nurse and yoga therapist, this five-day
Women’s River & Yoga Retreat eschews
misconceptions about needing to be uberfit by focusing on the aging process and
physical challenges like MS, arthritis,
weight control and chronic pain in a
supportive atmosphere. Meditate and
practice yoga along the Green River as it
flows through Desolation Canyon.
June 2-6
www.bikeraft.com/blog/introducing-ourwomens-therapeutic-yoga-rafting-trip
10 TravEL TO WELLNESS
Horsing around in Utah
Led by expert horsewoman Patty Arnett and internationally certified yoga
instructor Aileen Epstein-Ignadiou, this three-night retreat explores how
combining the spirit of a horse with yoga guides a powerful and deep
transformation. Amidst the peaceful red rock setting of Red Mountain Resort
and Snow Canyon State Park, Utah, the program focuses on asanas, integrating
breath with movement, relaxation techniques, increasing mindfulness, and
connecting to “your” horse.
tttt
Therapeutic yoga and
river rafting in Utah
May 15-18
July 24-27
September 4-7
November 20-23
redmountainresort.com/yoga-retreat
Giving back in Kauai, Hawaii
t
This Kauai Yoga Retreat combines nature, meditation and twice-daily yoga
practiced ocean-side. A non-profit initiative of the Homestead Community
Development Corporation, profits support the return of the Hawaiian homelands
to indigenous Native Hawaiian peoples. Guests sleep in beachfront tentalows
(a cross between a tent and a bungalow), dine on organic meals, canoe,
kayak, hike, and visit the famous Kauai Hindu monastery.
May 10-16
Focused on nourishing body and mind, this four-day Yoga
Retreat from Madeline Island Yoga Retreats takes place in
The Madeline Island School of the Arts, Wisconsin. Each
day begins with guided yoga and meditation followed
by photography instruction, discussions on Ayurvedic
wellness and journaling to tap into your creative centre.
Guided hikes along Lake Superior’s shoreline and healthconscious meals are also part of the retreat.
t
kauaiyogaretreat.weebly.com
Journaling on the shores
of Lake Superior, Wisconsin
June 8-12
madelineislandyogaretreats.com/the-retreats/
yoga-wellness/
Silent meditation,
chanting and
nature walks in
California
At this Ashram Yoga Farm retreat, yogi
newbies explore the four paths of yoga
starting each day with silent meditation. Yoga
sessions, meals, nature walks, chanting, and
more yoga sessions make up the remainder of
each day. The Ashram’s accommodations
are sparse, its mission simple:
to provide an oasis of
peace in a chaotic world,
to practice yoga and
meditation, and to get in
touch with one’s divine
self.
t
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traveltow ats-2014
re
yoga-ret
July 27-August 1
yogafarm.org
Spring/Summer 2014 11
The dish
on detox
by Kathryn Stolle
The brutal winter is over, spring is finally here and
summer is well on its way. Yet our mirrors may still
reflect the months of inactivity and indoor living that
have taken their toll and, darn it, that favourite pair of
jeans fits just a little tighter. To top it all off, decreased
energy levels let us know that it’s time to do something, but what? A detox might just be the answer.
Then again, maybe not. Much like the word “spa,”
the term “detox” has been overused, and even misused. Here’s the dish:
Define Detox...
Please!
According to the Macmillan Dictionary,
detox is “the process of removing
harmful substances from your body by
eating only particular foods.” Those
“harmful substances,” lurking in many of
the foods we eat, include dyes, preservatives and hormones.
There is a plethora of detox and
cleanse products on the market that
claim to raise energy levels, rid the
body of unwanted toxins and even help
shed unwanted pounds over a period of
a few days or several weeks. Detoxes
range from fasts and liquid cleanses
to those that promote a more balanced
dietary approach. Then there are spas,
wellness retreats and clinics around the
world that offer short and longer term
programs to help individuals achieve
their personal goals.
What is Your Detox
Goal?
It is important to be clear as to your
detox goal in order to achieve the best
results.
12 TravEL TO WELLNESS
WELLNESS EVERYDAY
The primary aim of a detox should
be to boost the body’s natural detox system – the liver, the colon, the kidneys
and even the skin – that is programmed
to rid the body of toxins that can accumulate primarily from the foods we eat.
A detox could also be used to kick-start
a weight-loss program. Although when it
comes to weight loss, Kimberley Gomer,
Registered Dietician and Educator at the
Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa in
Florida, notes that the more extreme detox fasts, liquid cleanses and diets most
often result in the dreaded “yo-yo effect”
(regaining lost weight once the detox
diet is finished) unless individuals change
their eating habits.
Instead of “detoxing” for weight loss
she advises to simply “cut back on the
amount of salt, refined sugar and processed foods you consume.” She says diets
that emphasize plant foods (fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains) always prove to
be best for weight management.
Pros & Cons to
Detoxing
The pros:
l Detoxing can help increase energy and
vitality
l Can help in combating high blood pressure, constipation, allergies and high
cholesterol levels
l Some detoxes can aid in strengthening the health of the liver, kidneys and
colon
l Some detoxes can help kick-start a
healthier, long-term eating plan
The cons:
cleanses can leave you feeling
hungry and often result in overindulging when you’re finished with the
program
l Detoxes and cleanses are not recommended for teenagers, pregnant
women or people with health conditions who, during the detox, might
not get the calories and nutrients
they require
l Some detoxes and cleanses have been
known to be the cause of such conditions
as nausea, fatigue and dizziness and some
have resulted in damage to the colon
l There is no substantial scientific evidence to support the efficacy of detoxes, including colon cleanses
l Liquid
So, What is the
“Detox” Answer?
It comes as no surprise that medical approval is limited to detoxes that promote
a balance of fruits and vegetables, proteins
and whole grains rather than those that
cut out the essentials our bodies need to
function properly. According to Dr. Oz, the
Mayo Clinic and other reputable sources,
you need to continue to nourish your body
with the right nutrients, so that the body’s
natural elimination system will work more
effectively to expel toxins.
When it comes to a balanced home
detox, whether for shedding toxins or
pounds, rather than a quick fix, Gomer
recommends a more balanced and longterm approach. For instance:
l Increase the intake of
foods such as fruits
and vegetables, lean meats, legumes,
whole grains and calcium-rich foods (i.e.
non-fat dairy, soy products, dried figs)
l Increase the water content of foods (i.e.
turn a casserole into a soup)
l Cut back on processed foods high in
salt, sugar and preservatives
l Cut back on animal products injected
with hormones and antibiotics
Bottom line:
Be wary of quick fix, short-term liquid
detoxes and diets. What “works” for
celebrities in television and magazine
ads may not necessarily work for the
rest of us!
PedallingPuglia
A mother/daughter spin around the heel of Italy
I
t’s late afternoon on this mid-June day in
Southern Italy, and the temperature on a nearby tower
reads 34 degrees C (about 93 degrees F). I watch as
my two daughters, cycling well ahead of me, crest the
hill of the ancient town of Ostuni to follow a winding,
cobbled route that leads us to Piazza delle Lieberta.
At the nearest ristoranti, we guzzle water, order pizza
and laugh about sweat-soaked bodies sticking to the chairs.
This is our first day of cycling Puglia, Italy, and while
the route is idyllic, temperatures are unseasonably hot
for this self-guided, seven-day trip with my two adult
offspring. Between them, they have left four very young
children in the care of husbands, nannies and a cavalcade
of friends to allow them time for this mother/daughter
getaway.
Why Puglia? Several reasons. The heel of the boot,
bordering the Adriatic and Ionian Seas and off the welltrodden tourist path, is scantily populated but rich in history and architecture and is burgeoning with olive groves,
vineyards and beaches. In addition, Freedom Treks, a
14 TravEL TO WELLNESS
by Judi Lees
U.K.-based cycling company, ranked the seven-day excursion as ‘easy.’ So, with all that in mind…we were off.
We had a truly great time in trulli country. The traditional Puglian dwellings – called “trulli” - are easy targets
for puns as well as a big hit with photographs. With walls
of limestone, whimsical conical roofs of layered rock topped
with small pinnacles, they are protected under UNESCO’s
world heritage law. Some 1,500 of the dazzling white fairytale structures decorate the hillsides of Alberobello
where one can wander narrow laneways to admire structures dating as far back as the 14th century, and savour
wonderful Puglian meals. The simplest of dishes such as
orecchiette - tiny ear-shaped pasta cooked with just-picked
tomatoes, basil and olive oil and served with marinated
squid - is typical of Puglia’s ‘cucina povera’ (peasant cooking), yet every meal is a feast.
One of the perks of this self-guided holiday is that accommodation is pre-booked, luggage is transported from
hotel to hotel, and maps, directions and 21-gear hybrid
bikes are provided. At first glimpse my modern-minded
daughters snickered at the old-fashioned cruiser bikes, however, after logging 50-70 km (31 to 43 miles per day,) they
soon came to appreciate the comfort of the sit-upright, comfy-saddled cycles.
Convenience coupled
with the adventure of
pedalling distant routes
at one’s own pace and
mingling with locals, for
me, is the best of holiday
worlds but be forewarned:
choose your travel mates
carefully as following and
translating
directions
tends to be a team effort.
Leaving Alberobello
we follow rural routes
where our only hazard is
wasting time taking too
many pictures of trulli and
lush hillsides. Just past the
town of Locorotondo, a
stone railway bridge under construction means
a detour. It wasn’t a long
detour but it was enough
to take us off track.
With the help of a
jogger – read ‘typically
handsome Italian’ – who
stopped to point out a nearby Percorso Cicloturistico (a carfree cyclist path) we were soon back on the right route and
ultimately feasting on gelato in a sunny square, checking
into the luxurious Ostuni Palace, exploring the whitewashed hilltop town’s 15th century cathedral and dining
in a moonlight washed piazza.
The next day’s route fringed the Adriatic Sea before
crossing ‘the boot’ through vast orchards of olive groves
to the sleepy town of Avetrana. Map-wise, this appeared
an easy ride with secondary roads through an agricultural
valley. Not so. It was so hot that the 70-odd kilometres (40
plus miles) felt like a day on the Tour de France.
The next few days must have been what the cycle company described in the ‘easy’ category. We swooped down
‘‘
to the Ionian Sea, followed sandy curvatures where locals
amble into turquoise waters, cruised picture-perfect, whitewashed villages and lunched on mouth-watering ‘cozze’
(mussels) baked in garlic
and breadcrumbs. We delighted in the walled medieval town of Gallipoli,
set on a tiny island with
a labyrinth of narrow
laneways leading down
to the waterfront where
local fishermen show off
their catches.
At the tip of Italy’s
stiletto
where
the
Adriatic joins the Ionian,
Maria di Leuca is a typically gorgeous seaside
town. A playground for
wealthy Puglians since
the early 1900s, it is famous for its lighthouse,
a basilica that commemorates St. Peter and
a Roman temple dedicated to the Roman goddess, Minerva. We swim,
then savour just-caught
swordfish, a local delicacy, at Café du Mar, one
of the tiny town’s most popular seafood restaurants.
The 52 kilometres (about 33 miles) to Otranto is a stifling, hilly ride up a dramatic limestone ridge. Once on the
Some 1,500 of the dazzling
white fairytale structures
decorate the hillsides of
Alberobello where one can
wander narrow laneways to
admire structures, dating as
far back as the 14th century,
and savour wonderful
Puglian meals.
‘‘
Photo courtesy of Pure Adventures
Alberobello
Ostuni
Locorotondo
Avetrana
Lecce
Otranto
Maria di Leuca
Puglia
If you go
Scottsdale-based Pure Adventures
offers five, seven and eight-night
self-guided cycling tours in Puglia
along with other destinations in
Europe, the U.K., Ireland and the U.S.
pure-adventures.com
16 TravEL TO WELLNESS
Photo courtesy of Judi Lees
plateau, we feel like the only people on the top of a treeless
world. Our reward is Otranto itself. Its fairytale castle, an
ornate, 11th century cathedral and the town’s historic waterfront - originally one of Italy’s main ports – are gems.
From here, there’s a network of pretty laneways buzzing with activity around small shops and restaurants. We
chose La Bella Idrusa, recommended by Lonely Planet and
packed with Italian families dining on pizza.
On the final day, we arrived in good time to explore
Lecce, a splendour of Baroque. Here, we celebrated the
completion of 340 kilometres (about 211 miles) of cycling.
The fact that no one suffered sunstroke or fainted going
uphill in the scorching heat or had a flat tire certainly added to the overall enjoyment of the experience.
The journey also taught me a few things. I knew that
despite the ups and downs of family life, we three were a
strong team – figuring out directions, sharing information
and there was no lack of patience regarding my lag on hills.
So go. Cycle Puglia. Conquer the hills, savour the food and
wander the pretty seaside and hilltop towns steeped in history. It worked for us.
Photo courtesy of Judi Lees
Gallipoli
Special Feature
at Ste. Anne’s Spa
When I first took the reins, Ste. Anne’s was a quaint bed and
breakfast and I had been working at the leading edge of the microcomputer industry, with no experience in the hospitality business. Both Ste. Anne’s and I have come a very long way.
Some people fear change, especially as the years pass. It becomes daunting to imagine giving up familiar surroundings, altering everyday routines or abandoning a career.
I view change like jumping off a high diving board. Consider this:
scientifically speaking, climbing the long ladder should be the
IN THIS ISSUE
The spa cottage experience .......... 3
Combine the serenity of a private cottage with the
pleasures of a world-class spa
Equine therapy .............................. 4
Even for non-riders, there’s healing power in communing with beautiful horses, like the ones in our
stables at Ste. Anne’s.
Ste. Anne’s with a twist.................. 5
most difficult part because it’s an action that works against gravity. Yet, what people fear
Customize your spa stay by adding a special theme
to your visit and creating a retreat that’s unique.
most is the step that works with gravity: jumping off the platform. Instead of taking that
Take-home treats........................... 6
leap, some choose to turn around and descend the ladder. They’re avoiding risk, but
Visit the Ste. Anne’s Spa Bakery, featuring freshly
prepared foods that are hedonistic, healthy and totally gluten-free.
they’re also resisting the possibility of a thrilling experience.
Change is a constant at Ste. Anne’s. In its early days, it offered a cozy bed and a continental breakfast. Today, the main inn serves as the heart of a spa village, with a fitness
facility, a bakery, a farm and a series of beautifully appointed guest houses.
Occasionally, I’ve made changes in my life that caused headaches or cost more than I’d
counted on. More often, they’ve brought major rewards that far outweighed any risks.
Cocooning at home would be safer, but it would also mean I wouldn’t have new adventures, see new places, try new things or meet new people.
Think of a visit to Ste. Anne’s as an adventure within a cocoon.
Now there’s a change anyone can embrace.
Jim Corcoran
Owner/General manager
Homegrown botanicals
for your body ................................. 7
Ste. Anne’s has developed a natural, environmentally friendly line of high-quality skin products, with
ingredients from our own beautiful gardens.
one of a kind....
the Ste. Anne’s Spa Experience
As a Ste. Anne’s guest your all-inclusive
day spa or overnight package includes the
use of a Ste. Anne’s signature robe, reusable spa bag & slippers and complete use
of the facilities.
O
ne word to sum up the many reasons to visit Ste. Anne’s Spa? “Escape”.
We offer an escape from the everyday stresses of life to a peaceful setting in the rolling Northumberland Hills. It may be an escape from care-
giver to receiving care. Sometimes, it’s an escape from a hectic schedule in order
to revive a relationship or reconnect with friends. It could be an escape from a chal-
DAY SPA
three-course lunch
afternoon tea
$120 allowance for spa
& wellness
lenging medical battle. Most often, Ste. Anne’s is an escape from the daily grind to
8:30 am to 6:00 pm
Rates: $170 to $220 per person
..................................
help you select the ideal accommodation for your personal needs. It may be a private
OVERNIGHT SPA
gracious and comfortable
accommodations
four-course dinner
gourmet breakfast
three-course lunch
afternoon tea
$120 allowance for spa
& wellness
We pamper your body and nourish it too. The Ste. Anne’s culinary team designs
Check in: 4:00 pm
Check out: 12:00 pm
Rates: $299 - $515 per person
a haven with no demands and no “to do” lists.
choosing a place to stay
Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a rendezvous with friends or a solitary
retreat, we have a range of unique, beautifully appointed rooms and cottages. Let us
spa cottage, one of many cozy rooms in our main inn or a linked private suite.
culinary comforts
delectable, seasonal menus highlighting local ingredients, often harvested from our
own gardens. Our dishes deliver a delicate mix of decadent and wholesome and
the kitchen is happy to accommodate any special dietary needs. Guests enjoy
sipping their favourite wines, as we offer the opportunity to bring-your-own-bottle,
with no corkage fees. Our relaxed dress code provides a casual and welcoming
atmosphere in the dining room.
soothing spa services
Our therapists are always delighted to introduce men and women to their first-ever
spa experience and take equal pleasure in welcoming back regular guests who return to rejuvenate. Our treatment menu includes many different styles of massage,
body wraps, skin treatments, foot care and aqua therapies. We can help select
A note about our rates:
They vary by season, booking date and whether you are
joining us on a weekday or weekend. Accommodations
are based on double occupancy, with a two-night minimum on weekends.
what’s right for you, whether you’re a pregnant mother, an athlete or experiencing
physical or emotional stress.
wellness programs
We each choose a different path toward feeling better. For some it’s communing with
nature: perhaps a walk in the woods or mucking about in a stable. For others, it may
be meditation or yoga. It could be with a group, such as snowshoeing with a guide
or helping with morning chores at a farm. Whatever appeals and whatever your level
of experience, we welcome you to take part in a wellness activity at Ste. Anne’s.
for promotion details go to:
steannes.com/spring-group
G
the spa cottage
experience
perfect for private gatherings
uests who want extra privacy and space while enjoying all the privileges of Ste. Anne’s may choose to stay at one of
seven special spa cottages. They are all within walking distance to the main inn and each is unique. One cottage may
be an ideal romantic nest, another might be the setting for a family reunion and a different cottage could suit a small
group that needs space to socialize or hold meetings or workshops. Many of our cottages have large living and dining rooms,
whirlpool baths, decks and private outdoor hot tubs. They offer all the advantages of our beautiful rural neighbourhood.
Private Chef
kitchen. Decide
Spa cottage guests have an added advantage. They
can choose to design a unique four-course menu and
have one of Ste. Anne’s chefs prepare it in their cottage
on an hors d’œuvre, appetizer, main dish and dessert. Your
menu may include courses such as freshly-baked focaccia with delicious spreads,
roasted sweet potato soup, pistachio-crusted chicken breast, stuffed with goat
cheese and spinach and molten chocolate cake for dessert. Some people enjoy
watching the chef in action and picking up cooking tips from a pro, while others
prefer simply to savour the aromas wafting from the kitchen before they sit down
to a delectable, home-cooked dinner in their private dining room, alongside their
favourite wines. Ste. Anne’s does not charge corkage fees!
Time slowed down
and two days felt more
like a week. We enjoyed
wonderful meals together,
swims, walks,
quality time and of course
the spa services.
Before we left we were
already getting out our
calendars to look at
dates for next year,
convinced that this should
become an annual getaway.
Darlene F.
horse sense
what do horses and spa have in common?
A
t Ste. Anne’s Spa, many guests have had the privilege of spending quality
time with the horses on the property and have come away with a better
sense of what matters in life. Equine Experience Programs at Ste. Anne’s
Spa were developed to give our guests a safe environment to take their equine
intrigue one step further.
Join in for the morning chores, evening turn-in or grooming time with
one of our horses. Chores include
feeding the animals, cleaning stalls,
turning out or bringing in the horses.
Grooming involves brushing the coat
and mane, massaging sore muscles,
picking their hooves and braiding their
tails.
For guests that would like to take their
equine experience one step further,
Ste. Anne’s has developed 2-hour
Learn To Ride sessions that can be
taken each time you visit the spa,
maison
sante
working toward a Learn to Ride Certification; or you can book a 4 night
stay and include 5 sessions in your
schedule – whichever works for you.
a few short steps to fitness
Maison Santé, our new fitness facility, is just a short walk from the
main inn at Ste. Anne’s. In addition
to a fully-equipped exercise room, it
sports a year-round outdoor endless
pool where guests can swim against
smooth currents or use an underwater treadmill. There is also an outdoor
hot tub and dry cedar sauna, as well
as locker rooms and showers. The fitness room offers elliptical machines,
treadmills, a recumbent bike, rowing
machine, inversion table, a variety of
weights and, as a distraction while
exercising, a large-screen television.
for promotion details go to:
steannes.com/spring-equine
themed retreats
add a special twist to your spa experience
Food Lovers Retreat
For one or two nights, your private Ste. Anne’s spa cottage will transform into a foodies’ haven. Enhance your cooking skills and expand your culinary repertoire with our
Executive Chef Christopher Ennew, who will inspire you with local, seasonal foods
and organic produce. You may want to add a theme to your culinary experience,
perhaps a favourite regional cuisine or how to prepare gluten-free foods. This is an
opportunity for hands-on learning in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere, culminating
in a gourmet dinner served in your own dining room. Our guests also enjoy the freedom to bring their own wines to Ste. Anne’s, without paying corkage fees.
New Beginnings
The ultimate goal of yoga is moksha, which means liberation, and this retreat is designed to liberate you from the vagaries of everyday life. Ste. Anne’s resident yoga
and meditation instructor will take you on a serene journey through various styles of
yoga and meditation, along with guided walks to reconnect with nature. The focus
is on relaxation and releasing stress. This is a minimum two-night retreat, suitable
for all levels of experience.
Customize Your Retreat
Customize your Retreat with one of the following themes: Gluten Free; Organic And
Whole Food; Dinner Parties; Cooking With Local And Seasonal Ingredients; Hors
D’oeuvres. Or, if you have an idea of your own, let us know and we will see if we
can accommodate you.
If you are renting one of the
cottages, you can have
the chef prepare a menu
for you, which I would highly
recommend. It was brilliant,
a highlight of the trip. VL
for promotion details go to:
steannes.com/spring-retreat
ste. anne’s bakery
decadent, healthy and gluten-free too!
D
ecadent and healthy food doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. At Ste.
Anne’s Spa Bakery, it’s possible to have it all: freshly prepared treats that
are both delicious and wholesome.
We also appreciate that more people than ever are gluten intolerant. There is no
need to navigate cautiously through our Bakery menu because all of our offerings
are gluten-free.
Located en route to the main inn, the Spa Bakery is open daily (closed for statutory
holidays). It’s a great place to stop for a delicious lunch or afternoon tea anytime you’re
in or near the neighbourhood. We serve organic, locally roasted coffee and our specialty teas, along with fresh salads, a variety of wraps; sandwiches and quiche—with
a gluten-free crust, of course. A daily special menu is available as a take-home dinner,
including an entrée, salad and fresh loaf of homemade bread for two.
You may want to indulge in bakery treats too. Choose from our wide range of
breads, cookies, cakes, jams, chocolates and fruit butters. We’re on the Kawarthas Northumberland Butter Tart Tour, so do try our delicious tarts. With 24 hours
notice, our Spa Bakery can accommodate custom orders. Our flourless chocolate
cake is a popular choice.
Many of the ingredients in our Bakery offerings are from Ste. Anne’s gardens. We
also feature products from local farms, such as maple syrup, cheese, soap and
handcrafted cutting boards.
What’s for dessert?
It’s possible to recreate Ste. Anne’s delightful desserts in your own kitchen. Spa guests can register for
complimentary demonstrations by our talented Pastry Chef Khushroo Khambata, held at the Bakery on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. You might
learn how to craft marzipan fruits, design artistic sugar
creations or make your own chocolates or bonbons.
Chef Khushroo’s love of cooking began when he was
a young boy, experimenting in his mother’s kitchen. He
has traveled the world—from India to Austria to the
for promotion details go to:
steannes.com/spring-bakery
Caribbean—and takes special pleasure in sharing his
passion for pastry and baking with Ste. Anne’s guests.
nourishing your skin
for promotion details go to:
steannes.com/spring-nourish
W
homegrown botanicals for your body
HILE GARDENS NOURISH THE SOUL, what grows there can nourish
the skin. Ste. Anne’s Skin Nourishment is our Canadian-made signature line of skin and hair care products. They are made with 100 per
cent pure botanicals, many from our very own gardens: herbs and flowers that are
grown naturally. Our products are high quality, effective and environmentally sound.
They contain no toxic chemicals and no synthetic fragrances, dyes or preservatives. Ste. Anne’s Skin Nourishment products are used in most of our spa treatments, in all the dispensers throughout our facility and are available for purchase in
the gift boutique or online.
shop online at: www.skinnourishment.ca
HOLISTICALLY BASED
BOTANICAL ACTIVES
Ste. Anne’s Skin Nourishment has
We have chosen to use only high qual-
been designed to be a reflection of the
ity, unadulterated botanicals, as op-
emotional and psychological ease our
posed to synthetic for all active ingre-
guests experience at Ste. Anne’s Spa
dients in our products. We value ‘pure
- nurturing, family-like, unpretentious,
and natural’ ingredients and are com-
simple, friendly, and uncomplicated.
mitted to delivering a genuine product.
DESIGNED WITH HEALTH IN MIND
SYNTHETIC-FREE, GENTLE
Ste. Anne’s Skin Nourishment is de-
Ste. Anne’s Skin Nourishment is manu-
signed to bring the skin back into a
factured without the use of petrochem-
healthy, balanced state so that it can
icals, sulfates, PEGs/PPGs parabens,
do its job effectively.
phthalates, synthetic fragrances or
synthetic preservatives. We avoid over-
INDIGENOUS
ly processed, natural ingredients.
Where possible, ingredients sourced
are indigenous to North America.
QUALITY
Our manufacturing batches are small
EXTRACTS FROM OUR GARDENS
so that the product is as fresh as pos-
90 percent of the extracts used in our
sible and so that we may have the free-
product line are grown onsite using or-
dom to allow the product line to evolve
ganic farming methods.
and grow.
STE. ANNE’S SKIN NOURISHMENT
HYDRATING LOTION
A gentle, moisture-rich hydrating body lotion
with the contrasting aromas of bergamot
and patchouli. A favourite with our guests!
0003554384
Look for this icon to learn
about available promotions.
Voted Favourite Spa in Canada by Spa Finder Readers Choice (8th consecutive year) | Voted one of the top ten Spas in Eastern Canada by Condé Nast Readers Choice
CAA Four Diamond Service & Accommodation for eighteen consecutive years | TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice and Awarded Certificate of Excellence
Ste. Anne’s Granola
a guest favourite | YIELD 8 cups
INGREDIENTS
1 cup raw slivered almonds
1 cup raw sliced almonds
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup hulled sunflower seeds
1 cup hulled pumpkin seeds
1 cup unsweetened coconut
½ cup sesame seeds
1 cup dried cranberries
¼ cup unsalted butter
¼ cup honey
1
/8 tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cinnamon
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 325°F and cover large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine all the nuts, seeds, coconut and spices in a mixing bowl, except for
the cranberries.
3. In a small saucepan, melt the honey and butter
together over low heat. Pour over the nut mixture
and combine well.
4. Spread evenly onto baking sheet, bake
for 15 minutes and turn the tray. Bake 10
to 15 minutes longer or until toasted to
your liking. Add cranberries and bake for
another 5 minutes.
5. Allow mixture to cool thoroughly and
store in an airtight container at room
temperature.
For more recipes, sign up for our INNtermission
newsletter at www.steannes.com.
Win a Food
Lovers’ Retreat
Enter our contest to win an all-inclusive Food Lovers’ Retreat
for six. This getaway includes a night in one of our cozy spa
cottages, a private dinner prepared by our chef and a handson cooking class. Also enjoy breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea,
complete use of all the facilities and a $120 credit per person
for spa and wellness services. For more details or to enter, visit steannes.com/winter-contest or call us at 1.888.346.6772.
No purchase is necessary.
for contest details go to:
steannes.com/spring-contest
RR#1 Grafton, Ontario K0K 2G0
www.steannes.com
reservations 1.888.346.6772
New Life Hiking
Spa 2014 season
will be May 15 - September 26
A two to four-night Mini Vacation is an outdoor fun,
stress-reducing getaway. Enjoy the Vermont mountain
scenery and fresh air as well as spa amenities.
A five to 10-night Jump Start Getaway allows you to
lose weight, de-stress and get stronger while learning
new techniques to continue with a healthy lifestyle.
A Weight Loss Retreat of 11 nights or longer
empowers you to make realistic solid changes in your
eating habits and lifestyle. Our extended program
provides a safe comfortable environment where you
can realize your permanent weight loss goals.
Located in Killington, Vermont and founded in 1978, New Life
Hiking Spa has been selected as New England’s top destination
spa by Spas Of America for 4 years, One of 4 Great Weight Loss
Spas by Health Magazine and one of the top ten spas in the
world for Affordability, Weight Loss and Hiking by Spa Finder
every year since 2008!
New Life Hiking Spa | www.newlifehikingspa.com | www.facebook.com/newlifehikingspa
Reservation Line 802-353-2954
Eating
well
by Paul Bradshaw
Food is the foundation of wellness and it’s surprisingly easy to work healthy food habits into
your everyday. Here are 10 simple and inexpensive ways to get started today.
Eat some fat, just not too much
Nuts about nuts
Out of sight, out of mind
We do need fat in our diets so choose healthy
fats such as plant-based oils. Avocados, for
instance, are packed with good fats as well as
fibre. Eat them on their own, toss them into a
salad or sandwich, or whip them into a sauce.
Olive oil is healthy and flavourful making it
perfect for salads and sauces. Coconut oil
is a fantastic way to add flavour to cooking,
plus it has hundreds of other uses.
My top three are almonds, cashews and
pistachios. When buying nuts, avoid oil
roasted, salted or seasoned and instead
favor dry roasted, unsalted or raw nuts.
Cleanse your cupboards and pantry of junk
food. You can’t eat what you don’t have.
26 TravEL TO WELLNESS
Go green
Leafy greens like spinach, kale and Swiss
chard are very rich in nutrients and should
be included in any healthy lifestyle diet.
Plan ahead
Advance meal planning and food
preparation helps avoid the temptation
of ordering take-out meals that are often
loaded with excess calories, fats and
sugars. For instance, cutting up and
Eating Well
Hold off on seconds
Wait twenty minutes and have a glass of
water before deciding whether or not you
need to have seconds.
Choose six over threE
Eating six small meals each day instead of
the classic three will help keep the body
fuelled throughout the day. So, plan a small
meal or shake in the morning, a snack,
a large lunch, another snack or two and
dinner at least two hours prior to bed.
pre-portioning fresh vegetables, in advance,
can be a time saver and helps to make the
decision of what’s for dinner easier.
Beware of beverages
Did you know that a large specialty coffee
with whipped cream can pack as much
as 760 calories? Even fruit juices often
contain extra sugar to make the drink
sweeter. Fresh pressed fruit juice is still
high in sugar but is a better option than
soft drinks.
Undress your food
Salad dressings, spreads and dips are
packed with flavour but also fat. When
eating out ask for these items served on
the side or not at all.
And, keep in mind that eating well is only
one component of a healthy lifestyle. Make
sure to exercise regularly to get the most
out your healthy eating choices.
Kinesiologist and healthy weight loss
Avoid buffets
You are more likely to overeat to get your
money’s worth when eating at a buffet,
so order off the set menu to control
portion size.
specialist, Paul Bradshaw, is the lead
Whole Body Cryotherapy practitioner at
Sparkling Hill Resort in Vernon, B.C.
Experience authentic Ayurveda and
Yoga with individualized therapeutic
treatments for Detox, De-stress,
Weightloss, Panchakarma, Insomnia,
Arthritis and much more!
Rates starting at just $99 all inclusive!
Contact us at [email protected] for more details
www.ayurveda.org
US Office - 817-939-5843
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Spring/Summer 2014 27
Fitness, frolicking & foolishness in
The Galápagos
Islands
Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism, Ecuador
by Vickie Lillo
Red-throated fragatas (frigate birds) soar overhead. Male bluefooted-boobies dance their little courtship jig to impress their
selected mates. Marine iguanas bask in the afternoon sun, while
free-spirited lava lizards skitter across the beach. Nowhere else on
earth are the creatures so tame and the environment so protected.
Welcome to las Islas Galápagos – a grouping of islands about
1,000 km (600 miles) off the coast of Ecuador. You will be hardpressed to find a ‘greener’ vacation experience or a better way to
rejuvenate your spirit than by getting ‘up close and personal’ with
the marine life, exotic birds and fascinating animals of this pristine
archipelago. “There are 18 principal islands,” says Rich Heller,
marine product manager at G Adventures, “and each island offers
its own unique wildlife experience.”
Here are 10 ways to stay fit, environmentally conscious and
perhaps even relive a little childlike wonder as you admire the
unique flora and fauna on this collection of islands:
28 TravEL TO WELLNESS
Enjoy the clean, fresh air
The island breezes sweep across the landscape...sometimes gently, sometimes with a fervour, but always with that refreshing smell
of the ocean to tingle your nostrils. There are no noxious factories
pumping out toxic gases or even the slightest scent of diesel fumes
from the traffic. The few vehicles on the inhabited islands serve
as taxicabs, while the locals use motorcycles, scooters and pedal
power to make their way around town.
Savour the quiet life and the unhurried pace
of the islands
Wake up at daybreak to the crowing of a rooster and watch as the
morning’s light begins to play across the horizon. Vow to spend
at least an hour a day lazing in a hammock under a shade tree,
relaxed and completely stress-free.
Rent bicycles
On Isabela, follow the sandy road on the outskirts of town for an
exhilarating 19-kilometre (12-mile) round-trip bike ride to el Muro
de las Lágrimas (the Wall of Tears). The home of a penal colony
from 1946 to 1959, the island employed guards who forced the
prisoners to endure painstaking labour building a purposeless
wall out of enormous stones of razor-sharp lava rock. You’ll get a
great workout for your legs, riding on both sand and gravel. Then
there are the innumerable stone steps you’ll have to climb for the
breathtaking view of the neighbouring islets at the look-out point.
Eat organically-grown fruits and
vegetables and freshly-caught fish
Snack on fresh bananas, guayabas (guavas), oranges, pineapples, mora (blackberries) and maricuyá (passion fruit). For a
crunchy treat, try the lightly-salted, crispy plantain chips. If you
have accommodations with cooking facilities, head down to the
wharf on Santa Cruz when the fishermen unload the day’s catch.
For $2/kilo (2.2 lbs.), you can buy fresh albacore or swordfish.
How to get there
From their 20 offices around the world, G Adventures offers both
land and cruise programs in the Galapagos. Seven and ten-day land
packages include flights from Quito, Ecuador to the Galápagos, hotel
accommodations, tours of three islands plus some meals. Six, seven
and 10-day cruise packages – aboard one of five 16 to 32-passenger
yachts – include flights from Quito to Baltra or San Cristobal Island,
onboard accommodations and meals.
gadventures.com
Feed your mind
Hands-on schooling surrounds you. For a botany lesson, hike
through the mangroves in the wetlands of Isabela. View flamingo
breeding grounds at la Poza de las Diablas. Further up the trail,
check out La Crianza, the giant land turtle nursery. At the Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz, study the perpetuation of
these giant tortoises. Hear about the efforts of the National Park
towards eradicating the introduced species of plants and animals
that threaten the delicate natural balance of the islands.
Go for a run
Head to the cobblestone trail at Tortuga Bay, just outside of town
on Santa Cruz Island. It’s about a 15-minute leisurely jog to the end
of the well-maintained path, until it opens out onto Playa Mansa,
where you can ‘hang 10’ with the surfers or continue for another
15 minutes, if you like, running barefoot in the sand. You’ll be sure
to feel those calf-muscles burning by the time you reach a lagoon,
ideal for cooling off in the in the chilly waters. And allay your fears
– safety is not an issue in the Galápagos.
Get ‘one-on-one’ with nature
Check out the amazing bird life: herons, seagulls, lava gulls
with their bright-red beaks and eyes, piqueros patas azules
(blue-footed boobies) or patas rojas (red-footed boobies),
penguins, frigates, and the thirteen species of finches that
prompted Darwin’s theory of evolution. Commune with the
animals. Be amazed by the snake-like eyes and nostrils
of the giant tortoises; see how they plod through life in an
armored shell fashioned of bone. Admire the golden hue of
the enormous land iguanas and the (smile) of the marine ones.
Stare down a sea lion. Snicker at nimble Sally Lightfoot crabs
skittering across the slippery lava rocks. Don a snorkelling
mask at los Túneles (the Tunnels), located off Isabela, and
swim through underwater arches for sightings of spectacular
schools of rainbow-coloured loros (parrot fish), perhaps even
a graceful sea turtle. If you take the ferry between Santa Cruz
and Isabela, keep your eyes peeled - you just might catch the
flash of a giant manta ray leaping out of the surf. We did. Its
blinding white underside shimmered in the afternoon light.
Take a hike
If traversing 16 kilometres (10 miles) in five hours, up and
down hills, through mud, and over lava rock to see the sunken
caldera of a volcano shrouded in mist is your thing, book an
excursion to Volcán Sierra Negra on Isabela. It’s a relatively
gruelling hike, given the time constraints, so if you’re not in
the best of shape, you might want to pass on this one. But for
those of you who love the challenge of a good trek, and don’t
mind getting a bit dirty, then by all means, hike to the Sierra
Negra volcano, and then further on, to Volcán Chico.
Photo courtesy of Vickie Lillo
Focus on conservation and Saving the
planet
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism, Ecuador
The Galápagos is a shining example of how to protect our
world for future generations. Conservation is everywhere
- from the recycling bins emptied three times a week...to
the filtered seawater used in the showers...to the ongoing
guardianship over the endemic species found here. With the
passing of Lonesome George, the 150-year old giant tortoise
and last survivor of the Pinta subspecies, man must take
another look at his impact on the fragile global environment.
Find your inner child
Imitate a male booby’s mating dance...stomp from one foot to the
other with a shrill whistle and shake your booty. Mimic a frigate
bird blowing up his red throat sack. Get ‘kissed’ by a playful sea
lion and laugh your head off as he speeds away, blowing bubbles.
Style your hair to stand up like the spikes on the marine iguanas.
Take a cue from the animals and simply have fun.
Best time to travel
Rich Heller, marine product manager at G Adventures says the Galapagos
Islands can be visited at any time and “the wildlife is amazing year round”
but the best months to travel are April, May, September and October.
During these “low” season months, he says, there are fewer travellers
and better prices. There are two seasons: The Dry Season – June to December - and
the Warm Season – January to May. According to Heller there is more
marine life during the dry season but the waters can be chilly so for
visitors planning to snorkel or dive, he recommends a wet suit.
30 TravEL TO WELLNESS
No visas are required for visitors travelling with a Canadian or U.S. passport. Good to go
Style for the Road
Compiled by the Travel To Wellness editorial team
Compact and cozy
Editor Anne Dimon packed this little
Secret Sweater on her recent Wellness
Travel Tour and discovered that it’s the
perfect little piece to travel with.
A new take on the classic cardigan, the
Secret Sweater features 3/4 length sleeves,
a body length that hits at the waist to
complement various outfits, and a deeply
cut away front so the sweater can be easily
hidden under blazers and jackets. But who
wants to hide it? The soft fabric sweater is
fashionable and works as well with jeans as
it does with a cocktail dress.
It also packs into its own little fabric
carry-on that easily fits into a handbag,
backpack or suitcase for instant warmth
while on-the-go.
Fashion meets function
Conceived by an RN to help protect skin
from the sun’s harmful rays, SPF Addict is a
clothing line that’s ideal for sun-savvy travellers – especially as we head into the prime
outdoor season.
Crafted from100% sustainable fabric made
from Eucalyptus bark and tested for a UPF rating of 50+, each piece blocks 98% of rays that
can cause skin cancer and premature aging.
The line includes tops, skirts, pants, wraps
and gloves.
spfaddict.com
secretsweater.com
Spring/Summer 2014 31
Mystical
Mountain
Trek
CANADA’S SHANGRI-LA
by Lynn Burshtein
‘‘
The goal of the
“mission” is to kick-start a
healthier lifestyle by doing
away with poor eating
habits and sedentary ways
in a highly-challenging
and strictly-supervised
environment.
‘‘
I
n the 1933 novel, Lost Horizon, British
author James Hilton described an imaginary place
he called Shangri-La – a mystical valley hidden in the
Himalayas. The people who lived in the beautiful but
distant hideaway were described as ageless – almost
immortal – with lifespans that extended well beyond
the norm.
Since the book’s publication, the term “Shangri La” has
become synonymous with a kind of utopia. It is highly fitting
that a health resort in a remote but glorious region, and promoting longevity, health and happiness, bills itself as Canada’s
Shangri La. The destination is Mountain Trek near Ainsworth
Springs, B.C., and the mission is to have guests invest in their
health and build toward long-term physical and mental wellbeing, all in the most enchanting of settings.
Unfortunately for most visitors, reaching this Shangri La
is not an easy task. If you factor flights and shuttles, count on
approximately twelve hours travel time each way, depending
on the point of departure. It turns out, however, to be a trek
entirely worth making.
Up to sixteen guests are hosted at Mountain Trek with
each week-long program, and when I arrive, along with
other type-A executives, we are definitely ready to decompress. Luckily, the guest lodge, located on a hill overlooking the Purcell Mountains, provides an immediate sense of
tranquility. Inside, the decor is cozy and inviting. There are
no televisions or phones in the smallish guest rooms, which
are all located in the main lodge. In fact, we are asked to
use our cell phones only in the privacy of our rooms for
the duration of our stay. The only exception: using smart
phones to snap photos.
A separate fitness and spa facility, scheduled to be upgraded and unveiled by May, is a two-minute walk from
the lodge.
And so our journey begins. With a gentle knock on
the door each morning at about 6:00, we wake to a protein smoothie and lemon-ginger tonic before attending a
sunrise yoga class. Following yoga, breakfast is served in
the dining room overlooking Kootenay Lake. Although this
seems like a fairly peaceful start to the day, the pace soon
picks up.
The Mountain Trek daily schedule, referred to as the
“mission” by program director Kirkland Shave, is an intense,
boot-camp/detox program that combines six or seven hours
of rigorous activity every day. Included in the mix are the
four-hour daily hikes in the scenic mountains which - I have to
say - truly evoke a mystical aura.
Coupled with this military-style regimen is a strict diet.
The goal of the “mission” is to kick-start a healthier lifestyle
by doing away with poor eating habits and sedentary ways in
a highly-challenging and strictly-supervised environment.
No caffeine, alcohol, sugar or starches. Instead, we consume
only healthy, organic ingredients and calorie-controlled
meals (approximately 1,200 calories a day for women and
1,400 for men). Our beverages, aside from the morning smoothie
and lemon-ginger concoctions, consist of copious amounts of
herbal teas and water. Never mind Shangri La. During my first
day, the fable of the city mouse trying to cope in the country is
what comes to mind.
Though meals are generally on the small side, I find them to
be filling and tasty. Some of my favourites include Cedar Planked
Salmon, Crab Cakes and the Kootenay Mushroom Barley Lentil
Soup. Informative lectures on topics such as nutrition, sleep habits
and stress management turn out to be surprisingly fun. While he
delves into serious issues with the appropriate level of intensity,
Kirkland is a born leader with a sense of humour and great guitarplaying skills.
Included as part of the program, massages and the use of an
infrared sauna or steam room are therapeutic and aid in ridding
our bodies of unwanted toxins. We are also given the opportunity
each night to visit the local “hot spot” - Ainsworth Hot Springs,
an alternate and natural means of detoxifying, located just a fiveminute drive courtesy of the Mountain Trek shuttle.
Should there be any doubt, this is no spa vacation. Mountain
Trek is a fitness retreat, through and through. Stressed-out individuals looking for some TLC and R&R may want to opt for a less
intense program, but anyone interested in investing in health and
happiness for the long-haul will find the overall experience very
rewarding.
Guests of Mountain Trek may not become immortal, but they
will definitely leave the resort feeling lighter, both physically and
mentally.
34 TravEL TO WELLNESS
How to get there
From Vancouver International, it’s a short transfer to the airport
in Castlegar, B.C. From there, a shuttle bus, arranged by the
resort, drives a scenic forty minutes with a stop in the city of
Nelson and then it’s thirty minutes to Ainsworth Springs. For
U.S. and international travellers, another option is to fly into
Spokane, Washington and take a four-hour shuttle from the
airport direct to Mountain Trek.
For more information visit mountaintrek.com
Simply Magical
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Baden-Baden
Yes. This high-end spa town can be affordable.
team drifted over the water like the flutter of
transparent wings. The Black Forest air felt crisp
on my face as I soaked in the outdoor pool at
Caracalla Therme, Baden-Baden’s most popular
bathing complex. The Romans had the right idea,
I thought, sinking deeper into the mineral-rich
water, when they came to this hot springs haven
in the name of health and leisure.
Located in south western Germany - a 90-minute drive from
Frankfurt and easily accessed by train from the Frankfurt airport
- Baden-Baden sits at the foot of the Black Forest hills. Its Belle
Époque buildings are striking enough to take your breath but,
luckily, a surrounding network of hiking trails means you’ll soon
be breathing deeply again.
With its Michelin-starred restaurants, neo-Baroque casino and
stately hotels lining the Lichtentaler Allee, the town’s leafy park
promenade, Baden-Baden will never be considered a budget destination but, happily, I found ways to keep it affordable.
36 TravEL TO WELLNESS
Taking the Waters
At a cost of $22 for a two-hour visit, Caracalla Therme is one of
those inexpensive pleasures. Taking its cue from ancient Rome,
this modern-day bathing temple of pools, pillars and saunas is also
rejuvenating. The thermal waters of Baden-Baden are rich in sodium chloride, with smaller amounts of lithium, silica, boric acid,
manganese and magnesium, with traces of cobalt, zinc and copper
‘‘
After 10 minutes
you forget time. After 20
minutes, the world.
‘‘
S
by Carol Perehudoff
In the news
The buzz for 2014 is about a lavish new destination spa
opening this year within Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa.
Set in the 5-story Villa Stéphanie, a neoclassical mansion
connected to the main hotel, the new space will bring
together all the spa and wellness branches the hotel now
offers such as aesthetics, holistic treatments and proactive
health management.
Trail in 2004, but in the end I simply meandered from path to path,
breathing the pine-fresh air and enjoying the view of Germany’s
most glamorous – and, yes, even affordable - spa town below.
With 12 double rooms, three grand suites and park-view
treatment rooms, the Villa Stéphanie will be a 5-star retreat.
Onsite features will include a hammam, sauna, fitness
centre, private park, sunken garden and a salon with its
own library.
Cost saving transportation: If you’re travelling to more than one
destination, a Eurail pass can help you save.
The new spa will also be connected to Haus Julius, a villa
dedicated to Brenners Medical Care.
brenners.com
- a curative mix said to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system,
rheumatic and joint disorders, metabolic problems and respiratory
ailments.
I was hesitant to visit Baden-Baden’s other thermal bathhouse,
the Roman-Irish Friedrichsbad, because of its clothing-free policy. A 17-step circuit of hot air baths, scrubs, pools and massages
seemed like a long time to be in the buff. But with a pedigreed history dating back to 1877 plus the affordable prices (from roughly
$34 for a three-hour visit and about $70 for a four-hour visit including two types of massage), it seemed worth checking out.
Choosing a segregated gender day, I padded to the first station, a hot-air room surrounded by hand-painted tiles and within
minutes felt at ease. Between the monastic quiet, dreamy heat and
beautiful centerpiece Beaux Arts dome, I understood why Mark
Twain wrote about his experience here: “After 10 minutes you forget time, after 20 minutes the world.”
Good to know if you go
eurailgroup.org
Cheap eats: To minimize costs go for light but healthful lunches.
Juice Me (located at Stahlbadstr. 5) offers an eclectic menu of sushi, salads and smoothies, and tiny Café Mephisto (in the Wagener
Galerie on Lange Str.) has inexpensive salads and fresh juices.
Affordable hotels: Overlooking the Lichtentaler Allee, the pretty
Atlantic Parkhotel has double rooms from $240 including breakfast. Cheaper yet is the Radisson Blu Badischer Hof. What it lacks
in old-world charm, it makes up for by being the only hotel with
thermal pools. Rates from $140.
baden-baden.com
Caracalla Spa Baden-Baden
Savouring the Spa
The award-winning Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa is the premier destination for spa treatments (and my Classic Sisley Facial
was well worth $220). More affordable options are available at
Caracalla Therme, where a classic massage is $85, and at Devaya
Authentic Ayurveda which offers a full-body massage for $140.
Curious to explore Baden-Baden’s holistic side, I made my way
to the elegant townhouse that houses two interlinked programs
- Devaya Authentic Ayurveda and The Power of Woman - and
found an intimate wellness centre that combines eastern and western therapies.
“The aim is that you become more conscious in your life, of
your food, your body and your thinking,” Devaya’s sari-clad founder, Daniela Peisger, told me during my consultation. With this,
“you can change so many things.”
Stays at Devaya are highly customized – and unique. My
ayurvedic massage was followed by a doctor-administered intravenous vitamin cocktail, which gave me a deep boost and primed
me for hiking the next day.
Hitting the trails
Sometimes the best wellness therapies are free and this includes simply getting outside. With a trail map in hand, I walked up through
a tiered park into the forested hills. My goal was to hike part of
the Panoramaweg, a 40-km footpath voted Germany’s Most Scenic
Friedrichsbad, Baden-Baden
Places to just be
Our Top 10 Wellness Destinations for 2014
Hawaii
While an increasing number of the world’s regions
- from small towns to entire countries - may be jumping on the
wellness tourism bandwagon and vying to establish themselves as
wellness destinations, for the consumer it is all about “perception.”
Earlier this year we asked you - our readers - this question:
If you could travel anywhere in the world for a “wellness vacation”
what geographic destination would you choose and why? Close to
2,000 of you took part in the survey, and here are your Top Wellness
Destinations for 2014:
#1 Hawaii
#2 Italy
#3 Arizona
#4 Bali
#5 Costa Rica
#6 British Columbia
#7 Australia
#8 New Zealand
#9 Thailand
#10 California
38 TravEL TO WELLNESS
And when it came to WHY you chose a specific destination? Over 51%
of you choose the destination for its natural attributes - things like
mountains, oceans and beaches - and warm weather. Peace and quiet,
spas, yoga, culture, food and physical activities outdoors were other
reasons you mentioned.
To be part of our next survey, sign up for our newsletter or the digital version of
this magazine. Both are free.
traveltowellness.com/newsletter
traveltowellness.com/subscribe
* Survey was not sponsored by any destination. Results are the property of Travel to Wellness Inc.
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