Have a Happy & Healthy New Year! - the Parklander

As I sit to write this in about six hundred words, I look at my
notes and feel intimidated by the enormity of the title. It takes
some deep breathing (good for longevity).
And meditation (just relax and let your love of words flow), and some
silence. Laughter at what can seem so complex, can also be so simple.
Let’s start with love (of course a travel writer must LOVE to travel).
Probably most people would prefer traveling with a loved companion, but
traveling alone can bring the excitement of concentration on your individual
interests and schedules. Perhaps even a romantic love can develop
(Colonel Chris Jones, now my husband, introduced himself to me at the
airport in Seoul, Korea).
Whatever the love of your life, it can be enhanced by travel, near or far
and new experiences all enhance your love of life.
Recently, we experienced travel, nearby, staying at the historic Riverside
Hotel for the opening night of “Christmas on Las Olas,” one of the many
exciting and interesting events on the elegant, yet casual, Las Olas
Boulevard. Lined with a variety of interesting shops, restaurants, art galleries
and many courtyards, surprising Las Olas is always filled with endless charm
and variety. For information on the many events, contact the Las Olas
Association at 954-937-7386.
Built on this site 70 years ago, the Riverside Hotel is the place to meet
and greet both strangers and friends alike. The spacious, newly restored
lobby is enhanced on both sides by enormous carved stone fireplaces.
These are centered by a brightly lit, glowing aquarium, that leads to a
garden of exciting flora and fauna. A charming, orchid studded gazebo,
reminiscent of Hawaiian hotels, becomes a delightful place to enjoy an
exotic libation for the intimate lobby bar.
The new tower rooms at the Riverside have some fantastic views of the
yacht-studded New River as it meanders towards the intracoastal and aqua
ocean beyond. The Riverside has a variety of comfortable bars and restaurants.
For “Christmas on Las Olas”, one of the bars had an unbelievable
bar made entirely of intricately carved ice.
Our favorite is Indigo, where you can dine in elegance inside or casually
at the sidewalk café. The lunch menu is filled with tempting choices.
The gazpacho is wonderful and comes delightfully appointed.
The Maryland lump crab is served with luscious sweet potato fries. I’m an
expert Maryland crab aficionado and Indigo serves one of the best possible.The
Italian panini, filled with salami, mortadella, fresh ham, provolone
the PARKLANDER
TRAVEL INFO
Love, Laughter & Longevity
By Carol Corbin Jones
and roasted red pepper aioli is also a superb choice. A soup and half sandwich
is as tempting and inexpensive. Save room to share one or more of the
glorious desserts – the warm apple tart and chocolate mousse cake are too
delicious to resist.
At the Riverside, there are many corporate and social events, all accomplished
with attention to every detail. Romantic outside weddings or
elegant ballroom venues are often the choice for couples, who can invite
guests to stay in the luxuriously appointed rooms.
Across the street is one the most exciting art galleries. If you love art and
are interested in investing, the Las Olas Fine Arts Gallery’s owner,
Stephan Rioux or his assistants can give you the insider scoop on some
exciting artists and the appreciation possibilities.
In a cozy courtyard just east of the Riverside Hotel is the 918 Day Spa.
Open seven days a week, 918 is a complete center for appearance and
health. A menu of services can be seen online at www.918dayspa.com.
I could not resist purchasing some of their carefully selected products, as
I sat sipping a Perrier and waiting a few minutes for Debbie, a world
trained and experienced, expert massage therapist. Speaking from spa
experience almost all around the globe, I can testify that Debbie’s
Neapolitan treatment was incredible perfection. A combination of
Swedish, reflexology and hot stone massage, this was not only relaxing and
calming, but also invigorating due to the release of inner energy accomplished
by expert foot reflexology. This is definitely something I will do
again – a wonderful discovery and benefit of travel close to home.
The love of travel, near or far, is unsurpassed in bringing the delight of
discovery of new experiences and adding more appreciation of art and
architecture into your life. Meeting a variety of people, exploring well traveled
or little known places, health treatments and restaurants are always
additions to pleasure and knowledge.
Above all, for health and longevity, remember the love of laughter.
There are now more than 5,000 worldwide laughter clubs, where people
get together simply to laugh. The clubs were formed by an Indian doctor,
who saw the amazing curative power of laughter. The movement grew as
people experienced the camaraderie and health benefits of the serotonin
produced by laughter. And that, especially combined with any love in your
life, is no laughing matter!
Carol Corbin Jones and her husband Colonel Christopher Jones are world travelers
and seminar speakers. E-mail her at jones@theparklander.com.
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