Posts Tagged ‘literature’
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
The area just outside of Merida serves as a remarkable example of the history and culture of this vast county called Mexico. Evidence of the deeply rooted Mayan traditions and history can be seen everywhere, from the pyramids to the people and the flavorful cuisine. Add to this the exquisite natural beauty of a region long known for it’s lush jungles and hidden cenotes and top it off with a Spanish colonial flavor- from the architecture and the narrow streets to the palatial haciendas to the festive music. Step back in time…
TO READ
Escape To Mexico- An Anthology of Great Fiction, Edited by Sara Nickles
Like Water For Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
The Lacuna: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver
Mayan Cuisine- Recipes From The Yucatan Region by Daniel Hoyer
Foods of the Maya: A Taste of the Yucatan by Nancy Gerlach
Mayan Cooking: Recipes From the Sun Kingdoms of Mexico by Cherry Hamman
A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya by Linda Schele
Star Gods of the Maya; Astronomy in Art, Folklore, and Calendars by Susan Milbrath
The Fall of the Ancient Maya; Solving the Mystery of the Maya Collapse by David L. Webster
Chronicle of the Maya Kinds and Queens; Deciphering the Dynasties of the Ancient Maya by Simon Martin
Maya Cosmogenesis 2012: The True Meaning of the Maya Calendar End-Date by John Major
TO SEE
Apocalypto- Mel Gibson’s take on the fall of the Mayan Civilization
Frida- starring Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina & Antonio Banderas. Directed by Julie Taymor
Like Water For Chocolate, based on the best selling novel of the same name. Critically acclaimed example of Mexican storytelling at it finest.
Tags: books, Cooking, Escape To Shape, Films, literature, luxury, Luxury Travel, Merida, Mexico, Recipes, Yoga Retreat
Posted in Escape To Shape, Films, Luxury Travel, Mexico, Wellness, Yoga Retreat, books, fitness, literature, travel, yoga | No Comments »
Friday, March 19th, 2010
Just off the plane after a glorious month in Brazil. We wrapped up a luxurious ESCAPE of fitness & culture in Buzios, Brazil. It did rain some, but thanks to the magnificent villa and the enthusiasm of our guests, not even rain got in our way of a memorable time! The villa that we, along with our 23 guests stayed in, is an architectural masterpiece right on the beach, with an acclaimed art collection. A bit of visual inspiration is posted below….
 Yoga in the Living Room  Our Pool  Cruising on our private schooner  Samba Lessons!  Indoor Lounge Following 3 weeks in Buzios we enjoyed ten days in Rio de Janiero, a city that surpasses any other in terms of natural beauty. Around every corner you will find a new breathtaking surprise… mountains and waterfalls, beaches and jungle, chic restaurants, authentic juice bars and of course, the quintessential Brazilian favelas, as Brazil is a country of contrasts. Brazil, which is also a largely self sufficient country due to its vast natural resources, is experiencing tremendous growth and financial success these days. It was a hard city to leave behind….
 Sunset in Rio Now, back in San Francisco with many memories of cherished moments with new friends and old, knowing that one day soon, we will return back to Brazil for other adventures.
For those of you planning a trip, or those of you who would like to reminisce or simply read up on this diverse country, here are a few books (& some music suggestions, as Brazil is all about the dance!) to draw you in or take you back…
TO READ
Stefan Zweig: Brazil, Land of Adventure – 1941 (Poche).
Claude Lévi-Strauss: Sad Tropics – 1955 (Pocket Terres Humaines).
Errol Lincoln Uys: Brazil – 1988 (Presse Pocket).
Hugo Pratt: Under the sign of Capricorn – 1990 (Casterman).
Ray C. Anderson: Mid-Course Correction, Towards a Sustainable Enterprise, 1998 (Peregrinzilla Editions).
Brian Nattrass and Mary Altomare: The Natural Step for Business: Wealth, Ecology and the Evolutionary Corporation – 1999 (Paperback).
Ricardo Semler: Voce esta louco!, Uma vida administrada de outra forma – 2006 (Ed Rocco ltda, Rio de Janeiro).
TO HEAR
Vila-Lobos: A floresta do Amazonas, João Carlos Assis Brasil, Ney Matogrosso, 1987 (Kuarup).
Joao Gilberto – Astrud Gilberto – Stan Getz: Autour de Minuit, 1967 (Polygram France).
Zeca Baleiro: Pet Shop Mundo Cão, 2002 (FIS)
Marisa Monte – Carlinhos Brown – Arnaldo Antunes: Tribalistas, 2002 (Capitol Records).
Barrosinho: o Sopro do Espirito, 2000 (Kalimba Music).
Enjoy….
Tags: Brazil, Buzios, Escape To Shape, literature, Music, Rio de Janiero
Posted in Beaches, Brazil, Escape To Shape, Inspiration, Yoga Retreat, books, fitness, travel, yoga | No Comments »
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
St. Petersburg, Russia is is gem of a city, rich in history. From Tolstoy to Dostoyevsky the contributions the great Russian writers have made to literature are second to none. The city shaped each of them as writers and St. Petersburg’s magical appeal is evident throughout many of the classic’s pages. Below are a few recommended classics inspired by St. Petersburg or written by authors born in St. Petersburg.
Literature
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Brothers Karamazov- Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Anna Kerenina- Leo Tolstoy
The Man from St. Petersburg- Ken Follett
Eugene Onegin- Alexander Pushkin
The Fountainhead- Ayn Rand
Speak, Memory- Vladimir Nabokov
Films
Irony of Fate
White Nights
GoldenEye
Brother
Onegin
Please let us know if you have any to add to the list!
Tags: Films, literature, St. Petersburg
Posted in Films, Russia, St. Petersburg, books, literature, travel | 3 Comments »
Monday, August 10th, 2009
| [IF] |
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!
–Rudyard Kipling
|
Tags: Inspiration, Kipling, literature, poems, poets
Posted in Inspiration, poems | 1 Comment »
Sunday, August 9th, 2009
Many of us have heard these words from the talented author Maya Angelou before, but they never tire or grow old. There is so much wisdom and insight in her simple, yet profound words.
The words of Maya Angelou:
I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.
I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life.’
I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back..
I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Tags: inspirations, life, literature, Maya Angelou, quotes
Posted in Inspiration | 3 Comments »
|
