Beautiful Madrid, always freezing in January was a sizzling 17
degrees and there I was head to foot in my fake Leopard Skin! I had coats,
wraps, hats, gloves – you name it!
So much so that I was over laden on the bus to the Convention
Centre so someone very inconveniently stole my wallet from my handbag hanging
fastened over my shoulder at the time! (May I add that this has NEVER happened
to me in Mexico in 32 years!! Sorry, but could not resist that comment)!
F.I.T.U.R is a well organised event – The Mexican stand is huge. I
was lucky enough to meet our new Minister of Tourism La Dama Claudia Ruiz. I
wish her every success and look forward to meeting her at TIANGUIS (more on
this later)…
After an exhausting day I dragged myself over to Paradise! Yes
Paradise. I was staying at The MELIA CASTILLA. I was on the Executive floor in
the most wonderful suite. Private check in, breakfast, snacks, tapas, pastries
available all day and every day. Believe me, I was in Heaven and Home! www.melia.com
Madrid is one of my favourite places and this is one of my
favourite Hotels.
Dinner at another of my favourite places Casa Lucio and a big kiss
for Lucio although his son did not recognise me! www.casalucio.es On to Café Chintas,
wonderful flamenco www.chinitas.com
Lunch next day at LA BOLA and this rounded off my total “fix” of
wonderful Madrid food. www.labola.es
Caught up with;
BEL AIR COLLECTION
QUINTA REAL (WAS CAMINO REAL) www.quintareal.com
MY GOOD FRIENDS AT NATURE TRAILS
MAYALAND - www.mayaland.com
(more on this later)
All my buddies from Aeromexico
Flew back on AIR EUROPA (Great service) Good Airline. They also
fly to Cuba (more on this later)
MARCH AND COLLETTS TRAVEL
I attended this marvellous Travel Exhibition for this
amazing Agency (Anna put link in please) at Lords Cricket Ground. What a super
venue, super food wine and champagne, great ambiance. Watch this space for the
date of this Fair for next year!
We were lucky enough to be on the ONE & ONLY stand, promoting
their property in Los Cabos.
Now I am off to TIANGUIS, the piece de resistance! This is MY
Travel Market and I am going to enjoy every moment of it starting with;
My journey will be with KLM…I simply adore this solid, reliable
comfortable Airline… I travelled with them last year so am really looking
forward to the pleasant experience…again…..In this day and age it is not often
a Traveller actually looks forward to an air journey with all the hassle it
entails…..…
The connection over Amsterdam is completely seamless. and if
anyone out there knows me then they know I am a “Super Shopper” so where better
to do it than in Amsterdam Airport.!!! When I return I will be preparing a
complete package of Fares and Promotional offers and opportunities available on
KLM so watch this space please.
This year the Fayre is to be held in PUEBLA. Words cannot do
justice to this exquisite City. A four hour drive from Mexico City and magical
once there. We work here with the gorgeous boutique property Mesones Sa Cristia
where we are lucky enough to have the super Director Elisa Ramirez, who works
extremely hard.
I will be looking at a new Hotel we are starting to work
with.“Hotel Grand”, I think we helped Mesones Sa Cristia on to the UK Tourist
Industry Map so I am hoping that we can do the same with their new property and
also with The Hotel Grand.
I will probably drive to Oaxaca from Puebla as there is a direct
road and I am also hoping to visit my wonderful Acapulco, Las Brisas and
Fairmont and perhaps get to Cuernavaca and the wonderful Hacienda de Cortes.
KLM arrives into Mexico City at 1930 hrs. I will be met by our
Ground Operators “FIRST CLASS”. By either one of my good friends Mauricio,
Sergio or Ramon and taken to my hotel which is the old and exceptionally
beautiful Boutique Hotel De Cortes.
One of
the earliest hostelries in the Americas, it has been transformed into a modern
Boutique hotel located on the main entrance of Historic Downtown. This jewel of
the Mexican baroque comprises 28 rooms and suites, exquisitely decorated and
furnished. The historical and cultural elements combine with modern comforts
and a passion for service to ensure complete guest satisfaction.
Superb cuisine can be found in the restaurant “1620” and the
lounge terrace bar “el Cielo de Cortes”
I will be receiving lots of help from my friend Lupita Ayala who
does an amazing job in England at the Mexican Tourist Office. She will be
attending TIANGUIS. I think she and I are the hardest working people in England
for Mexico! So she will be working her socks off as per usual.
I will tell you all about it when I get back.
Saludos, Besos Cathy
