Havana | A Blazing Flame in The Caribbean
Some of the greatest art, after all, is born from sorrow. Cubans know this well. My beloved Omara Portuondo once sang in Veinte Años, “We look so sad, because this is our life.” That song, like so many others from the Buena Vista Social Club, has echoed throughout Latin America, carrying with it the weight of loss and longing. But as I prepare to leave this land I once cherished, I want to say: Do not grieve, do not regret. May they give you what I could not. You have ignited a flame deep within my soul. I admired you, I lost you—and that is enough.
Cairo:Withstanding Time with Elegance
In all my imaginings of Cairo, it had always appeared as a city with a Cold War detachment—an elegant tension born from the clash of East and West, a place riddled with contradictions and moments of reflection. Cairo, to me, should have been like a middle-aged gentleman—dignified and refined in a tailored suit, having seen the world’s splendors, nostalgic for lost times, yet guarding a quiet grace in his silence.
What Does “Eternity” Mean to Capella Sydney?
As Australia’s first Capella hotel, I was curious to see how it would tell the story of this city. Facing the harbor, anchored in heritage, and embodying a chapter of humanity’s quest to explore the unknown, it became for me the perfect place to explore what “eternity” might mean for Sydney.
San Sebastián：The Sun Also Rises
At the heart of the bay lies San Sebastián, a place that to many travelers appears shrouded in misty mystery. Its name evokes Christian rebellion, the next destination always mentioned in the literature of the Beat Generation, and today, it is often heralded as a hub of creativity and gastronomy in luxury travel media. This multifaceted identity merges the familiar with the unknown. Even those well-versed in Spanish history and culture often find themselves bewildered when faced with the Basque region and San Sebastián. Autonomy, separatism, unity, decay, rebirth, tradition, and innovation—one issue after another saps people’s energy, yet in the green hills and deep blue waters, they find a sense of belonging.
Rediscovering the Lost Lighthouse of Alexandria
Alexandria—this city, endowed with multifaceted portrayals in numerous literary works, should, in my imagination, be as elegant, romantic, and classical as Omar Sharif himself. Its resounding and legendary name continues to summon my visit.
Luxor:May You always See The Beauty
A river divided life from death, the present from the afterlife—a phenomenon not rare in other civilizations. Yet, only the ancient Egyptians carried this division with such thoroughness and romance.
Aswan: Finding Agatha Christie on The Nile
Aswan never seeks the spotlight; most often, it plays second to nearby Luxor. But on the proud banks of the Nile, its quiet humility has completed it. It is like a jewel, hanging low at the southern tip of the Nile, heavy with the weight of time.