“Contemplating the teeming life of the shore, we have an uneasy sense of the communication of some universal truth that lies just beyond our grasp… the ultimate mystery of Life itself.” - Rachel Carson: Meditation on the Ocean and the Meaning of Life. The mystery and magic of our world comes alive through the lens of the photographer. Cape Town, often referred to as the Mother City, is a photographer's paradise. Dazzling...
The 9th of May is Europe Day
![Signal Hill, Western Cape, South Africa Signal Hill, Western Cape, South Africa](https://b-cdn.springnest.com/media/img/141/villa_nouveau_gallery_2bfb38e7.png?crop=1080%2C667%2C0%2C206&width=620)
This month we celebrate Europe Day which has been officially recognised since 1985 to emphasize the importance of peace and unity on the continent. On this day, the member states reflect on their shared values and their journey towards peace and cooperation. As many of our guests are from Europe, we will be raising a glass in your honour.
Figure 1: Wishing you wonderful Europe Day Celebrations.
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Travel and Digital Amnesia
When last did you watch something unfold from behind the lens of your smartphone while traveling? How engaged were you? Were you truly living the experience?
Our smartphones have become an integral part of our travelling. We use it to research our destinations, to take photos, to find restaurants, to get and give feedback, and so much more. But now experts are warning that over-reliance on these devices can lead to digital amnesia, causing us to forget much of our trips after as little as two weeks.
Figure 2: Villa stays bring full immersion with all your senses.
Sensory experiences are the sorts of experiences we have when we see, hear, touch, smell, or taste something and it is only when we really engage with our travel experiences through all our senses that we can process and lay down this stimulating information in the form of memories. The Oxford Academic tells us that these sensory experiences provide topics both for the theory of knowledge and the philosophy of mind. It is quite literally how we learn. We are sure that, as a fellow hodophile (someone who loves to travel), you will agree that no other experience provides one with a richer multitude of sensory opportunities as travelling does. In the words of Mark Twain: “One must travel to learn.”
“One must travel to learn” – Mark Twain
This week we invite you to focus your full attention on North. This Villa sits perched on the slopes of Signal Hill with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. As you step into this tranquil space, you can’t be anything but fully engaged. What you see, what you hear and what you smell, all to be stored as lasting memories. This is where you come home to yourself. This is where you fall into a gentler, slower pace with a sense of grace and gratitude.
Figure 3: North offers you panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.
Our personal histories define who we are on a deep personal level. Your travels are more than just interesting stories to be shared at dinner parties; it forms a fundamental part of your very being, the essence of who you are. These moments weave the rich tapestry that makes your life uniquely yours.
Further Reading
In their famous letters to each other, Vita Sackville-West once wrote to Virginia Woolf: ‘An amphitheater of mountains encloses one’s horizons and one’s footsteps. Today I climbed up to the eternal snows, and there found bright yellow poppies braving alike the glacier and the storm; and was ashamed before their courage… This is how one ought to feel, I am convinced’. To travel is to explore not only this world but also...
Slow travel or slow tourism, as some calls it, has gained popularity due to its alignment with the changing values and priorities of modern travellers. It is an approach where the traveller is deliberate in their planning, unhurried in their meanders and authentic with their intentions. It asks of you to embark on a journey where you stay a little longer, get to know the local culture and embrace a more sustainable,...
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