Ground control to cockpit suite
I’m reclining in my leather chair reading a newspaper in the first-class lounge of a jumbo jet, enjoying a view of the runway. This will be my home for the next 12 hours. The difference this time is that there is no pilot on board, I have no life vest under my seat and I’m not flying anywhere. Instead, I am ‘overnighting’ at the Jumbo Stay ‘hotel’ at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport.
Inside the cockpit suite at the "Jumbo" hostel.
Click here to read the full article. (Published in the Sunday Times of Malta, January 1, 2012.)
The usual New Year’s Eve dilemma … what to do!
Left your New Year’s preparation plans till the last minute again? Paid an arm and a leg for a New Year’s celebration weekend abroad last year in a hotel that didn’t match your expectations and your budget? Bored of ‘to-ing’ and ‘fro-ing’ between friends’ house parties every New Year’s Eve?
Probably you thought about sweeping your special one away – or being swept away – for a cosy weekend in an exotic location or vibrant city. Or maybe you’re just one of those people who hates New Year’s Eve and all the fuss it brings and have resigned yourself to sitting on the sofa watching the celebrations on TV. If you’re a frequent business traveler, probably the thought of a stiff set menu in a decorated conference room at a hotel reminds you just a bit too much of that December office party or a formal business event. But you’re in a bit of dilemma. You don’t want to go away and you don’t want to sit home or go to a house party. And you don’t want to cook or hang out with a bunch of strangers. Maybe you’re in the mood for getting dressed up and spending but looking for that something special to splash out on.
Almost every hotel and top-notch restaurant offers a ‘special’ New Year’s Eve menu … ‘special’ in so far that they can justify a pretty steep set price because it is New Year’s Eve and because their staff have to sweat hard indoors instead of joining in the celebrations outside. Last week I struggled looking for a suitable New Year’s Eve dinner venue for myself and my husband. And that’s quite a bit of research as they are umpteen restaurants and hotels in Malta to choose from. Many menus looked great, some were new places I hadn’t been to and were on my “to see” list … but in the end, we settled on an ‘old’ favorite which holds special memories for us as it is where we got engaged, where the food and service is always good, and where we have spent many lovely evenings together – Grill 3301 at the Corinthia in St. George’s Bay, Malta.
Interior of Grill 3301: romantic atmosphere and stunning views.
My rationale: Why risk paying the same price somewhere else when you know what you’re getting. The menu at Grill 3301 with its focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients sucked us in like a magnet, combined with its large glass windows with panoramic sea views and professional service. The seven-course menu together with drinks for two people will set us back around EUR 180 – less than the price of a night in a good hotel in London for New Year’s Eve or a flight within Europe for one person. It’s not cheap but for a pleasant, hassle-free evening, it’s a good investment! I’m a sucker for the Grill’s beef steaks which are served on iron plates and accompanied with little saucepans for the side orders and a ‘soup ladle’ for your choice of sauce. There’s just about everything from the Kobe beef steak which will set you back around EUR 60 or, if your budget doesn’t stretch that far, there are simple pasta dishes for around EUR 10. Unfortunately, if you want to try their a la carte menu, you’ll have to go back another time because they have a seven-course set menu for New Year’s Eve, but one which is already making my mouth water.
“If you’re looking for a romantic dinner with exquisite food and unique atmosphere … and to give yourself and your loved ones a special treat for New Year’s Eve, come and celebrate with us,” says Antoine Zammit, restaurant manager, who’s going to be ringing in his fourth new year at Grill 3301.
New Years’ Eve at The Grill 3301 kicks off at 8 pm with a cauliflower puree served with mushroom salad and truffle oil. Next up is a seafood mélange with an interesting combination of limoncello jelly and caviar dressing, followed by wild mushroom risotto with grilled quail. For your main course, it’s going to be a tough choice between the Scottish Aberdeen Angus beef fillet or the red snapper/grouper plate. And, if you have a sweet tooth, you’ll be in heaven when you see there is a pre-dessert teaser, before the real dessert, which is not just one but an assortment of three – coconut cheese cake, passion fruit mousse and mango ice cream. All topped off with coffee and petits fours.
That’s bound to bring us up to midnight by which time, we’ll either be ready to hit the sack or jump on our scooter to finish off the night with a bottle of champagne on the bastions of Valletta, before hopping into bed and waking up in 2012.
More information on New Year’s Eve at Grill 3301, click here.
Interview with Alannah Eames
Read about my favorite city, most memorable aircraft experience, places I wouldn’t return to and travel tips in this interview published in The Sunday Times.
Click here to read more.
Soaking up the atmosphere and beer at Oktoberfest
Tourists and locals alike are united by a love of beer!
Munich’s Oktoberfest is one of the biggest parties in the world and has spawned copycat events across the globe. Alannah Eames finds out why.
Every year, for three weeks, the German city of Munich casts off its conservative and polished image for the annual Oktoberfest.
Enjoy historic St Petersburg – without the visa
Imagine visiting St. Petersburg, one of the most majestic cities in the world, without having to fly there and avoiding the headache of the visa-application process. Well, it’s now possible – via the St. Peter Line – which recently started a direct visa-free cruise from Stockholm to St. Petersburg.
Click here to read the full article, by Alannah Eames on The Local.se
Do it all in two wild weeks…
How often have you dreamt about standing right next to the thundering Victoria Falls, enjoying a sundowner on Cape Town’s stunning Table Mountain, shopping in Johannesburg, gliding in a dugout canoe through the swamps of the Okavango Delta and sleeping in a remote bush tent… but thought it not possible as your budget – and holiday leave – only stretches to two weeks.
Well, it is doable. In January my husband and I explored Southern Africa in 15 days. We spent five days in Cape Town, a weekend in Johannesburg, two days at Victoria Falls and five days in the Okavango Delta, taking in the best of South African, Zimbabwean and Botswanan sights and culture.
"Do it all in two wild weeks", by Alannah Eames
Click here to read the full article by Alannah Eames in the travel section of the Sunday Times, Malta, July 24, 2011.
The best full-facial workout ever
My cheekbones are still aching from the Laugh Out Loud (LOL) stand-up comedy show last Saturday in Qawra, Malta, which greatly surpassed all my expectations. Yes, I expected to have a laugh but I was also waiting for some “drier” moments.
However, from the time Tiernan Douieb kickstarted the show at 20.45 to the moment he stepped off stage at 22.45, my whole insides and face had done an intensive two-hour workout.
Douieb got the show off to a lively start by interacting with the audience, picking on the ‘unsuspecting’ couples in the front row of tables asking them about themselves and poking fun at their answers. He also appeared to be baffled that the Maltese ate so much and why they were so into the new fad of ‘planking’.
The crowd was a mix of Maltese and expats but Steve Andrews’ – an expat and upcoming comedian living in Malta who filled the open spot – witty jokes about “the island that logic forgot”- i.e. Malta– went down well with both.
Next up was Dana Alexander who was also much better than expected as she played up her Jamaican roots, revealed her current favorite hobby (trying to figure out the nationality of people on the streets of London – her new home – based on … the size and shape of their ass) and the whole ‘women are from Mars, men are from Venus’ concept.
The dirtiest of all was John Fothergill (pronounced ‘For the Girls’ in his strong Newcastle accent) who poked fun at an all-female “lesbian” table in the corner who were celebrating a birthday (“ah, nice, so you came here to celebrate so you didn’t need to talk to each other” he shouted at the table). He also admitted to enjoying his time in Malta – showing off his sunburnt “British tanned” chest, but added that he wasn’t impressed by the Maltese attitude to quality and safety as he bumped along the precariously pot-holed streets during his taxi ride from the airport and watched sailing boats bent over battling the high waves.
The show was superbly organized from start to finish. From the prompt air-conditioned pickup service at Spinola Bay (just EUR 4 return) to the tasty Mexican and Asian platters to nibble on, waiter service and interaction with the crowd, I was glad we splashed out an extra EUR 8 on the Inner Circle seats, as they were worth every cent of it.
Humor can sometimes be differently perceived by different nationalities and culture but this show was funny enough to be appreciated by all and subtle enough so as not to offend anyone. We were a table of Dutch, Irish,New Zealand and Australian expats and each one of us laughed equally hard as did the Maltese group at the next table.
I, like the rest of my group, can’t wait until the next Laugh Out Loud show because for sure, I’m going to become a regular.
Psst … the next shows are planned for September 24 & 25, 2011.
Click here for more info.
