Must Have: Officer Grant Hazell

Grant Hazell and his sons, Max and Sonny

I have never been arrested; I’ve been stopped for speeding just twice in my life, but never been arrested. However, that may change, and all I need is a trip to Perth, Australia, and a chance to see the police schedule for one Grant Hazell.

That's him up there; cute, right. Aussie, curly hair. Adorable. But, and this is where I'm planning a trip Down Under, pun intended, Grant is the spitting image of Ryan Gosling and since I can’t get Ryan to manhandle me, well, a little arrest in Perth, and perhaps a “feet back and spread ‘em” from Grant might get me close enough to my dream.

Grant Hazell and Ryan Gosling

Hazell looks so much like Gosling, in fact, that women … women??? … are practically throwing themselves at his feet, and strangers on the street think he’s the real deal, maybe filming a movie in their midst.

Grant Hazell and Ryan Gosling

Now, Grant Hazell has gone from police officer to model, and Gosling look-alike, earning upwards of $800 an hour for just looking hot. Hazell, a father of two, signed a modeling contract after his wife, Caroline, sent off some photographs because she thought him a dead ringer for Gosling.

”Ryan Gosling has a very contemporary look which is very sought after in both the film and fashion industry. I don't find it hard impersonating him. I'm lucky that it comes quite naturally. I frown a lot which helps.”—Grant Hazell

Or you could just take your shirt off ….

Grant Hazell and Ryan Gosling

And yet he’s still a police officer … with handcuffs! … whose fellow officers are having a bit of fun with him. One day they put his picture up on the Most Wanted List, accusing him ’crimes against impersonating a celebrity. 

And one American … no, not me … is so obsessed with Grant that he has received some 100 raunchy emails from the fan.

Again, not me.

I’m ready for my strip search, Officer Hazell. 

Nope, it's Grant Hazell

source

Must Have Vacation: Kuramathi Resort

After the 'ick' of today's posts--Boy Scout and Pedophiles, and Mittsy's campaign dooming rhetoric--I need one of two things: 

1] a Silkwood scrubdown, or 
B] a trip to the Kuramathi Resort in the Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean.

It is called the "emerald jewel in the turquoise Maldivian waters" with acres of luxuriant vegetation and spectacular beaches. You can wander the narrow winding paths lined with thick foliage that snake their way across the island or stroll along sandy white beaches and dip your toes in the water to cool off on a balmy day. Spend leisurely hours exploring the vibrant reefs or an afternoon of extravagance at the spa. Indulge in dining and wining experiences to suit your every desire.

I need a break.

Kuramathi! Take me away!

source

Must Have Vacation: The Gallery Inn, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

When a traveler sets their sights on Old San Juan, authenticity is their aim, and it doesn’t get more authentic than The Gallery Inn.  This boutique hotel is an art gallery, a garden and a community, and a hotel;  a rare escape from a world that is too industrialized, too impersonal, too Mickey Mouse and, for many, too modern.

The community of Old San Juan was founded over 500 years ago, sparked by the discovery of Christopher Columbus and championed by the hard work of locals and foreigners alike.  Old San Juan is like no other city in the jurisdiction of the United States.  It is native, it is Spanish, it is the result of cultural influences from the Caribbean, Europe and Africa, all of which coincide in a small stretch of land bordered by the sea on all sides.  The food, the architecture and the tradition are alive in a fashion that turns first time visitors into life-long adherents to this very special sacrament.

The Gallery Inn is a collection of buildings that have been faithfully restored and turned into a luxury-class hotel.  The hotel begins just steps from the ancient wall of Old San Juan, overlooking the Caribbean Sea to the North and the glimmering city to the South.  It is the heart, soul and art gallery of artist and hotelier Jan D’Esopo, a sculptor and painter who displays his work in every corner and common room of the hotel.  D’Esopo purchased the first section of the gallery over 50 years ago, when this tough old town was a destination for trouble, not tourism, but with a lot of hard work and even more passion, Jan and the city around her turned their neighborhood into a cultural retreat where anyone is welcome to explore.

A central, terraced veranda welcomes guests to relax, dine or swim in the salt water pool at its base.  A wall of orchids lines its eastern border, tropical birds sing along its center, and a new age garden stands at its peak where fresh produce is cultivated for the meals du jour.  Jan D’Esopo and her husband Manuco join guests each evening while classical guitarist Felix Rodriguez serenades the crowd.  If you close your eyes and breathe deeply, it’s hard to tell if you’re sitting in the new world or the old– or perhaps the perfect center.

Climb to the peak of The Gallery Inn, and a guest can see Old San Juan in all of its glory.  Situated at the top of a hilly landscape, the hotel’s rooftop deck provides panoramic views of the city and the sea in all directions.  The waves of the Caribbean break to the north, cruise ships hum in the south and a constellation of lights illuminate the mountains of Puerto Rico in the distance.  It is quiet, peaceful and deafening all at once, the perfect contrast to explore over a glass of red wine.

While the hotel’s grounds, location and amenities deserve acclaim, the rooms under its roof are equally fantastic.  We were invited to the San Sebastian Suite during our stay, the pearl of this 23,000 square foot boutique hotel.  This suite contains a large, classically-designed sitting room, a separate dining area and a magnificent bedroom with ceilings over 20 feet high.  Tapestries hang from the walls, rooms are separated by grand arches, and Jan D’Esopo’s art lines the perimeter. 

The open veranda of The Gallery Inn holds the wall of orchids above, as well as a vegetable garden with herbs, lettuces, tomatoes and more that find their way into the hotel’s menu.  The gallery features five aeroponic tower gardens and an aquaponic lettuce system filtered and fed by an aquarium of tilapia below.  This futuristic vegetable garden emphasizes the hotel’s focus on sustainable living, providing food for guests and an education for those curious about how the world of tomorrow will feed itself. 

Beyond the food and the art, The Gallery Inn is home to a native element that guests can experience firsthand.  Five exotic birds live in the gallery year-round, one of which even has a titled job at the hotel.  Campeche, a Moluccan Cockatoo has his own business cards and an unparalleled level of access to the hotel grounds.  He welcomes guests with an “hola” and the perfect pronunciation of his name, then a few tricks and a request for a ride on your hand.  During dinner in the veranda, Campeche is often seen drinking a cup of red wine held in his beak from his perch.

If one truly wants to experience the culture, the beauty and the cuisine of a city like none other in the reach of the United States, Old San Juan is as authentic as it gets.  The Gallery Inn just happens to be its hospitable pearl, a hotel that is as much a destination as the historic city around it.  Jan D’Esopo, her husband Manuco, her Cockatoo Campeche and her staff have built an authentic retreat like none other, a hotel that makes Old San Juan the end of the journey, not a terminal to somewhere else.

source

Must Have: A Piece Of Literary History

Okay, so it isn't the biggest place and it isn't the most posh, but some of the most amazing people have lived in this house. Or, at least, in the mind of the owner of this house.

See, Tales of the City author, Armistead Maupin, is actually leaving San Francisco for the American Southwest, and his home in the City by the Bay is up for sale. Since I've loved his books, and read them all, I think this is a Must Have for me.

There are three bedrooms and two bathrooms--perfect for Carlos and me, and the children--and, well, it's smaller than Casa Bob y Carlos in Smallville at just 1600 square feet, but, oh, I so want it. It's three floors, and includes that necessity for San Francisco homes, a garage. There are views of the hills, and views of the bay and views of The City.

The living room, dining room, and kitchen are all on the main level, with two bedrooms and a bath on the second floor, and the master bedroom, and rooftop deck, on top. There are beautifully landscaped gardens at the front and the back, and it is close to just about everything one could need. Golden Gate Park is just blocks away!

I.Must.Have.It.

Now, where is my winning Lotto ticket because this slice of Literary Heaven is for sale at $1.2 million.

A pittance, really.

source

Must Have: The Perfect Spot For A Halloween Party

I've never made a secret of the fact that I am not one of those Halloween Queens. It's not a holiday, I particularly enjoy, but, whilst surfing this here web thingy I stumbled upon the perfect place for Halloween Balls.

Balls. Hee hee.

The Castle Mesen, or, as locals call it, Kasteel van Mesen, in Lede, Belgium. Sure, that's quite a hike for a soiree but, judging by the pictures, you may not need that return flight.

The Castle Mesen has quite the history. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and the current building dates to around 1628; almost 500 years ago. It was, originally, a major stronghold, though it ceased to be a royal house after 1796.  Since then it has been everything from a gin distillery--Hello Maddie!--to a sugar and potash refinery, tobacco factory and, finally, a boarding school.

Lots of history in those halls, and , judging from its past, not all so rosy.

After the First World War the castle became a school for girls, with tough classes and rigorous discipline exercised in a strict Victorian manner.  The 150 pupils were reportedly allowed one visit per month and could only return home for one month of the year.  The youngest girls were just 5-years-old.

The school was financed by the Belgian aristocracy and days began early, with Mass at 7 in the morning. On top of their academic lessons, the girls received a thorough grounding in society’s highest standards, from impeccable etiquette to managing employees and being able to perform housework expertly. The process took 13 years to complete, with girls of 5-years-olds eventually leaving the school as 18-year-old ambassadors of high society.

Again, Hello Maddie. This could, with a little scrubbing and some fresh paint, become Mistress Maddie's Home For Grande Dames, no?

Once the Ministry of Defence took possession of the castle, which left it to rot for decades while the cost of restoration spiralled to the point that it was considered uneconomical. The powers that be refused to list the castle as a historic monument and so it sits........

Ready for its close-up.

source