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ultratravelYOUR GUIDE TO HEAVEN ON EARTH
®
U.S. EDITION
ISLANDESCAPES
WITHERIC
RIPERT
PARIS VERMONT PUGLIA CAPE TOWN PERU
SUMMER 2014
The Perfect Time to VisitBlackberry Farm
Pack your bags and dive into the season!SUMMER TRAVEL
AN EXCLUSIVEINTERVIEW WITHTOMS FOUNDER
BLAKEMYCOSKIE
CONTRIBUTORS
Kate George-WeaverFitness, food and fashion have led Kate
George-Weaver away from her Welsh
hometown to spots all over the world,
from Aspen to South Africa. Her most
recent trip to Cape Town is captured in
her feature, “Cape Town Rising,” her first
contribution to Ultratravel. Previously,
George-Weaver worked for Armani in the
U.K. and contributes to fashion and travel
magazines, including Tatler Hong Kong.
Alyssa ShelaskyAlyssa Shelasky is a contributing writer for New York magazine, Bon Appétit, The Guardian
and fathom.com. Shelasky is the author of “Apron Anxiety: My Messy Affairs In and Out of
the Kitchen.” Although based in Brooklyn, Shelasky spends much of her time abroad
working on her next book, “Still or Sparkling,” and covering stories on food and travel.
Carlos MotaBased in New York, Venezuela-born Carlos Mota is a celebrated stylist and
Architectural Digest’s International Style Editor. His unique style is marked by
creative compositions that mix bold colors and textures. Mota is also known
as a consummate host, throwing lavish dinner parties in his Chelsea
apartment. He’s also the author of “Flowers Chic and Cheap,” and was
formerly Editor-at-Large at Elle Decor.
10 ultratravel
AlexanderLobrano
Alexander Lobrano is a Paris-
based food and travel writer
who is the author of “Hungry
for Paris” and “Hungry for
France.” Originally from
Connecticut, he’s lived in Paris
for 20 years and was previously
the European Editor for
Departures and Gourmet. The
James Beard Award-winner is
also a contributing editor at
Saveur Magazine and writes
regularly for The New York
Times, The Wall Street Journal,
the Guardian, Condé Nast
Traveler and many other
publications. He’s currently
working on a gastronomic
autobiography.
Henley VazquezHenley Vazquez is the co-founder of Feather+Flip, a new website for
globetrotting families. As a travel journalist and editor, she’s written for
National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure and Indagare, among
others. Based in New York, she spends summers in Spain and misses the
jamon year-round.
42 ultratravel
PUGLIAOut of
This WorldAlyssa Shelasky escapes to Puglia and
embraces the Mediterranean lifestyle.
ultratravel 43
Cala Masciola inside Borgo Egnazia is
the hotel’s connection to the sea,
with cabanas, a water sports center
and a restaurant on the beach.
For a taste of Puglia, contact your travel agent.
44 ultratravel
Ihave an inappropriate habit of asking beautiful
women about their beauty secrets. Good genes.
La Prairie. Aloe vera. Some lady even saved Dr.
Andrew Jacono in my iPhone (he’s now on speed
dial). One answer that struck me, which I heard
more than once, was this: the Mediterranean diet,
and by extension, the Mediterranean life.
We know about the Mediterranean diet: fish, nuts,
fruits, organic produce, occasional pasta, endless olive
oil. I eat that way naturally and believe it in like a
religion. But the Mediterranean life—sunny days, no
stress, big hammocks, happy hearts—that’s the dream.
This sweet existence is known to be at its finest in
Puglia, Italy, the heel of the boot. But the region always
sounded so off-the-grid. Poo-li-where? When Justin
Timberlake got married at the unbelievable-looking
Borgo Egnazia last year, in Fasano, I gazed at photos of
the ancient palazzos, pale tufa stonework, plush poppies
and infinite olive groves, all set on the Adriatic
coastline, and promised myself I’d get there soon.
A year later, I arrived at Borgo Egnazia with
butterflies in my stomach. As I arrived at the imposing
estate (40 acres!), my jaw dropped. Castles entwined
with grapevines, entangled in lemon trees, flowers,
fields and fortresses—and everything bathed in yellow-
pink sunlight. I almost couldn’t breathe. Borgo Egnazia
is an overwhelmingly exquisite sensory experience.
There is a proper five-star hotel, impeccably
designed by Pino Brescia, but I chose a private house
in the Borgo (village). Mine, considered “modest,” had
two stories, a private garden, a large terrace, a romantic
rooftop, my own fig tree and, of course, a cutting-edge
espresso machine.
I took my nightly Negroni (and accompanying
nibbles) on the outdoor terrace of the main hotel. In
Puglia the almonds and olives served alongside these
late-day beverages are directly from the land. Needless
to say, every bite of food from that point on was
exceptionally fresh and simple, prepared only with sea
salt and Italian soul. Later on, the chef served
homemade orecchiette, a Puglian specialty and my
personal favorite pasta. Pinch me, per favore!
But first: a pop-up Puglian dance party! I kicked
off my shoes and joined the unexpected fun (Borgo
loves this sort of surprise). Why not? This was The
Mediterranean life I had lusted for! Besides, the
Puglians’ wholesome, innocent energy is incredibly
contagious.
During the day, you have to visit Borgo Egnazia’s
beach clubs, but the glistening on-site swimming pools,
straight out of a Dolce and Gabbana photo shoot, are
hard to leave. And the spa! After the Borgo Egnazia
olive oil massages and Roman baths and the hyper-
rejuvenating thalassotherapy at the Thalasso Spa (inside
Borgo’s even more pristine sister property, San
Domenico), I could have gotten Justin Timberlake to
marry me.
A week of the freshest fish, purest olive oil,
irresistible orecchiette and luscious red wine—plus all
the dancing, laughing and relaxing—left me looking
and feeling like a woman I would admire. Borgo
Egnazia handed me the Mediterranean diet and life on
a silver platter; it was everything I imagined and more.
I arrived at BorgoEgnazia and my jawdropped: Castles
entwined withgrapevines, lemon
trees, fortresses...allbathed in yellow-pink
sunlight.
ultratravel 45
Clockwise from above: Borgo
Egnazia has five restaurants on
the property, including La Frasca;
the hotel’s main entrance; the
Owner’s Villa is the most
exclusive of the property’s 29
villas; the pool at La Corte, which
is the property’s main building.
IMA
GE
S C
OU
RT
ES
Y O
F B
OR
GO
EG
NA
ZIA
46 ultratravel
ultratravel 47
Borgo Egnazia is an overwhelmingly exquisite sensory experience.