Bordered by the majestic Rhone River on the west, Provence France is coincidentally a Province in France. The Rhone River forms a natural frontier with its neighbor Languedoc.

Provence France is a region of mountains, fertile plains and rivers that display all the magnetic beauty and contrast of Mediterranean mountain country.

The Rhone River borders the Provence France on the west which is a fast flowing river. The true artery of the Province of Provence France is the Durance River which was one a seasonally destructive torrent that has since been tamed by the use of dams.

The Durance River sluggishly curls around a broad valley like a snake. People who are interested in sight seeing on their trip, will definitely want to see these two rivers during their trip to Provence France.

The landscape of Provence is filled with many distinct contrasts and characters. You will find lush valleys throughout Provence. These lush valleys are commonly associated with areas with less fertile vegetation. The Alluvial plains are lined along the edges of the major rivers. The Camargue offers an interested landscape that is great for sight seeing as there is often a blurred distinction between the land and the sea. The wildlife of Camargue is similar to that of an African environment.

You’ll find carved caves between the limestone rocks in certain parts of Provence where the water meets the land. There are some really large and easily accessible caves located in Provence. These caves happen to be the some of the most popular tourist spots in all of Europe. In some located rivers have cut deeply into the limestone forming gorges. The Verdon Gorge is one of the most popular sight seeing gorges in the Province of Provence France.

You will find a very complicated range of mountains in the Provence France. These mountains lay west of the Verdon Gorge. This is the area where the Alpine and Pyrennean folds meet. You will also find Mont Ventoux in this region which is the highest peak in all of Provence. If you travel further south you will find the buckled mountain ridges of Montagne Ste Victoire. These mountains were one of Paul Cezannes favorite perspectives.

Provence France follows in suit with the rhythms of the common Mediterranean climate in which seasons tend to change in abrupt succession. You will find that the rapid autumn rains of autumn quickly end the extensive heat of summer. Winters really tend to be mild in Provence France. The region gets the most rainfall in the spring which is around the same time that the plant life explodes into growth.

The Province of Provence France happens to be located in the northern section of the Sahara Desert which means that the summers in this region tend to be brutally hot. The Provence would be nothing but Saharan without the Mediterranean which is a strongly salted inland sea that is almost tide less. There are times within the Algeria when there will be six months without rain. The Provence can go three months without rain at times.

Energy Team AC45 sponsored by Corum – Venice, Italy

Between May 15th and 20th, the next stage of the America’s Cup World Series is taking place in romantic Venice, Italy in front of the magnificent St. Mark’s Square.

Luxury watchmaker Corum is a sponsor of the Energy Team. For this segment of America’s Cup World Series there will be a change as  Loïck Peyron replaces Yann Guichard and takes the helm of the French one-design boat – Energy Team AC45.

Corum brand joined France’s “AC45 Energy Team” to be its Official Timekeeper. The sponsorship by Corum reinforces the fine watchmaker’s full support of the Peyron brothers’ drive to win the next America’s Cup.

During a recent interview, Loïck Peyron was asked if there have been some changes to the programme in particular with the match race event.
He replied, “Yes, the rules have changed and that’s a good thing. In Naples for example, it was all very sudden with elimination after just one duel. That gave rise to some strange results, with Spithill finishing seventh, for example. In Venice, from the quarter finals, it will be the best of three or in other words two wins if you prefer. To sum up, we shall be sailing much more. Another change is that the fleet race on Super Sunday now has a weighting of three instead of five. That means that the other races during the week will count more. This need for consistency is something that suits us.”

Peyron answered the question, what are the characteristics of the sailing area in Venice?
“In Venice, anything can happen. I know a little about the waters here having raced aboard Oman Sail in an Extreme 40 event and because it was here that the Round Europe races started, when I raced on Fuji. These waters are extremely tricky, as there are so many different parameters and local effects. You really have to grab every opportunity. During the first two days, we’ll be racing outside off the Lido, but for the final three days and Sunday’s big race, we shall be inside just off St. Mark’s Square. This is going to be truly magnificent, even if we know that the race area is going to be complicated to deal with, as it is not very big at all. On an Extreme 40, the race area was already quite small, so on an AC45… But I enjoy this sort of challenge and in this legendary setting, it’s going to be a marvelous experience. Usually, the winds are quite light there and we may well have to fit the wing extensions.”

Corum Admiral’s Cup 42 Chronograph

In support of the America’s Cup World Series, Corum introduced the Admiral’s Cup 42 Chronograph watch. This luxury sports watch is incredibly stylish. The Admiral’s Cup 42 Chronograph provides a historical heritage, a pure design plus for the first time in this legend line, a more classical aspiration expressed through a cosc-certified chronograph movement.

The Admiral’s Cup 42 Chronograph watch by Corum reflects a number of the signature codes of the original Admiral’s Cup, united in an harmonious blend of sportiness and elegance.

Shreve & Co.

Shreve & Co. is San Francisco’s premier jeweler and this year marks a significant milestone in company’s long history. 2012 is a special year for Shreve & Co. as it commemorates another big milestone with its 160^th Anniversary.

Since 1852, Shreve & Co., originally The Shreve Jewelry Store, has been a vibrant part of the Bay Area fine jewelry industry and a champion of spectacular designs and established designers.

Shreve & Co., formerly The Shreve Jewelry Store, was founded in San Francisco in 1852, and incorporated in 1894.

In the past 160 years, Shreve has hosted only the highest quality of fine jewelry and timepiece designs, ranging from Mikimoto and Rolex, to Hearts on Fire, Wellendorff, and (newly) Patek Philippe.

With an unmatched offering of only the best luxury products, Shreve & Co. continues to uphold its reputation as the premier destination for distinguished timepieces and exquisite jewelry.

During the month of May, Shreve & Co. honors its storied past by celebrating the present and looking toward the future by hosting an exclusive, invitation-only reception for some of its most loyal clientele, and inviting those who are new to Shreve, to understand why it has been on top for 160 years.

Shreve & Co. President Glen Ross says, “I feel honored to be a part of this wonderful occasion. Shreve is proud to be the oldest existing retailer in San Francisco and honored to have served the myriad of personalities that create San Francisco, as we celebrate yet another unique milestone.”

For additional information on Shreve & Co., please visit www.shreve.com.

Royal Chundu

Royal Chundu is the newest luxury resort in Zambia and perched on the banks of the Zambezi River upstream, from magnificent Victoria Falls.

One of the biggest celebrations in Africa is the famous Parrotfish Run. This event marks the journey of millions of fish that are caught in the main stream of the Zambezi River as the fish swim down the river for miles, much to the benefit of local fishermen.

Parrotfish Run kicks off on June 1 and is both a local and seasonal event that occurs between June and August. Parrotfish Run is hosted by the luxurious Royal Chundu hotel.

Royal Chundu is comprised of two luxurious lodges: the River Lodge holds 10 spacious riverfront suites while the Island Lodge has 4 exquisite villas located on private Katombora Island.

Hotel guests at Royal Chundu will have the special opportunity to take part in this cultural event occurring near the property where they will see catches like the prized African Tigerfish to the iconic and vibrant Parrotfish.

View how local fishermen use hand-woven baskets made of reeds and palm tree leaves to catch the fish. A significant fact is that the amount of fish caught provides enough sustenance to last the local villages an entire year.

In addition, the Parrotfish Run coincides with a natural phenomenon known as the Lunar Rainbow. While the typical rainbow appears through direct sunlight, the rare Lunar Rainbow occurs from light reflected from the moon’s surface. From the vantage point of Victoria Falls, one of the largest waterfalls in the world, the experience is unlike any other.

For wildlife lover, visiting Zambia and staying at Royal Chundu is ideal. The luxury hotel is perfectly situated among unspoiled southern African wildlife such as elephants, crocodiles, hippos, and over 400 species of birds.

Royal Chundu offers all of the classic Victoria Falls activities but with a more private and exclusive location. While at the lodge, guests can experience canoeing trips, sunset river cruises, fishing and birding excursions, cultural village visits, fine dining and much more.

For learn more about the annual Parrotfish Run and Royal Chundu, please visit www.royalchundu.com

There will be a literal mountain of cash raining down on the Baby Boomer generation.  Over the next several years, it is estimated that $10 trillion will be inherited by today’s Baby Boomers.

Due to fact that women outlive men by seven years on average, women will receive the lion share of this wealth will get the bulk of it according to a recent Cornell University study.

So the big question is what to do with all that money? Financial expert Scott T. Schultz, author of Scott Schultz’s Guide to Closed-End Funds has a surprising answer.

Scott T. Schultz was quoted, “Women already control 60 percent of the nation’s personal wealth – they outnumber men and they are traditionally the shoppers.”

Scott T. Schultz has had an exceptionally successful career and is a respected expert on the subject of financial investing. He began his career in 1983 at E.F. Hutton and was ranked the nation’s No. 1 Separate Account Money Manager by USA Today for three consecutive years using GIPS verified/audited performance numbers supplied by Morningstar, Inc. Schultz was a GOP nominee for U.S. Congress in 1988, and met with Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush at the White House.

As the first of the boomers begin reaching the age of 65 this year, the U.S. will see an even greater number of retirement-aged women holding this country’s financial wealth.

“Many will inherit money and property from their parents and/or their husbands, and many will live another 30 to 40 years,” Schultz says, citing the Cornell study. “They’ll need to invest their money to ensure they have enough to avoid that impoverished retirement they fear, but they – and the nation – have lost confidence in the stock market; April 2011 saw the lowest number of investors since 1999.”

According to Schultz, what brokers are not telling their clients is about closed-end funds. Schultz was ranked the No. 1 Separate Account Money Manager for three consecutive years by USA Today. He says these limited-issue stocks are available only in finite numbers and because watchful brokers can find them “on sale,” they’re a better bet as an investment for those who are willing to sit on them awhile.

Why is the American public so in the dark about closed-end funds? Noting his book is the first written on the topic in more than 20 years, Schultz says there are a few reasons:

• Brokers can’t generate a lot of commissions from them. Brokers move open-ended funds quickly because they earn a commission with each transaction. It’s easy money for them, Schultz says. Closed-end funds require a longer term investment strategy, so brokers who want to get rich quick won’t use them.

• They require more effort from the broker, who has to work to find the “sales.” One advantage of closed-end funds is that they can sometimes be purchased at a discount, so the investor starts off ahead of open-end investors who are paying full price for stocks, Schultz says. Even if the fund never gets back up to its full value, any increase at all is a gain. But the broker has to be willing to work to find the good investments with good discounts. And then he or she has to be willing to sit on them.

• Closed-end funds are boring! For a lot of brokers, it’s just plain fun to trade stocks in products and initiatives with an exciting ring to them, whether it’s Facebook or a treasure-hunting ship. These brokers are constantly trading stocks – and generating transaction feeds, lawyer fees and underwriting fees every time – because that’s what they like to do. Closed-end funds require thoughtful, sometimes tedious research before buying, and then the patience of a saint as both the broker and the investor wait for the bid price to increase.

To learn more about Scott T. Schultz and his thoughts on Closed-End Funds, please visit: www.closedendfundguru.com

Chef Masa Takayama

Las Vegas will welcome another fine dining restaurant for patrons who want the ultimate foodie experience. Later this summer, both Forbes and Michelin-decorated Chef Masa Takayama will introduce the first teppan concept to his extraordinary culinary repertoire.

The new Tetsu restaurant will be located at the luxurious ARIA Resort & Casino, and will be an intimate and interactive dining experience, offering guests the first taste of Chef Masa’s passion for fine Japanese grilling.

Located inside Masa’s famed Japanese restaurant, barMASA, Tetsu will replace Shaboo, which closes April 28. The exclusive venue will feature four blackjack-style tables and two communal teppan grill tables seating 20 and 19, respectively.

Tetsu will feature highly skilled teppanyaki chefs, who will also cleverly oversee the evening’s culinary entertainment – prepping, cooking and plating orders specific to each guest’s request. A produce table will serve as the room’s centerpiece, displaying the finest quality meats, seafood and vegetables, and will allow guests the opportunity to hand select the proteins of their entrée, specifying the exact cut, portion size and preparation style they desire.

“ARIA is a leader in the evolution of the Las Vegas culinary scene, now a recognized contender as one of the world’s top epicurean destinations,” said CityCenter President and COO Bill McBeath. “With Tetsu, we continue to set the pace by offering guests a brand new, exclusive concept from Masa Takayama, arguably the world’s most celebrated Japanese chef.”

Tetsu Executive Chef/Creator Masa Takayama said, “With a passion for the finest-sourced ingredients, I have always been intrigued by the sizzling vegetables, meat and seafood prepared on a teppan grill. The act of choosing your ingredients and interacting with the chef as he prepares them elevates the conventional dinner – creating memories – which is how food is meant to be experienced.”

The teppan grill menu allows guests to try a variety of offerings at smaller portions and reasonable prices such as the Toro Tartare with Caviar, Wagyu Beef Steak Tartare and Pacific Lobster Sashimi Ceviche in addition to Tataki selections. Tataki, meaning to “pound,” is a traditional manner of preparing fish and meat so they better absorb other flavors, therefore enhancing the protein in the dish. The cuts are briefly seared over a hot pan, marinated in vinegar, sliced thin and seasoned with ginger. Tetsu’s tataki offerings will differentiate the restaurant with the finest culinary creations, such as the Wagyu Ribeye, and Filet Mignon-Soy Vinaigrette.

Main course offerings include prime cuts of beef such as Center Cut Lamb Chop and Filet Mignon. Seafood and steak also will delight guests with the incredibly fresh ingredients for which Masa is renowned, such as Butterflied Scottish Langoustine, Mediterranean Turbot and decadent Fatty Tuna. Side accompaniments including Kobe Garlic Fried Rice, Yakisoba Noodles and Seafood Udon will complement the main course. Completing the meal are unexpected and refreshing desserts such as Masa’s famous Truffle Ice Cream, Grapefruit Granite and Yuzu Sorbet.

Tetsu’s hours of operation will be Wednesday through Sunday 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Guests enter Tetsu through barMASA, located adjacent to the stunning ARIA lobby.

The centerpiece of CityCenter Las Vegas is ARIA Resort & Casino, a stunning AAA Five Diamond resort on The Strip featuring an unprecedented combination of striking architecture, sustainable design, high-end service, spectacular amenities and premium meeting and convention space.

For additional information or to make reservations at the new Tetsu Restaurant at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, please call 702.590.7111 or visit www.arialasvegas.com

Sky Combat Ace

Las Vegas is well known for extremes and ultimate thrills. Now try the latest craze – Sky Combat Ace (SCA) – the nation’s ultimate flight experience.

Suit up for a wild aerobatic flight of non-stop spins, barrel rolls, hammerheads and loops high above Las Vegas. Sky Combat Ace offers the adventure-of-a-lifetime.

Perfect for thrill-seekers, Sky Combat Ace offers aerial joyrides high above Nevada desert. Sky Combat Ace pairs you up with actual fighter pilots to learn the art of basic fighter maneuvering.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-time flight fanatic or advanced aviator, Sky Combat Ace (SCA) offers a package suited for everyone with five types of flying experiences:

· Aerobatic Flights – Star in your very own air show! Become wingman to one of SCA’s 10 professional fighter pilots and learn the art of basic flight maneuvering. You fly the plane under the supervision of SCA’s pilots to execute loops, rolls, hammerheads and spins.

· Aerial Dogfighting – Reenact your favorite “Top Gun” moment as you chase your opponent through the Nevada skies like a real fighter pilot. Feel the thrill of “the kill” as you aim and shoot your adversary using SCA’s special effects. If your aim is good, you’ll get instantaneous feedback as smoke flows from your opponent’s plane. Fight’s on!

· Multi-Day Adventures – Can’t choose just one? Indulge your need for speed and break up your SCA experience over a few days time span. Or, build your skills by reattempting the same package the next day!

· Sightseeing Packages – In an open-cockpit biplane fit for two (plus a pilot), enjoy aerial views of the Mojave Desert while flying over Las Vegas landmarks such as the Hoover Dam, Red Rock State Park, and the world-famous Las Vegas Strip (night flight options also available).

· Spectator Packages – Invite your friends to watch the action in SCA’s non-aerobatic aircraft, where they can take in your incredible experience from an unrivaled vantage point only a short distance away.

Guided by an expert aerobatic pilot, take the controls and live out your “Iceman” or “Maverick” fantasies with the Top Gun package; or take on the extreme (and aptly named) Adrenaline Rush, combining world-class aerobatics with air-to-air dog fights.

IF you’re looking for a great experience without all the thrills, then enjoy a sightseeing adventure in an open-cockpit biplane for incomparable views of the Hoover Dam and Red Rock Mountains, or a night flight over the bright city lights.

Flying in SCA’s spectacular airplanes is undoubtedly the highlight of any trip, but we didn’t stop there. Groups also can reserve the Sky Combat Ace Hangar for events pre- or post-flight to enjoy our state-of-the-art sound system, flat-screen TVs, foosball, darts, pool table, a Golden Tee and our Redbird Full Motion Simulator.

All packages include photos before take-off and video captured by one of four airplane-mounted cameras; specific packages can be found at www.skycombatace.com.

For additional info or to book your reservation, visit www.skycombatace.com or call 888-494-5850

Georges & Monica Bloumels

For devoted fans of the traditional board game Scrabble, this new luxury product from Georges & Monica Bloumels is perfect.

The Luxury Leather Edition of Scrabble is the ultimate game to own. Georges & Monica Bloumels is a family business in France and for more than 30 years, has been professionally involved in upscale handicraft creations.

One of the goals of Georges & Monica Bloumels, is to “meet the precise demands of connoisseurs accustomed to the finest creations.” This luxury Scrabble board game is ideal for both enthusiasts and amateurs players.

The Luxury Leather Edition of Scrabble is a magnetic board game that revolves and the storage box is covered in full-grain lambskin leather. The game comes with four tile racks that are made from wood and also covered in lambskin leather.

The tile bag is made of black goat suede and holds 102 board tiles, made from metal and covered in lambskin leather.

The Luxury Leather Edition of Scrabble comes in two languages – English and French and priced at 5,000 EURO. Georges & Monica Bloumels also offers the Scrabble board game in other languages upon request. Additional customization include colors and personalized of the board back.

The company also offers a Design Edition for only 1,300 EURO.

To learn more, please visit Georges & Monica Bloumels

Ride Kenya

Ride Kenya offers an experience of a lifetime. Enjoy an African safari in Kenya on horseback with: up-close game watching and stunning rides through majestic savannahs, forests and swamps with incredible views of Africa’s iconic Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Ride Kenya is part of the Great Plains Conservation camps and safaris, and the tour company guides its guests on horseback safari trips across the exclusive landscape of the Amboseli–Tsavo ecosystem.

Ride Kenya’s stables are located just 2km from ol Donyo Lodge, which was named one of Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Hotels” in both 2011 and 2012. These horseback safaris are designed for experienced and adventurous riders and cover a pristine wilderness of over one million acres, rarely visited by other tourists.

Luxury accommodations await you. There are ten large bedroom suites that truly embrace East African culture. Each suite offers natural stone floors and tall and traditionally thatched roofs. Rooftop suites have a romantic bed for guests who want to slumber under the starry African sky.

One of the biggest attractions at ol Donyo Lodge is the variety of activities for guests and families: Colonial–style breakfast after morning horseback rides; game drives and night excursions that provide extraordinary wildlife photography; bicycle riding and hiking trips through the savannah and forest; and the cool relief of private plunge pools.

Ride Kenya’s horseback safaris typically span six nights and seven days of riding, camping and sightseeing for groups of up to ten (families welcome). A typical day on safari offers 4–7 hours per day in the saddle, with a chance of night or day game driving, as well as walking tours.

Based out of a mobile camp, Ride Kenya’s guests stay in luxurious Selous tents, with hot showers, a separate tent for three–course dining, on–site laundry and a full crew of staff for household services. Every other night, the camp location will move to follow the trails. Ride Kenya is flexible in offering long and short horse safaris, for small groups as well as larger groups.

For additional information about Ride Kenya and their horseback Kenya safaris, please visit: http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/rk/index.html

Farbod Barsum

Farbod Barsum is a luxury handbag and accessories designer and he launched his company in 2010.

Farbod Barsum is an industry leader creating handcrafted wearable art in beautiful, exotic skins and offer a commitment to quality, luxury, and refinement.

Born of a passion for classical styling paired with modern vision in composition, Farbod Barsum also provides his customers with the finest in high fashion accessories.

The company’s handbags boast the softest and most supple in Alligator and Ostrich skins. Using only the finest materials, Farbod Barsum’s commitment to quality shows through the attention to detail given to each and every luxury handbag design, and is often compared to Hermes.

Combining his experience by working for some of the most prestigious fashion houses as well as architectural design work, Farbod Barsum was ready to present his visions of iconic style to the world. He launched his fashion house in 2010 after an apprenticeship in The House of Bijan on Rodeo Drive where he worked side by side with the late designer.

Retail prices for  Farbod Barsum line of luxury handbags including his signature styles: “Empress”, “Candis”, and “Mona” range from: $6,500 to $32,000.

For addition information about Farbod Barsum, please visit: http://www.farbodbarsum.com/