A couple years ago I had the pleasure of staying at The Venetian in Las Vegas.  My stay was great - the room was beautiful, the shopping and restaurants were fantastic, and I did very well in the poker room (as I'm sure everyone is interested in my card skills).  The Venetian is certainly a luxurious marvel, but try as it may to recreate Venice, the gargantuan oasis in Nevada simply isn't the "Queen of the Adriatic."  On the other hand, the Ca Maria Adele provides guests with a true Venice experience.  The real Venice.  The one in Italy.  The hotel is located in a refurbished 16th century palazzo and looks out over a canal and the church of Santa Maria della Salute.  Engulfed by a well preserved historic neighborhood, the Ca Maria Adele offers convenient travel to San Marco Square via boat that stops right outside the hotel lobby.  Among the accommodations of the intimately luxurious 14-room hotel are five theme rooms, including the regal Doge's Room, the romantic Fireside Room, and the lively La Salsa Noir.  Whatever your choice of room, your stay at Ca Maria Adele is sure to be a memorable one.

My "dream destination list" is a directory of locales that is ever-changing, but Spain always seems to remain at or near the top.  Of course I want to see the sights - Barcelona Cathedral, The Grand Mosque of Cordoba, and Mediterranean beaches to name just a few - but I also want to actively experience and soak in pieces of the country's rich culture and history.  Things on the to-do list include Valencia's Fallas celebration commemorating Saint Joseph's Day over two exciting weeks in March; the frenetic La Tomatina tomato fight in Bunol in August; and, of course, Pamplona's San Fermin festival in July to run with the bulls.  This simple schedule seems to require a much extended trip or multiple voyages - both fine by me.  Either way, much more planning is necessary. While my extensive research of the country will have to continue, it has already led me to many discoveries, including some magical Spanish luxury homes.

A privileged hillside position offering stunning day and night panoramas of the bay and city below is the setting for this Javea villa.  The home effortlessly combines modern amenities with a traditional Andalusian Spanish design - perfect for my tastes, by the way...maybe if I save every Euro I get over the next several decades...never mind, back to reality.  A colonnaded patio as well as a private courtyard lead inside to a modern kitchen, wine cellar and luxurious master suite.  Then it's back outside on the private terrace to take in the stunning views. This is truly a remarkable melding of traditional styling with state-of-the-art comforts.

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