When Phileas Fogg, a rich English gentleman decided to circumnavigate the globe in 1873, it was for a hefty bet with members at his local club in London. As the main fictional character in the Jules Verne novel ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’, the adventure was planned using rail and boat steamer with his French valet, Passepartout.
At the Reform Club, Fogg was involved in an argument over a newspaper article regarding the opening of a new train section in India, claiming to make it possible to travel around the world in 80 days. With a few complications, he makes it just in time and claims his money, worth well over one million English pounds in today’s money.
I made no such bet. When I decided to fly around the world in 2012, it was for a platinum, exhilarating exploration of five cities in five countries on three continents in just ten days. What? Are you mad? For both Fogg and me it was a world away from reality but the lure to travel so far so fast to so many exotic places was impossible to resist.
For the record, Fogg’s journey took him from London via the Suez to Bombay, Calcutta, Hong Kong, then Yokohama across to San Francisco, New York and back to London.
Mine however took me and five companions from Sydney to Guangzhou in China, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome then across to Buenos Aires, travelling by plane and train without a boat steamer in sight.
By moving at high speed in each city, miraculously we managed to savour the local culture, food, architecture and people who made each destination unique.
The itinerary made it clear that this was going to be around half sightseeing and half eating – a massive food component. We were however given the option to look and not taste!
Sponsored by SkyTeam alliance airlines, Sofitel hotels, top of the range with Accor Hotels and Rail Plus, we embarked on what was to be a huge adventure in constant five star comfort putting Phileas Fogg to shame.
GUANGZHOU
With the nickname of ‘Flower City’, Guangzhou, China’s third largest city with a mere 14 million people, is known historically as Canton. The Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich, a super modern hotel with five bars and restaurants, combines French and Sino influences, oozes with French pastries and trendy bright red artwork but still portrays a traditional Chinese feel.
Cantonese cuisine is famous for soups and yum cha and there’s a saying that goes along the lines of ‘A woman needs to be able to make a good Cantonese soup before she can find a husband”. At one of the local favourites, Bingsheng Restaurant in the Haizhu district, we weren’t madly keen on the seasoned geese intestines but really enjoyed the Icy Fresh Shrimps and the Jin Sha Pork Dumplings.
On a smoggy day, we headed to the Canton Tower which, at 600 metres, has the world’s highest post office, a fact that tickled my fancy. Designed by Mark Hemel to look like a ‘sexy female’ it earned the name of “young lady with the tight waste’ and is a show case of buildings in this dynamic city. From the observation deck, you can see forever, almost across to Hong Kong.
A Pearl River cruise is worth doing, particularly at night and so is a visit to Shamian Island, a real surprise with a bit of European flair like stepping into parts of colonial London.
That’s because the territory was divided into two concessions given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing Dynasty government in the 19th century. Its quiet pedestrian avenues and historic buildings are a magnet for weddings, some brides in bright red gowns, often borrowed for photo shoots.
AMSTERDAM
This beautiful city is made for walking and biking and both bikers and walkers respect or at least understand each other’s right of way. On a fabulous sunny day and heading into spring, we went on a guided walk around the UNESCO-listed canals and to the city’s most luxurious shopping street, PC Hoofstraat. Wandering through one of the major flower markets, thousands of tulips were in full bloom, albeit just at the end of their season. Famous for its red light district we ventured down three or four of the busiest streets and even though in broad daylight, yes it was still busy. Just up the road is The Grand Hotel where the Netherlands’ Queen Beatrix was married and Bridges Restaurant is set in the central courtyard garden displaying vivid orange tulips and sporting fine seafood dishes.
Leaving an indelible memory was Anne Frank’s House where, in incredibly close quarters, she, her family and four others hid from the Germans during World War II.
With more time, you’d have to visit the Rijksmuseum, the Royal Palace, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandt’s House and art galleries at the Spiegelkwartier. The ‘I amsterdam’ city card is good value with a GVB transport ticket, more than 40 free entrances, 50 discount offers and a free canal cruise.
PARIS
Travelling by train in Europe is relaxing and is what we did courtesy of Rail Plus for the three hour trip to Paris, a favourite world city for many people with glorious architecture and a changing cultural scene. The food is ‘tres bien’ and to hone our skills, we joined a gastronomic tour with ATOUT France beginning with a macaron lesson at La Cuisine Paris.
The making of this popular meringue-based confectionery had everybody stirring, whipping and competing for what turned out to be every bit as good as those in the swish Parisienne cafes.
At Rue Mouffetard, a cobbled pedestrian food and wine street in the Latin Quarter, 5th arrondisement, the street-front shop windows made for non-stop ogling. Although touristy, it was down to earth with aromatic fruit and vegetables stores, olive oil specialists and shops devoted entirely to chocolate, pates and exotic cuts of meat.
With taste buds at the ready, we caught the metro to join a young wine and food connoisseur from Meet the French to get her version of wine and cheese tasting. The session was held in Miriam’s house with a detailed discussion on the wines of France; she provided a selection of wines and cheeses, suggesting which she thought went best together. Still she said, “It’s entirely up to the individual” though most agreed with her choices.
As night arrived, we were determined to dine at a typical Parisienne restaurant; in this case “La Brasserie de l’Isle Saint-Louis” with charming ambience and great food like the delicious cassoulet and entertaining waiters who’d been with the restaurant for decades.
The Sofitel Arc de Triomphe wasn’t a bad address one must say, just a stone’s throw from the Champs-Elysees and a great location for luxury shopping and sightseeing. It’s a hotel that certainly knows how to ‘do French’.
ROME
After briefly sinking our teeth into Paris, it’s time for an eleven hour train trip through French and Italian countryside with alps in the distance to another ‘best city in the world’ Rome. We headed straight to the Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, an historic hotel near the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. From the top floor restaurant and bar the view across the Borghese Gardens to St Peters’ dome is outstanding and while sipping on a sparkling Prosecco, the nearby villas were subtly lit by the setting sun.
‘Walks of Italy’ organised a customised VIP tour of Rome’s highlights and hidden gems including the Vatican, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, the panoramic city view from Piazza Garribaldi and some things I’d never seen; Roma Capitale del Teatro di Marcello, a 2,000 year old theatre with one of the world’s most expensive apartments on top – 180 million Euros! and the ‘keyhole of Rome’. At the best peep show in town, located in the garden of “Consiglio di Malta” the perfectly miniaturised dome of St Peters, many miles away, can be seen from the green door keyhole at the end of a long corridor. Magical but unfortunately ‘unphotographable’.
The afternoon was spent with a guide from ‘Walks Inside Rome’ discovering gastronomical highlights. Open air markets were brimming with fresh produce and our tasting deli, with the best prosciutto ever, had been trading since 1870. A young, good looking Italian in an old bakery showed us first hand how to make typical pizza - white, plain with olive oil and salt and often had for breakfast. Of course we tried copious local wines and cheeses.
BUENOS AIRES
None of us had been to Buenos Aires so there was much excitement as we boarded the flight on Aerolineas Argentinas across eleven thousand kilometres to South America’s most electrifying city. An easy drive via July 9th Avenue, South America’s widest street with up to 14 lanes, brought us to the Sofitel, set in a charming street surrounded by antique shops and art galleries, a true epicentre of culture. The hotel has the perfect union between art deco and contemporary design with service beyond expectations. Mine host sprained her ankle and before you could say Jack Robinson, there was ice pack, orange juice and Panadol at the ready.
After lunch at the terrific La Il Matterello in La Boca, we walked around El Caminito, an area full of life with houses painted in bright colours, couples dancing the tango in the street and tourists taking more photos than you could shake a stick at. The locals embrace it because it was where the tango was ‘invented’. Years ago, immigrant male labourers at the nearby Port of Boca, were missing their women and started singing melancholy tunes. Over the years this progressed to a slow, sexy dance which is now being revived so teenagers keep the tradition going. Although slow it can be complicated, especially for the female. “Put your left foot back and swivel your hips in the other direction.” said an instructor at one of the many available classes.
At last – two nights in the same city - so why not spend one of them with the Argentine Experience consuming more food and learning how to make empanadas (Argentina’s small, stuffed pastries) and drinking mate (pronounced martay) - a green tea shared by people at home and in the street.
On night two we experienced three great restaurants (Guido, Leopoldo and Olivetti) in the chic area of Palermo Botanica, organised by Fuudis who create tailor made and unique dining experiences. This area is full of restaurants and swish clothing shops, much more sophisticated than I imagined.
And for an extraordinary tour, one of the many that Cultura Cercana arranges, is the amazing walk through family plots at La Recoleta Cemetery. With buildings and mausoleums of all shapes and sizes, it was fascinating, even before we arrived at Eva Peron’s fairly simple grave.
So to all those great cities, goodbye, Joigin, dag, au revoir, ciao, arrivederci and adios until we meet again.
Information
With 17 member airlines SkyTeam offers a very flexible way to fly around the world. Accor, meanwhile, has over 4500 hotels and resorts globally so wherever SkyTeam flies, there’s sure to be an Accor.
Where to stay:
We stayed at Sofitel Hotels in each destination.
Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich
Sofitel Paris Arc de Triomphe
Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese
Sofitel Buenos Aires Arroyo
www.sofitel.com and www.accorhotels.com
Airline information
China Southern Airlines – Sydney to Amsterdam via Guangzhou.
Aerolineas Argentinas – Rome to Buenos Aires then Sydney
For the SkyTeam ‘Go Round the World’ pass visit www.skyteam.com
www.railplus.com.au
Rail Plus is Australia’s leading international rail specialist booking passes and point-to-point tickets on major rail networks around the world.
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