Cool it! As summer’s thermostat
reaches OMG numbers, it’s time to hang out by the pool. Forget ye ole
swimming hole and head for the most beautiful pool ever…the infinity
pool.
'What in the world', you may ask, 'is an
infinity pool?' Infinity has been defined as a
quality of having no limits or end, something that makes the line
between man and Mother Nature’s handiwork seem fuzzy. The vanishing edge
swimming pool…water with no boundary…the infinity pool…seamlessly merges the
pool’s water into another body of water.
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| INFINITY POOL IN ARUBA MERGES WATER INTO WATER |
In a classic 1953 movie, Burt Lancaster
and Deborah Kerr’s famous ocean-side kiss scene took you “From Here to
Eternity”. Hop aboard the magic carpet of travel and let me swoop you off
from here to infinity’.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY: Formerly known as
Constantinople, this city even had a gold record song written about its name
change. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"
is a 1953 novelty song written on the 500th anniversary of
the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans. The lyrics
humorously refer to the official 1930 renaming of the city of Constantinople to Istanbul. If you are wondering why
they changed the name, the song explains it in these
words: “Why they changed it I can't
say…People just liked it better that way…Why did Constantinople get the
works?...That's nobody's business but the Turks.”
Istanbul
is the only city in the world that straddles two continents (Europe and Asia)
and is embraced by two seas (Aegean and Black) and the connecting Bosporus
Strait. The regal Ciragan Palace Hotel, situated on the European
shores of the Bosphorus and overlooking the ancient city of Istanbul, allows
one to fantasize about the luxury and glamour of living in a genuine Ottoman
Palace.
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| CIRAGAN PALACE ISTANBUL |
With
its splendid style, superb location, fascinating view, and resort ambiance, the
hotel gives its guests an unforgettable stay in an enchanting, mystical city
where East meets West, Europe meets Asia, and the past meets the present.
The Ciragan Palace
Hotel’s infinity swimming pool, heated year-round, appears to overflow into the
Bosphorus.
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| CIRAGAN PALACE INFINITY POOL |
ST. LUCIA, WEST INDIES: A silly riddle might challenge your
brain with the question: What’s black and white and green all over?
The answer is quite simply St. Lucia (pronounced St.
Loo-sha)...the stunningly beautiful Windward Island with both black
volcanic and white sand beaches, back-dropped by lush green mountains.
In the town of Soufriere, a 1.5 hour drive
from St. Lucia's capital city of Castries, is the simmering Soufriere
Sulphur Springs Volcano. Although there has not been any volcanic
activity occurring here for 400,000 years, the resultant cavity from the
collapsed dome of molten lava has formed the world’s only drive-through
volcano. The volcano’s moonscape-like pit, with 24 steaming vents
bubbling up smelly sulphuric smoke, was quite a contrast to what was to follow.
Minutes away from Sulphur Springs, is Ladera Resort,
an intimate tropical gem that is world acclaimed, yet relatively
unknown.
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| ST LUCIA’S LADERA RESORT |
Taking full advantage of its spectacular natural
surroundings, each of Ladera’s villas has only three walls. The
absence of the fourth wall brings an astounding view of the conical twin
peaks of the Pitons, and the rugged coastline below, right into your
villa. And what better place to enjoy the view than from an old-fashioned
swing hanging above your own private plunge pool?
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| LADERA’S 3-WALLED VILLAS HAVE PRIVATE INFINITY PLUNGE POOLS |
BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA: California's Big Sur coast, where
mountains plunge dramatically into the Pacific, is one of the most dramatic
meetings of land and sea in the world. (FYI: The undulating
mountainside coastal drive northbound is less of a cliffhanger than the rail-less
oceanside trip southbound). For a luxurious hideaway in this
relatively undeveloped and pristine area nothing
holds a candle to the Post Ranch Inn.
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| SERENE AND SECLUDED POST RANCH INN |
Each
oceanview cottage of this rustic, ranch-style luxury hotel is curved around old trees
and strung along the rocky-ridged California cliff. The
mountainside treehouses are built on stilts. If you desire divine
isolation, this eco-friendly romantic hideaway is for you. There are no
televisions or alarm clocks in the guest rooms and children are not allowed at
the resort.
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| HEATED INFINITY POOL AT POST RANCH INN |
BERMUDA: The
islands of Bermuda, under a “pink cloud of oleanders”, are an exquisitely
delicate watercolor framed by a shimmering turquoise ocean. Homes
painted in pastel colors, and topped with white lime-washed roofs, line the
flawless spun-sugar beaches of these breathtakingly beautiful
islands. Actually, this 21-square mile area, which we collectively call
the island of Bermuda, is a chain of approximately 138 small islands, connected
by causeways and bridges. Contrary to common errors, Bermuda is in
the Atlantic Ocean (not the Caribbean), some 650 miles off the coast of North
Carolina. The
serene and spectacular Reefs Resort tucked
along the island’s celebrated South Shore in Southampton Parish is a
classic retreat where boutique sophistication meet coastal style.
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| FROM OCEANSIDE TO POOLSIDE. HO HUM... ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE |
The Reefs’ salmon-pink cottages stretch
out along a pink-flecked sand
beach surrounded by palm trees and jutting rocks framed by lush foilage. Poolside guest rooms overlook an
infinity-edge swimming pool and turquoise Atlantic waters. Since each guest
room faces west, at no extra charge, you will be treated to a magnificant light
show as sunset surrenders to moonrise.
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| INFINITY POOL AT THE REEFS RESORT BERMUDA |
FUNCHAL, MADEIRA,
PORTUGAL: The sub-tropical island of Madeira is part of the
Portuguese archipelago that hugs the North Atlantic Ocean 400 miles west of
North Africa. This flower-filled island of volcanic origin is a magical
meld of Europe and the tropics. With the waters of the Gulf Stream lapping at
its shores, Madeira is blessed with a near perfect year-round climate of
comfortable summers and mild winters. The
island’s lush, irregularly cut mountains scrape across the sky, while the bays,
the beaches, and the cliffs meet the deep blue crystalline sea. The beauty of
nature is harmoniously contrasted with the cosmopolitan throb of Funchal, the
capital. Reid’s Palace, Funchal’s Grande Dame, opened
in 1891, and has been restored to its original grandeur.
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| REID’S PALACE, FUNCHAL’S GRANDE DAME |
From one of their three luxurious swimming pools you will
enjoy stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Two of the three pools
contain seawater, one of which is heated. The third pool is heated with
freshwater. From a sea level platform you can jump straight into the
azure Atlantic Ocean.
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| HEATED INFINITY POOL AT REID’S PALACE |
Since approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is covered
with water, say hello to summer in an infinity pool. Remember,
wherever you travel…whenever you travel…it’s always summer somewhere. Come on
in, the water’s fine!
JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer, and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in Mariemont, Ohio. She is the winner of 46 national Travel Writing Awards.
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