- Contributed
At left, Javier Quintana and Paige Brooks who tied the knot at Trident Hotel, Castle and Villas in Portland recently.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
EUROPE (AS ALWAYS) is definitely the destination of choice for the holidaymaker and/or the international culture-vulture.
And with the summer season setting in, the suitcases are already packed. Visas have been secured for nannies and houseboys and chauffeurs, as the well-heeled gets set to go frolicking on the European continent!
Now, terror threat or no, the preferred capitals this summer include London, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, Rome, Amsterdam and Munich, with stops on the French and Italian Riviera; a visit to the Italian wine-country and, most naturally, a stopover for tennis at Wimbledon.
More anon, as indeed, it promises to be one fabulously hot summer!
Now, speaking of things and places fabulous, dears, there's to be no doubt about it, as indeed, Jamaica ranks up there as an international destination for holidaymakers and "A"-crowd jet-setters, with the very best of them.
Pity, however, that we have not managed to fully explore the wealth of opportunities that Port Royal holds as an international tourism destination, pretty much in the same vein as, say, a Pompeii.
Indeed, Port Royal has all the necessary requirement of notoriety, tragedy and legend to attract the international traveller who criss-crosses the globe each year, to visit such places.
OLDE WORLDE FAB
Anyway, while Port Royal's potential remains largely unrealised, not so for Port Antonio. Indeed, since its discovery in the late 1950s, Port Antonio has been the haunt of the acme of international society, and a magnet to the chic and glamourous.
And, little wonder here as, indeed, the place has a picturesque charm and curious unspoilt character that's all its own and as such has made it that much more attractive.
Of the many natural and/or created attractions adding to the lure of Port Antonio is the tres chic and charmingly grand and 'olde worlde' fab, Trident Hotel, Castle and Villas.
Dears, it is a piece of fabulousness now being discovered by Hollywood, the scions of New York Eastside 'olde' money and the glitterati.
And with this new 'new' discovery of one of the many treasures of Port Antonio, the charming old town is enjoying a new found and celebrated status, as the ultimate in island get-away.
Now, not only has the Trident emerged as the leading destination over there in Port Antonio, the property has found a new niche in the international travel market as a fave wedding location, for the "In" crowd and, of course, the jaded.
For the truly jaded, Trident Hotel, Castle and Villas in Port Antonio is the purr-fect hide-away.
Indeed, the property offers them the unique opportunity not only to jet-away with family and friend for nuptials, it is the ideal location, away as it is from the glare of the lens of the international paparazzi.
And so, my dears, Trident Hotel, Castle and Villas is not only happening, it is buzzing with the cache of celebrity and then some.
The fabulous just keeps on jetting, with among those jetting in recent weeks for a hush-hush wedding was Chilean born HBO executive Javier Quintana and his American love, model and actress Paige Brooks.
Luvs, international society is still raving about the fabulousness of it all, and general manager Susanne Levy is all-aglow, from the absolutely smashing rave reviews. Dears, more anon, as indeed, the word is expect a summer block-buster of a wedding.
RUNT
And, speaking of summer blockbusters: Chicago-based real estate baron, Joe English, is back on the island to dot a few I's and cross a number of T's as he wraps up production on the movie Runt, slated for a summer release.
Dears, with the movie slated for a premiere at this year's Canadian Film Festival, the erstwhile producer is on the island for top-level meetings with Ellie Grennan (representing Toots Hibbert) plus a number of other leading musicians and performers, to wrap up the soundtrack to the movie!
Luvs, wait for this one as indeed, with performances from the Ashé ensemble; music from Jimmy Cliff, Toots Hibbert and Brother Iqulah, plus a number of others, the soundtrack to the film Runt is promising to be every inch the hot number the movie promises to be!
Then, 'a musical treat' is just exactly how music lovers and aficionados of the classics are dubbing last weekends' recital by flautist Justin Lynch and violinist Anna Braithwaite over at the Jamaica School of Music!
And little wonder here as indeed, both Lynch and Braithwaite have transcended their roles from being mere scholars or purveyors of the classical art form to being celebrated virtuosos.
Their mastery continues to confound the simple-of-mind, but is welcomed by those with more than a passing acquaintance with their repertoire.
And the annual Latin American Women's Club, bazaar and fete hosted last Saturday at the Hilton Kingston poolside was really a family social and then some. And this coming on the spectacular success of their annual costume ball, held, two Saturdays earlier at the Terra Nova Hotel.
Dears, members of the diplomatic and Consular Corps were out in fabulous numbers as they joined members of haute society, out for a treat and a bargain. And the celebs keep on coming, so wait for the announcements as its going to be one hot, star-studded summer.
