Poland: Spending The Night At A Castle - Hotel St. Bruno

Gizycko, October 2016

"Dad, when I grow up I want to be a princess and live in a beautiful castle!" The 5 years old me said it firmly after watching Sleeping Beauty movie for the first time and got blown away.

"But I thought you wanted to be Cleopatra and live in a pyramid or last week you told me you want to be Tarzan and live in Africa." My Dad chuckled and shook his head. "Girl! You have such a mind-boggling imagination. You even told me you wanted to be a bird when we were in a plane!"

"I know! I know but can you build a castle for me?"

"Sure. Let's build a sand castle for now and later when you grow up, you can build your own castle. How does it sound?" The mini me squealed happily and rushed to get ready for the beach trip.


I was a very curious kid...well I still am I guess. A curious adult that is. As I remember I've always let my imagination run wild and crave for new adventures. I didn't really do playdate when I was a kid as I spent most of my time travelling. Tagged along on Dad's business trip since I was a toddler. Fairy tales books were my only friends, my everything. It accompany me during long flights or when Dad was busy with work. Mom would buy a new book for me every weekend and I would keep bugging her until she read it for me. So yes, it's easy to say that I've always been fascinated by princess stories and castles since forever.

Psst! I even tried to kiss a frog, hoping it would turn into prince charming. 🙅

Fortunately nowadays not only princess get to live in a castle, I found out that there are actually a bunch of castles around the world that can be rented for a night stay or a year if the budget allows. Thanks to the internet and Google! During the road trip around Baltic countries, from Vilnius in Lithuania we headed to Poland and stayed in Gizycko. I was thrilled when I found out that there's a castle-turned-hotel in the city so there's no way I would miss the chance to spend at least one night there. Dreams do come true!

St. Bruno is one of the most popular hotels in Gizycko, the biggest city in Mazury region which is also called the 1000 lakes. The red brick hotel surely has a beautiful surroundings next to the Łuczański Canal, connecting the lakes Niegocin and Kisajno. I think quaint is the word perfectly describes about this place.

glass winter garden pavilion 

the lobby

receptionist 

Hotel St. Bruno is housed in a restored Teutonic castle dates back to the 15th century. This castle has been through numerous restoration obviously. Original Teutonic Fortress was used as a Hunting Residence Lodge for renaissance princess until the year of 1850, then it as transformed to a military headquarters of the Boyen Fortress. Long story short, in 2010 the castle was finally restored to become a 4 stars boutique hotel.

My first impression as I stepped into the lobby was the contemporary design and interior looks quirky. After a swift check in, I walked around behind the lobby and found a narrow alleyway. It's dimly lit and going around like a maze. There's dozens of old portraits on the stone wall, probably pictures of some the previous landlords or knights who used to live in the castle. Walking through this alleyway alone certainly was a hair-raising experience yet triggered my curiosity. A kind of eerie feeling that made me feel even more excited. In each dark turn, I was kinda hoping to bump into a Knight or something. My Dad was right, I do have a mind-boggling imagination! 😝

the alleyway

my room for the night

image from amoma.com

I stayed in a double room with a sofa. Size wise it's pretty cramped but cozy enough with vintage-y interior. The beds were quite small even for me, a girl who is often called a hobbit. Perhaps I should have chosen other type of rooms such as studio, royal apartment or presidential apartment which I believe would be more spacious. Some of the room are located in the historical area of the hotel and have original parts of the castle still attached. All rooms are equipped with Internet Wi-Fi (seems like the most essential nowadays. Ha!), AC, mini bar, safe deposit box, TV and bathroom amenities.

Facilities of the hotel including Bowling Alley and the Music Club which are located in the castle vaults with old castle stone wall and curved red brick ceiling. It was a cellar, I think? Super cool ambiance along with a wide selection of alcohols. There's also billiard room, cigar room and spa with sauna and indoor swimming pool.

bowling alley

Music Club

lounge

image from amoma.com

the castle night view from the swing bridge

The swing bridge in Łuczański Canal is one of the most seek attractions by visitors in Gizycko. Until today it is still operated manually by a man pushing a "stick" in rotational movement for about 5 minutes each session (quite a work out!). It opens by swinging on one end to lay along the bank of the canal, to let a yacht of ship passing through. In its closed position, it works as a road over the canal allowing traffic to cross. I think it was my first time seeing a swing bridge operated manually. Pretty interesting! The history of the bridge dates back to the 19th century but have gone through some renovations to this day. Please do check the scheduled time if you are interested to see the whole opening routine.

the swing bridge at Łuczański Canal

La Bibliotheque restaurant

At the La Bibliotheque restaurant, the nine metres high ceilings gives a spacious and grand feeling as I walked in. And a two storey book shelf wallpaper adding a sense of depth of the interior, as if I was inside a library.....hence the name of the restaurant. I'm not really good at elaborating the interior design but believe me, it is too cute it felt like I was having breakfast inside a doll house. If you love shabby chic design, you would go "Awwwww, so cute! Awwww, soooo pweety!" all the time. There's just ample of Instagramable spots to take picture at.

 I chose a table in the glass winter garden pavilion so I could soak up the early morning sun while enjoying my food. Bliss! I could really get used to this princess-y life, in a heart beat.

glass winter garden pavilion 

cold station at breakfast buffet

The restaurant serves modern menu that combines traditional Polish cuisine with global trend. All products are delivered fresh daily from the local suppliers. There's wide array of food on breakfast buffet from cold station for varieties of ham and cheese, egg and omelet station, assorted bread, danish or croissant, hot station for grilled chicken, baked potatoes and else, also beverage station and dessert station. While the tea and coffee were served at my table.

shabby chic interior 

morning view from my room

One thing I regret about my stay in Hotel St. Bruno, it was such a brief one night stay. I could really stay for a couple days here to enjoy all the facilities they offer and explore this pretty town of Gizycko. Unfortunately I've already booked my visit and a lunch session at Marlbork Castle which is 200ish km away, so this princess had to leave her castle to pay a visit to another castle. Wait up, Prince Charming, I'm on my way 👸

Have you ever stayed in a castle before? Which castle would you recommend me to stay next time?



Hotel St. Bruno (*4)
ul. St. Brunona 1
11-500 Gizycko, Poland
Phone: +48 877 326 500
https://www.hotelstbruno.pl

Bali: Prasana By Arjani Resorts

Suddenly Bali. I was unpacking my luggage post-Christmas holiday in Japan when Mumun from iwashere.id called me, "Hey, Debz! Would you like to join a retreat in Bali next week?". Of course I said yes because the best thing to cure post holiday blues is by going to another holiday, right? I was invited along with Trinity, Vabyo, Adit and Ramon; and Prasana by Arjani Resorts would be our home for the 3 days #IWHcreator retreat.


The Villas

lobby

super comfy bed

I stayed in a one bedroom villa with swimming pool, lounge area, kitchenette and outdoor day bed. This area is private with a total space around 145 sqm. It's pretty huge considering I was staying there alone. I could do my silly dance and jumping around the villa without annoying other people *big grin*.

I'm a light sleeper. Occasionally it's hard for me to get a quality night sleep because even the slightest sound of an ant walking would wake me up. Thanks to the top quality double mattress king bed and tranquil environment, I slept soundly I might even snored and recharged well. My room looked this neat all the time because Prasana has twice-a-day housekeeping service for all the villas. I was so spoilt I can never tidy up my own bed again at home, lol.

one bedroom villa with private pool

spacious bathroom

Part of the villa that I love the most is the spacious bathroom. It's so big that I can dance the Tango inside bathroom area. There's rain shower, toilet, wardrobe, 2 wash basin with huge mirror (no more fighting with roommate again!), a set of desk and office chair. Oh! From the shower room you can access to the outdoor bathtub area which is also connected to the bedroom. Fancy for a sexy bubble bath with candles, rose petals and champagne? *wink*

Psst! This villa is so private that you can even sneak a skinny dipping action under the starry night. As long as there's no CCTV catch you in the act, that is. 😁

amenities

Unless your skin is super sensitive like mine that need some particular skincare products, I don't think you would need to bring your basic amenities like shampoo, conditioner, body wash and etc. Prasana provides most essential stuff including salt bath, sunblock and after sun cooling gel. How thoughtful!

outdoor bathtub 

My most favourite service is definitely the all day breakfast. I usually skip breakfast during hotel stays because mostly serve breakfast only until 10 am. For me, sometimes holiday means all day snuggle mood thus a hotel which has an all day breakfast service is truly a God send. In-house guest in Prasana can choose to have their breakfast in their villa or restaurant. Breakfast in bed in late afternoon? Yes, please!


Fun Activities

beach hopping

secluded beach 

It was drizzling in the morning so I needed a stronger will to wake up and leave my super comfy bed. But beach hopping was on our agenda, so I jumped out my bed with excitement, had a quick shower and off to the beach. We were thrilled to see an empty secluded and clean beach. Some of us jumped into the water straight away.

Prasana team preparing our breakfast

picnic breakfast by the beach

granola with fruits and yogurt

We then headed to Balangan beach where Prasana team were already preparing a picnic breakfast for us. They served what it seems like never ending food. From assorted fresh fruit juice, fruit platter, granola yogurt bowl, pastries basket (croissant, pain au chocolate and danish), a plate of poached egg with salad and salmon, stacks of sandwiches and whole fresh coconuts. The food were aesthetically attractive, I really think it's the most beautiful picnic breakfast I've ever had! Well it's not everyday I have a picnic with all those shiny cutleries and fancy plates. After a hearty breakfast to kick start the day, I rushed back to the villa and ready for my spa session. Ohhh bliss!

Brew Me Tea

In the afternoon we visited Brew Me tea gallery in Blahbatu area. Learning some new things about tea production from A to Z in fun a way. The tea tasting session taught me how to tell different tastes among white tea, green tea, oolong tea and black tea. Brew Me tea premium quality tea are carefully hand picked from their own plantation and processed in their factory in Tabanan area.

Chef Toni and Chef Endang doing their magic 

Cooking class was so much fun too! Chef Toni showed us how to cook an easy yet healthy breakfast. He started off with smearing some butter on a charcoal bread and toast it on a non-stick pan. While chef Endang was poaching some eggs. They then prepared sabayon sauce by whisked some egg yolk with sugar and lemon juice over bain marie to get a thick consistency before adding a spoonful of beetroot puree. Last but not least, chef Toni started to plate all the items and voila! Charcoal toast, salmon slices, poached egg topped with tobiko or flying fish roe served with salad with honey lemon dressing and beetroot sabayon sauce.

easy healthy meal

Glorious Food

Medallion Chicken Salad

During the welcome dinner, we were accompanied by Ibu Mia, the General Manager and Bapak Andika, Owning Company Representative of Prasana. The first dish they served was Medallion Chicken Salad. Beautiful plate presentation with colourful Asian slaw as a garnish. Manadonese sambal rica was a perfect match for the well marinated and tender chicken. I also love the adding of lemon confit as it refreshed my palate.

Seafood Consome

Next came Seafood Consome served in a wide rim soup bowl. I studied European Culinary Arts before and one thing I remember is aside from taste, we eat food visually. And this bowl of seafood dumpling with vegetables was certainly presented to please the eyes. While bouillon or the rich clear seafood stock merged beautifully with coconut milk. A flavourful dish indeed.

Crusted Filled Fish

Main course consisted of 5 items: Glazed Miso Chicken, Beef Rendang, Veggie Stew on Mashed Potato, Coconut Rice and for me the star was this Crusted Fillet Fish. I'm not too sure if it was dory fish but the white flesh was firm and has this flaky texture. The skin was covered in flavourful spice tempe crumbs which added the extra oomph. Woku sauce and pineapple tomato salsa were on point too, with just the right amount of rich aroma, tanginess and spicy taste without overpowering the fish.

Kolak

This one is the interesting version of Indonesian sweet dessert named Kolak. It contained of Pandan panna cotta, caramelised banana, sago milk, palm sugar crumb and homemade vanilla ice cream drenched in rich coconut milk. I love how each of the elements complement each other and it's not too sweet like the Kolak I usually eat back home.

Choco Mousse Pie

I was already stuffed after 2 starters, 5 items of main course and the Kolak but when they serve this Choco Mousse Pie, I just couldn't refuse it. Just one bite, I kept saying that to myself. But as soon as the banana mousse and dark chocolate glaze melting in my mouth, I knew I would have a hard time to put my spoon down. The combination of smooth filling with crunchiness from the almond crust was so addictive. It's simply sinful yet unrefusable. Suddenly everyone on the table were quiet, only a delightful 'mmmm' could be heard from their mouth. The face said it all....they were having their own version of mind-blowing moment.

Blue Sapphire

Though I'm not really into alcoholic beverages, I was curious about this particular cocktail named Blue Sapphire. The 'wow' moment was when the waitress pouring the extract of Bunga Telang Ungu or Butterfly Pea flower into the vodka. The white and purple liquids gradually blending into a pretty layered drink, garnish with a Butterfly Pea flower on the glass rim. I can't really elaborate the taste since I only took a tiny sip of it. There's no distinct taste from the vodka but I tasted a hint of lemongrass which I think from the flower extract.

I couldn't ask for a better companions 

Thank you IWasHere for inviting me to join the creator retreat together with a bunch of the awesomest folks. Thanks so much to all Prasana by Arjani Resorts' team for the warmest and sincere hospitality.

I was invited to specifically review the cuisine, so I'd like to extend my appreciation to Prasana F&B team. I'm not a picky eater, I can eat almost everything. However my taste buds do judge food. While most of the time I enjoy of the food I eat, only a few could really make my taste buds dancing in joy. However I can safely say that the food I've tasted during my 3 days staying in Prasana villa were exceeding my taste buds' expectation. Kudos to Chef Toni and his squad! I would in a heartbeat travelling all the way back to Prasana just to enjoy the food in their beautiful restaurant. 

*   I was invited as a guest. But opinions, happy tummy and the dancing taste buds are all mine.

** IWasHere: Travel Beyond Destinations curates inspiring travel stories from fellow travellers. The app can be installed for free from Play Store 💜


Prasana by Arjani Resorts
arjaniresorts.com/prasana/
Jl. Harjani no 1, Ungasan - Bali - Indonesia
+62 361 4725488

France: A Bubbly Afternoon At Champagne Pommery

Reims, July 2014

Though I'm not a wine drinker ( sadly I always get abdominal pain after drinking alcohol.), I do love visiting vineyard or doing cellar tour. That afternoon after spending sometime at the magnificent Notre-Dame de Reims, I needed to find out about the other 'must do things in Reims'. Half way to Visitor Centre, I saw Yener, my super helpful chauffeur was waving his hand to me.

"Hey, Debbz! I got you some of these brochures from the Tourist Centre." He greet me with a wide smile on his face. Apparently he did all the research while I was having lunch at a nearby restaurant. How thoughtful! "While in Reims which is famous for its champagne, why don't you do a cellar tour?"

"That's a great idea! Which company would you recommend?"

"Well there's plenty companies here but I've pick some for you which have tours in English. And the one in Pommery will start in about 30 minutes."

"Then Pommery it is! Please take me there now. Merci!" Enthusiastically I hop in his black Mercedes Viano and off we went.

Champagne Pommery

The House of Pommery began in 1856. Madame Pommery discovered she was expecting a child, at the age of 38. This miraculous pregnancy, more than 17 years after her first, would change the Pommery’s lives forever. To provide for his baby daughter, Mr Pommery decided to go back into business. But the wool industry was in crisis. However, the Champagne trade was booming…

In 1858, when she took over as head of Pommery et Greno upon her husband’s death, Madame Pommery began expanding her company with a focus on creating wines that were like no other. She was driven by the constant standard for extreme quality. She was aware of the importance of grape origin to wine quality; over the years, she built up one of the finest vineyards in Champagne.

upside down elephant by artist Daniel Firman

le Grand Foudre

The Pommery blending barrel is one of the largest in the world. The huge barrel holds 75.000 litres or equivalent of 100.000 bottles. To celebrate the ties of friendship by Pommery between France and America, this giant barrel was sent to St. Louis for exhibition at the World's Fair.

The sculpture on the Grand Foudre represents France in the form of a young woman, offering a glass of Pommery to America, depicted astride a sphinx like creature with a head of an Indian. Above on the left you can see the statue of Liberty in the port of New York. And the ship bringing the Grand Foudre to the New World, on the right side. The base recreates panoramic view of Reims, dominated by its famous Cathedral that I visited earlier.
Inscribed in the wood is the artist's signature "Emile Galle Nancy 1904".

116 steps down 

The first glimpse of the 50 hectares estates just blew my mind. Yener drove in lower speed as we passed through a pair of gilded gates and a huge well kept garden. As I hopped off the car, my jaw dropped. The neo-Gothic style building was sooooo grand I thought I was brought to a palace. I looked at my outfit and felt 'blah'. I should have dress nicer instead of this set of tank top, ripped jeans and sneakers. Oh well, never mind. A princess will still a princess without her ballgown, jewelled crown and glass shoes, right? I pulled my best smile and walked towards the entrance.

After registering and choosing the type of tour, I joined another fellow visitors (around 8 of them) and we were guided to what looked like an infinity steps. Okay it's actually only 116 steps but it looked dramatic with the lighting and the old musty smell walls.

another art installation

they used these baskets to transfer wines

It's been said that the cellar is the deepest in Champagne region (about 30 m deep) and there's around 120 massive cave connected by 19 km of tunnels. During the tour, not only I learn a thing or two about champagne production, I also enjoyed the art installations throughout several caves. Yup, Pommery is a supporter of contemporary arts. The tour was fun, eclectic and quirky at the same time. Quite different experience from the vineyard tour I did in Canada, the Summerhill Pyramid Winery.

more than 2 million bottles are kept in this cellar

super cool lights tunnel

and 116 steps up

meet Madame Pommery

‘I wanted this estate to read like an open book, telling the story of the changing world around it and the passage of time. Leave your mark here as I left my eternal trace. May it be worthy of respect for this champagne that is now our shared soul, one that bears—now and forever—the memory of our art’. Madame Pommery

Champagne Pommery

Now come to the best part: Champagne tasting! After hundreds of steps up and down and walked around the labyrinth like cellar I think I deserve a sip of cold champagne. Obviously I'm not an expert so I can't really elaborate in details but the champagne tasted pretty delicate.

If you ever plan to explore Reims, make sure to put cellar tour on your list. There are many Champagne house to choose so if you have ample time, you might want to visit more than one to learn their uniqueness and to compare their products. For me Champagne Pommery was an interesting twist on the traditional cellar tour. Tchin tchin!



DOMAINE POMMERY  
5, place Général Gouraud
51 100 REIMS - FRANCE
Tél : 0033 3 26 61 62 56

Tours are guided in English, French and German. Ticket starts from €13
More information and reservation please contact domaine@vrankenpommery.fr or book here