wellness Archives | Galia Brener

Galia Brener
July 21, 2017
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My Luxury Birthday Weekend at the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera

My Luxury Birthday Weekend at the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_8069.jpg 1365 2048 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g July 21, 2017 December 23, 2018

The week started off with my usual yearly birthday blues. I always get them a week before and after. I find that there is something about getting older that is bitter sweet. The upside of having a birthday means that we get a yearly life extension and fresh start to tackle all of our dreams, wishes and goals. Yet the downside to it is that we are – one year older! I have learned to see it all philosophically, knowing that fate has a plan for us anyways, so why not enjoy the ride while we get to the destination? That’s when my phone rang and the lovely Mrs. Wagner invited me to celebrate my birthday in style and luxury at the Sofitel Frankfurt Opera. At this exciting prospect, my blues were starting to fade into whites, which I knew would eventually turn into pinks and reds.

I think it’s a very cool concept to be able to have a nice weekend holiday within your own city. What a novel idea! Who says one has to drive many kilometers away to feel rest and relaxation re-enter your body, while the evil work-demon leaves you in peace? I made an experiment and stayed inside the Sofitel for my entire birthday weekend and came out feeling happy, rested and recharged.

The adventure started with my arrival at the hotel. I was very impressed to see that the entire staff was briefed about my arrival and I didn’t have to explain anything. I was checked in quickly and shown to my suite. The first activity for my birthday weekend was the glamorous photo shooting. The first stop was on the fabulous terrace of the presidential suite, where one can see the entire magnificent Frankfurt skyline. I was quite familiar with this stunning view, because the Frankfurter Neue Presse photographed me there on New Year’s in 2016. Before the action with the photographer and stylist began, I took a few moments for myself to enjoy and breathe in the mesmerizing scene in front of me. I always feel a moment of joy when I see our skyline. For me, this is the equivalent of being at home.

The wind was blowing and the air was warm and sweet, whispering to me, encouraging me to enjoy and live in the moment. I felt like I could have stayed on that terrace for ages! Later on we took some elegant photos inside the presidential suite and on the bed as well. I have to say that Sofitel definitely has one of the most comfortable beds I have slept in. It’s really like resting on a cloud. After a day full of photo shooting – 5 locations, wearing 3 different outfits – it was finally time to rest and get ready for my birthday dinner.

Being the notorious foodie that I am, I was really looking forward to try out the Schönemann restaurant. We were seated at a large table and greeted with a cold glass of champagne. The chef himself came out and announced our menu for the evening. I really felt like a princess there, because Sofitel did everything possible to make me feel very welcomed and pampered! We started off with a fresh Caesar salad and succulent king prawns. Next was a cold refreshing gazpacho soup, made in the traditional Andalusian way. I acquired my love for gazpacho on Ibiza and was happy to have it here again. For the main course, we were served the signature dish “Coq au Apfelwein” prepared with organic chickens that are raised 30km away from Frankfurt and the city’s beloved apple wine. Last but not least, came two sweet delicacies – a heavenly crème brûlée and a rich chocolate mousse tarte. The dinner was accompanied by a savory selection of the best wines, and of course my favorite was the Rosé de Diel. We ate to our heart’s desire and enjoyed every exquisitely delicious moment.

The lovely evening was running quickly and it was 11pm already – only one hour left until the big day. It was great spending the entire weekend at the hotel because everything was under the same roof. It was time to float over to the seductive Lili’s bar, where I like the dim lights and very mysterious atmosphere. While waiting for the others to arrive and being the tequila fan that I am, I tried a few sorts at the bar and was very impressed. I always judge a good bar by the type of tequilas they have, and this one offers a rich international selection. Everyone arrived and as the time was approaching midnight, the bar manager brought out a special bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne, which they have ordered just for me. All of a sudden, becoming a year older didn’t seem so bad after all. We drank, we laughed, we danced and had a very exciting evening! I couldn’t help but smiling to myself all the way back up to my suite. Yes, turning 28 again was quite fabulous indeed.

The next day was quite relaxing because my only plan was eating a huge breakfast, going to the spa and getting a special birthday massage. Life could be much worse! The breakfast buffet at the Sofitel offers everything that the heart desires, whether a meat-eater, vegetarian or vegan, everything can be found – including delicious sparkling wine, to make the celebrations even brighter! I ate everything that my eyes and stomach desired, because I have an important rule in life: no diet on the birthday!

Later on, I made my way to the spa area. I have been to a “So Spa” in Paris and was curious to see how Frankfurt will compare. I was impressed by the decor and combination of black and white colors – very chic indeed! I received a full body massage for an hour, which relaxed me to a dreamlike state. After the massage I was really looking forward to try the Skinjay essential oil capsules in my suite shower. I have read about this new addition to the Sofitel family and was very intrigued to see if it really is as fabulous and they promise. And indeed it was. It looks like a Nespresso-like capsule, which you place into the shower hose with your favorite natural oil aroma, and it mixes directly into the water! I read that it is based on a proprietary technology called micro-nebulization, which is activated at the heart of the mixer. It’s such a cool wellness experience – definitely a must to try out.

My amazing weekend was coming to an end and it was time to check out of paradise. I was greeted warmly by name at the reception and they made sure that all my needs were met. I have stayed at many 5-star hotels before, but this was definitely my favorite birthday experience. The French really know what luxury and pampering is all about! As I walked outside and looked up at the beautiful old opera building, my birthday blues were completely gone. I looked up at the skyscrapers and knew that becoming a year old meant becoming a year stronger and wiser. I really enjoyed this birthday weekend in my own favorite city – a truly unforgettable experience.

Thank you to the amazing Sofitel Frankfurt Opera team for giving me a fairytale birthday weekend!

www.sofitel.com

Dominicana Moda 2015 Fashion Week – Day 3

Dominicana Moda 2015 Fashion Week – Day 3 https://www.galiabrener.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Dominicana-Moda-Day-3.jpg 1200 400 Galia Brener Galia Brener https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/93df0625fa48660aad1c99698d5d7757?s=96&r=g October 24, 2015 December 23, 2018

As I opened up my eyes, the sunbeams were dancing on my face. I couldn’t help but smile, knowing where I am and my couture mission for this amazing event. I jumped up, knowing that I have some spare time this morning to enjoy the fabulous Occidental Hotel pool and wellness area. I ate my healthy breakfast – carb free again – only scrambled eggs, a local delicious sausage and some fresh fruit. I remember coming to Puerto Plata with my parents in the 90s, and the trend back then was to eat a fresh passion fruit directly after a meal. This was supposed to turbo-charge the digestion. I laughed at this silly little blast from the past memory, ate my passion fruit like a good girl, and made my way to the chic pool area.

The first thing I saw was the super cool Jean Paul Gaultier, walking back from the Garden Tent, fully clad in black and followed by 5 men – all eager to fulfill his every wish and command. I thanked him again for the wonderful drawing that he made on my phone cover. Mr. Gaultier smiles and asked if I will make it to his show tomorrow evening. I gave him the brightest and biggest grin that I have and told him that I wouldn’t miss it for the world! I was in 7th Heaven – imagine, Mr. Fashion himself asking me if I will attend his show! That’s an honor beyond believe for me! With a small skip to my step, I took off my Blumarine summer dress and jumped into the pool, refreshing myself with a cold shiver of excitement!

After swimming a few laps in a mini attempt to do some sports, it was time to change and make ourselves look sexy for the fashion shows. Again I didn’t know what will be presented, so each individual show was like unpacking a surprise suitcase that was replaced with yours at the airport! I found the Istituto Marangoni – Warrior Show to be quite interesting. It was a show displaying the works of their best fashion students from Shanghai, Milano, Paris and London. If this was a small glance into our future designers, then I can say that we have something unique and wild to look forward to! True to its name, the warrior show started off with a collection that one would imagine a futuristic army on Mars wearing. Next came some feminine cuts, ethno styles and a wicked warrior meets ballerina look! Most of these designs were probably too crazy for the mass public to wear, but I would definitely sport a few in good old-school Europe, to shock people and see their reactions! Provocation can be a really fun and exciting thing.

We worked up a nice appetite after the show and had a lovely long dinner. The Dominican people definitely like their meat, so we joined in on their festivities and savored their delicacies. People were moving around from place to place and one could hear the deep house beats from the different after party locations. What a rush! There was lots of energy and dancing around us.

Next up were Guerrero and Budet, who threw bright colors directly into our thirsty eyes. Now I understand even better what Jean Paul Gaultier was saying about the colors here. Not only is the nature so colorful and beautiful here, but people also design and wear really bright colors too! It’s like a breath of fresh air to me, because I have gotten so used to the black, natural and gray shades of Europe. I enjoyed looking at the extravagantly colorful and flowing ball gowns. It would be definitely fun wearing something like that to the Sport Press Ball or La Scala – believe me, nobody would ever forget you! Now that we were definitely awake, the male models started coming out in funky-printed swim shorts. Who can complain about tall, handsome, exotic and muscular men walking around in tight shorts? Now that’s what I call the sweet advantages of sitting in the front row – up close and personal!

Last but not least was the Moisés Quesada show. It was an interesting concept because the entire length of the runway was filled with glass tables, vases, flowers, cutlery, dishes, flutes and other interesting home accessories. The setup allowed the models to walk around the entire runway. The collection was small but tight. Less is more – I always say rather a smaller collection but with killer pieces! And that’s what Quesada did. He played a lot with black, white and red this season. The designs were form fitting, very feminine and some fully see-through. The models looked like live man-eaters, and it felt like being in the middle of a secret vampire meeting. His Pièce de résistance was a long white wedding dress that came out at the very end. What a fitting and innocent ending to a dark and intriguing tale! The vampires left the room, the lights came on and the show was over. My jet lag was not loosening its tight grip on me. In fact, it was possessing me from the inside out. While everyone made their way to the loud and lavish after-show party, I only had dirty thoughts of my skin caressing the cold crisp bed sheets. Besides, tomorrow was the big day! The last day of the Dominicana Moda, and the evening of Jean Paul Gaultier’s long-awaited fashion show! I wanted to look well rested and fabulous for his amazing event! I bid my team farewell and disappeared into the gold-mirrored elevator.

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