2012 has been amazing, however, it’s been busy- very busy! designing, blogging, consulting, traveling, networking- doing all the things i love, but- i need a vacation!

since i don’t see that happening at any time too soon i’ll have to resort to where i always go for relaxation, rest, rejuvenation, inspiration- my books! when i actually can find a minute to sit and focus, usually in the mornings or late at night, my books, even magazines transport me! like a mini vacation!

Sundays are becoming the day i post about these mini vacations- sunday book club! this week, we are off to porto ercole, off the west coast of italy, in tuscany, to the hotel il pellicano via the book of the same name.

hotel il pellicano is a highly polished gemstone in a wild, but flawless setting- wonderfully understated and unspoiled- all subtle elegance and luxury! a perfect small hotel, only 18 rooms, perched above the sea, all by itself, a hideaway- sounds like a perfect vacation! exactly what i need!

the book hotel il pellicano is so beautiful, i love the the graphics, the layout, the way its formatted , edited, most important the photographs. photographed by three photographers over the years capturing different era’s, moments and times!

first, american photographer, john swope’s elegant black and white shots document the gestation of the hotel- from ground-breaking to grand opening, between 1964-1971. next, slim aarons, i collect his photographs, brings the hotel to life with color and glamour as only he can. i love the way red runs through all images- geraniums, umbrella’s, bikinis- tying the whole package together. and lastly, juergen teller’s photographs (check out his tumblr page here) taken during the summer of 2009, we get an edgy, ironic vision of a new generation at play.

3 photographers, several decades, one perfect place! il pellicano- a refuge, a hideaway, a golden summer camp! i love their motto, “we may be expensive, but we are worth it!”- kinda brilliant! enjoy the book, it’s cheaper! i need a vacation, don’t you?