The Travel Diary of Sydney Bonde-Garnet
Dear Diary :
The Travel Diary of Sydney Bonde-Garnet
Photos by Sydney Bonde-Garnet
February 10 , 2017 Dear Diary ,
What a day ! My sweetheart has planned an amazing Valentine ’ s Day get away and I could not be more excited ! It took some pestering but I finally got the beans spilled and it looks like we going on a romantic winter getaway to the Biltmore Estate ; George W . Vanderbilt ’ s iconic French Renaissance château featuring 250 rooms , lavish gardens & tours , located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville NC . I am already hard at work planning on what to pack and making plans to make the most of our time there .
I did some research and it is so rich in history I am sure it will be not only be romantic but also educational . The family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt is magnificent , total elegance then and now . According to the estate ’ s website , “ Get a close look at original art by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and John Singer Sargent . Marvel at magnificent 16th century tapestries , a Library with 10,000 volumes , a Banquet Hall with a 70-foot ceiling , 65 fireplaces , an indoor pool , and a bowling alley .
Almost all of the priceless objects that you see throughout the house are from George and Edith Vanderbilt ’ s original collection .” My valentine knows how much I love art and antiques ; this seems like a perfect place to visit .
We will be staying at the four-star Inn on Biltmore Estate where I can indulge in some time at the spa that is part of the Inn , the Signature Estate Experience sounds perfect . Nearly two hours of body exfoliation , wraps and massage to relax after a day of walking the estate . Speaking of which I have to figure out what to wear ! Red or pink of course since it is Valentine ’ s Day .
Walking the estate I want to evoke the same elegance the George and Edith Vanderbilt would have appreciated . It might be snowing as the mountains of NC will still be in winter mode so a hat for sure . I can tuck my hair under my cherry red Drift Pimpin hat which may not sound super elegant but trust me it is , paired with my Pixicat Stockholm coat and sweater in Red I have the basis for a comfortable and warm ensemble . I love houndstooth , it is such a classic , which mean packing Belles Parisiennes -Tenue Orelana houndstooth trousers are just the ticket . I need to keep my feet warm so Gos Vicky booties will be comfortable for walking and keep my toes toasty .
I better keep the rest of me warm as well , adding COCO long black gloves , a Gizza black ( faux ) fur stole keeps the elegance theme going . ( Audrey Hepburn would be proud !) An outfit is not complete without the jeweled icing on the cake ; I think my ¬¬¬¬ Pure Poison heart romance earrings with Maxi Gossamer ’ s Annoushka - Black Diamonds neck-
NU VIBEZ & ROLEPLAY GUIDE MAGAZINE 109