Austria

Since its debut back in 1979, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been an automotive design icon known as much for rugged good looks as versatility; what other vehicle after all can lay claim both to having won the famous Paris-Dakar Rally and being deemed a worthy means of transport for the Pope? It not only constitutes the gene pool for a Mercedes-Benz SUV family that now numbers four model series in all, but with its 30th anniversary it's also the longest-serving passenger car model series there has been since Mercedes-Benz came into existence in 1886. Meticulously handcrafted at a special manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria, it can climb grades up to 36 degrees (80% slopes), and remain stable on lateral inclines up to 24 degrees (54% slopes) - and it rivals anything on the road for luxury finishes.

Only a few thousand G-Class models are sold here per year - perhaps not surprising given the $100,000-plus pricetag but certainly appealing to those who can afford it - making it the most exclusive SUV on the road, bar none. There are two versions: the G550 (the 2009 model of which my colleague Jonathon Ramsey wrote about earlier this year) and the supercharged G55 AMG, which delivers supercar-type performance. It's the one Abu Dhabi's royal family recently used to create an unrivaled bespoke offroad vehicle, and of course it's the one The Classicist chose to go cruising in. With its AMG-built 5.5-liter supercharged V8 engine kicking out 500 hp and 515 lb-ft of torque, it can do 0 - 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Externally the G55 AMG is set apart from the G550 by exclusive chrome trim and "V8 Kompressor" badging as well as new 19-inch five-spoke wheels.

So yes it's a mean machine, but far from flashy; the utilitarian design conceals the sexy beast lurking within. Some find it too boxy, but we happen to love the retro military-inspired, no-nonsense styling; so damn many SUVs look like half-melted minivans. The only other thing that comes close to being as pedigreed, good-looking and tough-as-nails is the Land Rover Defender, and those haven't been sold in this country since the mid-90's. Moving on to the enticing interior, the G55 AMG features an exclusive Designo charcoal Nappa leather interior, natural maple wood trim and special AMG gauges to remind you what's going to happen when your foot hits the floor. A heated wood and leather steering wheel, power windows, and 10-way heated and ventilated multi-contour front seats round out the list of creature comforts. Added to solid axles front and rear and three electronically locking differentials to handle anything the terrain can throw at you, it gives new meaning to the phrase "best of both worlds."



A new COMAND infotainment system features a large color display screen with a standard in-dash, six-disc DVD / CD changer and a Bluetooth interface that allows a cell phone still in a pocket or purse to be operated through the car's audio system. It's also equipped with an iPod/MP3 interface, SIRIUS satellite radio, HD radio, and enhanced voice control system, as well as a 610-watt digital Harmon/Kardon Logic7 audio system that can play tracks stored on a data CD, DVD or SD memory card. It also displays maps and directions for the hard-drive navigation system, which are set up for SIRIUS real-time traffic info and Zagat restaurant ratings as well. If there's a five-star eatery on top of that mountain, you'll get there. To truly appreciate the G55 you need to head into the countryside and let it lead you off on some adventures: we visited Kaaterskill Falls, the Orvis Cup and the Vanderbilt Mansion to name a few. Sadly the G55 had to go back home, but we still have the memories - and some pictures, which we might show you if you're lucky.

A new supercar tour of Switzerland and Austria has just launched called First Class on the Road. On the two-day journey you can switch between a Lamborghini Gallardo, Aston Martin DB9, BMW M6 and a Weismann MF3, with stops at top luxury hotels, restaurants and spas along the way. The Swiss tour begins at the historic Palace Luzern on the lake in Lucerne, while the Austrian jaunt starts at Schloss Fuschl on Fuschlsee Lake, a stone castle built in 1450. Local guides lead you on six-hour drives through the "sweetest hairpin turns, the sharpest inclines and the most breathtaking picnic spots."

[via UrbanDaddy]

Europe – the same corner of Europe, actually – claims the first three spots in Mercer Consulting's annual Quality of Living Survey. Vienna, Austria and Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland lead the list, followed by Vancouver, Canada and Auckland, New Zealand in a tie for fourth.

Little has changed for the top half of the top 10. Last year, Zurich nabbed the top spot, and Vienna and Geneva shared the #2 spot. Vancouver is unchanged year-over-year, and Auckland's #5 finish last year is roughly the same as its tie for fourth in 2009.

Not only are the top places to live ostensibly enjoyable, you're more likely to be there for a while. Life expectancies in these cities start at 79 years. It's better than living a nice long life in a dump, I guess.

The United States doesn't appear until the bottom of the top 30, with Honolulu and San Francisco. From Asia, only Singapore picks up a spot in the world's 30 best places to live. South America and Africa are not represented at all. It's strange, I half-expected to see Mogadishu on this list.

Of the 215 places listed, Baghdad has the distinction of finishing last. Sometimes, common sense prevails.

A rare piece of real estate is up for sale. The Mondsee or Moon Lake is one of the last privately-owned lakes in Austria and enjoys a secluded location in the mountains of the Salzkammergut region near Salzburg,. The small lake is a little less than a mile wide and close to seven miles long. The owner Nicolette Waechter is ready to sell the property which has belonged to her family since the 18th century. She receives rental income from those who rent out each piece of land, bankside or pier. She grew tired of the amount of work required to manage the land and called the Austrian Federal Forestry Service, which owns many lakes in the country. They made an offer to manage the lake for her for free for two years and before making an offer to buy. She has refused that offer but has many others to consider. Rumors put the potential price of the lake at about 16 million euros.

[Thanks, Lana]

On Monday, Bonhams will auction off an astounding collection of vintage motorcycles worth $2 million at the Royal Air Force Museum in London. The sale represents the largest single-owner collection of motorbikes ever to come to auction; all 300 machines are from the Professor Fritz Ehn Motorcycle Museum in Austria. Our favorite lots are two wicked - and wickedly fast - British-made Vincents: the 1955 998cc Black Prince, pictured here, est. $56,000 - $64,000; and a 1952 998cc Black Shadow, the fastest road-going vehicle of its time, est. $44,000 - $56,000.

Also included in the historic sale: a 1935 Brough Superior 1,096cc 11-50hp, ak.a. the "Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles" as driven by T. E. Lawrence (the famous Lawrence of Arabia), est. $50,000 - $60,000; a 1927 BMW 500cc R47, est. $36,000 - $44,000; a 1937 Ariel 995cc Square Four Model 4G, est. $20,000 - $24,000; as well as many other examples by Harley Davidson, Ducati, Triumph and more.

You can't get much closer to the slopes than the AlpinResort Kuehtai in Kuehtai, Austria. The vacation apartments operate as an "apart-hotel" operating directly on the ski run. The resort has the highest elevation and the highest probability of snowfall i the area. The resort is located at the foot of the ski slope so you can ski your way right to the front door. Check-in and check-out are fully automated and each residence, ranging in size from 150 to 525 square feet has a fireplace, sauna, and gourmet kitchen. There is a fitness center, parking garage, elevator, heated ski and shoe rooms, a breakfast bakery, and more at the resort. 20 of the 54 luxury apartments can be sublet and 14 of the units are already owned by fans of Tyrol from Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands.

I first wrote about the plan for the Capella Hotels and Resorts collection back in 2005. Now they have opened the first property: Schloss Velden, a Capella Hotel in the lakeside village of Velden, Austria. Schloss Velden is a landmark in Austria's Carinthian region on the banks of Lake Woerth and was originally constructed in 1603 as a private castle. It was in use as a hotel until 1991 and has now been reopened with 39 guestrooms, a fine dining room, the Schloss Bar, a wine and champagne cellar, and private "living room" for guests with lakefront views. A contemporary addition designed by Jabonegg & Pálffy holds 66 rooms and 45 private residences. It has wraparound glass views of the mountain and lake is also home to Auriga, a 30,000-square foot spa and wellness center. The resort also includes a modern beach club and private marina, with cabanas and a lakeside restaurant. It's an odd mix, the ultra-traditional yellow lakeside Schloss Velden and the ultra modern, white, bright and angular residence complex but for those who have always been torn between modern and traditional, they can have their cake and stay in it too.

Yes, we are all floating away on a sea of vodka. The latest is Puriste, a vodka from Austria. This one is a grain based vokda which uses water from the Austrian Alps. It is distilled using a six-fold distillation method and was recently awarded a Gold Medal and rated "Exceptional" by the jury of experts at the 2006 International Review of Spirits. It must taste good since it isn't going to win any awards for blockbuster design. Like Swan's Neck, Puriste is being created by a couple of winemakers, Alois Kracher and Leo Hillinger. It sells for 48 euros overseas.

It's been a while since we heard a good story about Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Apparently the stress of being one of the world's richest men has gotten to Abramovich and he recently checked into the Lanserhof spa in Austria. When Abramovich needs to chill out he does it like no one else, flying in on his private Boeing 767 and keeping himself and his entourage in fine comfort.

Lanserhof, located near Innsbruck, is staffed by a team of doctors and everything from the music played to the design of the rooms and of the gardens was created with the utmost care and thought. The resort specializes in relieving stress, offering bio-energetics and relaxation techniques as well as more traditional spa treatments. Why might Abramovich be stressed out? Rumor has it his wife may be filing for divorce.

It's hard to think of a more traditionally picturesque place to celebrate Christmas than Salzburg, Austria. Karin Winkler creates small tours that include a traditional Salzburg Christmas and New Years dinner in a private home decorated for the holidays. She even cooks you dinner. There are two tours, one from December 15 to 24 and one from December 22 to January 2 that include visits to the Salzburg Christkindlmärkte, the fortress, castles and other historically significant places, an operetta and an opera at the Marionette Theatre and a visit to the Stille Nacht - Heilige Nacht (Silent Night - Holy Night) museum. The tours cost $3,495 and $ 4,495.

The Melusine, an Austrian white made by wine maker Marion Ebner from Gruner Veltliner grapes, is a limited edition high-end imbibe imported by the online retailer Wine Monger.

In addition to the complex peppery flavor, what I love most about the Melusine is the way the wine appeals to my aesthetic sense in addition to my palate. As someone who has been known to buy bottles of wine based on the labels alone -- a problematic criterion, I admit -- the Melusine, admittedly, caught my eye in this regard. The clean, simple silver label, embossed with a small Melusine mermaid screams, sophistication and good taste. With the wax seal over the cork, frankly, this wine feels like a steal at $58.99 a bottle. For fans of Austrian whites, I can't think of a better delight than this wine.

The new Mavida Balance Hotel & Spa in Austria is located in the picturesque lakeside town of Zell am See but offers anything but traditional chalet-style accomodations. The Mavida has a minimalist chic. There are 47 rooms with details like open granite showers and private balconies with views of the Alps. The proprietor, Herbert Bren spent $11.4 million on creating this modern and muted hotel which also includes an indoor swimming pool, two Finnish spas and a saltwater pool in a private room. They offer a wide variety of spa treatments and classes like yoga, Pilates and Qi Gong.  A deluxe panorama suite costs 180 euros per night.

[via Time Magazine]

One of the trends that I have been watching is the integration of luxury resorts with health care and the rise of high-end medical tourism. As the wealthy age, this is becoming a bigger and bigger market. InterContinental Hotels Group which runs the hotel at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic has now announced that they will be opening the InterContinental Resort & Spa in Krems, Austria. The 119 room hotel will be next to a healthcare clinic, the Austrian Heart Center, which will have five operating theaters and will specialize in heart diseases. The resort is designed for recovering patients and families and will have a spa with an indoor pool, restaurant and bar. The location, in the scenic Wachau Valley near the city of Krems on the Danube River is a place of restful beauty sure to charm medical tourists. The hotel and clinic are set to open in Autumn 2008.

The Times Online recently sent writer Mark Frary off on a private skiing adventure. In the U.S., the posh skiers jet to Aspen or perhaps Jackson Hole. For the European snow bunnies Lech, in Austria, is one of the elite places to schuss the slopes. Frary took a private jet from Club 328, and stayed at Gasthof Post, a hotel that is the choice of Queen Beatrix and hosted Renée Zellweger and Colin Firth when they filmed the second Bridget Jones movie. Frary also picked up a customized pair of Strolz ski boots. The fitting includes a computerized scan of your feet and plenty of champagne. The article doesn't say if Frary, who clearly had a wonderful time sipping champagne and being carted around in limos, ever actually hit the slopes.