How Partying With Tiesto Can Help You Take A Walk On The Wild Side

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Rob

Men, have you noticed that as you get older you want to go out and party till the sun comes up less and less? Girls, have you noticed that the responsibilities of work and family have crept in and you don’t get to dance as much as you would like to?

Why is it that in America clubs are for twenty year olds? And, in Europe, you find yourself fist pumping next to a 50 year old? There’s probably lots of reasons and frankly who cares. The point is we tend to get boring as we age over here in North America.

Don’t get me wrong- I’m totally guilty of it myself. But, I decided to change things up in my life. You know…try new experiences. Before we went to Mykonos this summer a friend told me that we should see Tiesto at Cavo Paradiso. I said who’s Tiesto? He said, “dude come on”. I said “really, have no clue”. He said “Google him”.

So begins my journey…..

Turns out this Mr Tiesto guy has -um- 10,018,516- Facebook fans. JEZUZ! Who the hell is this guy? Turns out DJ magazine voted him the worlds best DJ. Fair enough. I’ll give em a listen. I called my favorite hotel front desk girl Eleni and asked her if she would get me some tickets to see him. She called me back and said “all the tables are sold out”. Wait a minute. Sold out? He’s not coming for two months! I don’t want to see the second coming of Elvis. I just want to see a DJ.

Ultimately my Rock Star front desk girl Eleni (read more about her here) was able to score the tickets through some other channels.

Kim and I were told to get there at midnight to secure our VIP table. Tiesto would come on at around 3am. He would play until the sun rose and the first airplane lands at the nearby airport. He did and it did.

Wow. What an experience…

Trying to set this scene is next to impossible. I’ll try. Imagine 4000 people in a club which is built into a bluff and overlooks the Mediterranean. When you first arrive at Cavo Paradiso you completely think that you are inside a club with four walls.

Around 4 am you notice something strange happening to one of the walls. It begins to turn purple. After a few cocktails and being up all night you sort of don’t pay that much attention to it. Until you look again and see that that “purple wall” actually isn’t a wall and has now miraculously been transformed into the Mediterranean ocean. Holy sh*t bawlz. We’re outside!

Before you can say “where’s my glow stick”, Tiesto points out to the horizon from his pulpit, indicating that something is coming. I try and rub the alcohol out of my eyes in vain to make out what’s coming. I see two headlights twinkling in the distant sky which appear to be an airplane. I thought, maybe it was Tiesto space ship coming to pick him up because the gig was over (I later found out he has a Lear Jet for that).

As the twinkling headlights begin to look more like two bright round fireballs hitting their final approach on our dance floor. Tiesto musically scores the landing to classical music which makes you feel as if you and 4000 other people are landing the plane with just the crowds’ combined energy.

I can only imagine what the Captain who just piloted in this overnight flight must be thinking. 4000 people jumping, dancing, screaming and pointing at him as he lands his massive beast of metal at the airport adjacent to Cavo.

After that night I officially became Tiesto Facebook Fan #10,018,517. For me, It’s more then just being a part of good music. It’s about being willing to embrace that dark side we all have inside us. We spend so much of our lives being restrained and contained. Maybe it’s time to take a walk on the dark side. Even if it’s just to party one night until the sun comes up with 4000 of your closest friends.

I wanted (needed) to understand more of what was going on behind the scenes at Cavo Paradiso. So, I asked resident DJ Stathis Lazarides to explain it all. I found him to be an amazing man that is filled with an infectious level of love.

Here’s my interview with him:

If You Want To Be A Jet Set Insider Now Is The Time? Plus, Headed to Party on the Aeolian Islands

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Rob

I realized recently that it’s really my rolodex of contacts that gets me dialed-in when I travel. If I know someone cool that knows a location well, it’s likely they’ll hook me up with under the radar stuff — that I would NEVER find on the internet. It really IS about WHO you know.

I get emails from people who are trying to connect with me for the same reason. Asking where to go when they are in such and such a place. But, to be honest, I really don’t respond to all of them. At times it’s just too much. I also get asked to create some kind of newsletter to help them decide where to go next. The truth is, I just have too much on my plate!

But, Kim convinced me to do it. She said, “stop whining and just create one”, so, I did. It came out great, too (if I do say so myself)! Here’s how I broke it down:

Every month you’ll receive a brand new Jet Set Secret Destination, along with our secret hidden spots to check out that we don’t tell anyone. This is going to be very cool! Now, you’ll know what Kim and I know. Nothing held back. From the relaxed comfort of your iPhone/iPad/ or regular old computer — you’ll have a growing collection of the hottest spots on the planet and know exactly where to go and what to do when you get there.

Just for funzies, we’re going to offer something completely new and different. We’re going to record us planning our next trip. Before Kim and I take a trip we find the ‘go to’ Jet Setter that knows the destination we’re going to like the back of his hand. An ‘insider’, if you will. Then, rake him over the coals and beat him into total submission, until he reveals the secret hidden spots that he doesn’t want to get out.

We then put it pretty for you. We package the Jet Set Insider Monthly Newsletter and Jet Set Insider MP3 recording and put it all on a silver platter for you. I’ve even gotten permission for you to contact the Jet Set Insiders we interview personally (as long as you’re cool with them and don’t abuse it). These are VERY connected insiders. This is the fastest way I know of for you to create your own Jet Set circle.

The idea is pretty simple. Over a 12 month period we take you inside our world and let you know all of our Secret Spots. So, how much should we charge? I said A LOT! Kim said, “don’t be an a** hole, make it fair”. We’re still debating on the price. I don’t know how much I’m going to charge yet.

Here’s what I do know. I’m going to offer to readers of this blog a special price and on a first come first served basis ONLY. So, if you even think you might be into it, enter your email in the early list below and I’ll let you know as soon as I know something.

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Headed to Aeolian Islands tomorrow (off the coast of Sicily) in search of more cool spots! If anyone is going to be in that area just drop whistle and maybe we can hook up:)

To Find All Rob and Kim’s Secret Hidden Jet Set Spots –

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Shooting Machine Guns in Vegas

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Rob

Kim and I recently took a trip to Vegas for her Bikini America competition and we decided to see what other trouble we could get in to while we were there. We called upon the services of Kaori of Angelika boutique concierge. Kaori is THE go to person in Las Vegas. I asked her if she would give us a recommendation of something that what would be cool and different to do while we were in Las Vegas. She suggested that we try shooting machine guns. You know that head tilt a dog does when they hear a high pitched sound? That’s kind of how I reacted when she said machine gun.

Apparently The Gun Store in Vegas has completed slipped under my Jet Set radar. It’s already been featured on the Travel Channel, Bravo T.V.’s Pawn Stars and Maxim magazine to name a few. So, I figured what the heck! Life is about doing different and interesting things. Why not!

When we arrived at The Gun Store we were completely taken care of. You have your own personal “tour guide” assigned to you (think Rambo) who sets you up with pretty much anything you want. They have everything from Tommy guns to AK-47s. You name it, you can get your hands on it! Best of all? You don’t need a special license for anything. All employees are certified range safety officers through the National Rifle Association. In addition, many of the staff members are retired military and law enforcement officers.

During our tour we got to select one gun from each of the following categories (a total of three guns):

Handgun (20 shots): Glock, Springfiled, Beretta, Walther, FNH, Ruger, Smith & Wesson or Dirty Harry .44

Shotgun (5 shots) or semi-automatic rifle (10 shots): Benelli M4 12-gauge, Remington 12-gauge, AR-15, HK G3, Springfield M1A, HK G36 or Beretta Cx4 Storm

Fully automatic machine guns (50 shots): Walther MPL, Madsen M50, Colt M16, HK MP5, Uzi, Sten MKII, Thompson, Grease Gun or AK47 / M4 (25 shots)

It was a total BLAST! Here’s a couple of quick videos we shot with our iPhone:

Handgun Video:

Machine Gun Video:

Sure, Vegas is famous for lots of other things. But, how often do you get a chance to shoot a machine gun? If you’re in Vegas and you want to try unique things to do like shooting a machine gun, taking a sunset helicopter ride over the strip (or whatever else Kaori can dream up) head over to Angelika Boutique Concierge.

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If you want to learn more about how Kim and I pay for our Jet Set Life check out our newest product Jet Set Money.

Bravo Lifestyle Concierge: A List of The Absolute Coolest Things To Do in Florence

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Rob

I do most of the pre-trip recon before Kim and I take a trip. I vet the hotels, restaurants and night life like an obsessive mad scientist. The hard part for me has been to find cool and unique things to do during the day. One of the tools I’m starting to use more and more is the services of a boutique lifestyle concierge. They just have knowledge and access to things that you would have never thought to do.

Last month Kim and I sat done with Jacopo of Bravo! lifestyle concierge in Florence. We asked him to give us his best ideas of what we can do in Florence. We wanted something other than the standard tourist fare. We met him at his “office”, which was located in a castle (literally). He is a totally warm, loving and all around cool cat. We asked him to give us his secrets of interesting and unique things to do in Florence. Kim and I are WAY picky when it comes to these things. The truth is, I have to admit, he totally delivered. So, I decided to share his secrets with you.

Bravo! Dream Car

The first thing you’ll need is a “Dream Car” to discover the hidden beauties of Italy. Jacopo recommended the Ferrari F430 Spider or the Lamorghinini Gallardo. For those a bit more budget conscious, he could even hook up a mini cooper, as a very cool alternative.

Bravo! Uffizi Secret Passage Way

Everybody who goes to Florence visits the Uffizi museum. No big deal. But, almost nobody has access to the the secret passage way which connects the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti. Jacopo explained to us, that this unique passage way was commissioned to Giorgio Vasari, the architect of the Uffizi, by Cosimo I in 1565 to celebrate the marriage of his son. It enabled the Medici family to freely move between their private residence and the seat of the government without the need for an escort. I would have never even known that this was there, or had any type of access, without Jacopo.

Bravo! Tuscan Food Workshop

It’s no secret that the food in Italy is beyond amazing. In fact, it’s completely indescribable. What if you could learn their secrets and bring it back to your own kitchen? How cool would that be? Jacopo put together an amazing workshop. You start by walking through the open air markets of San Lorenzo, in the company of a world class Italian chef. You walk through the central produce market learning exactly how to buy produce. You move to the upper floor houses, to pick out the meats, cheeses, bread and even flowers for your meal. You walk back, to their state of the art Tuscan cooking facilities and have a fun, exciting class on how to put it all together followed by an hour wine class. Your chance to bring La Docle Vita back to your home.

Bravo! Hot Air Balooning Over Tuscany

If you’re like Kim and I and the windy roads of Tuscany make you a bit motion sick, then we have a totally cool option for you. Hot air ballooning over Tuscany. It’s a 3 hour adventure that begins with your participation in inflating the balloon before you begin your flight through beautiful Tuscan landscape. After landing, Jacopo puts together an amazing spread of beautiful Tuscan appetizers accompanied by Champagne. A complete unique way of getting a different perspective (and vantage point) of Tuscany.

Bravo! Secret Boutique Shops Tour

Finding places to shop in Florence on the surface may not seem very difficult. However, finding the unique and different shops that nobody knows about, is an entirely different story. Jacopo knows where the hidden treasures are. A professional shopper takes you through the unmarked hidden alley was of Florence to find tailor made clothing, handmade shoes, unique pieces of jewelry and hand made embroidery and paintings. If you’re in to shopping and don’t want to waste time feeling like you missed something, this is for you.

Bottom Line

I could go on for days sharing with you what Jacopo has up his sleeve. Bottom line: If you’re going to Florence hook up with Bravo Concierge! and make your trip unforgettable.

To Find All Rob and Kim’s Secret Hidden Jet Set Spots –

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If you want to see what Kim and I did with Bravo! concierge in Tuscany check out Kim’s blog here.

Inside the Verscace Mansion

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Rob

If you’ve been to South Beach in Miami, you’ve probably walked past the famous Versace mansion on Ocean Drive. If you’re not sure whether or not you’ve seen it, just look for a really big mansion with an observatory on its roof, nestled between the cafes, restaurants and hotels of Ocean Drive. You’ll know you’re getting close when you see the crowd outside its famous doorsteps snapping pictures (it’s the third most photographed house in America behind the White House and Graceland).

Before we step inside the Versace mansion we should probably cover a bit of history first. If I’m honest, I’m just not that into history (it makes my head spin), but this story is just too interesting for me to ignore. To make it a bit easier for you to follow, I’ll deliver it to you in easy-to-read-bite-sized-chunks for an easier understanding of this fascinating life.

**If you want to cut to the chase- go to the bottom of the post and watch the 1 minute video inside the house.

Brief Bio of Gianni Versace

Versace (born December 2, 1946) was an Italian fashion designer and the founder of the Gianni Versace international fashion house. He and his companion, Antonio D’Amico, were openly gay and were regulars on the international party scene. He hung out with some of the biggest icons of our time – Lady Diana, Madonna, and Elton John just to name a few.

The Tragic Story of Versace’s Death

In 1997, at age 50, and at the top of his fashion game, Gianni went out for his usual morning walk down to the News Cafe on Ocean Drive for breakfast (which was his regular morning ritual when in South Beach). Upon his return, he was shot dead on the doorsteps of his mansion by Andrew Cunanan (a 27 year old serial killer who had been stalking him for over a year). Cunanan shortly thereafter turned the gun on himself, committing suicide after fleeing to a nearby boat in a massive Miami police standoff.

Brief History of The Versace’s Mansion – Casa Casuarina

Casa Casauarina (as the house is titled) was built in 1930 by architect/philanthropist, Alden Freeman, as a homage to the oldest exisitng house in the western hemisphere, the “Alcazar de Colon” in Santa Domingo. The house in Santa Domingo was the home of Christopher Colubus’s son, Diego, in 1510. One of the house’s cornerstones actually contains original brick from the “Alcazar de Colon”.

How Versace Obtained The House

In 1992, on a trip to Miami, Versace encountered Casa Casuarina for the first time. Although it had fallen into great disrepair, Versace fell in love with it and purchased the residence for 3 million dollars. He invested an additional 33 million dollars in to restoring it. Yep, he put 33 million into a 3 million dollar house. He exquisitely restored, expanded and embellished all its features. He demolished the adjacent hotel to create the South wing, pool and garden. The result was a triumph in Italian design and the Casa soon became part of the world’s stage.

What Happened to The House After Versace’s Death

Versace’s estate was massive and took several years to settle. To give you an idea just how big his estate was, he left his 11 year old niece, Allegra, a half a billion dollars. In September of 2000, telecom Executive Peter Loftin bought Casa Casuarina for 20 million from Versace’s sister Donatella (who now runs the famous brand).

The deal she made with Loftin was that she would sell the house to him for 20 million dollars, however this did not include the furniture. He agreed to the deal and she later sold off the furniture for 90 Million!

Owning Casa Casauarina has been dream of Loftin’s since Versace remodeled the house. After Loftin purchased it, he dedicated himself to both preserving its history and bringing vibrant new life to it. He hasn’t made any structural changes, but has done extensive work to preserve its architectural history. He restored all of the interior walls and brought back the opulent style of Versace with lavish furniture and details.

Donatella and Alegra Versace

The Current Status of Casa Casauarina

Loftin initially turned Casa Casuarina into a private members-only private club and has since morphed it into a luxury boutique hotel. Jet Set Life was recently granted unprecedented access to tour the house and check out some of the private bedrooms that are off limits to the general public. We created a short video below of some of the areas that we were able to twist their arm and let us shoot.

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Tips to Party in Rio Next New Years Eve

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Rob

nye riodejaneiro 300x295 Tips to Party in Rio Next New Years Eve

Life is about choices. No? The choice you make on where you’ll spend next New Year’s Eve is up to you. You could make the choice to stay at home and watch Ryan Seacrest on television or actually be at one of those parties you’re watching. If you’re into living a life filled with unbelievable experiences, then Rio during New Year’s Eve is definitely for you. However, there are some challenges with getting to be a part of this bigger than life experience. If you don’t book air and hotel 8-10 months in advance then it’ s probably not going to happen. Imagine, 3 million people gathering from all over the globe, all on the beach at the same time to party. It’s pretty nuts and really hard to score a cool hotel and decent air that doesn’t route you through Zimbabwe. Here are my tips on how to make it happen. Did I mention book early?

The Scene

New Years in Rio from Jet Set Life on Vimeo.

Hotel

I’m definitely a bit of a pain in the A** when it comes to hotels. Kim has a rule when she checks into a hotel with me, she sits in the lobby until I have vetted everything from the room position in the hotel (i.e. not near an elevator) to the street noise coming into the room. It’s actually kind of funny at this point. That being said, the only place I would recommend is the new Fasano Hotel. It’s an outstanding hotel (read the review Kim did for Hotel Chatter here). I should mention that the Fasano is located in Ipanema and not in Copacabana (where the New Year’s Eve fireworks are). For my money it’s still the place to stay. Speaking of money, it will definitely cost you to stay there for New Years’ Eve. Plan on (pre-paying 6 months in advance) about $1,200 per night for the New Year’s Eve package (the 3 days surrounding New Year’s). The other nights are about half that. I know it’s stupid expensive, but it’s worth it..

The Week Leading Up To New Year’s Eve

Depending on when you arrive (I recommend arriving the day after xmas) you’ll notice a daily palpable increase in excitement and crowds leading up to New Year’s Eve. There are a ton of restaurant options and places to party. Remember, this place is nuts during this period so book restaurant reservations in advance or have a Fasano Black card to wave around (it really does have magical powers). My favorite restaurants for food, scene and vibe are listed below along with whatever URL I could find for each venue. I’ve also included my top picks for lounges, clubs and shopping.

fasano rooftop pool 300x199 Tips to Party in Rio Next New Years Eve

Restaurants

1. Zuka (Leblon) – http://snipurl.com/4p8ut

Rua dias Ferreira, 233 District: Leblon Telephone: +55 21 3205 7154

Modern ambience with style and contemporary food, great vibe, good looking people, a place to see and be seen. Don’t miss it!

2. Sushi Leblon (Leblon) – http://snipurl.com/4p8rx

Rua Dias Ferreira, 256 District: Leblon Telephone: +55 21 2274 1342

This is the best sushi restaurant with a sophisticated ambience. Definitely worth the wait, the food is amazing, the service is good and the crowd enhances the ambiance.

3. Satyricion (Ipanema) – http://snipurl.com/4p8r1

Rua Barão da Torre 192, District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2521 0627

Satyricion has a dramatic entrance with a lobster tank, scallops, oysters, tropical clams, mussels and so on. This is a unique and pioneering restaurant and is considered to be one of the best among the seafood restaurants in Rio. Mick Jagger has been coming to Brazil quite often now to see his kid, Lucas. He leaves his hotel only to visit the Satyricon – a restaurant that he classifies amongst the very best in the world. It used to be a fisherman’s joint!

4. Gero (Ipanema) – http://snipurl.com/4p8wr

District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2239 8158

Great Italian restaurant where you’ll often see different celebrities. They offer an amazing wine list and are famous for desserts (get the lemon petit gateau). Gero is a great place with very good food and service as well as beautiful people. It is difficult to get a table – you must make a reservation.

5. Aprazivel (Santa Theresa) – http://snipurl.com/4p95q

Rua Aprazível 62 +55 21 2508 9174

This is a casual but AMAZING place with phenomenal views and incredible Brazilian contemporary food. The neighborhood, although dodgy, is old and quaint and worth a visit. Northeastern Brazilian food is the staple here and is very tasty and inventive. Book the tree tables (2 to 3 days in advance).

6. Zaza Bistro – (Ipanema)

Great Bistro with a fusion of Brazilian and Asian food. Sit on the pillow tops upstairs or on the tables outside. Great option for dinner in Ipanema.

Lounges

1. Londro (Ipanema) – www.fasano.com.br/site_hoteis_br.php

Avenida Viera Souto, 80 – Ipanema +55 21 3202 4000 F 55 21 3202

Beautiful bar located in the lobby level of the Fasano Hotel towards the end of the bright runway. It opens every day of the week after 7pm. It has the most famous DJ’s duos, trios and bands play to an extremely exclusive crowd.

2. 00 Zero Zero (Leblon) – www.00site.com.br

Rua Padre Leonel Franca 240 District: Gávea inside planetary +55 21 2540-8042

Clean décor, full of pillows and candles and outside. Saturday Nights are fantastic, great music and beautiful people. Lounge music outside and house music inside.

3. Boox (Ipanema) – www.boox.com.br

Rua Barao da Torre, 368 District: Ipanema +55 21 2522 3730

Thursday or Friday or Saturday: A contemporary Italian restaurant that almost becomes a nightclub as the evening moves on. This is a classy, sophisticated and really fun lounge. It’s small and selective. Filled with beautiful people and great music. The best lounge in Ipanema. Make reservations for this one.

4. Rio Scenarium (Lapa) – http://www.rioscenarium.com.br

Rua do Lavradio District: Lapa +55 21 3852 5516

Go Saturdays: A must if you are in Rio. See Rio in the 1920s. It’s a bar, a restaurant and a nightclub all in one. Very moderate prices and great live Samba music. Try to get there on Wednesday or on a weekend and book a table next to the dance floor. This is a 2,700 sq foot space which a few years back was an obscure antique store. Today, every weekend sees a crowd of 3,000. People dance Samba all night long and everyday there’s a party. If you go to one club in Rio make it this one. Arrive before 10:30. The line can be brutal.

Shopping

1. Reserva (Ipanema) – http://www.usereserva.com

Rua Maria Quiteria, 77 District: Ipanema +55-21-2247-5980

Reserva is the new cool thing in Ipanema. It is definitely the best newbie in Carioca clothing.

2. Osklen (Ipanema) – www.osklen.com

Rua Maria Quiteria 85 District: Ipanema +55 21 2227 2911

Osklen is by far the most authentic and sophisticated option for clothing with stores all over the country and also in Milan, Rome, New York, and Geneva. The designer Oskar Metsavaht is internationally acclaimed for his “Brazilian Soul” inspired lifestyle brand. It’s a must when in Rio.

Filling the void

I defiantly recommend Hang Gliding. It is an unparalleled experience. Check out my review and short video here.

Bottom Line

Go. Rio is an amazing place at New Year’s to set your soul free, let your dark side come out or just chill with a bunch of really cool people.

To get Rob and Kim’s Secret List Guidebook to Rio De Janeiro just click here

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Next up is the Delano in Miami’s South Beach for Valentine’s/President’s Day Weekend. I’ll post my pre-trip list next week.

To Find All Rob and Kim’s Secret Hidden Jet Set Spots –

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Hang Gliding Like a Pro in Rio

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Rob

The last goal I had on my 2009 dreamline was to hang glide off a mountain in Rio. It was inspired by the first sentence in Chapter Three of Tim Ferriss’s book the Four Hour Work Week. This was one of those goals that I kind of didn’t really know what I was getting myself into until the day it happened. My ride fromHilton Fly Rio to the mountain shows up on time at 3 pm. With a little chit chat in the car about some pre-flight jitters and some conversation with the owner, Hilton (yes-like the hotel), about how we were going to shoot the opening of our Rio video – more on that later – off we go.

In 15 short minutes from our hotel in Ipanema (the Fasano) we arrive at our mountain. The drive (circling from mountain base to mountain top) takes another 15 minutes to reach what I’m going to call the launching pad. When we arrived at the top, it honestly just looked like a big dirt patch with a bunch of overgrown paper airplanes queued up in one direction. It was so foggy (cloudy) that you could barely see anything.

My pilot, Ronaldo, introduced himself and informed me that I would be his co-pilot for the flight (more like the schmuck strapped to him like a terrorist straps a pack of dynamite to themselves). He said that because of the clouds, we would have to sit on the top of the mountain and wait for the clouds to clear before we could go. I thought ok, no problem, just let me know when to yell geronomo.

Apparently there is a team of guys on a lower level of the mountain that radio up to the pilots and let them know when they see the clouds clearing and to get ready. As I’m making my rounds interviewing the adrenaline junkies around me, I hear (what seemed like) 20 walkie talkies going off at once in Portuguese. Everyone scrambed for their hang gliders – it was like an air-raid siren had gone off in Pearl Harbor.

My pilot screams in near perfect English “Let’s go, Robert, it’s time!” ”Ok, but isn’t there a lesson we have to do first?” ”Well, yeah, when I say run – run as fast as you possible can and don’t stop”. He then strapped me to him, then us to the hang glider and put us in line behind 10 other fellow nut balls.

As we are inching our way to the launch pad (which honestly is a 20 foot wooden deck angled to the ground), my pilot is picking up our toy plane like a bride would pick up her dress so it didn’t drag on the floor. I asked him again for any last minutes tips (as my heart started moving into a new rhythm of taccacardia that I haven’t experienced before – remember, I’m a cocktail guy, not adrenaline guy). He said, ”Well, during take-off, don’t look down. It will probably freak you out”. I said “Ok. Probably good advice, but I can’t see anything from up here, it’s so foggy”. He said “Look now!”.

Holy S**t!!!! Words can NOT ever describe the rush of looking down from the top of that mountain all the way down to the beach! “Ok, Robert, here we go…1-2-3 RUN!!!”. The second after launch you feel like a paper airplane gone bad, then in a nano second the wind catches you and takes you where it wants to go. Surreal, is the only over used word I can think of to capture the moment. You truly feel like a bird flying through the air and you never want it to end. This is one of those moments in life that you will NEVER forget.

Remember, filling the void is about not just doing things – it’s about doing exciting and interesting things- and Hang Gliding definitely qualifies! Here’s a short video below.

Oh Yeah- Here’s the ‘raw’ opening that Kim shot for our Rio video (listen to her reaction after the “welcome”) and a photo of her hang gliding with the owner, Hilton.

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Next week it’s an interesting interview with Leo Babauta of the Zen Habits fame.

Follow Rob and Kim in real time here.

Tango at La Viruta in Buenos Aires

Posted on December 23, 2008 by Rob

Filling the void (when work is removed) brings us to some interesting places around the world. The most recent of which is taking a Tango lesson at La Viruta Armenian Cultural Center in Buenos Aires. The idea for this came straight from the Oracle himself-Tim Ferriss. If you prefer watching video over reading text, then watch the video above and for a good laugh go to 00:22 and watch Kim’s head tilting to show me where to move next. It’s hysterical. I don’t expect Dancing with The Stars to be calling anytime soon. I’m getting ahead of myself here.

In reading Tim’s fantastic book the Four Hour Work Week he talks about becoming a champion Tango dancer (on a mini-retirement to Buenos Aires) and how he trained at a Milonga called La Viruta. What’s a Milonga you ask? I asked the same question. By definition a Milonga is-a term for a place where Tango is danced. I thought, well, O.K. that seems clear enough.

Kim and I sat down at the beginning of the year and created our 2008 dreamline. In the ‘do’ category we decided to list ‘take a tango lesson at La Viruta Armenian Cultural Center in Buenos Aires’. We really had no idea what to expect and wanted to be surprised.

So, here’s how it goes down. The Milonga itself doesn’t really get started until around midnight. If you want to take a lesson you get there at around 11 p.m. You purchase a ticket at the door for a beginner, intermediate or an advanced class. Have a drink at the bar and wait for them to call your class. Oh yeah, it’s all in Spanish. I mean entirely. Not a word of English to be heard anywhere.

Our group (maybe about 20 people) was called to the dance floor and our lesson began. We had two instructors, a male (I think it was Lorenzo Llamas) and a female (I’m pretty certain she was Penelope Cruz- and BTW very pregnant). Our instructors give us very detailed and very fast instructions in perfect Argentine Spanish. Of which I understood – Zippo. The good news is that they demonstrate a set of Tango steps for us to mimic. The bad news is I couldn’t mimic squat.

After an hour of a hysterically funny and embarrassing Tango lesson it was time for the Milonga to begin. Imagine people ranging from 20 to 90 years old showing up at around midnight and dancing Tango until the sun rises the next morning. It’s really quite an experience. Everyone Tangos in a counter clockwise direction in amazingly beautiful synchronicity.

It got me thinking about life. It cost us five bucks to get in and 2 cocktails at the bar. That’s it. I say, don’t wait until retirement to experience all there is in the world. Use a mini-retirement to sample your deferred life plan NOW! It’s worth it. I promise.

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If you want to follow Rob and Kim in real time go here.

*We’re off to Rio tonight for the New Years Eve parties. We’ll post some photos of the events on Flikr here.

Casa Felix: Secret Closed Door Restaurant in Buenos Aires

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Rob

I heard about a secret closed door restaurant in Buenos Aires from a few of my ‘in the know peeps’. I had never heard of this concept – but, I knew I wanted in. Having a Jet Set Life to me is all about different, new and exciting things to do. Kim and I had our Buenos Aires contact, Fiorella, get us into Casa Felix on a Saturday night (which was a little like juggling flames). We really had no clue what to expect. All we knew was that the ‘restaurant’ was the house of professional Chef Diego Felix.

We jumped into a cab and headed to the comfy residential neighborhood of Chacarita (which is near Palermo). We pulled up to a beautiful building from the 1920′s, rang the bell and chef Diego Felix warmly greeted us. From the moment you step foot in his house you can feel the intense and creative vibe. Diego was kind enough to grant us special access to interview him about an hour before his guests arrived (see video below).

Then it was show time. 12 guests, who don’t know each other, ring the door bell and enter the world of Diego Felix. He greets them one by one and welcomes them back to his kitchen for an amazing cocktail (wish I could tell you what it was – all I know was that it was made of herbs from his garden and bordered on a lemoncello kind of taste – it was a triumph!).

Over cocktails, and in a rock star kind of way, he was fielding questions about who he is and what he does. Simultaneously, the rest of us were getting to know each other. Usually, the dining experience is held in his private open air courtyard by candlelight. However, because it was raining, we were then directed to what could probably be called his living room- turned dining room- to begin our culinary experience.

When seated we find a beautiful handwritten menu made of parchment at everyone’s place setting describing the five course menu. With a hat tip to the slow food movement the experience began. Diego personally brought out each course and explained why it was selected and gave us a brief description of its indigenous South American ingredients, which he scours the continent to find.

As I’m not a foodie – I won’t go into the description of each of the five courses. I’ll leave the details of that to Food and Wine magazine, which they have done brilliantly here. I’ll simply say the food was f****n amazing! We met some really great people that night. We even wound up partying with a few of them, including Chef Felix, at a VIP table at Jet night club (which our contact Fiorella also arranged for us).

If you make it to Buenos Aires, and you should, make a stop at the (not so secret anymore) hidden restaurant of Casa Felix. I promise you’ll love it.

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We’re off to Rio for the New Year’s Parties. If you want to follow us in real time you can do it here.

Kicking your friends ass off road racing in Baja

Posted on October 30, 2008 by Rob

Part of ‘filling the void’ that’s left when work is removed is simply doing interesting things. Doing things that have nothing to do with work, your muse, or making a buck. Just stuff that’s fun and exciting. That’s what this whole game is about- right? Going down to Baja fits that bill perfectly.

Being a part of the New Jet Set isn’t just about glasses of Champagne and partying with the beautiful people. Sometimes it’s about getting sand in your face and kicking your friend’s ass in an off road race in Baja (regardless of what he thinks – I know who really won). Nothing but fun, sun and high speed thrills. Exploring the vast expanse of wide open spaces, pristine and unpopulated beaches, and beautiful desert vistas.

On this mini retirement, we went with a few friends, Darren (an Angel Investor from Seattle) and his wife, Toni (the founder of Moti Yogi). You start off early in the morning with a ride that kind of feels like an “I’m going to death valley and I think someone is about to kill me” kind of ride into the middle of the desert. Once you get there and relax all sphincters, it’s actually kind of beautiful. You get a quick 30 minute class from the guys at Wide Open and it’s off to the races. You crawl into the cage of the car and they strap you into a five point seat belt that feels like something that David Blaine couldn’t get out of. You’re issued a helmet with a built in two way radio (to communicate with your co-pilot) and off you go. The race is fast as hell and a total blast! Here’s a short video of how I kicked Darren’s ass….

Racing in Baja from Jet Set Life on Vimeo.

Another great way to fill the void is with zip lining (a.k.a the death slide). Zip lining consists of a pulley that is suspended on a cable that is mounted on one end of a mountain to another. It’s a lot of funzies and sounds a lot worse than it is. Here’s a short video of Kim sailing through the air with the greatest of ease.

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Zip Lining in Cabo from Jet Set Life on Vimeo.

Now, don’t get me wrong. When the sand blasting and zip lining is over, I’m ready to take my jet set ass for cocktails at the One and Only Palmilla (which is the only place to stay in Cabo- trust me).

Excuses are over. It’s time to live! This ain’t no dress rehearsal- No?

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The JSL New Years Eve Party in Rio is closed, but if anything opens I’ll let you know by posting it here.