Private Expedition
Always wanted to do something for the environment? Then a voyage aboard the expedition yacht Galapagos Explorer, designed for a maximum of twelve passengers, is just the thing. Two guides are on board and the destination is, of course, the Galápagos Islands. Helping to protect the sensitive marine ecosystem on site – you can be part of it. > andbeyond.com
Effortlessly Stylish
The cargo bike is the new city cruiser, and it has won over not only the lives of hip dads dropping their kids at daycare but also business commuters in the big cities. «Great Gatsby 2.5» is the name of this dapper, retro-look machine. Lots of aluminium structure, a leather-look saddle and a range of up to 70 kilometres – yes, it’s electric. Ego Movement, 4,498 francs. > egomovement.ch
Let It All Out!
We’ve seen this before: Hugo Boss is getting involved in Formula 1 again. The Hinwil motorsport outfit Sauber once strutted around extremely well dressed in Boss too. Boss was active in Formula E and has always been linked somehow with Porsche Motorsport. The Aston Martin team became the first official Formula 1 partner in 2022; now it’s the new Visa Cash App RB (VCARB) Formula One Team that’s the partner for high-performance race and travel wear. Charmer Danny Ricciardo (pictured) in Hugo. We can hardly wait ... > hugoboss.com
The Name Demands It
When you hear the name Waldorf, you think of the Waldorf Astoria, the iconic luxury hotel on the corner of 5th Avenue and 33rd Street in downtown New York. There’s a fascinating story behind how the former Hotel Waldorf and the Hotel Astor, built by feuding branches of one family, became a single house. Now the Waldorf Astoria portfolio has gained an island, Platte Island, which belongs to the Seychelles. The upside: no parking problems, because the airstrip is practically right outside the front door. 50 beach villas (from 2,000 fr. a night) are ample for a lovely family getaway with entourage. > hilton.com
New Times
A colourful crew of sensational athletes belongs to the Friends of the Brand Norqain. Roman Josi, for example, who has amassed more records than almost anyone and is captain of the Nashville Predators. Norqain is a young watch brand founded by enthusiasts. Names like Schneider and Biver play a big role in management, and young corporate gurus such as Lorenz Frey-Hilti sit on the board. The watches: cheeky, cool and (not yet) very expensive. > norqain.com
Smaug, Chinese Style
Large parts of the Asian world are marking the Year of the Wood Dragon – a creative fellow, unlike his brothers the earth, metal, water and fire dragons. Parmigiani Fleurier is a manufacture in Fleurier NE, founded in 1976 by watchmaker Michel Parmigiani. His speciality isn’t only finely decorated wristwatches but also mechanical objects that tell the time. The dragon is one such. Price on request. > parmigiani.com
It Needs to Be Said
There are times when things don’t go smoothly: cynicism and gallows humour become daily companions. In just such a phase, communications professional Rainer Kuhn always carried a notebook in which he jotted down the words shooting through his head. Later he turned them into images and, brand new, into a book too: «How to not fuck it up». We’d bet that you, too, will nod on every other page. > rainerkuhn.ch
Thailand on the Baltic
Twelve years ago, after several years of hard work (with locals!), Jan Henrik Büttner had whipped the Gut Weissenhaus estate into such shape that he could finally open the luxury resort he had always envisaged, between Hamburg and Sylt. Today it’s one of the world’s most outstanding resorts and so esteemed that even those offering high-end Asian healing methods at the other end of the world bow to it. > weissenhaus.de
The High-Flyer
No one has won the Red Bull X-Alps as often as Chrigel Maurer: 8 times this utterly crazy Alpine race by paraglider and on foot. Maurer is also European champion, multiple world champion and eleven-time World Cup winner, Swiss champion of course. The Eagle of Adelboden also coaches, by the way, and has now written his first book on 25 years of paragliding. Published by Weber Verlag. > chrigelmaurer.ch
Slow Travel
At a ground speed of 180 km/h, it feels as if the aircraft of the StarFlight association is practically standing still in the sky. The 1965 vintage plane flies mainly at air events. But you can also pack in five friends and spend a lovely day entirely in private. Pilot and crew cost around 2,000 francs per flight hour. A bargain for such high-flying fun! > starflight.ch
This article appeared in MEN issue 1/24 (May 2024).
