Non Toxic Vision

Eco-travel in Austria

On my most recent trip to Austria I decided to drive through an area I am not very familiar with - so we chose the southeastern most corner of Austria, called: Vulkanland. Vulkanland translated means country of vulcanos, which are not really there any more, however there is some very special energy in this part of Austria. Not only is it incredibly beautiful - really it is also dotted with amazing castles. Once we took a side road and wound up in front of a castle called Schloss Kornberg, which is still privately owned and houses a restaurant that is out of this world. We were also looking for accommodation that was not your ordinary B & B, but something more unusual - and of course we found it. We found a "Weinstoeckl", which is a small very traditionally built house in the middle of vineyards - mostly with your own wine cellar (which was our minibar). Manfred - the owner was nice enough to wait for us, we shared a bottle of wine and had a great time. He is a great example of young generation Austrians, that live the sustainable lifestyle. He built sustainable housing in this little village and rents it out for very reasonable rents.

So if you are planning a visit to Austria and are looking for a truly unusual experience - call him and send regards from Eva:

Vulkanland Wein- und Wohnresort, 8311 Markt Hartmannsdorf; manfred.freistritzer@vulkanlandresort.at

An unmatched mountain resort in Northern Italy

Vigilius, an amazing retreat set 1,500m above sea level in the South Tyrolean Dolomites, reminds us just how health-giving a break in Europe’s loftier regions can be. Also: now is a great time to travel and hike the Alps.

The designer Mattheo Thun's take is uncompromisingly modern and absolutely in sync with the locale, thanks to its organic form, use of native materials such as larch wood, and the installation of state-of-the-art, ecologically sound heating and plumbing systems.

Visit the spa and benefit from clear mountain air, regional cuisine and amazing outdoor activities – a mountain peak. At the same time this resort combines contemporary comforts and aesthetics with and modern standard of service.

Rugged outdoor sports are balanced with yoga and massage, and a log-burning open fire sits alongside a sleek, therapeutic pool with a vista of the valleys. When it comes to body- and soul-soothing, Vigilius can’t be beaten. Check out: www.vigilus.it

A greener side of Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Looking for a small, eco-friendly hotel in Playa del Carmen? Look no further. At Básico, even the two pools have been recycled from old oil tanks by designers Moisés Isón and Jose Antonio Sánchez. With just 15 rooms privacy in ensured. This very unique and absolutely beautiful hotel was awarded "Best Small Hotel" by Travel+Leisure in 2006 - and rightfully so. Check out their website: www.hotelbasico.com
You have to click on the info box

BMW Z4 Coupe - Concept

In a recent issue of Vanity Fair I came upon an ad (actually an small booklet) by BMW. The 'Say NO' concept is designed to give designers any freedom imaginable:
- Emission: Consider our next-generation, hydrogen-powered vehicle with near-zero emissions. The exhaust is water vapor instead of carbon dioxide, which means less pollution (at top speed of 143 mph).
If it works - hey it's great. However: How many $$ is this new technology going to set us back? Will it ever be made affordable? Or is it just another car for the rich to have?

Global Warming Stickers on new cars

Beginning with model year 2010, global warming index stickers will be found on new vehicles. The stickers will specify the amount of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases produced by a particular car or truck and compare its output with the industry average and the lowest-emitting vehicle from that  model year.