2011 Epsom Derby
At the 2011 Epsom Derby on Saturday 4 June, 13 racehorses ran. There was a thrilling finish as Pour Moi came up from last to win, just beating Treasure Beach over the line. Carlton House came in third.
Royal couple William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, spent the day at the races. Ladies day took place on Friday 3 June.
Find out more about the 2011 Epsom Derby.
Lying in the heart of Praslin Island, Seychelles, is Vallée de Mai – a National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the highly revered Coco de Mer seed.
Coco de Mer is found at Vallee de Mai nature reserve on Praslin Island in the Seychelles
Vallée de Mai is the only place in the world where you’ll find Coco de Mer - or the sea coconut.
Believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac and fertility symbol, the Coco de Mer is famous for its size and likeness to the female reproductive area.
The seed can weigh up to 30kg and grow to nearly 20 inches in diameter.
General Gordon of Khartoum believed that the prehistoric rainforest at Vallée de Mai was the original site of the Garden of Eden, and that the Coco de Mer was its forbidden fruit.
Today, visitors to the reserve can wander along sheltered pathways beneath the giant palm trees, whose leaves can measure 6m wide and 14 m long. Vallée de Mai is also home to five other endemic palms and fauna, and the rare the Seychelles Black Parrot.
Prince William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, were presented with a rare Coco de Mer during their recent honeymoon to the Seychelles.
Find out more about our luxury hotels in the Seychelles, the Constance Ephelia Resort and Constance Lémuria Resort.
Lemuria: the only golf course in the Seychelles
With Prince William and Kate Middleton rumoured to be honeymooning in the beautiful Seychelles this year, this beautiful island country is increasingly popular with those hunting for a luxury holiday destination – and that includes golf enthusiasts.
We’ve won awards for having the best golf courses in the world – and the Constance Lémuria is the only golf course in Seychelles.
This 18-hole, a Par 70, was opened on 1October 2000 and covers an area of 5580 meters. With a free green fee for hotel residents, it offers a great challenge to all levels of players, professionals and amateurs alike.
Lemuria: the most beautiful golf course in the world?
Many golfers have hailed Lémuria Golf Course as a golfers paradise and the most beautiful of its kind in the world – and with truly magnificent scenery spanning views of three spectacular beaches, it’s not hard to see why.
The design by internationally renowned golf architect was also influenced by Rodney Wright and the champion Marc-Antoine Farry. It incorporates a series of waterways with margins of endemic palms and broadleaf woodland.
Palm trees allow the light to intermittently filter through, fringing the first 12 holes. From the 13th hole, the course extends over the steep slopes of a thickly forested hill, with breathtaking vistas.
Anse Georgette beach welcomes you for a refreshment after the 15th hole. The club house offers restaurant bar and a boutique. Lessons, caddy player and rental equipment are also available.
Find out more about golf in the Seychelles at Constance Lemuria.
At Constance Hotels we know that attention to detail helps to create wonderfully luxurious interiors. Here are some tips on this season’s big trends so you can blend classic chic with the latest looks for your own home and garden.
Spring/Summer 2011 paints are inspired by the colours of nature
Spring/Summer 2011 and everyone’s looking to nature for inspiration. The hottest colours this season are:
Don’t be afraid to mix more vibrant colours with your neutral background, or add colour where you wouldn’t expect it. Painting skirting boards and doors in soft blue-greys is bang on trend.
Tiles
Tiles in vivid colours, graphic patterns and bright florals are being used throughout the home. They can add interest to small spaces such as in bathrooms or on study floors, or work well as statement pieces in hallways and kitchens.
Kitchen/dining areas
The open plan kitchen/diner has become the main social room in family homes and urban flats. Open plan rooms are ideal for socializing, and this trend continues to evolve with the latest hi-tech audio visual systems and comfortable lounge areas being incorporated into the space.
Flowers
Romantic flowers in whites and greens
Think British, seasonal and sustainable. Take your cue from the royal wedding of William and Kate, where the flowers and trees came from the Queen’s garden at Windsor Great Park. Romantic white blooms are big this season. Experiment with garden jasmine, roses, peonies, sweet peas, delphiniums and hydrangeas. Add green foliage from trees and shrubs for a woodland note.
Outdoor living rooms
A comfortable, well planned outdoor seating area adds a luxurious note to summer entertaining. Outdoor living rooms with sofas and low coffee tables are big in garden design right now, and they work well in contemporary settings as well as country gardens. Simply adjust the look and symmetry of the furniture according to the backdrop.