Mia Borromeo

Waking up and stepping out from my casita each morning for an early walk, barefoot on the powdery white sand—surrounded by an endless expanse of blue that stretched from sky to sea—was exhilarating! There was nothing but the soothing sound of waves echoing through the air as they washed up on shore, rising and receding against the spectacular beach. After a healthy al fresco breakfast, the more active ones in our group would head off for a game of pickleball, a morning dive or even kite surfing.

It was at a dinner together in Manila one evening that serendipity waved its magic wand, opening the doors to a beautiful château that would soon welcome us for a week-long autumn holiday. A few months later, amidst glorious fall weather, the seven of us found ourselves reconnecting for that magical week at this charming château in Provence. We marveled that, in spite of our hectic schedules, each of us was able to carve out the same seven days to meet up.

A train ticket, designed in the glamorous style of the 1920’s, intrigued as it invited me to a most unexpected venue, “platform 24” at One Ayala (the metro’s newest transportation hub at the bustling intersection of Ayala Avenue and EDSA). The personalized and numbered train ticket to a “surprise destination” allowed guests aboard the imaginary “Faubourg Express” for a multi-sensory voyage through the exquisite world of Hermès.