New York, New York – Reported by Elite Traveler, the private jet lifestyle magazine
In celebration of the much anticipated Steven Spielberg-directed film ‘The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn,’ Rocco Forte’s Hotel Amigo and Moulinsart are rolling out the red carpet for Belgium’s favorite comic book hero and his loyal sidekick Snowy with two new exciting Tintin experiences.
Located in the historic heart of Brussels, and moments away from the giant Tintin mural in the Rue de L’Etuve and the Tintin Boutique near the Grand Place, Hotel Amigo is an ideal base for anyone wishing to set off on an adventure in the young reporter’s footsteps. While many of the adventures of Tintin and his faithful fox terrier see him traveling across the globe, the stories are always linked to his hometown of Brussels. Armed with a detailed Tintin map provided by the hotel, tracing his steps around the Belgian capital now requires none of the young adventurer’s detective skills.
Hitting the Tintin trail, fans can walk through the Brussels’ park depicted in King Ottokar’s Sceptre, visit the concert hall that inspired the Hippodrome in The Seven Chrystal Balls and browse antiques at the daily flea market on the Place du Jeu de Ball – the setting for the film’s opening scene in which Belgium’s national hero buys his best friend Captain Haddock a model ship.
No adventure would be complete without a visit to the Hergé Museum, located 30 minutes from Brussels’ city centre. With tickets included in both of Hotel Amigo’s Tintin experiences, guests can explore this astounding piece of architecture which contains more than 80 original print plates along with a plethora of documents and photographs, highlighting the work and life of the comic book mastermind.
Upon returning to Hotel Amigo, intrepid explorers can relax with a Loch Lomond Whisky, the favorite tipple of Captain Haddock, in the bar or continue their Tintin-inspired trip in one of four uniquely designed rooms.
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One luxurious suite and three deluxe rooms have been cleverly redesigned to incorporate memorabilia relating to the boy reporter’s adventures including artwork donated by Moulinsart (the Hergé Foundation), original lithographs, figurines of Tintin and his friends, the famous canes and black bowler hats worn by the bumbling comic detectives Thomson & Thompson and statues of the mythical creatures that featured in the film, the rooms will delight Tintin fans at every turn.
The Hergé Suite tells the story of Tintin and Brussels, with images depicting his adventures in local locations such as the flea market at the Place du Jeu de Balle, La Monnaie Theatre and the Royal Palace. The living room showcases a Tintin bust and the Fetiche Arumbaya figurine from ‘The Broken Ear’ comic book. Snowy can be found snoozing on the armchair, and there is a replica of the famous rocket from ‘Destination Moon’. An image of Nestor, the long-suffering butler at Captain Haddock’s Marlinspike home, sees him answering the room’s phone. Additionally, the suite has a chest filled with Tintin comic books, and a large book on the hero’s history.
An Interconnecting room is decorated with images of the six key characters: Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock, Thomson & Thompson, Bianca Castafiore and Professor Calculus, awhile the bathroom features a figurine of the shark-like submarine from ‘Tintin and the Lake of the Sharks’.
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A further two interconnecting rooms are dedicated to Spielberg’s movie, ‘The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn.’ The film combines the stories of ‘The Crab with the Golden Claws’, ‘The Secret of the Unicorn’ and ‘Red Rackham’s Treasure.’ Tintin fans young and old will revel in the rooms, which are filled with reproductions from the three adventures, including a model of the Unicorn ship, a big wooden statue of the Arumbaya figure and black-and-white images of Tintin and Captain Haddock. A picture of Snowy answering the phone is complemented by a replica of the phone itself, and there is another chest full of Tintin comic books for fans to enjoy.
