It’s a fine feeling to be a stranger at a big party and feel fully welcome. It’s an even better feeling when everybody at the party seems like they are having the time of their lives. And if the party goes on for 17 days straight, well, I guess that’s 17 days of good feelings—though you might want to nap now and then. In Stuttgart, Germany, they’ve been having a whale of a party for a mere 200 years or so. I was just at the 199th year, and … [Read more...]
Truly a Special Place, Chamonix in the French Alps
I have been fortunate to have visited France a number of times - but by far the trip that has stood out in my mind over the years was a trip to Chamonix in the summer with my brother as part of a longer trip backpacking through parts of Europe. Traveling on train from near Geneva to Chamonix is anywhere from 2 to 4 hours - we felt good because we had a Eurorail pass which covered most train travel within Europe for 30 days. But at the time we … [Read more...]
Is There Life Beyond Prague?
The short answer to that question is a resounding YES! For most of us, the Czech Republic begins and ends with the beautiful city of Prague. I recently had the amazing opportunity to visit three lovely towns in the Moravian region of Czech Republic: Brno, Kromeriz, and Telc.. In this article, I walk you through the highlights and explain why you should consider exploring beyond the well-trodden city of Prague. GETTING IN From … [Read more...]
After Hours at the Colosseum
"This is insanity—I'm a WWE wrestler. I go back to America tomorrow," barked the rough, beefy man in front of us. "Mi scuso, sir. The Colosseum is closed," the guard responded with little sympathy. The wrestler lumbered away, huffing and muttering to himself. We were next in line. My mom stepped up to the security guard hoping to convince him to admit us into the Colosseum, even though we had arrived two minutes past closing time. His … [Read more...]
An Austrian Journey: Salzburg, the Alps and Hallstatt
When I think of the Alps, Switzerland most often comes to mind. This summer however, I trekked over the Austrian Alps and realized what a hidden gem this country is! Austria has it all, from amazing hut-to-hut trekking to musical Salzburg to the charming salt-mining village of Hallstatt, which is like stepping into a fairytale. DESTINATIONS Salzburg This city is divided by the Salzach River, with medieval and baroque buildings of the … [Read more...]
Exploring Russia on a Viking River Cruise
This was my first river cruise with Viking Cruises, a trip I'd dreamt about for weeks! Russia, the world's largest country, takes up an eighth of the world's surface, borders 14 different countries, 12 oceans and seas and spans 11 time zones. Getting Ready to Cruise Through Russia Including start and end points St. Petersburg and Moscow, our cruise includes seven stops with optional offshore excursions, some included in the fare, others … [Read more...]
Design and Speed: Stuttgart’s Exquisite Mercedes and Porsche Museums
For a portion of the population, a car is just a utilitarian thing: go from Point A to Point B, hope you don’t run out of gas, and wash it every six months or so. But for some people, myself included, cars are an exuberant expression of ingenuity, excitement and progress. The automotive industry and its dynamic productions are colorful parts of the pageant of world history. And if you want to see some remarkably varied, thoughtful and outright … [Read more...]
A long weekend exploring Geneva
My idea of a good way to spend a bank holiday weekend is none other than jet setting off to a foreign land. My best friend was traveling in Italy and Switzerland, so I decided to meet her in Geneva for 3 days. Let me start off by saying that Geneva is not cheap. Ranked as the most expensive city in Europe, anywhere you go for food or drinks, is generally overpriced. So if you’re a backpacker on a budget, Geneva (and the majority of … [Read more...]
Cruising Scotland with Windstar: A Booze Cruise Like No Other
As the Star Pride pulls away from port just outside of Edinburgh, passengers on Windstar Cruise's eight-day Gaelic Explorers itinerary toast bon voyage with the traditional glass of celebratory bubbly. With a range of top shelf liquor and bartenders with individual spins on classic cocktails, the cruise offers the option to indulge in alcoholic beverages while at sea. But cruising the coast of Scotland presents whisky lovers with a potable feast … [Read more...]
The 7 Wonders of Provence
If you’re looking for a sensational experience, Provence in southern France will not disappoint. With its seemingly never-ending lavender fields, its sun-drenched landscapes, a rich diversity of wildlife and mouth-watering delicacies from the region’s olive groves and vineyards, it is a real feast for the senses. It is also rich in heritage, with Roman remains, castles, churches and synagogues to be explored. Whether your priority is … [Read more...]
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