Amsterdam might be one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world, but if you only have a few days to spend in this amazing city, you can’t waste a moment on popcorn fares. You want the good stuff, the spots that will stick with you long after you’ve left. That’s what we’ll be looking at today. Now, it’s important to note that the places you’ll be visiting today won’t necessarily paint Amsterdam in terms of how the locals see it. … [Read more...]
Curacao, One of my Favorite Islands in the Caribbean
Our introduction to Curaçao wasn't an awe inspiring inspirational place of stunning natural beauty (for instance a secluded white sand beach framed by a crescent shoreline and aquamarine waters). Rather it was in a rough part of Willemstad, the capital city. A friend and I found ourselves wandering around the dark streets late at night in search of food in a neighborhood near our hostel. We passed walls topped with razor sharp barbed wire - … [Read more...]
My first experience of a Turkish Hamam
There are many Turkish bathhouses (Hamams) in Istanbul. The famous ones being Çemberlitaş, Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamam, Cağaloğlu etc where you fork out a fortune (more than 100 liras) to enjoy the finest bathing experience in a lavish and elegant environment. Being a frugal traveler (or cheapskate as sometimes the meaning of frugal connotes), those bathhouses with world-class facilities surely are places I would not be able to … [Read more...]
All-in Tickets from KLM Airlines
I have flown my share of budget airlines (mostly in Europe as they are often reasonably priced and quick way around the continent) but you always get what you pay for: a basic seat, very limited carry-on luggage allowances and generally no food or drink. Often the flights are to secondary airports that aren't always central to your final destination. While these in continent flights are typically only a few hours at most, there are certainly also … [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...]
A bike ride adventure across Great Britain
Twenty years after cycling the length of Great Britain with two friends, I received an offer to do it all over again. My initial thought was to say no, because I had since moved from England to Western Australia and it was a long way to travel for a bike ride. Also, our first attempt had been a foolhardy escapade, with little training or planning, resulting in a harsh lesson into the trials and tribulations of cycling on Britain’s main roads in … [Read more...]
Where Should You Eat? Restaurants in Coastal Alabama
If you've never been on a beach vacation in Alabama, you are missing out. I had the opportunity to visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Alabama recently and what a treat it was. From the white sugar sand beaches to the deep sea fishing, the Alabama coast has it all. To me, the Alabama coast was a great beach vacation without the pretense of some other popular beach locations in the U.S. When you don't want to "keep up with the joneses" and just … [Read more...]
A Remington and a Volvo
At 9, I thought it was crazy. My dad was going to squeeze Mom and all six of us kids into a boxy, top heavy, narrow Volvo station wagon, and we were going to drive for three months from our home in Paraguay to Kansas where my father grew up. This trip had been his dream since coming to Paraguay in 1951 to found and manage a Mennonite leprosy mission. “Is there really a road that goes all the way from Paraguay to the States?” I asked. Dad … [Read more...]
Norwegian Flies OAK to Denmark Nonstop!
I recently attended the launch of Norwegian Air's nonstop flight from Oakland to Copenhagen, Denmark at a chef's tasting prepared by Andreas Bagh, Executive Chef at Copenhagen's Michelin starred Marchal restaurant at the Hotel d'Angleterre. The event was hosted at the Cookhouse in North Beach, a lovely, intimate venue in a space next to the legendary Vesuvio Cafe in San Francisco. The evening was well attended by local journalists and … [Read more...]
Scandinavian Cruise to the Baltic Capitals
A Scandinavian cruise to the Baltic Capitals sat on our travel list for several years, while easier and less expensive trips took precedence. For us to set sail towards our Viking roots, we needed a big occasion—like a 50th birthday. I think of 50 as an easy going innocuous number. It’s neutral (fifty/fifty), romantic (Fifty First Dates), and even sexy (Fifty Shades of Grey). But for my husband, 50 conjured dark and disturbing … [Read more...]
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