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 Longing to explore France's waterways for a while, I recently had the opportunity to cruise the Rhone on an itinerary from Avignon to Lyon. The three major rivers in France offer very different experiences, and this one intrigued me with the combination of Roman history, scenery and wine country.
The itinerary did not disappoint.  A few fun facts about the Czech Republic:
Prague is by far the main reason people come to the Czech Republic. The City of a Hundred Spires truly lives up to this name, and is best known for its historical Old Town Square, baroque buildings, the oldest operating Astronomical Clock in the world, Prague Castle and of course the Charles Bridge. As hectic as it was, I thoroughly enjoyed my 40 hours visit to the city. I do recommend more time though to take in as many of the highlights the city has to offer. That said, despite being late October, Prague was exceptionally crowded. The Town Square, Charles Bridge, the Castle district - almost suffocating. It was a weekend, which likely contributed to the masses. Prague has definitely been discovered. Fortunately, the Czech Republic has much more beyond Prague - 11 UNESCO world heritage sites, picturesque towns and scenic of southern Bohemia, the spas of western Bohemia, wine country in southern Moravia. My top picks:  I was first introduced to Dubrovnik when it was still part of Yugoslavia. I remember walking along the ancient city walls that overlook the Old Town and shimmering Adriatic Sea, fascinated by the canons that once protected the city from invasions from the sea.
Years later I came again, this time by cruise. Now the independent country of Croatia, and still healing from a long and hard fought war. My Dad and I once again climbed up the steeps steps to the top, took a leisurely walk along the storied walls, and later explored the Old Town area. There were reminders of this recent war that could be seen on the walls of the Old Town entrance and there were more people and few more restaurants, but thankfully not much else had changed. Old Town, with its limestone streets, quaint alleys and baroque buildings, was just simply stunning, and memorable.  When I think of Japan, Tokyo is generally the first image that comes to mind. A fascinating place, modern yet traditional, always changing, always on the move.
However, it is the world's largest metropolis, with over 37 million residents (9 million in the city alone). It goes without saying this means lots of crowds. And just imagine trying to cross the street at major intersections!  International travel allows people to gain a new appreciation for other cultures of the world, and a big part of any culture is the cuisine. The food of a region is a reflection of their history and geographical location and the resources they have available to them.
Spain, a top food and wine destination, has six distinct culinary districts - the North, Pyrenees, Valencia, Andalucia, Central and Catalonia. Catalonia's largest and most well known city, Barcelona, is a popular port city on Spain's northeastern coast. Because of its location on the Balearic Sea and a stone's throw from the Mediterranean, Barcelona's gastronomy scene is characterized by amazing seafood. One of the great dishes to try is the calamari and squid, which you can get either fried or grilled. Travelers, however, will find all types of culinary delights, reflective of the colorful history and centralized location in relation to northern Africa and all of the Mediterranean.  The rivers of Europe have you experiencing a lot of old world charm in cities big and small. Amazing, photogenic old world charm, all with their own unique personalities.
For anyone wanting to explore ancient cities and historic castles, walk through charming wine villages, take in the lively city of Amsterdam or visit one of 40 museums in Basel, a Rhine and Moselle river itinerary is a great fit. Plenty of picture perfect moments await you on itineraries that include one or both rivers. Following are my top nine most photogenic places to see.  The following article was provided by Bavaria Tourism. Home to spectacular events, great cities, and fairy tale castles. Visit Bavaria’s lesser-known museums, shops, and small cities for an unforgettable experience.
Let Bavaria take you to a breath-taking journey through their region!  The star attraction on a Baltic cruise for most people will be St. Petersburg, Russia. It was for me. I'd seen plenty of pictures of the iconic sites, which truly intrigued me, but I was also very curious about the people and what was "beyond these sites". What was it like to be in Russia?
Two full days touring St. Petersburg didn't make me an expert by any stretch of the imagination. But along with the seeing the iconic sites, I did get a glimpse of the beyond, behind the scenes if you will. For this I am grateful. I did not know what to expect, and while I had a few preconceived notions, I went with open eyes.  On July 4th, we sailed out of Copenhagen, the beginning of our 9 night Baltic cruise. We were treated to sunny days the entire cruise, and though I rarely let weather hinder my experience, I must admit that not having even one drop of rain was quite special.
A Baltic cruise had been on our wish list for a number of years, and this itinerary and timing fit perfectly into an already planned visit to Germany. In all honestly I would have preferred a smaller ship (a much smaller ship!) as it would have reduced some of the transfer time, but none the less, we packed in a lot of experiences. A Baltic itinerary is not one I would describe as relaxing. It is however, incredibly interesting, very rich in history, with each port offering unique experiences. Following are the highlights.  One of the things I love about cruising is waking up in a new port every day. One of the things that leaves me yearning is waking up in a new port every day. Certain ports just deserve more time to explore.
The picture above of the Sydney Opera House is just one example. If you left port at the normal 5 pm sailing time, you'd miss this amazing icon so beautifully lit up . So much action starts after the sun sets! |
Laurie Marschall
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