7/17/2019
Cruising the Rhone RiverLonging 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. Today is the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the largest land, sea and air invasion in history, when more than 160,000 allied troops landed on the heavily fortified beaches of Normandy. A significant and historical milestone, with much attention.
As it should have. As I watch the stories of all those involved, the history, the incredible heroes and heroic actions, I find myself yearning to walk these beaches, to pay tribute to those who fought so bravely for our freedoms. My parents were teenagers during this war, and I imagine families with a direct connection to D-Day feel the same, if not more strongly, as I do. 5/16/2019
7 Great Sites To Explore In DubrovnikI 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.
Switzerland has been in my memory bank for a long time, having lived near Zurich for a brief time in the 60's (yes, I'm dating myself), and having visited numerous times while living in Germany. I truly believe that my early introduction to the Alps with my family is why I have such a deep love for mountains.
The Swiss of course are well known for their watches, cheese and chocolate, but the mountain scenery, in my opinion, is the deepest connection. The Matterhorn, Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau - all iconic sites, and worth seeing. A few years ago we went up Mount Titlis and Mount Pilatus. Also worthy. Just beautiful. With popularity come the crowds. The day we went up Mount Titlis was beautiful but took 4 hours waiting in line for the cable car to reach the top. The wonderful thing about Switzerland, though, is there is no shortage of mountain scenery, from a distance or up close. To enjoy an area less crowded is not difficult. An area we discovered oh so many years ago is Meiringen - Hasliberg, a perfect spot to explore and enjoy in all seasons, as we did. These pictures are in June, but it's also a fabulous winter resort - in fact its where I learned how to ski. 4/18/2019
Culinary Delights Of BarcelonaInternational 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. I'm always interested in learning about places my clients have been to, especially ones they rave about. So when they share their experiences with me, I am so delighted, especially when I have permission to share them with my readers.
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. 2/13/2019
8 Top Greek Island Vacation DestinationsWith 6000 islands and islets, a great climate, safe waters and miles of sandy beaches, Greece has always been an ideal Mediterranean vacation destination.
While Santorini , Crete, Corfu and Rhodes are the most visited, don't overlook the other 220+ inhabited islands. It can be hard to choose which ones to to visit. Hopefully these eight guidelines will assist with your decision. This week we celebrated Veterans Day, in honor of all veterans who have served in the US Armed Forces, in war or peace, dead or alive. The official day is November 11, the anniversary of the official end of World War I.
Overseas celebrations triggered a fond memory of my visit to the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial near Carthage, just outside of Tunis. The experience was one I will never forget. What an incredible feeling. 8/2/2018
48 Hours In St. Petersburg, RussiaThe 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. 7/25/2018
My Baltic Cruise ReviewOn 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. 7/10/2018
A Fairytale Land Of CastlesThis article was written by AmaWaterways. Stepping through the Loire Valley is a bit like stepping back in time – way, way back to a time where fairytale princes and princesses lived among kings and queens and nobility in grand, extravagant castles.
Novelist Henry James once described the Loire Valley as ‘the land of Rabelais, of Descartes, of Balzac as well as good dinners and good houses.’ Indeed, life is sweet in the Loire Valley – the food, the wine, the beauty of both the land and the many châteaux and the brushes with royalty and celebrated historical figures. Is there any more perfect pairing for wine than a blend of classical romance and legendary chivalry? The French town of Bergerac is equally renowned for its role in the love story of Cyrano de Bergerac as it is for its fine wines (not to mention elegant chateaux and a historic medieval center).
4/30/2018
5 Classic Cafes In RomeThis article is from See Italy Travel, who have been so kind to allow me to share their insights and expertise with you. See Italy Travel specializes in creating remarkable Italy itineraries customized specifically for your needs and wishes. Italians call Rome the Eternal City. Each street evokes echoes of Italy’s epic past – from ancient temples to Renaissance fountains. With so many antiquities on
When you are looking to explore unique and intimate ports of call, look no further than small ship cruises. With under 600 passengers, ships are small enough to sail into areas that big ships can't even dream of. But don't be fooled - small ships offer big and unforgettable experiences. Here are eight destinations that have caught our attention. Photo courtesy of Star Clipper Cruises
It was only a few years ago that I noticed only few articles about Lisbon and Portugal in general. Truly an under the radar destination. Fast forward to 2018 and Portugal is now high on the list of emerging destinations, with Lisbon quickly becoming a favorite city to visit.
Photo courtesy of European Waterways When you think of cruise lines, which ones to come to mind?
More often than not, the big cruise lines are mentioned. Carnival, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity and so on. Given the amount of advertising they do - TV ads, magazine ads, celebrity endorsements, social media, etc., it's not surprising they are top of mind. 8/3/2017
Want To See A Puffin Or Two?
I saw puffins for the first time in Alaska. Beautiful, colorful, adorable, funny little creatures.
We were cruising along the Kenai Peninsula, near the Fjords National Park, when we came across a fairly large breeding colony. Thousands of birds sitting on the cliffs, floating on the water, flying with their short wings flapping crazy fast. Their "crash" landings were quite funny (especially after learning they don't hurt themselves!). Quite a memorable moment. What surprised me the most about these birds? For years I had heard about this beautiful garden near Amsterdam. Friends and colleagues considered Keukenhof a "must see" experience. But I never understood why. I love flowers, but really, what was the big deal? The pictures I had seen just didn't register until I personally walked the gardens last month while on my Rhine River cruise trip.
This may have just been coincidence, but as many times that I saw Giethoorn mentioned, I figured I may need to check it out. Several times before my Rhine River cruise last month, Conde Naste had posted a short video about this cute little town in the Netherlands on Facebook. The video was quite intriguing, so I remembered it. When we met up with my German cousin in Amsterdam, out the blue she mentioned this same town. Her neighbor had fallen in love with it and highly suggested a visit. And when I picked up a brochure on day trips from Amsterdam, there it was, mentioned again.
Well then! We must check it out, right? YES!! We decided to venture a bit (actually a lot) off the beaten path on our way back from Bruges to Amsterdam to see for ourselves what all this attention was about. 5/25/2017
Worthy Day Trips From ZurichWhenever I take a cruise that includes a significant investment in airfare (i.e. Europe), I try to add a few a extra days pre/post cruise. Why not? I'm already there, so I take advantage of the opportunity whenever my schedule allows it.
I did just that last month both before and after my Rhine River cruise. Prior to, I spent a few days in Zurich and explored the beautiful surrounding region. I'll share more about my time after in Amsterdam in another post. A question I often get asked when speaking to people about European river cruises (or any river cruise, for that matter) is whether or not it matters the direction you go. Is it better to cruise downstream or upstream? I have always been under the impression that going downstream is better - you know, "going with the flow". In the grand scheme of things, though, I think either direction is fine. Cruise lines have designed the itineraries with the direction in mind. You generally have same port stops and of course the same scenery. So the decision is really personal preference. However, there are a few small and a few major differences regarding the direction which may be important to you. 1/19/2017
St. Petersburg - A Gem in the BalticsFor many cruisers, ocean and river alike, a trip to northern Europe's Baltic region is on many a wish list. And for good reason. The area offers a different and unique experience, a view into a region that often times is a bit of a mystery.
Major cruise lines visit the Baltics (in the summer months only), with itineraries between Copenhagen and Stockholm and beautiful stops in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Read more about THE BALTICS - BEAUTIFUL STOPS ON A NORTHERN EUROPE CRUISE River cruise itineraries on the Volga are seeing great interest as well, traveling between Moscow and St. Petersburg, exploring quaint villages and historical sites along the Volga River. Check out more details here. In most cases, it is St. Petersburg that draws curious and adventurous travelers to these itineraries. A real gem in the Baltics, St. Petersburg is Russia's second largest 7/11/2016
Rhine River Port of Call: StrasbourgHome to the oldest Christmas market in Europe, Strasbourg is one of the more popular stops on a romantic Rhine River cruise, and not just during the Christmas season. Aside from being one of the larger port cities on the Rhine, Strasbourg is also the capital of the Alsace- Lorraine region in eastern France and the official seat of the European Parliament. The area draws visitors year round, especially from Europe. Amazing architecture, culinary delights, a multitude of museums, beautiful parks, the Alsace wine region and easy access to the Black Forest have made this city the second most popular tourist city in France after Paris. Nestled on the border between France and Germany, Strasbourg is clearly influenced by both countries. While the region is part of France today, German culture is an integral part of the identity. The Alsace region was French between 1648 and 1871 yet German
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Laurie Marschall - Owner and Founder
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