Scottish Adventure
Edinburgh has been a favorite destination since I first visited in 1985. I knew little about this gem of a city before arriving, but quickly fell madly in love. Return trips have only strengthened my affection for this classy, fairy-tale setting which offers memorable sites and experiences no matter what time of year. My first…
For the Love of the Irish
Ireland holds a special place in my heart as I come from Irish ancestry. I’ve been fortunate to visit Dublin several times for my job, and also had the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Stone and tour the city of Cork. A year ago, I ventured further into the Emerald Isle to discover the Cliffs…
Like Riding a Bicycle – Iceland Style
So what if the last time I rode a horse was 20 years ago? Riding a horse is just like riding a bicycle, right? Wrong! And when we’re talking Icelandic horses, it’s a whole different animal altogether. Late-April in Reykjavik, and the temperature is hovering around four degrees Celsius, with a wind off the Atlantic…
Cozy “Heidi-away”
Step right into the pages of a storybook village for a truly memorable mountain adventure! Nestled in the Alps, about two hours from Zurich, Switzerland, lies the quiet village of Sargans. Just on the border of the duchy of Liechtenstein – literally a stone’s throw away – Sargans encompasses a charming cluster of houses, hotels,…
Medieval Holiday
Travelers looking for a trip back in time to the days of chivalry, castles, druids and dragons need look no further than a jaunt across the pond to the charming city of Cardiff, Wales. Nestled in the Western coast of the United Kingdom along Cardiff Bay, Wales offers a friendly, medieval quaintness that will have…
“N’Awlins” to the Locals
I always shake my head when friends tell me they visited the city of New Orleans (‘N’Awlins’ to the locals) and only saw the French Quarter. While this charming pocket remains a major draw and boasts some of the most colorful aspects of the Big Easy, there is so much more to be seen in…
The Russian Side of Helsinki
A solid carpet of blinding white ice reflects the January sun surrounding the harbor of Helsinki as our Viking ferry crunches its way into port. Out come the gloves and heavy wool cap with earflaps to ward off the bitter chill wind. Memories of the film “Dr. Zhivago” come flooding back stepping onto land in…
Prague, a City Frozen in Time
I don’t speak a word of Czech, for starters. I’m fluent in English, and can get by in Spanish and French. After 20 years in The Netherlands, I can even converse in Dutch when the locals speak langzaam. But Czech? Nope. Not even sure where I’d begin. So, on my first visit to the city…
Moon Over Mont-Saint-Michel
My first visit to the centuries-old fortified abbey of Mont Saint-Michel was in 1986 as a student attending a summer college French-language course in Angers, in the Loire Valley. I was impressed, but since I’d never really heard of the famous monument before, I can’t say I properly appreciated it. The main memory I have…