What a wonderful way to travel! We sailed on the Avalon View, which was a lovely ship. This was a relaxing way to tour through Europe (unpack once yet visit Germany, Austria and Hungary). Our cruise was classified as an Active & Discovery cruise, meaning in addition to the traditional types of excursions, we had options that included such things as biking, hiking, or paddling (Active) or smaller walking tours that used public transit and tried local treats at a small cafe (Discovery). We were surprised by how tranquil it was along much of the Danube as we floated by quaint villages, flanked by autumn-tinted trees and swans. I'm already booked for my next river cruise. Next time with my sister on the Rhine!
Photo: Our canoe trip beached across from Durnstein, Austria
Not a trip I actually ever expected to happen, but it was truly one of the most amazing experiences ever. I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I have been there. I had my worries about crossing the Drake Passage but was proactive and took a combination of herbal and over-the-counter sea-sickness remedies, and was able to "enjoy" the several days of sailing through these turbulent waters. It is hard to capture this stunning landscape. It is so vast, harsh, and beautiful. I went with low expectations as it was late in the season, but we were treated to unseasonably nice weather and great wildlife encounters. My top experiences included everything penguin, kayaking with juvenile seals, hearing humpback whales as they glide by, and the overall non-stop gorgeous glaciers, mountains, and icebergs. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And I traveled on the World Navigator from Atlas Voyages, and they were outstanding from the luxurious accommodations, great food, lovely staff, and amazing expedition team.
Before we flew to Ushuaia for our cruise, we enjoyed exploring the very European feeling city of Buenos Aires. Our city tour with Santiago was so fun and informative, helping us to appreciate the rich and turbulent history of this beautiful nation.
Wow! What a stunning country filled with incredible people, history, and culture. From the ancient ruins in Jerash to the "lost city" of Petra, and the martian landscape of Wadi Rum, this is truly a small but mighty country. I was very fortunate to be able to visit Jordan with TTC Brands as part of a trip just for travel agents, focused on how to "Make Travel Matter." Some of the cool ways we got to connect with the local people and their culture included
Dinner with a local family
A workshop and lunch with an area co-op supporting women
Visiting a mosaic studio whose artists are primarily disabled, and are being taught this once-almost-lost craft
Two evenings of special Bedouin meals filled with tradition and hospitality
Another one off my bucket list! This time I lead a group of nine women on a 9-day tour of Greece. Starting in Athens, we visited the Acropolis and the Parthenon, which were true marvels. We ventured to Mykonos with its windmills and twisty old town and partook in a wonderful wine-tasting experience with a small family-run vintner. Next was the charming island of Santorini, where the vistas were stunning with cliffs, blue domes, and sunshine. Upon our return to Athens we did a cooking class that became a highlight of the trip. We had so much fun and I am looking forward to planning my next “Travel with Me” adventure — Morocco September 2024 (message me to be updated).
My husband and I are fans of traditional and contemporary Irish music, so we were thrilled to finally make our first trip to Ireland. We didn't want to do the driving, so we found a local tour company that offered small group tours (Irish Experience Tours).
Our 7-day tour took us from Dublin to Galway, to the Aran Islands, and to Doolin. We visited the Cliffs of Moher, took a working sheep farm tour, went whale watching in Dingle, drove the Ring of Kerry, and explored Blarney Castel, Cahir Castle, and the Rock of Cashel. We enjoyed the pub culture: chatting with locals, listening to music, and sipping a few Guinness along the way.
On our own in Dublin, we visited the Book of Kells, EPIC museum, Dubilina, and the National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology. We also did whiskey tastings (Jameson and Teeling), learned to pour a perfect pint at the Guinness Storehouse, and took a vintage bus tea-time tour.
We ventured out of the city on a rural pub crawl through the Wicklow Mountains and spent a day in the seaside town of Howth.
We can't wait to go back and see more of this heartwarming country!