Life is a patchwork of experiences
The shore excursions in Iceland with Iceland ProCruises allowed me to see the more authentic side of this beautifully scenic country.
Iceland is a beautifully scenic country which has also made it an extremely popular tourist destination. Cruising around the island is an easy and comfortable way to see the highlights. In the summer months, Iceland ProCruises organizes Iceland circumnavigation tours that shows off their country’s best sights along with some less visited gems that are unique just to their itineraries.
Continue reading “Shore Excursions in Iceland – How I Spent a Day in Iceland’s Most Popular Ports”
Iceland has become one of my favorite destinations. With its diverse and stunning scenery, warm and friendly people, and a foodie culture focused on fresh and local ingredients, what’s not to love. On my recent Iceland ProCruises circumnavigation cruise, I had the chance to travel around Iceland in complete comfort and ease while local guides showed off all the best experiences their country had to offer.
Continue reading “Experiencing Authentic Iceland in Style – An Iceland ProCruises Review”
One of the highlights on my recent Iceland ProCruises tour was a stop to Flatey Island. This is a private island with summer holiday homes and Iceland ProCruises is the only tour company allowed to stop here.
The island has a large puffin colony that is easy to get to and to photograph. This little guy or gal had just gone fishing and was standing there with his catch, keeping a close eye on all of us. He clearly had no intention of sharing.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
This beautiful swan was following me as I walked along the canals of Burano in the early morning. I think it was hoping to get some food, but I had none to give. I waited for quite a while for the swan to swim to this particular section of the canal where the colorful houses were reflecting shades of pink and yellow. Eventually, it cooperated. Patience is a virtue that I don’t always have, but in this case, it paid off.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
In some ways I love Burano more than Venice – it is so colorful and photogenic. Use these Burano photos as inspiration for visiting Burano. I am also sharing tips for what to do in Burano and tips for why an overnight Burano stay is even better.
I love the little island of Burano, Italy in the Venetian Lagoon. Visiting Burano for a day or half day is a common side trip from Venice, but spending the night was even better. Once the day trippers were gone, I had the island practically to myself – well, along with all the locals of course.
In this guide I share my favorite photos along with many tips on what to do in Burano from all my trips to inspire a day visit or an extended stay on this easy excursion from Venice.
Continue reading “What to do in Burano – My 25 Colorful Photos and Tips for Visiting Burano, Italy”
Barge cruising with European Waterways is one of my favorite travel experiences. In this La Bella Vita cruise review I share all the details of my fantastic 6 day barge cruise in Italy.
There is a reason that a European Waterways barge cruise has become one of my favorite travel experiences – actually, it’s a lot of reasons. A week long cruise always includes incredibly attentive service, fantastic food, exceptional local wines, and specially curated excursions. And all this is provided in an intimate, small group setting. What’s not to love about that!
I share my experiences swimming in the Dead Sea in both Jordan and Israel and share tips for the best Dead Sea experience.
You’ve probably seen the photos – the ones of a person effortlessly floating in an almost sitting position while reading a newspaper. This is often the typical marketing image associated with the Dead Sea. The reality is that swimming in the Dead Sea is so much more than that.
Continue reading “Swimming in the Dead Sea in Style – Tips for a Dead Sea Visit”
Wadi Rum is a popular desert destination in Jordan. Broad stretches of reddish tinged sand are interspersed with fantastical rock formations that dwarf over tourists riding in camel caravans. I’ve been fortunate to visit twice, each time staying at a Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp while experiencing the unique activities this desert offers. I share my personal experiences and lots of tips for planning a trip to Wadi Rum.
I had not heard of Wadi Rum until I started doing research about what to see and do in Jordan. As it turns out, I had already seen its landscape since this UNESCO protected area has been used as a filming location in many recent blockbuster movies including “Martian”, the “Star Wars” movies and Disney’s “Aladdin”.
Continue reading “Finding Mars on Earth at a Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp in Jordan”
On my second visit to Jordan I was finally able to visit Little Petra. Much smaller than its famous neighbor, I found this site to be a nice compliment to all that I had seen at Petra.
The “lost” city of Petra in Jordan is no longer lost – in fact it is quite famous. It was rediscovered in 1812 by the intrepid Middle East explorer Johann Ludwig Burkhardt, and since then has become a very popular tourist destination.
Continue reading “Why I was Thrilled to Finally Visit Little Petra”
Are you planning to visit Petra? After two trips to Petra, I share this long list of tips to help make your visit to Petra memorable and easy.
There are many wonderful things to do and see in Jordan, but for most, a trip to the Hashemite Kingdom in the Middle East is not complete without a visit to the rose city of Petra.
Continue reading “How to Visit Petra – My Petra Travel Tips For A Perfect First Time Visit”
