Life is a patchwork of experiences
In this month’s podcast, I share my travel expereinces from my visits to Norway. I’ve cruised in Norway with both Hurtigruten and Princess, and did a month long rad trip from Oslo all the way to Svalbard. Norway is a stunningly scenic country that was easy to tour either via a cruise or a road trip, though it was also a very expensive country to visit.
Continue reading “Feb. 13, 2025 Podcast: Exploring Norway – Cruising and Road Tripping”
As I celebrate another birthday, I can’t help but reminisce a little. Fifty five years ago, at the age of nine, my family and I emigrated to Chicago from Romania.
Continue reading “My First Trip Had a One Way Ticket – I’m Proud to be an Immigrant”
This month’s podcast is all about my adventures in the National Parks in winter. Many of the most popular national parks out west can be visited in Winter. Yellowstone National Park is an especially unique adventure in when it’s covered in snow, but it does require advance planning. Popular summer parks like Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zyon, Arches, and Canyonlands are a pleasure to visit in winter because they are not at all crowded and it’s not hot.
Podcast link: Winter Adventures in America’s National Parks
Continue reading “Jan. 9, 2025 Podcast: Winter Adventures in America’s National Parks”
From spacious cabins to glorious food and attentive service, my cruise with Riverside Luxury Cruises was very memorable. In this Riverside Debussy review I share all the details about my recent Rhine River cruise.
Outside my cabin’s panoramic window, a castle that looked like it came straight out of a fairy tale sat on the crest of a hilltop. Inside my cabin, a steaming cup of tea and a full breakfast had just been delivered by my suite’s butler. That’s right, my cabin on the Riverside Debussy came with my very own butler!
This was my first introduction to river cruises in Europe, and I was getting totally spoiled by the experience.
I am very thankful for yet another banner year of travel. For a total of 153 days I experienced destinations in Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the US.
Let these photos take you along with me on what I think was the best Rhine River Christmas Market cruise with Riverside Cruises.
What was my best Christmas present this year? A Christmas Market cruise on the fabled Rhine river with Riverside Luxury Cruises.
I grew up with a lot of German Christmas holiday traditions and it’s been my long time wish to experience the authentic Christmas Markets in Germany. My wish came true on a seven day Rhine River cruise from Amsterdam to Frankfurt where each day offered a new celebration of the holiday spirit.
Bavaria’s Wieskirche or the Pilgrimage Church of Wies is a UNESCO site in a beautiful stop if visiting nearby Neuschwanstein Castle.
Bavaria’s Wieskirche or the Pilgrimage Church of Wies, is a UNESCO protected church in the bucolic, green foothills of the German alps. Built in the mid 18th century by two brothers, J.B. and Dominikus ZImmermann, the site became a pilgrimage destination to see the Scourged Saviour, a wooden statue that was purported to produce miracles to those who prayed to it.
When the existing chapel that displayed the wooden figure became too small for the pilgrimage rush, the local abbey commissioned the larger church and shrine – which is Wieskirche we have today. Continue reading “Bavaria’s Wieskirche – The Pilgrimage Church of Wies in Photos”
Sharing my review of the Princess 360 experience, a one-of-a-kind, immersive dining event that I recently took part in on a Discovery Princess cruise.
The secret is out!
The Princess Cruises 360 experience is no longer veiled in mystery and intrigue. Until recently, this unique immersive dining “show” was by invitation only. But now, all guests sailing on the Discovery Princess and the Enchanted Princess are able to book this special event.
Continue reading “The Princess 360 Experience – A Performance for All the Senses”
I share all my Sapphire Princess dining expereinces from my 16 day cruise to South America and Antarctica
My cruise on the Sapphire Princess to South America and Antarctica was a dream come true. It had everything I have come to expect from a Princess cruise, including lots of good food.
In this detailed Sapphire Prince review I share information and a lot of photos from my recent cruise, including a review of my cabin and all the ship’s public spaces.
Towering icebergs floating in a pristine sea. Spouting whales and penguins lazing on the snow. Unending shades of white from one horizon to the other. These were the images of Antarctica that I dreamed of seeing.
My milestone birthday came and went, and I was not able to celebrate with a long planned trip to the white continent. Still, every birthday is special, so when it came around again this year, I finally treated myself to a cruise on the Sapphire Princess that went around South America and also included 4 days of scenic cruising in Antarctica.
