Thanksgiving can be appreciated many different ways. It isn’t where you are, but who you are sharing it with that matters. For diehard football fans, it would not be a proper celebration without a full day watching football games on TV. Many would rank the traditional turkey dinner as less important than the football menu. […]

With much fanfare, most of the major airlines have now switched over to allowing passengers to keep their iPads and Kindles running during take-off and landing. Laptops must still be stowed, since they are considered “larger electronics.” Monday, November 18th, may have been United Airlines’ first day to implement this new policy. At least I […]

If you start early in the morning, you can visit the highlights of Rio de Janeiro in one day. It is good to start with the statue of Christ the Redeemer which looms over the city, because the train that takes you up the mountain is not very large and tickets are purchased for a […]

About 45 minutes from Bariloche, Argentina, is the famous tourist resort of Llao Llao, one of The Leading Hotels of the World. Located on a hill with the spectacular surroundings of the snow-capped Andes Mountains and the two lakes of Moreno and Nahuel Huapi, it is an elegant residence with begging-to-be-photographed vistas from every window. […]

“Don’t cry for me Argentina” is a haunting song about Eva Peron, the wife of Argentine dictator, Juan Peron.  Before her early death at the age of 33 as a victim of cancer, she endeared herself to the poor class of Argentines by championing social programs and giving out government money to eliminate poverty.  Evita […]

When you think of soaring snow-capped mountains and cold, fresh mountain lakes and springs in a pristine setting, usually the image of Switzerland comes to mind.  It certainly has quite a number of famous peaks and unforgettable views. The south island of New Zealand also competes with spectacular scenery, as snowy mountains rise up behind […]

A good way to learn about a country is through its cuisine. It is a journey for the taste buds to try fresh produce that might not be available to us at home. We approached this part of our educational trip with great enthusiasm. Having researched the most highly recommended restaurants in Santiago, we made […]

There is the shorter non-stop air route from Toronto to Santiago at a mere 11 hours and then there is the two day odyssey from Chicago that goes to Houston and then Buenos Aires, before finally reaching Santiago. This takes over 24 hours but, surprisingly, is not too bad if you sleep on the long […]

After spending a lot of time over the years outside on beaches and at pools, do you now run from the sun to avoid more skin damage? It is a very real concern and might cause you to think that a luxury beach resort would not be a good vacation place for you. Admittedly, I […]

Sharing unique experiences with your grandchildren and watching them learn about the world is the special gift offered to grandparents. So, bring on the kangaroos! It is fascinating for children to see a little joey stick his head out of his mother’s pouch as she hops along. Of course, the place to find wild kangaroos […]

If you fly a lot and have enjoyed using the TSA passenger pre-check program, where you no longer have to take off your jacket and shoes, take your computer out of the case, or remove your toiletry bag from your carry-on, you would be upset to suddenly have to revert to the indignity of the […]

Last week our government issued a compelling worldwide warning against possible escalated terrorist activity in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East against U.S. citizens and interests overseas. The potential targets are hotels, business offices, restaurants, public areas, shopping malls, important sporting events, and tourist destinations where US travelers might gather. When traveling outside the […]