Conquering Fast, Tricky Trains in Europe First class train adventures come with the first class rail pass that can take you comfortably and quickly throughout Europe, usually faster and more easily than going by car.  On many inter-European routes, the excellent high speed train network can operate more efficiently and comfortably than planes. Although first […]

An Historic Place in Portugal Finding a hidden gem you may not know about is one of the special bonuses of river cruising.  Not only do you visit small, picturesque towns along the river that you would otherwise never discover, but a hidden gem you may not know about can be only a short distance […]

Apparition of the Virgin Mary The story of Fatima began on May 13, 1917, when three young children taking care of their sheep in the Portugese countryside witnessed an apparition.  The woman was dressed in white and revealed to the children that she had been sent from God with a message of prayer, repentance, and […]

Hotel Essentials Highly recommended affordable luxury hotels are greatly prized by frequent mature luxury travelers who appreciate excellent service, a good location, a friendly staff, and outstanding concierge service.  It is also very important to have a spacious, nicely decorated room with a well appointed bathroom and a beautiful view. The two highly recommended affordable […]

Spring in the City Fun in Madrid is year round, but spring is especially exciting.  It is hard to describe the energy you feel when you walk around the city.  The downtown streets are already crowded with tourists attracted to fun in Madrid, even though it is only the middle of April. The temperature is perfect:  sunny and […]

If you are a winter Olympic athlete, you will be heading to Sochi, Russia in February to compete. What can you expect? Presumably, enough snow and ice in the mountainous Greater Sochi area to accommodate the different events. However,  now during the summer Sochi is the major Black Sea summer resort for the Russians and […]

Until recently, Munich Airport has been an easier and faster airport to connect through than Frankfurt Airport for several reasons. Frequently, when landing at Frankfurt Airport the planes land far out on the tarmac making it necessary to climb down an outdoor stairway to leave the plane before taking a bus for a 10 minute […]

Could you fast all day without any food or water for an entire month? That is one of the striking things about visiting a Muslim country during Ramadan, when dawn to dusk fasting is obligatory for all healthy adult Muslims. Although they are expected to offer more prayers during this time, everyone continues to work, […]

Everyone who has studied the history of World War II knows that the famous Yalta Conference in 1945 changed the face of Europe. Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin met to decide on the spheres of influence that would exist following Hitler’s downfall. Germany was divided with Berlin as a partitioned city and the country split into […]