Imagine island hopping to unknown paradises that pirates once inhabited, with reggae music wafting through the air as warm breezes blow, and lying on pristine beaches as you laze away the summer. I took a three-week cruise on a 50ft sailboat from St. Vincent and the Grenadines ending on the island of Spice in Grenada. Find locally-led guided tours in Saint Vincent and the … [Read more...]
Madrid, Spain, and Side Trips You Don’t Want to Miss
Gorgeous and majestic Madrid in Spain is a city of palatial splendor, ornate monuments, historical landmarks, art, and elegance. It is the capital and cultural hub of the country and a doorway into its illustrious past. Find a local guide in Madrid, here. While we were there, we took side trips to the old city of Toledo, the Valley of the Fallen, and El Escorial. … [Read more...]
Soak in the Romance of Seville, Spain
You can't go to Spain without visiting the seductive city of Seville, known as the "Pearl of Andulusia." The opera Carmen, by George Bizet, takes place there and tours are available to visit some of the opera locations such as the old cigarette factory. Find a local guide in Seville, here. For other photo galleries from our trip to Spain, click on the links … [Read more...]
Granada, Spain, and the Magnificent Alhambra
One of our stops on a 3-week vacation in Spain was to the mystical city of Granada. It's the home of The Alhambra palace and fortress which Moorish poets have described as "a pearl set in Emeralds." It began as a small fortress in 889 AD and was converted into a palace for the Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada in the mid-13th century. Its … [Read more...]
Enjoy a Slice of Germany in New Ulm, Minnesota
As a Southern Californian, Minnesota wasn’t exactly on my travel bucket list. We don’t hear much about that part of the U.S. here other than it’s an icebox in the winter. But while I was there for a conference, I was both surprised and impressed with Minnesota's immense beauty and down-home hospitality. We took a sidetrip from Minneapolis to the town of New Ulm, a … [Read more...]
