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 Winter in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
After spending a couple of weeks in Rome and Tuscany, during November and December, my partner and I drove down south, where we spent 4 nights in the serene seaside enclave of Sorrento. Find a local guide in Sorrento here. Sorrento was dressed up and buzzing with holiday cheer, making it extra festive. Our home base was the Hotel Antiche Mura, a conveniently located and … [Read more...]
The Medieval Hill Towns of Tuscany
Tuscany is a magnificent region of Northern Italy where you can visit mysterious medieval cities and tiny Etruscan hill towns. The food, wine, and scenic views make it hard to leave. We were there in December, a wonderful time to avoid crowds and bask in the festive atmosphere. Find a local guide in Tuscany here. After spending 4 days in Rome, we boarded a train to … [Read more...]
AmaWaterways River Cruise: The Christmas Markets on the Danube
If you have never seen the Christmas Markets during the winter in Europe, you should put it on your bucket list. We took an AmaWaterways River cruise on the Danube during late November and early December. It started in Budapest, stopping in Melk, Vienna, and Salzberg, in Austria, and then Linz, Passau, Regensburg, and Nurnberg in Germany. After Nurnberg, we boarded a … [Read more...]
Visit Prague in Winter When it Sparkles With Light
Our last destination on our AmaWaterways Christmas Markets river cruise on the Danube was Prague in the Czech Republic. It's a gleaming city of Gothic arcades, Renaissance windows, Rococo cherubs, and Art Nouveau sylphs. Find a local guide in Prague, here. The cruise company booked us into the Old Town Hilton in Prague, which was lovely. Generally, I prefer small, … [Read more...]