Gliding down the Rhone River, I couldn’t wait for my first stop in Southern France. A quick jaunt across the bridge and I had entered an ancient walled-city that at one time had been surrounded by a moat. The ‘Old Town’ area is filled with cobble-stoned streets, architectural treasures from the 13th century and the …
Destinations
Take Journey through Champagne France I found that in only a quick jaunt from Paris, in the Champagne France region that borders Burgundy, there lies a tiny slice of heaven known as Essoyes. According to Jean Renoir, “There is no other place like it in the whole wide world. There I spent the best …
At first light, I have her all to myself, aside from the lone jogger and the trash collector. I start to feel the lure of Savannah, Georgia, that sweet sickness; the thing the French call le mal doux. I need to sip her slowly, like a dry martini. I take a deep breath and etch …
Earlier this year, I was the eager guest of Rocky Mountaineer, one of the World’s greatest railway journeys. I was on board their route from Vancouver to Banff in the Canadian Rockies. There are many different train routes to choose from, but I am told this one was a fairly typical ‘first train’ itinerary experience. …
Sandals Resort – Ochi Rios “Yippee!” That was all I heard my son say when Romeo introduced himself to us and extended his gloved right hand. We shook hands and he escorted us onto what would be essentially our ride from one of the main areas of the resort in a private golf cart to …
Are you a fan of walled cities? If you are, then you should head to Avila, Spain in the Castilla y Leon (Castles and Lions) province of Spain. Located just about an hour and a half drive from the Madrid Bajaras airport, it’s a city waiting to be discovered. This walled city is also known as the “City …
Best Day Trips From Barcelona Colonia Güell and Gaudi’s Crypt My Grandfather, John Clark, was born in a tiny hospital in a small town in Texas back in 1898. At that same time, halfway around the world, there was an artist named Gaudi. He had been asked by his friend to build a place …
If there is one thing I love about my travels, it is the architecture that I get to see in different countries. I love to see the shape and form of places and how families live within them. I am fascinated by texture and old world looks, with peeling paint, fauxed walls (whether intentional or …
7 Things You will NOT see on your trip across the Canadian Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer! Suburbs, nope, not a single one of them, those mini cities attached to the giant one. I looked and looked, but there wasn’t one in sight. Slowly over time after leaving the train station, you will leave those …
Cogevi-Collet Champagne House I spotted him as he came through the stone-white door carrying a giant, sparkling tuba (really a sousaphone) high upon his back. He was with his friends: the saxophone and the tenor sax. They were casually walking down the street as I entered the museum of Cogevi-Collet Champagne House in the champagne …
Carnival in the Black Forest of Germany (Part 1 link) Snap, Whip, Crack! The parade has begun with over 4000 “fools” who have gathered at the entrance to the old Black Gate and make their way down the parade route. The characters of the Black Forest begin to come alive as they perform a slow, …
Uncorked Champagne, France I am so excited to share with you that I will be attending the 7th annual International Wine Tourism Conference (iWINEtc). It takes place in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France in the city of Reims. For two days, I will hear over 30 talks, panel discussions, and presentations about wine tourism along …