Grand Explorer Travel News

Preparing for The Norwegian Epic

2011-11-01T03:28:00.000-04:00

Well I only have a few days until I depart for Miami to sail on Norwegian Caribbean's recent ship the Norwegian Epic. It is quite a large ship with the emphasis on entertainment, they even have a bowling alley onboard!

Keep posted for all the excitement as I write about y daily adventures in the Eastern Caribbean. Good food, balcony cabin, great ports and meeting old friends should be fun.

14 June 2011 - Last day in Prague

2011-10-09T18:46:00.001-04:00

Well today was my last day in Prague and I had a late afternoon flight home so that I could have some added time to do some shopping. The day started out a little cloudy to match my mood but shortly it cleared up and I was off to do some damage in the shops. The Czech Republic is world-famous for three main things, garnets, crystal and beads and I planned to get a little of each.

I crossed the Charles Bridge as I had done dozens of times in the past few days enroute towards the Old Town. Last night when I had left the Estate Theatre I had seen a beautiful doll in the window of a shop and I was determined to get it. The problem was in all the winding streets I had taken I couldn't remember where it was! So as I tried to retrace my steps from last night I stopped along the way in one shop or the other picking up some small souvenir here and there. Finally I saw a street which seemed familiar. As I turned a corner there was the store finally. The porcelein doll was still there in the window and the sales lady advised it was made in the Czech Republic and the markings on her said the same so I was happy to buy it.

As I wandered through the store I found some beautiful crystal glasses which of course I just had to have. The workmanship is just beautiful. They are hand-painted with 24KT gold and I just fell in love with them. I was amazed how quite affordable they were as opposed to hand-painted glasses I had previously purchased in Venice a few years earlier. I would have liked to take home a large set but I had bought so many things in the past month that I just had no idea where I would even put these, but I would figure it out later.

The city has so many astonishing shops brimming with items that take your breath away but words can never do justice to them so I will give you some photos here to see for yourselves.

The narrow streets are filled with shop after shop of the most varied and wonderful treasures, it's just so hard to decide on what you really want to take home, it is quite overwhelming! I did find a shop that made home made candy and chocolates as well as the most yummy cookies, of course I had to go in. So adorable that the shop was called BonBon.

Here are some more shots of the fairytale like streets. It is like walking in an Aesop Fable ...... so beautiful with the colored buildings and lamposts, flowers and amazing architecture. It is quite dreamlike to walk around here. Next to Venice this is my favorite city in Europe to walk around in.

I wandered back towards my hotel to get ready to leave and I took pictures of the beautiful statues on either side of the bridge as well as the beautiful colorful buildings which can be seen from the bridge. I thought I would share them here.

This day and this voyage has now unfortunately come to an end. I have been gone for over 4 weeks and have experienced so many varied cultures, savoured many different cuisines and visited Old World Europe at it's best. Memories for a lifetime will be coupled with the anticipation of my return.

I always say "Love is the food of life and travel is the dessert", during this adventure I have experienced a virual feast!

13 June 2011 - Prague Day 3

2011-10-09T14:42:00.064-04:00

Today was my last full day in Prague. There was one more area that I had to explore and that was Prague Castle atop Petrin Hill. This was quite a walk uphill all the way. It didn't help that it was 80 degrees in the shade but hey I was in Prague on my way to see it's most famous structure so no complaining. I had to keep walking up and up and at one point I had to sit because this was quite a hike. When I finally reach the pinacle I was well rewarded with the most incredible sight, the entire city of Prague lay before me. Another five minutes and I was at the entrance to this huge monolithic medieval castle and it was breathtaking to say the least.

The Prague Castle, an ancient symbol of the Czech lands, is the most significant Czech monument and one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 m². A UNESCO World Heritage site, it consists of a large-scale composition of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles, from Roman-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications in the 14th century.

The Prague Castle complex comprises three courtyards and a great many buildings, including Saint Vitus Cathedral (the most recognisable landmark in the city), several palaces, viewing towers, museums and art galleries, cafés, a monastery and Golden Lane.

There were guards at the entrance and after watching the changing of the guard ceremony I entered the grounds to start exploring Prague's main attraction. There are many buildings and the height of the cathedral is so imposing. The first known building on the site of Prague Castle was erected in the 9th century. In the 12th century it was replaced by a Romanesque palace. In the 14th century it was rebuilt in the Gothic style, under the reign of Charles IV. After World War I, renovations to the castle buildings and to the Prague Castle Gardens were undertaken by the architect J. Plecnik. Today, Prague Castle is the seat of the President of the Czech Republic and serves as the historical and political centre for both city and state.

In the castle complex there is a street called the Golden Lane. The street is full of small houses built in Mannerism style at the end of the 16th century. In 1597 the emperor Rudolf II decided to give the space there to the castle marksmen who guarded the fortification. But there were 24 marksmen and a lack of space. Therefore, the marksmen had to build very small houses for them and their families. The material they used was stone, mud, and wood. The emperor prohibited to build windows in the direction to the Deer Moat or to sell or rent the house to somebody else. During the decades several houses were destroyed, after 1657 there were only 14 houses left. Castle marksmen were not needed so much any more, that’s why more and more people of other occupations came to live there. The Golden Gate hosted both rich and poor people, artists, clerks, footmen, etc. One of the famous inhabitants of this street was famous writer Franz Kafka in house no. 22 or Prague prophetess Madame de Thebes, who was killed by the Gestapo in the war because she foretold the end of Nazism.

Golden Lane got its name from the story of alchymists living in the street during the reign of Rudolf II who tried to make not only the philosopher stone or the elixir of youth, but also to transform metals into gold. Even though these stories are not based on the truth, there is a real story dating to the beginning of the 20th century. One of the local house was inhabited by an old man, doctor of philosofy Uhle, who spent all his money on old books about magic. He made secret experiments in his lab inside the house. In 1831 people in the Golden Lane heard a big detonation from his house. When fire fighters entered the house and distinguished fire, they found Uhle dead with a yellow stone in his hand. Later on the stone was proved to be gold. How the gold got into the house is still not known. Maybe he really made his and many other alchymists’ longtime dream come true.

Later I started to make my way down the hill again stopping into some small shops along the way. Each street has a bevy of interesting stores and fun restuarants. I just had to grab a bite in one of the cute restaurants along the way.

Who can resist a real Czech meal? I loved the food here because it reminded me of the kind of French Canadian food I was raised on. Hearty meats with potatoes and stews with gravy, chops and decadent desserts. Meals are filling and so tasty.

After more sightseeing I then had to make my way back to the hotel to get ready for my special evening. This was another night I had been waiting for since I got here. Tonight was the Mozart performance at the Estates Theatre.

The Estates Theatre dates back to 1783. It is regarded as one of the most beautiful, historic theatres in Europe, and the name Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be forever linked with it. It was here in 1787 that he personally conducted his premiere of Don Giovanni. Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute, Cosi fan Tutte, The Marriage of Figaro and other famous Mozart operas feature heavily in the repertoire of the Estates Theatre. Ballets include Tchaikovsky's classical ballet Onegin.

In the course of its history the Theatre of the Estates attracted some significant artists of European stature: Carl Maria von Weber was a conductor here, Angelica Catalani sang here, Nicolo Paganini gave concerts, there were also conductors Rubinstein, Carl Goldmark, and Gustav Mahler.

The theatre was the one used in the movie "Amadeus" which is one of my favorite movies of all time, so I was very excited to step foot in this legendary theatre. I had reserved a box and as I entered and took my seat it was overwhelming to think that the genius of Amadeus had once conducted inside this building where I was sitting just as the high society elite and royalty had sat hundreds of years ago. Nothing has been changed since those times. I ran my fingers along the brocade on the walls and stared at the ornate ceiling and cherubs which adorned the lights, golden gilt was everywhere.

A quartet came out and as they started to perform it struck me how very special an evening of entertainment was hundreds of years ago. No buttons to push, no remotes to control, people just had to use their senses to see and hear remarkable artistry for entertainment.

They were also joined by two opera singers who sang some very recognizable pieces and as I sat in the dark listening, I thought this was such a fitting event for my last night in Prague, a celebration of the best of Mozart to end what had been a most unforgettable voyage.

We were not allowed to film or take pictures but I was not to be detracted. I did take some shots and a short video....couldn't help it.

Later that night I went out to take pictures of Prague by night when it truly becomes a fantasy town with it's lamp-posts giving a golden glow to the city. Here are some of my favorite photos......

Since this was my last night at the U Pava Hotel I also took pictures of my beautiful room. I truly enjoyed the period decor of this beautiful small luxury boutique hotel. Here was my room and shots of the hallways:

12 June 2011 - Prague Day 2

2011-10-08T18:59:00.004-04:00

This morning I was a bit lazy since I was so comfy in my bed and slept in until 10:30. The hotel has a cappuccino machine in the room so I made myself a cup while I relaxed pouring over my Prague guidebook deciding where I would go today. Prague is very compact so it is easy to walk to all the main sights without hassle. I am a photography enthusiast so I was looking forward to making this my photo expedition. Everywhere you turn in Prague is another fabulous shot. The architecture is amazing and looking up at Prague Castle which overlooks the city from high above the hill is quite breathtaking. The combination of old brightly colored buildings with ornate ornamentation along the river with the Charles Bridge in the background is quite irresistible.

It was a gorgeous day today and I started out by heading towards the Charles Bridge to look more closely at the statutes and take pictures of these beautiful artifacts which have been standing there for hundreds of years. Charles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that connects the Old Town and Malá Strana. Its construction was commissioned by Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and began in 1357. In charge of the construction was architect Petr Parléř whose other works include the St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. It is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the bridge. Charles Bridge has survived many floods, most recently in August 2002 when the country experienced the worst flood in the past 500 years - so the egg yolks must not have been such a bad idea.

There is a tower standing on each end of the bridge. Both the Staroměstská věž on the Old Town end and the Malostranská věž on the Malá Strana end can be climbed for a view of Prague and the bridge from above. Baroque statues (a total of 30) began to be placed on either side of Charles Bridge in the 17th century. The most popular statue is probably the one of St. John of Nepomuk, a Czech martyr saint who was executed during the reign of Wenceslas IV by being thrown into the Vltava from the bridge. The plaque on the statue has been polished to a shine by countless people having touched it over the centuries. Touching the statue is supposed to bring good luck and ensure your return to Prague. Just like everyone else I did touch it so now I can look forward to returning to this enchanting city.

There are many artists, musicians and souvenir vendors on the bridge and contrary to other cities where the artists sell items made in China, here you can see them making the items and they sign them. I bought a beautiful small watercolor of Prague Castle which makes for a great souvenir and I only paid $10. that was a great buy!

Once across the bridge I made my way through the winding narrow cobbledstoned streets towards the main square, Old Town Square. The Old Town Square is the oldest and most important square of the historical Prague. It is surrounded with historical buildings such as the Old Town City Hall with the famous Astronomical Clock, the imposing St. Nicholas Church and Church of Our Lady before Tyn, and many houses and palaces of various architectural styles and colourful history. It has been a centre of Prague Old Town since the middle ages, when it was a market place at the crossing of European merchants´ roads.

One of the turning-points of Czech history, the execution of 27 leaders of the rebellion against Emperor Matthias, took place there in 1621. You can see 27 crosses in the pavement by the Old Town City Hall, as well as symbols of swords and a thorn crown, commemorating the sad event.

A legend says, that the ghosts of the executed noblemen return to the square every year on 21 st of June, the day of the execution.

The medieval astronomical clock adorns the southern wall of the Old Town City Hall in the Old Town Square. It announces every hour with 12 apostles passing by the window above the astronomical dial and with symbolic sculptures moving aside. That makes it a popular tourist attraction and hundreds of tourists flock the area a few minutes before every hour. The event is also announced by the blowing of horns prior to the start of every hour.

Once I watched the clock I walked over to where many people were gathered around St. Nicholas church. St. Nicholas is a Baroque church, decorated with sculptures by Antonín Braun. The interior design was inspired by the chapel of St. Louis-des-invalides in Paris. In 1781 decoration inside St. Nicholas was removed after emperor Josef II ordered the closure of all monasteries without a social function. From 1870-1914 St. Nicholas became Russian Orthodox. Then, during the second World War, Czech army units were stationed here and artists were set to work restoring the church. After the war, St. Nicholas was handed over to the Czech Hussite movement, with whom it remains today. It now serves as both a church and a magnificent venue for classical concerts.

Luckily they had a concert starting in 10 minutes and I had just enough time to buy a ticket. When I walked in I was astonished to see such a beautifully ornate interior. There were 50 foot high marble columns and frescos dating back hundred of years. The ceiling was covered in fabulous painted scenes and the sun was shining through the stained-glass windows and made the crystal chandeliers look like they were covered in diamonds. The concert was really great with beautiful music from all the masters especially Mozart and there was also opera pieces sang as well which was a bonus. This was a nice unplanned treat.

Once it was over I was beginning to get hungry and I found a very cute little sidewalk cafe that was offering a soup, steak with roasted potatoes and strudel for dessert daily special so I was sold. It was so nice to sit there and watch tourists and locals intermingle as they went on their way. Because the town is so compact with people walking everywhere as opposed to using cars, I found that people in Prague tend to be friendlier and readily speak to each other.

Strangers become temporary friends in a town filled with eager travellers all having a story to tell while admiring the beauty that is Prague. At the table next to mine there were four young men from Australia. They were eyeing all the girls strolling by and were having fun and laughing while drinking their beers. I could not help but overhear that they were college students on a school break. These sights and sounds are everywhere in Prague.

Now it was starting to get dark out and I thought it might be tme to head back to my hotel. I did manage to browse a few shops along the way and I bought a sweet small puppet. Prague is known for making exquisite puppets that can run into the thousands of dollars. Mine was a bit more modest at $15. but it's a hand-made lil treasure just the same.

11 June 2011 - Prague

2011-10-05T23:16:00.012-04:00

This morning I had a very early flight to Prague. I preferred to leave early since I only had three days in Prague and I wanted to make the most of my time. Upon arrival I was met by a private chauffeur to take me to my hotel, the U Pava Hotel which I selected because it was minutes from the famous Charles Bridge in a quiet section of medieval Prague. The hotel is situated in an exquisite vintage house in the historical center of Prague and its origin dates back to the end of the 15th century. This is proved by original wall frescos. In 1991 the house underwent complete reconstruction. Its original appearance stayed intact. The interior of the hotel is complemented by a collection of original paintings by the academic painter, Jiriho Anderle. Individual rooms are decorated with hand painted or antique coffered ceilings. Furnishings, in combination with the antique furniture, complement the vintage atmosphere. This was my actual room which was just beautiful.

By the time I was settled in it was almost noon and I got changed into some comfortable to go exploring this gorgeous city. There was a cute terrasse restaurant right around the corner from the hotel and they had reindeer goulash which is something that had to be tried..... it was delicious.

Then it was off to cross the Charles Bridge and start exploring. This bridge is probably the most famous attraction in the city as thousands of tourists and locals alike cross it to get from the Lesser Town to the Old Town. Large statues adorn each side of the bridge in it's entirety. Many have a history of a special event linked to the statue.

A city of history, politics, romance and culture, the Czech capital of Prague has earned itself many nicknames over the years, including both the 'Golden City' and also the rather descriptive 'City of a Hundred Spires'. Prague is situated at the very heart of eastern Europe and for many years was filled with Communist and Soviet gloom. However, when Prague become the capital of the recently independent country in 1993, it was a city reborn and today you can enjoy a wealth of restored historical buildings, a celebrated musical tradition and a noticeable, exciting atmosphere. There are many cubist houses within the Jewish Quarter, the tranquil oasis that is to be found in the Petrin Gardens.

Wenceslas Square is where many of Prague's most famous sights reside and this is actually more of a promenade than an actual square. Along this stretch you will encounter the famous Hotel Europa, the magnificent Koruna Palace, and the State Opera House. Other top attractions in Prague are to be found around the Little Quarter Square, which is very much dominated by St. Nicholas Church and the Liechtenstein Palace. Close by, you can take a ride on the city's Victorian Funicular Railway to the top of Petril Hill, and enjoy the breathtaking vistas from its Observation Tower.

As the capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague rightfully contains many of the country's most spectacular buildings. The Royal Palace is one such structure and was home to the Bohemian royal family from the 11th century until the 16th century. Check out the Old Town Square (Staromestské Námesti) and its palatial buildings, and be sure to visit Prague Castle, where the story of this much-loved city actually began. The castle stands high above the Hradcany district and much of its complex is enclosed by medieval castle walls. The term fairytale city is often used but for Prague it truly applies and each way you look you find another fascinating thing to marvel at.

The narrow streets are lined with crystal shops for which the Czech Republic is so famous. They are also famous for garnets and you can find the most beautiful jewelry stores on every corner. It makes me think of an adult theme park, great restaurants, wonderful shopping and historically magnificent architecture.

By dinner time I had to rush back to change because tonight I had tickets to the ballet at the Prague Opera House, they were playing Giselle and I had box seats. The theatre was magnificent and it was so romantic to be in this glorious venue seeing one of my favorite ballets. There is nothing like seeing a performance in a European theatre hundreds of years old. I could picture the ladies of yesteryear with their jewels and fans and satin and brocade dresses, a time of beauty, pomp and circumstances.

Although we were not allowed to take pictures I sneakily got a few taken without issue. I just could not be in this beautiful theatre and not take shots.

The ballet was wonderful and I walked around the area on my way back to the hotel. The city is very safe and there are always people walking everywhere. Sidewalk cafes do a booming business and it was a glorious site to see the town at night with all the small lamposts shedding their golden light over the cobblestones and ornate architecture.

It was a long day and after a well deserved hot bath in the deep European tub I had a great night's sleep in the comfy bed with down pillows and comforter. Tomorrow would be another full day at leisure.

10 June 2011 - Transylvania

2011-10-05T21:27:00.000-04:00

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was for today! All my life since I was 6 years old I have been fascinated by Dracula and the vampire myth. I have dozens of books on the topic, movies and articles based on the popular folklore and I am totally enamoured by the whole mystic and legend surrounding Transylvania and Dracula. I have wanted for the longest time to visit this region and his famous castle and today my dream is coming true!

I had rented a private car and driver for this day so that I could stop and go at my own pace without the hindrance of a group. There were two great couples who I befriended on the cruise who were interested in doing this with me so it was simply terrific to share this with them. The driver showed up in a beautiful Mercedes SUV with seating for only 6 so this was perfect. It would be a few hours before we entered Transylvania and to say I was excited was an understatement.

I teased the driver that I was promised I would see a vampire on this tour and he said he would do his best.. lol. Enroute we all talked about legends and vampires and our driver gave us insight into Vlad the Impaler upon which the legend of Dracula was based.

Prince Vlad, or as he was called even in his own time, Dracula (which means "Son of the Dragon") tops the list of Romania's many, many Christian crusaders who, in the transition years between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, fought to keep the Muslim-faithed Ottoman Turks out of their country. He ruled his military kingdom of Wallachia — southern Romania — with a heavy and blood-soaked fist. To not only the Turks but also to many of his own countrymen he was Vlad The Impaler. During his tenure, he killed by the droves, impaling on a forest of spikes around his castle thousands of subjects who he saw as either traitors, would-be traitors or enemies to the security of Romania and the Roman Catholic Church. Sometimes, he slew merely to show other possible insurgents and criminals just what their fate would be if they became troublesome.

Now I was heading towards this mysterious land where so much history had taken place and each minute seemed like an hour. I was like a child again wanting to ask "are we there yet?" at every turn. Most of the houses we saw along the road were painted in a multitude of colors and some had very strange shapes. We saw locals with donkeys and it made our ride very picturesque indeed and in keeping with my expectations of this medieval land. What seemed to be such peotic justic was that the day was grey and misty and in intervals we had light rain, I thought this was the ferfect setting to enter Transylvania, with mist hovering over the mountains. I felt like I was on a movie set.

FINALLY up ahead was a sign that read "Welcome to Transylvania"....OMG I was here in the land of vampires and counts and medieval castles! It was a dream come true for me to be here. Our guide said that we would stop for lunch prior to heading off to visit the castles. By now we had been driving for a few hours and we were getting hungry.

I wanted a restaurant with typical Transylvanian food and we were not disappointed. Our guide took us to Vila Bran which was perched high on a hill and we had authentic goulash and Transylvania potatos which were awesome! The restaurant was so quaint with wooden furniture and wooden beams on the ceiling. As you walked up towards the entrance we were able to pet a reindeer, another experience not too many people get to do, such fun.

In this area there are two main castles which you should not miss. One is Peles Castle and the other is Bran Castle, better known as Dracula's Castle. The first one on our route was Peles. This castle is quite literally what you would see in a fairytale. It is probably the most beautiful castle I have ever seen in my world travels. Peles Castle is considered by many one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe. It was the final resting place for several Romanian monarchs including King Carol I, who died here in 1914. The building of the castle began in 1873 under the direct order of the Viennese architect Wilhem Doderer and was continued in 1876 by his assistant, Johann Schultz de Lemberg. The castle was built in wood, stone, bricks and marble and comprises more than 160 rooms. The representative style used is German Renaissance, but one can easily discover elements belonging to the Italian Renaissance, Gothic, German Baroque and French Rococo style.

Peles is surrounded by seven terraces decorated with statues (sculptured by the Italian, Romanelli), stone-made-wells, ornamental vases and Carara marble. The architects used an abundance of wooden decoration , both for the exterior and for the interior of the castle, which confers a very special quality to the building. Every conceivable luxury can be found inside, the best woods, crystal chandeliers from Italy, the most expensive Meissen porcelein and unimaginable opulence whereever you eyes roam. There is German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, ebony and ivory sculptures, as well as an extensive weapon collections. Peles Castle shelters one of the most important and most valuable painting collections in Europe, almost 2000 pieces.

We spent over an hour viewing this great castle and after the obligatory stop at the souvenir shop (did I mention I was a shopoholic?) we were off on our way with my treasured Peles Castle coffee mug and book tucked next to me.

Now we were heading towards the highlight of my day......Bran Castle! The route was misty and very picturesque with colored houses dotting the valley and mist hovering over the mountains. It was truly the image of what I thought this area would look like. Finally I could see Bran's Castle in the distance.

We were finally deep in the Carpathian Mountains, in the heart of rural Romania in Transylvania. Perched atop a rocky peak, the fortress has stood for nearly 1,000 years and it's now known around the world as "Dracula's" Castle. This is the building from which many Dracula movies took their inspiration. Situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, it is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie. The castle was first used in 1378 in defence against the Ottoman Empire, and later became a customs post on the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. The castle briefly belonged to Mircea the Elder of Wallachia. Vlad III besieged Bran on at least one occasion, taking the castle briefly in 1459 during a punitive incursion into the Burzenland.

Bran Castle was originally a stronghold built by the Knights of the Teutonic Order in 1212. At that time it was called Dietrichstein. By the late 1200's the castle had been overtaken by the Saxons who had used the castle to protect Brasov, an important trade center. In 1370 the fortress was used against invading Turks. It remained an important feudal fortress through out the middle ages, its role was the defence against invasion.

In the 15th century during restoration of the castle the Observation Tower and the Eastern Tower were added. The Eastern Tower was built with murder holes that were used by the soldiers to drop hot water and pitch on the castles attackers. In 1921, Queen Maria of Romania, brought the royal court architect to Bran Castle for extensive renovations which transformed this "fortress" into a Royal Residence. The ancient Gunner's Room became the Royal Chapel, the defense gallery of the tower was remodeled into apartments for the Queen's ladies in waiting. A fourth floor was added to the tower for the Queen's Secretary.

Queen Maria had an elevator installed in the fountain which is in the interior court. The elevator descended 197 ft. to a tunnel which opened onto the lovely park grounds in the valley below. Bran Castle has been opened to the public for at least 40 years, a museum, it offers glimpses into the past, such as the Chancellor's Office, the Council Hall and the Garrison Rooms. Also on display are lovely examples of feudal art, weapons, statuary, furniture and hunting trophies.

To some walking up the trail towards Dracula's Castle might be just another stop on the tourist map but for me it was much more than that. It recalled all the Dracula movies I loved to watch as a child. The vampire myth has always been a great fascination for me because of the symbolic nature of the romantized power Dracula had on it's victims.

Being a history buff it was amazing for me to be walking in the misty fog in the steps of Vlad the Impaler towards this imposing structure. As I stared at the oncoming steps leading up towards the castle entrance a sense of awe came over me at the thought of those who had lived here hundreds of years ago. I could not help but make the comparison of how extremely different the days of yesteryear were to those of today. Long ago a feared ruler in full regalia would have climbed these very stairs and opened the large doors while nervous servants scattered through the oil-lit hallways. Today a teenager with a Justin Bieber T-shirt hopped up the same stairs with his Ipod glued to his ears making silly vampire noises.....ahhh how life has changed.

The interior is sparsely furnished and the wrought-iron chandelier in the entrance has been electrified. The walls are white stucco and you can see small narrow windows in many nooks and crannies. The narrow staircases lead to sitting rooms and bedrooms. On the 1st of December 1920, the Bran Castle was donated to Queen Marie of Great Romania, as a symbol of the inhabitants of Brasov’s gratitude for her contribution to the achievement of the Great Union of 1918. Right after that, the Castle came into a seven year restoration period under the guidance of the Royal Court architect, Carol Liman. He imagined the architectural ensemble as a summer residence. During the same period of time the Tea House was also built.

When the sightseeing was done and I had dozens of photos I could hardly wait to hit the souvenir shop. I didn't want the typical Dracula mug momento but was hoping to find something as unusual as this place was. I wanted something special which would remind me everytime I looked at it that I had been to Dracula's house in Transylvania. Well did I ever find it!!! In a special glass case there it was calling my name, a real Vampire bat encased in a crystal cube! It is unbelievable! My eyes just bugged out when I saw it and I had to have it at all cost. The shop owner advised me that this item was a cottage industry and that they are raised just for this purpose and the funds are used to help charities in the area. These bats are very tiny and have fangs just like a vampire and they drink the blood of small prey in order to live thus the origin of their name.

On the way out I was in search of a dog to photograph since I had made it a point to get a shot of a dog from each town we visited in order to make a canine montage of my trip which I thought would be fun. I looked all over the base of the castle and finally there he was. As luck would have it he was a scary black dog and I could not help but feel this was so much in keeping with what you would expect a dog in Transylvania to look like.

Finally it was time to leave and return to Bucharest. On the way back we made a short stop to visit the medieval town of Brasov and we strolled the quaint streets and made some final purchases. It then started to rain and we headed back. It was a 3 hour ride back to the hotel and we saw many villagers with carts of hay and produce along the way. Many old houses and churches dotted the scenery.

When I finally arrived in my room I just reveled in the magnificent day I had had. A day filled with wonder, mystery and stories of vampires and myths. It truly was a highlight of my trip. As I shut the light I peered out at the full moon and made sure my windows were securely locked :o)

09 June 2011 - Bucharest

2011-09-29T23:07:00.000-04:00

Today after breakfast it was time to leave the ship which was a sad moment for sure after two great weeks of fascinating sights and decadent dining. But we still had two days in Bucharest and one of the hightlights of my trip was coming up....Transylvania and following in the steps of Dracula!

We bid farewell to the River Countess and were off for a city tour of magnificent Bucharest. I could see why they call this city the "Paris of the East". Grand boulevards dotted with stately homes abound everywhere and it was surprising to see such a vibrant and interesting city filled with a variety of architecture and colorful people.

We first visited the the Palace of Parliament. Due to its immense physical, psychic and historic stature, it is perhaps the most controversial building in Romania. Meant to be the crowning achievement of 'Centrul Civic' or 'Civic Centre' - Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu's ambitious urban development plan - the Palace of Parliament represents one of the most extravagant and expensive building projects in the history of mankind; certainly of the last century. Claiming superlative as the world's second-largest building by surface area after the US Pentagon, the Palace of Parliament is one of Romania's biggest tourist attractions, despite popular disdain.

Estimates of the materials used include 1 million cubic metres of Transylvanian marble, 3,500 metric tonnes of crystal for the 480 chandeliers and 1,409 lights and mirrors that were manufactured, 700,000 tonnes of steel and bronze, 900,000 cubic metres of wood and 200,000 square metres of woven carpets, many of which were spun on site.

Though no figures have been officially released, it is said that some 20,000 workers toiled in 24-hour shifts, seven days a week, to build the Palace at the pace at which it was being constructed. To finance the project, Ceausescu had to take on enormous foreign debts. In order to repay these debts he systematically starved the Romanian people, exporting all of the country's agricultural and industrial production as the standard of living in Romania sank to an all time low. Food-rationing, gas electric and heating blackouts became everyday norms; people lived in squalor and poverty as the Ceausescu's themselves exhibited outrageous extravagance.

The Romanian Revolution of 1989 broke out just as the People's Palace was nearing completion. Mass protests in December 1989 in Timisoara caused martial law to be declared, a Bucharest rally turned to riot and the Ceausescus were forced to flee the capital by helicopter. They were soon after captured by police in Targoviste after abandoning their chopper, were sentenced to death by an ad hoc military court on charges ranging from illegal gathering of wealth to genocide and were executed by firing squad on Christmas Day, 1989.

Next we were off to see Revolution Square, site of the National Art Museum and Athenaeum concert hall. There is even an Arch de Triompe on the impressive Soseaua Kisseleff which is longer than the Champs Elysees.

There are many boulevards lined with smart shops and flowers line the streets. We took in several hours of visiting this expansive city and after our tour in very hot weather we were taken to our hotel for the next two nights, the Radisson Blu.

After weeks of gourmet food and sightseeing when I was finally in my room all I wanted was a nice long bath followed by a room service club sandwich. It was great to eat regular food for a change while I lazed around in my nightie, perfectly content with a quiet night watching a movie. It had been a tiring day and I went to bed not to late since in the morning I was about to undertake the sightseeing I had most anticipated since leaving home.......Transylvania!

8 June 2011 - Rousse, Bulgaria

2011-07-21T15:22:00.004-04:00

We were docked in Rousse today again and we had a full day planned. After a drive through the Bugarian countryside we visited Veliko Turnovo which is built on three hills with the Yantra River winding through it. This is an unusual city whose stone houses seem perched one above the other on the steep bank of the Yatra river. We were taken to see Tsarevets - the place of the patriarchal church and royal palaces, the hill where Baudouin's Tower still rises, linked with the legend of the Latin Emperor Baudouin of Flanders who was captured by the Bulgarian king Kaloyan. We visited the entrance to the old fortress and saw the ruins of the Tzarevetz Castle

We also saw Trapezitsa - where the foundations of 17 medieval churches were discovered. It was a marvel to see the Bulgarian National Revival period architectural ensembles on Gurko Street, the old Nikoli Inn and the St. St. Constantine and Helena Church. The original Samovodene Market has been brought back to life and, as in olden times, skillful craftsmen fashion and sell exquisite objects in the small restored workshops. It was incredible to go from one shop to the next filled with local handmade treasures which you can buy for very little money.

There was a coppersmith making beautiful copper hammered pots that hung outside his shop gleaming in the sun next to window boxes filled with flowers, quite a quaint and beautiful sight.

Next I found a great bead shop where a lady was working away at making fabulous jewelry from the hand made beads she makes. It took forever to decide which to take home as they are all one of a kind individually made. I left with about 20 beads and only parted with a few dollars. It was a great time going from one shop to another viewing all the different crafts. The fun part is that you could buy items as souvenirs which are true items made in Bulgaria instead of having "Made in China" stamped underneath, which makes each gift you take home that much more special.

One specialty which I fell in love with was the incredible hand made pottery you could find in some many shops. There was an infinite variety of pottery vases, cups, plates and cookware in so many colors, it was impossible to choose. Bulgaria is also famous for roses from which they produce Rose Oil which is exported worldwide. Many other products are made using the famous roses such as rose wine and rose liqueur (which is delicious!) as well as rose body and bath products. One fun gift to bring home is a small wooden doll which contains a cylinder of rose perfume, really fun.

After our free time for shopping we went and had lunch at a very picturesque restaurant where we had quite a tasty meal comprising of a wonderful goulash served in locally made pottery. The restaurant was quite large with beautiful grounds with fountains and a swimming pool, an outdoor Bar-B-Que made of stone as well as an area with caged peacocks which made for a really fun lunch stop. During the meal we saw a show with dancers dressed in traditional costumes and local musicians. It was so hot and humid that we were extremely happy to see the frosty bottles of beer, soda and water show up at our tables!

After lunch we were off to the village of Arbanassi which was founded in the late 15th centry by Christians coming from the south-western parts of the Balkan peninsula. It is situated 3km to the northeast of Veliko Turnovo, perching on a high plateau overseeing the Trapezitsa and Tsarevets hills. The settlement saw its bloom in the 17-18th c. when it grew into a wealthy crafts and trade hub. It was during that period that most of its gorgeous houses were erected. The oldest houses of Arbanasi are made entirely of stone and resemble tiny models of fortresses that cannot be seen anywhere else in Bulgaria.

Today Arbanassi is an architectural and museum reserve. It is a picturesque open-air museum of cultural heritage, which includes 80 houses as well as 5 churches, one special one being "Rozhdestvo Hristovo" (The Church of the Nativity Of Christ) with more than 3,600 frescoes.

From the outside this building looks like a barn but inside is quite a different story. There are no windows but each inch of wall and ceiling space has been painted with extremely well preserved frescoes and the rooms are quite awe-inspiring.

We got an added treat in our visit to this unique church. We were treated to a performance of some chant and operatic singing from a local ensemble of three ladies and a cleric who were very good indeed. It was quite a spiritual experience to hear chanting in this setting filled with so many incredible frescos. We sat on pews that were aligned against the walls in single file and the whole experience was amazing.

After this full day many of us dozed off on the trip back to the ship. It was so refreshing to get into a nice cool comfy motorcoach after the sweltering heat of the day! We arrived back at the ship late afternoon. I was happy to find on my bed an envelope with an invitation from the captain to join him at a private cocktail party followed by dinner at his table with 6 other chosen guests. I was looking forward to this and anxiously got ready for this evening as it was the Gala Captain's Farewell Dinner.

The private cocktail party with the captain was very special and it was so much fun to sip champagne and talk to the captain about his experiences at sea. After about 45 minutes we made our way to the dining room. I was very honored that the captain extended his arm to me to personally escort me to his table. I felt very proud to walk into the dining room on his arm with the eyes of all the passengers on us as we entered, these are the kinds of moments I will treasure always. The captain's table for eight was decorated with beautiful flowers and we were treated like royalty with white-gloved waiters placing silver-domed covered plates in front of us all served at the same time. It was quite magical with wonderful food and flowing champagne. This was definitely one of the highlights of the cruise.

07 June 2011 - Rousse, Bulgaria

2011-07-08T01:17:00.000-04:00

Today we had an early start as we docked in Rousse, Bulgaria at 8am. The tour today was a full day tour from Rousse to Varna and the Black Sea. The town of Rousse is located on the high right bank of the Danube River. It is the greatest and the most important Bulgarian town on the Danube River, known also as “Little Vienna” because of its ancient architecture. It is also a regional administrative centre.

Rousse has become the primary river port in Bulgaria and has contributed to the country’s historic and cultural riches. Founded in the 1st century as a Roman military and naval center, the town was called Sexaginta Prista (the City of Sixty Ships). The city’s name changed to Rousse while under Ottoman rule from 1388 to 1878. During the early 1900s, following Bulgaria’s liberation, the Monument of Freedom was erected in the central square. Overlooking the city, the female statue, with a sword in one hand and the other pointing toward the country’s liberators, hails as Rousse’s signature landmark today.

The famous Rousse mound - a prehistoric settlement existed more than 5000 years ago is located within the boundaries of the modern town. About 200 buildings in Rousse are considered part of architectural historical heritage of Bulgaria, 12 of which are especially valuable. Rousse is best-known for its 19th- and 20th-century Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture. The city has a lovely downtown pedestrian area, which is filled with people enjoying the music, flowers, and fountains in the summer evenings.

After the tour of Rousse we traveled for several hours towards Varna, on the Black Sea. Varna’s origins date back almost five millennia, but it wasn’t until seafaring Greeks founded a colony here in 585 BC that the town became a port. The modern city is both a shipyard and port for incoming freighters and the navy, and a riviera town visited by tourists of every nationality.

It’s a cosmopolitan place and a nice one to scroll through: Baroque, turn-of-the-century and contemporary architecture pleasantly blended with shady promenades and a handsome seaside garden.

We had lunch at a restaurant on the beach shaped like an old pirate ship. It was very hot and humid and it was refreshing to finally get something to drink. After lunch we were free to walk along the beach or get our feet wet in the Black Sea. This was a topless beach and the men sure got an eyefull.

In the mid afternoon we took our 2 1/2 hr. bus ride back to Rousse and the ship. I was exhausted when I finally reached the ship but was extremely grateful for having left the air-conditioning on high in my cabin.

It was very easy to drop down on the bed for my pre-dinner nap, a welcome habit I had picked up in the past two weeks. I would nap from 5pm until 7pm and then get ready for dinner.

Another wonderful day was completed and the cruise was unfortunately coming to an end.

06 June 2011 - Vidin

2011-07-07T18:14:00.000-04:00

This morning we arrived in Vidin, Bulgaria.Vidin is one of the oldest towns along the Bulgarian Danube bank. Here you will find many farms and the region is well known for wine and ceramics. The Turks built an extensive city wall around Vidin, and by the 16th. century it was the largest town in Bulgaria. During the 18th. and 19th. centuries Vidin prospered from the increase in river traffic. Today, as evidence of the different cultures that settled here you can find churches, synagogues, mosques, a bazaar and ruins of a medieval fortress.

After the tour of Vidin we went to visit the Fortress of Baba Vida. The construction of Baba Vida was started based on the ruins of an old Roman fortified watch-point called Bononia, which was most likely built over the foundations of an ancient Thracian settlement at the beginning of I A.D. The Bononia watch-point was in use from the middle of I till the end of VI A.D. It formed a part of the Danube border of the Roman Empire. The remains of the fortifications can be still seen today in different places in the town of Vidin. The best preserved section is the base of the northeast corner tower, which later became incorporated into the Baba Vida fortress during its construction.

Walking around the fortress on my own was a great experience since it was very quiet and peaceful and the area was filled with beautiful flowers and it was easy to believe that you were in a time centuries ago. Once can only imagine how life was when you needed such a fortress for protections. The view from the watch tower was amazing and went on for miles. Baba Vida was declared a national cultural monument in 1964 and also in 1964 the fortress opened a summer theater, which held traditional theatrical summer days. Many filmmakers recognize the unique natural scenery of the Baba Vida fortress. The castle itself inside protects a number of findings and information about the history of the fortress. The entire fortress is tailored for tourism purposes, and visitors today can see the that the fortress is well maintained and in near natural condition and appearance.

After the fortress visit we headed towards a natural wonder, the rock formations of Belogradchick. Belogradchik is situated in an extremely picturesque region with unique rock formations and natural sights. Thus it has become a famous tourism centre with excellent resources for trips, cave and bicycle tourism, mountain climbing, hunting, fishing or even astronomic observation. Belogradchick emerged during the middle ages with the construction of a fortress amidst the rocks, which determined the development of the settlement. The town is named after the white monastery of the fortress.

05 June 2011 - The Iron Gates

2011-07-07T16:56:00.000-04:00

This morning I could sleep in as we set sail on the Danube towards Vidin, Bulgaria. During the day we will sail through what is called "The Iron Gates". From its headwaters in Germany’s Black Forest, the Danube winds its way through ten European countries to drain into the Black Sea. For much of its course, the river moves lazily through wide valleys, but as it enters the border region between Romania and Serbia, its banks narrow into a series of high cliffs. Here, the river carved a passage through the lower Carpathian Mountains to its north and the Balkan Mountains to its south, creating a series of four steep gorges. These gorges are known as the Iron Gates.

The Iron Gates of the Danube River originally consisted of four narrow gorges and three wide basins spread over several miles of the river dividing Romania and Serbia. In the 1960s, a huge lock and dam was built to control the speed of the river and make navigating this section of the Danube River safer. Today, the river flowing through the Iron Gates is peaceful, and it is 130 feet higher than prior to the dam and power station. The effect of the dam can be felt on the river for over 100 miles, and two locks, spread more than 50 miles apart, anchor each end of the Iron Gates. Over 23,000 citizens living along the river had to be resettled after the dam was complete.

Along the way we can see an interesting carving of a ruler high up on a massive rock, this is very impressive that this could have been done. We also got to go through some locks which is also very interesting as we are taken from one level to another and we see the ship go lower and lower with cement walls encircling us.....very unusual. The Great Kazan (kazan meaning "boiler") is the most famous and the most narrow gorge of the route: the river here narrows to 150 m and reaches a depth of up to 53 m (174 ft). East of this site the Roman emperor Trajan had the legendary bridge erected by Apollodorus of Damascus. Construction of the bridge ran from 103 through 105, preceding Trajan's conquest of Dacia. On the right bank a Roman plaque commemorates him. On the Romanian bank, at the Small Kazan, the likeness of Trajan's Dacian opponent Decebalus was carved in rock from 1994 through 2004.

Dinner this evening was great as usual. I had a Caesar salad, beef consomme and a roasted breast of Duck cooked in a red wine and orange sauce...stupendous!

04 June 2011 - Viminacium, Serbia

2011-07-07T16:25:00.000-04:00

This morning we arrived in Kostolac, Serbia. After breakfast I was anxious for today's tour which was a visit to the archaeological site of Viminacium.

Viminacium was devastated and destroyed in the middle of the 5th century, and it remained forgotten and buried like Pompeii, which disappeared under a flood of lava from Vesuvius in 79 A.D. That analogy and the recognition that the remains of the Roman town and the military camp represent a site of exceptional interest explains why Viminacium has been called the Balkan Pompeii. What distinguishes Viminacium from other archaeological sites and makes it particularly important is the exceptional wealth of finds contained already in its surface, arable layer. As a result, more than 13.500 graves have been explored in the past twenty-five years and more than 32,000 finds have been deposited in the vaults of the Museum.

However Viminacium lies in the way of the expanding strip mine "Drmno". The experts and authorities, though aware of the importance of energents for the development of the country, are nevertheless trying to find means to preserve as large a part of the site of Viminacium as possible, for they consider it an exceptionally valuable testimony of the past which should be bequeathed to the future generations. According to the planned development of the "Drmno" strip mine, the zone of the Roman town and the military camp will not be endangered before 2040. Viminacium, however, covers as area of more than 450 hectares, and the town is directly menaced by the advancing mine.

Some exceptional monuments are located in this area. They include an aqueduct nearly 10 kilometers long, some late classical basilicas, agricultural estates of Roman veterans, villae rusticae, and Roman roads which connected Viminacium with the neighboring towns. Some of these monuments have been discovered by the methods of remote detection, the analysis of aerial photos, geo-radar and magnetometric examination, and some have been archaeologically explored.

I found it incredible to not only see artifacts of this ancient town but to see actual skeletons lying there only a few feet where I walked! This was truly amazing.

We returned to the ship for lunch and set sail at noon for Donji Milanovac, Serbia. After a full lunch it was nice to go on deck and watch the small villages slide by as we sailed along the Danube.

We arrived in Donji Milanovac, Serbia at around 7pm. Dinner this evening started with melon and Prosciutto then a rich cream of sweet corn soup. The main course I chose was beef Stroganoff which was wonderful. Dinner could not be complete without chocolate ice cream topped with whipped cream.

After dinner we were entertained by the Triola Band from Skadarlija playing Old Town Music.

03 June 2011 - Belgrade, Serbia

2011-06-20T17:15:00.000-04:00

We arrived in Belgrade, Serbia at about 7am. Need-less-to-say I was still asleep until 8:30am. The breakfast buffets onboard are fantastic. They have several kinds of cereals and fruits to choose from, oatmeal as well. Then you have hot scrambled eggs with crisp bacon and pancakes; you can also have a made-to-order breakfast of a variety of omelets or eggs benedict......fresh orange juice to top it all off and if you want some cheese, it's there as well next to baskets of muffins and croissants with European jams aplenty. After the morning feast it was off to explore another new city. Belgrade.

Belgrade is not a beautiful city - even Belgraders agree on that - but it is an interesting city that's full of hedonism, passion and finesse. Architecturally, it's a mishmash of two centuries of grandiose buildings and ugly Soviet-style concrete blocks. Perched between the Danube and Sava Rivers, the ancient Kalemegdan Citadel has always sought (not always successfully) to protect the city. Leading from it into the city heart is the princely Knez Mihailova, a street of restaurants, bookshops, galleries and shops full of pretty things. Belgraders love to shop and party, which probably developed as an antidote to the numbness of the Milošević years.

Belgrade is the capital of Serbian culture, education, science and economy. As a result of its tumultuous history, Belgrade has for centuries been home to many nationalities, with Serbs of the Orthodox Christian religion making up the majority of the population. The official language is Serbian, while visitors from abroad can use English to communicate.

Once we finished our tour we went back to the ship for lunch. Lunch is also buffet style but there are a ton of hot and cold choices including roasts and great soups with fresh baked breads. The desserts are phnominal and unfortunately we are all indulging.

In the afternoon we we free to visit on our own. I walked around and mingled with people and found a cute lil Serbian dog to photograph. I have been making a collection of one special dog photo from each location I visit which I feel will be fun when all grouped together.

I was a bit tired this afternoon so a short nap was in order. I always get sleepy around 4pm and then wake up refreshed around 7pm to get ready for dinner. Speaking of dinner tonight I chose a seafood salad, a Serbian cream of potato soup followed by BBQ Norwegian Salmon. Of course no meal is complete without dessert and tonight I had a chocolate mousse with fresh fruits.

02 June 2011 - Osijek, Croatia

2011-06-20T16:36:00.000-04:00

Today we arrived in the port of Vukovar, Croatia. After an early breakfast we headed off for a tour to Osijek. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county. Osijek is located on the right bank of the river Drava, 25 kilometres upstream of its confluence with the Danube.

After a tour of the town we visited a school to see a presentation of some local folkloric songs and dances. The costumes were very colorful and it was enjoyable to see the proud faces of the girls and boys beaming with pride for demonstrating their local culture.

The highlight of the day for me was a hosted lunch by a local family. We were broken down in groups of eight and had lunch prepared by a local Croatian family in their home. When we entered the gate there were three little miniature Doberman dogs sitting there at attention as if to welcome us.

The meal comprised of a hearty vegetable soup with some home made bread, a salad, roasted chicken with great potatoes and home-grown vegetables and finish it off a nice sponge cake. They pride themselves in offering their home-made brady but man is it strong! It's 50% proof! One shot of that and you don't have to heat your home for weeks!

After the meal I just had to go out and play with those dogs. They came running over and were dancing all over the place with friendliness, very cute. I noticed a pond in the yard and then saw some small frogs jumping from lily pads into the water, when the dogs caught sight of them all hell broke loose! It was hysterical to see these small dogs swan dive into the pond and look for the frogs (which they never caught). They ran around the pond in a frenzy while the frogs mocked them, I had a great time watching them.

Behind the yard the owners had cages with an owl, some pheasants and other farm animals. They also had the biggest roses I have ever seen, I'm sure some were the size of lettuce heads. Very beautiful to see this calm way of life, a quiet village with small cottages dispursed here and there overflowing with flowers and caring neighbors and small animals. It was a fabulous day.

We then drove back to the ship to get ready for dinner. Tonight I had a very good consomme with dumplings, roasted rack of lamb followed by an amazing hazelnut cake served with hazelnut ice cream and caramel sauce.....OMG I can just imagine the calories on that one!

After enjoying a few Coke-lights in the library while I checked my emails and chatted with some friends, I went to bed around 1am...tommorrow is another day!

01 June 2011 - Budapest Day 2

2011-06-05T18:00:00.000-04:00

Today we were in Budapest for another day. Right after breakfast we went on a real different tour out to the Puszta to see a horse show.

We exlored the vast Hungarian landscape on our half-day visit to the Puszta which literally means “plains”. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, our tour of the Puszta began in Domonyvölgy. We drove for about 45 minutes befgore we reached this ranch and we were greeted by a handsome cowboy. We then got on covered wagons pulled by two horses to be led to the main building. We had so much fun laughing and cracking jokes, a good time.

They gave us upon arrival a pogaca (salty scone) and the traditional Hungarian welcome drink palinka (fruit brandy). That stuff is lethal, it is 50% alcohol!! When you drink it you can feel the heat going down your throat and then it feels like your chest is on fire. They all make their own home made version and drink this stuff like it was water...hahahaha.

As the Puszta was originally inhabited by cowherds, horse herders, and shepherds, we were treated to an equestrian extravaganza. The horse show was very interesting and these Hungarian cowboys’ skills, including demonstrations of

pyramid riding and competitions between the horsemen was really fun to watch.

At one point they showed how their horses were well trained; they had them lay down on cue and then sit on their hind legs, was great. Then they had a demonstration with large whips that make cracking noises as they are snapped. There was even a cute donkey pulling a cart.

Following the show we went to visit the stables to see the Lippizzaner horses since they are bred and trained here. They also had all kinds of other animals to see. There were water buffaloes, goats, chickens and a turkey all in the middle of hundreds of acres of land which belonged to the rancher. After the tour we headed back for our ship.

I had lunch onboard and dinner as well and when it was dark I decided to go take pictures of the chain bridge which is the world famous main bridge in Budapest.

I walked along the embankment of the Danube with the city all lit up reflecting on the water, it was truly magical. As I got closer to the bridge I could see the massive stone lions at the entrance all lit up, so beautiful at night.

I walked the entire length of the bridge from the Buda side t the Pest side and walked around for a bit taking pictures of some monuments there. There were lovers walking on and off the bridge and strolling along the Danube, it was a warm and romantic night.

I then walked back across the other side of the bridge, taking more pictures and leisurely mace my way back to the ship. By now it was close to midnight and most people were gone to bed. I made my way to the cabin and opened my patio door to marvel at the beautiful bridge I had just crossed. Waves flowed on the Danube. I finaloy got into bed turned out the lights and for a little while I gazed out at this fascinating city glowing in the Danube and then fell asleep thinking of the next adventure that lay ahead.

31 May 2011 - Budapest

2011-06-05T16:48:00.000-04:00

Today we arrived in Budapest. I had to get up real early in order to see us sail past the Parliament building which is a major monument in Budapest and I wanted some great photos! It was so amazing to finally sail past this wondrous sight that I had seen in so many books in the past year. The city is bursting with cafes and shops big and small and it is so stupendous to see the Danube flow on it's banks.

One side of the Danube is Buda and the other side is Pest, these are separated by many bridges. The mosy popular one is Chain Bridge which has a pedestrian walkway and has these massive stone lions guarding each entrance.

We departed at 9am for our tour of Budapest and boy there was a lot to see! We visited the Castle District which is high on a hill with great views of the city, I got some great shots from there! Castle Hill is a 1,5km long hill, overlooking the Danube, located in Budapest’s No1 District. The Old Town occupies the larger part of Castle Hill – it is also referred to as the Buda Castle; the Royal Palace occupies the southern portion. Because of its medieval origins, 17^th and 18^th centuries monuments, and its historical significance, the Old Town is Budapest’s primary tourist attraction. It is on UNESCO’S World Heritage List.

The most important sights in the castle are the Mátyás Church, the Fishermen’s Bastion and the Royal Palace. Walking along the medieval streets of the Old Town one comes across numerous historic dwellings, public buildings as well as many museums. The Castle offers wonderful panoramas of the Danube, its bridges, and of the Pest side. The Old Town can be comfortably approached on foot via a track under the Fishermen’s Bastion, via the funicular railway, or by bus.

The Neo-Romanesque Fishermen’s Bastion, located behind the Mátyás Church, was erected between 1895 and 1902, on a site where previously the medieval castle walls had stood. The structure, which is a prominent landmark in the city, was designed by Frigyes Schulek.

After the tour it was back to the ship for lunch and to relax. Dinner onboard was great as usual.

30 May 2011 - Bratislava

2011-06-05T08:17:00.003-04:00

Today after another great breakfast we arrived in Slovakia. Our tour took us to the capital city, Bratislava.

This city is so quaint and medieval, it even has a castle sitting on top of a hill. Bratislava was once the capital of Hungary for over 300 years. It is quite a fairytale place. It was founded in the 2nd century BC. There is an Old Town section which is two interlinked squares. In one squaqre you can see a fountain and antique statues. There is a structure called Michael's Gate which is the only gate remaining from the medieval fortifications. It is stunnng with it's baroque facade. The city is small and quaint so it is easy to see all the main sights in one day.

Casanova loved Bratislava and declared it the most beautiful city in Europe. It is filled also with beautiful people who really seem to enjoy life.

We also visited the Franciscan Church which is Bratislava's oldest religious buildings. It has magnificent stained-glass windows and impressive statues. It was here that knighting ceremonies were performed. The altar is wonderfully decorated and you get such a sense of peace in here.

Then we were off to see Bratislava Castle for an extraordinary vantage point to get a panoramic view of the city. It truly was a fascinating vista. You could see for miles the tiny cobbled-stoned winding streets, the red-tiled rooftops and dozens of varieties of colored flowers all perched along the beautiful Danube river. The castle, on a hill above the old town, dominates the city of Bratislava. It features in the first written reference to the city, which appears in the Annals of Salzburg of 907, in association with a battle between Bavarians and Hungarians.
The castle hill was populated as early as the late Stone Age; its first known inhabitants were the Celts, who founded a fortified settlement here called ‘Oppidum’.

We then went to St. Martin's Cathedral. These churches that are hundreds of years old are so magnificent that words can't describe how stupendous and monumental they are. St. Martin's was built from the 13th to the 15th century. They are making renovations to the outside tower so it did have some scaffolding but the inside was marvelous. It has four chapels: the canons’ chapel; the Gothic chapel of Sophia of Bavaria, widow of the Czech King Wenceslas IV; the chapel of St Anne; and the baroque chapel of St John the Merciful. The portal of the southern antechamber represents the oldest example of Renaissance architecture in Slovakia. Between 1563 and 1830 St Martin's served as the coronation church for Hungarian kings and their consorts, marked to this day by a 300-kg gilded replica of the Hungarian royal crown perched on the top of the cathedral's 85-metre-tall neo-Gothic tower. At the beginning of September each year the pomp and circumstance of the coronation returns to Bratislava in a faithful reconstruction of the ceremony.

We were back to the ship around 1pm to rest and have lunch and the afternoon was at leisure. Dinner was at 7pm and in the evening I caught up with emails and my blog.

29 May 2011 - Vienna

2011-06-02T19:21:00.002-04:00

After breakfast it was off for the city tour of Vienna. This city is so beautiful to see. Intricate heavy wooden doors with intricate wrought iron gates, window boxes fill the luxury apartments along wide glorious boulevards.

As the former home of the Habsburg court and its various empires, the city still has the trappings of the imperial capital it once was, and the historic city centre is inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage list.

Vienna is the city of music. More famous composers have lived here than in any other city – in Vienna, music is literally in the air: Waltzes and operettas have their home here, and so do musicals "made in Vienna," which have conquered international audiences. The city’s concert halls and stages offer the whole range from classical to progressive sounds with end-to-end festivals the whole year through.

Just a few paces from Vienna's old city, trendy beach bars along the Danube Canal provide that Riviera feeling with music, cool cocktails and delicious food.

Viennese palaces once served as city residences for noble families. Today they are home to numerous interesting shops, particularly in the historic city center. The term palace was originally used to describe a noble residence that, as opposed to a castle, was neither fortified nor in a rural setting. In Vienna, where the Habsburg family resided for centuries, numerous noble families from all over the empire settled in the capital to be near the Hofburg. After World War II many of the palaces were sold by their original owners. Today they house government ministries, embassies, museums and shops.

I found the city to be so romantic, you can see horse-drawn carriages everywhere and if you close your eyes and listen to the the sound of the clip-clop of the horses on the cobbled-stoned streets you can imagine you are in the time of the "Sound of Music" or during the time of the Empress Sisi.

We drove along the Ringstrasse which is the major boulevard of Vienna which houses wonderful shops filled with all sorts of crystal, silver and wondrous findings.

Vienna is home to the world famous Spanish Riding School which is the oldest and last Riding School in the world where classic dressage is still practised in its purest form. This Institute was founded in 1572.

It's name was derived from the fact that the horses were of Spanish origin. The Lipizzaner is regarded to be the oldest classic horse race in Europe. The horses have been bread in Lipizza in Slovenia. Tody, there is a stud in Piber, close to Graz. Young Lipizzaner are black and only turn white when reaching maturity. They need to undergo elaborate training before they are able to perform their prancing Renaissance ballet to the sound of classical music. They are the Rolls Royce of horses and I always wanted to see one because of their rarity.

I was all excited to see them in person in Vienna but I was disappointed to hear that on the day we were in Vienna there was no visiting allowed.....OMG I wanted to desperately see one of these beautiful horses, I was so disappointed!

As I walked along the tour secretly sulking I heard the guide say "to the right is the world famous Spanish Riding School. I immediately perked up and to my surprise and jubilation the door was open to the inner court yard which I am told never happens and lo and behold there were two of the most beautiful horses I had ever seen!!! They were in their stalls and I stood there praying they would turn around so I could get a better look and then miraculously one looked straight at me and posed, I immediately snapped his photo! I was so pleased I could have cried, I always wanted to see one in person and my wish, however brief, was exonerated.

Now I was happy to continue the tour and we had some free time to visit on our own and I had some great experiences. In one of the plazas of the old town there was an old accordianist playing Viennese music and several costumed couples danced all around in a circle.

Then it was on to St. Stephan's cathedral. This is an imposing black structure with gothic spirals that make an awesome contrast to the blue sky. It always amazes me to touch a stone that was once also touched by a crusader or monk hundreds of years ago. This building is one of the main icons of Vienna with a main square in front of it and many charming side streets lined with cafes and souvenir shops.

Here I saw young couples strolling hand-in-hand, old men in deep discussion at a sidewalk cafe, street musicians engulfing the air with classical music and many small dogs out for a walk with their masters as the Viennese populace intertwine with the visitors all awestruck with the Vienna landscape and culure.

After stopping in a small shop to pick up some famous Viennese chocolate for the cabin we continued on to the Austrian National Library. I have to admit that this was the most beautiful library I have ever seen in the world! It has 50 ft high coffered ceilings painted with the most immpressive frescoes I have ever seen. The rooms are sensational filled with books written by philosophers and scientists dating back to the 12th century. This, the largest baroque library in Europe, was erected in the first half of the eighteenth century as an independent wing of the Imperial Palace.

More than 200,000 volumes are exhibited here, among them the comprehensive library of Prince Eugene of Savoy as well as one of the largest collections of Martin Luther’s writings from the Reformation Era. In total over 7 million items are on exhibition here comprising in addition to the volumes, papyri, maps, manuscripts, sheets of music, photographs as well as rare autographs.

Among the exhibits are two exquisite Venetian baroque globes: one for the earth and one for the sky, each with a diameter of more than one meter. Sculptures are perfect ornaments to the beautiful old leather bound books which line the walls. Most shelves are so high you need a ladder to reach them. Some priceless manuscripts and books are kept in glass-enclosed cabinets and it is chilling to see the written words of hundreds of years ago on parchment paper.

Later is was back on the ship to relax, eat gourmet meals and sail towards Bratislava!

28 May 2011 - Vienna

2011-05-31T11:40:00.000-04:00

Today was an early start for the airport at 7am. I flew from Paris to Vienna which was only 1-1/2 hours so it was not so bad. Upon arrival I was met by a Uniworld representative and after waiting for a few more people off we went to the ship.

We arrived at lunchtime so they had a nice buffet arranged and since I was starving by now was happy to finally have a snack.

The cabin is quite nice, I have the best category on board so I am on the top deck with a sliding glass door and a French balcony which is great. The bed is very confortable and has a feather duvet and feather pillows.

I walked along the river a bit but basically used the rest of the day to unpack and setup all my stuff for the next 12 days. I took a nice nap in the late afternoon and then got ready for dinner.

I met a cute lil old man from Chicago and he is a hoot, always has a joke or a one-liner, he is fun. I also met a great many Canadians surprising enough. Two couples from Vancouver, 2 from Nova Scotia and some from Ontario. I was pleasantly surprised.

Dinner was marvelous they had veal cutlets which is the traditional dish of Vienna, was delicious. They had pastries of every kind as well which was a no-no but what the heck, I am on vacation.

Had a quick drink in the bar and then went back to the cabin to make it an early night since tommorrow is an early start with the city tour.

27 May 2011 - Final Day in Paris

2011-05-29T15:44:00.000-04:00

What a day I had today! I got up early and decided to take the bus instead of the metro since you can see more than way. I headed out towards Montmarte and it was so scenic driving by all the fancy apartments and upscale stores like Louis Vuitton and Cartier.

It was a great 25 minute ride on a clear day with lots of sunshine but luckily a bit cooler since it had been so hot the last couple of days. All the Parisians has sweaters and coats on while I had a short sleeved blouse and loving it..lol

Montmartre is the most charming area in all of Paris, it is an eyeful of quaintness brimming over with small old houses with flower boxes and cafes on every corner. They have a great cute stores with all kinds of pastries and cheeses and people are so colorful. You see old ladies walking with their small dogs, old men sitting at cafes arguing with their friends over an expresso. Lovers walk hand in hand up the many narrow cobbled-stoned streets. I just loved it.

After walking a bit I made my way to the funiculaire that takes you up the hill to the magnificent Sacre Coeur cathedral. When you finally set eyes on this incredible structure all white against the blue sky it truly takes your breath away. The inside is glorious with intricate stained glass windows hundreds of years old. It's an awesome sight to see the high ceilings with painted frescoes glowing in the lights of the thousands of candles lit by the faithful in offerings to their favorite saint. The silence is calming and you can't help but feel blessed to be alive in this serene place where millions have gone before you for hundreds of years. I bought a small but beautiful crucifix for my apartment as well as a tiny trifold icon. As I was leaving the church I saw a priest and asked him if he could bless my small treasures as well as the cross I was wearing and he smilingly oblidged and after he said, "Go in peace my child", a serene moment to be sure.

When I had walked around some more through small alleys with nooks and crannies I saw a small tram in the shape of a mini train and he was taking people down the hill back to the metro and busses. I thought this would be great fun and hopped on. This turned out to be fantastic as it took 40 minutes and was like a private sightseeing tour in itself, I loved it. While we drove around in this cute little train through the streets the driver played French music and it was wonderful to hear Edith Piaf singing while we took in the sights of Montmartre.

It was ironic to hear her sing as my next stop was to the famous "Pere Lachaise" cemetary to visit her grave. Everyone goes there to visit the grave of Jim Morrison from The Doors but my main reason was to go see the resting place of one of my favorite singers of all time.

I took a metro this time to the cemetary and was awestruck by the enormous tombstones of the families buried here. We are not talking just marble slabs here but huge mausoleum style structures for each person! I have never seem such a magnificent cemetary. You would think it would be gruesome to visit a cemetary but in this case it was like being in a medieval movie. It was now thew end of the day and the sky was covered over and it gave the area a pale grey look and with the crows flying everywhere it was mind-numbing. I found it to be so peaceful and calming, it was extremely quiet and the only sound of the wind blowing in the trees and the odd call from a crow.....incredible feeling.

I saw the grave of Chopin, Oscar Wilde and Rossini and finally I arrived at my main attraction, Edith Piaf. I gave a little prayer to her and reflected there a few minutes on the incredible talent that was no more. I finally bid her adieu and slowly strolled away misty-eyed as I hummed "La Vie En Rose" to myself walking down the hill.

I took the bus back home and picked up a few items for dinner as well as the best apple tart I had ever tasted. I took a short nap after all the walking I had done, with plans to go to the Arc de Triompe after dark to take some night shots of it.

It stays light until 10pm so I headed out on the bus around 10:30pm, so nice to see Paris by night. The lights seem to give out a pinkish glow. After 25 minutes through a scenic route I arrived at the Arc in all it's lit glory. I took the "money shot" as it's called and was quite happy so I headed back towards the apartment to reflect on my time here.

Once at the apartment it was already midnight and sadly it was time to pack up. When I was all done I sat on my balcony and stared at the twinkling lights of the Eiffel Tower for the last time. It was a great 5 days filled with history, great food, incredible sights and memories of cherished experiences. Paris I will miss you but I have a riverboat to go catch......au revoir until next time.

26 May 2011 - Day four in Paris

2011-05-26T20:56:00.001-04:00

Today I decided to take the bus instead of walking for miles in the metro. It was so easy to just walk across the street, hop on and begin my journey to the Louvre all the while having a scenic tour of Paris. We sailed passed Cartier and all the big designer houses, great fun. After 25 minutes I finally was at the Louvre. The last time I was here I did not spend half the time I wanted too, so today I indulged and went to find my favorites.

Good thing I had already bought a museum pass ahead of time as I could walk right in instead of standing in line behind the 400 people lined up to get in. This alone is worth the cost of the pass.

When you first walk in you are under the glass pyramid and conveniently close to the souvrnir shops. There you can buy a millions different items with a photo of the Mona Lisa on it ..... I managed to resist any purchase except a Louvre guide.

I wandered through the many corridors and marveled at all the wondrous priceless paintings and sculptures and couldn't help but ponder on the fact that most of these artists died penniless.

Finally I just had to go peek at the star attraction "La Joconde" ...the Mona Lisa. Besides now being protected behind glass she has not changed in the past 30 years since I last saw her. With all the stress she has gone through over the years such as being stolen, had acid throw on her and slashed by a crazy person, she is no worse for wear. The mysterious smile is still intact and her image is open to a variety of interpretations, even to this day, as to who she really was and why the strange smile.

I took pictures of all the paintings I loved most (no flash please) another freedom which was not tolerated 30 years ago.

After many hours of bliss I decided to venture out to visit the Place de La Concorde, a pivotal area during the French revolution as well as the plot where the guillotine was set up so many years ago. It is a vast area with monument buildings and beautiful fountains (was kinda neat to see my screensaver image in real life). I wandered around and took some great photos and then fell victim to a souvenir that had the greatest large size coffee/soup mugs with scenes of Paris all over it...just had to have one.

By this time I had been walking for over 6 hours and felt it was time to make my way back to my lil home. I had some wine and a baguette with some ham and once full had a short nap.....ahhhhh this is the life :o)

Time to hit the sheets now.....tomorrow it's time for Montmartre and Versailles!

25 May 2011-Day three in Paris

2011-05-25T21:43:00.003-04:00

What a day I had today! I spent 9 hours walking around the city, getting in and out of metros, walking up hundreds of stairs and after visiting La Conciererie and Notre Dame cathedral, with a newly formed blister under my foot I collasped back at the apartment.

My first stop was La Conciergerie which was the prison where Marie Antoinette was housed prior to her execution. Entering the building was quite an experience seeing the vaulted ceilings which for me represented history which centuries ago it represented for so many the gruesome holding unit until execution by the guillotine. You can see the rooms were the guards were and several cells. Even then there was a class system for the cells. If you were poor you got a cell with straw on the floor to sleep on. If you had a bit more money you got a small cot which wasn't much but at least you were off the floor. Then if you were wealthy you got a bigger cell with a regular bed and a small writing desk.

Here many prisoners were tortured to death. Under Louis XIV the held witch trials and the unfortunate ones who were accused of conspiring with the devil met their fate here.

Marie Antoinette's cell was larger and outfitted with a desk and chairs and a separate room housed her two guards. Her trial opened on the 15th. of October 1793, on the morning of the 16th. she was sentenced to death. At 11 am she was led to the guillotine, and at 12:15 was executed on the plaza known today as Place de La Concorde.

Next I sat at the Cafe de Notre Dame and had the greatest "chicken club" which is in fact a baguette filled with fresh chicken topped lettuce and mayo, really delicious. I ordered a diet Coke which is called CocaCola Light here but at 5.6 Euros I am not indulging my addiction! Even at the stores each small bottle is 2.9 Euros!

My next adventure took me to Notre Dame Cathedral. What a magnificent church this is! The stained glass and the chandeliers all sparkle under the glow of the thousands of candles lit by visitors from all over the world. I lit one and also bought a glassed candle to take home. I also spoiled myself and bought the most beautiful crystal rosary beads. While walking thru the church I came across a priest and I asked him to bless the cross I was wearing and my rosary and he eagerly obliged.....very special to me.

Then I was off the take photos of the famous gargoyles atop Notre Dame, this was great. I then walked across the bridge to Isle St. Louis and landed at Berthillon which is reputed to be the best ice cream parlor in Paris....well I had a 2 scoop cone for 4Euros, one coconut and one banana....unfortunately I found it quite mediocre, too crystalized instead of creamy like back home.....so much for that reputation.

I then walked along the Seine and watched the bateau-mouches boats sail buy until I reached a great vantage point to tak pictures of the back of Notre Dame.

There is a bridge there where there are thousands of small locks attached to the wiring. It is the custom for lovers to write their names on a lock, attach it to the fence and then throw the key in the river in order to have lasting love.....ahhhh only the Parisians could think of that one :o)

I made the obligatory stop at some souvenir stalls and of course picked up a few items like prints and a Paris tote, kitchy but fun.

I finally made my way back home exausted from the heat and the endless walking in the metros, I think I might hop on the bus tomorrow.

It 's now my bed time so until next time......bonne nuit!

24 May 2011 - Day two in Paris

2011-05-24T20:35:00.021-04:00

Last night for the first time in many years I slept for 8 hours straight! The room was cool and totally dark and I was snug as a bug. This morning I had breakfast on the balcony and although it was a cliche I had croissants and coffee.....yummy.

I was then off in search of adventure. Once you are on the metro it's so easy to get around. There were some great metro performers playing classical music on violins and they were so amazing, you would swear you were in a great concert hall.

There were about 8 people and I could have listened to them for hours they were that good.

I found some fun shops along the way and bought a great tote bag with images of Paris all over it and a cute charm bracelet with several charms of the icons of Paris. (Typical tourist, I know :)

After a quick soft drink at a sidewalk cafe, I was off to the tourist office to pick up my museum pass. These are a great value since it allows entrance to all the major museums and attractions including the top of the Arch de Triomphe and the top of Notre Dame. You also go thru a special entrance at each venue so you don't have to wait in line which is worth the cost of the pass in itself as the lines can be very long.

I then wandered the streets and finally made my way to the Trocadero and the Jardins De Chaillot on the way to the Eiffel Tower. I had my picture taken with a mime, that was really great.

Once I had been walking for several hours I stopped and had an ice-cream from a roadside cart, man 4 Euros! Thank goodness it was awesome..lol

By late afternoon it was time to head back since I am still putting in a few hours of work every day, not too hard though working while overlooking Paris and the pretty rooftops.

As I exited at my metro stop I saw a small street market and decided to do some investigating. I found a tempting stall selling "Rocher Coco which are mounds of coconut macaroons....UNREAL THEY ARE SO GOOODDDDD. hahaha.

Once back to my apartment I had a salmon caserole, some Camenbert cheese and some wine and of course my coconut macaroon find. I thought I would miss my Starbuks coffee but I bought some great Guatemalan coffee which is rich and tasty.

After a bit of work I had another glass of wine as the Eiffel Tower was starting to light up......ahhhhhh c'est la vie!

Well it's now 2:15 and my bed is calling me. Tomorrow I head off to the Louvre, I can't wait!

Stay tuned............

23 May 2011 - Paris at last!

2011-05-23T22:46:00.004-04:00

Well I am finally in Paris beginning the first leg of my journey! The flight was really great, beautiful plane and great service. I was lucky I was in a window seat and no one booked beside me. They offered free champagne and drinks on the plane and I took full advantage of that little perk I'll tell ya...lol "Do I want champagne?" (Is the Pope Catholic? hahaha) And keep it coming Sparky!

Arrived in Paris at 8:30am and my driver was promtly waiting for me with a card with my name on it, actually spelled right also. Off we went to beautiful Paree.

Beautiful Paree came after a traffic jam however in a tunnel and for the first 35 minutes of highway driving, the surroundings looked like I could have been in any big North American city. Finally 45 minutes later the vestiges of the city started to come to light. I was driving through tree-lined streets filled with Haussman style architecture, high wooden doors with large brass handles separating the commoners from the sublime apartments of la rue Montaigne. Flowers filled the window boxes and green was everywhere in the 75 degree weather.

We whipped pass Place de La Concorde where the guillotine once stood. I couldn't help but reflect upon the contrast that in one century a villager was being beheaded here for stealing a loaf of bread, and in another, here was a Canadian tourist on her way to her apartment longing to go buy some. I was just glad to be in the RIGHT century!

Finally I arrived to my home for the next 5 nights. I took my bags up to the 9th floor, walked down a small hallway and there it was, what I had so long waited for, my little home in Paris. I opened the door and was surprised to see a woman there til I saw it was the maid just finishing up.

Then I walked in and my jaw dropped to see the magnificent sight I had been so anxious to see since we first met 35 years ago.....La Tour Eiffel in all it's splendour basking in the sun. No world icon is as famous as this stately structure and I couldn't stop staring at her while the smell of flowers surrounded the balcony. The photo here was taken from my balcony.

This would be fun, I loved the place and plus it has pink toilet paper! lol

I was very tired after not sleeping on the flight so I took a nap for a few hours (big mistake since it's now 4:00am and I am wide-awake...lol)

When I got up I went to get provisions and it was fun going to the Monoprix a 5 minute walk from the apartment. They sell clothes and pharmaceuticals, jewelry and everything else imaginable and the lower level is their food mart. Off I went to get my loot. I bought some amazing Duck pate and some amazing looking crusty bread. I couldn't resist buying a mini quiche lorraine as well as some chocolate croissants for breakfast. Added some great looking Camenbert cheese and some sliced ham and 44Euros later I was done.

By the time I came back to the apartment it was 8:30pm so I opened up my gift bottle of French red wine, heated up my quiche, sliced some bread and took some slices of camenbert out to the balcony for an open-air feast....ahhhh c'est la vie!

Had to get some work done and made a few calls but overall I wanted to relax and get my body to appreciate the Paris timeclock (considering my body hasn't appreciated anything in the past 20 years that was a feat in itself...lol)

Tomorrow is a sightseeing day for photo taking.....look out Paris, "kid kodak" is on the prowl.

Well it is now 4:45am and the birds are starting to sing....so funny because my lil canary usually wakes me up in the morning, I love that and thought I would miss it and here they are singing away.....unreal....I feel very blessed.

I will watch the sunrise and then go to sleep for a few hours......check in tomorrow!

18 May 2011 - Almost there!

2011-05-18T00:07:00.007-04:00

There are only 4 days left before I head out on my great Eastern Explorer adventure! I have been planning this for two years and now it is almost time to head out. I am still learning how to use my new camera that I bought for this trip over 7 months ago, being the ultimate procrastinator I am now scrambling to learn a 500 page manual in 4 days. Oh well I know the basics but I have to read up on taking those perfect shots. I love phtography and this will be one of my favorite things to do on this trip.

The places I will be visiting are all vast cornucopias of varied architecture and I am sure to go crazy capturing it all.

My first stop will be Paris! I have rented a cosy studio apartment there with a balcony offering a view of the Eiffel Tower. I can't wait to be sipping wine overlooking the Paris rooftops a la "Ratatouille"... hahaha.

Check back here every night because I will write my daily adventures here, hope you enjoy it!

2011 - Francine's Grand Eastern Europe Adventure

2009-10-19T00:59:00.006-04:00

I am very excited to annonce that I will be leaving on a 3 weeks tour to mysterious Eastern Europe, the highlight being a River cruise through 7 countries aboard a luxury Uniworld riverboat..

The 14 day cruise will take me to: Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. I decided to spend a few days in Paris before the cruise and three nights in Prague after the cruise. I will give you all the day-by-day details as I go along. Can't wait to discover new cultures of a bygone era and immerse myself in colorful folklore, musical traditions and culinary delights.

Vibrant capitals like Vienna, Budapest, Bucharest, Belgrade and Bratislava show the cultural diversity of their proud citizens. History, nature and hospitable people are all awaiting discovery on this all encompassing Eastern Europe adventure.

Check out the detailed itinerary at : http://www.grandexplorer.com/uniworldfrancine2011.htm

DUBAI - JEWEL OF THE MIDDLE EAST

2008-02-09T13:28:00.000-05:00

Celebrities and average travelers alike are now discovering Dubai as the next hottest tourist destination in the world. You'll find great weather, international cuisine, world-class resorts and spectacular beaches. Shopping is amazing here with flea markets bursting with gold artifacts and unusual treasures of this fascinating and interesting culture.

On 2 December 1971 Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi and five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates. Culture in Dubai is rooted in Islamic traditions that form the United Arab Emirates National's lifestyles. However, the UAE is tolerant and welcoming to foreigners who do not practice the religion of Islam. Expatriates are free to practice their own religion, alcohol is served in hotels and the dress code is liberal. Women don't face discrimination. Courtesy and hospitality are one of the many virtues of Dubai. Rulers are keen to maintain their culture and do so through a number of practices. One is promoting sporting events that are representative of their past. Falconry, camel racing and dhow sailing are still popular in Dubai.
Arabic cuisine comprises many types of cooking from countries like Morocco, Egypt, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Tunisia, and more. Throughout the city, vendors sell shawarma, a hot sandwich with lamb or chicken, carved from a rotating spit and served in pita bread with vegetables. A variety of juices from pineapple, banana, mango, or a mixed cocktail can be ordered from fresh juice vendors.

The official language is Arabic, but English and Urdu are also widely spoken. Dubai has a sub-tropical, arid climate, with perfect weather for at least six months out of the year. Rainfall is infrequent and happens mainly in winter. Usually it amounts to about 13 centimeters, spread over five days per year. Temperatures range from a low of about 10 degrees Celsius on winter nights, to a high of 48 degrees Celsius in the midday summer heat.

Dubai is labelled the "shopping capital of the Middle East". With so many shopping malls and souks, there's no better place to find products at unbeatable prices. It is truly a duty free shopper's paradise that gives you more for your money. Dubai's numerous shopping malls cater to every consumer need. Cars, haute couture clothing, jewellery, electronics, furnishing, sporting equipment, and any other goods will likely all be under the same roof.

Ladies you CAN'T MISS the Gold Souk!! Gold is serious business in this part of the world and the dazzling souk near the Hyatt Regency stands testimony for this. The gold souk, or gold market, is a truely dazzling sight to behold. It has earned Dubai a reputation for being the 'City of Gold'.In the late afternoon and in the evening, the streets around the Gold Souk fill themselves with people coming from all over the world. A colourful variety of Indians, Arabs, Africans, Europeans, Americans and other nationalities visit the "City of Gold".

More than 300 jewelleries situated one after the other are waiting for their visitors. Brilliants, emeralds, sapphires, bracelets, watches, rings and necklaces - everything the heart of a jewellery lover desires - glitter in the nicely illuminated show-cases. The assortment seems to be endless. Jewels in 18 carat or 21 carat gold and treated in the most precious way are acquired by their new owners. There is no doubt that prices are cheaper than in most places all over the world. 20 - 60 % savings compared to the purchase of gold in Germany are nothing extraordinary.

Haggling about the price is like a tradition. Take your time and plan 2 to 3 hours for your visit. The best time is the late afternoon. Usually, the shops are open until 10:00 p.m. The initial unsureness in bargaining gets lost pretty quickly, and you will really enjoy "haggling" about your favourite piece.

Dubai Shopping Festival

So what is the Dubai shopping Festival? Basically shopping paradise. Dubai is know around the world as such a paradise throughout the year, but they really lay out the red carpet during this special month, with over 2,300 retails outlets participating, that offer everything imaginable from gold, perfume, haute couture, cars, electronics to handicrafts and textiles. Most hotels and appartments also get involved offering special offers during the period, even the world famous Burj Al Arab is included in the hotels. With all these special discounts available many would feel that would suffice, but Dubai goes quite a few steps further. There are scores of raffles that offer very attractive prices outlined below, and Emirates and most other airlines flying out of Dubai offer discounted airfares and much needed excess baggage allowances during the festival.

There are other events as well, including international fashion shows, children's events, streetside performances, nightly fireworks, film festivals, and many other cultural events that reflect the emirate's cosmopolitan character. Plus one of the biggest events of them all, the Dubai World Cup also takes place during the festival, and with a staggering US$ 12 million purse that makes it the richest horse race in the world - not something to miss.

Hotels

There is an abundance of excellent hotels in Dubai, it is the only place in the world that has a 7 star hotel, The Burj Al Arab as well as some of the most amazing hotel/tourism projects the world has ever seen scheduled to open within the next couple of years. Dubai itself is very compact, with excellent roads and good value for money txis nd so location isn't really all that important. You do though have to choose the location that you prefer, and you are really presented with three or possibly four different options. The beach area is very popular with business people and tourists alike, and truly is a wonderful place to stay, as you will be able to enjoy hotels that have all the business facilities you require and yet still offers splendid views of the Persian Sea, it can be very refreshing during a hectic schedule to have breakfast outside, breathing in the wonderful clean sea air, and over looking beautiful gardens, the beach and the Persian Sea. As most hotels along Jumeirah Beach are only around a 20 minute ride from the city centre (costing roughly 30 Dhs by taxi) you really can enjoy the best of both worlds.

The famous Creek area which is directly in the city centre, is another excellent option, as most hotels here offer excellent views of the creek and the numerous dhows that are constantly moving up and down. Obviously you have more amenities outside the hotel here than you would have along the beach. Dubai really has it all.

Grand Explorer will be hosting a deluxe 12 day trip to the United Arab Emirates later in 2008. Check the website http://www.grandexplorer.com/ for more details in the weeks to come!