Worldwide Travel

When most of us think about our travels, we usually remember the beautiful places or interesting sights we saw. But there are a few places I’ve traveled to that when I think of them, I think of their smell. While most of my “smell” memories are very pleasant, there are one or two that are just awful. I don’t dwell on those memories! But pleasant smells can trigger great memories and every once in a while, I encounter a smell that takes me back to a certain time and place….

I've often heard that size matters. But that doesn’t seem to be true when it comes to landmarks since three of my favorite landmarks are so small that I almost missed them. Fortunately, the crowds around these remarkable sights clued me in to their location or I might have walked on by. And that would have been a shame since each is lovely and unique.

When I lived in the Washington, D.C. area, I worked on Hains Point, part of the National Park Service’s East Potomac Park. The southern end of Hains Point, across the Potomac River from Reagan National Airport, was home to a 70-foot sculpture of a giant, called The Awakening. This sculpture, looking as if the giant is struggling to free himself from the earth, was was one of my favorite places.

One of the things I’ve always loved about the Netherlands is that the countryside looks just like you want it to look! There really are windmills, fields of tulips, and farm workers in wooden shoes. And there are numerous canals and dikes to hold back the sea, including one spectacular 20-mile-long dike called the Afsluitdijk. This dike is so huge that the legendary Hans Brinker could never have plugged a hole in it with his thumb! But I drove across it—and so can you.

One of my favorite places in Spain is the Calat Alhambra ("the red fortress"). Strategically situated on a hilltop overlooking the lovely city of Granada, the Alhambra palace and surrounding fortress was built during the mid-14th century by the Moorish rulers of Andalusia. The palace was designed to be a representation of “paradise on earth” and with its aromatic gardens, bubbling fountains, reflecting pools, gentle breezes, and columned arcades and courtyards, the Alhambra seems pretty close to a paradise in this hot, arid climate!

The United States is fortunate to have many amazing National Parks. My favorite is Yellowstone National Park—our first national park. Established by Congress in 1872, Yellowstone is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular places in the park. It’s an awesome place to visit, especially if you want to see bison (but don’t call them buffalo!).

My husband and I just returned from a 7-day cruise on the world’s largest cruise ship—Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas. After all the media attention the Oasis received before she launched, I wasn’t sure if the actual ship and cruise experience could measure up to the hype. But I was wrong—the Oasis is truly a big WOW!

I never really knew my grandparents and so I promised myself that when I became one, I would try very hard to be involved in my grandchildren’s lives. But unfortunately, none of my three grandchildren live close to me. Since I can’t see them daily, my husband suggested that I become an “Auntie Mame” type of grandmother—the eccentric grandparent who educates the kids by taking them on grand adventures around the world! If time and money would allow it, I’d definitely be off on one grand adventure after another like Auntie Mame and dragging the grandkids with me!

Traveling to popular tourist destinations during the off-season can be delightful, even if the weather isn’t perfect. With fewer tourists, not only are prices cheaper but the opportunity to see and do things without hordes of people is wonderful. And without crowds clamoring for attention, the locals often have more time to explain things in detail or to provide an engaging experience, which is exactly what happened to me in Gibraltar.

Cruising on the Danube River offers many scenic vistas, including the spectacular Wachau Valley of Austria. The Wachau is a UNESCO World Heritage protected cultural landscape and it’s easy to see why. Terraced vineyards climb up the hillsides above the Danube, small towns and villages dot the shorelines and various castle ruins loom over the river. Situated in the Wachau on the banks of the Danube is the charming village of Dürnstein, a place where my husband and I would love to live!

When I studied Greek mythology in school, I had a hard time remembering who all those gods and goddesses were, and who did what to whom, and why. But after visiting sites that were important in Ancient Greece, some of those myths finally made sense. For example, in Crete I visited the Palace of Knossos where the myth of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur came to life.

It’s been said that laughter is the best medicine and I hope that old adage is correct! Most of us have a memory or two of some event that struck us as hilarious at the time and made us laugh until we cried. One such event in my life involved a friend’s travel photo.

One of the loveliest places to celebrate Valentine’s Day is Hershey, PA—specifically The Hotel Hershey. My husband and I stayed at this magnificent historic hotel on a 3-day romantic weekend getaway and have never forgotten its Old World elegance and charm.

I’ve always loved driving through Alpine Bavaria, especially in the fall. The scenery is always spectacular and the little villages are charming. But early one September while driving in the Allgaü area of Southern Germany, we rounded a curve and had to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. The road was full of cows! And not just ordinary cows—but cows decorated with elaborate wreaths and headdresses of greenery, flowers and ribbons, and all wearing huge bells around their necks.

Over the past decade, Istanbul has become a popular port-of-call for numerous Mediterranean cruises. As a result, many Americans have now visited this fascinating city, including my husband and me. Since our cruise was departing from Istanbul, we decided to arrive a couple of days early to explore this ancient port city.

Happy New Year to everyone!

During this joyous time of the year, my husband and I love to entertain family and friends in our home. I thoroughly enjoy the good food, good wine and good conversations around our dining room table during the holiday feasts. In this electronic world, some people say the art of conversation is dying, but we try to keep it alive with lively questions on interesting topics. My love of travel always leads me to ask our guests my favorite holiday question: If you could be anywhere in the world with your loved ones on New Year’s Eve, where would you choose to be?

Driving in England is always an adventure, so whenever anyone asks my opinion I always tell them, “Don’t rent a car.” Instead I recommend taking public transportation; it’s clean, efficient and goes just about everywhere you want. Navigating the rules of the road in England can be a stressful and downright scary experience!

The St. Petersburg Times recently ran an article about the town of Dachau just outside of Munich and its WWII concentration camp. Reading the article brought back powerful memories of the two times I visited Dachau—the first time in 1971 and the second in 1996. My first visit was a haunting experience that stayed with me for years. Twenty-five years later, visiting Dachau again left me emotionally distraught, but also hopeful.

Several years ago, my brother and sister-in-law traveled with us to France. We spent the first few days in Paris and then headed to the chateau country of the Loire Valley. We had chosen a small hotel on the Loire River in Blois as our home base. As we entered the spacious lobby, I loved the ambiance of antique furniture, whitewashed walls, marble tiled floors and beamed ceilings. There was a suit of armor in the corner and old tapestries hung on the walls. But when I glanced into the coat closet, I was shocked at what I saw!

My husband and I celebrated one of our wedding anniversaries sailing down the Danube River. We’d been on many cruises and big cruise ships in the past, but found cruising on the river thoroughly enjoyable. We felt so close and connected to the scenery passing by and the rushing water just outside our cabin window. Our conclusion was that river cruising is absolutely delightful!

I tend to avoid chain hotels whenever I travel overseas. I don’t need to sleep in luxury or in an American-style hotel. I prefer to immerse myself in the local culture by staying at a locally owned hotel. As a result, I’ve slept in some very interesting hotels. But even more interesting than the hotels themselves were the bathrooms—some miniscule, some gargantuan, some fairly “normal” and some totally wacky.

At the tender age of 22, I found myself married to an Army 2nd Lieutenant and stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. I had never been out of the U.S. before and it was a bit overwhelming at first, but also very exciting. Living in Germany for the next four years had a profound effect on my future life.

Rick Steves says, “I used to call Tangier the Tijuana of Africa. But that has changed. The difference, as you'll see when you visit is breathtaking. The place is still exotic...but likeably exotic.” And I agree with Rick’s assessment.

I wanted to share the fun time I had in Holland years earlier, so while touring there recently with my family I insisted that we visit Madurodam, near The Hague. When I explained that it was a reproduction of a Dutch city -- in miniature -- I could see my son-in-law cringe at the suggestion. It sounded too hokey and gimmicky for him. But this interesting little Dutch "theme park" has been winning admirers for over 50 years, including my son-in-law.

I’m afraid I’m really not a car buff. I have a rather pedestrian view of my car—it’s a necessary tool to get me from place to place. But a few years ago when working for a small tour company, I had the opportunity to visit Stuttgart, Germany, the headquarters of both Porsche and Mercedes. After visiting the museums of these iconic car companies, I began to understand how someone could become a true car buff.

Traveling often takes us out of our comfort zone and forces us to try new things. On a recent trip to France, we found ourselves definitely out of our comfort zone, almost like ducks out of water.

Part of the joy of travel is the “Ah-Ha!” moments when I learn about a destination’s history and culture—or when they smack me in the face because I was totally ignorant of the place previously. The ruins of Ephesus were definitely a “smack in the face” awakening.

My husband and I recently ate our way through New Orleans. If you must eat your way through a city, New Orleans is surely one of the tastiest places to do it!

This past June 6^th, while watching President Obama speaking at the American Cemetery in Normandy to commemorate the 65^th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, my mind wandered back to the trip my husband and I took to Normandy in June 2005. Since the military has always been a large part of our careers and lives, visiting the WWII sites in Normandy was something we both had wanted to do for many years. This trip, however, was much more memorable than either of us expected.

I often tell people that I have itchy feet and would travel constantly if I just had the time and money to do so. Whether this is actually true or not, I can’t answer because… I’ve never had the time or the money to try!