07
When I travel, I collect pyramids, train trips, ancient wonders, Art Deco cities and more by visiting them and writing down the where and when. One of my favorite collection categories is “bridges,” and I came across one of the most unique purely by accident in February ’06.
The Plaza Mayor area in Madrid, Spain, can be very pricey for meals, especially in the tapas bars on the street Arcos de Cuchilleros; they are mentioned in almost every guidebook.
Whether walking the road to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain as a pilgrim or visiting the city as a day-tripper, you may want to add an additional day or two to experience some of Santiago de Compostela’s highlights.
For breathtaking views of Santiago de Compostela, climb the narrow staircase and enjoy the bird’s-eye view of the city from atop the Cathedral. The entrance and ticket office for this adventure is located in the Pazo de Xelmírez, to the left of the main staircase on the city’s main plaza. The entrance fee is about €6.
My husband, Jim, and I took the trip of a lifetime in August ’05. It was both an experience and an education.
During a time of particularly nice weather in November ’05, while on a trip to Hong Kong I decided to visit the newly opened Disneyland Hong Kong.
by Pat Arrigoni, Contributing Editor
Paul Gauguin left a legacy of fine art which has earned him worldwide admiration and fame. Unfortunately, this recognition came too late, as he died in poverty in the Marquesas Islands in 1903. Yet his magnificent paintings of the native people of French Polynesia live on in the hearts of people everywhere.
When we called Nino Mohan at Worldview Tours (Box 11417, Newport Beach, CA 92658; 800/373-0388) and told him we were interested in visiting India and making short side trips to Singapore and Japan, he faxed us back a temporary itinerary the next day. My wife and I discussed the itinerary, wrote down our questions and discussed them with Nino. He answered them all and revised the itinerary to our specifications.
Our enchanting introduction to India began and ended rather disappointingly on Air-India, on which we traveled round trip from New York to New Delhi.
Our group of five left Atlanta, Georgia, on Aug. 19, ’05, for a 16-day cruise from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Moscow with Peter the Great Cruises (2610 East 16th St., Brooklyn, NY 11235; 800/828-7970 or 718/934-4100 or www.cruiseruss.com). We boarded the m/s Shashkov the afternoon of Aug. 20 and disembarked in Moscow on Sept. 3.
