Features

January 2019 issue | Appears on page 6

Impressed with a custom tour of the Caucasus
By Steven Emmet
Mt. Ararat, as seen from near the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia.

I had been to Armenia and Georgia in 1974, when they were still part of the USSR, and when I met some fellow dermatologists from both countries at a recent meeting held in San Diego and they were kind enough to invite me to visit them, I declared the Caucasus to be my May 2018 travel destination.

Zulya Rajabova, President of Silk Road Treasure Tours, had arranged a superb trip to Uzbekistan for my wife, Yuki, and me, so she seemed the right person to call to plan this upcoming...

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January 2019 issue | Appears on page 18

Luxury on the sea: a month-long cruise from Dubai to Cape Town
By Judith Anshin
The Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Though less expensive, the high tea there was not up to the standard of that which we enjoyed at the Burj al Arab Jumeirah hotel.

Several years ago, I sailed on an expedition ship up the west coast of Africa, and it was the most difficult trip of my life. (The company even stopped offering it after our ordeal.) In 2017, I opted for a luxury cruise down the east coast of Africa, and it was the trip of a lifetime!

I decided to sail with Crystal Cruises (888/722-0021, www.crystalcruises.com) on the newly refurbished Crystal Symphony. My travel agent, Gina Morovati of NorthStar Cruises (Essex Falls, NJ; 800/...

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January 2019 issue | Appears on page 41

Wonderful winter celebrations in Mexico
By Birute Skurdenis
A detailed pietà carved from radishes on display in Oaxaca.

Oaxaca is a great place to spend the winter holidays. During a 2-week, self-planned trip in December 2017, I found delightful weather, clean air and friendly people who loved to party.

And December is party month in Mexico. It starts with the Feast of Guadalupe on the 12th, followed by festivities for a local favorite, Our Lady of Solitude, and winds up with Christmas and New Year's celebrations. During this time, there are fairs, festivals, craft shows, parades,...

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December 2018 issue | Appears on page 6

Cruising the Nile on a customized tour of Egypt’s magnificent sites
By Debi Shank
Enormous carved walls and the doorless entrance dwarf visitors to the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Following a 2018 overland tour with Amazing Global Travel to see the ancient sites in and around Cairo (Nov. '18, pg. 6), Debi's journey continues with a cruise along the Nile.

I arrived in Aswan from Cairo early in the morning, and, once I was checked into my cabin aboard the Sonesta St. George 1, I departed with my new guide, Mahmoud Aly, on a felucca ride to the Aswan Botanical Garden, located on a small island off the eastern bank of the Nile.

Originally inhabited...

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December 2018 issue | Appears on page 20

Japan — an independent journey
By Lucy Fleming
The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto.

After a 45-year hiatus, my husband, Phil, was eager to return to Japan, which had had a profound effect on him during a brief visit in 1972. And after a number of trips to other Asian countries, I was more than eager to visit it for the first time.

Our two-week trip began in early November 2017, a time we had chosen for typically good weather conditions and for the relatively few major holidays or festivals scheduled. However, as it was autumn-color time (magnificent), it drew...

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December 2018 issue | Appears on page 42

Enchanted by the Emerald Isle on a tour of western Ireland
By Cindy Palmer
The facade of Kylemore Abbey.

Any travel adventure can be enhanced by staying mostly in one place and using it as a base to branch out to enjoy a rich and splendid experience, establishing a genuine connection with the local people. I found such an adventure in the west of Ireland, a place of wild beauty, ancient sites and welcoming people.

My October 2017 8-day visit, arranged by friends with County Galway connections, wins my strong recommendation for any traveler. The cost for each of us, including...

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November 2018 issue | Appears on page 6

Awestruck by the accomplishments of an ancient civilization on a private tour of Egypt
By Debi Shank
Dating from 2520 BC, the Khafre pyramid, one of three main pyramids at Giza, is the second-largest in this complex, reaching a height of 470 feet.

There are few things that make me emotional. I didn't expect one of them to be Egypt.

For me, Egypt was one of those legendary places filled with ancient biblical history and incredible monuments that have literally stood the test of time. When Amazing Global Travel presented an opportunity to visit, there was no hesitation in my response.

Jumping right in

I arrived at one of the most populated cities in the world at 1:30 a.m. on July 11, 2018, and, thankfully, a rep...

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November 2018 issue | Appears on page 18

Basking in the delights of the Basque region of Spain, plus a ‘port stop’ in Portugal
By Edward Sylvester
View of a typical street in Porto, Portugal.

In May 2018, my wife, Bernadette, and I began a unique self-drive tour of the Basque region in northern Spain. Our trip was arranged by Spain Trails (Cascais, Portugal; spaintrails.com), which offers custom travel packages that include hotel accommodations, a choice of transportation style (we chose a car with a preprogrammed GPS) and a comprehensive tour book of sights between and in the cities being visited.

Spain Trails offers different levels of service, depending on your chosen...

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