Columns

(Part 1 of 2 on the Netherlands)

Let me tell you how it is I came to be in Amsterdam and why I decided to visit some of the special “hidden” places that are called hofjes.

One of the great joys of European travel is eating. If you let yourself tune in to the experience, a meal is a travel thrill in itself, as inspiring as visiting an art gallery and as stimulating as a good massage.

I have only a few basic rules for eating my way through Europe. Find places outside the tourist zones. Go for local specialties. Eat seasonally. Most of all, eat fearlessly, trying things you’ve never had in places you’ve never been.

Singapore, located off the tip of the Malay Peninsula, is a wonderful mix of Chinese, Malay and Indian traditions. 

(Second of two parts)

In this 2-part series, I am adding to the suggestions made by ITN subscriber Cynthia Rignanese regarding what to do within the first few hours of boarding a cruise ship (Dec. ’12, pg. 12). In my view, many of these things are better done before embarking. This month I will cover shore excursions, special classes, phone/Internet access and ship’s library books. 

Dear Globetrotter:

(3 of 3 on Colombia)

There is a frenetic energy that permeates Cartagena, captivating both locals and the throngs of visitors to Colombia’s popular Caribbean port city. Cartagena was the focus of the final portion of the spring 2013 tour “Colombia’s Colonial Jewels & The Coffee Triangle,” on which I was hosted by Overseas Adventure Travel. 

The city of 1.5 million is, today, a magnet for visitors, and the economic impact of tourism clearly drives the local economy.

Staying at a European bed-and-breakfast is a bit like having your own temporary mother while you travel. 

In the morning, your hostess might help plan your day, tipping you off to the best places for lunch and about the live folk music in the village pub that evening. She then sends you out the door with a smile, handing you an umbrella… just in case it rains. 

The best B&Bs ooze warmth and local color, making these some of my favorite accommodations in Europe.

In June 2012, I slowly chauffeured our leased Peugeot on a one-lane road through the majestic scenery of the Provence in southern France. As I drove, I thought I should share with ITN readers how my wife, Flory (who passed away last year), and I journeyed 4,000 miles by car from the Netherlands to the Côte d’Azur and back, all at the age of 87. 

Despite our difficulty walking and Flory’s needing to use a rollator, a 4-wheeled walker, which usually has a platform on which you can sit, we managed a wonderful trip.  

Bon-n-n-n-g! A sonorous brass gong announced my arrival. 

It certainly made me feel important, and I’d not even come for an overnight stay at what may well be Yangon’s most luxurious hotel: The Governor’s Residence, an Orient-Express Hotels property. 

 (First of two parts)

ITN subscriber Cynthia Rignanese of Lake Wales, Florida, wrote a useful piece on “what to do within the first few hours of boarding any cruise ship” (Dec. ’12, pg. 12). While her recommendations are helpful, I feel that many of her suggestions should be done, in fact, before you cruise in order to maximize your enjoyment.