Music and Theater

Reading Rick Steves’ article about fado (Sept. ’20, pg. 27) brought back the memory of an exceptional opportunity I had in February 2020.

I had heard so much about fado, Portugal’s traditional ballads, and wanted to learn more, so on a visit to Lisbon I went to the Fado Museum (Alfama, Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 1, Lisboa; phone +351 21 882 3470, www.museudofado.pt/index.php/en), which I highly recommend.

My husband and I visited our friend Hilde in Turbenthal, Switzerland, Sept. 15-22, 2019.

Turbenthal is a small village with no hotels, but we couldn’t stay in Hilde’s tiny apartment. Instead, not far away, she found us the Zentrum Rämis Mühle (Rämismühle, Mühlestrasse 8, 8487 Ramismuhle, Switzerland; phone +41 52 396 44 44, www.raemismuehle.ch [in German only]).

Like most travelers around the world, I've shifted into "armchair travel" mode for the time being. While stuck at home, I'm reflecting on my favorite memories of experiencing Europe's living traditions.

While some of Europe's customs survive only as clichés or tacky stage shows for tourists, others are worth going out of your way to take part in. One of the most well-known European traditions -- and something that I absolutely love doing -- is gliding through Venice in a gondola.

This month’s winner is LOREN PARKS of Chico, California:

My wife and I arrived at the Napo Wildlife Center on New Year’s Eve 2018. This lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon jungle is so remote that the only access for people and supplies is paddle canoe.

Comparing Crystal, Viking and Silversea cruises

In the article “Luxury on the Sea: A Month-long Cruise from Dubai to Cape Town” (Jan. ’19, pg. 18), I wrote about a cruise on the Crystal Symphony with Crystal Cruises (888/722-0021, www.crystalcruises.com). On that trip, taken in November 2017, I paid $9,006 (plus $120 in port taxes) for 30 nights in a level-3 veranda cabin.