Kia Ora…the Maori greeting that means welcome, good health, expresses gratitude. This greeting embodies New Zealand and its people. We had always discussed going to New Zealand for years, but still working and distracted by closer trips, we put it off. A flight that could total over fifteen hours compared to a European trip of…

The Belvedere by the river Tejo Tague in Lisbon; a magnificent monument to the glorious history of Portuguese sailors and navigators who commanded the seas.

New Year’s day and another incredible day on the Golden Eagle Danube Express. After the high-energy, royal Rathaus city hall Silvesterer Ball, New Year’s morning found us in the same place but a far different experience. They arranged a tour in 19th century, horse-drawn carriage through the quiet, Empire-strewn buildings and cobblestone streets of Vienna…transported…

New Year’s Day on the Danube Express: After brunch, which we were taken to after a horse drawn carriage ride through Vienna, we boarded the usual large tour bus. Andrea, the excellent tour guide for the trip, set our expectations and handed the microphone over to our guide through the Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz, translated…

Let the journey begin! An seven day train trip called the Golden Eagle Danube Express touring the mighty and many UNESCO sites, cities, small and large, with great food, company and a amazing guide…but the train. That was something right from the 19th century. The journey begins in Budapest— never visited before but such classic…

The cornerstone of the 7-day train trip is celebrating New Year in the Vienna city hall, dancing waltzes under the roof of this massive Rathaus Neo gothic architecture complicated monster of a building. A monster of gilded opulence and beauty, holding true to an orchestra, waltzes, food and wine taken to the height of class.…

Old Montreal is displaced in time; the contrast of the 18-19th century granite architecture that command the entire district, runs counter to the hip vibe, cafes, stores with funky stuff you end up buying for a relative with a laugh. But it starts at The Hotel Gault, (www.hotelgault.ca)in Vieux (old) Montreal…approach it with the same…

The hotel told us the Brasserie Lipp was probably the best one on the Left Bank, on Rue St Germain. It had great, classic Brasserie feel and decorations — and being over 100-years-old, it still held onto that legendary Left Bank feeling. Yes, it seemed a little worn, but it held the aspect of classic…