North Staffordshire is the heart of the celebrated English pottery industry. The decorative European porcelain industry started in the late 16th century when traders traveling the Silk Road brought back decorated porcelains mostly from Cathay (China) to grace the...
The Peninsula, the “Grand Dame of the Far East,” is one of the world’s legendary hotels with an atmosphere of unmatched grandeur and timeless elegance. Completely renovated and refurbished, it has kept the elegance of a bygone era and the tradition of service...
After flying into Manchester and spending a few days in Shrewsbury near the English/Welsh border, my driver collected me to begin my journey to the land of my father’s forebears in North Wales. My driver could speak fluent Welsh and knew the region intimately....
I grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and moved to the United Kingdom in 2009. After the pandemic, I could finally see my retired parents again. But on arriving in Cape Town, I discovered that I had caught COVID-19 and needed to isolate away from my parents and their...
CAUTIONARY TALES! Are you ready to get back on a Boeing 737 Max 9? Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are going to resume service soon on the Boeing aircraft that recently lost a door. If this makes you nervous, check what kind of aircraft your next flight will be...
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this restaurant is the world's oldest continuously operating eating establishment. Tucked into the street of the Cuchilleros, i.e. the Knifemakers, just a stone’s throw off Plaza Mayor, Sobrino de Botín (the name means...
One of the tastier traditional French soups is the Vichyssoise. It is a thick and creamy puréed potato and leek soup in chicken stock, mixed with heavy cream or other thick dairy product (sour cream or even drained yogurt). It can be delicious either cold – the...
On Sunday, January 21, 2024, the National Building Museum in Washington, DC opened its new exhibition called Building Stories. It will be on display for ten years and is an immersive exploration of the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found...
Romania and Bulgaria are joining the Schengen Area at the end of March 2024. This means we can travel between these and other Schengen countries without passport checks. The Maldives are experiencing an increase in tourism, so if you’re looking for a...
In the heart of Madrid, a few blocks from the Atocha railway station is one of the Madrileño eating and drinking stalwarts, Cervecería Alemana. Established in 1904, it's a bar devoted to drinking beer and munching on tapas, the savory tidbits that always accompany...
On a cold Sunday evening, we drove into Manhattan to try Anto, a new upscale Korean steakhouse that has opened on East 58th street in the space where “Felidia,” Lydia Bastianich’s temple of Northern Italian gastronomy, used to be. Anto is the U.S. venture of Korean...
There’s no denying that the once-great secret of Southern European travel is now completely out in the open. Croatia, with its tumbling waterfalls in Plitvice National Park and the fairytale islands of Hvar and Mljet, has emerged from obscurity and onto many "must...
Is it too much to ask for our airplane doors to stay ON while in flight? I assume you heard about the Alaska Airlines accident in which a Boeing Model 737-9 MAX aircraft lost a passenger door. The Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. is now investigating, and...
In Madrid’s Plaza de Oriente, across the street from the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) and very near to Madrid’s Royal Theater and Opera House, is a restaurant called Café de Oriente with a long history of excellent food that respects Spain’s culinary tradition,...
On our fourth Viking Cruise - this time on the Rhône River in southern France - we encountered a meteorological phenomenon… rising water! One would have thought lots of water in a river would be a good thing - better than the lack of water that grounded river cruises...
Check out the latest travel news from around the world: Venice, Italy is set to limit tour groups to 25 people as of June 1st. That's about half the number of passengers on an average tour bus. The city will also ban loudspeakers. China Tourism - According to the...
There’s a unique joy in sharing culinary delights, especially when it involves baguette slices adorned with authentic caviar, complemented by a glass of effervescent wine — be it Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava — while surrounded by friends and loved ones. This holiday...
Ever since my early school days and fascination with the groundbreaking scientific discoveries of Charles Darwin, I've always harbored a strong desire to embark upon travel to the Galapagos Islands, located six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador. These remote...
The popular Las Vegas eatery, the Sugar Factory, opened on Manhattan’s corner of 8th Ave. and 44th Street. It is considered an American brasserie with a large confectionary component. It’s a large, 2-floor restaurant with a bar and tables on the ground floor and the...
If you are a lover of art or history, then Arles in South France is definitely a place that should be visited. We recently did, as part of our latest Viking River cruise aboard the Heimdal River Cruise, and Arles was one of the significant Southern French cities we...
I was excited to learn that the Illa Experience Hotel in Quito, Ecuador won a 2023 Gold Travvy Award for Best Luxury Hotel in South America. In December 2017, I was the very first guest at this wonderful 5-star hotel opened by Latin Trails in the historic part of...
The Rubin Museum of Art has a new exhibition entitled “Death Is Not the End.” This exhibition, assembled from the Rubin’s own collection, along with contributions from individual collectors and private institutions, is an examination of humanity’s burning...
Indiana might not cross your mind first when you think of wine or fine chocolate, but the state is making a mark in both arenas. Country Heritage Winery & Vineyard in LaOtto, Indiana has developed a partnership with DeBrand Fine Chocolates based in Fort Wayne, and...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have mobile apps that can help you stay safe when traveling, especially when in developing countries. TravWell is a fully customizable to do and packing list, along with emergency service phone...