Category: Tourism
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Cruising on The Love Boat
In September, Rick, myself, and five friends from the US took a cruise to the British Isles onboard The Love Boat. The TV series was filmed on a real Princess Cruise ship (Pacific Princess) which was decommissioned in 2002 and sold for scrap in 2013. Our ship, the Regal Princess, features a display case with photos of…
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Adventures in Vienna
The final stop on our visit to Central Europe was the lovely city of Vienna. Since we were there for four nights, we rented an apartment in the district of Leopoldstadt near the Donaukanal. The location is terrific with many shops, restaurants, and grocery stores within a short walk. Major attractions like the House of…
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Beautiful Budapest
Since we were staying in Budapest for three nights, we booked an apartment rather than a hotel. Located on the Pest side of the Danube River, our apartment had two bedrooms, a lounge with a flat screen TV, dining area, kitchen, two bathrooms, and a washing machine and drying rack. On long trips, it’s nice…
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Wonderful Warsaw
Visiting Poland has been on our travel bucket list for years as both Rick and I have Polish ancestry. For my birthday trip last September, we went to Warsaw, Budapest (my grandparents were born in Hungary), and to Vienna. With limited time in Warsaw (only two nights), we decided not to take any tours. Instead,…
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Eat Sleep Drink: Amsterdam
After our lovely time in Paris, we took the high-speed train to meet up with friends in Amsterdam. As the hotel in the Museum Quarter we usually book was closed for renovation, we chose the Apollo Hotel. Located on the scenic Apollolaan, which overlooks the intersection of five canals, the hotel interior is stunning. A…
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Eat Sleep Drink: Paris
In early May, Rick and I spent two days in Paris before heading to Amsterdam. As we’ve been to Paris numerous times, we decided to skip museum visits and simply enjoy being in our favorite part of the city, the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement). Traffic getting from Orly airport to our hotel was challenging due…
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Colorful Cologne
Rick and I finished our trip to the Czech Republic and Germany with three nights in Cologne. The train journey from Berlin takes less than five hours and offers stunning views of the countryside along the way. We choose the CityClass Hotel am Dom due to its proximity to the train station, the Rhine River,…
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Easter in Berlin
Europe has an amazing rail system with direct routes, high-speed trains, several seating classes, and various food options. Our train from Prague to Berlin (EC 174) is operated by the Czech Rail System and has a restaurant carriage, Wi-Fi, and charging sockets. During the four and a half hour trip from Prague to Berlin, we…
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Where in the World is Karlovy Vary?
So just where in the world is Karlovy Vary? I’ll give you a few hints. It is a famous spa destination in Europe. It hosts an International Film Festival and is a popular film location. Celebrities who have visited include Daniel Craig, Morgan Freeman, Robert Redford, and Sharon Stone. It is also known as Carlsbad.…
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Picturesque Prague (Part Two)
After tasting several delicious beers at the Strahov Monastery Brewery, we headed to the impressive Prague Castle (Pražský hrad). Built in the 9th century, it is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic. Occupying an area of almost 750,000 square feet (70,000 square meters), it is the largest castle in the world. It…
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Picturesque Prague (Part One)
Since Rick and I both have Czech and Bohemian roots, visiting Prague was a high priority on our “wish list” of places to see. Located on the Vltava river, it is the largest city and capital of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague is home to about 1.3 million people and receives between 6 and…
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Bustling Bordeaux
Rick and I finished 2023 with a trip to Bordeaux shortly before Christmas. As we already had tickets to see the amazing Beatles Tribute band The Analogues, we decided to stay a few extra days to visit the Christmas Market at Allées de Tourny. Our small but very well-appointed apartment was located on a pedestrian…
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Paris is for Foodies!
You can’t go very far in Paris without running across a place to dine and that’s a very good thing. But choosing the perfect spot can be a challenge, especially when faced with so many choices. My best advice is to use your ears. If most patrons are speaking French, that’s a great sign as…
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When in Paris, Be in Paris
I have recently been asked by several friends and family for ideas on where to stay and what to do in Paris. Having visited numerous times, Rick and I are very familiar with this amazing city and many of its neighborhoods, museums, attractions, and parks. Paris has twenty neighborhoods (called arrondissements) each with its own…
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Are Cruises Really Cheap?
A friend recently commented that large ship cruises are great for budget travelers as they are “so cheap”. My reply was that while bargains can be found, the price tag can be very deceiving. But what exactly do you get for the cheapest rate? Not much in all honesty. Let’s say you find an eight-night…
Travels with Terri 