EuroCity 53 in Milan Every visit must come to an end eventually, so I packed my bags and boarded a Swiss railways train to Milan. For decades, this route was operated by Cisalpino dual-current trains which were replaced in 04 by new Alstom built Astoro high velocity sets. Luxurious and silent, these tilting trains provide… Continue reading Switzerland to Italy by High-Speed Train

Oceania Vista in Valletta, Malta Two days after boarding in Rome, our brand spanking new, sleek, and ultra-smooth ship arrived in historic Valletta, Malta for its formal christening. Full of anticipation, our Direct Travel team was met by Oceania’s sales team under Tricia Wolf’s leadership for an outdoor reception on the Spa Terracce on deck… Continue reading Christening of Oceania Vista – Part One

The world’s steepest cable train A few months after Pikes Peak, I was fortunate to ride another legendary train, this time to my house mountain called Niesen overlooking mighty lakes Thun and Brienz. It’s been at least 35 years since I last rode this fabulous train. Lots changed in my life to say the least,… Continue reading Swiss Alps by cable train

Due to a fuel pump issue on our United Boeing 777, the flight to Rome was two hours late on arrival at Roma Fiumicino airport. In smart travel advisor fashion, I had planned my train connections well in advance and with a three hour buffer. All of a sudden, given Italy’s reputation for delays and… Continue reading Trenitalia – high speed – high friction

Famed Bar at Luba Baglioni Venice has been the playground for the rich and famous for centuries, a fact reflected in it’s culinary and cocktail culture that is still alive today. From the famed Peach Bellini at Harry’s Bar to the godfather of Spritz drinks, the Select SPRITZ, this city carries more than it’s fair… Continue reading Venice in April – Gastronomia Venetiana

JW Marriott port cochere for boats Meetings completed, we headed out as a group to the farthest island in the lagoon called Burano. this charming town is best known for its lace making while it’s larger sister island Murano beguiles the world with is crystal glass manufacturing. Colorful canals of Burano About an hour by… Continue reading Venice in April – Burano excursion

No trip to Venice is complete without a gondola serenade The gray and rainy weather continues for a second day which is of great relief to the locals that saw canals run very low this winter with a rare drought. One of the positive benefits is the crowd as are smaller. Our visit this morning… Continue reading Venice in April – Palazzo’s and more

First step - board flight My first 3 months of 2023 were spent managing the eruption of travel demand mostly from my home office. That is changing today with my first international trip of the year. courtesy of Delta Vacations the spring meeting of our advisory board takes place in the magical Italian city of… Continue reading Venice in April – La Dolce Vita

Where has the first quarter of 2023 gone? I woke up this morning realizing that I had left my readers hanging as life moved at breakneck speed these first months. Fortunately there is travel on my calendar for the coming months and blogs will start flowing again. Pikes Peak Cog Rail at base station To… Continue reading Pikes Peak by cog rail