Rounding out the day was a scenic cruise up the Danube river through the UNESCO world heritage protected Wachau Valley to Melk. Along the river we spotted sch amazing sights as the blue baroque church in Duernstein, the quaint town of Weisskirch, and a local artist interpretation of the most important tool for winemakers -… Continue reading Scenic Danube cruising
Category: Key Blogs
Wachau Valley – wine, wine & more wine
A stunningly blue sky morning awaited us in Krems with summer like temperatures in the 80s. After breakfast, i joined a group of Viking Modi guests on the "Austria's famed white wines from vine to bottle" tour which included amazing cold cuts, a spread of veggies and other pork products - all rounded out by… Continue reading Wachau Valley – wine, wine & more wine
European Rail day – part 2
Endless amazing scenery escorted me along my 8 hour journey from Zurich to Vienna with stops in Innsbruck, Salzburg and Linz. A special moment of the journey was the passing of the abbey at Stams where Greg and I spent a memorable night with my mom shortly before her sudden passing. Well rested I arrived… Continue reading European Rail day – part 2
European Rail day from Berne to Vienna – part 1
A wake up call at 440am got me going to the Berne train station for a 5:29 am on the dot departure to Zurich. A quick change required got me on the RailJet train 161 in direction of Vienna. Comfy seats, WiFi and power outlets at every seat make this journey fly by. Of course,… Continue reading European Rail day from Berne to Vienna – part 1
Berne for a day – reflections on my home town
Spring continues in Berne today and it afforded me the chance to fine tune my hotel selection for the September 2019 Oktoberfest and Swiss Highlights tour I am hosting. In addition, I took a long leisurely walk with my dad's dog Richie through this majestic city built over 900 years on the banks of the… Continue reading Berne for a day – reflections on my home town
Dream day in the Bernese Oberland
After 24 hours of traveling from San Francisco to Amsterdam on KLM ( worst legroom yet on an airline), then on to Geneva on Easy Jet, followed by trains and I arrived in Berne. From here on out, the stunning early summer weather provided us with the chance to explore lake Brienz on a leisurely… Continue reading Dream day in the Bernese Oberland
Springtime jaunt on the Danube
My travel plans accelerated a bit over the past week with the departure to Europe for a Viking river cruise moving up by 3 days. This change allows me to make a quick visit with my dad ahead of surgery to remove cancer. Join me on my journey via Amsterdam to Geneva and Berne before… Continue reading Springtime jaunt on the Danube
River Cruising on my mind – Christmas Markets in Germany
Not sure if it was the rainy week or my lengthy discussion with travel colleagues last night that got me in the mood for the magic of Christmas Markets in Germany. I reminisced back on my 2015 trip along the Danube which was just wonderful. This experience should be on everyone's bucket list at least… Continue reading River Cruising on my mind – Christmas Markets in Germany
Hawaii – Final reflections
Awesome scenery, great friends, and lots of delicious meals made this week fly bye quickly. Overall the trip exceeded expectations with the weather being the only thing that could be improved. Well rested after a good night sleep at the DoubleTree hotel overlooking Hilo bay, we returned our Chrysler 300 to Hertz and went through… Continue reading Hawaii – Final reflections
A Royal day in Honolulu
This morning's getting up was worth it as we were the first group to enter the only royal palace in the U.S. located in the city center of Honolulu. Our docent Joanne introduced us to the beauty, artistry, and history of the Hawaiian Royal Family. The tour took 90 minutes and took us from the… Continue reading A Royal day in Honolulu
Waikiki continued…
Nothing beats a local guide when visiting a new place! Jim had grown up here and he toured us around in expert fashion. Thanks Jim! From dinner at a food truck to dancers at the international market place to scenic vistas on Round Top Drive, we got it all in one afternoon. Fantastic first day… Continue reading Waikiki continued…
Bonus Blog – The “slow travel” movement
With time running away and the world speeding up, it is sometimes hard to find a moment to experience things they way the once were. For example, I am a big fan of Europe's high-speed trains which have brought Europe's capitals much closer together, but there is something to be said for the scenic routes… Continue reading Bonus Blog – The “slow travel” movement
Planet Travel Blog 