By Marilyn Jones Many visitors to Greece vacation only on its islands, but the mainland has its own appeal. It is a place of antediluvian history, mythology, legend, and lore. Start in Athens, which is regarded as the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western civilization. Named for the goddess Athena, this welcoming modern city is at least 5,000
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On a tour in Tanzania, a friendly cheetah and an elusive black rhino
By Marilyn Jones It is late morning in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania when we spot a cheetah in the tall, yellow grass. She is looking for prey, maybe a gazelle, our guide tells the six of us in the truck. Her hunting success rate is 100%. She can run up to 75 mph for short distances. As we photograph the beautiful
Celebrating the season with history
Community tree lighting is commonplace in many communities around the world. But in Kilgore, Texas, it’s A Very Derrick Christmas as stars atop oil derrick replicas are lit to honor the city’s history. “It was October 3, 1930 when the Daisy Bradford #3 came in at 6,000 barrels of oil a day changing the future of the communities of East
Holiday Gift Giving Guide
It’s that time again when the stores are filled with ideas to buy your family and friends for the holidays. Looking for the best gifts for travelers? Look no further! There are lots of options for every budget to make your gift giving easier. Ornaments Tree ornaments are a favorite with lots of travelers. At Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan,
Fort Price of Wales offers insight into Canadian history
I love history and as much as I am in Churchill, Manitoba to see beluga whales and polar bears during my summer visit, I am anxious to see Prince of Wales Fort for a better understanding of the area’s European history. I am with Frontiers North Adventures. My group and I board a boat and motor across Churchill River. Thousands
The French Farmhouse Museum of Grandfontaine – Fournets
I’m in France learning about the production of Comté Cheese when I visit a restored farmhouse dating from 1736 in the Franche-Comté region. Noël Myotte and his wife decided to open their farmhouse as a museum after they were awarded the best restored farm in 1981. Entering a store selling meats, cheeses, local wine and sweets that once served as
Clean Cookstove Project delivers hope and health
Imagine what would happen if your fireplace flue was closed. All the wood smoke would fill your home and your lungs. That’s exactly the conditions I witnessed in Losirwa, a tiny Tanzania village. Here Masai women live in small round bomas (traditional homes) with their families and tend the fire that keeps their homes warm and is used to prepare
Exploring Mateus Palace and Gardens
One of the nicest things about a Viking River Cruise is the included shore excursions; generally speaking, at least one a day. I am sailing on the Viking Osfrid along the Douro River and on this day I am visiting the Mateus Palace and Gardens near Regua, Portugal. Built in the first half of the 18th century, the palace is one of
Photo Essay – Sailing on Portugal’s Douro River
In Portugal, the Douro River is a popular Viking River Cruises destination. The third-longest river in the Iberian Peninsula after the Tagus and Ebron, the Douro is 557 miles and is navigable in Portugal by light rivercrafts. With its mountains and hillsides covered in vineyards and villages with their bright orange-tiled rooftops, it is ideal for anyone wanting to relax
Discover Historic Texas at Millard’s Crossing
On a beautiful spring day I visit homes, a church, school and land office all from the 19th and early 20th centuries and all original to East Texas. The buildings, and symbols of local history, were dismantled and reconstructed on a plot of land in Nacogdoches and collectively named Millard’s Crossing Historic Village. The village is named for the railroad