Northern European Christmas markets have been around since the fourteenth century originating in the German-speaking part of Europe. Although they have been popular with world travelers for a long time, the river cruise industry has shown a new spotlight on the fun, holiday shopping experience. When I sailed with Viking River Cruises, I visited markets in Nuremberg, Kelheim, Regensburg and
In central Turkey’s Cappadocia, a landscape of fairy chimneys and cave dwellings
By Marilyn Jones In the predawn hours, an employee from Voyager Balloons meets me at my hotel and drives to a large facility where dozens of other would-be flyers wait. Each of us is assigned a number, and we are soon directed to corresponding vans. Our driver weaves along a bumpy dirt road lined with hot-air balloons in various stages of
Exploring Canada by Rail
I want to again visit Canada in the New Year. I’ve read about and spoken to friends about taking the train to tour this country as well as researched sailing its waters. I came across Vacations By Rail offering dozens of rail options in Canada as well as the rest of the world. The company uses rail travel as all
Traces of Hollywood in North Carolina
By Marilyn Jones I’m greeted by a middle-age man draped in Mardi Gras beads and sporting a megaphone, waiting for others to join his Hollywood Location Walk in Wilmington, N.C. Spiel Stevenberg (Mike Hartle) thrusts a scrapbook at me of author Nicholas Sparks’ movies filmed in the area, including A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, and Nights in Rodanthe. He also shows me
Ho Ho Holidays at Walt Disney World
“Want to go see Santa Claus?” I ask my 3-year-old granddaughter Ainsley as we wait for her parents and uncle to ride Twilight Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. She enthusiastically agrees this is a great idea, so we queue up with other preschoolers this balmy December day to meet the jolly old elf. You might not
Two Days in Venice
By Marilyn Jones I sat with my friend, Cacinda, at a sidewalk café enjoying a Margherita pizza. The pizza was good, but my surroundings were divine. Before me stood ancient buildings, including a church and apartment buildings, and a gondolier in a red-and-white striped shirt talked on his cell phone waiting for his next passenger. I am in Venice.
DISCOVERING ANCIENT EGYPT
Fotolia TIME OFF DISCOVERING ANCIENT EGYPT MARILYN JONES | SEPTEMBER 2018 Bent at the waist, head down, step by step, I climb. It’s hot, and every few seconds I stop to allow someone coming down to pass. I try not to think about what I’m doing or the solid rock surrounding me because I’m claustrophobic. Instead, I
Great ideas for the traveler on your gift list
It’s that time of year when we start thinking about what to get family and friends for the holidays. If your loved one is a traveler, there’s seemingly no limit to great gift giving ideas. Luggage Luggage is a great gift idea even for the little ones on your list. I decided earlier in the year to get my three-year-old
A most elegant hotel — Ciragan Palace Kempinski
During my travels I stay in lovely hotels all over the world, but none lovelier than the opulent Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul. After a 12 hour Turkish Airlines direct flight from Houston I am taken to the hotel by a representative of KD Tourism & Travel. The hotel reception area is charming and beautiful, but, as I will soon
Turkey restaurant serves up more than food
I am picked up at the airport in Kayseri, Turkey by Travel Atelier guide Bunyamin Ozmen. It’s close to noon, so we head for the Old Greek House for lunch in the village of Mustafapasa. The restaurant is housed in a 19th century stone mansion. Its first owner was a Greek artist by the name of Yorha Vasil. The house