World Traveler
This travel series covers the world, with a special focus on Europe. These are practical travel guides to hekp you get the most out of y...Video Episodes:
15 Views
23:46:16 02/04/09
Beynac, Castelnaud and LaRoque, in France's Dordogne
[LESS INFO] 15 VIEWS | ADDED 04:46:16 02/05/09
Another episode of our 5-part travel series on France's Dordogne region. There are numerous castles along the scenic river valleys in this region, with two of the finest featured in this episode.
23 Views
21:33:57 02/03/09
France - Dordogne: Font deGaume-Belves-Domme-Rocamador
[LESS INFO] 23 VIEWS | ADDED 02:33:57 02/04/09
Visiting several wonderful sites in the Dordogne Valley, France.
10 Views
09:50:13 01/25/09
France:
[LESS INFO] 10 VIEWS | ADDED 14:50:13 01/25/09
Visiting more than a dozen of the top sights in France, including the largest gothic cathedral at Amiens; Rouen, filled with medieval half-timbered buildings connected by numerous pedestrian lanes; Mt-St-Michel, the most miraculous wonder, the most-visited place after Paris. Then we head south to the Dordogne enjoying our home base in Sarlat, the best-preserved historic town in France, and from here taking day-trips to its many nearby attractions, Including: Beynac, Domme, La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud, Fanlac, Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere, Les Eyzies, Font-de-Gaume, Belves and the pretty countryside of this scenic river valley. This was photographed in December, 2008, the off-season when these extremely popular places are not so crowded, yet still enjoy pleasant weather with tempartures in the 40s. A majestic one-hour journey for you to enjoy.
21 Views
09:50:23 09/01/08
Mediterranean Slide Show
[LESS INFO] 21 VIEWS | ADDED 13:50:23 09/01/08
A quick 9-minute summary of our trip from Carcassonne to Nice, also featuring Avignon, Aix, Arles and Cannes
12 Views
21:25:50 08/30/08
Boston
[LESS INFO] 12 VIEWS | ADDED 01:25:50 08/31/08
Fast-paced narrated slide show about Boston's many historic sites and modern attractions.
5 Views
21:14:53 08/30/08
New York
[LESS INFO] 5 VIEWS | ADDED 01:14:53 08/31/08
Fast-paced, narrated slide show about the world's greatest city.
5 Views
21:04:42 08/30/08
Philadelphia
[LESS INFO] 5 VIEWS | ADDED 01:04:42 08/31/08
A fast-paced slide show covering many of the historic sights of this great city.
1 Views
22:31:24 06/30/08
Stockholm in 3 Days
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 02:31:24 07/01/08
Stockholm in 3 Days visits all the highlights of thise great city, with walking tours of Gamla Stan and downtown, museums, shops and restaurants, and much more.
2 Views
22:31:24 06/30/08
South America 2007
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 02:31:24 07/01/08
Tour of South America, visiting Buenos Aires, Iguassu Falls, Rio, the mighty Amazon River, Sao Paulo, and in Peru, Lima, Cuzco, Ollantaytambo and the grand climax of Machu Picchu.
1 Views
22:31:24 06/30/08
1 Views
22:31:24 06/30/08
Munich, Germany, walking tour
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 02:31:24 07/01/08
Munich, Germany, walking tour
1 Views
22:31:24 06/30/08
2 Views
22:31:23 06/30/08
Aix-en-Provence
[LESS INFO] 2 VIEWS | ADDED 02:31:23 07/01/08
Aix-en-Provence: Various French surveys have deemed this the most desirable city in which to live, for its ambience. A modest population of 150,000 gives Aix-en-Provence a small-town charm, yet it's big enough to provide all the necessities and comforts of urban living. Nearly 30 percent of residents are university students, lending an air of youthful energy, culture and enthusiasm.
The large pedestrian zone is an idyllic urban landscape of pretty low-rise buildings three and four centuries old, crisscrossed by tranquil pedestrian lanes lined with shops and cafes. Plazas with fountains and benches often accent street intersections. This is French living at its best.
You'll spend most of your time in this oldest part of Aix -- easily reached via a 10-minute walk from the train station, up Avenue Victor Hugo leading away from the station. Walk six blocks to the giant fountain, La Rotonde, set in a busy traffic circle, and stop at the Tourist Information Office for a free city map and other guides. Take a right on Cours Mirabeau, the broad street established in 1651. Simply called the Cours, it is considered one of the most attractive of France's boulevards, lined with shops, outdoor cafes and restaurants, with magnificent trees towering overhead and three moss-covered fountains in the middle of the street. Its most chic cafe is Les Deux Gar_ons, at No. 53.
The historic pedestrian center is "Le Vieil Aix," the old neighborhood north of the Cours. About a half-mile square, it's easy to cover in a few hours but offers enough variety to spend an entire day exploring. Even if you run out of time for Marseille at day's end, it's no great loss.
Walk a few blocks along the Cours, turn left on Nazareth or Clemenceau and plunge into the magic of Le Vieil Aix. In two short blocks you arrive at Place d'Albertas, one of a half-dozen small squares.
Continue north along what is the main pedestrian lane of the old section, at first called Aude, then changing names to Foch, to arrive at the prettiest of all squares, Place de l'H(tm)tel de Ville. Drop anchor at the terrace cafe to absorb the grand sights of Baroque city hall columns and triangular pediments, punctuated by a tall clock tower, sheltering trees and constant parade of people. The Neoclassical grain market, now a post office, completes the scene with a matching pediment of sculpted allegorical figures.
Another attractive square two blocks west is the Place des Cardeurs, with pastel facades enhanced by a row of outdoor restaurants. Cardeurs is frequented by university students, so it's a prime budget lunch location.
Among the most enjoyable places to admire the food, flowers, antiques and local life are Aix's many outdoor markets, open Saturday morning and to a lesser degree on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The main market takes place in front of the Palais de Justice on Place de Verdun and Place des Pr_cheurs, then continues on back streets all the way to Place Richelme, whose food market has been operating daily since the Middle Ages.
That main pedestrian lane continues north, changing names to Rue Gaston de Saporta, and leading to Aix's main church, the Cathedrale St-Sauveur. This ancient Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque building has a peaceful cloister that closes at midday for siesta, as do many of the shops.
After exploring the old section, return to the train station with a walk on the south side of the Cours, the Mazarin district. This rectangular grid, five blocks long and wide, has a series of attractive mansions now divided into private apartments, along with the Musee Granet, exhibiting a broad range of prehistoric art through works by Aix's most famous native son, Paul Cezanne.
3 Views
22:31:23 06/30/08
Europe 7: London
[LESS INFO] 3 VIEWS | ADDED 02:31:23 07/01/08
Leicester Square, just one block from the hotel, is one of the most exciting centers of London. There are always people coming and going, youths lounging on the grass, bench-sitters lining the paths that cut through the square, all surrounded by huge movie complexes and restaurants.
We then walk a few blocks over to Covent Garden. There are many attractions that could turn this into your favorite part of town, because it is filled with unique shops, numerous restaurants, lots of sidewalk entertainment, marvelous buildings and vast pedestrian zones. For many people this is the heart of London. Then we conclude our walk with a look at Soho, walking along Old Compton Street, and then through the small Chinatown and back to our hotel.
In the afternoon, following lunch, we have a panoramic city tour on a comfortable motorcoach, passing the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, St. Pauls, Tower Bridge and highlights of the West End.
There are two places along the tour route especially worth getting off the bus to visit: Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral. These are two of the grandest structures ever built, and even if you are not religious you will be extremely impressed by their majestic beauty, representing two great periods of architectural history. Westminster Abbey is one of the finest Gothic churches in the world, impressive as Notre Dame in Paris (if not more so). Edward the Confessor began the building around 1050 and large-scale expansion commenced in 1245, with major additions made during the next 500 years, resulting in this astonishing harmonious complex. St. Paul’s Cathedral was built by the great Christopher Wren between 1675 and 1708 in the Baroque style with many Renaissance influences.
This evening you could take in one of the hit musicals or comedies in the exciting theater district along Shaftesbury Avenue, just two blocks from our hotel. It is easy to get half-price tickets because the discount booth is next to our hotel in Leicester Square. We are in the theater district, with about 40 plays going on at any one time in a six block-wide neighborhood called the West End. Comedies, musicals and dramas are all available every night you are in town, so take advantage and go for it.
Perhaps you would also enjoy making the rounds of some pubs for the incomparable British ales or stout. Or simply have a relaxing meal, followed by an evening stroll through Covent Garden — a lively marketplace five minutes from our hotel, filled with people having fun. This morning we have a comprehensive walking tour through some of the most interesting parts of town, visiting Piccadilly Circus, St. James, Chinatown, Soho, and ending with the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. The most interesting route is to walk north to Oxford Street, then back down through Mayfair and St. James, arriving at the Palace on schedule. It is a special route we have done 25 times and works beautifully. This will bring us through grand examples of the finest urban architecture, and past many fine shops along the way.
Starting out at Piccadilly Circus, which was “center of the universe” during the days of Empire and is today a major intersection from which several busy streets radiate. Filled with both tourists and locals, there is always something going on here. Merely the size of one block, with the graceful aluminum statue of Eros in the middle, this busy crossroad offers many choices for your first route through town—and you will certainly come back through a few times as your path curls back through this busy hub.
We walk along the curved section of Regent Street, one of the most majestic promenades in town offering a sweeping urban vista that is particularly impressive. This famous stretch of Regent Street was designed at the beginning of the 19th century by John Nash, one of England’s most important architects. We continue a few blocks up Bond Street, one of the fanciest shopping areas in town. The exclusive shops on Old Bond include Tiffany, David Morris, Bulgari, Patek Philippe, Georg Jensen, Asprey and four dozen more in the first three blocks, assembled as the biggest concentration of high-end retail in the nation.
Next comes Oxford Street, the busiest shopping street in town. We are just taking a quick look for now, but you could come back later in the day on your own to explore this one-mile stretch loaded with clothing stores.
In a few blocks you reach the very pleasant patch of greenery called Berkeley Square (pronounced bark-lee, of course), which is typical of the many small parks, the size of one block, scattered around town. Take a load off and rest on a comfortable bench in the cool shade of the giant plane trees, watching squirrels scamper about. During our walking tours we always rest for 5 or 10 minutes every hour, so this is a perfect spot to do it.
Next we visit the Burlington Arcade, an elegant, little shopping mall founded 150 years ago, and then continue to a very special food store across the street, Fortnum and Mason. It is three hundred years old and still going strong in their recently expanded department store. It is the most famous gourmet shop in town with an elegant atmosphere of crystal chandeliers, mahogany counters and tuxedoed clerks.
We then arrive at the famous Changing the Guards ceremony. The pomp and circumstance of this ritual is great fun, with the redcoat soldiers in their tall black hats parading to the bouncy rhythm of a marching brass band. We get to St. James Palace for the first phase, then stroll through beautiful St. James Park to arrive at Buckingham Palace just in time for the climax of the event, watching the big marching band going by.
The afternoon is completely free. You will easily find many wonderful things to do in this great city. Art lovers would enjoy a visit to the National Gallery, one the world’s great art museums, which is immediately next door to our hotel on the north side of Trafalgar Square. Even if you are not a major art fan, you owe it to yourself to have a look, and for those who appreciate the great masters, you could stay for a few hours in total rapture.
In the morning we visit the Tower of London, arriving about 9:30 a.m. just after it opens to beat the crowds that gather later in the day. This huge castle on the Thames is the oldest building in London, dating back to 1078 when William the Conqueror began construction. It is a complete delight, not only for the Crown Jewels, but for the entire experience. The White Tower is the oldest building of the castle and has a spectacular, multi-level display that has just been completed after many years of renovation, featuring suits of armor and historic weapons, with informative signs and video displays.
The Tower Green was site of many executions, including that of Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded for her inability to have a male child, even though she did give birth to a great monarch, Elizabeth I. She played an indirect role in creating the Church of England because Henry VIII broke with Rome to marry her. Not good enough—off with her head. You can also walk along sections of the outer wall for nice views of Tower Bridge and the castle complex.
The afternoon is free, and we have some enticing suggestions. Shoppers will definitely want to visit Harrods—perhaps the world’s greatest department store. Serious shoppers might also consider an expedition back to Oxford Street and Bond Street.
History buffs would enjoy a visit to the British Museum, one of the oldest museums in the world. It opened in 1759, and has just completed a major expansion with creation of the huge indoor Great Court and special exhibition galleries. The ancient Greek and Egyptian collections are the main treasures, especially the Elgin Marble statues from the Parthenon in Athens and the vast number of mummies, colossal statues and jewelry from the ancient civilization of the Nile. You will also find interesting displays about the Romans in Britain, ancient Assyrians, Celtic prehistoric life, and the Middle Ages. A good visit with your escort could be completed in 90 minutes, and admission is free, so this is a very attractive activity.
3 Views
22:31:23 06/30/08
Europe 4: Lucerne
[LESS INFO] 3 VIEWS | ADDED 02:31:23 07/01/08
At the mid-point of our trip we travel from Venice to Lucerne, through the majestic Swiss Alps. We travel in our deluxe Italian train all afternoon on one of the most scenic rail lines in Europe, into the heart of the Alps. Keep your eyes glued to the window, and watch for the little village and hilltop church we pass three different times as the train winds down the mountain. We arrive in Lucerne in time for a stroll through the Old Town, where our hotel is located, followed by dinner.
We will have two nights and days in Lucerne, the most popular city in Switzerland, famous for its well-preserved Old Town, consisting of blocks of medieval buildings richly decorated with painted murals showing village life in olden days. The banks of Lake Lucerne offer a most picturesque walk, through manicured gardens, past picnickers, swans, fishermen and bobbing boats.
In the heart of Lucerne is its major landmark, the 560-foot long Chapel Bridge, or Kapellbrucke, the oldest covered bridge in Europe, first built in 1333. But in 1993, after 660 years, this Lucerne icon was destroyed by fire, only to be rebuilt by the efficient townspeople within a year in the original style—and by now has weathered to a mellow patina that once again looks hundreds of years old. The heroic rise from ashes symbolizes Swiss pride in their past and modern ability to get things done. Adjacent to the bridge is the 110-foot high Water Tower, also nearly 700 years old, the most photographed image in town.
The Mill Bridge is a smaller covered bridge two hundred yards south along the river, built around 1408, notable for its series of paintings, “The Dance of Death,” whose jangling skeletons of the Black Death make you feel lucky to be alive. The clever Swiss have once again harnessed the waterpower that originally gave this bridge its name, and created a modern electricity-generating turbine, underwater and completely invisible. Both bridges also served as part of the medieval fortifications that surrounded the town.
The old fortification wall still survives from the Middle Ages, built around the same time as the two bridges, between 1350 and 1408. Called the Musegg Wall, it has nine towers, three of them open free to the public, and a section of wall you can walk along for the most spectacular view looking down on the town. This is worth your effort, and easy to find, with a path just beyond the Mill Bridge that takes you there.
A major landmark we walk to is the huge Lion Monument, carved deeply into the sandstone cliff to commemorate the 1792 death of 786 Swiss mercenary soldiers that were trying to defend King Louis XVI in Paris. Completed in 1821, it depicts a noble, mortally wounded lion, regal but dying from a spear thrust in the ribs, making a grand tragic statement of historic pride carved in stone. Mark Twain toured Lucerne and called this “the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world.”
You will discover cobblestone lanes for pedestrians winding past ancient buildings that have the most modern shops inside, with everything spotlessly clean and well organized. This is the land of efficiency and charm, with very friendly people. The best of both worlds, old and new.
The extensive pedestrian zone is filled with interesting shops and restaurants, street vendors and musicians, plazas, flea markets, and fine restaurants, especially along the Reuss River. We stay at the luxurious Hotel des Balances, in the heart of the Old Town, on the river shore at the Weinmarkt Square. Lucerne is also a town of music and dance. You can enjoy the sidewalk buskers, who sometimes perform in front of sidewalk cafes, and take the Night Boat — a sunset cruise on the lake with the music performed on a little stage on the boat. They have dinner service, but it’s easier to just enjoy the show with drinks, and watch the fine scenery.
One of the many great optional excursions out of town is to Mount Titlis, where you get a chance to frolic in the snow in a glacier at the top of a mountain. We will take you on this scenic train ride through a beautiful Alpine valley to Engelberg, and there we transfer to a series of cable cars that take us to the top of a mountain covered with snow. It is not that cold, so you just need a light jacket to stay comfortable. You’ll enjoy beautiful views of the mountains, farms, and villages along the way. An alternative day-trip destination is Mount Pilatus, with a nice view of Lake Lucerne.
After the mountain excursion we will be back in town by mid-afternoon so you can shop around. The town of Lucerne is so quaint and filled with interesting shops and things to see, you can easily fill your time just wandering its cobblestone streets. Automobiles are not allowed into this large historic zone, so you can wander the cobbled lanes without fear of getting run over. The shopping is fun, with many items that are pure Swiss in character, like music boxes, chocolates, watches, cuckoo clocks, cowbells, beer steins, hand-carved wooden statues, costumed dolls, cheese, knives, embroidery, linens, music, and you can also find very good deals on clothing. For dinner you might consider the folk music and dance show at the Stadtkeller Restaurant, or if you feel like the gourmet experience, have a superb meal at the Old Swiss House.
4 Views
22:31:23 06/30/08
Europe 3: Venice
[LESS INFO] 4 VIEWS | ADDED 02:31:23 07/01/08
We take the morning train from Florence directly to Venice, arriving around noon. We ride the vaporetto boat down the length of the Grand Canal past the Rialto Bridge, to the middle of Venice, where our hotel is conveniently located.
Venice is the city of canals and gondolas, city of dreams and music, city of cafes, with endless labyrinth of narrow alleys, classic ancient brick buildings, five hundred bridges, and a million tourists drawn by its compelling charms. We will get beyond the stage front of Piazza San Marco, to find glimpses of this unique city’s true character. Don’t worry about getting lost. Venice is a relatively small town, so just absorb the overwhelming beauty and enjoy yourself.
We will have two nights and days filled with magic here in the queen of the Adriatic, seemingly adrift at sea, yet anchored to a hundred little islands connected by marble masterpieces. Following check-in and lunch on this first afternoon we have an informative walking tour with our local guide, through the historic heart of the city, and ending up at the Piazza San Marco with a visit inside the 12th century Basilica. Later, you might consider a boat ride to the nearby islands of Lido, Murano, or San Giorgio.
Tonight is free, perhaps for a memorable dinner outdoors at a sidewalk caf. You don’t have to order four courses — you can save your budget and your waistline with a salad and entree. Afterwards, have a drink and listen to a string quartet at 250-year-old Caf Florian in Piazza San Marco, so peaceful at night. If you would like to hear some classical music, you are in luck, for there is a concert nearly every night by a chamber orchestra in one of the town’s historic churches.
Next morning we will lead you on another fascinating walking tour, through the Rialto, along a local shopping street, to the Frari. This is the best way to enjoy Venice, walking away from the main areas, experiencing the back streets, looking at building details, stopping at the top of little bridges and looking up and down the canals. In the afternoon you are free to wander on your own, or come along on another walk to see some quiet residential areas, narrow canals, with more churches, palaces and museums. The shops of Venice offer a wide variety of top goods, famous for glassworks, lace, fashions, shoes, and souvenirs of all kinds. You will find that the center of Venice is one big shopping mall, but it’s more rewarding when you get away from the tourist shops and into the neighborhoods with local residents. This is easy for us because we spend two days in Venice, and have time to see it well.
You can get back and forth across the Grand Canal on the Accademia or the Rialto bridges, but a more interesting way is to cross on gondola ferries called traghettos, which only cost about 60 cents. If you are going from one side of town to the other, take the water-bus called the vaporetto. You buy the ticket for about $2 at the boat docks, which are scattered along the Grand Canal.
You will find many fine small restaurants scattered around Venice. We will point out our favorites within a few blocks of the hotel and provide you with a handy map that shows their locations. Check the prices on the menu in the window, which all restaurants in Europe are required to post. As in all of our cities, the hotel is centrally located so there are many excellent food choices nearby in a wide range of prices.
There could be no better way to cap off our visit than with a sunset gondola ride — a guaranteed peak experience that we can arrange for the group. Your gondolier rows this unique black boat through the little back canals to show you the peaceful neighborhoods where locals reside.
Most tourists who visit Venice miss out on the real authentic experience, because they are in such a rush to get back to their tour bus. Typically, all they see on their brief day-trip is the Piazza San Marco, and maybe a quick gondola ride, and the glass factory, then they rush off to the next city on their hurried itinerary. They “saw” Venice, but missed the heart and soul of the place. Our approach is totally different. We stay in the center of Venice in a lovely hotel for two nights, and provide you the walking tours and tips for getting the most out of this precious jewel of a city. This typifies our procedure for the entire tour, where we give you enough time and assistance in each city to enable you to enjoy a rewarding experience.