TO CAESAREA AND HAIFA - DAY 3 We left Tel Aviv at 9:00 am for the drive to Caesarea to see the seaport planned and built by King Herod. On the way we passed through Netanya but didn’t stop. Caesarea is a very interesting area with a lot of historic events happening there. Please note that if you’re interested in an accurate and thorough history, you should read some of the very many well researched and scholarly books available on these subjects. I’m only giving my touristy impressions and my main source of information is the very capable tour guide(s). Over a period of 12 years, Herod made Caesarea into a grand city and major seaport dedicated to Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus, who had returned it to Herod after wresting it away from Cleopatra. We viewed ... read more

SARASOTA, FL TO TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Started from Sarasota, Fl at 11:30 am and arrived in Tel Aviv at 2:30 pm the next day. Accounting for the seven time zones that took 20 hours with the last leg from JFK in New York on a 747 being over 10 hours alone. All the flights were good and smooth except for a short duration of bumpiness over the Atlantic Ocean. On the 747, there was some commotion among the passengers when boarding, but everything calmed down after we started taxiing and it was a pleasant journey thereafter. The meals were adequate and the service efficient. I watched the movie “42” about Jackie Robinson and listened to music most of the flight. I napped little, however, so when I arrived at my hotel, The David Intercontinental in Tel ... read more

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA On Saturday, I arrived at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport as scheduled after a smooth flight from Sarasota. My cousin Phil picked me up and took me to his very nice home in West St. Paul where I met his beautiful wife Joanna and his son Steve. They have kindly made their home my home for my four day stay. My cousin and I went to a nice Italian restaurant for a pizza lunch. It was unseasonably cool and drizzling, but we didn’t melt. In appreciation of their hospitality, I took them to dinner at the St. Paul Grill in the St. Paul Hotel. My friends from the London trans Atlantic cruise recommended it highly and their advice was perfect. It was my hosts first time at the Grill for dinner and they enjoyed ... read more

TILBURY TO LONDON, ENGLAND I got off the ship earlier than expected but my driver got there a half hour earlier than scheduled, so it worked out fine. This was the first time I’ve tried private transportation from the airport or dock to a hotel and it worked out great. I’ll definitely repeat, but internet searching for a fair price is essential if you're trying to stick to a budget. The more people in a party, the more reasonable it is in general. The company I selected is Blackberry Cars and I'm very pleased with them. My driver was very personable and he gave me several hints on things to do since it was my first time in London in over 30 years. He also made a few diversions on the way to the hotel to ... read more

LE HAVRE TO BREUIL TO HONFLEUR, FRANCE The day was overcast with the threat of rain. I carried the Holland America provided umbrella with me, but I never needed it. The short ride to the first stop was through the countryside and fields of canola (for the oil) and livestock were abundant. Most intersections the bus navigated were roundabouts, very popular around here. The name of my tour was “A taste of Normandy: Cheese and Cider”. Normandy is famous for Calvados - its superb apple brandy. I visited the Chateau du Breuil for a tour of its distillery and a taste of its calvados and its aperitif Pommeau and some of its cheeses. The chateau was built in the 16th and 17th centuries and the former home of various noble families. The cider was especially good ... read more