OK, I admit this may be a 'smart ass' toned blog entry, but everyone reading this knows me... so, here it goes: Folks from across the pond coming to Europe who insist on going into a store and not comprehending why they won't take your US dollars... simple question... will you take Pesos? Thank you. OK.. I can't just stop. I heard some REALLY mind boggling comments on my last trip on the Rhine from people who really might want to consider international travel. 1. "My bank told me NOT to take my ATM card with me to Europe because it could be stolen." (This Einstein also did not bring any pin numbers for his credit card and was completely unable to get any cash anywhere). He thought he could use US dollars everywhere. My response: ... read more

I consider myself an extremely lucky traveler. Being married to a Lufthansa flight attendant had its privileges over the years and I've been lucky to have done some ridiculously extravagant things since meeting 'him': like flown from my home in Germany to Singapore for a quick sunny weekend get away during an overly cold January or off to Philadelphia for my "One Night Only Tour" to celebrate one of my birthdays. I've also enjoyed lengthy journeys to the US for 5-6 week stretches where I could/can immerse myself back into my former existences in Philadelphia and Central Florida, taken extended cruises through the Caribbean and Europe, and treks through Africa and China. For someone whose life goal at 16 was "to see and live in as many places as possible" I am well on my ... read more

Oh my poor starving readers. I really am crap at this blog thing, as I've said before. I just finished an incredibly interesting and exciting summer tour season in Warnemünde, trained a new guide, was written about by Rick Steves as the tour to take in Warnemünde in his new book 'Cruising Northern Europe' (released July 20, 2013) and I am about to embark on a 5 week journey with folks from the Friends of Dave Universe. I also sold my apartment in Warnemünde, moved to Berlin, found a smaller apartment in Warnemünde (bought it) and am juggling so many things. I really, really need an assistant. I leave on Thursday for Amsterdam... I will scout out some fun stuff for my arriving buds and organize their Welcome packets and just enjoy this city that I ... read more

Amsterdam can be an intimidating city at first. It is fast paced. It is loud. It can be a bit dirty and trashy and bawdy: it can also be sleazy if you turn down the right alley. It is bars and coffee shops and pubs and cafes and smoke and music and noise. It’s shops and trade without end. It’s food stalls and smells and crowds and people and an occasional person that less sensitive people might refer to as a “freak”. It’s gables and bridges and cobblestones and streets and gentle bends. It’s eager tourists and gruff locals and friendly smiles and stares off into space. But it is so much more than that... The common denominator in Amsterdam is fun and the majority of the people crowding the streets are in good moods and ... read more

Something I really, really like about cruising with Ama Waterways is how they conduct their tours. Every stop along the way will have amazing things to see and Ama's tours are designed to offer differing types of guests, different ways to tour. Ama includes the majority of their tours in the price of your cruise, although they do have a few optional tours to choose from. A general sightseeing tour is provided in every city you stop in and Ama has developed 3 different programs (for most of their stops) which allow you to choose between the normal pace tours which show you everything, a faster option for those that want the highlights but would like more time to explore on their own, and the slower paced tours for those with mobility issues or who simply ... read more