Europe

We embarked on our journey to Northern England for two compelling reasons: the Beatles and James Herriot. Liverpool, an industrial maritime city, proudly claims to be the Beatles’ hometown. Our one-night stay in Liverpool included the unforgettable Magical Mystery Tour, highly recommended by British couples we met in Cornwall. On this tour, we explored the …

Northern England – Liverpool and Yorkshire (May 23-June 1, 2026) Read More »

Cornwall is a rugged rural coastal region in South West England. We took a 5-hour train ride from London to the town of St. Austell, where I had booked our stay at The Chapel Guest House, a charming converted 1862 Methodist chapel located 3.5 km from the train station. The town bus comes only every …

Cornwall – The SW Coastal Region of England with Unique Gardens (May 22-27, 2026) Read More »

I started planning a trip to London for the Chelsea Flower Show last year. The show is world-renowned and very popular. I even joined the Royal Horticultural Society so we could avoid the large crowds by attending the two members-only days. The membership fee was well worth it. I also booked a flight with British …

Amazing London (May 13-22, 2026) Read More »

Our final destination on this European journey was Hamburg, Germany. Contrary to its reputation as a major port city, Hamburg actually is located 68 miles from the mouth of the North Sea. The Elbe River, with its branching nature, provides an ideal setting for a port complex equipped with warehousing and transshipment facilities. During our …

Hamburg, Germany (Feb. 23-26, 2026) Read More »

We arrived in Vienna by train from Venice, greeted by a thick blanket of five inches of winter snow. Our first day was spent exploring the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History), one of the world’s most prestigious art museums. It houses the Imperial Collections, featuring art from ancient Egypt, classical antiquity, and the Renaissance. …

Vienna – City of Music (Feb. 18-23, 2026) Read More »

Carnival is a festival celebrated by most Catholics before Lent in February. The one in Venice, Italy, is world-renowned because of its elaborate masks and 17th-century costumes. Our friends the Quinns and us rent an apartment together in a quiet neighborhood. Venice is a “floating city” built on 118 small islands in a marshy lagoon, …

Carnival at Venice (Feb. 10-18, 2026) Read More »