Strasbourg, France, with its medieval half-timbered houses and curved cobblestone streets, looks like it was lifted from a Grimm brothers’ fairy tale. Located in northeastern France on the Rhine River, the city has been claimed by both France and Germany over the years, and its culture and architecture show the influence of both countries. Hundreds … More Travel Tips: Strasbourg, France
Mont Saint-Michel in France is an impressive moutside MSMonastery that at high tide is completely surrounded by water. At low tide its salt marshes provide a popular grazing site for sheep. The difference between high and low tides can be as much as 46 feet. First developed in the 8th century, the monastery is now a UNESCO … More Travel Tips: Mont Saint-Michel, France
Manaus, Brazil, called the “Paris of the Tropics,” was the richest city in South America in the late 1800s due to the rubber trade. To celebrate its affluence, the city constructed a magnificent opera house known as Teatro Amazonas, which contained marble, crystal, tiles, and paintings imported from all over Europe. The rubber trade collapsed … More Manaus: Paris of the Tropics
The largest cashew tree in the world is located in Natal, Brazil. The tree is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, covers almost three acres, and produces 60,000 fruits a year. A chain link fence surrounds the tree to protect it from damage. The principal trunk (tronco principal) is pictured below, along with shots … More The Largest Cashew Tree in the World
I just got back from a three-week Brazilian cruise, starting in Buenos Aires, Argentina and then traveling north along the Brazilian coast to the Amazonian city of Manaus. Along the way we stopped at Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Salvador de Bahia, Ilhabela, Natal, Fortaleza and Santare̒m. It was a terrific trip! I’ll give some … More Travel Tips: Brazil
In the spirit of the holiday season, I wanted to share a few pictures of the Holy Land, which I visited for three weeks in November 2014. We saw ancient temples and modern office buildings, barren wilderness and lush greenery, beautiful mosaics and dusty ruins. This is a land of history, of conflict, and of … More Travels to the Holy Land
The James Bond Museum, located at the top of Schilthorn mountain in Switzerland, memorializes the 1969 movie In Her Majesty’s Secret Service, starring George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, and Telly Savalas. The museum is part of the revolving Piz Gloria restaurant, which is an incredible piece of engineering built at 9,744 feet. To get there, first take the … More James Bond Museum in Schilthorn
For fans of the Masterpiece Theatre television series Downton Abbey,nothing is more thrilling than a visit to Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, to see the house where much of the series was filmed. As we pulled up the graveled drive, the distinctive opening notes of the Downton theme song played in my head. The Herbert family has owned … More Money Grab Visits Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle
July 2017 marked the 200th anniversary of the death of English writer Jane Austen (1775-1817), famous for her novels Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Persuasion. In them she focused on the daily lives of country residents in Georgian England, highlighting the social mores of the time and the immense pressure on young women to marry well, … More Money Grab Visits England
Put Interlaken, Switzerland on your list of must-see places. Easily reached by train, this quaint city is surrounded by alps and offers hiking, boating, and my favorite – paragliding. From high above the city, you can get great views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau Mountains. At 13,642 feet, the Jungfrau is the highest mountain … More Money Grab Visits Interlaken
Frances Aylor 