May 3, 2026 Greetings! Hello from 35,000 feet on the final leg of a long travel day. It should not take this long to go from London to Riga, but here I am on flight #2 from Frankfurt, after logging about 7K steps in the airport terminal alone. A mistake I will not make again. This is a reminder to all about the new EU entry regulations that are now in place. But as I often say: there is nothing so stultifyingly dull as other people’s travel woes. So, I will leave it at that. Did you receive...
19 days ago • 12 min read
April 26, 2026 Greetings! Hello from stunning Rouen! We enjoyed two relaxing days at sea after our outstanding two days in Bordeaux. Seabourn really pulled out all the stops, including a deftly executed pirouette (when the captain makes the ship turn 360 degrees) at the bend in the Garonne so we could back into our prime location, just outside the Maritime Bourse. The Bordelais were out in full force, enjoying the spring sunshine, and we surged forward to join them. Did you receive this...
26 days ago • 9 min read
April 19, 2026 Greetings! Hello from La Coruna, Spain, famous as the cruise gateway to Santiago de Compostela and scene of the famous Siege of Coruna, when Francis Drake attempted a counterattack on the Spanish. While the English were successful in capturing the lower town, the Spanish, rallied by a local woman, Maria Pita, could ultimately repulse Drake’s troops. This took place two years after the better-remembered Raid of Cadiz by Drake, where he made off with 2,900 barrels of sherry, thus...
about 1 month ago • 8 min read
April 12, 2026 Greetings! Hello from Riga and a very happy Orthodox Easter to everyone celebrating today! I’ve been having a marvelously productive and busy time here at home, where spring is making its cautious way to the Eastern Baltic. I’ve been immersed in all things fortified wine to prepare for a new series of talks and articles on sherry, port, and Madeira. Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free subscription. I look forward to sampling all three on...
about 1 month ago • 8 min read
March 29, 2026 Greetings! As you read this, I’m on my way home to Riga, having disembarked the Viking Vela after a highly enjoyable month searching for the northern lights. And we found them!! I really was beginning to despair. We had a few sightings, but rather lackluster. I wondered what all the fuss was about. And then in Tromso, on this final leg, we had a phenomenal display that lasted several hours and was simply spellbinding. I’m working on a longer piece for the website with...
about 2 months ago • 8 min read
March 22, 2026 Greetings! We have a lot of new subscribers of late, so let me extend my very warm welcome to the weekly Destination Curation Newsletter where I curate the history, culture, and cuisine of intriguing destinations around the world! This is a book recommendation week, and alternate weeks take a deep dive look at a city, region, museum, or other must-visit venue. Thank you for your interest in these topics. I hope you will find them entertaining and informative. Did you receive...
2 months ago • 6 min read
March 15, 2026 Greetings! Greetings from the Norwegian Sea, where we are enjoying two days of glorious scenic sailing! There is no room in the Explorers’ Lounge, but we’ve been enjoying breathtaking vistas as we walk around Deck 8. This is the third time we’ve sailed through Norway’s Inside Passage on this Viking voyage, and I think if we sailed another 33, we would still wonder at the grandeur and magnificence of the snow-capped mountains, the pristine fjords, and the dense pine forests. Did...
2 months ago • 9 min read
March 8, 2026 Greetings! Yesterday, Viking Vela docked in Ijmuiden, one of the cruise terminals for Amsterdam. As I explain in 8 Hours in Amsterdam: Canals, Culture, and Cuisine (2026), authorities are trying to curb over tourism, a perennial problem in the Dutch capital and Ijmuiden is used for larger ships. It’s further from Amsterdam, but it is quite close to several other highlights, including the famous Keukenhof Gardens and the traditional windmills of Zaanse Schans. Did you receive...
3 months ago • 7 min read
March 1, 2026 Greetings! Greetings from Tromso! Norway’s Arctic capital seems almost balmy today, with blue skies and a high of 4 degrees Celsius. We’ve warmed up since our last stop in Alta, way up in the north of Norway, which was…bracing. Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free subscription. We are well ensconced on Viking Vela. It’s been about a year and a half since I’ve sailed with Viking, and I am reminded of all the reasons I enjoy the experience....
3 months ago • 10 min read