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...
7 days 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....
14 days ago • 10 min read
February 22, 2026 Greetings from Beautiful Bergen, Norway! What a gorgeous day Bergen laid on for us yesterday! The sun was out, making everything from the pristine fjord water to muddy puddles glitter like diamonds. To us, coming from Latvia, today’s temperatures of +3 (Celsius) seemed almost balmy, but of course we are heading all the way up north several times during this month searching for the Northern Lights. Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free...
21 days ago • 11 min read
February 15, 2026 Greetings! Warm greetings from a very snowy Riga — we got 10 cm of snow yesterday, which has turned the city into a winter wonderland…if one that is difficult to navigate, particularly as I had to do. But we soldier on! Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free subscription. This has been a busy week, primarily of writing and cooking, and also preparing for the next cruise contract. So I haven’t much to report, but when I come to you next...
28 days ago • 8 min read
February 8, 2026 Greetings! Hello from Riga! Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free subscription. This has been a busy week, and one characterized by some trips around Latvia. Dmitry and I went to Ventspils to re-register our EU residency, grateful, as always, to the Government of Latvia for having us for another year! Yesterday, we made our way to Jelgava to explore that city’s annual ice sculpture festival. My association with ice sculptures stems...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
February 1, 2026 Greetings! Happy February! (January happened fast, did it not?) I’m coming to you once again from Riga, where I have really been sticking close to home, pulling ahead on several writing projects and administration, as well as the annual clutter bust, which is going splendidly. Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free subscription. RIP Catherine O'Hara I was so saddened to learn of the death of the marvelous Catherine O’Hara, and I am sure...
about 1 month ago • 7 min read
January 25, 2026 Greetings! I hope 2026 is treating you well! I’m still in frigid Riga, where I have been busy doing several pieces on Vikings, concocting hearty stews like this one, which was phenomenal, and still enjoying the luxury of being home while also gearing up for the next adventure in Norway! I’m in the midst of a very energetic clutter bust, which always gets my juices flowing — it’s also been a good excuse to listen to some marvelous audio entertainment. Did you receive this...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
January 18, 2026 Greetings! Hello from Riga, where we are enjoying a classic winter wonderland, lucky enough to still enjoy all the holiday lights in situ. This is very sensible of the city authorities as the sun doesn’t really show itself much before 9:00 am and bids us farewell around 3:30. My determination to get more steps in has been thwarted by serious sub-zero temperatures, which look likely to drop even further in the coming days. Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click...
about 2 months ago • 8 min read
January 11, 2026 Greetings! As you read this, I am making my way home after three months on the road, starting back in Monte Carlo in mid-October! We concluded our very enjoyable Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2, where I was delighted to be reunited with two fellow travelers from our epic voyage to Japan on Seabourn Quest. The cruise community is small, but very mighty. Did you receive this newsletter from a friend? Click here for your own free subscription. The Britannia Restaurant |...
2 months ago • 6 min read