Canadian World Traveller Summer 2016 issue

E g y p t S e c t i o n R i c k S t e v e s ’ E u r o p e C r u i s e N e w s E v i a nL

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C A N A D I A N

Summer/Fall 2016

Traveller

W O R L D

C o m e W i t h U s & S e e T h e W o r l d !

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Published by

Canadian World

Traveller

5473 Royalmount, Suite 224TMR (Montreal) , Qc Canada H4P 1J3

Tel.: (514) 738-8232www.canadianworldtraveller.com

Email: [email protected]

Publisher Michael MorcosEditor-in-chief Greg JamesContributing Editor David J. CoxGraphic Artist Al CheongAdvertising Leo SantiniMarketing Tania TassoneDistribution Royce Dillon

Contributors: Natalie Ayotte, David J. Cox,Susan Campbell, Jessica Percy-Campbell, Camille Fodi, Ilona Kauremszky, Steve Gillick, Mathieu Morcos, Ron Paquet,Johanna Read, Dwain RichardsonJennifer Merrick, & Rick Steves.Front Cover Photo by Michael Morcos:Jiangxi, China

Disclaimer: Canadian World Traveller has made everyeffort to verify that the information provided in this pub-lication is as accurate as possible. However, we acceptno responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconveniencesustained by anyone resulting from the information con-tained herein nor for any information provided by ouradvertisers.

Welcome to

Canadian World Traveller

In this issue, we start our worldwide tour inthe amazing province of Jiangxi, China, justin time for the very colourful Rapeseed

bloom before we explore the fabled Chinese‘Maritime Silk Road’. While in Asia, we also visitthe ever exciting city of Tokyo and then head offto relax in two wonderful hotels in Thailand.

In Europe, we follow Rick Steves to Munich anddiscover this great city and its local customs. Wethen head off to the charming French Alps townof Evian and the classy city of Lyon to start acruise with the wonderful Viking Cruises on theRhone River. We finish our European tour withanother fabulous cruise with the Crystal Line,visiting some marvellous Mediterranean citiesin France and Italy. Close by, we head off toexplore the beautiful, intriguing and mysteriousland of Egypt before jetting off to the NewWorld.

In the Caribbean, we find out all there is to seeand do in these beautiful tropical islands. In theAmerican west, we visit the picturesque nation-al parks in Utah and Colorado, and the alwaysexciting Las Vegas before heading to see themigratory birds in rural Nebraska and thequaint city of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Finally wehead to the southern shores of the ever popularbeach communities in Florida, and we will eventake some time to investigate the everglades.

Happy Travels!

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Canadian World TravellerC o n t e n t s

Jiangxi , China8

Rick Steves’ Europe 16

Stay & Play

C r u i s eS e c t i o n

U t a h2 0

Egypt22

Viking River Cruise

48

Florida 74

52

Tropical Tidbits 40

4 3

Superyachts & River Cruising 50

Hot Springs, Arkansas

D e s t i n a t i o n

C h i n a6 0

Around The Wor ld 68

N e b r a s k a 7 6

58

Crystal Cruise

Tokyo

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A m a z i n g

J i a n g x i

C h i n aA r t i c l e & P h o t o g r a p h y b y M i c h a e l M o r c o s

Canadian World Traveller Summer/Fall 2016

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Located in the southeast of China,Jiangxi province spans the banks of theYangtze river in the north into hillier

areas in the south. For the world traveller,this is a perfect place to visit in China, asmost foreigners in China visit other, betterknown provinces. During our visit, this ‘roadless travelled’ offered us less of the crowdsthat are found in the other popular Chinesedestinations.

Here we visited ancient villages, climbedmountains, feasted on wonderful cuisine,partook in tea ceremonies and witnessed theonce-a-year blooming of the very colorfulrapeseed flower fields.

Located to the northeast of Shangrao City,Mount Sanqingshan was added toUNESCO's World Heritage List on July 6th,2008. Considered a “treasure of the world",this would prove to be an amazing place tovisit on our first day.

The views from the top of the mountain arebreathtaking, but to experience them, the tripup the mountain is long, but not overwhelm-ing.

We had to take a gondola to get part of theway up, a ride that provided lovely panoram-ic views, and that was followed by hours ofclimbing.

Even though the hiking was on paved stepsand paths, and was easy for just about any-one to accomplish, the long walk made ourthighs burn with effort and pain. Luckily, wehad lunch at a wonderful restaurant. Here wewere treated to a spicy douchi (fermentedblack beans) and tofu (beancurd) stir frywhich offered us a delicious and relaxingbreak from the first trail we did, and gave usenergy for the second longer, though lessdemanding, trail that afternoon.

All around was pure nature, a good thingsince China is so populated and land is soover used. An amazing place and greatphoto ops all round!

We spent an entire day exploring the MountSan Qing Shan National Park. Marked by theconcentration of fantastically shaped pillars

and peaks - 48 granite peaks and 89 gran-ite pillars, many of which resemble human oranimal silhouettes – the magnificence of thismost unique park makes it a must visit forany serious traveler!

The natural beauty of the almost 2 kilometer-high Mount Huaiyu is further enhanced bythe combination of granite features with thevegetation and the particular meteorologicalconditions which make for an ever-changingand impressive landscape.

Famous as a cultural and ecological touristcounty, Wu Yuan County has several nick-names, including “the Hometown of Books”,“the Hometown of Tea”, and even “the mostpicturesque village of China”! Many routesare available for travellers to explore.

Eastward are some attractive and protectedancient villages of the Ming and QingDynasties placed among a lovely pastorallandscape.

Covered with forests, the northern route fea-tures Dazhang Mountain and the WolongValley, scenic and tourist friendly. The valleyis home to over 4,000 different species andalso houses more than 150 highly endan-gered giant pandas

The west route contains an ecologically pro-tected area and is one of the largest wildmandarin duck habitats in the world. We hadgreat timing, as the rapeseed plants were infull bloom and would prove to be anotherhighlight of this trip.

Endless fields of amazing yellow colouredflowers, which, on a sunny day, were anincredible site that made me want to sit thereall day and soak in the beauty. It was yetanother great photo back drop.

Right in the middle of this part of the provincewas the small, ancient village of Yan, wheretime stands still and the locals are warm andwelcoming. Picture-perfect, it offers visitors aglimpse of rural china. We walked throughsmall alleyways and saw the locals goingabout their day. Some were cleaning, otherspreparing meals and enjoying the quiet life.A moment of peace and tranquility for a busytraveller!

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Wangkou Village is surrounded by riversand mountains on three sides, and featuresancient residences that have stood for morethan 1,000 years. Within its borders are thefamous ancient Yu Family Ancestral Hall, andmany other attractive scenic spots like YijingHall and Maode Hall which are essentialparts of this village.

We again got lucky, as we witnessed a wed-ding with our guide who explained the pro-ceedings. The ancestral temple serves amajor symbolic function and during the wed-ding rites, the bride and groom worship atthe groom's ancestral shrine, bowing 4 times.The first is for Heaven and Earth, second bowfor the ancestors, a third bow to parents andthe fourth bow to their new spouse.

In ancient times, this village was an impor-tant trading post where thousands of mer-chants would share their treasures. The vil-lage is careful to preserve this history, andwhen you visit the village, you can sense theages through the ancient halls, merchants’residences and bookstores that fill the streets.

One memorable trip was a tour of the GuYan Factory (an ancient kiln) in Jingdezhen,where they have been making ‘China’(ceramics) for centuries, still crafted today asit was hundreds of years ago. The factory isa very popular place, and it was interestingto watch the workers at different stationscrafting such artistic items, from the raw clayto the finished painted pieces, glazing andfiring. Everything from plates to elaboratevases are made and offered for sale here.

Many westerners have come to the factory tofind out how they were so good at porcelain,and later brought these techniques to Europeto start new industries there. Also known asthe “World Capital of Porcelaine”, this largecomplex contains many buildings in a natu-ral setting. Near the end of the tour, wewere treated to a music show were all theinstruments were made of ceramics - bells,flutes, violins...astounding and unique to saythe least!

To end this wonderful day we visited theCeramics Museum housed in a brand newmodern building. There were priceless pieces

that dated back centuries from the Dynastyemperors themselves!

Another fine day, another majestic area. ThePoyang National Wetland Park containsPoyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake inChina, as well as Poyang Lake wetland,which is the largest wetland in Asia, andserves as a breeding ground for over 50kinds of rare birds. We were treated to a boattour of the massive park and got to see whitecranes and swans and an enormous diversi-ty of plants and other animals. In 2011, itbecame one of China's first state-level wet-land parks and is a clear example of China'sfishing and farming lake culture.

After that, we switched gear and visitedNanchang, the capital city. Some estimatesstate that this area was populated as muchas 50,000 years ago!

There is so much to do in this massive city of5 million, including the Star of Nanchang,which was the world's tallest Ferris wheelfrom 2006-2008, Tengwang Pavilion, a tow-ering pavilion dating back to the year 653(one of "the Four Great Towers of China"), thePeople’s Park ( the largest park in downtownNanchang), Bayi Square and Memorial,commemorates the 1927 uprising, which ledto the formation of modern China in 1949.

Our visit also included the Sheng Jin Tower, amajor attraction here. The building has beenbuilt and rebuilt many times, as fire haddestroyed previous builds. This multi-levelpagoda right by the river offers a lesson inChinese history, a good walk and an amaz-ing view!

In contrast to all these landmarks was theultra-modern mall with many upscale brandname designer shops in side –not expectedat all, and quite amazing in itself!

All the way through this trip we had fabulousmeals with choices for many different vege-tarian and meat plates and always eatenaround traditional round tables where thereis no head to the table.

www.tourismchina.org


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Tetsuro Koyano’s great-grandfatherwas a renowned sword master. Fiveyears ago Koyano decided to turn

emotion and passion into reality and accom-plishment, by starting a collection of historicSamurai armour, helmets, guns and swords.In 2015 he opened the Samurai Museum inthe Shinjuku district of Tokyo to allow visitorsto get up close and personal with the world ofthe samurai, and for the action-oriented, the

opportunity to practice stances, glares, threatsand thrusts (using wooden swords) alongsidethe resident sword master.

It’s a pretty thrilling museum but only one ofmany Tokyo activities that respond to theneeds of today’s traveller to realize value inevery vacation experience as well as to getinvolved in, and connect with the destination,to better understand what makes it tick.

In the Monzen Nakacho area of Tokyo weheaded to Orihara, a stand-up sake bar on abusy side street. The plastic milk crates piledon top of each other and topped with asquare of wood laminate serve as tables out-side the entrance, while inside the bar lies atreasure trove of up to 150 different sakes(depending on the season).

Takeshi Hashimoto the manager, explainedthat the bar features the products of small

Keep ing Pac e w i th Tokyo

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A r t i c l e & P h o t o g r a p h y b y S t e v e G i l l i c k

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sake producers throughout the country toshow not only the diversity of the brews butalso the creative talents of sake brewers.Patrons can sample and quaff to their heart’scontent as they seek sakes that best matchtheir mood and their palate.

Not too far away in the Shimbashi area, abuilding full of small eateries and stand-upsake bars features Shinshu Osake Mura. Thisbar specializes in sakes from the Naganoregion but to stay in touch with the latesttrends, it has recently become a magnet forcraft beer aficionados who enjoy the refresh-ing complexity of flavours that craft beershave to offer. In fact while we were in thebar, several tourists dropped by to purchasebottles as gifts and souvenirs.

And with taste in mind, we attended a BentoMaking class with True Japan Tour, to learnabout the allure of the ubiquitous ‘bento’ box.‘Bento’ means ‘convenience’ and usuallyrefers to a lunch box, divided into sections,each containing a different food item. Theyare sold in food courts, convenience stores,bus terminals, train stations and airports, witheach type of box featuring different foodcombinations.

Under the tutelage of Miss Sayoko Noma andMiss Naoka Eguchi, our goal was to fill eachof the six sections of our bento box with a dif-ferent tasty treat. We started off making aJapanese omelet in a square frying pan, andcontinued with a dish of pumpkin and okraboiled in dashi broth. This was followed bychicken tsekouneh: minced chicken, gentlyfried and glazed with sugar, soy sauce andcooking sake. Another dish consisted ofdeep-fried marinated chicken strips, and thena touch of colour was added to the meal withdelicately-arranged green beans (edamame)and cherry tomatoes. We made Onigiri as anaddition to the Bento meal, consisting of riceballs wrapped in Nori (seaweed); one withflaked salmon inside and one with kelp. Andthen finally for the last dish, we turned applequarters into ‘rabbit-ear apples’ with the“ears” standing up on the rabbit’s head; asure lunch winner for kids (and adults too!)

But in Tokyo, refined tastes come in all shapesand sizes as we discovered later in the after-noon when we took our seats in the

Taiwanese Pineapple Cake Shop in theOmote Sando area to taste the delicate sweetdessert. We were not in the shop due tohunger, but because we were on an architec-tural discovery tour of the Omote Sandoneighborhood with our City of Tokyo guideMiss Akiko Enoki.

The building in which the shop is located isreferred to as “Sunny Hills” and was designedby Kenzo Kuma, one of Japan’s most cele-brated architects. Sunny Hills stands out withits striking wooden construction amidst a fair-ly ordinary-looking residential neighbour-hood. Kuma’s trademark is the melding ofnature with modern construction, and thenearby Nezu Museum, with its wall of bam-boo trees is one example, while the newStadium that Kuma is designing for Tokyo’s2020 Olympics and referred to as the “habit-able forest” is another attempt to use archi-tecture to showcase the harmony betweenman and nature.

A few streets over we saw another Olympicconnection in the Prada Building, designed byHerzog and de Meuron who also designedBeijing’s Bird Nest Stadium for the 2008games. Our guide pointed out other impor-tant buildings in the area that showcased thework of architectural luminaries such as JunMitsui, Tadao Ando and Tyo Ito (the latterdesigned Tod’s Building on the main strip, tomimic the zelkova trees that line the streets ofthe Omote Sando district). And other archi-tectural wonders are spread throughout thecity including the Cocoon Building andMetropolitan Building in Shinjuku, the AudiForum, known as the Blue Iceberg in Shibuyaand the iconic Tokyo Sky Tree in Sumida.

In fact, Tokyo’s neighbourhoods are a sourceof adventure and discovery on their own.One can get off at just about any subway sta-tion and, armed with curiosity and a camera,discover picturesque streets, small specialtyshops, unique Izakayas and bars, and theneighbourhood ambiance. We found this tobe true on the narrow streets of ShimoKitazawa, in the old shops along the mainstreet of Ningyocho, and in Monzen Nakachowhere we had dinner at Uosan, an inexpen-sive, extremely popular (line-ups begin at4:00 pm) seafood restaurant. In Kappabashi,where you can purchase just about anything

that relates to kitchens and culinary prepara-tion, you can also find Wasuke, a smallIzakaya with a friendly atmosphere and excel-lent food.

Getting actively involved in a destinationinevitably involves the arts, and Tokyo has awealth of excellent theatres and museums,from the Kabuki Theatre in Ginza to the Edo-Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku and on to tradi-tional and contemporary art galleries spreadthroughout the city. One of the more interest-ing was a visit to the Mori Art Museum inRappongi Hills where the featured exhibit wasTakashi Murakami’s masterpiece, the 500Arhats.

In Buddhism the word ‘arhat’ refers to a per-son who is far advanced on the path toEnlightenment. After the 2011 tsunami andearthquake that devastated the Tohokuregion, Murakami wanted to do something tohelp people recover from the despair. Hisresponse was a 100 metre long painting,divided into four panels, that portrayed the500 Arhats and emphasized 500 ways ofhealing human suffering, as was done in theold days, through stories, legends, mythology,spiritual beliefs and even humour.

The successful blending of the old and thenew in art, architecture, cuisine, museumsand neighbourhoods is the hallmark of adynamic city. Keeping pace with the ever-evolving city of Tokyo is a pleasurable chal-lenge and a boon for travellers who aresearching for new, exciting and meaningfuldiscoveries and experiences.

www.gotokyo.org

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New Town Hall, with its beloved glocken-spiel--only 100 years old--that recreates aroyal wedding from the 16th century.

Nearby, you can experience small-townMunich at the Viktualienmarkt, long afavorite with locals for fresh produce andfriendly service. While this expensive realestate could have been overrun by fast foodplaces, Munich keeps the rent low so theseold-time shops can carry on.

The oldest church in town, St. Peter’s, a fewsteps from Marienplatz, is part of the soul ofthe city (according to a popular song,“Munich is not Munich without St. Peter’s”).And wherever you walk, you’ll see the twinonion domes of the Frauenkirche, the city’siconic church. Along with much of Munich,the church was badly damaged in WorldWar II, then lovingly rebuilt and gloriouslyrestored.

After the war, people who lived inGermany's heavily bombed cities debatedhow they'd rebuild. Should they reconstructthe old towns, or bulldoze and start overfrom scratch? Frankfurt voted to go modern(and is today nicknamed "Germany'sManhattan"), but the people of Munichrebuilt their old town center.

City leaders took care to preserve Munich’soriginal street plan and recreate themedieval steeples, Neo-Gothic facades,and Neoclassical buildings. They blockedoff the city center to cars, built the people-friendly U-Bahn (subway) system, andopened up Europe’s first pedestrian-onlyzone--which let’s you stroll peacefully rightthrough the old center. Only now, morethan 70 years after the last bombs fell, arethe restorations finally wrapped up.

As Germany's beer capital, Munich offersclassic beer halls complete with cheapfood, noisy fun, oompah music, and riversof beer. While the boisterous and belchingBavarian atmosphere can be extremelytouristy, everybody's having a great time.Connoisseurs have their favorite brews--and to get it, they simply go to the beer hallthat serves it.

When I was in Munich recently, my localguide, Georg, took me to his favorite beerhall, Der Pschorr. At some beer gardens,they have a big wooden keg out on display,but actually draw the beer from huge stain-less-steel dispensers. At Der Pschorr, everyfew minutes you hear a “whop” as they tapa classic old wooden keg. Hearing this,every German there knows they're in for agood fresh mug.

Despite its population of 1.4 mil-lion, Munich (or “München,” asit’s called in German) feels

small. This big-city elegance is possible, inpart, because of its determination to bepedestrian- and bike-friendly, and becauseof a law that no building can be taller thanits church spires. There’s ongoing debateabout changing this policy, but there arestill no skyscrapers in downtown Munich.

Walking through Munich, you’ll understandwhy it is consistently voted one of

Germany’s most livable cities--safe, clean,cultured, a university town, built on a peo-ple scale, and close to the beauties ofnature. Though it’s the capital of Bavariaand a major metropolis, Munich’s low-keyatmosphere has led Germans to dub it“Millionendorf”--the “village of a millionpeople.”

Dawdling in the sunlit main square calledMarienplatz (“Mary’s Square”), I love totake in the ornate facades of the gray,pointy Old Town Hall and the Neo-Gothic

Munich at its Best:Small-Town Charm and Free-Flowing Beer

b y R i c k S t e v e s

The twin green domes of Munich’s Frauenkircheoverlook the city’s bustling main square, Marienplatz.

Photo: Pat O’Connor, Rick Steves' Europe

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Wandering through the legions ofhappy, companionable drinkers inthe beer halls and enjoying therelaxed, small-town atmosphere of theMarienplatz, I mused that Munich is aboutas gemütlich as it gets. Gemütlich is aunique word for Bavaria's special cozinessand its knack for savoring the moment. Youcan feel it anytime you spend an eveningclinking frothy mugs with new friends, orwandering the atmospheric lanes of this citythat respects its past while looking energet-ically into the future.

© 2016 Rick Steves' Europe. All rights reserved.

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writesEuropean travel guidebooks and hosts travelshows on public television and public radio.Email him at [email protected]. I asked if they sell half-liters. Georg said,

"This is a ‘Biergarten,’ not a kindergarten!"He ordered us each the standard full Mass,or liter glass (about a quart, nearly whatwe'd call “ein pitcher”--but it’s meant forone person). Waitresses carry armloads ofthese heavy mugs seemingly with ease.

While we enjoyed our time at Der Pschorr,first-time visitors shouldn’t miss theHofbräuhaus, a place that really lives up tothe name “beer hall.” Although it’sgrotesquely touristy, it’s a Munich must. Thesmoke-stained ceiling, repaired andrepainted after WWII bomb damage, is anevocative mesh of 1950s German mod--Bavarian colors, chestnuts, food, drink, andmusical themes.

There are plenty of other intoxicatingMunich beer halls. Spatenhaus is theopera-goers’ beer hall, serving more ele-gant food in a traditional setting on thesquare facing the opera and palace. Thetrendy Andechser am Dom, at the rear ofthe Frauenkirche, serves Andechs beer--myfavorite--and great food to appreciativeregulars. Nürnberger Bratwurst Glöckl amDom, just across from Andechser am Dom,is popular with tourists for its delightful littlesausages. Dine outside under the trees or inthe dark, medieval, cozy interior--patrolledby wenches and spiked with antlers.

The partying gets turned up a notch everyfall, when the city celebrates Oktoberfest.The festival lasts just over two weeks (Sept.17–Oct. 3 in 2016), starting on the thirdSaturday in September and usually endingon the first Sunday in October (but neverbefore Oct. 3--the day Germany celebratesits reunification).

Oktoberfest kicks things off with an open-ing parade of almost 8,000 participants.Every night, it fills 32 beer tents with morethan 100,000 people. A million gallons ofbeer later, they roast the last ox.

The Theresienwiese fairground (south of themain train station), known as the Wies’n,erupts in a frenzy of rides, dancing, andstrangers strolling arm-in-arm down rowsof picnic tables, while the beer god stirstons of brew, pretzels, and wurst in a bub-bling cauldron of fun. The triple-loop rollercoaster must be the wildest on earth (bestbefore the beer-drinking).

Munich is so into its beer culture that it evenhas a Beer and Oktoberfest Museum, whichtells the origins of the city’s Oktoberfest cel-ebration. While it may be a museum, theexhibit comes with a malty bias and seemsdesigned to make two points: beer is truly apeople’s drink, and you’ll get the very besthere in Munich.

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Take a Hike to Celebrate US National Parks’

100th Year Anniversary!

A r t i c l e & P h o t o g r a p h y b y J e n n i f e r M e r r i c k

If you want to worry less and feel good,take a hike.

Studies have proven that simply taking awalk in nature produces brain waves simi-lar to those that occur in meditation andsignificantly reduces stress, boosts immunefunction and improves memory and mentalability.

There are many places to lace up yourboots, but to celebrate America’s NationalParks’ 100th birthday, I’d like to share withyou a couple of phenomenal hikes I recent-ly had the pleasure of doing at two of theUnited States’ most iconic natural wonders--The Grand Canyon and Zion NationalPark.

South Kaibab Trail at the

Grand Canyon (South Rim)

I have to admit that my first impression ofthe famous canyon wasn’t as grand as Ithought it would be. Walking along the rimon the evening we arrived, there were somany people. Yes, it was gorgeous, dra-matic and certainly a sight, but it didn’t takemy breath away. I wasn’t filled with the aweI thought I would be. Perhaps it was just toovast, the multi-colored rocks too fadedfrom the distance. Or maybe my expecta-tions were just too high. Luckily, my firstimpression wasn’t my last.

Early the next morning, taking the shuttlebus from the visitors’ center, we set off on ahike on the South Kaibab Trail. As wedescended into the canyon, the awe thathad been missing the evening beforebegan to fill me. After an hour’s hike, wereached Cedar Ridge Point, and venturedonto the pick rock that jetted out into thecanyon. For a while, we sat completelyalone, just us and the canyon that grewmore magnificent by the second. The col-ors of the layered rock formations changedcontinuously, sparkling in the sun, reveal-ing a glimpse of its millions of years of geo-logical history. Here the Grand Canyonexceeded all of my highest expectations.

Back at the top of the South KaibabTrailhead, we walked part of the Rim Trail,a 12-mile accessible path that runs fromthis trailhead to Hermits Rest. This sectionof the trail was also virtually empty; andonce again I was filled with wonder andglad we took time to explore a bit insteadof just passing through.

If you go: We stayed at the Best WesternPremier Grand Squire Inn in the Grand

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21Canyon Village, approximately 7.5 milesfrom the park’s entrance. Helpful staff andultra-comfortable beds made it an idealbase for our hiking trip. We also loved thevintage photos of early tourists exploringthe canyon in the rooms and hallways.

Accommodations inside the park includethe historic El Tovar and Bright AngelLodges. For the true adventurer, there isPhantom Lodge that lies at the bottom ofthe canyon. Reservations are necessary andcan be made up to 13 months in advance.

The Narrows at

Zion National Park

Unlike the Grand Canyon, I knew very littleabout Zion National Park in Southern Utah.But as I planned our Grand Canyon roadtrip, I came across stunning photos of thiswilderness area and knew it was some-where we had to include in our road trip.

Zion was named when Nephi Johnson, thefirst permanent European- American settler,declared, “A man can worship God amongthese great cathedrals as well as in anyman-made church – this is Zion.” Its heav-enly landscape does look like it’s beencarved from above with its fiery red andorange sandstone cliffs and canyons.Warning: It’s very hard to keep your eyeson the road as you drive through it.

Hiking in the 229 square mile nationalpark can range from easy paved trails likethe Lower Emerald Pool Trail to the chal-lenging Angel Landing, where you’ll haveto navigate steep switchbacks and vertigoinducing cliffs to reach the summit and thereward of a jaw-dropping vista of ZionCanyon.

We decided to do one of the parks mostfamous hikes, The Narrows, an excursionthat’s different than most as the trail is ariver. With cold water that can be up towaist-high deep and varying currents, it’sessential to prepare for this hike.Fortunately, there are several outfitters inthe nearby town of Springdale that can setyou up for a Narrows hike. We visited theZion Outfitter, just outside the park’sentrance, and came out wearing a bib drysuit that looked like rubber overalls, neo-prene socks and water shoes and holding awooden walking stick. Among the other vis-itors wearing shorts and a t-shirts, I feltsomewhat conspicuous as I boarded thepark shuttlebus to the Temple of Sinawava,our point of departure and last stop of theshuttle. “They’re doing The Narrows hike,”I heard one woman whisper to her friend.


“That’ll be the day,” I heard the friend whis-per back. Although she could have said,“I’d like to do that one day”. I was a littleworried about what I was getting myselfinto.

The hike began with the Riverside Walk, apaved trail that follows the Virgin River. Butinstead of turning back at the end of thetrail, we stepped into the water and pro-ceeded from there. Because of the currentsand varying depths, we’d often wait forothers to cross before we tried to traverse aparticular stretch. Other hikers did thesame and at one point, where the waterseemed particularly fast, another couplestopped. We all looked at each other withthe unspoken question hanging in the air:“Who’s going first?” It didn’t matter in theend, since not far behind us were a groupof young college students who crossedeffortlessly. I tried to follow their lead, butmy knuckles were white from gripping thewalking stick so tightly.

It was well worth the effort, however, for theincredible soaring views. The deep orangecliffs towered above us at heights of up to200 feet and the width could taper to 20feet at spots. I felt completely dwarfed bythe grandeur of it all. We trekked for abouttwo hours before turning back, but moreambitious and athletic hikers could go asfar as Big Springs (a five-hour hike) withouta permit.

However the hike was enough time for meto forget any problems at home, work orwhat’s on the nine o’clock news. Enoughtime to appreciate just how incredible theseNational Parks are. And to know that I needto spend more time hiking.

If you go: We stayed at the Best WesternRed Hills in Kanab. Once again it was acomfortable base for our South Utah excur-sions, and the helpful staff gave us excel-lent recommendations for dining and hik-ing within town. The town of Kanab is anideal hub for exploring as it’s in easy driv-ing distance of some of America’s mostscenic wonders including Lake Powell,Bryce Canyon National Park, GrandStaircase/Escalante National Monumentand, of course, Zion National Park.

www.grandcanyonsquire.com

www.grandcanyonlodges.com

www.visitarizona.com

www.visitsouthernutah.com

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Temple of Ramses II, Abu Simbel


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Join us as in these eight-pages as we explore this most beautiful, intriguing and mysteries corner of the world.

At the Crossroads of History, Culture & Civilizationsby Dwain Richardson

King Tutankhamun's Mask

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Egypt has been steeped into histo-ry for the longest time. Becausethere has been a lot of interest in

Egypt’s history, historians coined the term“Egyptology,” which is the study ofpharaonic Egypt. Egyptology spanned theperiod between c. 4500 BCE and CE 641.How did Egyptology begin? Scholars goingwith Napoleon Bonaparte’s invasion ofEgypt published the Description de l’Égypte(1809–1828); this publication made hugequantities of source materials aboutancient Egypt available for Europeans.

Did you know that written Egyptian docu-ments dated to c. 3150 BCE? This was thefirst time that pharaohs developed thehieroglyphic script in Upper Egypt. Thesescripts provided the source material forEgyptological study.

Following the Arab conquest, only theCopts kept the ancient language alive (writ-ten in Greek characters). Coptic texts takenEgypt during the Renaissance awakenedinterest in the Egyptian language. GermanJesuit Athanasius Kircher published aCoptic grammar in 1643; European trav-ellers returned to Egypt with antiquities andstories of wondrous ruins. What’s more,Egyptology became an academic disciplinein France, England, and Germany.

American museums opened Egyptian col-lections in the late nineteenth and earlytwentieth centuries. The University ofPennsylvania, the Metropolitan Museum ofArt, and the Brooklyn Museum are some ofmusic collections that have done a lot ofwork in Egypt.

On the geographical front, Egypt has twocoastlines on the Mediterranean and RedSea. It borders Libya to the west, the GazaStrip and Israel to the east, and Sudan tothe south.

Egypt has an area of 1,001,449 squarekilometres. The longest straight-line dis-tance from north to south is 1,024 kilome-tres, and the straight-line distance fromeast to west is 1,240 kilometres long. Thecountry’s maritime boundaries measuremore than 2,900 kilometres of coastlinealong the Mediterranean Sea, the Gulf ofSuez, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Red Sea.

Most of the country is made of desert.Thirty-five thousand square kilometres(3.5%) of the total land area is cultivatedand permanently settled. Most of Egypt islocated within the desert zone that runs eastfrom Africa’s Atlantic Coast and connectswith southwestern Asia.

Four leading geological regions are pres-ent in Egypt: Nile Valley and Nile Delta,Western Desert (also known as LibyanDesert), Eastern Desert (an extension fromthe Nile Valley until the Red Sea Coast),and Sinai Peninsula. Of the geologicalregions, the Nile Valley and Nile Delta arethe most significant areas, though theycover only 5.5% of the country’s total area.

Cairo

While you’re in the country’s capital, besure to visit the following attractions:

Great Pyramid of Giza

This is the oldest and largest of three pyra-mids in the Giza complex. It borders ElGiza. The Great Pyramid is one of theSeven Wonders of the Ancient World, and isthe only structure that has remained intactover the years. The Great Pyramid hasthree chambers. The lowest chamber wascut into the bedrock, which served as thechamber’s foundation and was left unfin-ished. The Queen’s and King’s Chamberare the second layer of this structure. Lastly,the upper layer is made of buildings thatused to include two mortuary temples tohonour Khufu, Egypt’s second pharaoh ofthe fourth dynasty, three smaller pyramidsfor Khufu’s wives, a “satellite” pyramid, araised causeway to join the two temples,and small mastaba tombs. (Mastabameans “house for eternity” or “eternalhouse.”)

Great Sphinx of Giza

This is a national symbol for ancient andmodern Egypt. The sphinx is carved fromthe Giza plateau’s bedrock. If you look at itcarefully, you’ll see that it looks like a lion’sbody. The head looks like that of a king orgod. The sphinx symbolizes wisdom andstrength. Visitors would be pleased to notethat the sphinx has been recently restored.You can find the Great Sphinx at the NileRiver’s west tip, located near Cairo. Whilevisiting, let yourself be amazed by the manytemples that surround the sphinx. Some ofthese temples contain multiple sphinxes.

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

This is Egypt’s largest museum. It opened in1902. Visitors will be greeted with 107halls, huge statues (on the ground floorlevel), small statues, jewels, Tutankhamontreasures, and mummies (all on the upperlevel). Interested in photos? The EgyptianMuseum of Antiquities has dedicated a sec-tion to photography. And if you like books,periodicals, and other written material,you’ll be able to visit the library. Lastly, themuseum dedicates seven sections to treas-ures and monuments in chronologicalorder. See Tutankhamon’s treasures in thefirst section. All pre-dynasty and OldKingdom monuments are found in the sec-ond section. The third section presents thefirst intermediate period and MiddleKingdom monuments. In the fourth, checkout the Modern Kingdom monuments. Inthe fifth section, find all the late periodmonuments (including those of the Greekand Roman periods). Find coins andpapyrus in the sixth section, and sarcopha-gi and scrabs in the last section.

Mosque of Muhammad Ali

You can see this Ottoman mosque from amile away. It was built in the nineteenthcentury and in honour of Tusun Pasha,Muhammad Ali’s oldest son, who passedaway in 1816. Architect Yusuf Bushnakcompleted the structure in 1848. Themosque and citadel are some of manyattractions and landmarks in Cairo. Stepinside the mosque and you’ll see that itsarchitecture is typical of Turkish style. Themosque has a main dome surrounded byfour small and semicircular domes. Theminarets are cylindrical and have two bal-conies and conical caps (you’ll see these onthe mosque’s western side). The mosque ismade primarily of limestone. The lowerstorey and forecourt, however, are made ofalabaster. The mosque’s western entranceleads to the open courtyard. The courtyardis surrounded by rounded arcades withsmall domes. You will notice a marbledfountain in the middle of the courtyard,


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built by Ismail Pasha in 1828. One lastdetail about the courtyard: Note an ironclock on the western wall, presented toMuhammad Ali by King Louis Philippe(France).

The Hanging Church (St. Virgin Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church)

This is one of Egypt’s oldest churches. Thehistory of this particular church dates backto the third century A.D. Why is this attrac-tion known as the Hanging Church? It is sit-uated above a Babylon Fortress gatehouse,and its nave is suspended over a passage.Unlike most churches that may have asmany as ten steps, the Hanging Church hastwenty-nine. Be prepared for a long hikeup! Once you enter the church, be pre-pared to see 110 icons. Of these icons, theoldest dates back to the eighth century. Theothers, however, hail from the eighteenthcentury. The iconostases within the churchare made of ebony and ivory, just like themain altar. The icons depict a number ofreligious personalities, including the VirginMary, the Twelve Apostles, and St. John theBaptist.

Khan el-Khalili

Care to do some shopping during your stayin Cairo? You’d want to stop by Khan el-Khalili. This bazaar district is the city’s mainattraction for residents and tourists alike.The bazaar, which was first a mausoleum,used to be the heart of Cairo’s economicactivity; sultans would build businessesnearby. Today, most Egyptians run busi-nesses here. Take advantage of buyinglocal products (souvenirs, antiques, jew-ellery). But there’s more: take a sip of cof-fee or shisha at one of the many coffee-houses along the strip. If you’re feelinghunger pangs, many restaurants are atyour fingertips. If you prefer to buy foods,you’ll come across many food vendorsthroughout the market.

Sinai Peninsula

Ras Muhammed National Park

This is the most famous park in the countryknown for scuba diving. As you dive belowthe crystal waters of the Red Sea, you’ll seemany coral reefs and various species. Thesea walls are breathtaking, too. RasMuhammed National Park became a pro-tected area in 1983. Divers, please note:You cannot dive anywhere you please. Youneed to dive in selected areas only. Anotherimportant tip: Visitors must vacate thepremises by sunset. The best places forscuba diving? Shark and Yolanda Reefs.

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Both reefs are mountain-like peaks risingfrom a sandy sea bed spread out below thesurface. You can also scuba dive at SatelliteReef if the sea current isn’t too strong.

St. Catherine’s Monastery

Its official name is Sacred Monastery of theGod-Trodden Mount Sinai, and is locatedat the foot of Mount Sinai. It is part of theChurch of Sinai, which is a member of thewider Eastern Orthodox Church. Like otherchurches in the country, St. Catherine’sMonastery teems with iconic art, particular-ly mosaics. Most of the art is in the form ofhot wax painting. In addition to mosaics,visitors will find several liturgical objects,chalices and reliquaries, and church build-ings. A few other points of note: Themonastery has the oldest operating library.St. Catherine City, located around themonastery, is a small town with hotels andswimming pools. The monastery is aUNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sharm-el-Sheikh

This is a city located on Sinai Peninsula’ssouthern tip and along the Red Sea coastalstrip. This is the economic hub for the coun-try’s southern governorate, and includescities such as Dahab and Nuweiba. You’llfind St. Catherine’s Monastery and MountSinai nearby. Most importantly, Sharm-el-Sheikh is a holiday resort for tourists.Watersport and scientific tourism enthusi-asts will appreciate this southern city agreat deal: it is possible to do snorkellingand scuba diving, and those interested inspecies will be happy to note that there are250 various coral reefs and one thousandtypes of fish. And let’s not forget theresorts: Aqua Blu Sharm Resort is one ofmany resorts tourists can choose from foraccommodation and meals. For the curi-ous, Aqua Blu is a four-star hotel resort.

Nile River

Many boating companies offer cruisesalong the Nile River. Some companies ofnote are Avalon Waterways, EmeraldWaterways, and Memphis Tours. Visit thecompany websites for information on faresand booking.

Luxor

Located in Upper Egypt and often charac-terized as “the world’s greatest open-airmuseum” (characterized as such becausethe temple complex ruins in Luxor andKarnak are in the modern city). Templesand museums grace Luxor’s east bank.Temples also make up the many attractions


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in the west bank. In addition, you’ll find twovalleys of note—Valley of the Kings andQueens—Tombs of the Nobles, Deir el-Medina (workers’ village), and Malkata(palace for Amenophis III, ninth pharaoh ofthe eighteenth dynasty).

Valley of the Kings

This is the place where people constructedtombs for pharaohs and powerful noblesfor five hundred years (sixteenth to eleventhcentury B.C.). Visitors can find this valley onthe Nile’s west bank. The valley is dividedin two: East Valley and West Valley (mosttombs are in the eastern zone).Unfortunately, most tombs are not open tothe public, and the tombs that are openmay sometimes close whenever restorationwork must be done. Only one tomb isaccessible to the public in the West Valley.Visitors must have a ticket in hand to seethe site. Guides will show you around thetomb, but they cannot talk while visitinginside. Sorry, camera lovers: photographyis no longer permitted inside the tomb’swalls.

Karnak Temple Complex

Come see a mix of temples, chapels,pylons, and other buildings at this complex.Construction began during the MiddleKingdom period and continued into thePtolemaic period. Did you know thatKarnak is a common name in popular cul-ture? It’s been the feature location for anumber of movie scenes in Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen and The MummyReturns. Agatha Christie’s Death on theNile takes place aboard the S.S. Karnaksteamship. And a number of music groups,including the British symphonic metal bandBal-Sagoth, make mention of Karnak insongs like “Unfettering the Hoary Sentinelsof Karnak.” This is a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site.

Aswan

This is another southern city in Egypt. Whatmakes Aswan special? It teems with touristsyear-round. In fact, Aswan is an ideal win-ter destination for many, since the NileRiver offers breathtaking views. The riverflows through granite rocks, round emeraldislands covered in palm groves, and tropi-cal plants. And like most Egyptian destina-tions, Aswan does not fall short of sites ormonuments. Interested in visiting the AghaKhan Monastery? Sail across to the PhilaeTemple. If you want to see more attractions,why not take a trip to St. Simeon’sMonastery? Another feature of this city isculture. Take a bite into local fish produce

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temples in Egypt. The hypostyle hall is char-acterized by pillars representing Ramseslinked to Osiris, the underworld god. Thisindicates the pharaoh’s everlasting nature.You’ll also see colossal statues; some ofthem bear a white crown of Upper Egypt,and others wear a double crown of Upperand Lower Egypt. A pillared hall follows thehypostyle hall. The pillared hall featuresvarious scenes of royalty and victories inpast wars. The Small Temple is known forits statues of a king and his queen. Here’sone particularity with the Small Temple:scenes with the queen playing instrumentsadorn the walls. (The instrument in questionis the sinistrum.) Pillars and bas-reliefsdepict various scenes with pharaohs,queens, gods, and goddesses.

The Western Desert

Siwa Oasis

This is an Egyptian oasis sandwichedbetween the Qattara Depression and theEgyptian Land Sea in the Libyan Desert. It isone of the country’s most isolated settle-ments with a population of 23,000.

Agriculture is the main industry in the oasis,though tourism has become a runner-up inrecent times.

With respect to culture, Berber inhabitants

at a restaurant while listening to Nubianmusic. Want to spice up your food? Stop byat a local market and purchase localspices. Up for a tattoo? You can get ahenna (flowering plant) tattoo while you’rehere. If you want to take a bit of Aswan withyou as you return home, be sure to buysouvenirs and African handmade goods atthe Aswan Bazaar. Finally, if you ever havearthritis or any type of pain during yourstay, you can bury your body aches in thecity’s sand. Aswan also has a number ofsites for people to relax and rejuvenate.

Abu Simbel Temples

These are two massive rock temples locat-ed in Abu Simbel, a village in Nubia, nearthe Sudan border. You can find the templeson the western bank of Lake Nasser, 230kilometres southwest of Aswan. To avoidbeing submerged by Lake Nasser, the tem-ples were relocated in 1968. This is aUNESCO World Heritage Site; the complexis coined the “Nubian Mountains,” sincethey run from Abu Simbel to Philae, nearAswan. Two temples await visitors upontheir arrival. The Great Temple is thelargest. When you arrive at the entrance,you will see a bas-relief representing twoimages of the king worshipping RaHarakhti, a falcon head. Step inside thetemple and take a look at the layout. It istriangular in shape, as are most ancient

in the oasis were talented in creatingbasketry, pottery, silverwork, andembroidery crafts. Dress styles werealso of major significance, especially bridalsilver and silver ornaments/beads womenwore at events. As roads and televisionservices made headway in the Siwa Oasis,all silver ornaments were eventuallyreplaced by gold ornaments.

Like most parts of Egypt, the Siwa Oasishas its share of festivals. The Sihaya Festivalis by far the leading festival in the area. Ithonours Saint Sidi Sulayman, the town’straditional patron. What happens duringthis festivity? The local men assemble on amountain to eat, sing songs of thanks toGod, and make peace with one another.The women remain in the village and cele-brate by singing, dancing, and playingdrums.

Here’s a brief list of sights you might wantto check out as you visit the Siwa Oasis.

Mud-brick houses in Shali, an old town

Desert sand dunes south of Siwa

Siwa salt lake

Temple of the Oracle of the Amun

www.egypt.travel


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Happy Birthday Natchez, Mississippi

One of the oldest cities in America, in 2016 Natchez will celebrate itsTricentennial Anniversary, recognizing 300 years of heritage shaped bypeople of African, French, British and Spanish descent. The anniversarywill be celebrated throughout the year with a wide range of events,major conferences, special “birthday” events, unique festivals, histori-cal reenactments, musical tributes and more.

In addition to holding the title of “Bed and Breakfast Capital of theSouth,” Natchez is a pedestrian-friendly cultural hub home to morethan 40 authentic antebellum homes and Victorian buildings, art gal-leries, live music, authentic southern cuisine (it’s the “Biscuit Capital ofthe World!”) and a full calendar of events and festivals.

www.visitnatchez.org

China Tourism Introduces New Brand Logo

China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has made

“Beautiful China” the tag line of its tourism and introduced a

new global brand logo. With an overall look as a stamp, the

new logo integrates modern messaging with the ancient

Chinese art form of calligraphy. The hieroglyph in the back-

ground means “travel” in ancient Chinese language, which

shows a flag guiding a couple around. The blue color represents the sky, delivering China

tourism’s concepts - vitality, harmony and green travel. The red color gives tribute to the Chinese

civilization that has been going on for thousands of years. Illustrating an international vision, the

“Beautiful China” logo represents China’s promising and welcoming tourism industry.

A r o u n d T h e W o r l d ( in 12 pages)

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Rich in history and scenic beauty, luxury train travel has becomeone of the finest and most enjoyable ways to discover the majes-tic splendour any country has to offer. From one-of-a-kind excur-sions and world-class cuisines to unimaginable sunset hues andplayful wildlife, travellers receive an unforgettable experienceonly train travel can provide. With so many amazing train jour-neys to be taken, we wanted to share some of the world’s mosthistoric routes.

Indian Pacific, Great Southern Rail, Australia

Stepping aboard the mighty Indian Pacific, you’ll feel a greatsense of anticipation as this unforgettable Australian adventurebegins to unfold. A journey across the longest stretch of straightrailway track in the world, guests will travel through history on aroute that saw its first passenger back in 1917.

First Passage to the West, Rocky Mountaineer, Canada

This legendary route along the Canadian Pacific track is famousfor uniting the country and connecting British Columbia toCanada more than 125 years ago. The only passenger rail serv-ice to travel this historic route, guest will transverse theContinental Divide, while experiencing the majestic RockyMountains.

Trans-Siberian Express, Golden Eagle, Russia

Undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest railway journeys, theTrans-Siberian Railway runs like a steel ribbon across Russia,connecting east and west from Moscow to Vladivostok. Havinghad its inaugural run exactly 100 years ago, there is no bettertime to experience this historic trip.

Cape Town Journey, Rovos Rail, South Africa

Rediscover the old pioneering trail of the Great Karoo on this1,600 km journey throughout the spectacular mountain rangesand scenic winelands of the Cape.


Travel Back in Time with these Luxury Historic Train Rides

Rocky Mountaineer

Lares Trek gains popularity as Inca Trail alternative

G Adventures is also now offering thethree-day Lares trek beginning outsideCuzco, Peru to travellers who may be look-ing for an alternative way to reach MachuPicchu. The Lares Trek has fewer ascentsand descents, but is at a higher altitude,and is often described as the less discov-ered route.

“The scenery, which is as awe-inspiring asits famous counterpart, takes travellers offthe beaten path and much closer to theindigenous Quechua people,” says DeniseHarper, Director of Sales, Canada, GAdventures.

“Starting in Ollantaytambo trekkers maketheir way through the Lares valley on anundulating path that rises higher than theInca Trail. The Lares Trek also offers oppor-tunities for insight into rural Andean life asthe trail itself passes through very remotemountain communities.”

Travellers on the Lares Trek will visit a num-ber of G Adventures for Good projectsalong the way, including a community-owned campsite featuring composting toi-lets, solar showers, and a solid-waste man-agement system, which is the first of its kindin Peru.


Cultural trekking in Bhutan, a first-of-its-kind multisport trip in Japan,cycling through rice fields in China,

and rafting and cycling in Patagonia,Argentina, are all new experiences in storefor travellers with the launch of GAdventures’ 2016 Active brochure.

In addition, the small group adventureoperator, which is the largest on the IncaTrail, has experienced an increase indemand for the Lares Trek as an alternativeoption to the Inca Trail in Peru, and is nowoffering the Lares Trek on all of its trips tak-ing travellers to Machu Picchu.

Each new Active trip includes a mixture ofdifferent activities and often uses campingas its main accommodation option to gettravellers up close to nature.

New trips for 2016 include:

Bhutan Trekking

Where else but the happiest country in theworld can travellers trek the Himalayassmiling all the way? This 11-day culturaltrekking trip has travellers visiting some ofthe most gorgeous temples and monaster-ies in the world. Here they will trek thesacred mountain passes of the celebratedDruk Path, ascend to the profoundTaktshang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), andexplore the unique beauty of the city ofParo.

Japan Hike, Bike & Kayak

This first-of-its-kind active trip has trav-ellers hiking along the UNESCO-listedKumano Kodo pilgrimage route whereKyoto's ancient emperors once prayed todeities in the trees and rocks. Next cycleacross stunning islands following theworld’s largest series of suspensionbridges, known as the Shimanami Kaido.Finally travellers will kayak around theBay of Miyajima to see its main attraction,the floating Itsukushima Shrine.

Cycle China

Enjoy five days of cycling through the backroads and countryside of China, stoppingto marvel at scenery that has captured theminds of poets and painters for centuries.This varied active trip will also have trav-ellers hiking along the hills and terraces ofChina’s rural regions as well as experi-encing the iconic Great Wall of China,historic Tiananmen Square, and thesprawling Forbidden City.

Patagonia Multisport

This varied active trip sees travellerstrekking in Torres del Paine National Park,cycling out to Laguna Sofia, kayakingalongside the Grey Glacier, and cyclingamong the peaks of Patagonia.

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G Adventures Introduces New Active Adventures

www.gadventures.com

people to almost the highest point in town. Itis offered for free and is a wonderful way totake in the view of the entire city and its lake.

There is also a short (all electric) boat ridewhich tours a reclaimed natural water gar-den built on a lot that was once the proper-ty of a wealthy Parisian banker. The gardenis a true example of how nature can takecare of itself when left alone. If you arelucky, you can also enjoy a Farmer’s marketand feast on fabulous wines, sausages andFrench fromages!

This small and charming town sits on theshores of Lac Geneva (the French call it LacLeman). Evian is situated in a perfect spot inEurope, as it is across the lake fromLausanne, Switzerland, home of theOlympic committee (IOC), and has a ferrycrossing that operates all day between thetwo countries. Another short trip and visitorscan find their way to Geneva as well!

www.en.evian-tourisme.com

Evian-les-Bains, also known as justEvian, is most famous for the cura-tive property of the waters and the

bottled water it exports around the world.But the area offers more than a drink, as itis filled with enough history, luxury andHaut-couture to captivate any world trav-eller. Modern facilities are placed side byside with hundred year-old buildings, creat-ing a wonderful mix to enjoy.

Any visit would be incomplete without tastingEvian water from the source!

We drank from a fountain in the city. Thewater comes from the Alps and is said to fil-ter naturally through the mountain rocksand soil for over 15 years. Evian water isprocessed at a nearby factory and gets all itswater from one of the many natural sources.Not far away we could see the mountainused for the iconic Evian water logo label!

Evian has also built its reputation on thehealing properties of their springs. Createdin December 1859, the Cachat mineral

waters SA (Société Anonyme des EauxMinérales de Cachat) began the transfor-mation of this small town into a spa-center.Nowadays, the spas in town are filled withtop of the line equipment, and a new healthcenter for therapeutic message and cleans-ing of the body.

Due to these spas and Evian’s location, thetown has become a hotspot for the rich andfamous, as witnessed by the stylish bou-tiques, restaurants, wine shops and theEvian town hall, which is a marvellous stonebuilding that rivals any in Paris! The PalaisLumiere Evian is another grand old buildingthat once served as a spa, but has now beenturned into a museum. Aside from the spasand waters, there is also a full casino wherethe rich come to play in luxury cars andamazing yachts anchored in the port!

On top of everything, there is also good out-door fun, including downhill skiing, swim-ming and hiking. Once you are tired out,enjoy a lovely trip on an old clog train thatstarts at the bottom of the town and takes

R e f r e s h i n g i n E v i a n - l e s - b a i n s

A r t i c l e & P h o t o g r a p h y b y M i c h a e l M o r c o s

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gathering places, piazzas, parks, plazas…I’ve long thought, in my 18 years here, thatLas Vegas could use such a place.”

But the true enchantment there happens atnight.

Beautiful Bliss Dancer

That’s when they light up the gigantic cactusflower sculptures and you get the mostimpressive view of “Bliss Dancer”- a 40 ft. tallsculpture of a naked woman that punctuatesthe park without apology. Though she is hardto miss by day- 7,500 pounds of mesh steelshimmering in the sun- after dark she totallyunavoidable as that’s when the sculpture con-tinually changes colors illuminated by 3,000led lights. And she was built with a message.

Created by artist Marco Cochrane he dedicat-ed it to his childhood female friend who hadbeen sexually assaulted when she was young.He wanted to create something larger thanlife that empowers women and celebratestheir right to express themselves freely. Theidea behind her lack of clothes is to de-objec-tify the female form and view the true spiritshining through. I would say he has succeed-ed.

The grand unveiling was very emotional,especially since his muse and actual modelfor the artwork Deja Solis was there for it. Sheis now an entertainer and surprised the crowdwith a touching song as they lit up the statuefor the very first time.

New T-Mobile Arena

The new park is also designed to accommo-date the expected overflow of visitors and

The famous Las Vegas Strip is probablythe last place you’d expect to find aneco-park but then again, when it

comes to this city you never know what toexpect. So on a recent visit I wasn’t all thatsurprised to find a brand new green oasis, Iwas however surprised at the gigantic sculp-ture that punctuates it!

The Park Vegas

The US $100 million development is simplycalled “The Park Vegas” and was built solelyby MGM Resorts International, It’s secretedaway between New York-New York and theMonte Carlo right on the Strip. It was builtwith locally sourced stones and is full of desertblooms, waterwalls and nature surroundedresting areas. Shade is provided by 16 giantsculptures inspired by the desert cactus flower.There are also half-a-dozen brand new eater-ies there with al fresco options. It has a veryEuropean café culture atmosphere, and that’sexactly what Jim Murren, Chairman and CEOof MGM Resorts International had envisioned.On opening day last April 4th, 2016, heenlightened the media about its design. Hesaid, “One common theme I’ve often noticedin my travels is that all those great cities have

A n U n e x p e c t e d P l a c e t o Pa r kb y S u s a n C a m p b e l l

locals alike who will be attending events at thebrand new 20,000 seat T-Mobile Arena- ajoint venture between MGM ResortsInternational and the Anschutz EntertainmentGroup. It’s a fabulous modern space – almosta work of art of its own- absolutely stunninglike a huge magenta spaceship. The arenaopened on April 6th, 2016 with a concertfrom well-known local band The Killers andVegas icon Wayne Newton. And directlyacross the street from The Park is a brand new5,000-seat theater under construction atMonte Carlo slated to open later this year.

This entire non-gambling focused develop-ment seems to signal a new direction for thecity already most famous for its world-classcasinos.

www.mgmresorts.com

www.theparkvegas.com

www.t-mobilearena.com

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Las Vegas

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many are worried about how the impendinginflux of tourists will affect the cultural integri-ty of the island.

Whether it’s solely climate change or climatechange combined with cyclical change in thearea, melting ice on this fascinating continentis a big problem. Not only is this an issue forglacier enthusiasts and wildlife that call theAntarctic home, but the resulting rising waterlevels put many coastal cities and islandsworldwide at risk of flooding.

The literal death of the Dead Sea is somethingthat has started to cause major alarm. Theevaporation of the water combined with thedeclining water flow from the Jordan River intothe sea (due to irrigation use) means seriouslydecreasing water levels. This loss of water hascaused a sinkhole problem that also makesthe surrounding area risky for lakeside strolls.

Ever wanted to dive with Nemo and Dori in thestunning Great Barrier Reef? Well, you couldbe running out of time as rising ocean temper-atures and an influx of pollution may meanthis natural wonder is destroyed within the next100 years.

www.contiki.com

E i g h t P l a c e s To V i s i t B e f o r e T h e y C h a n g e Fo r e v e rb y C o n t i k i To u r s

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Before you know it, some the world’s mostbeautiful and unique destinations could beunrecognizable. Climate change, plastic pol-lution and overpopulation are having devas-tating effects on our planet. Earth Month,which celebrated its 46th anniversary this year,is a global initiative that aims to drive aware-ness around environmental issues.

In support of Earth Month 2016, youth travelspecialist Contiki is hoping to raise awarenessof global environmental issues by highlightingsome traveller bucket list destinations we arein danger of losing forever. Leading up to nextyear’s Earth Day celebrations, Contiki hascompiled eight traveller favourite destinationsCanadians need to see before they disappear.

Venice is one of our favourite island paradis-es, but it’s no secret that the city is sinking, andit has been for centuries. High tides, rising sealevels due to climate change and boat trafficare three of the main reasons why the build-ings are eroding and slowly being claimed byrising water levels. The effect is a few millime-tres a year which may not seem like a lot, butlook ahead a few decades and it’s more thana bit concerning. With floods becoming morefrequent efforts are being made to control thewater levels going forward. And no, stilt walk-ing for all is not a realistic option.

Not only are fees to visit this marble-ouspalace increasing in an effort to limit tourists,but it’s moving towards not looking so mar-ble-ous at all. Pollution is causing the TajMahal to turn from white to yellow, and some-thing tells us as time goes on, the white mar-vel won’t really have the same postcard wor-thy affect that draws visitors from all over theglobe. Groundwater levels and general touristtraffic have also been creating some structuraldamage to the palace which has led to whis-

pers of public access being restricted in thenear future.

Who hasn’t dreamt of their honeymoon takingplace amongst the sapphire-blue seas of thespectacular Maldives? Well you better findyour future husband or wife quick smartbecause the beautiful island nation could becompletely engulfed by water within the next100 years. The chain of islands is consideredthe lowest-lying country on earth making itvulnerable to rising sea levels. The risk hasbecome some real that the Maldivian govern-ment has actually purchased land in othercountries for citizens who face displacement!

Spanning nine nations and making up morethan 50% of the remaining rainforest in theworld, the Amazon is seen as one of the topplaces to travel for wildlife and tree lovers –but for how much longer? Climate change –drought, wild fires and greenhouse gas emis-sions – as well as deforestation are causing analarming loss of forest cover that have manywondering how long it will be until it’sdestroyed completely.

Cuba is known as a cultural gem in theCaribbean, but this is all expected to changenow the US travel ban has been lifted. Tourismnumbers have been manageable without theaddition of American visitors for years, so now

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Tropi ca l Tidbi t s by Sue C Travel

Summer is Prime Time forCaribbean Travel!

Now that we Canadians are finally gettingour fair share of warm weather during ourcriminally short summer, one might thinkthat it’s not the time to head to tropicalclimes. But there are some very good rea-sons to do so.

For one, top resorts in paradisiacal loca-tions typically cut their rates to the boneduring low season, sometimes throwing inextra nights or kids-stay-free packages andeven going so far as to offer airfare credits,too! Another good reason is the parties!

Some islands have their biggest blowoutsduring this time of year like Anguilla’sAugust Summer Festival and Barbados’Crop Over. You haven’t really experiencedauthentic Caribbean until you’ve learned to“jump up” with the locals!

But one of my favourite reasons for head-ing south during the summer is to experi-ence sea turtles in the wild! Summer is seaturtle nesting time on beaches throughoutthe Caribbean and Mexico. This is whenthe female turtles return to the beach wherethey were born to lay their eggs, and manyresorts have sea turtle protection and con-servation programs to protect them that vis-itors can participate in. Witnessing hatch-ings and helping baby sea turtles reach thesea in release programs when they needprotection are truly magical experiencesthat should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Dominican Republic Targets MoreAdventurous Travellers

Canadians love to travel to the DominicanRepublic to escape winter due to the excel-lent deals and affordable all-inclusivepackages, but today’s savvy traveller alsowants to explore beyond the resort and dis-cover the surrounding communities and

landscapes. And according to DominicanTourism authorities the government is out tohelp make that easier.

I learned about these plans at the recent2016 Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange(DATE), the country’s official and biggesttrade show for media and the travel indus-try. Strategies include new roads through-out the country connecting the lesser knowninterior regions and new activities focusingon nature explorations to get visitors off thebeaches and into more active adventures.Tour operators will be offering more activi-ties such as river rafting, mountain biking,zip-lining, paragliding, rappelling and hik-ing. Also planned is increased air access tolesser-known tourism destinations likePuerta Plata and Samaná. Plus, resorts likethe new Sunscape Puerto Plata are offeringexcellent opening deals and packages withdirect flights from Canada by Air Transat.

Visit: www.godominicanrepublic.com

Award-winning travel journalist Sue Campbell is based in Montreal but makes it her business to be ontop of everything cool, hot, and new under the sun throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.Canadian World Traveller welcomes her as a new regular columnist. Follow her on Ttwitter @suectravel.

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New Sunscape Puerto Plata is Alluringand Affordable

I had the opportunity to attend theSunscape Puerto Plata’s opening in theDominican Republic last March, and I wasvery impressed. It’s a lovely family friendlyand very affordable all-inclusive resort onpicturesque Playa Dorado beach. They alsooffer an adult-only section and pool, whichadds to its allure for those seeking a moreserene escape. It’s not a new complex, butit has been beautifully refurbished toenhance the grand colonial style charmand it also crests an inviting Robert JonesTrent designed 18-hole golf course.Thoughnone of the 585 rooms are oceanfrontsince a protected mangrove forest sepa-rates the resort from the sea, it’s a veryshort walk to the beach and the trekthrough the ancient trees is well worth it.They also have an excellent kid’s club andthey were putting the finishing touches on atheir new Spa by Pevonia which will becomprehensive and luxurious when com-plete. www.sunscaperesorts.com/puerto-plata .

Canadian Connections in theCaribbean

I’m always seeking out fellow countrymen(and women) who have decided to start anew life in spots where snow is a foreignconcept. If you are visiting these destina-tions seek out these ex-pat Canadiansdoing great things in their new islandhomes.

Ontarian Bryan Horne works with theunique 4-person submersible calledCurasub at the Curacao Sea Aquariumcomplex (founded by ex-pat Canadian

Adrian “Dutch” Schrier) where visitors cango 1,000 ft. below to witness magnificentmarine life without even getting wet! It’s abucket-list experience. They’ve also used itfor marine life research and have discov-ered new species of fish! In St. Maarten,Olivier Auvrey from Montreal runs the pop-ular snorkel excursions called Rhino Riders,or if you check-into the St. Kitts Marriott,look for General Manager Jacques Hamoualso from Montreal.

On Anguilla, the founder of the ArijahFoundation’s Blossom Centre- a school forthe island’s children with special needs isRenuka Harrigan from Ontario. And thecentre is always happy to welcome visitorsseeking to volunteer while on holiday.

Expat Canadians are also really embeddedinto the culinary scene throughout theCaribbean. Chef Tim Tibbetts and his som-melier wife Rebecca - both from Canada-are making big waves on the fusion front attheir trendy award-winning restaurantFlying Fish in Freeport, Bahamas. And ifyou visit Grand Turk by cruise, walk right onby the too touristy Margaritaville to findJack’s Beach Bar for authentic island BBQand superb hand crafted cocktails made byJanet Batchelor from Quebec’s easterntownships.

On “Provo” (Turks and Caicos’Providenciales) it seems you can’t throw aseashell without hitting an expat “canuck”.There are SO many of them they even havetheir own hockey league! (Though theyskate on roller blades due to lack of ice.)The gorgeous new dining room off GraceBay beach at The Somerset is run byacclaimed Canadian chef Brad Townsend,and the owner the famous Da Conch Shack

is Torontonian John Macdonald. Andif you’re on Aruba, visit Cuba’sCookin’ for a surprisingly authentictaste of Old Havana on “One HappyIsland”, and say hi to owner DouglassMarkus originally from Montreal.

A New Nature Focused Panama Stay

Last January I’d been invited to be akeynote speaker at the annual LatinAmerican Travel Writer’s conference inPanama City, Panama. It was a great eventin the heart of the bustling, cosmopolitancity, and my adult daughter who also writestravel as the “Vegan Vacationista” hadjoined me. But once it was over, we were indire need of some beach time and down-time in nature. Fortunately, the new upscaleSecrets Playa Bonita Panama Resort & Spahad just opened nearby so it was a naturalchoice to check out.

All 310 rooms are oceanfront overlookinga gorgeous water circuit with a seasideinfinity pool and a peaceful protected bayideal for kayaking. And the surroundingrainforest and mountain beside it are alivewith tropical wildlife including adorable lit-tle monkeys and ever-smiling sloths! Likeall Secrets resorts they are adult-only all-inclusive offering an Unlimited-Luxury®experience that includes gourmet food, topspirits, no-reservation dining and 24/7room service. They also have a luxuriousfull-service spa. It was just the kind of pam-pering we needed for a few days beforeretuning home, but we will certainly returnfor a longer stay another time.

Visit: www.secretsresorts.com/playa-bonita

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C R U I S I N G S E C T I O NCr ui s e News - page 44

Vik ing Riv e r Cr u i s e , Lyon t o Av ignon - page 48

Supe r ya ch t s & Riv e r Cr u i s ing - page 50

I t a l i an Trea sur e s on th e Cr y s ta l Symphony - page 52

The Rise of the River Cruises - page 54

Eight Reasons to River Cruise - page 56

Discover the Caribbean like never before on the S/V Mandalay

The S/V Mandalay sails weekly, boarding in Grenada on Sunday and return-ing on Saturday. Aside from weekly cruises to and from Grenada, the S/VMandalay offers special cruises taking in different Caribbean Islands, such asSt. Lucia and St. Maarten throughout the year!

The S/V Mandalay is also available for pri-vate charter. The Captain can arrange apersonalized itinerary to meet your charterneeds including stops in the Grenadines,which may include, Grenada, Carriacou,Union Island, Mayreau, Tobago Cays,Bequia, St. Vincent and possibly someother stops along the way!

www.sailwindjammer.com

Rainforest CruisesLaunches LuxuriousAmazon Riverboat

Rainforest Cruises has launchedtheir new 43-passenger AmazonDiscovery riverboat with five-starfeatures including luxuriousaccommodations, gourmet din-ing and a spa. With just 22-suites, the boat offers an intimateand personalized experiencewith floor-to-ceiling windows fortaking in jungle views.

The craft is small enough to travel deep into the tributaries of the Amazon on four andseven-day cruises and activities include expeditions to spot pink river dolphins, junglewalks, Peruvian cooking classes, and nightly local entertainment.

www.rainforestcruises.com

Redesigned Victoria Jenna Launches on China’s YangtzeVictoria Cruises is celebrating the inaugural voyage of its newest build, the VictoriaJenna, after its first major renovation since its launch in late 2009. The six-year-oldship benefits from a complete redesign featuring motifs of modern elegance and abrand new appearance intended to bring the vessel up to speed with the rest ofVictoria Cruises' five-star fleet.

www.victoriacruises.com

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R o y a l - C a r i b b e a n S e a b o u r n S e a D r e a m S i l v e r s

Exploring extreme parts of the worldwhile enjoying a five-star service uniqueto the Polar regions is the concept creat-ed by PONANT that has become its hall-mark.

From November to January 2018,PONANT has 11 outstanding cruises onoffer, including two unusual routes seek-ing out wildlife not found anywhere elsein the world in their natural habitat.

Aboard Le Boréal, Le Soléal and LeLyrial, with luxurious 122 to 132 state-rooms and suites under the French flag,all with the international Green Shiplabel and designed specifically for polarcruises, passengers have access to strict-ly protected locations only accessible tosmall capacity ships.

The emphasis here is on total flexibility;with zodiac outings taking passengers asclose as it is possible to be to the wildlife,with time to linger in iconic sites, make adetour to admire the acrobatics of ahumpback whale, or land on a beach togreet a vast colony of penguins.

These cruises offer unique momentsenlightened by the expertise ofrenowned South Pole specialists, whoshare their passion and expertise onpolar lands they have been roaming foryears.

New | Beyond the Polar CircleUshuaia to Ushuaia

New | Antarctica to AfricaUshuaia to Cape Town

www.ponant.com

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Adventure Canada Announces 2017

Expedition Season in Most Beautiful

Catalogue to Date

Just in time for the summer sailing season, Adventure Canadais proud to announce the launch of a new brochure, highlight-ing expeditions to the Canadian Arctic, East Coast andGreenland, headlined by the company’s fabled NorthwestPassage departures. Chock-full of superb images from a tal-ented roster of award-winning photographers, the Expeditions2016 & 2017 brochure is the leading Arctic and Maritimeexpedition company’s most beautiful yet.

To embrace Canada’s 150th Anniversary in 2017, AdventureCanada has created a sailing season which celebrates its spe-cialty: Canada’s most remote, pristine, and wild places.

2017 Expedition Season

Building on the impending 2016 season, the 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour will once again start its summer journey in QuebecCity in 2017. The season begins with the Mighty Saint Lawrence voyage, one of National Geographic Traveller’s 50 Trips of aLifetime. Next is the Sable Island expedition, the only travel itinerary featuring the mysterious 42-kilometre sand island off the coastof Nova Scotia. The Ocean Endeavour will then circumnavigate Newfoundland before sailing north up the coast of Labrador toGreenland. Explorations of the Inuit hamlets of Baffin Island and coastal Greenland follow, as with sailing to Nunavut’s northern-most National Parks and wildlife havens—all hallmarks of Adventure Canada’s programming. The season finishes with two sailingsof the company’s Canadian Signature Experience, The Northwest Passage.

www.adventurecanada.com

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Viking Announces 10 New Ocean Cruise Itineraries

With the newly christened Viking Sea now part of its growingocean fleet, Viking Ocean Cruises® announced the addition of10 new itineraries to its offerings for 2017 and 2018 sailings.Adding more than 30 ports of call to Viking’s portfolio, the newitineraries will explore destinations throughout Europe, theAmericas and the Caribbean, including Cuba.

Viking’s new ocean itineraries will bring guests to more iconicdestinations around the world, providing rich cultural experi-ences with each port of call. With sailings from Bergen,London, New York, Puerto Rico, Venice and more, guests canchoose itineraries ranging from eight-day to 22-day multi-country sailings.

Also recently announced, Viking’s fourth ship, Viking Sun, willset sail on its maiden voyage in December 2017 for the com-pany’s first-ever world cruise, spanning 141-days and visitingfive continents, 35 countries and 66 ports. Sailing from Miamito London, this epic Viking journey will explore the world’s leg-endary cities, ports and will allow guests to immerse themselvesin the rich cultures around the world.

www.vikingoceancruises.com

New 2017-2018 Itineraries

Trade Routes of the Middle Ages – Bergen to Barcelona

Venice, the Adriatic and Greece – Venice to Athens

South America and the Caribbean – San Juan to San Juan

New York, Bermuda and the Western Indies – New York to SanJuan

Cities of the Western Mediterranean – Barcelona to Rome

Central American Shores and Cuba – Miami to Miami

Caribbean to the Amazon – San Juan to San Juan

Southern Mediterranean Discovery – Rome to Barcelona

British Isles Explorer – Bergen to London

Italian Sojourn – Rome to Venice

The ship cabins are well thought out andare decorated to make your journey arelaxing experience. Viking cabins areorganised to maximise space and includeall amenities you would expect from a highend cruise company, including a bottle ofchilled bubbly waiting for you as a welcomegift. It’s easy to fall in love on the spot.

Interacting with the crew is a great experi-ence in itself. Our crew was courteous,helpful, fun and funny, and by the end ofthe trip we felt like friends! On top of theirfriendliness, the crew were experts at keep-ing things tidy and passengers happy.

As you can imagine, cruising throughFrance offers some great gastronomicexperiences! On this cruise, we were treat-

AAs a Canadian World Traveller,spring has become a favorite timefor travelling abroad, particularly

the month of May! Most Canadians areitching for some new adventures after along winter, and travelling to Europe isoften a top choice. Our plans this yearwere to travel to France, and with so manygreat French destinations to choose from,we finally decided on the regions of Rhone-Alps and Provence. For us, there is no bet-ter way to experience some of the best thereis than on a Rhone river cruise.

River cruising has become the new way oftravelling for many North Americans, andsavvy travellers know what they want. Anew destination each morning without hav-ing to look for hotels, pack and unpack lug-

gage, drive through unknown roads, findparking… Viking has taken all the guesswork and hassles out. It is truly a perfectway to travel, so much so that the only thingto do is remember what time the boatleaves. Even the pick up at the airport isseamless, offering a taste of the fun, relax-ation and memorable trip to come.

It is no wonder that Viking River Cruisesleads the way with more than 50% of allriver cruises, they have many of the mostmodern ships and have now moved intoocean cruising as well.

What to expect on a Viking cruise

If you have high expectations, don’t worry,they will be met!

Perfection with

Viking River Cruises

Article & Photography by Michael Morcos & Natalie Ayotte

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49ed with themed meals based on the regionswe traveled through. For example, in Lyon itwas a Rhone-Alps meal which offeredBresse poultry and many varieties ofcheese, including Tomme de Savoie, Bleude Bresse and Reblochon. Even better? Wewere treated to the wines of the region,including the very famous Beaujolais, Côtesdu Rhône and Savoy. As we moved closer toProvence, the palate became lighter withsalads, melons, fresh fish and deliciousbreads coupled with the Grenache, Cinsautand Mourvèdre, and Cabernet Sauvignonwines from the region. The meals can beenjoyed in two different places, the maindining room and the Aquavit on the upperdeck. The Aquavit can be open-air whenthe weather is good and closed with largeglass window doors when it became cold orwindy. There is also a Lounge that offerspre-meal cocktails and nightly entertain-ment for passengers who wish to relax tosome soothing sounds in a quiet venue.

As with most cruises, there is a daily brief-ing. In 15 or so minutes, the cruise pro-gram director presents the following day’sactivities, tours and what to expect from thecruise and the port of call. One of the mainreasons to go on a river cruise is theGuided and Optional tours. All tours areincluded in the price of the trip for everyoneand they are very well organized with pro-fessional local guides and brand newbuses. Most tours are a half day long andin the morning, returning to the ship forlunch. All the tours are worth it, as they arethe best way to see a destination in a shortamount of time. For those who want to takea break from visiting and touring, the on-board activities include cooking lessons,shopping with the chef and French lan-guage courses.

Day one

The first day of your cruise was all aboutgetting settled in and it usually takes a goodday for all passengers to board the ship.Depending on your arrival time, you canenjoy a light lunch buffet before you decidewhat you wish to do for the rest of the day.

You can join a guided walking tour ofLyon’s city center, lounge on deck whileenjoying a cocktail, or catch up on somerest from jet lag – it’s really up to you!There is no need to rush and discover Lyonimmediately, as you will have a full day forvisiting this marvelous city.

Touring Lyon with Viking

The worldly city of Lyon is a great place tostart a cruise. There is a mix of cosmopoli-tan and small town feel just a few blocksapart. Lyon is France’s third largest city andstraddles the Rhône and Saône Rivers andincludes a narrow peninsula island calledthe Presqu'ile. As you visit the old city ofLyon, you will see many reminders of itsRoman origins, including the FamousRoman Theatre on top of Fourvière Hill,founded in 43 BC by the Romans.

Over the centuries, Lyon has enjoyed eco-nomic prosperity, including being one ofthe most active printing centres in Europe inthe 15th century and then the silk manufac-turing capital of Europe in the 17th century.You can visit many boutiques that still pro-duce exceptional silk products.

Included in your Viking city tour is a drive bythe many outdoor painted walls, such asthe « Fresque des Lyonnais ». These aremurals that depict all the famous peoplefrom Lyon, from antiquity with EmperorClaudius, through modern times with fig-ures including Paul Bocuse and the Lumièrefamily, known for having shot the first mov-ing picture and responsible for Lyons worldfamous lumière festival.

The tour closes with a walk in the old city.Visitors enjoy the little hidden Traboules(passageways made for merchants inmedieval times) and the choice of worldrenowned Bouchon restaurants, known forserving traditional Lyonnaise cuisine ofsausages, duck pâté and roast pork. Youwill not go hungry in Lyon, which is knownas France’s gastronomic capital!

In the afternoon you can choose from two

optional tours. There is a Lyon cookingworkshop where you can learn the secretsto making fine pastries by a French pastryChef, or choose a tour to the timeless Townof Pérouges, a medieval stone village locat-ed some 30km northeast of Lyon as we did.Perched on a small hill, Pérouges enjoys anoutstanding view overlooking the FrenchAlps. Founded around 1167 by a Galliccolony, Pérouges was a craftsmen com-mune, particularly farmers and linenweavers. Complete with cobble stonestreets, you can’t help but be transportedback though time. Pérouges is also wherethe famous three musketeers’ movie wasfilmed.

There is plenty worth exploring in andaround Lyon that it needs more time or asecond visit. Places of interest include theheritage-laden Musée des Beaux Arts,Quartier Saint-Jean and Quartier Saint-Georges the old town, the beautiful archi-tecture and monumental town squares ofthe Presqu'ile District and the BasiliqueNotre-Dame de Fourviere,

The Rhone

With so much to see and do in seven days,it would be best to leave the wonderfulViking destinations beyond Lyon to a sec-ond article in our next issue. The fabulouslocations of Macon, Vienne, Tournon,Viviers, Arles and Avignon will just have towait!

www.vikingrivercruises.com

Superyachts Are Here to Stay (AndWhy It’s Your Turn)

From cool and unlikely concept yachts totabloid-worthy celebrity yachts, we’re fasci-nated with these worlds on water. And yet,you no longer have to be rich and famousto enjoy one. Whether it's a boutique yacht-ing experience that catches your eye, orextreme adventure that you're after, the lat-est launches prove there's something foreveryone.

“Some people won’t go on a sailboatbecause of the movement. And some don’twant to be around too many people on acruise,” says Mary Jean Tully, Founder &CEO of Tully Luxury Travel, of the appeal ofyachting. Fortunately, a new crop of shipsoffer guests fresh ways to see the world,

opening up a new era for yachts—in whichbigger is better, and adventure is moreextreme. With Crystal Cruises' new supery-achts, more people can now enjoy thepleasures of an intimate sailing experienceon the high seas in high style—and to moreremote destinations than ever before.

R&R more your speed? Sit back and enjoya drink with friends and unbeatable viewsaboard Crystal Esprit's superyacht.Launched in December 2015, the 62-guestship boasts its own mini spa and casino, aswell as six-star dining and suites outfittedwith king size beds, spacious closets anddouble vanity sinks. Such plush environsare certainly an ideal way to see dreamyhot spots like the Seychelles islands andAdriatic coast.

Thirsting for more adventure?

In March, Crystal Cruises announced whatpromises to be the largest megayacht theworld has ever seen: an expedition shipthat can cruise the Arctic just as well as itcan more tropical destinations.

Debuting in August 2018, Crystal Endeavormeasures 600 feet (183 meters) long andincludes 100 guest suites. It will also have afull-service spa, yoga, Pilates, salon andwellness centre; an infinity pool; six dining

options and a 200-seat theatre. At 400square-feet-plus (including balcony), suitesare spacious, but there are two OwnerSuites each boasting a whopping 3,122square feet (1,615ft2 interior and 1,507ft2balcony) should you feel the need to spreadout a little more. Oh, and there’s butlerservice for all, in addition to one-to-onecrew-to-guest ratio.

But it’s the toys that truly make this ship agem. Whether you’re looking to enjoywater sports or discover remote islands,Crystal Endeavor has everything you couldask for to experience adventure at sea—from zodiacs, jet skis, wave runners andSEABOBs to helicopters and its very own 7-person submarines.

As the first purpose-built Polar Code com-pliant yacht in the world, the Endeavor isalso uniquely built for global expeditioncruising and comes with exciting itinerariesto the Arctic and Antarctic. “Everyone islooking for a wild, extraordinary experi-ence, and the Endeavor is so 21st century,so different,” says Mary Jean. “It has a hel-icopter and an icebreaker—it’s an expedi-tion ship. It’s totally unique.”

Be it easy cruising or extreme adventure,your superyacht experience is sure to be atrip to remember.

Superyachts & River CruisingBy: Tully Luxury Travel

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Crystal Cruises megayacht - Artist Concept

See UNESCO World Heritage Sitesby River Cruise

There’s something particularly romanticabout taking a river cruise. The feeling issomething akin to what explorers andtradesmen must have felt as they pulled upto various ports, discovering new placesand visiting old friends.

As the saying goes, what’s old is newagain, with river cruises booming andmore options than ever to explore thesehistoric waterways. Whether it’s gently sail-ing past vineyards and castles that appealsto you, or the chance to see multiple citiesin a single itinerary without having to packand unpack, river cruises offer a scenic andrelaxing trip along the route of yourdreams.

“River cruising is a comfortable and easyway to travel to many of Europe’s mostnotable towns—some that would be impos-sible to reach by ocean travel,” says LoreDoick, a Travel Designer with Tully LuxuryTravel. “In many cases, you’re docked rightin town, walking distance to restaurants,cafes and museums. You don’t have toworry about renting a car, finding yourhotel or looking for a nice place to havedinner. It’s all taken care of for you—thehardest thing is picking an itinerary!”

Explore Europe’s Ancient Highways

Since rivers were the highways that con-nected Europe long ago, cruising on theselegendary waterways gives travellers theunique opportunity to explore many of thetowns and landmarks—including UNESCOdesignated sites—nestled along the shore.

And while some of the tours in the past mayhave been limited in amenities, the recent-ly unveiled Crystal River Cruises fleet prom-ises to take river cruising to new heightswith its six-star service, superior dining,spacious suites, expertly curated itinerariesand fascinating shore excursions.

Visit Must-See UNESCO Sites

The first Crystal River Cruise, CrystalMozart, debuts this July and offers gueststhe chance to get up close and personalwith not one but two UNESCO sites. On thetour, experience Austria’s picturesqueWachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritagesite featuring terraced vineyards, ancientruins and that’s also home to the magnifi-cent Schallaburg Castle.

As a special bonus for 2016 and 2017trips, Crystal Mozart will also offer gueststhe chance to experience the BelvederePalace in Vienna, one of Europe’s moststunning baroque landmarks and aUNESCO World Heritage site. The eveningpromises unparalleled private access to thePalace’s impressive collections of art,including Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. Theevent also includes a concert of Viennesecompositions in the legendary Marble Hall,where the Austrian State Treaty was signedin 1955, re-establishing Austria as a sover-eign state following World War II.

Other stops on the itinerary include winetastings in Dürnstein, tours of Salzburg—Mozart’s birthplace—and the imperialsplendours of Budapest, as you cruise theDanube. The roundtrip Vienna itineraryallows guests to spend more time in thisspectacular city, with the opportunity toextend their stay before or after the cruise.

Experience the Future of River Cruising

In 2017, Crystal launches its Crystal Bachriver cruise, which visits the Upper MiddleRhine Valley, another UNESCO site,notable for its breathtaking Rhine Gorgeand iconic Lorelei Rock. Cruise the Rhineand Moselle rivers exploring the cities andvillages of Belgium, Germany, theNetherlands and Switzerland along theway.

Three other all-inclusive, butler-servicedriver cruises are slated for 2017, includingCrystal Debussy, which takes guests on atour of the best of Paris, Seine River andNormandy. Wine aficionados will want tobook with Crystal Ravel, which explores thewine region of Bordeaux. On CrystalMahler, cruise the Danube and Rhine riversas you visit the Netherlands, Germany,Austria, Slovakia and Hungary.

From breathtaking scenery to UNESCO-designated historical sites, Crystal’s rivercruises promise a memorable voyage ofrefined elegance.

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Established in 1987, Tully Luxury Travel has long-standing relationships with the finest travel and tourismsuppliers, and we offer world-class customer servicethrough our three divisions: Cruise Professionals,African Dreams and Private Travel Designers.

Why Contact a Cruise Professional?

· Exclusive Amenities offered on ALL sailings· VIP access to sites often closed to the general public· Condé Nast Traveler “World’s Top Travel Specialist”since 1999· Crystal Cruises’ largest-producing agency worldwide,2000-2015

Find out which is the best itinerary for you and receiveexclusive amenities when you book with a CruiseProfessional by Tully Luxury Travel. Call today at 1-844-308-5114.

www.tullyluxurytravel.com


Lyon, France

Uniworld’s SS Maria-Theresa

Crystal RiverCruises YachtArtist Concept

Crystal Mozart Suite

sage and rich burgundy accents, I knew wehad arrived to our home away from home.

It was the perfect introduction for our prowlto explore the playground of the rich andfamous. “Please know I am here for any-thing you wish,” replied our white-glovedbutler who turned in his tuxedo tails anddisappeared.

The cruise had only just begun.

A typical Crystal Symphony voyage takesabout 6-18 days but we were on a shorterone-week version, perfect for brief escapes.At the Gala Welcome reception we wereushered into the stylish Starlight Club for

Iam on the Crystal Symphony luxurycruise liner in search of Italian treasuresas we cruise past a myriad of coves and

inlets along Italy’s west coast.

Earlier in the day, my beau Stephen and Iwere whisked from the palatial setting ofRome’s historic Hotel Eden to Civitavecchia,the departure port city for our seven-daycruise.

We chose this fine 51,000-ton gal for a fewreasons. Back in 2006 Crystal Cruises com-pleted a US$23-million overhaul to the922-passenger vessel which was the ship-ping company’s most extensive interiorrefurbishment to date. We also were inter-

ested in discovering the allure of the ItalianRiviera made famous by Roman emperors,European princes and Hollywood jet setters.Still, the other reasons were the guest-spaceratio for guaranteed sheer seclusion andthe great guest to staff ratio for pamperingand finer details.

Upon arrival Victor, our personal butler,escorted us to our penthouse suite.Complete with balcony, lounge chairs anduber chic interiors, the suite had a “serenitynow” ambiance propelled by a bucket ofthe finest, chilled GH Mumm CordonRouge Champagne. There amid crystallight fixtures, crisp Egyptian cotton sheets,honeyed inlaid wooden cabinetry, and cool

Italian Treasures on the

Crystal Symphony

Article by Ilona Kauremszky, Photography by Stephen Smith/mycompasstv

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53medleys, hors d’oeuvres and flutes ofchampagne as guests donned tuxedos,pearls and sky-high Manolo Blahniks.Darwin, our server, mysteriously knew myname. And so it went for the rest of ourjourney.

We dined in the Crystal Dining Room amidRiedel crystal and fine Villeroy and Bochchina. I enjoyed the chef’s suggestion ofsautéed jumbo shrimp, northern crab soupwith brie cheese, followed by broiled freshNorwegian salmon fillets, a homage to ourNorwegian captain. As we dined we sailedpast the isle of Corsica, Napoleon’s birth-place to the Ligurian Sea.

Our first stop was the picturesque seasidevillage of Portofino. Weathered buildings insunflower, peach and pale blue huesenveloped the brightly bobbing fishingboats or gozzi. The Romans named thiscoastal sanctuary Portus Delphini, “the Portof the Dolphins.” These days it is an exclu-sive stomping ground for wealthy and aris-tocratic Italians. Shore excursions areavailable but we ventured on our own totour the town and its neighbouring city,Santa Margherita. We hiked the promonto-ry laden with canopies of aromatic jasmineand ascended the cobbled stone steps tovisit the Castello Brown, a medieval castleoverlooking the harbour then finished ourtour with a gelato at the lighthouse.

Life along the Italian Riviera is pure Ladolce vita from the cuisine to the spectacu-lar scenery to the azure blue MediterraneanSea. The piazzas are filled with sun-glassedpatrons of Prada sipping cappuccinos.Their only burden was lugging shoppingbags from Pucci, Gucci and Ferragamo. It’sa cocktail of elegant social life andsupreme privacy behind luxe villas thatcling to the cliff tops.

The Symphony then sailed effortlessly to ournext stop Monaco where fairytales really docome true. The world’s second smallestkingdom after the Vatican was madefamous by starlet Grace Kelley who stolePrince Rainier’s heart in 1955 on a visit to

Cannes during the premier of the Hitchcockclassic, To Catch A Thief. With the CannesFilm Festival in full swing and the MonteCarlo Grand Prix a few days away we choseto avoid the crowds and took a group shoreexcursion along the famous Cote D’Azur toNice, France.

Considered the capital and queen of theRiviera, Nice sits on a stage surrounded bya natural amphitheatre of mountains thatreign over the Baie des Anges (Bay ofAngels). Lavish hotels and a casino erectedduring the Belle Epoque period make Nicea constant rival to Monaco. You can still seevestiges of the old days along the famousPromenade Anglais that skirts the famouspebble beachfront.

Matisse’s studio was here and overlookedthe frenzied street market in the old city.There’s a caricature statue of Miles Davisoutside the exclusive Hotel Negresco. Bono,Elton John, Tina Turner and Bill Gates allhave heavenly pads between Monte Carloand this exclusive seaside resort town.

After a lunch of wine and cheese samplersin the historic old Jewish quarter wereturned to the ship. At night, passengersreminisced and romanticized about the nextday’s stop in Livorno, a popular cruise portfor visits to Florence, San Gimignano, Pisaand other Italian hillside villages.

Later that evening, snuggling in matchingFrette bathrobes and sipping a robustMerlot from Napa Valley we cued UnderThe Tuscan Sun, a complimentary DVDrental from the ship’s library to prep us forthe upcoming sights. But really we werecounting down the hours to see our friendsthe next day in Florence.

Over a simple penne pomodoro and whitewine from Santa Margherita, our Florentinefriends Amy and Duilio described theirthrilling adventure done a week before tosee the island of Capri and Pompeii. InCapri, the couple traipsed through theimperial villa of Tiberius, the ruin a silhou-ette against the blue sky that continues to

dominate the island’s skyline. Duilioexplained few passersby visit this stretch ofVia Tiberius which starts in the Piazzettaand meanders up the terraced gardens andwhitewashed villas passing million-dollarestates named, “Serenity” “Calm” and“Paradise.”

“You could spend all day roaming the ruinsof Pompeii,” they suggested and recountedhow the ancient port city in its hey days con-tained mammoth-sized buildings of forums,amphitheatres, a gladiator court and a sta-dium.

Uncertain of our own plans, Stephen and Ihigh-tailed it back to our ship, contemplat-ing our visit to our final coastal city,Sorrento, which hugs the dramatic Amalficoast. We were to spend two days there sothere were boundless opportunities toexplore the area. “I’ve heard so muchabout Sorrento,” I murmured leafingthrough my Rough Guide and Lonely Planetguidebooks.

But come early next morning, a copy of thedaily newsletter “Reflections” made its wayto our doorstep. The sightseeing dilemmawas solved. “Hey, we’ve got a chance tovisit the Isle of Capri and Pompeii,” I ravedabout our good luck as both destinationswere outlined, making this dream now pos-sible.

We both smiled broadly and knew therewere more Italian treasures yet to discover.

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the Mekong River’s beautiful deltas have beensite to famous battles, specifically during theVietnam War. Now, the peaceful waterwaysprovide the perfect atmosphere for cruising.New options in Vietnam and Cambodiainclude AmaWaterways’ 15-night Mekongupstream and downstream itineraries. Thevoyage takes cruisers along the fabledMekong River for an unforgettable authenticexperience exploring rural villages, floatingmarkets, and a Buddhist monastery. The itin-erary includes Ho Chi Minh City with addi-tional stops in Siem Reap, Hanoi and Ha LongBay.

The “River Sea” of the Amazon: The longestriver in South America and world’s largestresource of fresh water, the Amazon offersthousands of years of tropical history andbeauty. Seabourn offers the chance to blendthe beauty of both river and ocean, includingsailing along the iconic Amazon River with a15-day Amazon & Caribbean Isles Cruise.This cruise takes passengers on a luxuriousjourney along the Amazon with excursionsinto the jungle and beyond.

A Trek through American History on theMississippi: The Mississippi River is drenchedin rich American history weaving through 1.2million square miles and multiple states.Adventurers on American Cruise Lines sail ona Mississippi River Cruise paddlewheeler jour-ney taking them along the famed domesticwaters and through 10 states. Guests experi-ence the jazz of New Orleans, French-inspired beauty of Natchez, the Gateway Archof St. Louis and more.

A Rise Along the Rhine: Known for enchantingcastles and dramatic landscapes, the RhineRiver has been crossed by the likes of JuliusCaesar and George Patton. CroisiEurope’s

Christmas Market Cruise celebrates the holi-days along the Rhine, visiting multipleChristmas markets in the European capital ofStrasbourg, the “Christmas Cities” ofNuremberg and Rudesheim which feature theChristmas Market of Nations. Tauck’s Rhineand Moselle cruise blends the beauty of twohistoric rivers and allows passengers to expe-rience the Netherlands to Switzerland,through Germany, France and Luxembourg.Cruisers can pay tribute to the fallen in theBattle of the Bulge at the LuxembourgAmerican Cemetery and Memorial, viewmedieval masterpieces like Bernkastel, Trierand Cochem, and experience an exclusivedinner at a medieval moated castle inGermany.

The Gorgeous Ganges: Boasting the highestpopulation of any river basin in the world andwinding through India and Bangladesh, thesacred Ganges River is not only gorgeous butconstantly changing. The river is slowlychanging its path, naturally shifting 2.5 kilo-meters since 1990 so the river offers a trulyonce-in-a-lifetime course. Uniworld BoutiqueRiver Cruise Collection exclusively offers achance to sail this fertile and unique waterwaywith India’s Golden Triangle & SacredGanges river cruise and tour. Highlightsinclude Delhi’s Humayun’s Tomb, the TajMahal, the Agra Fort, Jaipur’s City Palace,Mother Theresa’s home and tomb in Kolkata,Verdic temple in Mayapur, and Kalna’sRajbari Temples.

“River cruising is the ultimate experienceoffering an immersive, cultural and pam-pered vacation, complete with exceptionalland excursions and vessel amenities,”D’Aoust continued. “Travelers can sail on sto-ried waterways and discover new pockets ofthe world.”

How can travelers leisurely explore sev-eral countries and discover multiplecultures in a matter of days? The

answer is sailing on an iconic river aboard ariver cruise. According to Cruise LinesInternational Association's (CLIA) 2016 Stateof the Cruise Industry Outlook, the demandfor the river cruise experience is at an all-timehigh; as of 2015, there were 169 river CLIAmember cruise ships* on the water.

“These intimate voyages allow passengers toexperience multiple, memorable destinationsin a short amount of time all while travellingthe world’s most famous, historic rivers,” saidCindy D’Aoust, president and CEO, CLIA. “Asthe demand for river cruising grows, there arenow more experiences and destinations thanever before. In addition to cruising throughEurope on the Rhine or Danube rivers, pas-sengers can take river cruises through SouthAmerica, Asia, Africa and even the U.S., offer-ing access to some of the most authentic andtreasured travel destinations in the world.”

From Egypt to Asia, following are six iconicrivers around the world made easily accessi-ble by river cruising:

The Magic & Mystery of the Nile: One of theworld’s most famous waterways, spanningmore than 4,000 miles, the Nile River offersunbelievable sights of ancient temples, lushrainforests and impressive mountains. AvalonWaterways offers a 9-day river cruise fromCairo that takes cruisers on a voyage through5,000 years of history, visiting temples built inthe time of Cleopatra, the famed Sphinx andthe Great Temples of Giza.

The Battles & Beauty of the Mekong:Stretching through thousands of miles ofauthentic Asian rice paddies and fish farms,

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The Rise of the River Cruises Sail Iconic Rivers While Visiting Distinctive Corners of the World

Article by Cruise Lines International Associat ion (CLIA) www.cruis ing.org

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Eight Reasons to River Cr uise

1. Daily Discoveries—River cruises stop at new ports almost dailyoffering passengers an itinerary full of unique destinations to discover.

6. Local Tastes—Travelers get whisked away and drenched in localcultures with unique excursions and culinary experiences availableonly on river cruises, including experiences at historical sites and tast-ing masterpieces made with locally sourced ingredients

8. New Options—River cruising allows travelers to visit more intimatecorners of the world and experience lands previously thought hard toget to by cruise.

7. Love for Luxe—River cruises offer an exclusive, luxurious option fortravelers. A smaller vessel means a more intimate vacation setting withstaff focused on each guest.

5. Maximum Return on Experience —River cruises offer a fantasticreturn on experience and investment, by allowing the chance to seemultiple destinations under one price tag.

2. Scenic Sailing—While river cruise lines do not spend a full day cruis-ing, there is typically no shortage of time to take in the beautiful scenerywhen passing through scenic stretches such as the Danube's WachauValley and the Rhine's River Gorge.

3. All-Inclusive— Most food, beverages, and often excursions are includ-ed in the overall price, allowing travelers to enjoy a decadent vacationwithout the stress of planning every detail and pinching every penny.

4. One-of-a-Kind Experiences—With access to narrow ports and throughshallow waterways, river cruising offers a cruise for travelers who love toexperience new cultures, visit historical sites and relax in cruise luxury

River Cruising allow passengers to experience multiple, memorable destinations in a short amount of time allwhile travelling the world’s most famous, historic rivers.

Article by Cruise Lines International Associat ion (CLIA) www.cruis ing.org


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Hot Springs, ArkansasA spa town with a difference

their doctor's advice.

As medical science evolved, the popularityof the baths waned. Today there’s no scien-tific evidence of health benefits from thesprings. But I can vouch that lazily soakingin a pool of hot water (where phones arenot allowed) is an excellent treatment forour hurried modern way of life.

The spring water is also delicious to drink.Filling stations line the edges of the nation-al park welcoming you to fill a jug with HotSprings’ perfectly neutral pH7 water, all forfree. Unlike most water from thermalsprings, there is no iron or sulphur. Thewater comes out of the ground at about

The earliest bathers soaked up the soothingwaters under the sky. By the mid 1800s,bathhouses became the preferred location.Soon Hot Springs’ bathhouses were grandedifices rivaling those of European spas.Today you can visit many of these restoredbuildings along Bathhouse Row, and even“take the waters” in two of them.

Many claim the water from the 47 differenthot springs is healing. Until just a fewdecades ago, physicians would recom-mend their patients come to treat ailmentsfrom rheumatism to syphilis. It became sopopular that the government eventuallyprovided a clinic with a free bathhouse, sothat people of any income could follow

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Iwas so looking forward to this trip. Whowouldn’t want to go to a town so famedfor its relaxing thermal mineral waters

that it is named Hot Springs? But I was sur-prised by how much more Hot Springs hasto offer.

The springs

Both the town and the national park arenamed Hot Springs. One side of the town’smain street is in fact inside the park. Like inmost national parks, you can hike, moun-tain bike and enjoy forested trails and won-derful views. Unusually, you can tour his-toric buildings and get a massage too.

A r t i c l e & P h o t o g r a p h y B y J o h a n n a R e a d , T r av e l E at e r . n e t

listening to The Hump Day Blues Band. Ifpast bands were as good, it is no wonderthat the Ohio Club was frequented bycelebrities like Tony Bennett, Sammy DavisJr, Babe Ruth, Al Jolson and Mae West.

Where to stay

History-buffs favour The Arlington, a“grand old hotel”. The hotel has views ofthe national park and Bathhouse Row, andfamous guests like Al Capone (who had hisown suite, complete with secret escaperoute) and home-town son Bill Clinton inthe presidential suite. The restaurants serveclassic dishes and the lobby bar innovativecocktails.

If you prefer more modern decor, chooseThe Hotel Hot Springs & Spa. Attached tothe convention centre, this 14-story hotelwas completely renovated in 2016. Itsrooms are spacious and come with extraslike a microwave and large mini-fridge.Breakfast with delicious biscuits and honeyis included in rates.

Lookout Point Lakeside Inn is a boutiqueoption just outside of town, on LakeHamilton. With views of the lake, theOuachita Mountains, and garden water-falls, you’ll be sure to relax at this B&B.

www.hotsprings.org

Johanna Read is a Vancouver-based free-lance writer and photographer specializingin travel and food. Follow Johanna onInstagram @TravelEaterJohanna and onTwitter @TravelEater. All her travel writing isat www.TravelEater.net.

5962°C and doesn’t need treatment to makeit safe to drink. Many believe that drinkingthe water is good for you too.

The Quapaw Baths & Spa feature four min-eral pools at varying temperatures. AtQuapaw, you can add on massages, bodytreatments and facials, plus visit the steamcave. The cave feels like a combination ofsauna and steambath. I sat on a cedarbench in the man-made cave, designed togather the heat coming off the under-ground springs below. While I didn’t seeclouds of steam, I very quickly felt the moisttherapeutic heat. I ended my 20-minutesession relaxed and well-glistened (a ladyglistens, not sweats, in the South).

Lots to do

After soaking up the waters, drive just out oftown to the Garvan Woodland Gardens. Istrolled through ever-changing gardensfeaturing waterfalls and hundreds of thou-sands of tulips and daffodils. Kids (andkids-at-heart) delight in the explorationcave, crawdad hole and maze. Architecturefans marvel at the glass walls and angles ofthe 6-story Anthony Chapel, designed byMaurice Jennings and Fay Jones. I wasenchanted by Garvan’s resident peacock.He loves to show off his full plumage when-ever anyone points a camera at him. You’llneed a keener eye to spot Garvan’s other70 bird species.

The Hot Springs area is full of attractions fora week of family fun. Watch thoroughbredracing at Oaklawn Park, ride a riverboat,go mini golfing and regular golfing, playlaser tag, zipline, kayak, spend a day at thewaterslides and the immense roller coastersat Magic Springs amusement park, visit thewax museum, and even an alligator farm.Tour the Gangster Museum to learn allabout infamous mobsters like Al Caponeand Lucky Luciano who used Hot Springs asa retreat.

Shoppers love the independent shops onCentral Avenue selling art, antiques, vin-tage candy, uniquely flavoured popcornand housewares. Pop into The Savory

Pantry for artisanal chocolates, bitters,sauces and jams, and (my favourite)Lambrecht’s southern pecan toffee.

Food and drink

If you want to stay in a town for any lengthof time, you want there to be great food.Hot Springs does not disappoint.

More than a month after my visit, I’m stillcraving the pizza from DeLuca’s Pizzeria.Chef/owner Anthony Valinoti brought toppizza techniques from his native Brooklyn.He uses the best ingredients from HotSprings, including the mineral water, for hisclassic and creative pies. His pizzas aloneare enough of a reason to visit Hot Springs!

Craft-beer fans love Superior BathhouseBrewery and Distillery. In one of the oldbuildings on Bathhouse Row, they makebeer on site using the national park’sspring water. They serve fantastic non-alco-holic root beer too, as well as lunch anddinner highlighting seasonal locally-grownproducts.

Famous for being Bill Clinton’s favouritebarbeque joint, McClard’s Bar-B-Q serves7000 pounds of hickory-smoked beef, porkand chicken weekly, all smothered in theirsecret sauce. This place is so popular theywon’t even reserve a table for the Clintons(though they do get invited into the kitchento eat there).

I learned the secret to eating southern pan-cakes at The Pancake Shop. The pancakesfill an entire dinner plate. To ensure my lapwasn’t covered in syrup, I followed the serv-er’s instructions to cut a hole in the centreof the stack before filling it with butter andwarm syrup. Delicious!

There’s live music every night at the OhioClub, right on Central Avenue. This historicclub dates to 1905 and is the only originalclub still open. During Prohibition, it wascalled the Ohio Cigar Store; if you knew theright password, you were allowed into thedrinking and gambling area hidden behindthe false wall. I spent a Wednesday night


Most of us know China for itsgreat landscapes, numerousbodies of water, architecture,

and history. But do we know about the less-er familiar attractions? Perhaps one of thelesser familiar attractions is the maritime SilkRoad, located in the country’s southeasterncoastal areas, making connections withneighbouring countries.

Traditionally, this tourist route was dividedinto two: the East China Sea Silk Routeand the South China Sea Silk Route. Theformer connected China with Japan andKorea. This portion of the route, which datesback to the Zhou Dynasty, was known for itssilkworm, silk reeling, and weaving tech-niques — techniques that seeped into Koreathrough the Yellow Sea. Silk production waseventually Korea’s main commodity. Thisled to building many ports for exports toJapan. Moreover, Korea became the centre fortechnology. Because of the Haijin policyunder the Qing Dynasty reign, however,business along the Silk Road declined. Thispolicy prohibited maritime activities. The lat-ter portion of the route connected China withother countries. As its route name specifies,this route surrounded—and still doestoday—the South China Sea. Guangzhou,Quanzhou, and Ningbo were the maindeparture cities when construction workersbuilt this route. Like the eastern route, thesouthern route thrived during five dynasties(Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song) and declinedduring two of them (Ming and Qing). Thedecline was more noticeable during westernwars, but the route renewed itself in the lateTang and Song dynasties with the rise ofnavigation and shipbuilding technologies. Itconnected with Southeast Asia, Malacca, theIndian Ocean, the Red Sea, and Africa.

What exactly is the Maritime Silk Road? It’sa Chinese strategic initiative designed toincrease investment and foster collaborationthrough the Silk Road (former network oftrade routes that connected Asia to other east-ern and western localities).

The Maritime Silk Road consisted of eightChinese provinces: Hebei, Shandong,Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi,Fujian and Hainan as well as two munici-pal areas of Tianjin and Shanghai.

Special Eight-Page Section on the Maritime Silk Road by Dwain Richardson


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Hebei-The Imperial Summer Villa of Chengde

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This is one of the country’s northernmostprovinces. Hebei means “north of theriver.” Coincidentally, this province isnorth of the Yellow River. Surprisingly, thisprovince is only eighty-eight years old!The central government founded it in1928.

Hebei borders on a number of cities,countries, and geographical terrains(seas, rivers, plains, grasslands).Its cli-mate is typical of a monsoon: Winters arecold and dry, while summers are hot andhumid. For example, temperatures soar

This city, which literally means “above thesea,” is an international port metropolisrenowned for its economic, financial, cul-tural, scientific, and technological indus-tries.

Many cultures converge in this easternChina city: modern and traditional, ori-ental and western. The mix of culturesisn’t new to Shanghai. Following theTreaty of Nanking in 1842, inhabitantsfrom western and eastern Europe flockedto the port city to open businesses andbuild houses and mansions. Like manyother destinations in China, many

This province is in the easternmost regionof China, running parallel to the YangtzeRiver and bordering the Huanghai Sea.Nanjing is the province’s capital.

The province’s climate borders on a tem-perate and subtropical zone. Winters arethe coldest in January and summers arethe warmest in July. Jiangsu can receiveanywhere from 800 to 1,200 millimetresof rain—precipitation is the greatest duringsummer months.

Local products are plentiful in the Jiangsuprovince—and yes, there’s lots of local cui-sine to be had. Fish, chicken, seafood, and

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63between –16°C and –3°C in January. InJuly, temperatures range from 20°C to27°C. Given the high heat and humidity,it comes as no surprise that most rainfalls during the summer months.

Attractions

Ming Great Wall: The site runs from JiayuPass in the west to the Shanhai Pass in theeast (the walls measure 8,850 kilometresin length), and through to Manchuria,located in northeastern China. The wallsconsist of trenches and natural barrierssuch as hills and rivers.

Bedaihe Beach Resort: A ten-kilometreattraction from the Yinjiao Pavilion to the

European architectural wonders awaitwhen travellers set foot in this city.

AttractionsThe Bund: A well-known waterfront inShanghai. Located on the west bank ofHuangpu River, the Bund flows from theWaibaidu Bridge to Nanpu Bridge (lengthof 1,500 metres). You can find twenty-sixarchitectural sites on the Bund’s western-most end. Architectural styles range fromGothic to Renaissance. If you’re a nightowl, you should stop by the Bund, foryou’ll see colourful lights shining in theriver and flashing on the farthest side ofthe river. This attraction was named the“Shanghai Top Ten Night Light Views” in2009.

liquors are in every locality, and some ofthese staples are found in meals, includingpork meat patties and broken bone fish’shead.

AttractionsClassical Gardens of Suzhou: These nineeleventh- to nineteenth-century gardensare on the UNESCO World Heritage Sitelist. They recreate miniature natural land-scapes and reflect the importance of natu-ral beauty. Visitors can find residentialzones among the gardens.

Xiaoling Mausoleum of Ming Dynasty:One of China’s biggest imperial tombslocated in the easternmost zone ofNanjing. The mausoleum’s key feature isthe Sacred Way, a long path stretching

start of the Daihe River. Let yellow sandglide over your feet and step into shallowwaters. While you’re having fun on thebeach, let yourself be dazzled by caves,secluded paths, and winding bridges.

Chengde Mountain Resort: A complexmade of imperial palaces and gardens.Seventy-two scenic wonders await,including the “Tower of Mist and Rain.”Be prepared to see many grasslands,forested mountains, and valleys amongthe many buildings. This resort is on theUNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

1,800 metres. You can see many animalsculptures like lions and elephants. Visitorscan also see columns carved with dragons.Scenic sculptures also greet visitors. Likethe gardens in Suzhou, the XiaolingMausoleum of Ming Dynasty is listed onthe UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Zhouzhuang Water Town: What makes thisattraction so popular? Look around youand you’ll see many old buildings andbridges, crafts, and of course, lots of water.This water town is an hour and half awayfrom Shanghai and Suzhou. Touristsshould ideally visit this attraction in thespring (April/May) and fall(September/October). While you’re visit-ing, you can drop by local shops and mar-vel at traditional Chinese culture.

Nanjing Road: Hear ye, hear ye, shop-pers and foodies! Looking for majorbrands, new fashions, great foods, openbars? This is the place to be. You’ll seemany upscale stores such as Tiffany andDunhill. Is traditional shopping your cupof tea? You can still drop by a number ofspecialty shops and traditional stores fea-turing silk products and embroidery, notto mention clocks, jade, and wool. If youprefer evening strolls, why not have a pintof your favourite beverage and listen tomusic by street performers? There’s muchto see and do along this 5.5.-kilometreroute that stretches from the Bund in theeast to Jing’an Temple in the west.

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This is one of China’s eastern provinces. Itscapital is Hangzhou. Nestled along the EastChina Sea, Zhejiang will charm you with itsnumerous islands, gardens, and landmarkssuch as the five-storey Leifeng Pagoda.

Take a moment to look around you whenyou arrive in Zhejiang. You’ll notice thatmost areas are hilly, though you will defi-nitely encounter valleys, plains, and islandsalong the province’s coastlines.

The province has four seasons with differentclimates: Spring is generally rainy, especial-ly in March. Summers are long, hot, humid,and wet. (Heads-up: The typhoon threat is

Guangzhou: Gateway to the Silk Road. Ofall the Chinese harbours, Guangzhou wasthe largest, and the only one to make con-nections to foreign countries. It also hadhistorical significance: Three voyage routesoriginated from Guangzhou. In addition, in1784, the American vessel Empress ofChina sailed to this city, which led to thefirst transportation route between theUnited States and China, and eventuallygiving way to trade.

On the cultural scene, most associateGuangdong with cuisine and music. This isconsidered the birthplace of what western-ers call “Chinese food” (Cantonese food).Grab the authentic taste of sweet and sour

A southeastern province reputed for itsmountainous and coastal cities. Rivers areplentiful, and are considered importantbecause they were used as transportationroutes for centuries. Fujian faces Taiwan(further east). It’s south of Zhejiang, west ofJiangxi, and north of Guangdong. Its cap-ital is Fuzhou.

Fujian’s climate is semitropical along thecoastlines (hot in summer, cool in winter).It’s cool between November and February,warm from March to May, and hotbetween June and October. Like Zhejiang,a risk of typhoons is great during monsoon

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65considerable in late August due to greataccumulations of rain.) In contrast, the fallis dry, warm, and sunny. With the exceptionof the far south, winters are short but cold.Average temperatures range between 15°Cand 19°C. Depending on the seasons, how-ever, temperatures vary slightly. Forinstance, they hover between 2°C and 8°Cin January and 27°C to 30°C in July.

AttractionsBaoguo Temple: A Buddhist temple, and theoldest surviving wooden structure. Thisattraction houses various exhibitions: stat-ues, bronzes, Ningbo furniture, carvedstone screens, to name but a few.Admission: 20 CNY ($3.97 CAD) per per-son. Be prepared to pay an extra fee if youwant services by a tour guide.

pork, wonton soup, and dim-sum. Thefood is plentiful, delicious, and inexpensive,and few travellers can leave this city hun-gry.

AttractionsMount Danxia: Bring a camera and bedazzled by plenty scenic, mountainoussites. You’ll also see a number of templesscattered about. A river winds through themountains, allowing visitors to ride a boatduring their stay. This site is on the 2010UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

Seven Star Crags: Find most crags aroundStar Lake. The lake has five distinct sec-tions, and has small land and walkwaystrips. Like many attractions in China,there’s no shortage of Buddhist and Taoistsculptures around the lake. While you’re

season (expect between 1,270 and 2,030millimetres of rain along the coast and inwestern mountainous areas). Average tem-peratures range from 11°C to 29°C.

Attractions

Sānfāng Qīxian: This architectural site,located in the downtown core, is a set ofancient buildings coined “Three Lanes andSeven Paths.” The site was first built duringthe Jin Dynasty (around the twelfth centu-ry). Meander through the white-walledstreets, shop at one of many local stores,or take a coffee along the canal.

Wŭyí Shān Scenic Area: Enter this area viaWŭyí Gōng, approximately 200 metressouth of the Wŭyí Mountain Villa. Trails

Yandangshan: Mountains galore! This areahas a northern and southern zone. You willfind the highest peaks in North Yandang.This is where you’ll find Mount Yandang, anarea known for its vertical rock faces andpinnacles, mountain slopes and its lushforests and bamboo groves, and streamsfilled with clear water, waterfalls, and caves.You’ll come across several shrines and tem-ples as well.

Qiandao Lake: Akin to the ThousandIslands region located between Kingstonand Cornwall, Ontario (1,078 islands onthe lake and other thousands scatteredabout). Bird Island, Snake Island, andMonkey Island are some of the manyislands you’ll visit. Did you know thatQiandao Lake is used to produce mineralwater?

contained in this area connect with majorsites. Are you up to walking a lot? Strollalong the 530-metre Great King Peak (viamain entrance), or try walking along the410-metre Heavenly Tour Peak (enter viaNine Twists River). If you plan to take theGreat King Peak, walk with appropriateshoes, for trails may be slippery and wet.

Ānxī Cháyè Dàguānyuán: Would you like acup of tea? The mountainous Ānxī Countyis known for its Iron Buddha tea. It is char-acterized by a thick fragrance and floralsweetness. This tea farm produces roughlyfifty tea brands from China, Japan, andTaiwan. While you’re on site, take a freetour of the small museum and processingplant.

here, why not check out the many fantasticcaves?

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall: A magnificentlypreserved example of nineteenth-centuryarchitecture. It was the ancestral shrine of awealthy family, and now is a museum withmany items and articles, including ivorysculptures and artistic statues.

Today, visitors can see more than twentyattractions along the Silk Road. Some ofthem include the Temple of God of SouthSea, Huaisheng Mosque, the Temple ofBright Filial Piety, the Muslim Sage’s Tomb,Hualin Temple, and Lotus Tower. Like manycountries, the Silk Road is showered withEuropean architecture, especially whentourists set foot in Shameen

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An autonomous region in southern Chinabordering Vietnam. Its capital is Nanning.Guangxi’s climate is subtropical, just likemany other localities in the country (long,hot summers).

Parts of this autonomous region are moun-tainous, especially areas in China’s north-east, north, centre, and southeast sectors.Guangxi is known for its many rivers thatcut through mountains, forming what weknow as the West River.

This is China’s smallest and southernmostprovince. Hainan Island is the main island.Its capital is Haikou. Aside from islands,Hainan boasts of many rivers and lakes,including the Wanning and ChanghuaRivers. Unlike other areas of China, naturalrivers are few in number in this southern-most area.

Hainan’s climate ranges from subtropical totropical. Haikou’s climate is subtropical, asare other areas in northern Hainan. Thefarther south you travel, however, the cli-mate is more tropical (warmer temperaturesare the norm). Winter temperatures rangefrom 16°C to 21°C; summer temperatures

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67A few cultural notes:Guangxi and Guangdong mean “Westernand Eastern Expanse.” Traditionally,Guangxi has had a close connection withCantonese culture and language. Theseinfluences are noticeable in the eastern-most areas of the region.

Three varieties of Chinese are spoken inNanning: Southwestern Mandarin, Yue,and Pinghua.

AttractionsLijiang River: The eighty-three-kilometregreen river flows from Piled Festoon Hill toBilian Peak in Yangzhou. Marvel at thesteep peaks, luxuriant flowers, and greenhills that reflect in the blue water.

are between 25°C to 29°C. As touristswould expect, summers are hot. This is par-ticularly true in northern areas of Hainan.

A few notes about local cuisine:

Dig in on seafood! Chefs prepare manymeals with shrimp, lobster, crab, and othersea life creatures. Wenchang chicken: a drier meat with lots oftexture. Hainan chicken rice: a dish with rice mari-nated in chicken soup.

Attractions

Five Officials Temple: Built in honour of thefive Tang (618–907 AD) and Song dynastyofficials (960–1279). This site is southeastof Haikou. The temple complex has many

Reed Flute Cave: This attraction, locatedfive kilometres west of Guilin, got its namefrom verdant reeds that grew outside thecave (flutes are made with this type ofreed). Walk inside this water cave andexplore many stalactites, stone pillars, androck formations. Don’t expect to see com-plete darkness: You’ll be greeted with manycoloured lights as you tour the site.

West Street: This ancient street is found inthe heart of Yangshuo County. It has beenthe centre of eastern and western culturessince the 1980s. Walk along the marbledstreets and enjoy the simple styles andcourtyard-like settings. While you’re here,have a coffee on a patio, purchase a num-ber of souvenirs, or take a bite into localcuisine (the beer fish dish is worth a try).

buildings, including the Guanjia Hall,Xuepu Hall, East and West Hall, and theAncestral Hall of the Two Fubo Generals.

Yangpu Ancient Salt Field: An archaeologi-cal heritage site in Yantian Village. Seemore than one thousand stones that evapo-rate seawater to produce salt (stones are cuton top). Stones are equipped with a thin rimto contain water.

Yanoda: A rainforest located near Sanya.The Chinese government has reservedforty-five square kilometres for the CulturalTourist Zone, while the rest of the rainforest(123 square kilometres) is fully protected.China’s tourism department has rated thisattraction AAAAA, the highest rating on thecountry’s rate scale.

Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, Guangdong

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New York London Paris Tokyo Hong Kong Bali Rome Thailand Monaco Amsterdam Berlin Ibiza Montreal Tanzania Hawaii Rio MaBuenas Aries Manila Singapore Mumbai Chicago Jerusalem Moscow Egypt Bora Bora China Japan Santorini Osaka Los AngelesBanff Guangzhou Casablanca Cairo Iceland Orlando Beverly Hills Melbourne Mallorca San Diego Crete New York London Paris TEcuador Malaysia Crete Stockholm Maldives Peru Miami Shanghai Tahiti Riviera Maya Las vegas Toronto Buenas Aries Manila S

CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel - Istanbul

Istanbul, historically known as Constantinople, is Turkey’s largest city and the coun-try's economic, cultural, and historical center straddling the Bosphorus strait thatseparates Europe and Asia.

A key to any visit is finding a base of operations, aka, a hotel. The CVK ParkBosphorus Hotel offers everything a traveller could ask for. With design details thatreflect the majesty of the Turkish palaces that can be found around the city, this fab-ulous property also grants guests magnificent views of the Bosphorus straight, thecity and the far side which is the Asian part of Istanbul.

The luxurious nature of the hotel is evident from the moment you set eyes on thebuilding. Modern lines and architecture on the outside of the building leave visitorsanticipating the best out of this hotel. They will not be disappointed.

Once you pass the elegant entryway, guests are greeted in the grand lobby of thehotel, with its impressive marble and granite finishings to make your arrival a grandone. Every step of the way you will find friendly, accommodating staff and a dedi-cation to service that is second to none. There is no doubt that this hotel deserves tobe among the properties in the ‘Preferred Hotels and Resorts’ group, which repre-sents a collection of the world's best luxury hotels and resorts in more than 85 coun-tries. The spacious suites feature separate living spaces, private terraces, and hottubs. The washrooms are a dream, with a large stand alone white tub, lots of lightand a wonderful rain shower head. To top it off, the toiletries were high end andwonderful.

This is the place to see and be seen with guests from all over the world. There aregreat restaurants and bars, serving a variety of cuisine, with spicy tastes of Moroccoto the ancient flavours of the Ottoman Empire! Delicious.

On top of the beauty and comfort of our room, the CVK Park Bosporus Hotel is verywell located, just minutes away from Taksim square and the famous Istiklal pedes-trian street where just about anything can be found!

This is not only a street for locals, there is so much to see and do that it is also amajor draw for tourists. Visitors can spend an entire day shopping, eating and beingentertained.

After a hard day of tourist-ing, enjoy some relaxation at the CVK Safira Spa & Fitness& Wellness Center. A first of its kind in Istanbul, this Spa offers a variety of specialservices to its guests including VIP massage rooms, an indoor heated swimmingpool, personal spa areas, baths and hot tubs.

preferredhotels.com/destinations/istanbul/park-bosphorus-hotel

New Boston Hilton Garden Inn

Ideal for Business Stay, or Explore and Play

by Jessica Percy-Campbell

A stone’s throw from the airport with free24-hour shuttle service, the new HiltonGarden Inn Boston Logan Airport providesa perfect base for visitors coming to explorethe city or do business in downtown Boston.It’s also an economical choice for familiesarriving for weekend trips to take in a RedSox game or fun attractions like the NewEngland Aquarium. It’s 10 minutes down-town by car and a five-minute walk to thesubway. The fresh, new complex also boastsa heated indoor pool and a 24-hour fitnesscenter. It’s ideal for conventions and groupsas well with a 24-hour business center andlarge modern meeting facilities. The elegantdécor of the Garden Grille & Bar makes it agreat place to enjoy an early breakfast oran evening cocktail, and all guests haveaccess to coin-operated washers and dry-ers. There’s also a convenience store onsite. But it’s the front-desk staff at this newhotel that makes it exceedingly special; theygo above and beyond to make guests feelat home. They’re also very knowledgeableabout nearby attractions and happy to helpyou plan your days out.

hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com

Country Inns...Luxary Safari Camps...Ecolodges...Ice...Cave...Treetop... Hotels

adrid Cape Town Beijing Sydney Vancouver Ecuador Malaysia Crete Stockholm Maldives Peru Miami Shanghai Tahiti Riviera Maya Las Vegas T Barcelona Santiago Washington Jakarta Marrakesh Boston Botswana Copenhagen New Delhi Dubai Sao Paulo Bangkok Auckland Boracay U

Tokyo Hong Kong Bali Rome Thailand Monaco Amsterdam Berlin Ibiza Montreal Tanzania Hawaii Rio Madrid Cape Town Beijing Sydney Vaningapore Mumbai Chicago Jerusalem Moscow Egypt Bora Bora China Japan Santorini Osaka Los Angeles Barcelona Santiago Washington J

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smartly designed to allow its unparalleledsurroundings be the true star.

Outside, their bright white-multi-tiered com-plex cascades down the hill and spills fluidlyinto the sea via a serene infinity pool with aglassed in wall- and there is also an adult-only pool and lounge area on a separatelevel. Overall there are 54 beautifullyappointed guest rooms and nine two andthree-bedroom suites- all beachfront withoversized balconies. And the activities onthat glorious beach include hobie cats andsnorkeling- there is a pair of resident seaturtles living right out front- and they alsooffer weekly mermaid lessons! That’s right!Zemi is one of the hosts for the newMermaid School International wherewomen, men and even children can learn toswim with a tail and a monofin! I tried it,and it was such fun! They also have a won-derful children’s club with innovative activi-ties and state-of the-art tennis courts.

For on-site dining there is Stone- an upscaleAsian and Caribbean fusion enclave, and20 Knots- a more casual indoor/outdoorbeachside eatery with fabulous breakfastbuffets and the a surprise of a brick pizzaoven. Their pizzas were divine with a cre-

ative choice of gourmet toppings like thelocal spiny lobster Anguilla is famous for.And their Rhum Bar is exquisite. A classylounge where you can try some theCaribbean’s best. I especially enjoyed theirrhum education and tasting class. Butbeyond the spectacular beach, it’s theirZemi Thai House Spa that impresses themost.

Set apart, behind the resort, the focus is onan authentic 300-year-old Thai rice housethat was rebuilt piece by piece. It is thenexus of this soothing oasis that featuresthe island’s only hammam, a meditationpond amid a tropical garden, many multi-function treatment rooms, a fresh juice barand a wellness boutique. It really is worth avisit all on its own. Very unique.

And overall, I can’t say enough about theirsuper warm, friendly and highly efficientstaff. They really know how to do upscalewithout the snooty. If you’ve never been toAnguilla before, I highly recommend yourfirst stay there should be at Zemi BeachResort to discover what barefoot luxury is allabout. Problem is, you might never return!

www.zemibeach.com

Zemi Beach Resort, Anguilla

A Shining New Star on Stunning Shoal Bay

Anguilla is a tiny island in the EasternCaribbean, a few miles from St. Maartenwith some of the most beautiful beaches onthe planet.

Being a beach fanatic, I was concernedwhen I heard a brand new resort had takenroot on Anguilla’s Shoal Bay, what I consid-er to be one of the most glorious strips ofsand in the world. Part of the exceptionalappeal of this little island is that it’s sparse-ly developed. There is a handful of five-starresorts and a smattering of high end villarentals, a few mid-level stays and the oddB&B, but basically it’s a tiny community ofsome 15,000 residents living on an aridrock fringed with surreal aqua waters andscenic cliffs. As they say, Anguilla rhymeswith vanilla but it’s twice as sweet!

However, upon my arrival to the new ZemiBeach Resort I could instantly confirm thatany concerns I had about this new develop-ment were unfounded. It’s a glorious addi-tion to the postcard perfect scene, and

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The heat of the sun as we landed would be a preview of thewarmth we would get from the staff at the Tongsai BayResort. Comfort and pleasure is the name of the game, and

upon arrival at the Koh Samui airport, a staff member was there towelcome us and chauffeur us to the resort.

The receptionist gave us a tour of the hotel and its amenities alongwith a map to find our way. We were informed that we would beoffered an upgrade to a seafront pool villa!

The hotel offers to all their guests a complimentary escort (golf cart)from the lobby to their rooms or from their rooms to wherever theywish to go within the resort. It may seem silly, but it is quite appre-ciated in the heat, especially considering the resort’s size.

Our seafront villa was simply stunning! Nice cold towels infusedwith a lovely fragrance and a refreshing herbal iced tea awaited us.Stepping into the room, you will immediately notice the very largebalcony, which includes a private pool facing the sea. Alongside theswimming area, two sun loungers invite guests to sunbathe with aview.

If you are trying to avoid the sun, the balcony also has a shadedresting area containing a 4 poster bed with mosquito screens, abath tub, dining table and a large pantry which includes a bar withsink and a fridge. As for the room itself, it is divided in two, wherethe bedroom and TV room both offer seafront views.

The resting area and bathrooms were modern and built for twoadults to have enough space to get ready at the same time. Everydetail in the room was thought out and guests will have every need

met. If you’re a picky sleeper, they even have a choice of pillow.

The hotel staff is as friendly as they are helpful. Throughout theresort the rooms are tidied up twice a day and mid-day snacks,fresh fruits and ice are complimentary.

We each had the pleasure of a 90 minute Thai massage at thehotel’s spa. The spa is extremely charming with an entranceway thatmakes you feel as if you are stepping into a jungle with its decora-tive waterfall and pond. Upon entering, the spa manager explainedtheir offer in detail, including the extent of the massage, along withour choices of oils (hot or room temperature) and fragrances (6choices). The massage itself was delightful and relaxing.

At night, we had dinner at the resort’s restaurant located right onthe beach. The sound of the waves crashing into the shore wassoothing and made the romantic ambiance all that better. To get atrue experience of what the restaurant had to offer, we asked themanager for his recommendations and he did not disappoint. Thefried calamari and scallops were both excellent choices for appetiz-ers. As for the main course, the grilled sea bass was meaty, freshand very tasty. The Australian steak and chips was cooked to per-fection and can certainly fill even the hungriest of guests. Desert wasa traditional Thai delicacy, sticky mango rice. Turns out it wasmango season, the fruit was tender and sweet, simply delicious!

The Tongsai Bay resort went above and beyond our expectations, itwas definitely one the highlights of our trip in Thailand.

preferredhotels.com/destinations/koh-samui-surat-

thani/the-tongsai-bay

The Tongsai Bay, Koh Samui

Articles by Mathieu Morcos & Camille Fodi

W hen arriving at the Landmark Hotel, guests immediately real-ize how it got its name. The location is pristine, and this beau-tiful, tall building that stands out in the heart of Bangkok,

which is saying something as the city is ripe with magnificent buildings.

The lobby’s cathedral ceiling and marble floors give the impression ofa luxurious Las Vegas hotel, lavish and lush. The receptionist greetedus and took us to the 31st floor, all the way to the top, where we metwith the hotel’s management. After giving us in depth details about ourstay at the Landmark and all the generous complimentary perks thatcame along with it, we headed back down to the 24th floor to see ourroom.

Although the Landmark was built almost 30 years ago, most of therooms have been recently renovated and our room was simply gor-geous, from the enormous king size bed to the modernized bathroom,every detail in the room was carefully chosen for comfort and style.

Every morning, we would receive an English copy of the localNewspaper outside our door before heading to the breakfast buffet.

The buffet’s variety was broad to say the least. If you wanted Western,Chinese, Thai or even European choices, it was all there. The buffetchefs offer to make a fresh omelette with ingredients of your choice, aswell as pancakes and waffles made on the spot, delicious! Fresh fruits,cold cuts and cheese are also at your disposal. We would enjoy ourdaily iced coffee while reading that newspaper.

Further into the day, you might feel the need for some quiet time by the

pool located on the 9th floor. Its privacy makes you almost forget thatyou’re in the heart of the country’s capital. After cooling off in the pool,make sure to visit the sundeck, located a stairway away. A small bar onthe sundeck serves refreshments throughout the day while you enjoythe lounging in the sun. The fitness room is modern and can help youfeel less guilty about all those pastries you’ve been having at the break-fast buffet.

At night, we would eagerly visit the 31st floor where you can relish aview of the city from up on high, while enjoying complimentary drinksand snacks.

The evening buffet is very diverse and was simply delicious. We werealso given a wonderful token of appreciation, rebates on the hotel’ssteakhouse, bar and spa. Chocolates and the teddy bears that repre-sent the Landmark’s mascot were left on in our room, simply a kind-hearted gesture.

The staff was supportive, knowledgeable and positive from start to fin-ish, from helping us find local restaurants and directions for entertain-ment, all the way to securing our luggage while we waited for ourtransportation.

We got to meet the director of marketing communications who insuredthat our stay had met our expectations. It obviously had, as we woulddefinitely recommend The Landmark and visit again in the future!

preferredhotels.com/destinations/bangkok/the-land-

mark-bangkok

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The Landmark, Bangkok

In the heart of Evian and just metres from the shores of LakeGeneva, the Littoral-Evian boutique Hotel welcomes visitors toenjoy its light, airy and comfortable rooms. A welcoming staff,

an Alpine-esque décor and a delicious European continental break-fast with great cold cuts, many different cheeses, jams, breads andfresh apple or orange juice. Room prices are reasonable for every-thing is offered and there are options for one child or two.

Outside the door, guests are treated to a magnificent view of LacLeman while being caressed by the cool breeze on a hot day. Stepsaway, guests will find the main pedestrian street, with the city’s casi-no and the town hall waiting for the visit.

http://en.hotel-littoral-evian.fr

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The Littoral

Amagnificent view of the Alps in the distance, seen best fromthe top floors of this new, modern and contemporary hotel,is just start of guest attractions at the Annecy Bonlieu Hotel.

This property is located in the heart of town and minutes away fromthe famous lake and old quarters. It has easy access to all ofAnnecy’s cultural and tourist attractions, including historical locals,the lake and town centre, and the mountains are a short ride away.

With so much to do and see in this beautiful city, the hotel is an idealbase to sleep, shower and plan daily schedules. As breakfast isincluded, a guest’s day can start out perfectly.

www.annecybonlieuhotel.fr/index_uk.php

Millions of dollars and a beautiful renovation havereinvented the old Convent of Visitation built in1854 and turned it into a real gem of a hotel. The

Fouviere is situated down the street from a roman-eraamphi-theatre and the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière,and its hilltop placement offers wonderful views of the cityand the surroundings help guests feel like they are in thecountryside.

This boutique style hotel takes good care of their guests andthe artistic feel is juxtaposed with the building`s walls ofsolid stone. The reception area has a marble alter and fres-coes on the ceiling harkening back to times when the hotelwas still a convent. The renovations have created well-litrooms and bathrooms that are extra large.

The hotel offers unique gastronomic experiences to pushyour taste buds to the limit. The Restaurant Les Téléphonesserves bistro-style cuisine while overlooking the gloriouscourtyard. Guests can also relax with a hot drink at Le Kfe,a comfortable area where you can read a book, newspaperor your emails. Another niche is down the hotel’s own “tra-boule” passageway to discover Le Bar, where many winesfrom France and elsewhere await you. Finally, you can enjoyauthentic Lyonnaise cuisine experience at the Bouchon, thehotel’s unique restaurant.

www.fourviere-hotel.com/en

Annecy Bonlieu Hotel Fourviere Hotel Lyon


Va c at i o n G o l d o n F l o r i d a ’ s T r e a s u r e C o a s t

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On July 31st, 2015, divers struckgold when they found 4.5 mil-lion dollars’ worth of Spanish

coins off the coast of Vero Beach, 170 milessoutheast of Orlando. It’s just a fraction ofthe loot that was lost when 11 ships ladenwith jewelry and precious metals capsizedduring a hurricane in 1715, exactly 300years earlier, on their return to Spain.

Those riches have been washing up onFlorida’s mid-eastern coast ever since, andit’s why this region, which encompasses St.

Lucie, Indian River and Martin counties, isknown as Florida’s Treasure Coast.

Though we didn’t unearth any gold coinson our recent trip, we did discover a treas-ure trove of vacation gems. Here weresome of our favourites.

Indian River County

“We are now entering Osprey Alley,” saidCaptain John, and we were treated to the

sight of several large nests and their feath-ered inhabitants. We marvelled at motherstaking care of their fledglings, fanningthem to keep them cool. These gracefulwater birds were just one of many wildlifesightings on this unforgettable airboat tourof Blue Cypress Lake. We also spotted alli-gators, turtles, eagles, great blue heronsand the adorable two-day-old moorhens.

Lunch was also memorable at Capt.Hiram’s Resort’s Bahamian-styled SandBar. Surrounded by palm trees, our feet

A r t i c l e & P h o t o g r a p h y b y J e n n i f e r M e r r i c k

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and has been in the Flewelling family for40 years. Stays can be as relaxing as rock-ing on the wooden chairs on the porch oras adventurous as hunting for wild hogs.

But what they are best known for is theircountry brunch. “We draw people in fromJacksonville to Miami and often book out,”says Jonnie. After partaking in their south-ern fare of biscuits, meatloaf, collardgreens and the crispy fried chicken, I couldunderstand why.

“My mother stood over me for 20 yearsbefore she let me make it myself,” saidJonnie.

These recipes, and more importantly thestories that permeate every detail of theSeminole Inn, is a legacy to be proud of,and are perfect examples of what richesvisitors can find on Florida’s TreasureCoast.

www.discovermartin.com

If you go: Most visitors fly to either Orlandoor Fort Lauderdale and drive to theTreasure Coast. Driving distance is 60 to90 minutes depending on the destination.We stayed at the Hampton Inn in both VeroBeach and Stuart and were impressed withtheir convenience, service and full break-fasts.

www.visitflorida.com


75sunk in the warm white sand, it was theideal island ambiance for noshing onconch fritters and mahi-mahi tacos. Thebest part is you can eat as much as youwant because the magic mirror in thewomen’s washroom makes you appear20lbs thinner. “I want to take it home,”murmured one patron while admiring thedistorted, but oh so flattering view.

Our next boating excursion was straight outof a James Bond movie on the aptly namedyacht, ‘Moonraker’. Fully equipped withkitchen, showers, a BBQ and even a ham-mock, this 40-foot catamaran sailboat canbe chartered for a couple of hours or anentire day. We sailed on a sunset cruise, apicture-perfect introduction to Vero Beach,a destination often referred to as Florida’sHamptons. We capped off this fine eveningat Ocean Grill, a local institution known forits seafood, ocean view and stately atmos-phere.

www.visitindianrivercounty.com

St. Lucie County

“Great weather, horses, and a beach -- itjust doesn’t get any better than that,” saidAllen Hayes, owner of Horseback on theBeach. He was right. The excursion thattook us along the water’s edge onHutchinson Island felt like a scene right outof a movie with a cool ocean breeze,turquoise water and the most good-naturedhorses imaginable. The beach was virtuallyempty except for us and I assumed it wasprivate. It wasn’t. It’s one of St. LucieCounty’s 21 miles of beach that are morepopular with sea turtles than crowds.

Nature lovers can enjoy 11,000 acres ofparks and preserves, and eco-sites such asthe Manatee Observation Center, GreatFlorida Birding Trail and the Oxbow Eco-Center. Hungry after all that activity? Headover to the seaside fishing village of FortPierce, where you’ll find several restaurantsthat showcase the turquoise water of theRiver Lagoon. We stopped in at On theEdge and found the atmosphere of this

open-air thatched eatery as good as itsfresh seafood.

During our time in St. Lucie, we stayed atthe Club Med Sandpiper, which is a desti-nation in and of itself with its full roster ofactivities that includes everything from fly-ing trapeze and circus school to more tra-ditional leisure pursuits of tennis and golf.This all-inclusive resort is especially knownfor its food and entertainment. “Dining is afocal point for us,” said Ralph Cipollo,executive chef, and after sampling theirAlaskan salmon with shitake mushrooms,we wholeheartedly agreed.

www.visitstluciefla.com www.clubmed.ca

Martin County

“Look down the boardwalk to your left andup. That’s what a 1000-year-old Cypresstree looks like,” said Chuck Barrowclough,our guide at the Barley Barber Swamp. Fora few moments our normally boisterousgroup is silent as we took in its majesty.Adorned with Spanish moss and with vineswrapped around the silver-barked trunk,it’s the star attraction of this 400-acrenature reserve that shelters a diverse eco-system and indigenous flora and fauna. Wewere thrilled to spot alligators and baldeagles. But the ancient tree enthralled memost, and I couldn’t help but think whatstories it would be able to tell if it could.Remarkably, this worthwhile tour is freealthough donations are encouraged tocontinue its conservation work.

Though the cypress couldn’t tell its story, wefound someone at our next stop thatregaled us with tales of a Florida of yester-day. Jonnie Flewelling, innkeeper of theSeminole Inn, has strong family ties to thearea. Her grandmother was the first postmistress of Indiantown, and they still retainpost office box number one. Jonnie is agifted storyteller and her accounts of theSeminole natives, early rancher ‘crackers’and of her inn riveted me. The SeminoleInn has been welcoming guests since 1926

minutes, for a total of 190 trains over a 24hour period!

Our trip took us to McCook, in the far west-ern region of Nebraska to view the PrairieChickens. They are difficult to find in thewild and it is quite a procedure. You have toclimb out of bed before dawn to settle intoone of the blinds, which is basically a horsetrailer with portholes, to view the chickens. Itis quite a ritual, as the males puff themselvesup, strut, fight and dance on the lek (the tra-ditional display ground) and begin trying toattract a mate. There is usually only onefemale for every 10 or more males, so theyall have to flaunt their best. This show goeson for a couple of hours and lasts for sever-al months.

However, the real highlight of Nebraskatourism is viewing the Sandhill Cranes, whichdraws upwards of 30,000 people each yearto reserves like the Crane Trust Sanctuary inWood River near Grand Island, and theAudubon Society's Rowe Sanctuary inGibbon near Kearney. Crane season lastsfor six weeks from the beginning of Marchuntil mid April, and the very shallow Platteriver features the largest gathering ofSandhill Cranes in the world during theirSpring migration from wintering on the GulfCoast to their summer time breedinggrounds in Northwestern Canada andSiberia.

For a mere $35, you can spend three hourswatching over 400,000 cranes as they all

Placed in the heart of America,Nebraska has boundless grass-lands, which is used for the major

industries of the state, beef, pork, corn andsoybeans. Farming and ranching engagemost of the some 2 million residents, butthere are many other reasons to visit thisGreat Plains state.

As beef farming is a major industry inNebraska, all local restaurants serve copiousamounts of beef steak for very reasonableprices. With so much choice, it’s hard to picka favorite, but must highlight Alley Rose inKearney, where their 16-ounce prime rib canbe had for a mere $18. The town of about30,000 is known for the trains that crossthrough the downtown area every seven

Pla in s and Crane s

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N e b r a s k a

A r t i c l e & P h o t o g r a p h y b y R o n Pa q u e t

back in time to the 1890s. The museum ishome to over 100 buildings devoted to thistime period. You can view a 1901 steamlocomotive, an 1871 coach and a 1912caboose.

It also features some 200 antique horsedrawn carriages, steam-powered engines,tractors, threshers and trucks that representthe birth and evolution of the state's agricul-tural heritage. There are sixty 100 year-oldshops, homes, and other structures and aseven-acre rail yard depicting the history ofsteam railroading in Nebraska. A real tripdown memory lane!

Unique to North America is Nabraska`sGreat Platte River Road Archway which spanshigh across the I-80, resembling a coveredbridge between two towers. Within its towersyou can revisit 150 years of American histo-ry.

Finally, it is worth mentioning some of theexceptional restaurants throughout the plainsof Nebraska. The Coppermill Steakhouseand Lounge Restaurant in McCook is worth avisit to enjoy a great Nebraska steak dinner.Another incredible dining experience can befound at the Chances R restaurant, featuringone of the largest salad bars in Nebraskawith a variety of cold meats and vegetables.

From bird watching to visiting unique muse-ums and fine dining, Nebraska offers some-thing for everyone. The annual SandhillCrane migration, one of the ten great animalmigrations in the world according to interna-tionally famed naturalist Jane Goodall, whocomes every year, is the perfect reason tomake the trip.

www.visitnebraska.com


chatter in unison before taking off in greatgroups headed for surrounding corn fields.

They spend their days eating corn left fromharvests of fields near the river, building theirstrength for the long flight north; at nightthey sleep islands in the river perched on oneleg. Before dawn, the murmuring begins andthousands of Cranes begin filling the skies asthey head off for a day of feeding.. Flashphotography and talking is not permitted inthe blinds (viewing stations) as this will scarethe birds away.

The Audubon Row Sanctuary and the CraneTrust Sanctuary (both charitable organiza-tions) offer the best viewing opportunitieswith blinds located very near the birds. TheCrane Trust offers overnight packages pricedat $1,000 a night, including a private cot-tage, all meals and multiple Crane viewings.

Devoted bird watchers will also enjoy a drivesouth from Kearney to the Harlan Reservoirnear Republican City to see the WhitePelicans who are also returning to the state atthis time of year.

Once the bird viewing is over there arenumerous heritage museums dotting thecountryside where you can view early 19thcentury history with all its artifacts.

Indigenous peoples lived in the region forthousands of years before European explo-ration. Once European exploration, trade,and settlement began, both Spain andFrance sought to control the region. Artifactsfrom the periods are found in small muse-ums throughout the state, but there are allsorts of interesting stops.

Kearney hosts a classic car collection ofsome 200 vintage and modern cars, includ-ing the 130 cars automobile collectorsBernie and Janice Taulborg donated to themuseum. It includes a wide range of gang-ster and vintage cars, including a one of akind 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith Limo, two rareLocomobiles and three Pierce Arrows. Alsoon display are two rare Lincolns from the FullClassic era, a 1930 Convertible by LeBaronwhich is one of only 80 produced and a1930 Dual Cowl Phaeton, which is one ofonly 20 manufactured worldwide. These areaccompanied by similarly rare models from

Packard and Cadillac, Buick and LaSalle.There are many rare brands, including somethat most of us have never seen before, likeMoon, Gardner, Maxwell, Jewett, Gray andMetz. Among these you will also find won-derful models from Studebaker, Hudson,Mercury and Chrysler.

The collection also showcases exquisite andover the top 1950’s cruisers, from the hugetailfins on a 1959 Cadillac to the stylishoverload of an exquisite 1957 MercuryTurnpike Cruiser and 1958 StudebakerGolden Hawk, and of course, the timelessThunderbird. Their Muscle Car collectionincludes several rare Mopar cars made byChrysler, a very rare supercharged ShelbyMustang GT 350 developed by Carl Shelby,and early Pontiac GTO. Other rare sportscars are also on display from Ferrari,Porsche, DeLorean, Lancia, Bricklin, MG andTriumph. Our 1930 MG Boattail Roadster,with its wood framed, fabric covered body isa wonderful look at the origin and history ofthe sports car.

A trip through Gothenburg will let you visit apiece of transportation history by seeing anoriginal Pony Express way station. Theypromised mail delivery to the West within 10days; however, the service was discontinuedin 1891 after a year due to the introductionof the transcontinental telegraph!

To obtain a sense of America and how itgrew requires a drive to Pioneer Village inMinden which includes 28 buildings, show-casing more than 50,000 objects from thesecond quarter of the 19th century. It fea-tures household appliances such as stoves,refrigerators, washing machines and bath-tubs, the development of lighting, firearms,money, radios and televisions.

The museum also features the largest collec-tion of farm tractors and other farm machin-ery in the world, more than 350, beginningwith a 1897 steam car. Other historic vehi-cles include an ox cart, a prairie schooner, astagecoach, horse-drawn street car, electrictrolley, and all varieties of buggies, car-riages, coaches, and carts, along with bicy-cles and even airplanes!

Another exciting visit to be had is the StuhrMuseum in Grand Island, which brings you

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Afavorite of world travellers, Lufthansa isconstantly pushing the limits of comfort,style and technology.

The aviation giant has been in existence in oneform or another since the early 1900s! Adaptingto changing times, from oil crises to training thefirst female pilots, Lufthansa has been a leader atevery level.

Their fleet complies with the highest level of noisereduction and are at the cutting edge of environ-mental technology, and with almost 600 aircraft,they are in exclusive company with the largest USaeronautical giants. And though the LufthansaGroup has 540 subsidiaries in logistics, MRO,Catering and Other business segments, theirmain focus has always been on flying peoplearound the world in style and elegance.

Luf thansa Air l ines

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Documents

Canadian World Traveller Summer 2016 issue