El Dorado Resorts in Mexico set a New Standard!

Sometimes, at my travel agency, we just swerve into "a find". Our founding of Gateway Golf Vacations several years ago was unintended. A corporate traveler, knowing that one of our corporate agents was a golf fanatic, asked if she had any ideas for a golf trip for 4 guys. She did; they went; they loved it; within 6 weeks, he referred over a dozen other people to her. By the end of the winter season, she had booked over 60 people to this place.

It is the same scenario that led Gateway Express Travel to feature the three El Dorado Resorts on the Riviera Maya. We were aware of these resorts and decided to try one of them for our own winter escape. We were impressed well beyond our expectations and came back singing their praises to our clients. Just this season we have sent dozens of couples - including honeymooners - and a large destination wedding group. I won't bore you with all the reasons why our clients have loved these places and have referred others to us. If you do want to check this out, click the link above!

Do something REALLY special for your next sun vacation!

Cheers,

Dick

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Why I Love Hawaii...

As you see from my comments on the recent sojourn to Puerto Rico, my first love will always be Hawaii. But I got to thinking about why I'm so partial. After all, many tropical spots have warmth and a lot of sun.

Stepping off the plane in Hawaii, you are greeted by the aroma of Orchids and other flora. You would think that would be true in the Caribbean as well... but it's not! At least not to the degree that you are immediately aware. In Hawaii - even Honolulu - the scents are striking!

But here's an element that I have always felt but hadn't really thought about... as you step off the plane and into the air terminal - again, even in Honolulu - the ambiance is one of relative peace and calm. The area around the carrousel might be momentarily busy but it's not frantic as it is in airports in San Juan or Cancun or Montego Bay. Leaving a Hawaiian airport, you never get hustled or hassled. And you will never feel like you're battling the crowd.

Lastly, as I have preached for years, there are no more hospitable people on Earth than the Hawaiians (including the "mainlanders" that now live and work in the islands). The Hawaiian people are simply the element that makes this land so special... at least in my book. The level of service and graciousness in Mexico and much of the Caribbean has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. Hats off to those we have come in contact with throughout our travels. BUT, as friendly and nice as they are, they just can't quite equal the Hawaiians.

Again, just my opinion!

Dick

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Puerto Rico Vacations... Nice, but not my Cup of Tea

I just returned from San Juan where we managed a corporate incentive group... my first time there since about 1980.

While "the city" still stinks, resort development away from San Juan has grown considerably - and those areas are lovely! I played golf out at Dorado Beach on one day and found the people to be friendly and the ambiance to be very nice.

One of the new areas that is shaping up to be world-class is out toward the rain forest about 45 minutes east of the airport. The "anchor" is a Trump development that includes two very nice golf courses. My feeling is that this area is still a year from being a "go to" place, but you should put it on your list of future destinations!

As with so many tourist areas during this lean economic time, the people we came in contact with were gracious and eager to serve. They truly appreciated our presence.

Our client selected the Ritz-Carlton hotel near the airport. Though not my choice for location, the hotel was excellent! Service and accommodations were both top drawer!!! We were on the Concierge floor and spent much of our free time in the Club Room where the Champagne glass was bottomless... and the staff outstanding. What a treat!

Cheers,

Dick

More on The Big Easy... New Orleans

Just a few added comments on our recent New Orleans Holiday... since none of you are going to concern yourselves with the non-tourist parts of the city. (We have some family history there, so are unusually interested in the city as a whole.) We stayed at the stately, ornate Omni Royal Orleans on Royal street - one block off Bourbon St. It is just as it has been in the past. The classic luxury hotel in the French Quarter is the Royal Sonesta but it is right on Bourbon Street - a negative! The difference in ambiance between two streets just one block apart is striking. Royale Street contains art shops and galleries as well as some awesome "proper" restaurants while Bourbon Street is... well, Bourbon Street.

Our four favorite restaurants are Arnaud's, Antione's, Gallatoire's, and Brennen's. The cigar lounge at Arnaud's was one of our favorite stops... Sign of the Times: Even 'sinful' New Orleans has imposed strict limits on cigars. Arnaud's opened a lounge next door to the restaurant to get around the ordinance.

The only one of these great venues that is right on Bourbon Street is Gallatoire's - our favorite. Imagine a restaurant that strictly requires jackets being amidst the trashiness of Bourbon Street! Imagine the finest restaurant you can think of - then place it in the middle of the carnival midway at the State Fair! Talk about culture shock as you exit this fine establishment after a gorgeous dinner... into the cesspool that bourbon Street has become!

Well, those are the things that make N.O. so unique! What a great city! If you are thinking of visiting, I hope you will enlist my travel agency - Gateway Express Travel - to guide you. But, whether or not you do, I am happy to give you some tips and recommendations.

Cheers,

Dick

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New Orleans, "The Big Easy"

We just returned from Thanksgiving in New Orleans... over the years we have visited this great city many, many times but this was our first time since Katrina.

The French Quarter has recovered nicely but evidence of the storm remains out around Lake Pontchartrain. An area where the shrimp boats would dock that contained a number of fun, casual restaurants is just plain gone. A lot of houses out there remain boarded up and the foliage around the city - particularly in the Garden District - is not what it used to be. (Obviously, we did not venture into the "lower 9th Ward" where the devastation was the worst.)

But, back to the Quarter... all the high-end hotels and our favorite restaurants are back to normal and the Hurricanes at Pat O'Brian's are as potent as ever. (We can fully attest to that!) Unfortunately, the sleaze factor is also back to what it was but that can be avoided simply by staying off Bourbon Street.

The "Big Easy" is a great city... but, like Las Vegas, a couple days is enough.

More on our New Orleans stay later.

Dick

Luxury Cruises: Which Line is Best for You?

Unrelated to my last couple posts on our fabulous Silversea Cruise, there was news last week that caught my eye. (I really do try to vary my themes here but had to put these thoughts up before moving on.)

As my "vast following" knows, there are 4 cruise lines in the Luxury class. My travel agency has heartily endorsed three of them. But now one of the three, Regent Seven Seas, has announced that it is doing away with their evening dress code requiring jackets for gentlemen in the dining rooms. They claim that their passenger surveys have shown that people do not want to "dress up" for dinner any more.

I know that we live in a more casual society these days - and I realize that this is great news for some luxury cruisers - BUT, there are still a lot of us out there that really do enjoy spiffing up for their gourmet dinner in an elegant dining room. We like the "mix" provided by Seabourn and Silversea... on a 7 to 10 day cruise, we'll have a couple formal evenings (Tuxedos or dark suits), a few casual evenings (elegant resort wear) and the rest informal (jackets required; ties optional).

We have sailed on Regent twice in the past but will not in the future... but it's a personal choice. Regent's research and ultimate decision will likely be attractive to some competitor's guests while it pushes some of their clients to the other lines. The great thing about this is that everyone has choices - as long as they are informed choices!

That's where you need a knowledgeable travel advisor... one who will ask you a few lifestyle questions and steer you to the right cruise line or resort! Our agency will continue to sell all three... we just want to be sure we match the right client with the right line!

Cheers,

Dick

Mediterranean Cruising at it's Best!

Another Mediterranean cruise is over but, as always, the memories will last forever... especially those fun little moments that are inevitable when traveling with seven relatives for 12 days!

Okay, I'm just kidding! Our family "eightsome" has done this seven times now and we couldn't enjoy one-another's company any more than we do! (Oh, I love those little opportunities to needle one particular member of the cast! But, it is all in fun!)

Well, since my last post (below) we re-visited all the naked guy statues of Florence, and spent three glorious days along the French Riviera - the Cote D'Azur - and ended our journey in Barcelona where we put our lives at risk with a bike tour of the city. Yikes! A band of about 14 bikers led through congested city traffic by a crazy guide! Actually, it wasn't that scary... we saw the whole city in 3 hours in a way not possible with any other mode of transportation. We know that because we saw it 4 years ago in a conventional way - sightseeing minibus.

Back to the French Riviera including Monaco, we visited the ports of Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo. Stunning!!!! Counting the multi-million dollar yacht's we saw in the harbors was a challenge... must have been over a hundred! And some at Monte Carlo (pictured above) were the size of small cruise ships! The coolest of the cool were the small, historic seaside or hillside villages in the area... Villefranche, St. Paul de Vence, and more. As with all of our travels, dining seems to be the center of activity (Of course, one needs to trudge through museums, galleries and ancient villages in order to work up an appetite!) and these areas offer so much. Whether it's a four course lunch or just a coffee on the harbor front, it doesn't get much better!

But, all good things come to an end. Now, it's back to work!

Cheers,

Dick

Silversea Cruises Rock!

Hi from the Cigar Lounge aboard Silversea Cruises' magnificent Silver Wind en route from Sicily to Livorno (Florence). This is absolutely the way to travel!!!

Having sailed all three of the "luxury class" cruise lines over the years, Silversea is definitely our personal favorite. The newly renovated Silver Wind is gorgeous, the service is impeccable and the cuisine is exceptional!

Before sailing, we spent another (our 4th) evening at our favorite seafood restaurant in Rome. No pictures this time though... we arrived in a fierce rain storm and the closest the taxis can get to the restaurant is about 500 feet away, across a cobblestone square at the Parthenon. We were absolutely soaked! In fact we enjoyed wonderful seafood as if we had dived into their natural habitat!

I will give you all an update along the way... just to make you feel bad!

(Okay, we spend most of our lives sending clients off on these adventures while we just work - so everyone gets their time!)

The "tag line" of our travel agency is "Traveling in Style"and this is absolutely it.

Cheers,

Dick

All-Inclusive Resorts in Mexico

Before I get to the main topic here, it's time announce that the summer season at our lake place is giving way to a new travel season so "Break Out The Tumi Luggage" once again! Those of you who call Minnesota and Western Wisconsin home already know this: 2009 has been the year of the Lost Summer! The weather has been pathetic for sun worshipers and boaters. (Great for golfers and fisherman, however.) The hot, sunny summer days have few and far between so it is being easier to leave it for an Autumn of Travel... Boston this weekend to visit our son then off to Rome, Florence, the South of France, and Barcelona with Silversea Cruises. Can't wait!!!!!!

Okay, on to business: The Riviera Maya is peppered with outstanding all-inclusive resorts that are taking a big bite out of the cruise industry. It's interesting to follow the history of "all-inclusive" resorts. They first surfaced in the 80's as an answer to the burgeoning cruise industry that was literally killing the resort industry. As they started out, the food quality was semi-awful. But it got better and better through the years. But, still, until the El Dorado Resorts entered the scene with their Gourmet Included product about 10 years ago, the cruise lines still offered more 'bang for the buck' and more quality. Now, we send almost all of our clients to these resorts... no wrist bands; no buffets, no scrambling for reservations!

Note: El Dorado resorts are for adults only but their sister resorts, Azul Resorts, are family oriented and feature the same "Gourmet Included" service. For more observations, look back at my June 22 post.

Cheers,

Dick

Silversea Cruises, Here We Come Again!

Those of you who regularly follow my blog know that I'll do anything to stay off the road during the summer. That summer 2009 has been less than stellar, weather wise, I may not have resisted a chance to break out the Tumi as hard as I normally would!

But our annual Autumn sojourn to southern Europe is just 5 weeks away. Again, we'll be starting in Rome which gives us yet another chance to enjoy Fortunata del Pantheon - our favorite seafood restaurant ANYWHERE!

This time we will be visiting more places in the South of France and Monaco. Can't wait!!!

We have been urging our clients at my travel agency to "move up to luxury cruising" because the bargains are truly ridiculous! (Check back to my blog post on this.)

Cheers,

Dick

El Dorado Resorts in Mexico set a New Standard!

OK, so it was back in April when I said I would blog about the three El Dorado Resorts along the Riviera Maya. So, I've been busy since the golf courses opened. (Hope my wife doesn't see this!)

As I said in my April 22 post, we had stayed at the RIU Tropical Bay in Negril just 5 days before visiting the El Dorado Resorts. Our clients love RIU resorts for family vacations... but for romantic, adult-only escapes, we passionately beg our clients to try the El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Maroma or El Dorado Sunset. Imagine an all-inclusive resort with no buffets, no wrist bands and no need to fight for limited reservations in the themed restaurants! Imagine a place where all restaurants are Gourmet!

Here's the trick, though... each of these properties presents a distinctly different style and ambience. (Which one will be right for you? You really need a good travel agent who has been there - and who knows your lifestyle and preferences... I can recommend one if you wish!)

We stayed at the El Dorado Royale, the largest of the three, about half way between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The ambiance was romantic but somewhat lively and the Spa was drop-dead fabulous. Even within this one resort, there were two distinct atmospheres. The junior suite section and the casita section are quite different in several ways. (Hint: The Royale is large enough to host smaller corporate meeting groups.) It was hard to decide which restaurant we liked best - they were all fabulous. We visited the other two resorts and had a hard time picking a favorite. We agreed that it all would come down to what we would be looking for in a specific outing... not only in terms of the elements of the properties but also with regard to location. If you want to know what I mean by that, send a comment or email me at dick@gatewayexpress.com.

These resorts take all-inclusives to a new level. Here's a link to more details of the El Dorado Resorts!

Cheers,

Dick

Wynn Resort in Las Vegas is Awesome!

Hi from my annual Travel Agent Conference in Sin City! You might believe from media accounts that Las Vegas is "on it's back". Don't believe it!!!! Yeah, business is down a bit but, believe me, this place is still rocking! Vegas hotels enjoy the highest occupancy rate in the world... normally about 95%. Now it's down to around 91% - not bad, eh? Actually, it's good (for us) that the crowds are slightly smaller. Wait times for seating at the nicest restaurants are down to 30 to 45 minutes. For those that still take reservations, it's a bit easier to get one at the prime dining time. Tee Times and Greens Fees are easier and lower. Prices for the best shows are down 10% to 20% through discount coupons issued when you check in to your hotel.

This is my first experience with Wynn Las Vegas as well as the new Encore Tower and the complex is amazing! I would describe this place as "Elegant". Everything about it is tasteful... and to walk out the back door and be on the tee of a great golf course - well, how does it get any better? The folks at the Wynn are very saddened by the sudden death of Danny Gans. It is clear that he was not just a contracted entertainer - he was obviously truly loved by those around him at the resort. There were heartfelt "good-bye to a friend" postings all around the property. More on Wynn Las Vegas later... If you are thinking of visiting, I have some free tips for you. Email me: dick@gatewayexpress.com

This trip taught me a new reality... those of you who know me are aware of my increasing bald spot. (The golf cap I'm wearing in my profile picture is purposeful.) Well, I forgot my hair brush and have survived for 4 days without one... and nobody has noticed!

Cheers,

Dick 

Taking All-Inclusive Resorts to a New Level.

We've just completed an interesting few weeks having visited Jamaica for the first time in about 12 years then, just 5 days after returning from that trip, headed off for Mexico's Riviera Maya.

What a contrast! Both destinations and both of the all-inclusive resorts were absolutely great... in Negril we stayed at a family-oriented resort but in Mexico we chose an adult-only property. 

At Gateway Express Travel we book hundreds of families at a variety of RIU Resorts throughout Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Their top tier of resorts, referred to as "Palace Class" properties, present the very best in accommodations, service and food.  RIU Palaces and their slightly more moderate standard class properties are perfect for family vacations. Over the years of sending clients to RIU's we have received just one complaint - and we didn't feel that one was a valid objection. (There are those that are just plain cranky, aren't there?)

Our stay at the RIU Tropical Bay was close to perfect - and we tip our hats to the employees who served us so well and made it clear that they appreciated our visit.

But here's where the contrast begins: The resort on the Riviera Maya took us to a new level. With no children present, the quiet was deafening and the ambiance was romantic without being boring. And the Spa was fabulous. If you have ever been to an all-inclusive you must paint a mind's-eye picture of a place with gourmet dining in 4 or 5 restaurants, no buffets and no wrist bands! And that's just for starters!

More on this experience next time. Stay aboard!

(If you are curious to know what resort I'm talking about, email me at dick@gatewayexpress.com)

Dick

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Luxury Cruises at Unbelievable Prices!

If you have followed my rants on this blog over the last couple years you know how I sing the praises of the 3 luxury cruise lines. 

Well, if you have EVER "thought about it", now is the time to jump! The luxury lines, Seabourn Cruise Line, Silversea Cruises and Regent Seven Seas are offering unbelievable incentives to book now for all of 2009 and through most of 2010! There are numerous examples of buying a $5,000 cruise for $2,100 to $2,300! When you consider that everything is included - gourmet dining (for which there is a surcharge on other lines), all cocktails, fine wines  all gratuities and even some complimentary Shore Excursions - experiencing the best is really not all that much more expensive than a "premium class" cruise. 

In an era of family travel, these three lines are truly adult-oriented experiences. On our first Seabourn cruise in 2000, we were in the 'taking a break from kids' mode... but now we are confirmed "Empty Nesters" and especially enjoy being in a refined, adult atmosphere. We recently enjoyed our 7th European sailing - 3 with Silversea, 3 with Seabourn and our most recent was with Regent Seven Seas.

Take a look at a comparative profile of these lines along with some current examples of the incentives at my agency, Gateway Express Travel. 

Cheers,

Dick

 

There's NEVER Been a Better Time to Travel!

The bargains are beyond anything I've EVER seen in my 34 years in the travel business! 

My travel agency just booked a few clients to Las Vegas - Round Trip Northwest flights from Minneapolis and 3 nights at the magnificent Wynn Las Vegas for $371 per person INCLUDING taxes and bellman gratuities.

This package one year ago was about $700 per person.

Ya Gotta Go!!!!

Dick

Why You NEED a Travel Professional - part 3

OK, I'm going to get off this theme, but every day we hear another story of woe from someone who has returned from a "blown vacation". Actually this title should be "Why you Need to Listen to your Travel Professional".

My travel agency has a few favorite resort groups... one that we like for families with teens; one for families with young children; one for couples looking for a peaceful, romantic escape where other people's children are not part of your vacation. In each case, our favored group is not the only quality group in that category - they are simply the ones with which we've had the most success over the years. (And, over the years, they change as some get stale and new groups emerge.) 

A client who we have sent to various RIU Resorts in Mexico over the last 4 or 5 years decided to go for a change of pace (They really, like most of us these days, were trying to cut costs a bit.) They had heard of another resort group from friends. We actually send some clients to this company - but we're careful as to who we recommend it to. It was a no-brainer to us that, given their past experiences, they would find this to be disappointing. But, they insisted.

And we were right. They found the resort facilities to be excellent... "Beautiful Grounds; Great Rooms; very clean; nice uncrowded pool areas and great beach".  Service and quality of food was quite a different matter... "Far less service than RIU's;  Hotel staff was not interested in helping us; consistently at buffets, once they seated us, they disappeared. We had go find our own coffee refills; Bar service very poor. Understaffed... and the staff that was there was totally inattentive; specialty restaurants were very nice but food was just ok... service was a little better than described above but not great. Food quality at the buffets was poor."

Nuff said! If you are accustomed to 5-Star quality, 3-Star won't cut it! We all need to reduce our spending a bit, but this isn't the way to do it. We typically advise clients to shorten their trip rather than to go down in quality. You are always going to remember the experience (good or bad!) but you won't remember whether you were there 7 nights or 5 to 6 nights!

Cheers,

Dick

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You NEED a Travel Professional - part 2

If you flash back to my post of September 5, you'll see how easy it is to make a bad choice even in Paradise. We hear horror stories at our travel agency nearly every day. Here's the latest...

A young woman returned from her honeymoon in Naples, Italy in tears... booked a hotel on the internet and it was a dirty pit. We hear this again & again: "It looked really cute and the price was really good." (Ever hear of PhotoShop?) Not only would a GOOD travel counselor never put a client in such a hotel; they would have warned clients not to go to Naples which is one of the dirtiest cities in all of Europe. Amazingly, one of the most beautiful places in Europe is Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast - just 30 miles south of Naples!

Honestly, kids... I'm not shilling for my travel agency - in fact, I won't even reference my company here! My point is that you need a good agency. If you don't have one, check with the American Association of Travel Agents . There is no guarantee that every ASTA member agency is excellent but your odds are extremely good.

Cheers,

Dick

P.S. - If there ever was a time to travel now is it! The incentives being offered by resorts, cruise lines and vacation packagers are phenomenal. We just booked a client on a luxury European cruise in June for $2,798 per person. The same itinerary in 2008 - even with discounts at that time was $4,119. Brochure price is $4,876. 

A brand new 5-Star all-inclusive resort at Puerto Vallarta is now $1,279 including airfare, ground transportation, taxes, fees, etc! last year we were selling identical "sister properties" in Los Cabos and Playa del Carmen for around $1,600.

Happy New Year from Madiera

Well, not exactly! As I reported back in December, we sailed into Funchal, Madiera - Europe's best-kept secret - ending our fabulous 8-day cruise just before Thanksgiving.

 

Almost 500 miles off the southern Moroccan coast, this very quaint and atmospheric Portuguese island is quite off the beaten path - and thusly ignored by North American tourism. But, it is well worth the effort - a 2-hour flight from Lisbon.

Our favorite cocktail lounge on the gorgeous Seven Seas Voyager looks over the bow of the ship and, all week long, was almost like our private lounge since we are late diners. Typically, we were enjoying our cocktail hour while most passengers are in the various dining venues. But, on this night, we were sailing into port just after dark and the word had been spread that, with Funchal's Christmas illuminations in place place and on, the view was not to be missed.

Well, we discovered upon arrival at the Observation Lounge, that not only was there no place to sit - there was no place to stand! Our turf had been invaded! 

Nobody on-board was disappointed! The view was enchanting! The town expands up into the hills from the waterfront downtown area and the sky behind was a deep purple since it was not yet totally dark. The town itself is extremely charming but the addition of the Christmas lights made the scene all that more captivating. Matching the town's charm are a couple hotels that overlook the town and the harbor. Elegant and charming, indeed!

If you want to be "different" and visit European places that your friends haven't, Ya Gotta Go!!!

Cheers,

Dick

Home Again, Home Again!

Well, another fabulous trip is, as they say in Hollywood, "in the can". And what a trip it was! Since I blogged from the ship enroute from Tunisia to Cartegena, Spain we 'ate our way' to Malaga, Spain for a day at the Alhambra Palace in Granada then on to Casablanca, Morocco before ending up in Funchal, Madiera.

Although I visited the Alhambra 5 or 6 times back in the 70's, it was still a fun day - I forgot a lot in those 30 years! (Isn't the aging process wonderful?) I also had a small corporate incentive group in Casablanca in the 80's and was astounded at how this exotic destination has modernized in the ensuing time. The contrasts between the modern "business centers" of the city and the "old" parts of the city are striking beyond description. Imagine time-warping between businessmen in suits and ties driving Mercedes and the old markets (Casbahs) where you feel like you're back in the 40's where Humphrey Bogart is likely to appear!

And, then, Madiera! This is Europe's best-kept secret!!! Very quaint and atmospheric. Almost 500 miles off the southern Moroccan coast, this Portuguese island is quite off the beaten path - and thusly ignored by North American tourism. But, it is well worth the effort - a 2-hour flight from Lisbon. More on this later.

I've been preaching this for years, but anyone who likes cruise vacations (and who doesn't?) and enjoys cocktails and fine wines NEEDS to step up and treat themselves to a luxury cruise line. Seabourn, Silversea and Regent Seven Seas are exquisite - service beyond anything anywhere, cuisine beyond anything anywhere, and all the finest in wines and spirits included. Take a look at a more detailed description of "Cruising in Style!"

All that said, It's good to be back home - just in time for Thanksgiving.

Cheers,

Dick

Hi from the Cigar Bar on the Regent Seven Seas Voyager

After port stops in Palermo, Sicily and Tunis, Tunisia we're "at sea" today so thought I would take the opportunity to say Howdy!  As with any of our trips that begin (or end) in Rome, we enjoyed our 'almost annual' dinner at Fortunato al Pantheon near the famous Pantheon (no kidding?) and the Trevi Fountain. Same table for 8; same waiters; same fun - as you see from the picture!

Most of you will agree that there are some places that you visit once and say, "It was a great experience, but one time is enough". (Athens comes to mind!) Rome is one of those places that I will never tire of. It's not only "our" restaurant; it's everything! One almost doesn't even need to "do" or "see" - just be there. Walk the streets, have a coffee or a wine at a sidewalk cafe when the feet get tired, browse the shops. (I feel the same about Paris and London!)

Well, we've been to Sicily a couple times before so this stop, although very pleasant, was pretty uneventful. Tunisia, on Africa's North Coast, was quite a different matter. A Muslim country on the African continent is always good for a "different feel". A wonderful experience, but it does fall into the "former" category defined above... once is enough. Among several interesting stops was a visit to the American Military Cemetery. (Patton's and Montgomery's forces pretty much began their WWII march to Berlin fighting Rommel's forces in the Sahara desert regions of Tunisia.) We, with the help of a remarkable American Serviceman, we found the grave of the brother of a friend... a meaningful day, indeed!

For those of you who may be worried, we're being well-fed (and "watered") on board this fabulous ship. The next two stops are in Spain then another exotic port - Casablanca, Morocco. Then, the end of the road is Funchal, Madiera - one of the most under-rated places in all of Europe! Talk to you again "down the road"!

Cheers,

Dick