Category Archives: Reviews in Europe

Let me help you plan your next adventure

Posted on by

So last year I became a travel agent, it made sense to us as I am always planning things for others! Expedia offered excellent training and I was certified within a very short time. Now the fun begins. Planning, which as you know I am very good at, budget travel, oh yes! And working on how to get from here to there by ship – why not?

I surprise myself about the knowledge I have acquired about the many places we have visited around the world and I love to share things to do and see.

Sign up for a free cruise on my Cruise Ship Centers Web Site

Deals of the week

My Facebook Page

Viking River or Ocean Cruises

HAL Rotterdam Private Tour Israel – 3 days 2 nights 10-29-11 through 10-31-11

Posted on by

Cruise Critic Roll Call – 27 days Athens to Ft Lauderdale

Sailing on HAL Rotterdam in October? We have a private tour organized.

Current cost is $990 for three days per couple – cost will go down based on our group (currently we are three couples)

hotels/entrance fees/meals/tips are in addition but should be reasonable

we have a private driver, van and guide for the entire three days and will be staying in town (off the ship) for two nights.

About our guide:

Adrian Wolf
two university degrees in addition to the official tour guide license (two year academic course).
served in the IDF (army) for six years, rank major and another 20 years of 40 days active reserve duty.
Lecture to various organizations and groups Member of the Israel Military History Association Have an intimate knowledge of the infra-structure and workings of the country.
Wrote a book A Chronology of Israel which is the standard English text-book used by tour guide students the tour guide who takes tour-guide students on a professional tour to show what/what not to do and say both a licensed guide’ and lecturer

the tour (as of now) – we are seeing quite a bit more than what HAL Is offering and of course being smaller group we are flex in what we do:

Day 1 29 October
Meet on the quay at Haifa port. Drive to view the Bahai’i Gardens in Haifa from the top and bottom of the Carmel mountain. We drive passed Megiddo where according to Christian theology the final battle will take place (Revelations 16:16). In Nazareth visit the Church of the Annunciation constructed over the site where the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mother she will give birth to the Messiah (Christos).
Drive passed Cana where the First Miracle took place (turning water into wine).

At the Sea of Galilee we visit the home of Simon/Peter, Church of the Multiplication, Church of the Primacy (where Jesus walked on the water), and Mt. of Beatitudes (where Jesus preached to the masses). Optional Baptism in the Jordan River.

Head along the Jordan Valley to visit one of the prime sites in Israel, Beit She’an, a magnificent Roman city. Learn of its importance in history, the bathhouse, cardo, theater and amphitheater where gladiator fights actually took place- the cages and tunnels have been exposed.

Drive along the Jordan Valley and learn about Israeli agriculture in the desert.

Jerusalem overnight.

Day 2 30 October
Jerusalem in detail
Get brief background to the history of the passed 4000 years. Learn about the basis of all three monotheistic religions.
Enter the Old City. Visit the Armenian, Jewish, Muslim and Christian quarters. This will include the Western Wall, via Dolorosa and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, homes of Jews before the destruction of the Temple in AD70. See remnants of the original Byzantine Church (4th century) and the gate of Jerusalem, where Jesus exited before arriving at Golgotha.
Options. Explore the tunnels in the City of David. Mt. Zion churches.

Drive around the city to see the various suburbs and learn about the political, economic and social problems.

Afternoon

A private tour of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum.

Evening – walk downtown Jerusalem, see the Walls of the Old City.

Day 3 31 October
Drive to the Dead Sea, visit Masada and learn of the Jewish War against the Romans. Swim at the Dead Sea. Time permitting we can drive to Tel Aviv and then to the port at Ashdod.

Picture perfect - park in Adare

Ireland – Not to Miss

Posted on by
Picture perfect - park in Adare

Picture perfect – park in Adare

(in our opinion, which we think pretty highly of)

Some of our favorite places in Ireland to visit

Adare Manor We have stayed here both times we have visited Ireland and LOVE the condos. Self catering means you can cook what you want (if you want too). Downtown is an nice walk past thatched roof cottages, this lovely park (pictured above) and a beautiful church.

Dingle some of the most breath taking scenery you will see on the coast of Ireland

No trip would be complete without a trip to the Cliffs of Mohr

Get in touch with Tim about driving you to any of these places. Tim we have known since our first visit to Adare, you can relax and enjoy the scenery with him at the wheel – he’s a wonderful guide too!!!

Some great places to eat in Dublin:
If you love steak – this is a must do Darwins the staff are outstanding like the food.
And our favorite so far La Cuvee lovely wines, great staff and we can bet your evening here will be just delightful!
Good World Chinese in the temple area – great food, great service warm and friendly staff = a perfect evening.

Ireland Hotel Review – Adare Manor

Posted on by

Link: Adare Manor

Manor2a

We have stayed here both times we have visited Ireland and LOVE the condos. Self catering means you can cook what you want (if you want too). Downtown is an nice walk past thatched roof cottages, this lovely park (pictured above) and a beautiful church.

Dublin Restaurant Review – Good World Chinese

Posted on by

Link: Good World Chinese

They don’t seem to have a direct web site so the best I could do was put in one of the many places that mentions them. On to the point of the review…

We went to this restaurant to have dinner with a family we met in Dublin almost 2 years ago. Ironically enough, we met the family at a restaurant a bit south of Dublin. We have kept in contact with the family since meeting them and made arrangement to have dinner with them on this trip to Dublin.

We started off with some Dim Sum as starters. A note for those of you used to Dim Sum off the cart that they bring to the table, this is a Menu. The staff were very helpful in describing the dishes and helping us make selections. I think off of a menu is the way that Dim Sum was originally done too. Some enterprising came up with the idea of the cart and that helped us westerners start to try and like Dim Sum. But I digress…

Each of the six of us dinning together ordered a dish, I can tell you there was much sharing of what came to the table. I don’t remember all that we ordered but it was an array of Chinese dishes we are all familiar with. All were done excellently too I might add.

The staff was exceptionally attentive to our table. It was, like all the other places we had dinner in Dublin, a wonderful evening. We have this one, along with the other two we reviewed, on our list to visit next time we are in Dublin.