The Travel Authority

ONCE BEFORE I DIE: A TRAVEL WRITER’S BUCKET LIST

2019-12-02T09:14:00.001-05:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

"There's a few more lonesome cities that I'd like to see,

while the wine of wandering is still inside of me.”

Rod McKuen

“The Bucket List” was a 2007 movie with a plot that followed the terminally ill Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as they traveled with a wish list of things to do before they "kicked the bucket". As a young widow in the 1970s, I formed my own travel bucket list and have been scratching it off ever since. My wanderlust gave me the opportunities that follow. Most of my list you can still do; two you can’t. I sailed, and flew, two historic legends that no longer exist. But the memory of those trips will last a lifetime. So hop on my magic travel carpet, and fly with me as I show you some experiences that I have already checked off my bucket list. I hope it inspires you to make your own bucket list.

TAJ MAHAL: You cannot keep your enthusiasm down; you cannot keep your emotions within bounds when that soaring bubble of marble breaks upon your view. At that moment, fantasy touched reality. My dream was no longer a dream. Standing before the reflecting pool in its idyllic Persian garden, my thoughts flashed to the romantic Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan who had built this tomb symbolizing the eternal beauty and purity of love for his wife. I had to see the Taj at sunrise...when the first rays of dawn distinguished it from the night. I had to see the Taj at sunset...when the pristine white marble became cool pearl and then warm mauve. For ever and ever the memory of my first distant glimpse of this divine poem in white marble will compensate me for traveling half way around the globe to have that great privilege.”

THE TAJ: THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS MONUMENT TO LOVE

ANTARCTICA: This frozen continent is “The Greatest Show on Ice”. I really did it! I went to the bottom of the world…to Antarctica, the most hostile continent on earth. This barren, white continent, that thrills the imagination and overwhelms the senses, is a continent of superlatives. While it is the most forbidding, most inaccessible land on earth, it is also the most majestic and most pristine. This harshest, most inhospitable land is also the windiest, the highest, the driest, and the coldest. (Winter temperatures plunge as low as 121-degrees (F) below zero.) Yet this southern land, that contains 90% of the world's fresh water and approximately 95% of the world's glacial ice, is the most eerily beautiful continent on earth. If I were Frank Sinatra, I’d croon "I Only Have Ice For You.”

CHILLING OUT ON THE FROZEN CONTINENT

ORIENT EXPRESS: Riding the rails, from Venice to London on the VS-O-E, (Venice Simplon-Orient-Express) was an experience--not just a means of transportation. There are many faster, and less costly, means of travel but my 30-plus hour ride on the Orient-Express was a romance with history. It was intrigue, glamour, fantasy, and a byword for luxury and elegance. The classic continental train, with the navy blue and gold carriages, was resplendent in all its romantic glory. All Aboard! Each cabin is ingeniously designed and decorated with oval marquetry (inlaid wood) flowers. The bases for the traditional silk-pleated lampshades were cast from the original mold of the 1920s. It is impossible to overdress on the Orient-Express and it's fun to dress with a suggestion of the Roaring 20’s. Long pearls, and a few strategically placed ostrich plumes, can give a period look to evening clothes. The VS-O-E is the world's most famous train. It is the king of trains and the train of kings. Agatha Christie wrote that it was "Murder ON the Orient Express”! Agatha Christie was wrong. It's murder getting OFF the Orient Express!

DRESS THE PART ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

THE CONCORDE: The Concorde was a supersonic dream machine! Science, freedom, beauty, adventure…all wrapped up in one. This ultimate flight of fancy, that shrank oceans and conquered time along the way, whisked me from London to New York in 3-hours and 18-minutes, and, on a second flight, from New York to Paris in a mere 3-hours and 45-minutes. This queen of the sky, that revolutionized the world's concept of aviation, was likened to a gleaming white monster waterfowl, a giant praying mantis, a big Canadian goose, an exquisite work of sculpture, a sophisticated sexy lady, and Superman. It has been said that both Superman and the Concorde drew "millions of eyes skyward on both sides of the Atlantic. Both traveled faster than the speed of a bullet; both had immense power." The Superman/Concorde analogy played out in real time on my first Concorde flight. Hollywood's gorgeous Superman…the late, great hunk Christopher Reeve, was sitting across the aisle from me. When I asked Christopher his opinion of the drop-nosed, sleek- silhouetted time machine in which we were flying, he replied: "It's great! I hope they don't take it out of service…” How sad to think that both Superman and the Concorde have left us forever.

CHECKING OUT THE COCKPIT OF THE CONCORDE

CARNIVAL IN RIO: I went because it was there…and because I was there. Carnaval (as it is spelled in Portuguese) is an experience. It can be exciting and fun, but it can also be a noisy, overcrowded, drunken brawl as 70,000 revelers pile into Rio de Janeiro's Sambodromo. Carnaval is the one experience I am glad I have had. But, unlike the others on my bucket list, it is also one experience that I have no burning desire to repeat.

CARNIVAL TIME IS COSTUME TIME IN BRAZIL

QUEEN ELIZABETH 2: A transatlantic crossing on Queen Elizabeth 2 was my destination of dreams...a classic confrontation of man against the sea...an ocean voyage on what was then the only surviving transatlantic super-liner in a jumbo-jet world. QE2 was a fabulous floating city complete with landmarks and traditions. Passengers were likely to inquire: "What time does this place arrive?" She was an oasis of culture, human comfort, and the grandeur, glitter, and grace of a bygone era. Far more than a means of crossing the ocean, the QE2 was a destination unto herself. At the September 20, 1967 launching, using the same scissors her grandmother had used at the Queen Mary's launching and her mother had used at the launching of the Queen Elizabeth, Her Majesty The Queen of England cut the ribbon and said: “I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second”. Today's cruise ships may be folksier or friendlier, longer or ‘lithe-er,’ cheaper or costlier. The QE2 will always be what the others are not. She will always be a legend. Fortunately, the Queen's legend lives on today with the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria, and the Queen Elizabeth.

QE2’s LEGEND LIVES ON WITH THE QUEEN MARY 2

VIENNA OPERA BALL: I was Cinderella for a night. A horse-drawn carriage picked me up at the hotel and drove me to the Baroque Vienna State Opera House where I was helped from the carriage by a liveried footman. The seats in the opera house had been covered with a temporary dance floor and the room was magically turned into a cavernous ballroom. Throughout the night I was surrounded by beauty. There were zillions of flowers, crystal chandeliers, sparkling candles, and 100-plus white-gowned debutantes escorted by handsome bachelors in white tie and tails. After the debutantes and their partners whirled to the tune of a Viennese waltz, the words "alles walzer" (all waltz) were announced. At that point I was politely commanded by my Austrian host Michael to rise to the occasion. “You vill valtz,” Michael strongly suggested. With that he grabbed me by the hand and took me to the dance floor where the Left Waltz was the dance of choice. Take it from me, champagne at dinner and a spinning Left Waltz are not a pleasant combination.

FOR ONE MAGICAL NIGHT THE OPERA HOUSE CONVERTS INTO A BALLROOM

Though I have been checking off my travel bucket list for four decades, I also keep adding to it. It is one list that I won't allow to be completed. Without travel life would have a significant void.

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

SEARCHING FOR SENSATIONAL SCULPTURE

2019-11-11T09:20:00.005-05:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

Back in the 1980s, when I first visited the Grand Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove, Florida I fell in love. Not with a man, but with an outstanding sculpture. I was mesmerized by ”WINDWARD”, the late Alexander Liberman’s red steel work of art soaring skyward in front of the Grand Bay Hotel. From that moment on, I dreamed about what it would be like having a sculpture like that in front of my home.

ALEXANDER LIBERMAN’S “WINDWARD” AT GRAND BAY HOTEL IN COCONUT GROVE, FLORIDA

Believe it or not, if you dream something long enough, those dreams might come true. Well, let me tell you, I became a believer. One decade later, the developer of the condominium in which I lived decided to dedicate “CANTICLE” one of Alexander Liberman’s red steel works of art in Cincinnati. And where did he decide to erect it? You guessed it…right in front of my condo where I gaze at it daily.

ALEXANDER LIBERMAN'S "CANTICLE” AT ADAMS PLACE IN CINCINNATI, OHIO

From that day in the early 1980s, when I first fell in love with contemporary sculpture, I have been searching the globe for sensational sculpture wherever I travel. Allow me to share some of my favorite finds, and the places that are privileged to have them.DUBLIN, IRELAND: “In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone…..” Just as the tragic ballad laments, there she stood greeting me at the top of Grafton Street. In all her buxom bronze splendor, the 18^th-century fish-monger is still drawing a crowd to her wheel-barrow laden with cockles and mussels. Immortalized in 1988 by sculptor Jean Rynhart, "MOLLY MALONE" has been affectionately, yet irreverently, dubbed by irrepressible Dubliners as “The Tart with the Cart”.

SWEET MOLLY MALONE

BILBAO, SPAIN is home to the famed Guggenheim Museum, a must to put on your Bucket List. From a distance, the splendid bizarrely shaped $100-million museum looks like a massive steel sculpture. The museum's architect Frank Gehry described his building on the banks of the Nervion River as a ship that has run aground. However, it was the Guggenheims’s fabulous spider “MAMAN”, standing in front of the museum, that I was smitten (and bitten) by. “ MAMAN” is Louise Bourgeois' huge bronze spider measuring over 30-feet high and 33-feet wide. Bourgeois said that The Spider was an ode to her mother who was her best friend. (Maman is the French word for Mother.) "Like a spider", Bourgeois once stated, "my mother was a weaver...spiders are helpful and protective, just like my mother.”

“MAMAN”, LOUISE BOURGEOIS SPIDER “MAMAN” AT BILBAO’S GUGGENHEIM

WASHINGTON D.C. is home to the Sculpture Garden of the National Gallery of Art where the “TYPEWRITER ERASER, SCALE X “ stands center stage on the grassy lawn. This painted stainless steel and fiberglass Pop Art sculpture was created in 1999 by Claes Oldenburg. His first Pop creations were met with ridicule and scorn before they became treasured as objects of whimsy and fun. Today, Oldenburg is world-renowned for his art that glorifies everyday objects. If you also travel to Kansas City, you can imagine a rousing game of badminton with Oldenburg’s humongous white-feathered birdies that grace the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum.

CLAES OLDENBURG’S “TYPEWRITER ERASER, SCALE X “

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY may be known for Hungarian goulash, but it is “SILVER WEEPING WILLOW”, a maze of glistening silver leaves hanging from the branches of a metal tree in Raoul Wallenberg Park, that I think of when I think of Budapest. This “Silver Weeping Willow” sculpture, funded by the late actor Tony Curtis, is in loving memory of his Hungarian-born parents. In Tony Curtis’s words, the Holocaust Memorial is “dedicated to the 600,000 Hungarian Jews who perished in the Holocaust and to the many valiant heroes of all faiths who risked their lives to save untold numbers of Jewish men, women and children from certain death. Although Hungarian artist Imre Barga’s “Silver Weeping Willow” is actually a poignant memorial it is also one of the most beautiful sculptures I have ever seen.

BUDAPEST’S “SILVER WEEPING WILLOW”

NICE, FRANCE is home to the Negresco Hotel, the crown jewel on the French Riviera. This Belle Époque palace, where Empire-cloaked doormen will greet you, is a wedding cake-like confection iced in pink and green. Its Salon Royal, with an immense glass dome crafted in the workshop of Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame), showcases a Baccarat chandelier consisting of 16,309 crystals. Weighing one ton, the chandelier is half of a pair commissioned by the Czar of Russia at the end of the 19th century. In direct juxtaposition to the chandelier is "THE NANA JAUNE”, an obese, liberated, exuberant, brightly colored, revolving sculpture by Niki de Saint Phalle. This French sculptors whimsical “Nikigator”, and her” Poet & Muse”, are also yours for pure enjoyment in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE’S NANA JAUNE

HELSINKI, FINLAND showcases the “SIBELIUS MONUMENT” in Sebelius Park both of which are named for the Finnish Composer Jean Sibelius. This monumental work of art by Eila Hilltunen, consisting of 600 hollow steel pipes resembling organ pipes, commemorates the music of the famed composer. The pipes are welded together and hand-textured by the artist. Sitting adjacent to the sculpture on its rocky base is the stainless steel face of Jean Sibelius.

SIBELIUS MONUMENT

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

NEAT SEATS…AND WHERE TO PLOP ON THEM

2019-10-21T10:55:00.004-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

My love affair with chairs began back in the 1980s when I spotted a Hanes hosiery ad with a gorgeous ballerina, hose-clad leg extended, and seated on a black leather chair with a single aluminum leg. I later learned that the ballerina’s J. Serie Lang lounge chair was designed by a Frenchman named Philippe Starck, one of the most famous architect/designers in the world. Next thing I knew, I was sipping coffee at the Café Costes in Paris, seated on a perfectly balanced and beautiful 3-legged chair. Much to my surprise, I learned that the aforementioned Philippe Starck had also designed the cafe’s chairs.

Starck captured my interest me from that point on. I no longer had to search for unusual tchotchkes in my travels. I had a new mission…the search for unusual chairs. As I began pursuing the world for more of Starck’s designs, I developed an obsession for all kinds of seats from chairs, settees, and chaise lounges, to pews, benches, and booths, It no longer mattered who designed them, as long as they were interesting or fun. Wherever, and whenever, I spotted a neat seat, I would not only learn about it and photograph it. I would also plop down in it.

Allow me to share some results of my global chair-affair that has been going on for decades. And, what better place for me to begin than with the chair responsible for my fascinating search for neat seats?

PARIS, FRANCE/CAFÉ COSTES: Philippe Starck’s famous Café Costes chair, with its curved beech lacquered back and black leather cushion, was originally designed for the Café Costes in Paris. It was designed with three legs so that waiters at the cafe would not have as many legs to trip over. This hip café is known for its traditional French cuisine and celebrity patrons.

THE 3-LEGGED PHILLIPPE STARCK CAFE COSTES CHAIRS HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO AMERICAN HOMES

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA/CLIFT HOTEL: I hit the jackpot in the lobby of the Clift Hotel with a potpouri of neat seats. The hotel, a few steps from Union Square, exudes old-world hotel elegance with distinctly contemporary energy and glamour. Once again Philippe Starck was the “star-chitect” responsible for design that included three seats: a sexy silk chaise lounge, an oversized silk and wooden armchair, and a unique settee with horns and ostrich upholstery. I sat in all of them, but the latter was the one I wanted to take home with me.

THIS OSTRICH DOES NOT BURY ITS BEAUTY IN THE SAND (and take a peek at the table leg)

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND/ TOURO SYNAGOGUE: in 1790, George Washington visited Newport to promote passage of the Bill of Rights. Washington sat in Pew #4 in the Touro Synagogue where there is an annual reading of his historic letter "To the Hebrew Congregation at Newport". The letter, which honors our precious freedoms, continues to be lauded and commemorated as possibly having the greatest impact on America and American Jewry.

#4 PEW OF HONOR WHERE GEORGE WASHINGTON SAT

AMANA, IOWA/AMANA COLONIES: Willkommen to the seven villages of the Amana Colonies that have been a treasure on the Iowa prairie for over 150 years. This step back in time, through artsy-crafty villages led me to the discovery of a humongous rocking chair that made me feel like Lily Tomlin in the 1981 movie ”The Incredible Shrinking Woman”.

THE AUTHOR’S VERSION OF THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN

LONDON, ENGLAND/ BOND STREET: On a bench in Mayfair (where Old Bond Street meets New Bond Street), a passerby stops to ask a question of two iconic gentlemen as they are engaged in conversation. The bronze sculpture of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill 'talking' together on the bench was unveiled on May 2, 1995 by Princess Margaret.

TWO OLD BUDDIES…FDR AND WINSTON CHURCHILL….IN LONDON

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS/ UNION OYSTER HOUSE: President John F. Kennedy’s booth #18 on the second floor of Boston’s historic seafood haven, is discreetly marked with a small plaque that states: “This was the favorite booth of John F. Kennedy when he dined at The Union Oyster House.” J.F.K.’s favorite booth, where he loved to feast in privacy, has since been dedicated "The Kennedy Booth" in his memory.

HISTORY AND OYSTERS IN "THE KENNEDY BOOTH"

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA/ART-A-FAIR: Laguna Beach is a magical seaside village whose reputation as an artist’ colony began with the arrival of Norman St. Claire in 1903. After St. Claire captured Laguna’s dramatic surf, sand, and picturesque hillsides, many of his artist friends made an exodus to Laguna Beach and it has been an artistic haven ever since. A colorful artsy bench welcomes you to Art-A-Fair.

IS IT A SCULPTURE OR IS IT A CHAIR?

RIO DE JANEIRO BRAZIL/ FASANO HOTEL: Located in the heart of Ipanema Beach, the Fasano Hotel melds sophistication with modernity, and minimalism with warmth. Like Café Costes, the hotel was designed by Philippe Starck who carried out every detail to the n^thdegree. The pair of leather twins in the lobby can’t make up their minds as to whether they are lounge chairs or hammocks. No matter the decision, they are comfy cozy. The rooftop swimming pool is a Starck masterpiece. Combine that with a drop-dead view that overlooks the beach and you have reason enough to visit the Fasano.

PHILLIPPE STARCK DOES IT AGAIN

GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE/LODGE AT BUCKBERRY CREEK: A rustic driftwood bench personifies Gatlinburg’s “Great Camp of the Smokies”. More than a century ago, the Adirondacks lured the elite to escape to the mountains and enjoy the great outdoors. Thus was born a unique, upscale style of architecture that employed Mother Nature as the lead architect. The natural grandeur of The Lodge at Buckberry Creek recaptures that rustic elegance of upstate New York’s famous Adirondack lodges and combines it with the unspoiled beauty of the Smoky Mountains.

BEAUTIFUL BRANCHES MAKE BEAUTIFUL BENCHES

DENVER, COLORADO: CIVIC CENTER PARK OUTSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY: “The Yearling” is a whimsical 21-foot tall, 10-foot wide, red painted steel chair with a 6-foot tall. fiberglass, painted pinto pony standing atop it. It has been said that the size of this work is said to recall that time in life when even everyday objects seemed monumental. Its creator, artist Donald Lipski, commented: “If it makes people stop and feel something they haven’t felt before, I’m happy.”

PINTO PONY STANDS ATOP A 21-FOOT TALL CHAIR

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

BERLIN, GERMANY…AND THE WALL CAME TUMBLING DOWN

2019-09-30T09:16:00.004-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

In November, Germany, and the world, will celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Overnight ‘The Fall of the Wall’ not only changed an entire nation, but it also changed the rest of the world. The reunification of Germany ended 28 years of terror that tore apart families, friends and neighbors. A visit to Berlin reveals a rejuvenated city that is no longer divided…a free city that that is celebrating reunification and democracy…a city that has confronted its past and is forging ahead to the future.

FORMER BERLIN WALL…NOW THE EASTSIDE GALLERY

Emotionally, visitors of all religions are volleyed between the delights of their time in Berlin and the poignant reminders of the terrible years under the Third Reich. Architecturally, Berlin is a smorgasbord of architectural masterpieces, scanning centuries. From the original Reichstag to Sir Norman Foster’s glass-domed roof…from the original Jewish Museum…to Daniel Libeskind’s 21^st century addition to the structure…to Frank Gehry’s space age DZ Bank lobby.The Reichstag, the seat of Germany’s Parliament, originally opened in 1894. After the reunification of Germany, the building was fully restored by internationally renowned architect Sir Norman Foster. Completed in 1999, the restoration features an iconic large glass dome that has a 360-degree view of the surrounding cityscape. Lunch at the top of the Reichstag is overpriced, but worth it just for the experience and the view. Outside of the Reichstag is a memorial to the 96 Reichstag members of opposition parties killed by the Nazis.

GLASS DOME OF THE REICHSTAG

The baroque Jewish Museum of Berlin, built is 1735, first served as the Collegienhaus (Supreme Court building) for the Royal Court of Justice. World-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind’s eerie addition to the museum culminates with the horrors of Hitler’s persecution and extermination plans. Sole access into the new addition, is through the historical Collegienhaus.

LIBESKIND’S MODERN ADDITION TO 1735 JEWISH MUSEUM

The Libeskind addition has three main corridors: the Axis of Continuity, the Axis of Emigration, and the Axis of the Holocaust. The Axis of Continuity connects the old building with the new addition. The architect described that axis as the continuation of Berlin’s history from which the other axes branch off. The Axis of Emigration leads outside to the Garden of Exile that Libeskind said attempts “to completely disorientate the visitor. It represents a shipwreck of history.” In the Axis of the Holocaust, Libeskind stated that the bare concrete Holocaust Tower, with a narrow slit at the top, “is the space which somehow ends the old history of Berlin.”

Nearby is the Brandenburg Gate (1788-1791), the city’s most famous landmark. The centerpiece of the Pariser Platz, the Brandenburg Gate is the symbol of Berlin’s reunification. It is crowned with the 18^thcentury Quadriga Statue that depicts the Goddess of Victory driving a chariot pulled by four horses.

THE BRANDENBURG GATE

On the south side of Pariser Platz, between the Brandenburg gate and the Hotel Adlon, is the DZ Bank headquarters, one of architect Frank Gehry’s most interesting buildings. Strict urban planning regulations for buildings in the center of Berlin made it impossible for Gehry to erect one of his sculptural masterpieces such as the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Therefore, he solved the problem by putting his traditional Gehry touch within the entrance area in the form a 4-story-high, steel-clad, wood-lined shell that seems as if it is floating in space. This sculptural structure serves as the building’s primary conference hall.

FRANK GEHRY’S DZ BANK LOBBY

One block south of the Brandenburg gate is Peter Eisenman’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, also known as The Holocaust Memorial. The 2,711 concrete slabs (stelae) of differing heights are set in a grid pattern on a sloping field. Eisenman’s project text explains that the stelae are designed to produce an uneasy, confusing atmosphere, and the whole sculpture aims to represent a supposedly ordered system that has lost touch with human reason.

EISENMAN’S HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

The East Side Gallery, a long section of the Berlin Wall near the center of Berlin, is the largest open-air gallery in the world. It is a place where the old Berlin meets the new Berlin. More than 100 murals, by artists from around the world, cover this memorial for freedom. The association of the artists involved in the project stated "The East Side Gallery is understood as a monument to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the peaceful negotiation of borders and conventions between societies and people". More than three million people visit the wall every year.

RENOWNED MURAL-LEONID BREZHNEV & ERICH HONECKER

It’s tacky and touristy, but one cannot go to Berlin without taking in the sight known as Checkpoint Charlie. Checkpoint Charlie was the crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. It was the crossing point for foreigners, diplomats, and members of the Allied forces. The ersatz guardhouse, with its ersatz soldiers standing guard, is a favorite photo op for tourists. The Checkpoint Charlie Museum is a private commercial venture, but it does have some interesting exhibits such as escape cars, a small submarine, and amazing stories about how some people attempted to escape.

CHECKPOINT CHARLIE

If, by now, you are in desperate need of a shopping fix, there are plenty of souvenirs at Checkpoint Charlie. Mostly schlock…but good mementos.

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

PORTUGAL: EMERGING HOT DESTINATION FOR 2019

2019-09-09T08:55:00.003-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

BEWARE! FADO FEVER IS CATCHING.

Fado is the national song of Portugal. This melancholy singing expression of the state of the soul (from the Latin word fatum) signifies prophecy or fate…a life commended by the oracle…one that nothing can change. Wherever you may travel in Portugal, you will be mesmerized by the dialogue of emotions between a round Portuguese guitar and a sad voice singing fado.

Come along with me as we tour Portugal, the country that borders the Atlantic Ocean on the west, Spain on the east, is one of the warmest countries in Europe, and is the country some predict will be one of the top travel destinations of 2019.

LISBON: Bom dia (good day) is the friendly welcome you’ll receive as you arrive in Lisbon (Lisboa), the scenic capital city located on the banks of the Tagus River. It has long been argued whether the Tagus River, a winding silver ribbon that mirrors the city, ebbs up to meet the city or whether Lisbon extends down to meet the river. Whatever the case, the seven hills of Lisbon and the wide mouth of the Tagus form a perfect picture postcard that is illuminated by the extraordinary amount of light that is reflected off the massive expanse of the river. Little wonder that the Tagus River is said to be a large natural mirror that amplifies the aurora of the sun.

The Torre de Belem (Belem Tower), built in the year 1521, looks like a miniature castle on the banks of the Tagus River. It was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1983, and is one of the most popular attractions in Lisbon.

BELEM TOWER ON THE BANKS OF THE TAGUS RIVER

The Padrao dos Descobrimentos (Monument to Prince Henry the Navigator) is on the northern bank of the Tagus River. The monument calls forth the age of great discoveries. Thirty-four statues render images of important personalities who, one way or another, have contributed to Portugal’s reputation in the age of discovery. The main figure represents Henry the Navigator.

PRINCE HENRY THE NAVIGATOR MONUMENT

Other attractions include the Sao Jorge Castle, with its panoramic views of the city; Edward VII Park; Pracia di Comerce ("Black Horse Square"); the Cathedral, with its Arab mosque design; the Chiado area's outdoor elevator designed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame.

VIEW FROM EDUARDO Vll PARK

Lisbon is known for its hearty, reasonably priced Portuguese cuisine. Fresh seafood is a staple of the Portuguese diet. Regional specialties include: grilled sardines, seafood stew called caldeirada, and a hearty soup of spicy sausage and potatoes known as caldo verde. Following any dinner in Lisbon is the time to experience a melancholy fado performance.

SINTRA: When you are in Lisbon, save a day to get out of town. Head for Sintra, the picturesque town where Portuguese royalty spent their summers. The majestic and romantic Pena Palace, situated on a high mountain peak is an eclectic mixture of styles that exemplifies the 19th century Romanticism style of architecture. Vividly painted terraces, decorative battlements and mythological statues are in stark contrast to the lush greens of the forests that encircle Pena.

THE MAJESTIC PENA PALACE

Have a typical Portuguese lunch at Restaurante Regional De Sintra or at the Seteais Palace, a deluxe five-star hotel where the walls of the public rooms are hand-painted with motifs of the 18th century. While in Sintra, don’t miss tasting the deliciously well-known tarts called "Queijadas.”

PICTURESQUE TOWN OF SINTRA

Return to Lisbon along a road that borders the Tagus River. The scenic route affords a peek at the former fishing port of Cascais and the turn-of-the-century luxury resort of Estoril with its renowned casino.

MADEIRA: The sub-tropical island of Madeira is part of the Portuguese archipelago that hugs the North Atlantic Ocean 400 miles west of North Africa. This flower-filled island of volcanic origin is a magical meld of Europe and the tropics. With the waters of the Gulf Stream lapping at its shores, Madeira is blessed with a near perfect year-round climate of comfortable summers and mild winters.

The island’s lush, irregularly cut mountains scrape across the sky, while the bays, the beaches, and the cliffs meet the deep blue crystalline sea. The beauty of nature is harmoniously contrasted with the cosmopolitan throb of Funchal, the capital of Madeira. The amphitheater-like city, which rises from the harbor, was named Funchal from the abundance of fennel (funcho) that used to grow there.

No stay in Madeira would be complete without going up to Monte, either by taxi (or preferably) by cable car. In Monte, you will find the Monte Palace Tropical Garden and the famous wicker toboggans, a popular tourist attraction.

WICKER TOBOGGAN RIDE FROM THE MONTE

The Monte toboggan is a wicker basket assembled on an iron frame with wooden runners. It carries two passengers and is controlled by ropes and manpower. Two men, traditionally decked out in white cotton clothes and Madeira-emblazoned straw hats, and using their rubber-soled boots as brakes, pull and push the toboggan down the winding, narrow streets at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. This 19^th-century style of transportation from Monte to Funchal is quite a contrast to the 21^st-century cable car that zips you from Funchal up to Monte.

If time permits, you must get out of Funchal for a day. Twenty-five miles north of Funchal is Santana, the village famous for its A-framed, thatched-roofed, cottages called palheiros. Stop for lunch at Quinta do Furao Restaurant and then head on to Parque Tematico da Madeira.

STRAW HAT SCULPTURE OF MADEIRA’S ICONIC STRAW HAT IN TEMATICO PARK

Opened in October 2004, Parque Tematico da Madeira (Tematico Park) is called a Theme Park, but in no way does it resemble a Disney Park. With no amusement rides, this park depicts the history, culture, and traditions of the people of Madeira in pavilions and open-air spaces.

With its glorious climate, friendly people, low crime rate, rugged landscape, and abundant vegetation, the scenic island of Madeira is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Europe.

OPORTO: Portugal's second -largest city, located along the Douro River estuary in Northern Portugal, is one of the oldest European Centers. Its historical core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.

Driving along the Avenida dos Aliados, enroute to the Duoro River, you will view some of the city's most impressive buildings such as the 1915 train station, the 18th century Church of Clerigos, and the austere Se Cathedral, a 12th-century Romanesque building.

Head down to the Ribeira quarter to enjoy a boat ride on the Douro River (River of Gold). The water affords a totally different panorama of Oporto’s skyline.

CRUISE THE DOURO RIVER IN OPORTO

On the opposite bank from where you board the boat, you can visit Vila Nova de Gaia, home to the port trade and numerous wine lodges. Most of them were established in the 18th century; their brand-name port wines are known worldwide.

Duoro river cruises culminate with a visit to a winery with an "OPORTOnity" to learn the process of wine making, and to have a tasting of their fine Port wines.

JANET STEINBERG resides in Cincinnati but call the world home. She is the winner of 47 national Travel Writing Awards.

ICELAND: A NAME OF DECEPTION

2019-08-12T11:48:00.001-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

“People are always asking me about Eskimos,

but there are no Eskimos in Iceland.”

Bjork

They shouldn't call Iceland “Iceland”. The misnomer of this Scandinavian island dates back more than a millennium (874 AD) to Ingolfur Arnarson, a Norwegian Viking frequently credited with discovering the island. By naming it Iceland, he hoped to discourage future voyagers from settling on this green and appealing island. Throughout the centuries, unsuccessful attempts have been made to rename the country.

Once thought to be a cold barren place sans people, this Arctic land that has no snow and ice in the summer has been ranked second on the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) list of the ten hottest destinations for 2019. Berries, vegetables and flowers grow in many places and from March to September the sun shines on the entire region for at least part of the day. At the onset of summer, the sun never sets and white nights illuminate the annual Arctic Open Golf Championship that begins at midnight sometime during the month of June. To quote Jack Nicklaus: “There’s probably more golf played in Iceland than most places in the world. They play 24 hours a day in the summertime and the northern part is warmer than the southern part.”

Iceland, just 625-miles west of Norway, is a craggy land of fire and ice...where steam and snow are side by side...where erupting volcanoes, boiling geysers and bubbling hot springs lie next to glistening glaciers and ice fields. This land of pure untamed nature is etched with craters of slumbering volcanoes that pockmark an eerie landscape so lunar-like that America's moon-mission astronauts trained there.

ASTRONAUTS TRAINED ON ICELAND’S LUNAR-LIKE LANDSCAPE

Known as "The Land of the Midnight Sun," Iceland, a country the size of the state of Ohio, has a total population of 340,410. Iceland’s capital of Reykjavik (meaning Smoky Bay) is often called "The Smokeless City" because it is heated by geothermal energy in the form of boiling water piped directly from natural hot springs. Perlan (The Pearl) is a domed architectural wonder that, in 1991, was constructed atop a cluster of six geothermal water storage tanks. The symbol Iceland's capital city, Perlan houses an exhibition space, a planetarium, a restaurant and an observation deck. Perched 200-feet above sea level atop Öskjuhlíð Hill, it offers a view over the city and its surrounding area.

PERLAN IS A DOMED ARCHITECTURAL WONDER

Greater Reykjavik, the heart and center of the Icelandic nation, contains approximately one-half the population of the entire country. Picturesque tin houses, in a riot of gay colors, surround the Arctic tern-inhabited lake in the center of the city. The bustling harbor, the historic old town huddling nearby and the modern new town are all encircled by mountains for which the people feel an intimate affection.

PICTURESQUE TIN HOUSES IN REYKJAVIK

Reykjavik (pronounced rake-ya-vek) is the most northern capital in the world. In this city of civilized tastes, there are two symphony orchestras, the Icelandic Opera House, a major sports center, art galleries, the National Museum exhibiting artifacts of yesteryear, the Nordic House Cultural Centre, and Hallgrimskirkja Church that offers glorious views of the city and a glacier at the other end of Faxafloi Bay. This Scandinavian city has a standard of living as high as any in continental Europe. There are a wide variety of hotels in Reykjavik. The Hotel 101, a 4-star boutique spa hotel, occupies an historic 1930s building in downtown Reykjavik. Overlooking the stunning harbor, its sleek monochromatic palette is the epitome of Nordic cool.

Iceland is as much the home of magnificent cuisine as magnificent scenery. Icelandic menus offer lamb in all its variations and fish in countless permutations. Traditional gravlax (raw salmon and chopped dill) tastes even better as you gaze at the pink streaks of a midnight sun. An Icelandic buffet gives you a taste of Iceland. The continental cuisine should be preceded by a glass of Brennivin, Iceland's "Black Death." Laekjarbrekka , situated in the heart of Reykjavik in a restored 1834 house, offers an Icelandic tasting menu that might include the likes of hardfiskur (dried fish), hakrl (ripened shark meat) or hangikjot (smoked lamb). Skyr, the uniquely Icelandic dairy product is a delightful dessert. So, gjorid svo ve! (Help yourselves!)

Iceland’s countryside embraces the wonders of a land filled with natural beauty and dramatic contrasts. The Golden Circle is a popular day excursion from the city. Favorite stops along the Golden Circle include Gullfoss Waterfall, Strokkur Geysir and Thingvellir National Park. Cascading with incredible power, Gullfoss Waterfall (“Golden Falls”) is Iceland’s most famous waterfall. When the sun peaks through, this iconic force of nature is crested by a vivid rainbow.

GULLFOSS WATERFALL

Geysir Park, (geysir is the correct Icelandic spelling) is home to Strokkur ("The Churn"), the mighty geyser that erupts once every 6-10 minutes sending boiling columns of water anywhere from 50 to 130-feet skyward.

TOURISTS AWAIT STROKKUR’S ERUPTION

Thingvellir National Park is a hallowed spot where the Vikings first met in parliament in 930 AD. Take a walk through the canyon that is the meeting place of two of the earth’s tectonic plates. Also, not to be missed is the colorful Kerio Crater, an inactive volcano crater that houses a nearly-neon turquoise lake inside a stunning bowl of green moss and red volcanic rock.

THE COLORFUL KERIO CALDERA

If time permits, visit the Westman Islands, the single most dramatic locale in Iceland. On Heimaey you will see the pitch-black mass of Eldfell, the volcano that erupted in January 1973 and made world headlines when the town of Vestmannaeyjar had to be evacuated. Iceland's greatest fishing harbor was almost closed off by lava from the eruption. Only ingenious high pressure hosing of seawater onto the advancing lava prevented the harbor from being destroyed. From 700-feet above sea level, you look down on the rebuilt town that has piped into the slopes of the volcano to extract steam for heating homes and businesses. As you walk over jagged boulders of hardened lava, you will spot a tiny splash of color amidst the rubble. The tiny clumps of pink and white blooms are called lava flowers. From Early April to September, puffin birds inhabit the islands’ basalt cliffs. Iceland is the breeding home for about 60 percent of the world's Atlantic puffins that spend most of their lives at sea, but return to land to form breeding colonies during spring and summer. In the spring, these sea birds are distinguished by their bright colorful beaks that fade to gray in winter.

ATLANTIC PUFFINS

A trip to Iceland, a fantasyland of fire and ice will alter any preconceived notion you might have had about the country. Although perpetual darkness prevails during Iceland's winters, in summer there is no night. Golfers putt, and photographers snap, beyond the bewitching hour. Bathers swim in pools heated by thermal pools and the country is ablaze with colorful blooms.

One visit to this verdant Nordic nation just below the Arctic Circle will convince you...they shouldn't call Iceland ‘”Iceland”.

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS

2019-07-15T09:03:00.002-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

“All experience is an arch where through

Gleams that untraveled world.”

Alfred Lord Tennyson

You can stroll, sail, or drive, beneath some of the most famous man-made arches in the world. To name a few… the Arc de Triumph in Paris, France…Gateway to India in Mumbai, India…Brandenberg Gate in Berlin, Germany…Arch of Constantine in Rome, Italy…Arc de Triomf in Barcelona, Spain…Rua Augusta Arch in Lisbon, Portugal…Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia…and the playful yellow arches of McDonald Restaurants around the world.

But try as they may, no other arch does it better than the soaring 630-foot Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. Clad in stainless steel, this iconic arch is the tallest man-made monument in the United States, and the world’s tallest arch. Designed by renowned Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the Gateway Arch commemorates the westward expansion of the United States. This internationally recognized symbol of St. Louis, on the west bank of the Mississippi River, was completed on October 28, 1965.

THE GATEWAY ARCH

However, let it be known that St. Louis (the “Gateway City”) has much more to offer than an arch. Come along and “Meet Me in St. Louis”, and you’ll see a lot more of the city than Judy Garland would have shown you when she serenaded you to meet her at The Fair.

In 1904, the world traveled to St. Louis for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, more commonly known as the World’s Fair. A taste of The World’s Fair can still be seen in the 1300-acre Forest Park. The Grand Basin, the centerpiece of the Fair, remains the crowning jewel in Forest Park. The St. Louis Art Museum, overlooking the Grand Basin, served as the Fine Arts Palace during the Fair.

ART MUSEUM OVERLOOKING THE GRAND BASIN

A massive walk-through birdcage, which served as the Smithsonian Flight Cage exhibit, can now be found as part of the Zoo’s Bird Garden. An addition to Forest Park in 1936 was The Jewel Box, an Art Deco greenhouse that is listed on the National Historic Register. The Jefferson Memorial Building section of the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park was built entirely with proceeds from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.

WALK-THROUGH BIRDCAGE

The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando, was opened in 2001. Cocooned behind glass-smooth “Ando” concrete walls, the Pulitzer was a gift of Emily Rauh Pulitzer, widow of newspaper scion Joseph Pulitzer Jr. Richard Serra’s 123-ton torqued spiral steel sculpture in the Pulitzer’s courtyard is aptly named “Joe” after the late Joseph Pulitzer Jr. “Twain”, another Serra sculpture, can be seen downtown at Gateway Plaza.

"ROCK SETEE” AT THE PULITZER FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS

The Cathedral Basilica, called ”the outstanding cathedral of the Americas” by Pope Paul VI, contains mosaics created with over 41,500,000 tiles in more than 8,000 shades of color.

THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA

On the St. Louis Walk of Fame, more than 140 bronze stars and informational plaques are embedded in the sidewalk along Delmar Boulevard in the diverse Loop neighborhood (so named for an old streetcar turnaround). Each star honors a famous St. Louisan.

Explore the world-famous Anheuser-Busch Brewery that includes a tour of the historic Brew House, Budweiser Clydesdale stables, lager cellar, packaging plant, hospitality room, and Anheuser-Busch gift shop. To drink some of their beer, head to Ballpark Village, a $100 million multi-level entertainment complex adjacent to Busch Stadium. The Budweiser Brew House offers 239 beer taps.

In the year of the 50th anniversary of the first man to walk on the moon, one of the most unexpected places to celebrate this American space landmark every day of the year is at St. Louis' Moonrise Hotel. This boutique hotel, with the world's largest man-made moon on its rooftop, is filled with moon and space memorabilia and art ranging from rare to kitschy and everything in between.

MOONRISE HOTEL

For 38 years, Charlie Gitto’s On the Hill, the quintessential Italian restaurant in St. Louis’s Hill neighborhood has been a landmark for fine Italian dining. Toasted ravioli (“T-Ravs”), a signature St. Louis dish, was born in 1947 in the kitchen of Charlie Gitto’s On the Hill when a careless chef accidentally dropped traditional ravioli in hot oil instead of water.

St. Louis sweet specialties come in all tastes, shapes, and sizes. The Fountain on Locust features their signature ice cream martinis that are freshly blended, decorated and beautifully garnished. For two decades, Kakao Chocolate has been making people happy with delicious chocolate confections. They are also renowned for their sea salt caramels. The famous “Ooey Gooey Butter Cake”, traditionally made in St. Louis, has been dubbed "one of St. Louis' popular, quirky foods".

THE FOUNTAIN ON LOCUST

However, when your sweet tooth really starts aching, head to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, an iconic Route 66 attraction that’s been around since 1941. The specialty here is concrete…edible, of course. Concretes are über-thick milkshakes made from vanilla frozen custard and blended with any number of sweet treats. Instead of driving on concrete on the renowned “Mother Road” of St. Louis, your taste buds will be savoring Drewes unique concrete.

EDIBLE CONCRETE AT TED DREWES

One thing for sure, you’ll get your kicks on Route 66.

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

TEA FOR TWO---AND WHILE YOU ARE THERE

2019-06-24T08:18:00.002-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

“It’s hot…it’s sweet ...it’s tea for two.” So claimed the classic 1950’s musical “Tea For Two” made famous by Hollywood icon Doris Day who passed away on May 13 at the age of 97. Whether it’s tea for two, or just tea for you, a mid-day tea break is a most civilized custom wherever in the world you may be. Although the time-honored ritual of afternoon tea is quintessentially British, it is now being enjoyed around the world. As would be expected, freshly brewed tea is the headliner at this ancient afternoon ritual. However, you will also be indulged with an assortment of scones, sandwiches and sweets…and lest we forget the jam and clotted cream. An afternoon tea break refreshes and revitalizes the weary traveler and gives just the needed energy to carry on the exhausting task of sightseeing. It can be an expensive white-gloved, stiff-pinkie production at a fancy hotel, or a gaucho-simple maté tea break at a ranch in Argentina.

When traveling, consider planning your afternoon tea break around seeing a special sight…WHILE YOU ARE THERE.

SCONES, SANDWICHES AND SWEETS…A TYPICAL TEATIME SPREAD

LONDON, ENGLAND: There is nothing as British as afternoon tea. It is said that this sandwich-and-scone combo was invented by a crotchety, and hungry, noblewoman tired of waiting for Queen Victoria at supper. It then became a social event for the upper classes and eventually trickled down to the working masses on a simpler scale. If you can’t spare too much time from touring and shopping, you can kill two birds with one stone at Harrods’s the world-renowned Knightsbridge department store that offers a traditional afternoon tea experience in their century-old Tea Room (formerly known as the Georgian Restaurant). Harrods' contemporary classic venue offers a unique take on a range of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and exquisite seasonally changing fancies. The Earl Grey Cooler is a tea-inspired cocktail that features No. 42 Earl Grey tea, orange marmalade, vodka and Chambord.

SHOP AND SIP: THE CLASSIC BRITISH TEATIME TAKES PLACE DAILY AT HARRODS

WHILE YOU ARE THERE: Be sure to check out the London Eye, the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel. It is located by the River Thames opposite Big Ben. On a good day you can’t see forever, but you can see approximately 25 miles. When the London Eye opened in March 2000 to celebrate the new millennium, it was supposed to be a temporary attraction. However, because of its popularity, it is there to stay. The Eye consists of 32 capsules, each accommodating up to 28 people. One full rotation, in what has become the country’s most popular paid attraction, lasts about 30-minutes.

SEE LONDON FROM THE LONDON EYE

FUNCHAL, MADEIRA: Funchal, the capital of Portugal’s autonomous region of Madeira is part of the Portuguese archipelago that hugs the North Atlantic Ocean 400 miles west of North Africa. Reid's Palace Hotel, perched on a cliff-top overlooking Funchal Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, epitomizes the spirit of travel from the heyday of luxury, style and adventure. This elegant hideaway, opened in 1891, has honed the art of pampering and perfected the art of indulgence. Afternoon tea is a timeless affair at Reid’s Palace. Choose from delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and homemade pastries, all accompanied by your choice from a selection of 24 teas or an indulgent glass of champagne.

TEATIME ON THE TERRACE AT REID’S PALACE

WHILE YOU ARE THERE: Be sure to check out the not-to be-missed wicker toboggans atop Monte. The Monte toboggan is a wicker basket assembled on an iron frame with wooden runners. It carries two people and is controlled by ropes and manpower that races its passengers down winding, narrow streets at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. This 19^th-century style of transportation from Monte to Funchal is quite a contrast to the 21^st-century cable car that zips you from Funchal up to Monte.

A RIDE YOU'LL NEVER FORGET

PUERTO MADRYN, ARGENTINA: If you’re cruising South America, or headed to Patagonia, you’re most likely to make a stop in Puerto Madryn, the access point for Patagonia. As you head to Estancia San Guillermo for a typical Argentine tea ceremony, you’ll pass through Punta Loma, where, from a rocky cliff top location, you should be able to view a colony of sea wolves below. As you approach the doorway of the estancia (the Argentine word for ranch) you’ll be greeted by sheep and domesticated guanacos (South American animals that look like, and are related to, lamas and alpacas). The typical, highly caffeinated Argentine tea is called maté (pronounced ma-tay). It is usually enjoyed with friends and served in a hollow gourd with a special metallic drinking straw called a bombilla. However, in Argentine tea culture it is considered poor etiquette to stir the tea with the straw. It is also considered poor manners to wipe the bombilla when sharing maté. Drinking the semi-bitter, grassy, smoky maté has been described as “slurping hot water through dried leaves.”

NO BONE CHINA HERE! TEA IS POURED FROM A TIN TEAPOT INTO A HOLLOW GOURD

WHILE YOU ARE THERE: Be sure to check out a sheep-shearing demonstration at the ranch where traditional shearing techniques are demonstrated for guests. While most estancias of the Pampas are famous for raising cattle, San Guillermo specializes in raising sheep.

TAKING OFF THAT WINTER COAT

SEA TIME IS TEA TIME: Daily afternoon tea, a flashback to the days of the great ocean liners, is a ritual on many cruise ships. White-gloved waiters pass buttery scones, berry tarts, petit fours, watercress sandwiches, and a selection of teas as you glide from port to port. Elaborate presentations include themed teatimes such as the Mozart Tea where the staff is dressed in period costumes and a string quartet plays Mozart throughout the event; the English Colonial Tea where waiters are decked out in white ties and tails; and the Chocoholic Tea-At-Sea where everything on the buffet contains chocolate. And, as if that isn’t enough, every nautical teatime is topped off with a spectacular ocean view.

TEA AT SEA: A CHOCOHOLIC’S DREAM

WHILE YOU ARE THERE: Be sure to check out the most unusual shore excursion that you can experience from your cruise ship. My favorite was when the ship anchored in the ocean, tendered its passengers to a nearby island and then had its crew set up the quintessential wet-bar just off shore. Delighted passengers waded out in the ocean to the bar where they were treated to caviar and champagne served by a fun-loving crew.

CHAMPAGNE AND CAVIAR...OCEAN-STYLE

HAMILTON, BERMUDA: The Fairmont Hamilton Princess, Bermuda's oldest hotel (1885), was named in honor of Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria, who is credited with putting Bermuda on the map as a tourist destination. This palatial “Pink Palace”, the reigning Grande Dame of Bermuda hotels, has been the hotel of choice for discriminating guests including Mark Twain, Ian Fleming, and Prince Charles. Bermuda’s first waterfront hotel, the Hamilton Princess personifies what Bermuda is all about…courtesy, quality, and hospitality. Afternoon tea at Crown & Anchor continues the tradition that incorporates old English charm with the tropical setting of the island paradise of Bermuda. From the British silver tea sets and Belgian fine china to the Italian fine woven linen, this elegant teatime has been called one of the best afternoon teas in the world. A most civilized custom on a most civilized island.

A PRETTY PRINCESS SERVES TRADITIONAL AFTERNOON TEA DAILY

WHILE YOU ARE THERE: Be sure to check out the smallest working drawbridge in the world. The Somerset Bridge, measuring a mere 32 inches wide, was originally built in 1620 and was cranked open by hand in those days. It connects Somerset Island with Sandys Parish on the Bermuda mainland. Today, two cantilevered half-spans are separated by an 18-inch gap and bridged by a thick timber panel that must be removed whenever a yacht wishes to pass beneath the bridge. This allows the mast of the yacht to pass through the gap

SMALLEST WORKING DRAWBRIDGE IN THE WORLD

MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN: The Grand Hotel, a circa 1887 island jewel set on a bluff above the historic Strait of Mackinaw, might well be the most enchanting destination in Michigan. This stately grande dame, its covered porch bedecked with 43 white Grecian columns, 88 white rocking chairs and 180 geranium-filled flower boxes, is a pristine reminder of the elegance and glory of a bygone era. It will transport you back somewhere in time, which happens to be the name of a Christopher Reeve movie that was filmed there. Afternoon Tea at The Grand Hotel, a timeless tradition for more than 100 years, takes place each day in the hotel’s Parlor. In the 1840’s Afternoon Tea became popular as an activity to break up the day and provide a snack between lunch and dinner Today at the Grand Hotel guests still partake in this tradition between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. They enjoy tea, sherry, champagne, petite finger sandwiches, fresh-baked scones and an array of pastries, accompanied by a music recital performed by some of the hotel’s full-time staff of musicians.

TEATIME AT THE GRAND HOTEL: TRADITION, TRADITION, TRADITION!

WHILE YOU ARE THERE: Be sure to check out Fort Mackinac, the fortress that provides an exciting view of British life during the 1700’s. Also check out the Missionary Bark Chapel that sits below the Fort. The Chapel is a recreation of the first birch bark chapel built by Father Charles Dablon in the 1600’s.

THE MISSIONARY BIRCH BARK CHAPEL

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

Normandy Beach.... and Beyond

2019-06-03T08:45:00.005-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

With summer almost upon us, it’s time to head for the beach...but not just any old beach! The beach of choice for summer 2019 is Normandy Beach on the austere northern coast of France. June 6, 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of the,World War II D-Day landings at Normandy Beach in 1944.

The five beaches that make up Normandy Beach were each given code names. Troops from the United States landed on Omaha and Utah, Great Britain’s troops landed on Gold and Sword and Canadian troops landed on Juno Beach. The heavily defended Omaha Beach, surrounded by steep cliffs, was the scene of the bloodiest battle.

Les Braves (The Braves) is French sculptor Anilore Banon's 3-element sculpture that pays tribute to the American soldiers who lost their lives on Omaha Beach. The sculpture, which soars upward in the center of Omaha Beach, consists of The Wings of Hope; Rise, Freedom; and The Wings of Fraternity.

LES BRAVES MEMORIAL OF OMAHA BEACH

On your way to reliving one of the most historic events of World War II, make a stop at the small seaside town of Arromanches. In Arromanches, visit The Invasion Museum, dedicated to the largest landing operation in history…the June 6, 1944 invasion when the Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy to attack the German lines. The museum shows films and displays models that re-create the entire operation along the D-Day beaches.

ALLIES ESTABLISHED A TEMPORARY HARBOUR IN ARROMANCHES

Your next stop should be for a typical French lunch at the historic Château La Chenevière, on the Norman coast between Bayeux and the WWII landing beaches. Now a five-star hotel, this refined 17th century manor house, in an exquisite park-like setting, was fully restored in 1988.

17^TH CENTURY CHÂTEAU LA CHENEVIÈRE

Then it’s on to Colleville-sur-Mer, site of the American Cemetery. The majority of the nearly 10,000 American soldiers killed at Omaha Beach are buried in this 170-acre cemetery on land given to the United States by France as a token of her gratitude. Here, 9,386 marble crosses and Stars of David are aligned on a plateau above the beach. A memorial contains the Tablets of the Missing, and a map outlines the battle sites of the Normandy beaches.

THE AMERICAN CEMETERY

During my visit, an American man was selected to lay a wreath at the base of the memorial. Taps was played over the loud speaker, and hundreds of visitors from all over the world stood with hand over heart as the Americans sang the Star Spangled Banner. Visitors stopped at gravesites of soldiers they had never met and offered prayers to memorialize the sacrifice that these young soldiers had made for our country.

THE AMERICAN CEMETERY MEMORIAL

While you’re in the Normandy neighborhood, there are several other not-to-be-missed spots.

Mont St. Michel, (“Wonder of the Western World”) perched on a rocky pinnacle in Mont St. Michel Bay, was officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Joined to land by a causeway, this 8^th century Gothic Benedictine Abbey, that appears to be floating on water, is one of the most visited sites in France. In 2011, a state of the art dam was completed on the Couesnon River as part of a 10-year plan to rid the river channel of sediment and allow the water to once again flow freely around the mount.

A climb of 365 steps will take you from the cobbled, convoluted streets to the base of the Abbey. If you wish to visit the interior of the Abbey, prepare to walk up another 197 steps. In the village, at the base of the Mont, you can partake in its culinary specialty…a light and frothy, overpriced omelet. La Mere Poulard is the most famous, and most expensive eatery in which you can taste the renowned Mont St. Michel omelet.

St. Malo is an historic walled town in Brittany (Bretagne), France. On the English Channel at the mouth of the River Rance, this seaside resort dates from the 6^th century. It was rebuilt in the 1950s following extensive damage from WWII.

HISTORIC WALLED TOWN OF ST. MALO

Cancale, a 45-minute drive from the charming French town of Saint Malo, is the oyster capital of Brittany.

CANCALE: THE OYSTER CAPITAL OF BRITTANY

In Cancale, not only did I receive a crash course in oyster farming, but I had the most incredible 9 A M breakfast of my life at la Mère Champlain…plump oysters just plucked out of the sea and washed down with--you guessed it--French champagne.

BREAKFAST IN CANCALE

The harbor’s oyster market (marché aux huîtres), at the end of Quai de l'Administrateur en Chef Thomas, offers a wide variety of local oysters. At low tide, oyster beds can be visited, fishing boats are beached on the sand, local Cancalais sunbathe and children build their castles in the sand.

CANCALE HARBOR AT LOW TIDE

Honfleur, a picturesque, historic Norman fishing port, located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine, is awash in pastel–colored houses that were a favorite subject of Impressionist artists like Monet and Boudin. In 1890, Honfleur artist Eugène Boudin bequeathed an exceptional set of watercolors and drawings to his hometown. Today they are housed in the Eugène Boudin Museum, located in a 19th century chapel.

PICTURESQUE PORT OF HONFLEUR

Vieux Bassin, the heart of the once commercial port, is now home to upscale houses, shops and yachts. Stroll the old quarter of town and peek inside the medieval Saint Catherine Church that is considered the largest wooden structured church in France. The separate bell tower is located opposite the church, above the bell-ringer's house.

“We want to get the hell over there”, stated General George S. Patton Jr. during WWII. You will want to get over there also.

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

MEMORIAL DAY…AND EVERYDAY: LEST WE FORGET!

2019-05-13T08:25:00.000-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

During Memorial Day month, the 1905 words of George Santayana, a philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist ring truer than ever: “Those who cannot remember the past,” he said, " are condemned to repeat it.” In a 1948 speech to the House of Commons, Sir Winston Churchill paraphrased Santayana’s quote when he said: “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

On Memorial Day, and throughout the year, a variety of memorial tributes across the United States make sure we shall never forget. Memorials, like people, come in all shapes and sizes. The following trio is a sampling of the diversity of memorials where folks can pay tribute on Memorial Day, or any day of the year.

MEMORIAL TO TERROR: 9/11…two numbers that will be forever etched in our minds…two numbers that will forever evoke the picture of those moments of tragedy when two planes flew into New York’s Twin Towers. The acts of heroism in the aftermath of the events of that day are now remembered at One World Trade Center (One WTC) and the 9/11 Memorial.

The super-tall One WTC is the tallest building in the United States, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and the sixth tallest in the world. This main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center has the same name as the North Tower of the original World Trade Center that was destroyed on 9/11. Including its spire, the building measures in at 1,776-feet tall…not a coincidence that its height in feet is the same as the year when the United States Declaration of Independence was signed.

ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER

The National September 11 Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and honor to the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Twin reflecting pools, featuring the largest manmade waterfalls in North America, now sit where the Twin Towers once stood. Bronze panels framing the Memorial pools are inscribed with the names of all who died as a result of the attacks on 9/11. Also included are the names of the six victims of the World Trade Center bombing on February 26, 1993. This serene Memorial is a tribute to the past and a place of hope for the future.

REFLECTING POOL AT 9/11 MEMORIAL

MEMORIAL TO WAR: The Korean War Veterans Memorial reminds the world that the Korean War will no longer be the Forgotten War…a war in which 36,574 Americans died in hostile actions from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953. Located near the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, the Memorial commemorates the sacrifices of the 5.8 million Americans who served in the U.S. armed services during one of the hardest fought wars in our history. More than 2500 images of the troops are sandblasted into the polished black granite Mural Wall. The circular Pool of Remembrance is surrounded by a grove of linden trees. A commemorative plaque is inscribed: "Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met."

Nineteen stainless steel statues, over seven-feet tall and weighing nearly 1000 pounds each, represent a platoon on patrol. It is made up of an ethnic cross section of America and members of the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. The troops are dressed in full combat gear and are covered by ponchos that seem to be blowing in the fierce Korean winds. The statues are separated by polished granite strips, which are said to symbolize the rice paddies of Korea. They are standing in patches of Juniper bushes that represent the rugged terrain of Korea.

KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL

MEMORIAL TO THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY: The newest Memorial on the scene is the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC) that opened on January 27, 2019 in its new home at Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal. The train station at Union Terminal is the very site where many Holocaust survivors arrived in Cincinnati to rebuild their lives after WWII.

HISTORIC UNION TERMINAL IS HOME TO THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY CENTER

HHC was founded by a passionate group of survivors who wanted their experiences remembered and used as a warning to future generations. They wanted a memorial that would tell their tradition, how they died and how to prevent future massacres. They wanted something that would arouse people of all races and religions…something that would make sure that their loved ones had not died in vain. Through innovative storytelling, interactive experiences and genuine artifacts museum guests witness the strength and courage of the human spirit set against the backdrop of one of the darkest chapters in human history.

Two artifacts of note are the uniform of the late Leo Wilich and the Massacre Mural. Leo Wilich survived his imprisonment in the Dachau Concentration Camp and was liberated with only the uniform on his body. He preserved that uniform and kept it securely stashed away in a box. Before Wilich passed away, he would say that whenever he had a bad day, he would put on his uniform “and reflect on how lucky he was to be alive.”

PRESERVED CONCENTRATION CAMP UNIFORM

Massacre is a sculptural mural created from over 60,000 spent bullet casings. This haunting “Einsantzgruppen Shooting Massacre” depicts a firing squad shooting prisoners who are lined up in front of the trenches into which their dead bodies would be shoved.

MASSACRE SCULPTURE COMPOSED OF 60,000+ SPENT BULLET CASINGS

It is unknown who originally said this quote, but each Memorial Day, and everyday, lest we forget its words: "May we never forget freedom isn't free."

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

CINCINNATI SINGS…AND SWINGS

2019-04-22T08:46:00.000-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

Founded in 1788, Cincinnati, Ohio is considered by many historians to be the “first American City” as it was the first major city to develop after America secured its independence. Located on the Ohio River where Ohio meets Northern Kentucky, the city was dubbed “The Queen City” by proud citizens in 1820. The celebrated poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reinforced her royal moniker when he referred to the city as “Queen of the West” in his poem “Catawba Wine”.

Once a quiet conservative river town, Cincinnati has retained its classical roots. However, in the last decade, it has undergone a contemporary renaissance…it is now a classy city that sings and swings.

THE QUEEN CITY SINGS

As for singing, a treasure trove of music can be enjoyed year round at the Queen City’s majestic Music Hall. Opened in 1878, this jewel in the Queen’s crown was the largest-and one of the grandest-music halls in the country. Enhanced by a $135 million renovation completed in 2017, this National Historic Landmark is the performance venue for Cincinnati’s Symphony Orchestra (the nation’s sixth-oldest symphony orchestra), the May Festival (the longest-running choral festival in the Western hemisphere), Opera (the nation’s second-oldest opera company) and Ballet. The young, and the young at heart, can play their own song on the giant foot piano at Smale Riverfront Park.

GIANT FOOT PIANO AT SMALE PARK

As for swinging, you can literally go full swing on the Great Lawn at the above-mentioned Smale Park, the park that has revitalized Cincinnati’s historic Riverfront. Facing the river, west of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, family-sized porch-like swings will glide you back and forth as you watch the boats sail by.

THE QUEEN CITY SWINGS

Swinging (a bat) continues along the Riverfront at the Great American Ballpark where Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds (known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869) are marking their 150^th Anniversary in 2019. The renowned mascots of the nation’s first professional baseball team (the mustachioed Mr. Redlegs and Rosie Red) welcome baseball fans to season-long celebratory events planned at the stadium and throughout the region.

MR. REDLEGS AND ROSIE RED

When you’re tired of swinging, head for Carol Ann's Carousel, a not-to-be missed, Smale Park work of art. Take a ride on one of the 44 hand-carved, whimsical, Cincinnati-centric characters that make up the glass-enclosed carousel. Prance upon a Cincinnati Reds horse, ride atop a Bengal tiger or slip onto a flying pink pig, the symbol of the Queen’s other nickname of “Porkopolis”. As the carousel circles the riverfront, note that the paintings on the panels depict various historic and interesting places around Cincinnati.

CAROL ANN’S CAROUSEL IS HOME TO ONE OF PORKOPOLIS’S MANY FLYING PIGS.

You don’t have to be an architect to appreciate Cincinnati’s magnificent and distinctive architecture. It ranges from the largest collection (943 buildings) of Italianate architecture in America, located in Over-the-Rhine (OTR), Cincinnati’s oldest and most historic neighborhood...to the Art Deco Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel and the glass-walled Krohn Conservatory…to the 1867 John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge (the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge) that spans the Ohio River adjacent to the Daniel Libeskind 21st century Ascent.

ROEBLING SUSPENSION BRIDGE ADJACENT TO THE 21st CENTURY LIBESKIND ASCENT

Cincinnati’s architectural diversity is also reflected in two of the city’s renowned hotels. In stark contrast to the elegant 1931 Art Deco Netherland Plaza is the 21c (21st century) Museum Hotel that rises next to the stark, free-standing Zaha Hadid Contemporary Arts Center.

CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER DESIGNED BY THE LATE ZAHA HADID

21c Museum Hotel was founded by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, contemporary art collectors and preservationists who are committed to expanding access to thought-provoking contemporary art. This multi-venue modern museum hotel, rebuilt within the walls of the former 107-year-old Metropole Hotel, pushes the boundaries of both the museum and hotel worlds to create a new kind of travel experience. A waddle of yellow penguins greets visitors throughout the hotel – in the lobby, elevators, restaurant, and guest rooms.

PENGUINS MAKE STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

A group of red penguins was originally purchased by Brown and Wilson at the 2005 Venice Biennale. Not knowing what to do with these flightless birds when they returned home, the art collectors scattered them throughout (and on the rooftop of) their first 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Guests became so enamored with them that those iconic works of art are now the varied-color mascots of the rapidly expanding 21c hotel chain.

When the weather gets hot, cool off at the hotel’s rooftop Cocktail Terrace where even the drinks are whimsical. Pop-taiils are icy boozy drinks on a stick that are a throwback to the kid in all of us. They come in flavors like Strawberry Violet Pop (Vodka or Limoncello) and Peach Mango Pop (Los Monteros Cava).

POP-TAILS WITH A VIEW AT 21c’s ROOFTOP COCKTAIL TERRACE

Take time out for lunch at one of Cincinnati’s renowned Skyline Chile parlors. Mid-day, opt for a scoop of Graeter's renowned chunky chocolate chip ice cream. For an ethnic (Colombian) dinner treat, check out Mita’s,where award-winning chef Jose Salazar pays tribute to his mamita (the Spanish word for grandmother). In the tradition of Spanish-style dining, you will feast on “tapas” served in waves and meant for sharing. Be sure to include their signature Jicama and Green Mango salad, and a pitcher of red or white sangria, among your choices. Buen Provecho!

Not-to-be-missed stops should also be at Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest surviving municipal market and the 1933 Art Deco Union Terminal, one of the last great train stations built in the USA. Reborn as the Cincinnati Museum Center, it now is the home of four museums, an OMNIMAX Theater, and the Cincinnati HIstory Library and Archives. Its renowned mosaic murals depict the history of the United States from Native Americans to the modern citizen, and the history of the region from Fort Washington to the modern metropolis.

UNION TERMINAL: THE LARGEST HALF-DOME BUILDING IN WESTERN HEMISPHERE

Much of the city’s history can also be enjoyed from a self-guided street art tour of the murals on the facades of buildings in Downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine (OTR). ArtWorks' youthful apprentices and artists have turned bare walls into public masterpieces. Singer and actress Rosemary Clooney, whose early career was jump-started on Cincinnati’s WLW Radio, was chosen from a field of five remarkable women with connections to Cincinnati for the honor of appearing as an ArtWorks mural. Although the original 'girl singer’ was born in neighboring Maysville, Kentucky, Rosie Clooney will always belong to Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI, THE QUEEN CITY OF THE WEST, TRULY SINGS!

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

GO TO A GOLF RESORT, EVEN IF…..

2019-04-01T14:07:00.003-04:00

GO TO A GOLF RESORT, EVEN IF…..

By Janet Steinberg

Even if you hate the game… even if you’ve never played the game…even if you’ve always laughed at people whacking a little white ball over hill and vale…you should not pass up the chance to accompany a golf devotee on a getaway to a golf resort.

Even if you will never step foot on the green, (if you even know what a green is), you’re going to love it. So while your golfing companion swings away in drizzling rain or oppressive heat, you can be chilling out in in style at any one of the following resorts:

KOHLER, WISCONSIN…THE AMERICAN CLUB: The American dream...The American way…The American Club.

As long as there is an America, there will always be an American dream. Since the birth of our nation, immigrants have been coming to the United States in search of that dream. There was a time, some 100-plus years ago, when hundreds of those immigrants headed to Wisconsin where they could find work at the Kohler Company, manufacturers of state-of-the-art plumbing fixtures and faucets. These young immigrants lived in squalor in nearby Sheboygan.

Walter Kohler, third son of the Austrian immigrant founder of Kohler Co had his own American dream. He wanted his workers to maintain the work ethic and social graces that they had brought with them from 'the old country'. His visionary concept for a quality standard of living found concrete expression in the building of The American Club, dedicated June 1918.

THE WORLD-CLASS AMERICAN CLUB

The Tudor-style American Club is a world-class 5-star resort listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located 55 miles from Milwaukee, it might well be the best-kept secret in the Midwest. The golfer in the group will revel at four Pete Dye-designed championship golf courses at Whistling Straits (The Straits and the Irish) and at Blackwolf Run (The River and The Meadow Valleys).

SHEEP HAVE THEIR OWN THREESOME ON WHISTLING STRAITS' IRISH COURSE

For the non-golfer, The American Club offers a plethora of recreational and dining options …from cross-country skiing…to spa-ing…to shopping…to factory touring. At the Kohler Design Center you will be amazed, and amused, by Kohler’s own “great wall of china”, a floor-to-ceiling display of hundreds of plumbing fixtures in all shapes, sizes and colors.

KOHLER’S GREAT WALL OF CHINA

WEST BADEN SPRINGS, INDIANA…WEST BADEN SPRINGS HOTEL:

Forget the West Baden Springs Hotel of yore. More than a century, and half a billion dollars later, this 1902 hotel has been meticulously and elegantly restored as the upscale half of The French Lick Resort. When the hotel first opened, journalists proclaimed it the Eighth Wonder of the World. Saved from the brink of extinction, the West Baden Springs Hotel is no less a wonder today. West Baden’s extraordinary 1902 design included a breathtaking 6-story domed atrium and architectural elements that were modeled after the great spas of Europe.

DOMED ATRIUM FROM A BALCONY GUEST ROOM

Over a century later this National Historic Landmark is the reigning grande dame of the Midwest. The original massive Rookwood Pottery fireplace dominates the circular court and white wicker rocking chairs circle the hotel’s wrap-around veranda.

ORIGINAL ROOKWOOD POTTERY FIREPLACE

Relaxing in a rocker, overlooking the manicured grounds, one might become disturbed by a small symbol that is part of the design of the hunter green railing that surrounds the veranda. At the time the hotel was built, the symbol was associated with wholesomeness, well-being, good fortune, and renewal. It was a symbol appropriate to use in 1917 within the context of a health resort. However, World War II drastically changed the way in which that symbol was viewed by the world.

That symbol is the swastika!

Brass placards, intermittently placed around the railing, explain the swastika design with the following words: “The West Baden Springs Hotel veranda railing was constructed in 1902, long before the swastika symbol was used in WWII. Many cultures throughout the past 3000 years utilized the swastika symbol to represent life, sun, power, strength, and good luck.”

So just relax and rock away on the porch while your companion works his way around the 8102-yard Pete Dye course carved into a hillside that offers a variety of elevation changes and course terrain. Its narrow fairways and ever-changing bunkers are a challenge for even the best of players.

A bronze sculpture of Pete Dye stands in front of The Mansion Clubhouse. The plaque on an adjacent rock states Pete Dye’s feeling about the kind of golf course he built: “The ardent golfer,” stated Dye, “would play Mount Everest if somebody would put a flagstick on top…golf is not a fair game so why build a fair golf course”.

PETE DYE PROCLAIMS “GOLF IS NOT A FAIR GAME SO WHY BUILD A FAIR GOLF COURSE"

PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA…PINEHURST RESORT:

Well into her second century, the Grande Dame of North Carolina has undergone many facelifts. Yet she is still as lovely and charming as she was in her flaming youth. As in any successful transformation, her changes have been skillfully executed without altering the overall appearance of the patient.

Born on January 1, 1901 to wealthy Bostonian James Walker Tufts, she was originally named Carolina. At the beginning of 1974, her name was changed to Pinehurst in honor of the village in which she was born. The opulent Carolina Hotel opened January 1, 1901 with ten guests. By March, it was catering to 350 elite guests from the East, the South, and the Midwest. Today, the majestic Carolina Hotel with its signature copper cupola and sweeping verandas has been dubbed the “Queen of the South”.

THIS GRANDE DAME IS "THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH"

Encircling North Carolina’s largest frame hotel is an open porch lined with a raft of white wicker rocking chairs. Lazy white ceiling fans stir the clear Carolina air. Serene silence is disturbed only by the tinkle of an ice cube in a frosty mint julep.

Your golfing companion can spend an entire week challenging Pinehurst’s unique golf courses. Its eight courses make it the largest golf resort in America. Pinehurst’s #2, along with #8 and #4, are consistently ranked among the world's best courses. Sam Snead said, “I have always rated Pinehurst #2 as my #1 course.”

PINEHURST’S “PUTTER BOY” WAS SCULPTED AS A SUNDIAL IN 1912

While golf may be Pinehurst’s claim to fame, your sybaritic self can indulge in tennis, bicycling, boating, bowling, croquet, fishing, and spa-ing. A day spent at the Spa at Pinehurst is a day of renewing your soul and your spirit. The Pinehurst Signature Massage is pure tranquility. The Carolina Peach Nourisher, a full body exfoliation with a peach and pecan scrub, is followed by an application of peach-scented shea and mango butter that will leave you feeling, and smelling, like a peach noodle.

Dining at Pinehurst is another memorable activity. After dinner, nothing could be finer than a stroll in the quiet, genteel village where grand old homes and tree-shaded lanes reflect an old New England where time seems to have stood still. For more than a century, this wonder-filled resort, has taken its guests back to an era when elegance defined grand hotels… to a time when life wasn’t lived, it was played.

Some things never change. Aren’t you glad they don’t?

MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN …THE GRAND HOTEL:

Mackinac (pronounced Mac-ki-naw) is no ordinary island. An abundance of horse-drawn carriages await visitors to this island where motorized vehicles are not permitted. From the moment you step off the Mackinac Island ferry, you’ll know that you had not only stepped back in time, but you also will have lost all sense of time. A horse-drawn carriage, driven by a liveried coachman, will convey you to the Grand Hotel.

AN ELEGANT, LIVERIED HORSE-DRAWN “TAXI"

As you wind your way up the bluffs, the stunning Victorian architecture of the Grand Hotel takes you back to another century. And what a grand hotel it is! This circa 1887 island jewel, set on a bluff above the historic Straits of Mackinaw, might well be the most enchanting destination in Michigan.

THE HISTORIC GRAND HOTEL

The majestic 660-foot covered porch of this stately grande dame, bedecked with 43 white Grecian columns, 180 geranium-filled flower boxes and 88 rocking chairs, is pristine reminder of the elegance and glory of a bygone era.

660-FOOT PORCH, WINDING AROUND THE HOTEL, CLAIMS TO BE THE WORLD’S LARGEST PORCH

Once inside the Grand Hotel you will be immersed in the fantasy world of renowned designer Carleton Varney, one of America’s most renowned interior designers, dubbed “The Chagall of the Decorating World” because of his love of color. When a guest puts his key in the door, Varney wants the guest to say “WOW!” And “WOW!” it is.

While you are being wow-ed by Varney’s unique hotel, your golfing companion will be wow-ed by the hotel’s 18-hole Jewel Golf Course, one of the most unique golf courses in the country. The Jewel is comprised of two separate 9-hole courses, The Grand (across from the hotel with views of the Straits of Mackinac) and The Woods (in the interior of Mackinac Island with views of the Mackinac Bridge and the Upper Peninsula). The two courses are a mile and a half apart, making The Jewel the only course in the country with a scenic, 15-minute horse-drawn carriage ride between nines. Best golf cart ever!

JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer, and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in CINCINNATI, OHIO. She is the winner of 47 national Travel Writing Awards. TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JANET STEINBERG

DUBLIN: TREASURE IRELAND

2019-03-11T15:17:00.003-04:00

DUBLIN: TREASURE IRELAND

By Janet Steinberg

“In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty

I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone…..”

Just as the tragic ballad laments, there she stood greeting me at the top of Grafton Street.

In all her buxom bronze splendor, the 18^th-century fish-monger is still drawing a crowd to her wheel-barrow laden with cockles and mussels. Immortalized in 1988 by sculptor Jean Rynhart, Molly Malone has been affectionately, yet irreverently, dubbed by irrepressible Dubliners as “The Tart with the Cart”.

SWEET MOLLY MALONE

In contrast, across the road from this provocative pushcart peddler, is the staid campus of Trinity College. One of the main cultural, geographical, and social hubs of the city, Trinity College was founded in 1592. You may have to wait in line to view the illuminated Middle Ages manuscript known as “The Book of Kells”, but there is no wait to enjoy the splendor of the Henry Moore and Calder sculptures on the campus lawns.

CALDER’S ‘CACTUS PROVISOIRE’ AT FELLOWS' SQUARE, TRINITY COLLEGE

“Publand”, as Dublin is called, is home to 1000+ pubs and any true Dublinder can usually name hundreds of them. Dublin pubs exude history and culture. They are the places to celebrate or mourn…to relax or let off steam…or to just to hangout and socialize. The Brazen Head Pub is said to be ireland’s oldest pub. Originally a coach house built in 1754, this historic pub was established in 1198. If the time-worn walls could speak, they would have quite a tale to tell. The younger Stag’s Head Pub (Est. 1780) with its old wooden floor, marble columns, stained glass and stag’s head behind the bar, is alledgedly one of the most beautiful pubs in Dublin. John Kavanagh’s Pub (Est.1833), known as The Gravediggers, got its nickname because it is located right next to the historic Glasnevin Cemeterty. The gravediggers frequented the bar where they were given free pints as a thank you for the job they were doing.

One might say that Dublin begins at the O’Connell Bridge that spans the Liffey River. The Liffey flows through the center of town, separating the northern part of the city from the southern side. Standing on the O’Connell Bridge, in the shadow of Daniel O’Connell’s statue, one can gaze down the river at the rainbow-arched Ha’penny Bridge. This cast-iron pedestrian bridge, dating back to 1816, was officially named the Wellington Bridge. Its nickname was derived from the half-penny toll that was once charged to cross it.

HA’PENNY BRIDGE

In the 18^th and 19^th century, elegant Georgian mansions were built along the banks of the river. They soon stretched outward from the banks of the river. Today, a favorite tourist pastime is photographing the renowned “Doors Of Dublin”, beautiful fan-arched mansion doors that preen like peacocks for the clicking shutterbugs. The door at 46 Fitzwillilam Square claims to be the most photographed door in Dublin.

THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED DOOR IN DUBLIN

The 18^th century mansion at #1 Merrion Square was the childhood home of Oscar Wilde from 1855-1878. This magnificent Georgian home has been restored to its former glory and now part of the American College of Dublin. Across the street, in Merrion Park, a lifelike granite sculpture of Oscar Wilde reclines on a huge granite boulder. Pipe in hand, this devilish Dubliner is clad in a pink and green smoking jacket, blue slacks, black shoes, and silk socks so real looking that I had to touch them to believe they were made of granite. And that’s no blarney!

OSCAR WILDE IN ALL HIS GRANITE SPLENDOR

For what might well be Dublin’s best Fish and Chips (with minted mushy peas and chunky tartare sauce), head for The Cellar Bar, a gastro-pub in the 5-star Merrion Hotel. The Cellar Bar’s warm welcome is the perfect complement to a menu that celebrates the best of Irish cuisine. After hundreds of years of darkness and silence, the rough stone walls of Lord Mornington’s wine vault have come to life in the hotel’s Cellar Bar. The bar’s arches echo with ripples of warm laughter, and the amiable staff will “pull a proper pint” and teach you the difference between Guinness Stout and Smithwick’s Ale (an Irish Red Ale style beer also brewed by Guinness).

Opened in October, 1997, the magnificent Merrion Hotel was created within four lovingly restored 18^th Century terrace houses opposite the seat of the Irish Government on Upper Merrion Street. In fall and winter, the air in the gracious Drawing Room is filled with the scent of woodsmoke and flowers. Log fires crackle and sunbeams shine upon Belgian tapestries, French chandeliers, and priceless Irish paintings. In spring and summer the terrace is alive with ducks swimming to the music of water splashing on the pebbles in the garden pools. The scent of lilac and jasmine in the air drifts through the open windows of Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Ireland’s only Two Star Michelin restaurant, and the most renowned kitchen in Ireland.

MERRION HOTEL GARDEN

With the luck of the Irish, you will be able to leave lots of green when shopping on the Emerald Isle. Brown Thomas, Ireland's most beautiful lifestyle store on Grafton Street…Royal Hibernian Way, on the former site of the 2-centuries-old Royal Hibernian Hotel…and Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, named after the nearby St. Stephen’s Green park are good spots for shoppers. Look for Belleek Porcelains, Royal Tara China, Waterford Crystal, hand-woven tweeds and Irish linens. And don’t forget a leprechaun or two.

DON’T FORGET TO TAKE ONE OF ME HOME

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: A“NASH-IONAL” TREASURE

2019-02-25T17:10:00.002-05:00

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: A“NASH-IONAL” TREASURE By Janet Steinberg

Music City, U.S.A....that's where it’s.

Nashville's heart beats to music. Folk music that crossed the Smokies with early settlers…toe-tapping fiddle and banjo music…mournful hill ballads. The music of America…tunes that grew into down home "hillbilly" music that filled the barns and the countryside.

With the advent of The Grand Ole Opry and television, that music grew into a gentle, more sophisticated, country-western sound. Known as "The Nashville Sound", this music is loved throughout the world and earned Nashville its name: Music City, U.S.A.

Nashville, the progressive vital city with a colorful past and an exciting future, has something for everyone. From stately historical mansions and cultural landmarks to stark skyscrapers; from a mega-million dollar music industry to rolling hills and rambling horse farms; from Capitol Hill to 17 college campuses; from greens 'n hawg jawls to knishes , latkes , and filet mignon; from the Nashville Symphony and Ballet to the Grand Ole Opry.

FROM STARK SKYSCRAPERS TO HONKY-TONK HEAVEN IN DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE

"The Grand Ole Opry is as simple as sunshine," said George D. Hay, 'The Solemn Old Judge' and founder of the Grand Ole Opry. "It has a universal appeal because it is built upon good will, and with folk music expresses the heart-beat of a large percentage of Americans who labor for a living."

On November 28, 1925, Uncle Jimmy Thompson, who claimed he could "fiddle the bugs off a 'tater vine," stepped up to the microphone and struck the first lively notes of the "WSM Barn Dance".

Two years later, 'The Solemn Old Judge' accidently gave the show its permanent name. He opened the WSM Country Music Show, which followed a program of classical music, with his now-famous ad-libbed words: "For the past hour you've been listening to Grand Opera. Now we will present Grand Ole Opry!" That was the beginning of the world's oldest continuing radio program in existence.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world travel to Music City U.S.A. to see The Opry in the world's largest broadcasting studio. The Grand Ole Opry House seats 4000 people in air-conditioned comfort, with standing room available for an additional 200 fans. On March 16, 1974, The Grand Ole Opry House was dedicated as the home of American Music by then-President Richard M. Nixon.

THE GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE

The Opry entertains America with a spontaneous, unpretentious happening. Its down-to-earth music is telling life's harsh story. It is true that no single Grand Ole Opry performance ever happens twice. But it is not true that the show has not been carefully programmed or well planned. A dedicated staff spends long exacting hours making sure the world's greatest country music show flows smoothly 52 weeks of the year.

Each Grand Ole Opry show is unique and spontaneous, but each show is also steeped in tradition. The brown circle of wood in the center of the stage was taken from the Opry's former home, the Ryman Auditorium. And every star can stand in the same spot as Opry stars have done for so many years.

Ryman Auditorium, dubbed the "Mother Church of Country Music" was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1941-1974. The large red brick structure was built in 1891 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle for religious revival meetings. After a multi-million dollar renovation, this Nashville landmark has once again taken center stage as a premier performance facility.

RYMAN AUDITORIUM

In 2001, The Country Music Hall Of Fame moved into a symbolic building with architectural and structural elements that tell a musical story. Windows resemble piano keys; the Rotunda tower is a replica of the WSM radio tower; disc-shaped tiers of the Rotunda’s roof evoke the evolution of recording media; and stone bars on the outside wall symbolize the musical notes of the classic Carter Family song “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”.

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

For culture of a different nature you can visit the Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson's former home; the Parthenon, a full-size replica of the ancient Parthenon in Greece; Cheekwood, the 1920's Georgian mansion that is now the Museum of Art; and Belle Meade Plantation, the "Queen of Tennessee Plantations”.

NASHVILLE’S REPLICA OF THE GREEK PARTHENON IN CENTENNIAL PARK

Opryland Hotel, built in 1977 and containing approximately 3000 rooms is an attraction in and of itself. Born to a grand tradition, the hotel recreates an old Southern lodging. The Grand Lobby, with its huge staircase, golden chandelier and wood-burning twin fireplaces, welcomes you to Tennessee hospitality at its finest.

In June 1996, Opryland Hotel introduced a 4.5-acre interiorscape called "The Delta" complete with a river system with guided boats, shops, and approximately 20 dining and drinking options. Today there are 9 acres of lush, indoor gardens and cascading waterfalls. Opening on December 1, 2018 is SoundWaves, an upscale water experience featuring 4 acres of combined indoor & outdoor water attractions.

INDOOR GARDENS AND CASCADING WATERFALLS WITHIN OPRYLAND HOTEL

If you care to dine outside the confines of this humongous compound, try some unbridled barbeque at the 66,000 square-foot Wildhorse Saloon. This mecca of Country Dance in America literally began with a stampede of wild horses through the streets of Music City on June 1, 1994. Two must-see stops are the renowned Bluebird Cafe and Tootsies’ Orchid Lounge.

THE RENOWNED BLUEBIRD CAFE

The Bluebird Cafe, a Nashville classic, is where young star-seeking songwriters tout their tunes as you dine. Willie Nelson received his first songwriting gig after singing at Tootsies, the 58-year old honky-tonk bar in downtown Nashville.

TOOTSIES ORCHID LOUNGE

If shopping is an integral part of your travels, you'll have fun in Nashville. Items associated with Music City, such as vintage records, cowboy boots and musical instruments, are plentiful.

FOR GUITARS FOR EVERY TASTE AND POCKET BOOK

However, no one should leave Nashville without buying some chocolate-covered, peanut-caramel Goo Goo Clusters. Made in Nashville since 1912, they are part of the Music City experience. Legend has it that the candy was named Goo Goo because it’s the first thing a baby says, and this Southern treat is so good people will ask for it from birth.

Good music, good food, good shopping, good people and good times are all in abundance in Music City, U.S.A. As a confirmed “Nash-ionalist”, I recommend y'all try it. You'll have a Goo Goo good time!

JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer, and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in CINCINNATI, OHIO. She is the winner of 47 national Travel Writing Awards.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JANET STEINBERG

ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR

2019-02-04T16:32:00.001-05:00

ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR

By Janet Steinberg

“The meeting of two personalities

Is like the contact of two chemical substances:

If there is any reaction, both are transformed.”

Carl Gustav Jung-1933

Cupid is coming. Champagne, roses and chocolate-covered strawberries! As Valentine’s Day approaches, love is in the air. The poetess Elizabeth Barrett Browning asked: “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Ask yourself: “How do I count the places where I can celebrate love?”

RECIPE FOR ROMANCE: JUST ADD ROSES AND CHOCOLATES

North or south, snow or sun? Whether you want to snuggle up to a cozy fireplace when the weather outside is frightful, or slip away for a stroll on a pink sand beach, there is a place for every type of romantic on Valentine’s Day. Mull over these romantic inspirations for your next amorous getaway.

HIGHLANDS, NORTH CAROLINA: For an irresistible romantic getaway there is nothing like the magic of mountains in the winter. Old Edwards Inn, the meandering mountain resort that graces the scenic Southwestern Plateau of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, has consistently been voted a top travel destination for its accommodations, its food, its spa and its relaxing, romantic atmosphere.The rose petals we found scattered on our bed can attest to that.

ROSE PETALS EXUDE ROMANCE

For 30-minutes in the award-winning spa, you and your sweetie can embark on a journey of sensation with a Blue Ridge Rain Forest Couple’s Body Treatment. After applying aromatic body wash, cleansing scrubs and detoxifying mud in an exotic steam chamber, you will enter the Rainforest Rejuvenation Room that produces an intermittent steam and rain shower rinse with pulse-point water massage. Then head to the spa’s lounge for a glass of bubbly before a blazing fire.

FOLLOWING A RAIN FOREST TREATMENT, RELAX IN THE SPA LOUNGE

PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS: Two bridges connect the frenzied city of Nassau (on the main island of New Providence) with a tranquil ribbon of white sand that is the location of The Ocean Club on the north shore of Paradise Island. Under the deep blue of an endless Bahamian sky, wrapped in the turquoise waters of an exuberant sea is the Ocean Club, once the private estate of Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company heir Huntington Hartford II.

AN ENDLESS BLUE SKY AND TURQUOISE WATER FOR TWO

Today, this romantically alluring 105-room beachfront hideaway reflects the glamorous ambience of a posh grand colonial manor. Expansive manicured lawns and towering coconut palms provide an enchanting backdrop to the pristine beaches of The Ocean Club. A round of golf at the Ocean Club Golf Course should be followed by a restorative treatment in one of the Balinese-style spa villas in this idyllic setting where OO7’s “Casino Royale” was filmed. When day is done, head to the Martini Bar Lounge for a 007-style nightcap…shaken not stirred, of course.

EXQUISITE MANICURED GARDENS OF THE OCEAN CLUB

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND: This beautifully preserved walking-city with an architectural tapestry dating back to the 17^th century is one of the most romantic cities on the East coast. Founded in 1639 by a group of dissidents seeking religious and political freedom, it pays homage to the past as it celebrates the present. Newport became a summer refuge for the nation’s elite. Their “summer cottages” were, in reality, the grandest of grand mansions that outdid one another. Newport’s mansions permit visitors to peek into the Gilded Age that was experienced at the dawn of the 20^th century.

THE CHANLER AT CLIFF WALK WAS ORIGINALLY A 19TH CENTURY MANSION

The Chanler at Cliff Walk, a romantic 20-room hotel housed in a 19th century mansion, is the quintessential romantic retreat into a world of timeless, tranquil elegance. The Chanler is the only hotel located on Newport's dramatic 3.5 mile Cliff Walk. Stroll hand-in-hand through history on Newport’s famed Cliff Walk. Paved walkways and stone paths wind along the island’s southeastern edge, bordered on one side by the massive “summer cottages” of America’s turn-of-the-century elite and on the other by granite cliffs and pounding surf of the Atlantic.

ONE-OF-A-KIND ROMANTIC BEDROOMS AT THE CHANLER

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro, Brazeeeeel. Like a sensual woman, the mere mention of her name connotes romance and excitement. You may have to travel a bit farther, but as winter storms pummel the north you will revel in a sun-filled stay in Brazil’s Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City), unquestionably one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. It is a city back-dropped by Corcovado (The `Hunchback), and Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf), the rocky mountain resembling a conical loaf of refined sugar.

TIARA-LIKE SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN REIGNS SUPREME IN RIO

There is nothing more romantic than a handholding stroll along Rio’s Ipanema Beach, an umbrella-studded stage where fantasies come alive. Without even trying, women are transformed into the legendary “Girl from Ipanema”. Okay, okay! So they may have more wrinkles than that legendary girl, and they may not wear a “dental floss” bikini. But who’s going to argue with any woman of a certain age who is in love.

THERE’S NO BEACH LIKE A RIO BEACH

JANET STEINBERG resides in Cincinnati but call the world home. She is the winner of 47 national Travel Writing Awards.

MOST MEMORABLE BARS…BAR NONE!

2019-01-21T13:12:00.001-05:00

By Janet Steinberg

Tavern…lounge…pub…café…saloon. Call it what you may, a bar by any other name is still a bar.

Sometimes, a low-key, down-home beer joint can be just what the doctor ordered. Other times you might crave the serene atmosphere of a ritzy cocktail lounge. In addition to an affable bartender and the proper knowledge of the art of mixology, a touch of history can also contribute to the factors that make a bar memorable. Here are a few of the places where you can find some of the world’s most memorable watering holes.

NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND is a beautifully preserved walking-city with an architectural tapestry dating back to the 17th century. You can stroll through history on Newport’s dramatic 3.5 mile Cliff Walk where paved walkways and stone paths wind along the island’s southeastern edge. The Cliff Walk is bordered on one side by the massive mansions (aka “summer cottages”) of America’s turn-of-the-century elite and on the other by granite cliffs and pounding surf. Paying homage to the past as it celebrates the present, this “Sailing Capital of the World” is home to THE WHITE HORSE TAVERN, the oldest bar (1673) in America. in its early pirate days, Newport was one of the rum capitals of the United States. The Dark and Stormy (non-alcoholic ginger beer topped off with Gosling's Dark Rum and a lime wedge) is the tavern’s signature drink.

WHITE HORSE TAVERN HAS WITNESSED ITS SHARE OF AMERICAN HISTORY

SINGAPORE, the city/state/island colonized by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, is a study in contrasts. It is a tropical paradise brimming with towering skyscrapers and old Chinese shophouses. It is the clamor of commerce and the tranquility of vast parklands. It is a "computer-age city where the age-old abacus is never far from hand." Once shrouded in mystery, Singapore's dynamic present has been magically melded with her fabled past. Nineteenth-century, reverential temples coexist with modern skyscrapers. Rickshaws and Rolls Royces share cobbled lanes and concrete ribbons. Although the Singapore of the 21st century is no longer the romantic Singapore of Rudyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham, an exotic Asia is still in evidence in this high-tech, immaculate city lying just over one-degree north of the Equator. Raffles, the famed French Renaissance-style hotel (1887), to which thousands of visitors to "Lion City" flock each day, is home to THE LONG BAR where the renowned pink Singapore Sling was concocted in 1915 by bar captain Ngiam Tong Boon. The bar’s earthy interior is reminiscent of a Malayan plantation in the 1920s. Sipping this fruity gin-based cocktail at its birthplace is a travel rite of passage and a must for any reveler’s bucket list.

HAVE A SINGAPORE SLING/FLING, AT RAFFLES

FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY opens up the door to Kentucky history. And Frankfort’s Serafini Restaurant & Bar opens up the door to the best ever Fried Green Tomatoes, with Roasted Tomato Jam and a Balsamic reduction. Serafini’s elegant proprietor Wayne Masterson is the restaurateur often selected to orchestrate Kentucky State Dinners. However, it was the affable manager/bartender Carlos Ceballos, black-aproned behind the SERAFINI BAR, who poured me my first tastes of Kentucky Moonshine with names like Buffalo Trace White Dog, Devil John No. 9, Jim Beam Jacob’s Ghost and MBR Blackdog. Frankly, I’ll just stick to plain old bourbon!

AFFABLE BARTENDER CARLOS MAKES A GREAT EVENING GREATER

VENICE, ITALY is the legendary city where more tourists ask directions to HARRY'S BAR than to the Piazza San Marco. Harry's Bar--the one and only original Harry's Bar--is not your ordinary watering hole. It is a fashionable haunt frequented by celebrities, royalty, locals, and tourists. It is quite possibly the most famous bar in the world. Whether you're properly seated at a square table covered in elegantly simple Frette linen, or hanging off a bar stool with the rest of the beautiful people, (jean-clad or sable-swathed, it makes no difference) chances are you'll be sipping the bar's liquid trademark...the Bellini. This ethereal concoction was created by Giuseppe Cipriani who founded Harry's Bar in Venice in 1931. The Bellini is a magical blend of white peach juice, sugar and sparkling Italian Prosecca wine (often mistakenly dubbed champagne). At Harry’s Bar, unlike other bars, your Bellini will not come in a champagne flute. It is served in an 8-ounce glass with the image of a bartender and cocktail shaker etched on it. It is a pricey drink, but it is part of the quintessential Venice experience.

HARRY’S BAR...HOME OF THE ORIGINAL BELLINI

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK and the classic movie Hans Christian Andersen are practically synonymous. And who can ever forget actor Danny Kaye singing: “Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen, friendly old girl of a town...’Neath her tavern light, on this merry night, let us clink and drink one down…” Nor will I ever forget my first drink at the ICEBAR in Copenhagen. Not only did I ‘clink and drink one down’, but I clinked and drank one down very, very quickly. Why quickly, you might ask? Because the temperature in the bar in which I was imbibing was a crisp 23-degrees Farenheit. It was a pure, 100% authentic, Icebar! Before chilling out in the Icebar, I donned a bright blue cape and mittens trimmed in snowy white faux fur. After being garbed for my Arctic adventure, I was escorted into an air lock and the door closed behind me. Then, voila, the door into the Icebar opened. Lo and behold, there it was. An entire room crafted of ice from the Torne River in Swedish Lapland… the walls, the bar, the tables, the booths, and hundreds of glasses…all produced from clear, pure, Arctic river water.

ICE GLASSES ARE LINED UP ON A PURE 100% AUTHENTIC ICEBAR

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE is a “Nash-ional” treasure. Nashville's heart beats to music. Folk music that crossed the Smokies with early settlers…toe-tapping fiddle and banjo music…mournful hill ballads…tunes that grew into down home "hillbilly" music that filled the barns and the countryside. With the advent of The Grand Ole Opry, that music grew into a gentle, more sophisticated country-western sound. Known as "The Nashville Sound", this music is loved throughout the world and earned Nashville its name: Music City, USA. Nashville’s BLUEBIRD CAFÉ is an intimate, 90-seat, full-bar, music venue where you might chose a local craft beer (such as Jackalope, Wiseacre or Yazoo) as songwriters and artists perform their music. This unassuming, world-renowned Nashville classic, located in a small strip mall outside of downtown Nashville, helped launch the careers of many country stars—including Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift. Over 70,000 people visit the venue annually.

MUSICIANS PLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE ICONIC BLUEBIRD CAFÉ

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

BRIGHT IS BEAUTIFUL: COLORFUL PLACES

2019-01-08T16:12:00.000-05:00

By Janet Steinberg

Color plays an important role in our lives. It can stir our emotions, make us happy or sad, subtly influence our choices, give insight to our personality, effect our mood or enhance our appearance. It can even play a role in our travels. No matter how tired we are…or how bored we might be at the moment…when something colorful pops up, so do we! Come with me to some of my favorite colorful places.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: LA BOCA, once the home of Italian immigrants and fishermen is now an artists' community with corrugated tin and wood houses in a riotous splash of color. Resembling something that Van Gogh might have done during one of his manic phases, La Boca is the city's most picturesque place.

LA BOCA NEIGHBORHOOD

When it comes to color in La Boca, it is not just limited to houses. The shops are colorful…

COLORFUL SHOP IN LA BOCA

…and so is the soccer stadium.

EXTERIOR MURAL ON THE BLUE AND GOLD SOCCER STADIUM

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK: Velkommen til Copenhagen. (Welcome to Copenhagen.) Wonderful wonderful Copenhagen…one of the loveliest capitals in Europe and home of the colorful TIVOLI GARDENS, the world's first theme park. Founded in 1843, some 300 million people have since passed through its gates. No plastic or neon lights are allowed in this beloved fairy tale garden. Music, rides and the colorful Tivoli Boys Guard are part of the entertainment. Added to that are splendid fireworks displays,t he three-story Tivoli Museum, and a plethora of restaurants, cafes and cafeterias.

RESTAURANT IN THE COLOR-FILLED TIVOLI GARDENS

The charming Dutch island of CURACAO (pronounced CURE-a-sow) is considered one of the best islands in the Caribbean. The immaculate streets are lined with authentic narrow-gabled, red tile-roofed houses reminiscent of 17th century Holland and storybook buildings painted every color but white. The 5-block, pastel-painted PUNDA area of Willemstad offers a variety of shops.

THE PASTEL-PAINTED PUNDA AREA OF WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning. The city, serenely located at the tip of a peninsula formed by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, is known for its rich history, well-preserved architecture, a celebrated restaurant community and mannerly people. Local lore has it that the two rivers meet in Charleston Harbor to form the Atlantic Ocean. Quintessential exaggeration, but fun! With its rich 300-year history, Charleston (locals drop the “r” and pronounce it Chows-ton) may well be America's most beautifully preserved architectural and historical treasure.

RAINBOW ROW is the area named for a series of thirteen colorful historic houses on East Bay Street. This picturesque section of town got its name from the pastel colors in which the homes were painted. Rainbow Row represents the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the United States.

RAINBOW ROW IN CHARLESTON SC

HAMILTON, BERMUDA is the globally sophisticated, yet down-home, warm and fuzzy capital city of Bermuda. FRONT STREET, facing the harbour, is a magical mélange of jewel-toned buildings housing shops, bar and restaurants. Contrary to common errors, Bermuda is a secluded paradise in the Atlantic Ocean (not the Caribbean), some 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Actually, this 21-square mile area, which we collectively call the island of Bermuda, is a chain of approximately 138 small islands, connected by causeways and bridges. And, contrary to another misconception, the Bermuda islands are quite different from the Caribbean islands. They are less tropical, cleaner, more formal and more expensive. If it's reggae and beach barbecues you crave, head for the Caribbean. But if you desire superb golfing, fine shopping, gourmet dining, pristine pink beaches, and upscale hotels on a manicured island, Bermuda is for you.

JEWEL-TONED BUILDINGS ON HAMILTON’S FRONT STREET

PARINTINS BOI-BUMBÁ FESTIVAL, in the fun-loving country of Brazil, is a combination of theater, music and dance. Second only to Carnival in Rio, this popular annual celebration in the Amazon River port town of Parintins is an elaborate blend of feathers, floats, and folklore. A visit to a FLOAT FACTORY is an interesting behind-the scenes look at this colorful cultural event.

PARINTINES FLOAT FACTORY

The late JEAN CLAUDE NOVARO (1943-2014) was a world–renowned glassblower named in the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the largest hand-blown work ever. His unique techniques, that created some of the world's finest glass sculptures, included spraying liquid gold into glass and hand painting or inserting 24-karat old leaf between layers of blown glass. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nice, France commissioned him to create a piece for the Arrivals Lounge at the Nice airport. Art connoisseurs around the globe prize his work. Listed among the many past acquirers of Novaro glass art are such names as Prince Albert II of Monaco, Robert De Niro, Alain Ducasse and Frank Sinatra.

NOVARO SCULPTURE IN NICE, FRANCE AIRPORT

JANET STEINBERG is the winner of 47 national Travel Writing Awards and is a Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in Mariemont, Ohio.

TWELVE OF 2018’s FAVORITE THINGS

2018-12-10T13:30:00.001-05:00

By Janet Steinberg

My travel experiences are like my children…I love them all. I have no favorites. However, I must confess, every once in a while even one of my children does something that becomes a favorite.

It’s the same with travel. On every trip… in every article I write…there are always some favorites. So, from my 2018 articles, in keeping with the 12 days of Christmas, here are 12 of my favorite things.

GLACIER: A magical cruise to Chile’s Laguna San Rafael Glacier is one of the most breathtaking sites in South America…a kaleidoscope of the stunning artistry of Mother Nature. This awesome wall of ice is a brilliant spectacle played out in hues of blue and white. The thundering chunks of ice that calved into the lake might well have been crystal sculptures by Lalique, or a pate de verre gem executed by Daum Crystal. Magnifico!

CHILE’S LAGUNA SAN RAFAEL GLACIER

SUNSET: Mother Nature wears her colors, and paints her pictures, in a myriad of colors. But none are more universal, and more perfect, than when she yields her brush to paint a sunset. She does this around the world every day, as the trailing edge of the Sun's disk disappears below the horizon. The sunset in Fortaleza, Brazil, one of the most beautiful ever, creates intense orange, yellow and red colors of the sun and surrounding sky as it prepares to sink below the horizon.

BRAZILIAN SUNSET

FRIEND: Kalimera! (Good morning) was my greeting from an adorable elderly man in Mykonos Greece. My reply of Efharisto (Thank you) and my best smile made us instant best friends. And without either of us able to converse verbally, we managed to communicate a bit about his beautiful whitewashed island. From my charismatic new best friend (whose name I do not even know) I learned where to go for the best coffee, honey-drenched baklava and ouzo (an anise-flavored aperitif widely consumed in Greece).

MY NEW BEST FRIEND IN GREECE

CITY: Chaotic and crowded Cairo, Egypt is one of the most exciting and exotic capitals in the world. The largest city on the African continent, Cairo is so vibrantly alive that even the most jaded traveler must yield to its magic. Arriving in Cairo is like falling through the looking glass and ending up in history. Cairo’s over-all flavor is still very much that of the Middle East. Egyptians in their flowing galabeyas and traditional black robes often make their past seem more vividly alive than their present. The Pyramids of Giza exude an excitement just by the very virtue of being there. They have been considered to be the greatest of the Ancient Seven Wonders of the World…that they alone would survive the passing of time. “He who has not seen Cairo,” said a traveler of old, “has not seen the world.“

EGYPT’S PYRAMIDS OF GIZA

CONTINENT: To cruise Antarctica, the most eerily beautiful continent on earth you will go below the Equator and beneath the Tropic of Capricorn. Having sailed the dreaded Drake Passage and crossed the Antarctic Convergence, you will then come to the bottom of the world… to the most hostile continent on earth. This barren, white continent, that thrills the imagination and overwhelms the senses, is a continent of superlatives. While it is the most forbidding, most inaccessible land on earth, it is also the most majestic and most pristine. This harshest, most inhospitable land is also the coldest, the windiest, the highest and the driest. Antarctica, a land of endless ice shelves, is truly the greatest show on ice.

SUMMER ATTIRE IN ANTARCTICA

FOREIGN MUSEUM: From a distance, the splendid bizarrely shaped $100-million Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art in Bilbao, Spain looked like a massive steel sculpture. Renowned architect Frank Gehry described his limestone and titanium masterpiece as a ship that has run aground. The museum, opened in 1997, reflects Bilbao's heritage with its suggestion of maritime shapes and sails. Others have likened the silhouette of Bilbao’s Guggenheim to a roller coaster, a mermaid, a waterfall a hula girl, and a fish. The building is covered with over 35,000 titanium tiles and pieces of glass strategically placed to catch the natural light. Maman, Louise Bourgeois' huge bronze spider, stands in front of the museum.

GEHRY AND BOURGEOIS MASTERPIECES IN BILBAO, SPAIN

DOMESTIC MUSEUM: Neil Armstrong, the first civilian astronaut and the first man on the moon, was a native son of Wapakoneta. The Armstrong Air and Space Museum features many one-of-a-kind artifacts. Opened on the third anniversary of the lunar landing (July 20, 1972), the museum was designed to resemble a futuristic moon base. This moon-like structure, that seems to be rising out of Interstate I-75, is a beautiful site to behold, whether gleaming in the sunlight, or at dusk and nightfall when the dome glows white.

WAPAKONETA, OHIO’S TRIBUTE TO NATIVE SON NEIL ARMSTRONG

VOW RENEWAL: After 35-years of marriage, passenger Barry planned to surprise his wife Susan with a vow renewal party during a Silversea cruise. After a bit of socializing in a private lounge, the Social Director invited Barry and a surprised Susan to the front of the room. “We are gathered here”, the social director began, “to witness the renewal of the Wedding Vows of Susan and Barry who stand before us. They, nor we, are the same people we were years ago. Time has brought experience, growth and maturity, so it is fitting from time to time husbands and wives renew the promises of loyalty and love that began their married life ….” The ship’s captain had the couple repeat their vows. First, tears…then smiles…and then the kiss! Corks popped from bottles of Dom Perignon, bubbly flowed, and luscious hors d’oeuvres were served.

FLORIDA COUPLE RENEW THEIR WEDDING VOWS ON THE HIGH SEAS

COOL POOL: Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents (Europe and Asia) and is embraced by two seas (Aegean and Black) and the connecting Bosporus Strait. The regal Ciragan Palace Hotel, situated on the European shores of the Bosporus and overlooking the ancient city of Istanbul, allows one to fantasize about the luxury and glamour of living in a genuine Ottoman Palace. With its splendid style, superb location, fascinating view, and resort ambiance, the hotel gives its guests an unforgettable stay in an enchanting, mystical city where East meets West, Europe meets Asia, and the past meets the present. The Ciragan Palace Hotel’s infinity swimming pool, heated year-round, appears to overflow into the Bosporus.

INFINITY POOL AT CIRAGAN PALACE IN ISTANBUL, TURKEY

SCULPTURE: The Sibelius Monument, honoring Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, was unveiled in 1967. It is composed of 527 silver steel pipes. To some viewers, it is reminiscent of organ pipes and Sibelius's beloved birch trees. To others, its silvery pipes “reflect the change of season and light, echoing birds' song, sighing in the sea breeze and resonating furiously during a storm”. A bust of the composer sits on a nearby wall. Located in Sibelius Park, the monument site is a place for strolling, resting on nearby benches, or posing for pictures beneath the tubes.

SIBELIUS MONUMENT IN HELSINKI, FINLAND

CEMETERY: Fairview Lawn, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is perhaps best known as the final resting place for one hundred and twenty-one victims of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. One of the first victims to be carried to his grave at Fairview Lawn was a small, unidentified baby boy. A haunting tombstone marks his grave. While the Cunard liner Carpathia was taking survivors to New York, 209 of the dead were brought to Halifax. Fifty-nine of those bodies were shipped home to relatives, but 150 were buried in three Halifax cemeteries. There were 10 graves at the Jewish Baron de Hirsch Cemetery; 19 at the Catholic Mount Olivet Cemetery; and 121 at the non-denominational Fairview Lawn.

GRAVE OF UNKNOWN CHILD WHO DIED ON THE TITANIC

GARDEN: Seeing is believing at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. It's hard to believe that this explosion of blossoms and manicured lawns was once an abandoned limestone quarry. Butchart's incredible gardens are rated among the most beautiful in the world. Flowers in a rainbow of brilliant colors have transformed a rocky quarry into a magnificent Sunken Garden. Lacquered bridges cross tiny streams in the serene authentic Japanese Garden, fountains jet to heights of eighty feet and waterfalls cascade down steep walls. Striking displays of floral splendor, accented by hundreds of hidden lights, transform the gardens into a veritable fairyland.

EXQUISITE BUTCHART GARDENS WAS ONCE A LIMESTONE QUARRY

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

THERE’S SNOW PLACE LIKE FLORIDA FOR THE HOLIDAYS

2018-12-03T13:21:00.003-05:00

By Janet Steinberg

You may not have a white Christmas, but you will have a bright one. You may not have icicles cascading from the trees and a snowman on your lawn, but you will have twinkling palm trees and Santa on the sand. Florida during the holiday season is everything you might expect up north…sans the freezing weather. And, if you can plan to be there a week or so before Christmas, you will have it all at a cost that is considerably less than after the “Social Season” begins around December 20^th.

There are a myriad of great cities in Florida, but for now let’s have a look at some of what Florida’s West Coast has to offer.

NAPLES, the well-planned city nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and the Everglades, is light years away from the glitz and glitter of some other parts of South Florida. With its white sandy beaches, cool winter breezes and dreamy sunsets, Naples celebrates the season with the timeless traditions of Christmas tree lightings, Christmas parades, Christmas Lights at Victoria Park and the Nutcracker at Artis-Naples, the premier center for the arts in Southwest Florida.

CHRISTMAS PAST AT THE INN ON FIFTH IN NAPLES

One of the most unique holiday events that come to Naples is Tuba Christmas. Since 1974, this event has paid tribute to William J. Bell, a famous tuba teacher who was born on Christmas Day. Tuba Christmas showcases the tuba and the euphonium (the smaller version of a tuba). Unofficially, children create their own white Christmas by making the fountain in front of the Inn on Fifth bubble over with white soapsuds. The Inn on Fifth in downtown Naples offers the peaceful intimacy and charming details of a boutique inn, along with the indulgences of a luxurious resort getaway. The Inn on Fifth is located on Naples’ famous Fifth Avenue, a picturesque area rich with arts, shopping dining, and it’s just a short walk from the sandy shores and sparkling waters of Naples’ beaches.

A BUBBLY WHITE CHRISTMAS

BOCA GRANDE connected to the mainland by a short toll causeway, is a slice of “Old Florida” on Gasparilla Island. This sleepy town founded by the Dupont family as a playground for the rich and famous, has managed to maintain its quaint fishing village atmosphere despite a surge in development around it. Upscale, but laid back, Boca Grande is down-home luxury personified. It is the epitome of understated elegance where VIPs (Very Important People) call the show-offs PIPs (Previously Important People). It is an idyllic retreat where residents park their Mercedes and Jaguars in front of Whidden’s Sea Food Market, a tin-roofed shack in total disarray, while they line up to purchase the fresh catch of the day.

WHIDDEN’S SEA FOOD MARKET

Visitors spend their nights at the island’s classic accommodation, the historic Gasparilla Inn & Club built in 1912 as a stylish resort for the upper class. And the Gasparilla remains just that. During high season, it is one of the few remaining bastions of civility where gentlemen still wear a coat and tie to dinner.

THE CLASSIC GASPARILLA INN

It is a place where time stands still; where gentle Gulf breezes carry a quiet air of graciousness and gentility; where croquet is played on back lawns; and tea is served in salons. The Inn’s “Twelve Days of Christmas” offers a different theme on each of the 12 days. Festive decorations, cheerful caroling, classic holiday movies and gingerbread house decorating are a few of the events that spark holiday magic.

TIME SEEMS TO STAND STILL AT THE GASPARILLA INN

CAPTIVA ISLAND has a little chapel that claims to have an internationally recognized Christmas Eve service that exudes the meaningful significance of the season. Captiva Chapel By The Sea, where all are welcome regardless of their religious beliefs, is an interdenominational ministry serving South West Florida's winter season. This historic church, bathed in holiday lights during the season, is recognized in the National Register of Historic Places. You can be part of a Captiva Chapel by the Sea Christmastime tradition by hanging a wreath on the walls of the little church, in memory and celebration of a loved one. The name on your wreath will then be shared in prayer during the worship service on the Sunday before Christmas.

The Mucky Duck, reminiscent of an old English Pub, is in the heart of downtown Captiva where the sun sets nightly and the beer flows freely. Smack on the sugar white sand of Captiva Island, in front of the Mucky Duck, is a lone Christmas tree, awaiting the mighty sunset that sends off the Florida sun as it sinks into the Gulf of Mexico.

A LONE CHRISTMAS TREE AWAITS THE SUNSET ON THE BEACH AT THE MUCKY DUCK

The Bubble Room, born in 1979 on its present site on Captiva Island, had a very modest beginning of just a few tables in the front room of the home of the Farqhuarson family. Today’s famous multi- theme restaurant slowly took shape. Starting with old toys from the 1930’s and 1940’s as its décor in the one room, the collecting began and has continued to the present day. With the addition of the many Father Christmases, the Elf Room and year round Christmas lights, “its always Christmas at the Bubble Room”.

IT’S ALWAYS CHRISTMAS AT THE BUBBLE ROOM

ST. PETE BEACH, with miles of beaches, surf shops and boutiques, along with a vast array of lodging, dining and water sports for all ages, was voted TripAdvisor’s No. 7 Beach in the U.S. in 2018. St. Pete Beach’s shores, a magical expanse of sand, include the longest undeveloped stretch of public beach in the county at Pass-a-Grille Beach.

Most people picture Christmas in shades of red and green. However, try picturing it in shades of hot pink. You'll be tickled pink as you cross the causeway and catch your first glimpse of "The Pink Palace". Majestically poised, like a pink-iced wedding cake on the sandy shores of St. Pete Beach, the 1920’s Don CeSar is the crowning glory of Florida's Gulf Coast. Affectionately dubbed “The Don”, the hotel's pink exterior is reminiscent of the rosy lime and mortar mixture the builder Thomas Rowe observed as a child in Ireland. The hot pink color, known as "Don CeSar Rouge" is maintained partly to retain the Don's stature as an historic landmark in the National Register of Historic Places.

A HOT PINK CHRISTMAS AT THE DON CESAR

Holiday season in St. Pete Beach is twinkling palm trees, decorated boat parades, outdoor carolers at the holiday market and a jingle bell fishing tournament with Santa. The people on St. Pete Beach even promise to show you that fake snow might just be better than the real thing. The nearby Clearwater Marine Aquarium transforms into Winter's Wonderland, complete with lights, Christmas décor and a splashingly great holiday celebration!

YOUNG-AT-HEART- BEAUTY EMBRACES A FAUX SANTA AT THE DON

So shove those boots and earmuffs back into the closet and head south for some heart-stirring holiday memories. There’s snow place like Florida for the holidays.

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

THIS THANKSGIVING FORGET THE KITCHEN

2018-11-19T08:49:00.002-05:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

That most wonderful time of the year is rolling around. Thanksgiving, the favorite holiday of many, is a time to count your blessings. And one of Thanksgiving’s best blessings is when you can forget about those hours spent drudging in the kitchen and let someone else handle turkey day for you. Whether you hop in your car or board a plane, here are some suggestions that will make this year’s Thanksgiving the easiest and most enjoyable ever.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK: Nothing says holiday more than Rockefeller Center, New York City’s historic landmark in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Rockefeller Center is home to a remarkable collection of art deco motifs and sculptures signifying man’s development in spirit, science and industry. Prometheus is said to be the best-known sculpture in Rockefeller Center and the most photographed monumental sculpture in all of NYC.

PROMETHEUS: MOST PHOTOGRAPHED MONUMENTAL SCULPTURE IN NYC

Running a close second to Prometheus is Atlas, the famous figure from Greek mythology. This half-man, half-god giant known as a Titan, helped lead a war against the Olympic gods. As a punishment when the Titans were defeated, Atlas was condemned to carry the world on his shoulders.

ATLAS: CONDEMNED TO CARRY THE WORLD ON HIS SHOULDERS.

After sightseeing and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (featuring Diana Ross and John Legend), head to Rockefeller Center. Nothing could be a lovelier dinner scene than overlooking the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink while dining on a 3-course prix fixe menu that includes roasted turkey breast with a chestnut apple stuffing and all the trimmings at the Rock Center Cafe in Rockefeller Center.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: “Let’s take a powder, to Boston for Chowder, let’s get away from it all.” As a teenager, I swooned as Frank Sinatra seemed to be singing those words directly to me. As an adult, the thrill still remains every time I actually get away to Boston.

“Beantown”, as Boston is affectionately dubbed, is much more than Boston Baked Beans. It is ducks that will splash you into the waters of the Charles River and swans that will glide you atop the waters of the Lagoon in Boston’s Public Garden. It is a 3-mile Freedom Trail connecting Boston’s historic Colonial and Revolutionary sights from the Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Memorial. The Freedom Trail includes such historic sites as the USS Constitution (known as “Old Ironsides) and the Old North Church, the location from which the famous "One if by Land, Two if by Sea" signal is said to have been sent. The 6 soaring glass towers of the Freedom Trail’s Holocaust Memorial says it all on a day of Thanksgiving.

A REMINDER TO COUNT OUR BLESSINGS ON THANKSGIVING…AND EVERY DAY

Not a turkey lover. Then opt for the quintessential Boston experience...some pub grub at Cheers. When you step inside the convivial original Cheers on Beacon Hill (previously known as the Bull & Finch), you’ll immediately know why everyone knows your name.

THE ORIGINAL CHEERS ON BEACON HILL

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: Thanksgiving Day kicks off the holly, jolly holiday season in New Orleans. Nothing could be a better place in which to be thankful than the elegant Windsor Court Hotel, located two blocks west of the French Quarter. Continually earning prestigious ratings since two years after its opening, the hotel was most recently honored with a Forbes 4-star rating. Upon entering the hotel, a gold-leafed table traditionally adorned with 12 dozen roses…yes 144 exquisite roses…greets guests. Floors are covered with oriental rugs, and one is surrounded by the subtle splendor of museum quality antiques that dates back to the 17^th century.

144 ROSES ARE THE TRADITIONAL WELCOME TO THE HOTEL

Although the Streetcar Named Desire route ceased operation in 1948, the same year "A Streetcar Named Desire" had its premiere on Broadway, you can take an even more romantic Turkey Day ride in a horse-drawn carriage boarded in front of the St. Louis Cathedral next to Jackson Square.

BOARD A HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE BY THE ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL

Or, you can start things off right and create a new Turkey Day tradition in New Orleans. Thanksgiving is the opening day of the thoroughbred-racing season at the Fair Grounds Race Course. After you’ve played the ponies and collected your winnings, retreat to your home away from home for the Windsor Court Grill Room’s Thanksgiving dinner featuring such culinary specials as Sweet Potato Soup, Turkey Roulade, Bourbon Apple Bundt Cake and more. After dinner you can head to the Superdome where the Saints will go marching in to play the Atlanta Falcons. Then again, you can always cruise and booze on Bourbon Street.

CORONADO, CALIFORNIA: Otis #61 is not a perfume. Otis #61 is an elevator…a very famous elevator…a very famous130-year old elevator. One of the first fully functioning electric elevators manufactured in America, Otis #61 has graced the main lobby of the Hotel del Coronado (affectionately dubbed “The Del”) since the resort opened in 1888. In 1960, a Hollywood scenic designer, Al Goodman, was hired to refurbish The Del’s lobby. Goodman designed a wonderfully ornate, Victorian-style grill to adorn the lobby elevator. A primary concern, during The Del’s restoration was to safeguard Otis #61 and bring the famous Goodman grill back to its original glory. And they did! Since 1980, Andrew “Drew” Lounsbury is still operating Otis #61.

OTIS #61 ENCASED IN AN ORNATE VICTORIAN-STYLE GRILL

This National Historic Landmark, a rambling white clapboard legend with red-peaked roof, crimson turrets, and lazy verandas, is said to be “one-third sun, one-third sand, one-third fairy tale”.

THE LEGENDARY HOTEL DEL CORONADO

The Jewel in the crown of this iconic Victorian gem is its 1888 Crown Room, an architectural achievement spanning 160' x 60', without any pillars to interrupt the view. The magical Oregon sugar pine-paneled room, with its 33 foot high ceiling is the setting for a lavish Thanksgiving feast plus musical entertainment and views of the Pacific Ocean.

THE DEL’S CROWN ROOM IS HOME TO A LAVISH THANKSGIVING FEAST

DETROIT, MICHIGAN: Let me give you the lowdown on “Motown”, Detroit’s nickname that is a portmanteau (the linguistic blend of the words motor and town). Like a ball that’s been slammed to the ground, Detroit has been slammed to the ground. But like a ball, Detroit is bouncing back. Truly America’s “Comeback City”, Detroit has hit a home run with tourists. The Detroit Riverfront, dotted with incredible sculpture, placed number 9 in the “10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best American Riverfront”.

"TRANSCENDING” IS ONE OF DETROIT’S RIVERFRONT SCULPTURES

However, the city’s musical legacy…Motown magic…the great Detroit story, is an American phenomenon. The Motown Museum, in the Hitsville U.S.A. building, preserves the history and legacy of Motown. In Studio A, the actual place where the Motown Sound was created, you will walk in the footsteps of Motown Stars like Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson Five; view the original 1877 Steinway grand piano; and see Michael Jackson’s crystal glove and black fedora with his name inscribed in gold on the hat’s sweatband.

DISCOVER THE AMAZING HISTORY AND LEGACY OF MOTOWN

After the Thanksgiving Day Parade, when it’s turkey time, head to the Whitney Mansion, an historic Detroit landmark. In 1894, The Whitney Mansion became home to the family of lumber baron, David Whitney Jr., the wealthiest man in Detroit. Today, this iconic turn-of-the-century, Romanesque Revival mansion is a world-class restaurant (now known as The Whitney) that retains all of its charm and refinement yet appeals to contemporary tastes.

THE WHITNEY RESTAURANT IN AN 1894 MANSION

Of the many menu choices, Thanksgiving dinner at the Whitney can begin with the chefs Amuse-Bouche , a Cranberry-Goat Cheese Bon Bon. This can be followed by Pumpkin Bisque, Herb Roasted Turkey With Savory Turkey Gravy, and Family Style sides. For dessert, try Grampa’s “Small Piece of Each” Trio (Apple Tartlet, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Mousse).

Happy turkey! Happy Turkey! Happy turkey!

Janet Steinberg, winner of 47-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

JANET STEINBERG, OFFICIAL BLOGGER FOR THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY, WINS HER 47th TRAVEL WRITING AWARD

2018-11-05T12:02:00.000-05:00

At its semi-annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, Midwest Travel Journalists Association (MTJA) announced the winners of its 2018 MARK TWAIN TRAVEL JOURNALISM CONTEST.

Janet Steinberg, who is our the travel writer for The Travel Authority Travel Blog was awarded the honor in the Digital Articles Category for her article TRAVEL MELDS THE BITTER WITH THE SWEET.

Steinberg’s latest awards brings her total number of travel writing awards to 47...including: 3 Lowell Thomas Awards; Cipriani Award for Best Overall Writer of the Year; Henry E. Bradshaw Award for Best of Show in All Categories; Ohio Buckeye Travel Award; 17 Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) Awards and 24 Midwest Travel Journalists Association (MTJA) Awards.

Janet Steinberg resides in Cincinnati, Ohio but calls the world her home.

BOO-TIFUL CEMETERIES

2018-10-29T08:09:00.000-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

Although cemeteries are primarily hallowed resting places for our loved ones, many of them are renowned tourist attractions for taphophiles…people fascinated by cemeteries and gravestones.

REST IN PEACE AT RECOLETA CEMETERY

During Halloween season, a visit to one of these cemeteries can be an eerie, creepy, yet fun way, to start your ghostly celebration. Hop onto my broomstick and I will fly you to several of the world’s most interesting and boo-tiful cemeteries.

FOREST HOME CEMETERY in the Lincoln Village neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the final resting place of many of the city's famed beer barons. Names like Pabst, Schlitz, and Blatz are among the many grand monuments erected for the city’s beer barons, politicians and social elite.

PABST FAMILY PLOT

The 2-story Blatz mausoleum, built in 1896 stands 49-feet tall. The interior of this granite structure is covered in Italian marble. Declared a Milwaukee Landmark in 1973, both the cemetery and its 1892 Gothic Style Landmark Chapel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

TWO-STORY BLATZ MAUSOLEUM

RECOLETA CEMETERY (Cementerio del Norte) in Buenos Aires, Argentina is the exclusive burial ground where all portenos (fun- loving locals) would like to be interred. Within the iron gates of this City of the Dead are tombs and mausoleums by famous artists and sculptors. Seventy of the approximate 6400 unique graves have been declared national monuments. Styles in this labyrinth cemetery range from Greek Temples to Baroque cathedrals.

The cemetery's most visited tomb being that of Eva Duarte Peron, Argentina’s most controversial First Lady. The Duarte family tomb, the final resting place of the wife of the late President Juan Peron, is difficult to find. Get a map, follow a tour group or look for the black marble mausoleum with a plaque of her profile and a profusion of fresh flowers. Evita (“Don't Cry for Me, Argentina”) Peron died of cancer in 1952 at age 33.

TOMB OF EVITA DUARTE PERON

FAIRVIEW LAWN CEMETERY, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is perhaps best known as the final resting place for one hundred and twenty-one victims of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. One of the first victims to be carried to his grave at Fairview Lawn was a small, unidentified baby boy. A haunting tombstone marks his grave. While the Cunard liner Carpathia was taking survivors to New York, 209 of the dead were brought to Halifax. Fifty-nine bodies were shipped home to relatives, but 150 were buried in three Halifax cemeteries. There were 10 graves at the Jewish Baron de Hirsch Cemetery; 19 at the Catholic Mount Olivet Cemetery; and 121 at the non-denominational Fairview Lawn.

GRAVESITE OF AN UNKNOWN CHILD THAT PERISHED ON THE TITANIC

Halifax’s Maritime Museum of the Atlantic takes its visitors on a voyage of discovery through Nova Scotia’s rich maritime heritage. The exhibits and artifacts evoke the magic of the sea and its power in the lives of Nova Scotians. Perhaps the most popular exhibit in the Maritime Museum is the one that depicts the tragic history of the ill-fated Titanic that sank some 700 miles east of Halifax on April 15, 1912.

ORIGINAL TITANIC DECK CHAIR

THE OLD JEWISH CEMETERY in Prague, Czech Republic was founded in 1478. Because of its age and condition, it might well be the spookiest, most spine-tingling cemetery of all. Over 12,000 gravestones are crammed into a relatively small space where some 100,000 people are said to be buried on top of one another in stacks that are often 10-12 bodies deep.

OVER 12,000 GRAVESTONES CRAMMED IN THE OLD JEWISH CEMETERY

The cemetery was in active use for more than three centuries, and the lack of space continually created a problem that had to be solved in whatever way possible. Since respect for the deceased does not allow Jewish people to abolish graves, they would add a new layer of soil over the old graves and bury more bodies on top of the older graves. In some places as many as twelve layers of soil now exist. The older graves remained intact and the gravestones were also saved. What exists today is a dense forest of simple gravestones, either stacked or upright, that memorialize people who could be buried many layers below in the soil.

METAIRIE CEMETERY in New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the world’s most unique and beautiful cemeteries. In a city, whose motto is Laissez les bon temps rouler! (Let the good times roll), it might seem strange that among the city's top attractions are the cemeteries with their above ground vaults. The Metairie Cemetery offers a drive through pamphlet that describes the colossal monuments that range from the ridiculous to the sublime.

A STREET IN THE METARIE CEMETERY

Some vaults toto checkcheck out in the Metairie Cemetery are: the Brunswig Tomb...an Egyptian pyramid guarded by a sphinx; the pink marble and bronze Morales Tomb...built by the notorious Storyville Madam who was denied the right to live in Metairie; and the Hyams tomb...a winged angel grieving beneath a stained-glass window.

TOMBSTONES RANGE FROM THE RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME

What may come as a surprise to some, humor is evident in many cemeteries. Unusual epitaphs include: "I Told You I Was Sick”; "Good Citizen for 65 of his 108 Years”; "I’m just resting my eyes”; and...from the wife of a philanderer... "At Least I Know Where He's Sleeping Tonight”.

Whatever your choice, have a BOO-tiful time!

Janet Steinberg, winner of 46-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

WAPAKONETA: HONORING AMERICA’S “FIRST MAN”

2018-10-08T08:06:00.000-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

On October 12 First Man, depicting one of the most dangerous missions in history, will light up the silver screen in theaters around the country. This biographical drama is the riveting story behind Neil Armstrong’s mission to the moon, one of the most dangerous missions in history.

By now you are probably wondering what a movie production is doing in a travel column. Please allow me to give you the answer to that question in one word…Wapakoneta.

WAPAKONETA, OHIO…POPULATION: 9,867

Once again, you must be wondering…What is Wapakoneta? What is in Wapakoneta? Why would anyone want to go to Wapakoneta? This time, the answer is in two words…Neil Armstrong.

MUSEUM PHOTO OF ARMSTRONG’S FOOTPRINT ON THE MOON

Neil Armstrong, the first civilian astronaut and the first man on the moon, was a native son of Wapakoneta, Ohio (approximately 65 miles north of Cincinnati, Ohio and 90 mile south of Toledo). The Armstrong Air and Space Museum honors his achievements. Opened on the third anniversary of the lunar landing (July 20, 1972), the museum was designed to resemble a futuristic moon base. This moon-like structure, that seems to be rising out of Interstate I-75, is a beautiful site to behold, whether gleaming in the sunlight, or at dusk and nightfall when the dome glows white.

ARMSTRONG AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, A SIGHT...AND A SITE...TO BEHOLD

As you approach the museum you will be greeted by two outdoor displays that are open yearlong. The first of these displays is the F5D Skylancer, the experimental airplane Neil Armstrong flew as a test pilot. Only four F5Ds were produced.

ARMSTRONG’S EXPERIMENTAL F5D AIRPLANE

Then you’ll approach replicas of the Apollo and Gemini capsules. These replica capsules allow visitors to sit inside a Gemini spacecraft and peer into an Apollo capsule.

REPLICAS OF THE GEMINI AND APOLLO CAPSULES

Outstanding features of the museum include many one-of-a-kind artifacts such as the Gemini VIII spacecraft, a moon rock, Neil Armstrong’s Gemini and Apollo spacesuits and the very airplane in which Neil Armstrong learned to fly. The Gemini VIII was Neil Armstrong’s first spacecraft. He and David Scott conducted the first space rendezvous and docking in 1966.

THE GEMINI SPACECRAFT

On the Gemini VIII mission, Neil Armstrong wore a space suit for 11- hours until the crew splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. Armstrong’s Apollo spacesuit, his second spacesuit, weighed 190-lbs. on earth but would weigh just 32-lbs. on the moon because the moon has 1/6 of earth’s gravity.

NEIL ARMSTRONG'S APOLLO SPACE SUIT

While on the moon, Neil Armstrong and the crew of Apollo 11 collected a lunar sample…the NASA term for a moon rock. Returning from the moon, the astronauts (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins) had to go through customs, just as we regular folks do. Their customs declaration showed that their flight route was from Cape Kennedy, to the Moon, returning to Honolulu on July 24, 1969. Their cargo was “moon rock and moon dust samples”.

APOLLO 11’s LUNAR SAMPLE…aka MOON ROCK

In 2011, the museum received accreditation from the American Association of Museums, the highest national recognition for a museum. A visit to the Armstrong Air & Space Museum is a visit to (in Astronaut Buzz Aldrin’s words) “magnificent desolation”.

Since that moment on July 20, 1969, when Apollo 11 had reached the moon, and the late Neil Armstrong set foot on the lunar surface, Armstrong has been my hero. Nightly, I would look up at the moon in utter disbelief that a man walked up there.

WORLD HEADLINES BEGAN IN WAPAKONETA, OHIO

In the early 1970’s, hero worship became reality as I was privileged to have Neil Armstrong as my dinner partner at a party in Cincinnati, Ohio. On this most memorable evening of my life, I found myself sitting next to a humble, modest, engaging, soft-spoken gentleman that shall forever remain my legendary Man on the Moon.

JANET STEINBERG AND NEIL ARMSTRONG IN THE 1970s

To this day, millions of people will never forget the day that the world paused for a brief period when Armstrong spoke the words “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

To this day, I will never forget the words Neil spoke to me when I asked him the following question: ‘I know what you said to the world, but what were you really thinking when you put your foot down on the moon?’ Neil smiled his boyish grin and replied: “I was thinking…You’ve gone this far baby, don’t screw it up now.”

Janet Steinberg, winner of 46-travel writing awards, resides in Cincinnati but calls the world her home.

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF TRAVEL

2018-09-24T08:05:00.001-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

”Price is what you pay, value is what you get.”

Warren Buffett

I. THOU SHALT BEWARE OF BARGAINS.

If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Some unsavory merchants around the world are licking their chops awaiting the arrival of naïve tourists. A ‘Louis Vuitton ’purse is not always a Louis Vuitton purse…a ‘Hermes’ scarf is not always a Hermes scarf…and a ‘Rolex’ watch is not always a Rolex watch. It is not often you will find an honest merchant like the one I met in Ephesus who promises that his watches are fake.

BEWARE OF BARGAINS AND FAKES

II. THOU SHALT USE A KNOWLEDGEABLE AGENT.

Do work with, and take the advice of, an experienced travel consultant. Check out his or her credentials. Do not use an order taker who just calls a travel provider and books a cruise or trip that they have advertised. Look for someone who is well traveled…who has been, there done that. Someone who knows the ins-and-outs of cruising…knows whether to put you on the port side or starboard side of the ship…can advise you on the best, and safest, shore excursions, etc.

III. THOU SHALT PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE. Take a trip, not a risk. In a travel medical emergency, you may not know which hospital is best, where to go to see English-speaking doctors, or how to find local specialists. Many health insurance policies, including Medicare, policies, do not include medical coverage or evacuation insurance when abroad. Uninsured medical evacuations can cost upwards of $50,000, often times they are very much higher.

HELICOPTER EVACUATION ON CRYSTAL SYMPHONY

IV. THOU SHALT TRAVEL OFF SEASON.

Being flexible can save you a bundle. If possible, book your trip just before the high seasonal rates go into effect. Wanting to get out of the cold and go south for some sunshine? Plan your trip or cruise a week or so before Christmas (or any holiday). Two weeks later, the same trip can cost you double. On a cruise, opt for the lower priced category that is next to, or close to, the higher priced category.

V. THOU SHALT NOT OVER-PACK.

It really is possible to travel for a week, with only one carry-on bag, and still look chic and different every night. Now mind you, this is no easy task. However, the hardest part is not managing with limited possessions once you reach your destination. The most difficult challenge is before you ever leave home…deciding what to pack that will fit in one carry-on. Where does one start? Start with the basics. And what could be more basic than basic black? All accessories and separates should coordinate with black and be wrinkle-proof and washable. All shoes should be lightweight except for the heavy comfortable ones you should wear on the plane. Add lots of scarves and jewelry. It can be done. I know, because I did it!

ONE WEEK IN A CARRY-ON.

VI. THOU SHALT GO WITH YOUR GUT.

After you announce you are planning a trip, and even after you tell your friends and relatives you are using a very competent travel agent, some will still inundate you with unsolicited travel advice and fear-inducing warnings. Be polite…smile…listen to them…hear what they have to say…and then go with your gut.

VII. THOU SHALT HAND-CARRY ALL ESSENTIALS.

We all know not to pack our tickets and passports in our check-in baggage, but there are many other important documents and objects that should also be hand-carried. Those include: your medicines; lists of all your medications, any food or other allergies, and your medical and surgical history; if you are a contact lens wearer; if you have any implants such as artificial hips, knees, shoulders, or other prosthetic appliances. Also list all of your physicians and their phone numbers. And, above all, carry your phone equipped with a plan that will work from the places you are traveling. You may run into an occasional phone booth during your travels, but chances are they are more cosmetic than functional.

PICTURESQUE, BUT NON-FUNCTIONAL, PHONE BOOTH IN SCOTTISH COUNTRYSIDE

VIII. THOU SHALT BE AWARE OF DRIVING RULES. When renting a car, check out all the fine print before you sign on the dotted line. Find out what your personal automobile policy covers for rental cars and find out what it doesn’t cover. If you plan to rent a car out of the country, different rules apply. Some places have an age limit for renters. Some insist you take their insurance even if you claim to have it on your own policy. Some places will not allow you to take their cars across a border from one country to the next.

IX. THOU SHALT CHECK PRICES BEFOREHAND.

If you are planning to purchase a costly item abroad, you should do your homework before you leave home. Check out its price in the United States and also look up its country of origin. For the most part, it will be less expensive in its country of origin or in a third world country that has no duty on handcrafted goods. For example: Georg Jensen silver in Denmark; Baccarat crystal in France; Prada shoes in Italy and H. Stern jewelry in Brazil.

HUGE SAVINGS ON H. STERN BRACELET IF BOUGHT IN SOUTH AMERICA

X. THOU SHALT ANALYZE YOURSELF.

Know yourself! Know what you really like…what you really want to see or do. Do you prefer a big city or a tiny town? Land or sea travel? Camping or glamping? We all know what camping is, but glamping is a relatively new word in the travel dictionary. Glamping is glamorous camping, where stunning nature meets luxurious amenities and resort services. It provides the comfort of a hotel or lodge accommodation alongside the escapism and adventure of camping.

CAMPING?

GLAMPING?

JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer, and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in CINCINNATI, OHIO. She is the winner of 46 national Travel Writing Awards.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JANET STEINBERG

KENTUCKY DISTILLED: NATIONAL BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH

2018-09-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

BY JANET STEINBERG

Sample the spirit of Kentucky during September…National Bourbon Heritage Month. Throughout the United States, the month of September marks the annual celebration of bourbon as America's "Native Spirit".

On August 2, 2007, the US Senate declared September as "National Bourbon Heritage Month." The bill, sponsored by the late Kentucky Senator and Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning, passed by unanimous consent. The bill reinforces the 1964 Act of Congress that declared bourbon "America's Native Spirit" by celebrating the family heritage, tradition and deep-rooted legacy that the bourbon industry contributes to the United States. And, what better way to savor the ultimate bourbon experience than on a trip to Kentucky?

KENTUCKY CELEBRATES DURING NATIONAL BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH

LOUISVILLE, renowned for its burgeoning bourbon scene, is a good place to start planning your personal itinerary for The Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Locals call this largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky LOO-uh-vul; visitors call it LOUIE-ville. Others wrongly opt for LEWIS-ville or LUH-vul. But no matter how you pronounce it, Louisville is a good place to start your day-tripping in search of the best liquid gold in the country.

First stop, pay a visit to The Frazier History Museum that opened its Kentucky Bourbon Trail (KBT) Welcome Center and “Spirit of Kentucky” exhibition in August 2018. “The Spirit of Kentucky” showcases the history of the Kentucky Bourbon industry. This immersive experience shows bourbon in a much broader light, spotlighting this booming product as the icon that it is, and sharing the people, places and events that have made Bourbon the spirit of Kentucky.

Time to hit the trail…the Kentucky Bourbon Trail!

Take your pick of which historic distilleries on the trail you wish to visit. Among the most popular are Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Makers Mark, and Woodford Reserve. Time restraints allowed me to choose only two on this visit. I chose the latter two.

Maker’s Mark is a National Historic Landmark, housed in a series of buildings dating back as far as 1805. Their bourbon is well known for its distinctive wax-dipped bottle top. The tour took us through the entire process and around the grounds. Following a tour and a tasting, visitors are invited to purchase a bottle of Maker’s Mark and dip it into the signature red wax.

VISITOR DIPS HIS MAKER’S MARK INTO THE SIGNATURE HOT RED WAX

Time to hit The Bourbon Trail again….

Woodford Reserve, a National Historic Landmark in Versailles, Kentucky, is one of the oldest and smallest distilleries in Kentucky. The distillery is housed in a series of stone buildings, all over 100 years old. Here you will experience the only copper pot still and triple distillation process used to handcraft bourbon today. Woodford Reserve makes only one bourbon…Woodford Reserve. It is the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby and is used in a $1,000 mint julep cocktail that is sold to patrons on Derby Day.

COPPER POT STILLS AT WOODFORD RESERVE

When you return to Louisville after each daytrip, you can spend the evening on the city’s Urban Bourbon Trail. Proof On Main, housed in five historic buildings, is part of the 21c Museum Hotel. Proof’s large spirits collection is highlighted by an impressive selection of 50 of Kentucky’s finest Bourbons. This avant-garde, nationally acclaimed museum/hotel is dedicated to world-class luxuries, contemporary art from living artists, and Southern-style hospitality. A fleet of 4-foot-tall red penguins stand watch on the hotel’s rooftop and migrate throughout 21c daily. One might even appear at your dinner table.

HE MIGHT JOIN YOU AT DINNER

Bourbon Raw, is a Kentucky Bourbon bar, restaurant and raw bar located in the city’s vibrant Fourth Street Live! entertainment district. It showcases a 60 ft. long marble-topped bar that is backdropped by an entire wall displaying approximately 100 bottles of Kentucky’’s favorite liquor…both rare and local bourbons. Their cocktail menu offers inventive twists on timeless classics with names like Kentucky Tea Thyme, Dead Heat and Run for the Rosemarys

On the road again……..

FRANKFORT, Kentucky’s small-town capital city, is home to Buffalo Trace Distillery. In a state that has 2 million more barrels of bourbon than it has people, Frankfort’s Buffalo Trace claims to be the longest operating distillery in the United States. It continued operation even during Prohibition because bourbon was deemed medicinal by someone in the legislature. The folks at Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey claim that their whiskey is distilled, aged and bottled at the most award-winning distillery in the world.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY

American pioneers and explorers were led to new frontiers by the ancient buffalo that carved paths through the wilderness. Four centuries of architecture, all still fully operational, are impressively sprawled over 130 acres that the Buffalo Trace Company claims was once an ancient buffalo crossing on the banks of the Kentucky River. Their signature Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was introduced in 1999 as a tribute to the mighty buffalo and the rugged, independent spirit of the pioneers who followed them.

THE MIGHTY BUFFALO GREETS FOLKS AT BUFFALO TRACE

For the folks back home, who are not lucky enough to experience The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, you can always bring back a box of the renowned 100-proof Rebecca Ruth bourbon balls made in historic downtown Frankfort. Bourbon balls, a Southern delicacy incorporating bourbon and dark chocolate, are a sweet taste of Kentucky history!

REBECCA RUTH CANDIES

Movin’ on…..

BARDSTOWN, calling itself the Bourbon Capital of the World, is home to September’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival which draws people to that quaint little town for six days of celebrating the storied history and art of distilling America's native spirit. The event is a celebration of smooth Bourbon, delicious food, and great entertainment, with a healthy dose of Kentucky hospitality thrown in for good measure. According to KBF Chairwoman, Melissa Horton, "A deep love and appreciation for Bourbon is in our blood, and we are honored to share that love with everyone at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.” Be sure to have a look, or a meal, at the old (circa 1779) Talbott Tavern, that has been called the oldest western stagecoach stop in America.

BARDSTOWN’S OLD TALBOTT TAVERN

A stroll through My Old Kentucky Home State Park is a must. The park's centerpiece is Federal Hill, the stately mansion that belonged to Stephen Foster’s cousin United States Senator John Rowan. The Rowan home was the inspiration for Stephen Foster's most endearing song, "My Old Kentucky Home" that was made the state song of Kentucky in 1928.

FEDERAL HILL INSPIRED “MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME”

Kentucky Distilled! According to the dictionary, one definition of ‘distilled’ means summing something up. Kentucky sums up the essence of everything that makes this gracious southern state special…from her natural charm and beauty to her world-renowned bourbon, all in one distinctly small and spirited package.

Just add bourbon!

JANET STEINBERG is an award-winning Travel Writer, and International Travel Consultant with THE TRAVEL AUTHORITY in CINCINNATI, OHIO. She is the winner of 46 national Travel Writing Awards.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY JANET STEINBERG