My 3rd visit to Bridgetown and wanting to do more than swim with turtles,  I booked a fun city and lunch tour with “Adrinan”( adrianwhite70@hotmail.com /246-242-8451) We hit the jackpot. Adrian picked us up right at the port, and we immediately felt we were in good hands. We started with a short drive through the city, stopping and visiting the main monuments and shared fascinating stories about Barbados's rich history. We visited Heroes Square, an important landmark that honors the island's national heroes and captures the spirit of Barbadian pride and independence. Our next major stop was the George Washington House—yes, that George Washington! It was incredible to learn that the future first president of the United States actually visited Barbados as a young man. The house has been beautifully preserved, and standing where Washington once stood was a special moment. Adrian  took us by Rihanna's house and showed us the drive where the island's most famous superstar grew up —a fun glimpse into local celebrity culture! From there, we drove to Holetown, one of the island's most charming areas. We stopped at the oldest church in Barbados a stunning piece of history that's still standing strong after centuries.  But the best was yet to come—lunch! Adrian brought us to Rascals, a local restaurant  where we got to try Barbados's national dish: “flying fish sandwiches”. Fresh, flavorful, and absolutely authentic—this wasn't tourist food, this was the real deal. I can't recommend Adrian highly enough. If you're stopping in Barbados and want a genuine, personalized experience of the island, this is the way to do it. A perfect port day!

My wife and I had the most wonderful experience swimming with dolphins in St. Kitts. I'll admit I had some concerns going in about the dolphins being in captivity, but I was genuinely impressed by the facility and how well the animals were cared for. The trainers were incredibly gentle and knowledgeable, and the dolphins themselves seemed happy and engaged—you could tell they were enjoying the interactions as much as we were. We got to feel their smooth skin as they gave us gentle kisses and watch their intelligent eyes light up during our time together. The highlight was when they pushed us through the water —the power and grace of these amazing animals propelling us forward was absolutely thrilling. It was a memory we'll treasure forever, one of those magical moments that reminds you just how special this world can be.

After four incredible days exploring one of nature's most spectacular wonders, I can confidently say that Niagara Falls exceeded every expectation. From heart-pounding boat rides to breathtaking aerial views, this trip delivered non-stop excitement and beauty. Here's everything you need to know to plan your own perfect Niagara Falls getaway. Where to Stay: Hilton DoubleTree great views of the river, location is everything when visiting Niagara Falls, and the Hilton DoubleTree proved to be an absolutely wonderful choice. Just a 5-minute walk to the visitor center and 12 minutes to the falls themselves, this hotel puts you right in the heart of the action without the premium pricing of some closer properties. Day 1 : Getting Your Feet Wet (Literally!)-The Essential Combo Pass My first recommendation? Purchase the combo pass that includes both “Maid of the Mist” and “Cave of the Winds”. This was hands-down one of my top 3 highlights of the entire trip, plus the combo pass allows you to ride the Niagra Falls Scenic trolley for no cost and is a great way to explore the entire park . Maid of the Mist  you ride in a boat that takes you right into the heart of the falls' mist and spray – it's an absolutely thrilling experience that gives you a completely different perspective on the sheer power and scale of the water. Cave of the Winds   brings you incredibly close to the American Falls as you will walk via a series of wooden walkways and decks. Crusinbob tip :  Plan to get wet! provided ponchos help, but you'll still get wet – and that's half the fun. Day 2 & Day 3: Crossing to Canada: The Fun and Amazing On my second day, my wife and I decided to explore the Canadian side by walking across the famous Rainbow Bridge. The Canadian perspective offers some truly spectacular viewing angles and the scenary is much better than the american side. I purchased the Canada 2-Day Niagra Falls Adventure Pass, which I highly recommend for anyone planning to spend time on the Canadian side. However, finding the visitor center to validate the pass was my biggest challenge of the trip – it's not as clearly marked as you might expect, so don't be afraid to ask for directions! The Standout: Niagara Takes Flight ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This experience was simply AMAZING and easily my favorite attraction in Canada. The flight simulation takes you soaring over the falls while following the fascinating history of the area. It's immersive, educational, and absolutely breathtaking. Don't miss this one! The Classics: Journey Behind the Falls While fun, this was a bit of a letdown compared to my high expectations. You do get to go behind the falls, but the experience feels somewhat limited. Still worth doing as part of the pass, but manage your expectations. The Niagara Parks Power Station and Tunnel were okay, but be prepared for a lot of walking – that tunnel is very long! It's interesting from a historical perspective, but not necessarily a must-do if you're short on time. River and Rapids Views; The White Water Walk  was surprisingly easy and gives you an up-close view of the river's power and beauty. It's a nice, more relaxed attraction that offers a different perspective on the Niagara River system. The Whirlpool Aero Car  was okay – decent views but nothing spectacular. The Incline Railway  falls into the same category . Transportation Winner: WEGO Bus Access The WEGO Bus Access included in the pass was absolutely worth it and saved tremendous amounts of walking. The buses run frequently and connect all the major attractions efficiently. Final Night; Dining at the "TABLE ROCK; for our last evening we splurged on dinner at the Lovely "Table Rock" and it was worth every penny. The service was superb, the food was excellent, and surprisingly, it was much cheaper than the famous Skylon Restaurant while offering comparable (if not better) quality and incredible falls views. My trip would not be complete if I did not take a walk around town(the US side), see a few historical churches and pay homage to the Buffalo Bills football team. Important note:  Make sure you have $1.00 in quarters($.25) for the bridge toll – Crossing at night was no issue, and the illuminated falls( after 8pm) are absolutely magical.

Following a smooth four-hour journey from Skopje, Macedonia, I reached the lively city of Sofia, Bulgaria. I found an excellent rate at the Hilton, ideally situated in the city center, providing the perfect starting point for my adventures. Day 1: Joyful Bike Tour On my initial day, I chose to set off on a bike tour to gain an overview of the city. This four-hour journey took me through Sofia's most prominent attractions. Although we didn't linger long at each location, the tour was a fantastic way to immerse myself in the ambiance. From renowned landmarks to tranquil parks, I explored the city in an enjoyable and thrilling manner. Day 2: Exploring Further and Savoring Local Cuisine On the second day, the focus was on exploring by foot. I strolled down the charming Vitosha Boulevard, a bustling street lined with shops and cafes. Later, we took part in a local food tour guided by an expert who introduced us to Sofia's culinary treasures. It was intriguing to observe how local families dine and the traditional dishes they serve, and the wine tasting was exceptional. Tasting a range of local specialties provided me with a richer insight into Bulgarian culture. Day 3: My journey through history and memory lane continued. I easily navigated the local transportation system and made my way to the renowned Museum of Socialist Art. The museum is a rich collection of communist propaganda from the Cold War era, reflecting the challenging life of the Bulgarian people. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the grounds and absorbing the history. That evening, my wife and I delved into Bulgarian culture by attending a local folk dance performance and savoring traditional dishes at a local spot. I even tried "pigs' ears" for the first time—an experience I won't soon forget! Day 4: Ancient Ruins and Historic Churches On the fourth day, I used local transport to reach the Serdica Archaeological Complex, discovered during subway construction. The area is steeped in history, and wandering through the ruins while exploring various historical churches was both enjoyable and informative. This place is remarkable as the ruins are situated right in the heart of a modern city. I walked through the remains of the Roman bathhouse, visited the Rotunda church, and explored the third-largest Jewish synagogue in Europe, admiring its architecture and importance. Day 5: A Perfect Ending On our final day, we revisited the enchanting Serdica area. I explored the Sofia history museum, and afterwards, we wandered across the "Lion Bridge," absorbing the surrounding sights and sounds. It was an ideal way to conclude our journey, giving us the chance to savor the atmosphere of this stunning city one last time. In Conclusion My trip to Sofia offered a wide array of experiences, from biking through the city streets to enjoying traditional cuisine and delving into its rich history. I departed with a deepened appreciation for Bulgarian culture and its hospitable people. If you're looking for an engaging and educational vacation, Sofia should definitely be on your travel itinerary!

Discovering North Macedonia: My journey of visiting all Balkan countries continues, I recently returned from an incredible trip to North Macedonia. Tucked away in the Balkan region of Europe, this country is often overshadowed by its neighbors, but is bursting with history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. If you're contemplating a visit to this charming destination, read on for some fun and informative highlights from my journey! Skopje: A City of 200+ monuments ; My wife and I rented a lovely apt in the city center(Elena our landlady 389-70-537-165) arranged for airport pickup. The city center is very walk-able and is a unique blend of modern and traditional elements and many statues that define this city. The iconic Stone Bridge, which connects the old and new parts of the city, is a big tourist must-see and connects the old traditional and the new. The Old Bazaar is where you can wander through winding streets filled with shops selling handmade crafts, gold and traditional food, but what always caught my attention was the statues everywhere. The Sister Teresa memorial, history of the Macedonian struggle museum are very well laid out, the Jewish Holocaust memorial is also worth a visit and the Train station building the still houses the clock that stopped at the time of the terrible earthquake of 1963 but I just marveled all all the statues and interesting building facades. On one of the days I made it to the Millennium cross, the Makka Canyon and walked inside the caves. The Old Bazaar invites you to explore winding streets filled with shops offering handmade crafts, gold, and traditional food, but what always captivated me were the statues scattered everywhere. The Mother Teresa memorial, the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, and the Jewish Holocaust Memorial are well worth visiting, and the train station still houses the clock stopped at the time of the devastating 1963 earthquake. I was particularly fascinated by the statues and the interesting building facades. On one of the days, I visited the Millennium Cross, explored the Matka Canyon, and walked inside the caves. After a few days in Skopje, I traveled to Ohrid, often called the "Jewel of the Balkans." This charming town is located on the shores of Lake Ohrid, one of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes. The lake’s stunning blue waters and surrounding mountains create a stunning backdrop that is perfect for a leisurely stroll and a boat ride is a must. While in Ohrid, I made sure to visit the ancient Church of St. John at Kaneo, perched on a cliff overlooking the lake. I also visited numerous Roman ruins to include the Roman theater which is being revitalized. Ohrid is very walk-able but all the streets and alleys are cobblestone and rolling. The lake's brilliant blue waters and the surrounding mountains provide a breathtaking setting ideal for a leisurely walk and taking a boat ride is a MUST. After a delightful stay in Ohrid, I returned to Skopje. For all my transportation needs, I used an excellent local company (ARS, very reasonable and honest, 389-70-873-228). #Final Thoughts; North Macedonia is a little treasure waiting to be discovered, Macedonian wine is world class the food/dinners at every restaurants we dined was simply superb and the people are wonderful. I would love to return and spend a month. Put this place on your MUST list.

I love Caribbean crusies espically watching the sunset and with so many ships cruising the Caribbean I can alwasy get you a good deal. I am throwing out a ideas if you want to do something fun versus the standard walk around town or just going to the beach. Grand Cayman: A very short tender port with many options, but Stingrays is the thing to do. I discovered Native Way: https://www.nativewaywatersports.com/ Dealing with this outfit is nothing short of first class. Try the Rays, Reef and Rum Point excursion: they meet you at the dock with a sign, take you to a small yacht and once on board, you are given an extensive lunch menu and asked to select what you would like for lunch; lunch is then radioed to Rum Point while you are sailing. The first stop is Sting Ray Island; I can never get enough this place – how can you not love the rays, big and small! Following some great stingray play, you are taken to an area for snorkeling: the snorkeling had a great variety of beautiful fish and coral, with the added plus of many starfish on the ocean floor. You are provided with a little bait if you like – just feeding the fish and having them swim all around you is amazing! Back on the yacht, you are taken to Rum Point, which is a nice beach area. Your lunch is piping hot and ready when you arrive, and FREE wifi and a nice beach area to swim are included. Once well-fed, you are back on the yacht for a final open ocean snorkeling area with live coral then back to the starting point… what more can say; I keep repeating this excursion because it is awesome and doesn’t get old. Falmouth, Jamaica: what used to be a rundown port has been given a total facelift. Not much if you walk around town, but for some special fun, book yourself a tour with http://www.yardietours.com/ . I have used Yardie for years, and Kevin, the owner, is very professional. Let yourself go and give “river boarding” a try. This excursion is a well kept secret and people think is very difficult, but put your fears aside: you are outfitted with safety gear and given your board; after a short walk carrying your board, you arrive at the point where you get in the water. They give you instructions, demonstrate and then you lie stomach down on a board, practice a bit, and when the guides feel everyone in the group is ready enough to be safe, down the river you go, holding onto the board – a little like boogie boarding in a river but with handles on the board, safety equipment and guides to keep you from injury with the rocks and white water. What you need to know is that this is the same river that people kayak and tube down, but on the board, you are up close and personal with the river and having so much more fun and control. The rapids are small, and you will have a blast. Following the excursion you are taken to a nice beach area where you can grab a bite to eat (your own cost), change clothes, relax… go for it – you do not need to be in great shape to do this easy and fun excursion. Ocho Rios , Jamaica – At one time this was a port that I wanted to avoid; however, over the past few years, the community has finally realized that it needed to clean up its act if it wanted tourist dollars. This was my second stop in a year in Jamaica and I was very pleased; booked again with with Yardie Tours (a superb company http://www.yardietours.com ) and organized a Blue Hole (if you need more info on this gem of a place google “Blue Hole) fun day. Wow, what fun tells all. Roatan : this port has developed tremendously and is growing, with many activities – do yourself a favor and contact Island Excursions: http://www.islandexcursionsroatan.com/#/page/home/. Kevin, the owner, is an expat who has been in Roatan for many years and knows it all. His hotel, guides and kayaks are the best. Kevin’s team picks you up at the port, and you are taken to West Bay…there you are offered many options; for this trip I selected kayaking, snorkeling and hanging out. West Bay is a great place to snorkel or just hang out for the day; sure, it is filled with the standard tourist junk but very low key. What I like is that Kevin’s team will do what it takes for you to have a good time: he will serve you a fun meal at his Café, and on the way back to the ship will give you an island tour and take you to the best place to buy coffee. In addition, Kevin’s sister has a superb art and craft store next to his café – not the standard tourist junk but high quality nice souvenirs and paintings – save time to actually shop there because you will actually WANT what she is selling!… drop Kevin an email. Grand Turk –; highly underrated. Get away from the Carnival owned terminal and Margaritaville, and discover this little gem of an island. Get a map from the info booth in the cruise center before going outside the gate. My wife and I rented bicycles at the terminal;, however, I would recommend you walk outside the gate and rent a scooter instead. Very little traffic on the roads, easy to find your way and many beaches to discover. We biked to the lighthouse where you can stand on the cliffs overlooking the ocean, stopped at different beaches, saw lots of wild donkeys, visited Cockburn (downtown), Governor’s Beach (had time for a quick swim) and the John Glenn Capsule, great fun and easy port – do it on your own La Romana , DR – joined a massive group and did the Seavis Saona Special shore excursion ( http://www.seavisbayahibe.com/ ). It was OK, snorkeling was not that great but overall a pleasant day, included lunch; however, I would look elsewhere if I was to return. Samana, DR- I visited this port twice. It is a tendering port, a new stop for cruise ships and does not have much to offer that was close and easily accessible to the main dock. The main city area has a very limited shopping area, a few duty free shops but not much. The Dominican Republic has a lot to offer in terms of adventurous excursions, but to get to any of the places one would need more than a cruise ship day; most places were over 3 hours each way. On both my visits, I planned beach days. On my first visit I took a cab/van to a small resort – Hotel Atlantis – in Las Terrenas, on Playa Bonita. The hotel itself had a restaurant on the beach and plenty of beach chairs to enjoy the rays. Taxi ride to and from the resort was $120 and took 1 hour and 15 minutes each way. The beach was fair, not a lot of sand, but lovely (the day we visited the water was rough) and a small 5 minute walk from the hotel there was a picturesque cove. The restaurant offered us snacks and margaritas and we even tried to arrange for a massage (our masseuse never showed up). The margaritas were tasty and a welcome treat in the heat. Overall it was a nice day, but I would not recommend my first excursion. The second time I visited this port I responded to a Cruisecritic roll call and was one of 33 people that booked a day at Playa Rincon (which is supposed to be one of the 10 best beaches in the world). Getting to Playa Rincon is a challenge, there are two ways to get to Playa Rincon by boat or by car. You can google “Playa Rincon” and get tons of info as it is a very nice beach. By Boat: You must first ride a car/van about 45 minutes to Las Galeras beach, where you then get a ride by boat to Playa Rincon beach. The boat trip is about 10 minutes, that is what we did. By Car; I was told it was a lot shorter but a very rough road and will take about 1hr. The entire group 33 of us booked this with “Casa Dorado” they where very professional, I have a link to their website further below(see Samana) but the website does not tell the entire story. At Playa Rincon beach which is very lovely you can rent chair and shade for ($5.00/per chair) so be aware. On the beach there where a number of small places to eat and a place for a massage and renting Kayaks. Do not waste your money and pay for a snorkel excursion trip, you can snorkel for free right on the beach in the rocky area. Overall, I would make Playa Rincon my stop and not waste money on snorkeling or shopping. Very time limited due to the amount of people a lot of time was wasted waiting around but it was a nice day, suggest a group of no more than 10-11 and go direct to the beach at Playa Rincon.

I Flew into Regan National-- nice airport and took the metro to Chinatown where my I discovered a very cute Hilton “Motto” hotel... fun hotel lots to offer. 1st Stop- The National Portrait gallery in the afternoon- good but the visit was too short 2nd stop- A quick bite to eat 3rd Stop- Small group night tour of Washington monuments.... simple the best and only way to see the monuments without wearing out your feet. Great but only downside side is the darkness. Next day- Mad dash to the Holocaust museum, followed by the Spy museum, followed by the Treasury printing museum and ending the day at the Air and Space. Final day; visited my very dear friend and his wonderful family and then jumped on a plane back to Atlanta. A lot to see, walk-able but you need online reservations. Metro is very good, get the metro car.

Took the train from Vienna to Munich and arrived at the massive Hauptbahnhof. The walk to our hotel was interesting, as we had to navigate construction, narrow pavements and tons of other pedestrians, while maneuvering with our luggage. To make matters worse, our hotel room turned out to be a tiny room and due to the Euro Cup hosted in Munich, a room upgrade was out of the question. However, despite the initial challenges, our hotel was a little Oasis in a very busy city. With no definite plans, we reached out to “Old Reliable” - Fat Tires city bike tour. This was a great orientation and introduction to Munich, as the tour gave us a history of the city, hit some of the major sights, stopped to watch the River Surfing (hooked), ate lunch at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden, with a band playing “um pa pa”. The next day spent time in the center of town - Marienplatz - climbed the tower and ate lunch at the employees' cafeteria while listening to the the chanting of the Romanian soccer team fans. We made our way to “Alten Utting” - a bar in a decommissioned passenger steam ship perched high above street level on a disused railway bridge (closed until 4pm daily) and wound our way into the bizzare Schlachhofviertel district which is a large outdoor area that contains the Bahnwarter Thiel - abandoned tram & subway cars and sea freight containers. The area is widely used, painted and sculpted by a large variety of artists and is a lively area of bars/clubs in the evenings. We braved dinner at an interesting Afghan restaurant where bread is bigger than pizza platters; we also stopped at several of the multitude of middle eastern fast food outlets where I practiced my Arabic. We concluded our journey with a visit to the BMW museum and walked the picturesque Marienplatz subway station (yes we are weird, but it is the one of the most photographed places in Munich). We can not forget our wonderful hotel host, Jannis, who added so much joy to our trip.

Having been in Vienna before for a rushed 36 hrs, I planned four nights for this trip. Following extensive research I selected Hotel Erzherzog Rainer( https://www.hotelerzherzograiner.wien/en/index.html ) for my stay. We hit the jackpot - lovely place in a wonderful neighborhood and very close to the underground (Ubahn). The underground system in Vienna is very efficient, easy to navigate, and you can easily visit the sites. Bought the Week pass. For our visit we opted out of the Opera and Palace tourist sights and wanted to go off the beaten path after first, a visit to the amazing St Stephen”s cathedral. We climbed the south tower (343 steps) for great views, followed by the crypt and wonderful self guided audio tour of the inside of the cathedral.  Our second adventure was a return visit to the Old Danube for lunch on a self driven couch boat, followed by a stop at the Central Cemetery... Beethoven's final resting place.  On our final day we took on the subway U-2 line and located all the amazing artifacts at different stations, from art to motor cars and a space capsule.  A stop at the roller coaster restaurant where you can get served by a roller coaster and ended the day visiting all the dead at the Capuchin cry. The Nachmarlet was visited twice in the evening... lots of restaurants there to choose from, but our best meal was at the SOLD out hotel restaurant which is SOLD out nightly.

Took the bus from Split for a 3 ½ hr journey to Zadar, but due to bus mechanical failures, our trip took 5 hrs. Zadar is a 3000 year old city with strong roots to the Romans and Venetians. Once again Old Town was our resting place, as it allows us to see all the amazing sights plus easy access to some amazing eating establishments - seafood galore! Old Town is encircled by islands, coves, beaches and bays. We started touring in an “Eco Tuk Tuk” and got to see the largest Spinx in Croatia(interesting love story). Walked the largest Roman Forum on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea, climbed the Byzantine style St. Donatus Church bell tower and touched “the Pillar of Shame.” In the evening, we went to see the Sun Salutation and Sea Organ light show and listen to a tad of music from the Sea Organ. On a lovely boat trip, we walked the smallest island and least inhabited island of Croatia, swam in the Sea, were offered fruit and Prosecco on board. We ended our Zadar leg of the trip with a ride to the airport by the local professional basketball coach from Russia (ha). Put this place on your must list.

My lovely wife wanted to go back to Croatia, plans were made and we started our 19 day trip. 1st stop: Split Croatia - second largest city in Croatia, this lovely city lies on the Adriatic Sea. We stayed in Old Town, which is famous for the well preserved Diocletian Palace ruins. The palace was built in the third century and is the main tourist attraction. Old Town is a maze of winding alleys, but you can never get lost as all roads lead to the sea or the famous Golden Gate. Best to start visiting the Palace by going to the underground tunnels and then make your way to various ruins. Did not tackle the Bell Tower, but the very small Saint Domnius Cathedral was magnificent. To get great views of the city, we felt strong and climbed Marjan Hill, visited the local beach Bacvice and often walked the Riva(seaside walkway where everyone hangs out). Did a white water rafting trip and actually jumped from a cliff into the river (crazy Half-Day Rafting Experience on Cetina River with Cliff Jumping and more) Besides very good restaurants, we discovered one of our favorite dishes (pork knuckles) at the local market and enjoyed the meal at our lovely airbnb.

Arrived at Guatemala city airport easy exit and met my daughters. Our first stop was the lovely lake Atitlan but rather then hassle the 3 plus hr drive in congested traffic we opted for a once in a lifetime transfer helicopter ride, booked the helo ride with “Hasa Mipos 2”, wonderful outfit and the pilot and I had a great conversation. Lake Atitlan is beautiful, but getting around is challenging as you need to ride the boat/bus which is a tad rough and takes you to different towns... the towns vary in size and modern luxurious are hard to find, Tuk Tuk are the main means of transportation. Every town on Lake Atitlan has a slightly different feel to it and is known for different things, from handicrafts to food specialties. The town of Panajachel was heavily influenced by seafood, with a plethora of seafood stands and restaurants dotting the shoreline. In contrast, the town where our Airbnb was located was mostly full of restaurants serving grilled meats and stews (and of course pizza, pizza everywhere!). Following a few days at Lake Atitlan(san Juan de la laguna) it was time to move north the the town of Antigua which is surrounded by volcanic mountains, the town has survived numerous devastating earthquakes and the city streets are all cobblestone and the buildings are no higher than one level. Visited the ruins of massive cathedrals and the view of the mountains is lovely. My final stop was the coastal village of El Paredon, once again a 3 hr ride on mostly winding roads. El Paradon is a very small village and not much except a very nice beach with massive waves. Our modern hotel “Ka'ana surf” filled all the squares and had both surf and boogie boards for us to enjoy. The black volcanic sand was hot and the ocean was warm. Not much in the tiny village but a vist to the turle lagoon is fun. Overall; Food- Good and very tasty, accommodations- 2 airbnbs, 2 hotels all 4+ stars, transportation- a huge challenge, traffic and winding roads. People- friendly but English not widely spoken. Be aware ATMs are hard to find and besides the capital, many places use cash only. Bottom-line probably wouldn't do a repeat visit.