Paris Cafes, Hot Chocolate, and Macarons – Day 4
Day 4: Paris – I’m nothing if not repetitive, so I’ll say it again. When traveling abroad, slow it down if at all possible! Yes, it’s important to see the highlights but make absolutely sure you build in plenty of time to explore and get lost . We spent a lot of time wandering the streets of Paris on our own…the extraordinarily beautiful streets! Paris has some of the best restaurants in the world. Try not to miss the cafés and coffee shops as well. I’m pretty sure we found the best… Read More
Paris – Exploring the Louvre and Montmartre Day 3
Day 3: Paris Part One – We took a private tour of Montmartre with one of our favorite guides, Audrey, on Day 3. She was excellent and we learned so much about this special area of Paris. We especially loved the quaint, narrow, cobblestoned streets winding up and down this hilly area. Please note however that as charming as this area is, its steep streets are not ideal to explore for those who have mobility issues. The white Sacré-Cœur Basilica crowns the Montmartre area at the summit, which is the highest point… Read More
Paris The Eiffel Tower and Monet – Day 2
Day 2: Paris – There are far too many beautiful museums in Paris to enjoy in a week, but we were going to try. Day two began with a morning visit to the Musée de l’Orangerie where we got to enjoy Monet. We’d never visited this museum in past trips, and had no idea what to expect. It is stunning…so simple and elegant and L’Orangerie does an amazing job of displaying Monet’s most beautiful art in a way that we can sit and just take it all in. Amazing if you have… Read More
Paris Culinary Tours and Vintage Cars – Day 1
Paris! For years, I fought the temptation to “love” Paris because – well – everyone loves Paris. This almost always equates to an overwhelming number of tourists, crowded streets, shops and museums, tourist traps, and pickpockets. This famous “City of Lights” or also known as the “City of Love” however, has slowly chipped away at my resistance over the years, and I am finally brave enough to admit that I, too, love Paris! Join me on my little journey. Day 1: Paris – We took an overnight nonstop flight Chicago to Paris… Read More
The Scenic Jasper
The Scenic Jasper joined the fleet of Scenic ships in 2015. This 169 passenger ship was created with the intention of offering additional space dedicated to public areas, which makes for a more comfortable cruising experience. There are actually six dining options aboard the Scenic Jasper, which is an unusually high number. You can find a combination of fine dining as well as casual fare. As with most river cruise ships, I love that you can lounge or dine while enjoying views of the water and the towns and villages you are… Read More
Amadeus Silver III
Here is a quick photoblog of the Amadeus Silver III. Amadeus is a family run organization, and also one of the oldest river cruise companies in Europe. Though similar in size to most other river cruise ships, I found this ship to be rather unique in comparison. Take a look. Just a few views of the Amadeus Silver III from the port in Budapest. It’s lovely on a sunny day, with it’s soothing colors reflected in the water. Here are a few different stateroom categories, to give you an idea of the… Read More
Four Seasons Gresham Palace Budapest
The Four Seasons Budapest is situated right on the banks of the Danube River, directly in front of the gorgeous Chain Bridge. The entrance is open, light and airy, with several staff ready and waiting to welcome you warmly. Note the gorgeous wrought iron gate with peacocks adorning each side. The lobby itself is lined with over two million mosaic tiles. The decor is elegant but understated and unassuming. Bedroom: The bedroom at the Four Seasons was much more spacious than I had anticipated. European hotel rooms are often much smaller than… Read More
Viking Modi
The Viking Modi is one of Viking’s longboats – also similar in size to most river cruise ships. It tends to hold more passengers, however, with an estimated 190 cruisers versus its competitors, who sail with 150 – 164 guests in the same space. The Viking Modi showcases a Scandinavian design with lighter woods and and natural light. Their public spaces include a lounge-bar as well as a sun deck and an outdoor seating area in the bow of the ship with retractable floor to ceiling glass doors. I enjoyed the design… Read More
Avalon Envision
We had the opportunity to visit the Avalon Envision while in Budapest, and hope to actually sail on an Avalon ship in March next Spring. Here is a quick little photoblog but we should be able to share a much more detailed blog in March. The Avalon Envision measures the same as most river cruise ships. That said, there are two things in particular that make them stand out. First, they have created the one of a kind “Open-Air Balcony” concept. These are wall to wall and floor to ceiling windows that… Read More
AMA Verde
The AMA Verde is a sister ship to the AMA Magna, but is more traditional in size. That said, it offers a unique twin balcony design in many of its staterooms. One side is a French veranda with seating and floor to ceiling glass doors that slide wide open to create an “interior” balcony space, while the other side is an actual outdoor balcony with seating. This maximizes the interior space in typically smaller staterooms in such a creative way. I love the idea. Similar to other river cruise ships, it offers… Read More
Deena Gainor
Six Hearts One Journey 
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