Features

I spent a week in September ’04 self-cruising up Ireland’s Shannon River, stopping each day to wander about and enjoy some of the ruins, great scenery and picturesque towns.The Shannon empties into Lough Derg, a huge recreational lake. With many marinas and small villages around the lake and along the river, it is a popular place for Irish families and travelers alike to putter about on pleasure craft.

The boats

Two modern cabin cruisers from the Shannon Castle Line (Williamstown Harbour, Whitegate, Co. Clare, Ireland; phone +353 61 927 042 or visit www.shannoncruisers.com...

by Donna Jurado, San Francisco, CA. Photos by Joan and Elena Jurado.

My daughters, Joan and Elena, and I were enthralled, watching the strutting display of a male ostrich hoping to impress his intended mate. His face, neck and legs were an intense bright pink during this breeding season. Suddenly, our guide diverted our attention across the grassy savannah, where several lions were engaged in the hunt. The inevitable happened and a hapless zebra soon became lunch for a hungry pride.

We drove closer and observed the lions in their grisly rite. Finally they emerged from the...

Do you speak French? No? Then perhaps German? Not to worry, everyone you meet in Luxembourg will also speak English — and most likely Spanish. However, a phrase in Luxembourgish, the national language, best describes the citizens of this grand duchy: Mir wölle bleiwe wat mir sin, or “We want to stay what we are.” What they are, these Luxembourgers, is fascinating — so much history, so many languages and so little acreage.

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is slightly smaller than Rhode Island at 999 square miles. But do not let its tiny capital city of 82,000 people fool you. With 189...