Features

The ancient Roman ruin of Volubilis.

I had just returned home from a long and adventure-filled trip to Ethiopia and Southern Africa in November 2017 when I received a phone call from a travel agent friend asking if I would be interested in a trip to Morocco. I had traveled to more than a dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa over the previous three years, and, as luck would have it, I had vowed that my next African trip would be to Morocco, so I decided to keep the promise I had made to myself, even if it was a little sooner...

CONTINUE READING »
A tiger spotted!

On a recent Crystal Serenity cruise, I left the ship with six friends in Cochin (Kochi), India, for a 3-day excursion to Ranthambore National Park, one of several Indian tiger reserves. We would rejoin the ship in Mumbai (formerly Bombay).

Heading out

We started out early, meeting our tour rep on the dock at 6 a.m. We then drove to Cochin's airport, flew to Hyderabad and connected to another flight to Jaipur, where we were met at the airport and driven to the elegant Oberoi...

CONTINUE READING »
Mt. Ararat, as seen from near the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia.

I had been to Armenia and Georgia in 1974, when they were still part of the USSR, and when I met some fellow dermatologists from both countries at a recent meeting held in San Diego and they were kind enough to invite me to visit them, I declared the Caucasus to be my May 2018 travel destination.

Zulya Rajabova, President of Silk Road Treasure Tours, had arranged a superb trip to Uzbekistan for my wife, Yuki, and me, so she seemed the right person to call to plan this upcoming trip....

CONTINUE READING »
The Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Though less expensive, the high tea there was not up to the standard of that which we enjoyed at the Burj al Arab Jumeirah hotel.

Several years ago, I sailed on an expedition ship up the west coast of Africa, and it was the most difficult trip of my life. (The company even stopped offering it after our ordeal.) In 2017, I opted for a luxury cruise down the east coast of Africa, and it was the trip of a lifetime!

I decided to sail with Crystal Cruises (888/722-0021, www.crystalcruises.com) on the newly refurbished Crystal Symphony. My travel agent, Gina Morovati of NorthStar Cruises (Essex Falls, NJ; 800/249-9360...

CONTINUE READING »
A detailed pietà carved from radishes on display in Oaxaca.

Oaxaca is a great place to spend the winter holidays. During a 2-week, self-planned trip in December 2017, I found delightful weather, clean air and friendly people who loved to party.

And December is party month in Mexico. It starts with the Feast of Guadalupe on the 12th, followed by festivities for a local favorite, Our Lady of Solitude, and winds up with Christmas and New Year's celebrations. During this time, there are fairs, festivals, craft shows, parades, processions and...

CONTINUE READING »
Enormous carved walls and the doorless entrance dwarf visitors to the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Following a 2018 overland tour with Amazing Global Travel to see the ancient sites in and around Cairo (Nov. '18, pg. 6), Debi's journey continues with a cruise along the Nile.

I arrived in Aswan from Cairo early in the morning, and, once I was checked into my cabin aboard the Sonesta St. George 1, I departed with my new guide, Mahmoud Aly, on a felucca ride to the Aswan Botanical Garden, located on a small island off the eastern bank of the Nile.

Originally inhabited...

CONTINUE READING »
The Golden Pavilion in Kyoto.

After a 45-year hiatus, my husband, Phil, was eager to return to Japan, which had had a profound effect on him during a brief visit in 1972. And after a number of trips to other Asian countries, I was more than eager to visit it for the first time.

Our two-week trip began in early November 2017, a time we had chosen for typically good weather conditions and for the relatively few major holidays or festivals scheduled. However, as it was autumn-color time (magnificent), it drew crowds...

CONTINUE READING »
The facade of Kylemore Abbey.

Any travel adventure can be enhanced by staying mostly in one place and using it as a base to branch out to enjoy a rich and splendid experience, establishing a genuine connection with the local people. I found such an adventure in the west of Ireland, a place of wild beauty, ancient sites and welcoming people.

My October 2017 8-day visit, arranged by friends with County Galway connections, wins my strong recommendation for any traveler. The cost for each of us, including nearly all...

CONTINUE READING »