International Travel
"Ich reise gern"
Thank you to LonelyPlanet.com for many of the maps on this page
Austria
My favorite place in the world is Vienna. You must sit in the sidewalk cafe's and watch the world go by while enjoying a coffee or an ice cream.
I have not been outside of Vienna except on the train to Zurich. I would love to live in Vienna. Safe, clean, an absolute joy! Visiting Schönbrunn Palace is a must (took the self-guided tour)! The Belvedere Palace is another must see! I did not go into the Belverdere.
China
I spent five wonderful days at Beijing Normal University (BNU), Zhuhai campus in November 2006. The students were delightful and very interested in what U.S. students wear and do in their free time. Chinese students days are14-16 hours long. When they are not in class, they are at their spot in the library studying. This BNU campus has the only franchise management educational program in the world, the International Franchise Academy. Look forward to visiting again maybe for a longer stay.
Estonia
What a delightful five day visit in November 2005. About 00C and strong winds. Everyone was very hospitable and seemed excited about the country and its future. Lots of positive things going on in Estonia. The Estonian national hamburger chain has really good cheese hamburgers. The old towne center in Tallin was decorated for Christmas and it was very beautiful. Can't wait to go back.
France
Spent five days in France in July 2003. One day in Paris which is obviously not enough. Four days in the Brittany province which is very beautiful visiting Vannes and Malestroit. The coast in Brittany reminds me of the Oregon coast (US), rocky with beaches. The people in Malestroit were very nice and interested in meeting an American visitor. Had my first crepes in a Malestroit restaurant. Enjoyed walking around this peaceful town. Fell in love with the beautiful hydrangea (Blue) in Brittany. Hope to visit the Normandy coast in 2008!
Latvia
Spent two days in Riga in November 2005. Still cold as in Tallin, but it seemed to be less windy. Spent about half a day walking along the waterfront and another half day at the local market place observing people buying their food and other goods in an open-air market located in two huge buildings. A lot of government-type housing visible from the highway between Tallin and Riga.
Slovenia
Spent five days in Ljubljana. The weather was terrific except for the day we visited Bled Lake when it was overcast, cool, and rainy. Ljubljana is a very interesting city. Enjoyed walking around and seeing the sites in Ljubljana. Definitely need to spend time at the sidewalk restaurants and cafes watching life and people pass by. The Hotel Union was a terrific place to stay and offers great service.
Switzerland
Spent two days in Switzerland. Took the train from Vienna to Zurich, Zurich to Lucerne, and spent the night in Lucerne. Took the Golden Pass train the next day to Interlaken (very cloudy), spent a few hours in Interlaken, and then onto Montreux and Lausanne (better visibility that afternoon crossing through the Alps). Visited the Olympic museum and the downtown market. The next day took the high speed train to Paris. Would love to spend more time in Switzerland.
United Kingdom
Other than taking the Chunnel Train from Paris to London I have not been out of London. Been to many of the tourist sites in London and eaten lunch at the House of Lords, guest of the Rt. Honorable Lord Rooker of Perry Barr, PC. The box our truffles came for that lunch is on my desk. Favorite sites are the Eye of London and the Royal War Museum. Stayed at the Baden Powell hostel (founder of modern Boy Scouts). Look down before crossing the street so you look for cars in the correct direction (arrow points the correct way). Go to a local pub and eat some fish and chips and mushy peas.
Can't wait to return to the UK and get out into the countryside. My family immigrated from Braintree (Essex) about 200 years ago to Hartford, Connecticut.
Mind the gap!
Vietnam
Spent five days in Hanoi and two in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2008. It was a lovely visit and I met a lot of nice people from Vietnam and other places around the world. Hanoi was full of people and motorbikes. You have to learn to cross the street at a slow pace and don't stop so the motorbikes and cars can miss you. The De Syloia Hotel was a great and had a wonderful restaurant in the hotel. The people at the De Syloia watched out for us as tourists and made sure we only used Hanoi Taxi. The conference was at the Hilton Opera and was terrific! Morgan Layberry the food and beverage manager at the Hilton is truly outstanding and very customer friendly! The lunch buffet was the best food I have ever eaten at a buffet. Even the snack room on the main floor had good food and very attentive service. Ho Chi Minh City was more modern than Hanoi and very clean. The Palace Hotel was nice and in a good location with many shops and restaurants in the area. It was sobering to stand on top of the former U.S. Embassy where the famous picture of the helicopter evacuating people from the embassy was taken during the war in April 1975. The Mekong Delta region is very interesting for its agricultural production. Overall, a fantastic trip. Looking forward to returning again.