Having a Ball on a Baltic Cruise
There may be no city on Earth as ornate as St. Petersburg, rising over water on 19 islands, lined by bridges and canals. (Click on the article's main title to read the whole.)
Switzerland’s Triple Treat
There's much to remember about Switzerland. In particular, my wife Barbara and I recall visits to three famous cities: Basel, Zurich and Lucerne. Each has a distinct character. (Click on the article's main title to read the whole.)
Viking – The Thinking Person’s Cruise
Viking, and other river cruising firms, don’t compete with ocean liners. No playrooms, no casinos, no pools, and, given its nature, no child passengers. (Click on the article's main title to read the entire article.)
The Magic Flavour of Bruges
By Kenneth Bagnell Photos by Barbara Bagnell A handful of European cities call themselves the Venice of the North. Probably only one truly deserves the descriptive: Bruges, ancient in history, Flemish in origin and capital of Belgium’s region West Flanders. Bruges’ rich past is apparent in timeless walls and old waterways, but also an ageless atmosphere hovering in the streets, something you sense immediately. After all, Bruges was given city status in the 1100s and dates its birth to the 9th century. Being so old and so well preserved, it’s natural that Bruges’ medieval centre is one of the UN’s World Heritage Sites. Its artifacts are not just steeples and spires, but the very stones you step upon; some, it’s...
Amsterdam – a city borne up by tolerance and time
As the world knows, Amsterdam is a banquet of cultural pleasure. Consider two indicators: it has more than 50 museums and offers 40,000 cultural performances and events a year. (Click on the article's bold title to read the complete story.)
Rolling on the Rhine
A river nourishes the land but also the human spirit, especially if -- like The Rhine -- it flows past evocative and restful scenes: Soft hills, ancient castles and timeless villages with old steeples and climbing vineyards. (Click on the article's bold title to read the complete story.)