Seated on the rocks at the edge of Copenhagen harbor is a hauntingly lovely statue of a mermaid, who looks longingly toward the land. The statue symbolizes “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Anderson, the fairy tale of a young mermaid who fell in love with a prince who lived on land, and often came up to the edge of the water to look for her love. This cherished icon is one of the most beloved and photographed sites in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In the Hans Christian Andersen biography, he is described as an author, fairy tale writer and poet, noted for his children’s stories, including “Thumbelina,” “The Little Match Girl” and “The Ugly Duckling.” During his lifetime he was acclaimed for having delighted children worldwide, was feted by royalty, and even met Charles Dickens, much to the delight of Andersen. Though his poetry and stories have been translated into more than 150 languages, their quality was not immediately recognized and initially they sold poorly. Though the Hans Christian Andersen birthplace was Odense, he lived at Nyhavn canal for a number of years.

Nyhavn canal district is one of the jewels of Copenhagen, Continue reading →

So what is transatlantic cruising? In the simplest terms, it is America to Europe or Europe to America by ship. When you are planning a European vacation, one option is to fly over, then return home via cruise ship. YMT Vacations has teamed up with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and whether you travel to Spain or Northern Europe, they offer an opportunity to complete your journey in style with transatlantic cruising!

The history of transatlantic cruising goes back to the early 1800s. The earliest ocean-going vessels were not primarily concerned with passengers, but with cargo. The Black Ball Line in New York, in 1818, was the first shipping company to offer regularly scheduled service from the United States to England, and to be concerned with the comfort of their passengers. In 1840, Britannia left Liverpool with a cow on board to supply fresh milk to the passengers on the 14-day transatlantic crossing. Pleasure cruises began in the 1840s, and a new industry began. Continue reading →

It’s time to go on vacation. You need the rest, the relaxation, and you’ve always wanted to cruise the Mediterranean. So it’s time to do some travel research, to plan your trip. What’s the best way to do that?

These days, the internet is a great way to find travel information. You love to research travel, to find out about new places. You go to the internet search engine and just type in “travel Athens.” There’s a local site called Greece-Athens. You look at the Acropolis, and historic districts like the Plaka, the Monastiraki and Thissio that sound fascinating, but need some study. This all sounds very intriguing. You check the Wikipedia travel entry. You’re making notes about Mediterranean vacations, and quickly compile a list of about 20 places around Athens you might want to visit. Whew, there’s a lot of information here. And you’ve got the rest of Greece and lots of other Mediterranean islands to check out. Continue reading →

 
The Dutch call is gezelligheid. It means “coziness” or “homeyness;” that pleasant sense of belonging. It’s what draws locals to Amsterdam’s ubiquitous brown cafes named so for their smokey interiors and time-worn wood paneling. There are said to be more than 1,000 of these cafes throughout the city including one that has not closed its doors since it opened in 1574. These are the places were conversation and brew flow liberally; social sanctuaries where you can order a jenever and listen as the locals debate the topics of the day.

Everywhere you look Amsterdam is a city that charms and welcomes you — from the dinging of a million bicycle bells to the blooming of a sea of tulips. Wander into a local bistro where you can grab a beer and a uitsmijter (an open ham and egg sandwich) or search for a leather-bound piece of history in a musty, second-hand bookstore. Listen to the sounds of a carillon of bells echoing off the cobblestone streets or take a stroll on a pleasant summer’s evening along a labyrinth of canals twinkling with thousands of lights. Continue reading →