If you're traveling from North America to Europe this summer for any length of time, you're probably considering a rail pass. They're not cheap but they are a great value if you'll be traveling by train multiple days. (On some railpasses, your travel days must be taken over the period of so many days; other flexipasses allow you to use your designated days of train travel over a longer period.) The train system is a delight; it's such a joy to get away from the airports...plus no early check-in time. You'll arrive right in the heart of the city at most destinations, another budget saver. Here's a video we shot between Vienna and Prague about traveling by rail pass:
Bob Marley remains one of the most recognizable symbols of Jamaica. His birthplace and final resting place is located out in the countryside in a community named Nine Mile, a day trip for Ocho Rios visitors. Last summer, we took the Chukka Caribbean tour from Ocho Rios to Nine Mile and shot this video which includes a look at the simple home where Bob Marley was born. Our tour guide was "Captain Crazy." You'll see him singing at the start of this video, accompanied by Bob Marley's uncle, the man who gave the reggae star his first guitar:
We've toured Jamaica's Rose Hall (located just east of Montego Bay) many times and never seen a ghost...but the historic greathouse does give you the creeps just a little! There's a portrait in one downstairs room (detail, left) of several children who have never been identified although many psychics believe the girl in red is Annie Palmer, former mistress of the house. It's said that no matter where you stand in the room, her eyes will follow you...
Any why is Annie Palmer scary? The legend goes that Annie came to Jamaica after living in Haiti with her parents and voodoo-practicing nurse who taught Annie voodoo skills. After her parents died, the story says Annie moved to Jamaica, married the owner of Rose Hall, and murdered several husbands as well as slave lovers in this very home.
Romantics headed to San Antonio, Texas find plenty of good options along the River Walk. This video takes a look at The Watermark Hotel, an upscale getaway on a quiet section of the River Walk. Along with fine dining at the hotel's Pesca seafood restaurant, located at River Walk level, the hotel has an excellent spa with couples' massages that we recommend!
Even if you've never stepped foot in Texas, you might very well have heard of the tiny (and we mean really, really tiny) burg of Luckenbach (pronounced luke-in-bok).
Made famous by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and an always popular song, the town is home to a dance hall and a combination post office/gift store/beer joint.
Every Friday and Saturday night, you'll find something happening in this town that's just a short drive from Fredericksburg, the bed and breakfast capital of Texas.
On Sunday night we returned from a quick trip to Kingston, Jamaica to attend the annual JAPEX travel trade show featuring tourism developments around the island. While we were in Kingston, we had the chance to visit the Bob Marley House; the reggae superstar bought this home in 1975.
Guided tours take a look at the home (which houses a recording studio that he used and his children still use today), the grounds, and the former manufacturing plant that's now filled with photos, Bob's guitar, and a theater that shows a 20-minute movie on his life. This video takes a look at the property but doesn't include photos inside the home; they're not allowed.
In January, we spent four nights at Atlantis, Paradise Island, just across the bridge from Nassau. We'd visited this expansive resort two other times but it had enlarged again since our last visit, adding both The Cove (great for couples) and The Reefs (family-friendly). Here's a slideshow of some of our shots of the property.
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