Your Travel Specialist On: A New Way To See The Old World

By MAUREEN JONES (Star Patcher)

An eternally adored destination, Europe beckons you to revisit time and time again but there is more to the continent than the readily recognizable cities that declare the largest dots on the map. The farther you fringe beyond the hubs, the more perfectly preserved Europe of yesteryear you will find.

One of the most engaging ways to reach these hidden ports is aboard a new 102 passenger National Geographic ship with eleven new itineraries next year. It will have a fleet of zodiacs on board, bicycles for exploring, and a world class expedition team with fine tuned knowledge for each destination. A National Geographic photographer will show you how to capture a bird in flight, and a naturalist will tell you about the different colonies of birds you will see on the voyage. Nimbly access six uncommon ports from quaint villages to spectacular natural settings where you can experience the Old World anew.

I love the itinerary of Algarve, Portugal, Skellig Islands, Ireland, Saint Malo, France, Gulf of Porto, Corsica, Gdasnsk, Poland, and the Orkney Islands, Scotland. No one has taken this route before. Unusual, off the beaten track, and well worth seeing.

In Portugal, visit the ancient city of Silves with its Moorish roots on the banks of the Arade River. Learn how the cork oak trees are stripped and sample a glass of Medronho, a fruit brandy.

Very few people have been to the Skellig Islands eight miles off the coast of Ireland. The National Geographic photographer and the naturalist will talk about the 50,000 birds which make the islands the world’s second largest breeding colony.

Saint Marlo, France, straddling Brittany and Normandy inhabits an inlet of the English Channel. This was once a haven for pirate ships with the highest tides in Europe. Your oceanographer guide points out how the sea helps shape the city and visit Mont Saint-Michael.

Huge red cliffs frame the Gulf of Porto on Corsica’s west coast. This area was chosen by Jacques Cousteau’s son, Pierre-Yves to study endangered grouper, rare red coral. You will attend a concert of the villagers in Piana, where polyphonic singing is carried out in the l8th century church.

The port city of Gdansk, Poland is historic for it was the place of the first battle in World War 11. The best Baltic amber jewelry known as Polish Gold can be bought here from sidewalk vendors.

The Orkney Islands is very different to the rest of Scotland, where I grew up. Steeped in Nordic history, and its Neolithic stone circle, the Ring of Brodgar is well worth seeing. However, they are not as breathtaking as the Callendish stones on Lewis and Harris in the Western Hebridean islands. The medieval St. Magnus Cathedral was erected by a Viking King. You can plunge into the sheltered Scapa Flow for a dive amidst the scuttled ships of a German warship fleet sunk in this spot. There are seven ships intact submerged between 39 and 147 feet below the water’s surface.

This itinerary is unique, a great learning experience, offering specialized wellness treatments to open seat dining and sprawling observation decks. Even if you are a world traveler, this is something different, taking you to sensational off the radar ports. Go look at our website www.allhorizonstvl.com at Offer ID M12709 and learn about all the other itineraries offered. There are several itineraries which are ideal for doing a back to back trip.
Definitely recommend boots and a brolly (umbrella).

Maureen Jones

Also from Maureen:

• Your Travel Specialist On: Going Behind The Curtain In New York City
• Your Travel Specialist On: Fiji - Where Happiness Finds You
• Your Travel Specialist On: How To Relax On A Yacht Charter In The Caribbean
• Your Travel Specialist On: Tasting Thailand

Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street, Los Altos. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.