Discover Croatia

by Barbara Broadbent

This stunning and affordable destination has become one of Europe’s “hot spots.” Visit traditional mediaeval cities with winding streets, city walls and oldtown squares; historic monuments and beautiful Roman or Austro-Hungarian architecture; pretty islands easily visited by a superb ferry system; spectacular mountains, rugged coastlines and sparkling lakes. And although many areas are still visibly war-torn, the cities are still steeped in rich history and culture.

The capital, Zagreb, is divided into an Upper and a Lower town, and has a majestic Cathedral. Take an excursion to the Zarorje region to learn about the local traditions and visit the house of Marshall Tito. The lovely seaside resort of Opatija was once a summer retreat for Roman Caesars and the Hapsburg monarchs. Take time to stroll past the luxurious villas along the tree-lined seafront promenade.

Plitvice Lakes National Park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stunning forested hills enclose sixteen terraced turquoise lakes that change hues depending on the rainfall and are linked by spectacular waterfalls, wooden footbridges and pathways. The historic inner city of Split is built around the Roman Emperor’s Diocletian’s Palace … another UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. It was built from white stone from the island of Brac, marble from Italy and Greece, and sphinxes and columns from Egypt. It is more a labyrinth than a castle, with passageways and courtyards filled with cafes and shops.

Zadar is a major city southwest of Zagreb, and is a key transport hub to Croatia’s Adriatic Islands. It is home to the unique Sea Organ, designed by a local architect, an organ powered by the ocean’s waves. It produces whistles and hypnotic notes that increase in volume when boats pass by. The most well-known Croatian city is, of course, Dubrovnik, another UNESCO World Heritage Site This mediaeval baroque town dates back to the 13th – 16^th centuries. Its elegant marble streets, high city walls, and forts hint at the deep and tumultuous history of the area. Visit the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, the Rector’s Palace, Onofrio’s Fountain and maybe even walk the walls.

Did You Know?: February Travel News

by Barbara Broadbent

EUROPEAN FLIGHTS, both seasonal and year-round, will be expanded this year to include new destinations and more departures.

Transat Holidays, from Vancouver, will have 6 flights/week to London Gatwick; 4 per week to Paris; 4 per week to Frankfurt; 3 per week to Amsterdam; 2 per week to Amsterdam; and 1 per week to Manchester. London flights start as early as April 2, 2014. From Toronto, many other destinations are available, such as Birmingham, Dublin, Shannon, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Faro, Porto, Venice, Athens Rome, Marseille, Istanbul, with the newest one being Prague. Virgin Atlantic will be adding a 5th weekly seasonal flight from Vancouver to London (Sun., Tue., Wed., Thu., and Sat.). Air Canada is featuring their new Premium Economy Cabins on Vancouver/London flights beginning March 1, 2014, when they start using Boeing 777-300ER service.

This is in addition to Executive First and expanded Economy cabins. They are also adding four new destinations: Milan, Lisbon, Nice and Manchester, as well as adding extra flights to Istanbul.

MAZATLAN welcomes the return of 3 major cruise lines to its port this winter, greeting ships from Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Azamara Cruises.

Passengers can visit the new “tourism corridor” between the new Port and Old Mazatlan, stroll through the remodeled Plaza Machado, or catch a show at the historic Angela Peralta Theater. Stroll the beautiful Malecon boardwalk which is the longest in North America, or ride in an open-air taxi (“pulmonia”) exclusive to the city.

TRAVELLING SOLO WITH TAUCK doesn’t mean travelling alone, it means camaraderie, travelling with like-minded travelers who share similar interests. For 2014, Tauck is offering solo travelers special savings on all of their European river cruises, and on select departures of many of their land trips. They are also including four dedicated cabins for solo travelers in the design of two new riverboats launching later this year. Call us for details.

HONG KONG CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL. Many will remember the spectacular (and slightly scary) approach to the old Kai Tak airport over the densely populated Kowloon Peninsula and on to the runway that jutted straight out into the sea. The southern end of the old runway has now been transformed into a modern, half-mile long cruise ship terminal. The terminal’s two berths will be able to accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world (those too large to dock at the existing Ocean Terminal). A large, manicured rooftop garden with 360-degree views of the Hong Kong skyline will open to the public shortly.

AEROPLAN CREDIT CARDS. As I’m sure you have all heard, as of Jan 1, 2014, TD is now the official issuer of Aeroplan credit cards. Although TD becomes Aeroplan’s primary financial services partner, and credit card issuer, CIBC continues to be a co-issuer of Aeroplan cards. Those presently using CIBC will receive a letter from them explaining the new system. Regardless of whether members have transitioned to a new card, miles already accumulated through the end of 2013 will still be in your Aeroplan account. Please contact either of the Banks for full details.

Lesli's Lists: Europe’s Top 10 Scenic Rail Journeys & 1 Epic Journey!

by Lesli Heron

Europe train travel is all about efficiency and comfort but it is also about experiences. Some of the most difficult terrain has given us the most picturesque journeys. The following are some of Europe’s best scenic train routes. Not necessarily the fastest journeys—just the most memorable!

1. Sarajevo to Mostar Traversing superb Balkan scenery, the train from Sarajevo climbs to its highest point near Konjic. The descent into Herzegovina passes through dramatic gorges to the town of Mostar, famous for the 16th-century stone bridge that was destroyed during the Bosnian War in the 1990s and rebuilt. Duration: 2.5 hours.

2. Sweet Switzerland – The Chocolate Train. This train climbs from Montreux to the medieval town of Gruyères, home to the cheese of the same name and continues on to Broc. Bus to the Cailler-Nestlé chocolate factory for free samples before making the return trip. Duration: 9 hours

3. Tunnels Galore – The Bernina Express – Chur, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy. This narrow-gauge, vertigo-inducing train takes on seven-percent inclines, a 360-degree spiral, 55 tunnels, and 196 bridges—reaching an apex of 7,391 feet and then descending 5,905 feet before coming to a stop. Part of the route is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Duration: 4 hours

4. A Hotel on Wheels – Francisco de Goya – Paris to Madrid.

Leave Paris in the evening, enjoy a three-course dinner and the increasingly rural scenery, slumber to the soothing rhythm of the rails, and wake the next day as you arrive in Madrid, rested and ready to tour the third-most-populous city in the European Union. Duration: 13 hours

5. The Flam Railway – Flam to Myrdal, Norway. The Flam Railway, rising from a village on the shores of Aurlandsfjord, mounts a steeper climb than any other normal-gauge railroad in the world. In just 12 miles, the train climbs over 2,838 feetto reach the mountain plateau of Myrdal in under an hour. Duration: 1 hour

6. Bavarian Bullet – InterCity-Express – Munich to Nuremberg. Want to go fast? This high-speed wonder zooms you between two historic Bavarian cities at speeds up to 199 miles an hour. Duration: 1 hour

7. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – London to Venice. Step aboard and the calendar turns back to the golden age of rail on the Continent. Dine in authentic 1920’s carriages and share travellers’ tales over glasses of champagne. Awake to breakfast in bed and the stunning scenery of the Alps out your window. Duration: 2 days, 1 night

8. Central Rhine Railway – Bingen to Koblenz. Offering romantic German landscapes straight from a fairytale – castles rising above swirling waters, past the narrows where the siren Loreley sings sailors onto the rocks. Duration: 50 minutes

9. Glacier Express – Zermatt to St Moritz. On this route the chances of meeting a millionaire are higher than average as you curl between the eastern and western Swiss Alps, through pristine Alpine landscapes. Duration: 7½ hours

10. Andalucia Spanish steps – Algeciras to Ronda. Climb from Algeciras to one of Andalucia’s finest examples of a Moorish hilltop town via an ascent only made possible by a network of tunnels and viaducts before emerging in Ronda, perched high on the edge of a ravine. Duration: 1½ hours.

The Epic Journey – Trans-Siberian Railway – Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia
The world’s longest railway, an icon of Russian culture, crosses eight time zones and 16 major rivers linking Europe to Asia. Experience the diversity of the landscape, culture and people as you travel 9,288km. Duration: minimum 7 days

Travel Tips & Helpful Hints

by Wendy Fougner

PASSPORTS

Many countries do not allow you to travel with a water damaged passport. When travelling, make sure you not only protect your passport from theft, but also from liquid damage. You don’t want a note on fi le that you might be tampering with your passport.

It may sound like a broken record, but check your passport, check your passport, and if you haven’t lately, check your passport when you begin your trip planning. Lots of countries are beginning to change their requirements and are asking for passports to be valid for at least 6 months beyond entering the country. You don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute, or, worse yet, be denied entry when you get there. So when you are checking to see if you need a visa for travel, also check and see if there are specific passport requirements.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Over the last year, our agents have seen first-hand why travel insurance is important when traveling. Although no one plans to get seriously injured, or die, while on vacation, it does happen. You don’t want to be incurring huge costs that were never planned for. It doesn’t even have to be you that causes the change in travel plans. What if a loved one gets sick, or there’s some other crisis, and you have to cancel your trip or come back early? The scenarios are endless. Make sure you’re covered. Buy your travel insurance - it’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Navigating Nepal

by Lesli Heron

Nepal is an adventure seekers playground. Where else in the world can you go for a trek, paraglide, balloon ride, bungy jump off one of the world’s highest falls, bird watch, go for a safari in jungles home to one-horned rhinoceroses and royal Bengal tigers and still canoe or kayak in white water rivers or even try to ascend the world’s highest mountains? Nepal has travel choices not offered in many other destinations.

It seems you cannot go to Nepal without trekking some of the ancient pathways hidden in the barren Himalayan Bhots. In fact, most tourists throng to Nepal for this very purpose. In addition, Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, along with six of the ten tallest peaks in the entire world, lies in Nepal’s terrain making it ideal for trekking and mountaineering. 

Although more active excursions tend to be the norm for visitors in Nepal – trekking, cycling, and mountain climbing – there’s no reason to shy away from some of the cultural aspects of Nepal if you are a little more couch potato than outdoor thrill seeker. Temples and palaces dating back to 10th century AD, beautiful pagoda-style monuments in the Kathmandu valley, magnificent Buddhist stupas, art and architecture in the capital, Kathmandu, and festivals like the Kumari Jatra and Bisket Jatra are just some of the sites to see when not trekking. Nepal presents a myriad of attractions to tourists and locals alike – ranging from its scenic beauty and well preserved culture to the adventure opportunities throughout the country. 

Family Excursion to Scandinavia and the Baltics

by Wendy Fougner

A few years ago we embarked on a family vacation to new destinations with heritage connections. Our journey spanned seven countries in Scandinavia and the Baltics over the course of three weeks: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. A bit of a whirlwind though a thoroughly enjoyable trip with plenty of culture and novel experiences.

We flew from Vancouver to London, then London to Oslo. Upon arriving in Oslo, we took the train to our hotel. It was easy, convenient, and meant we didn’t have to immediately worry about driving or determining directions. It’s always worth checking in advance the best way to find your way from the airport to the city and your hotel.

Oslo was beautiful with loads of sightseeing to be had, both by car and by foot, and we did our best to take it all in. If you are looking to shop, there are plenty of boutiques with traditional fare and high-end clothing. As most people will tell you, Scandinavia is one of the more expensive places to visit in the world. So be prepared if you are planning on eating out – our first dinner cost us nearly $400 after the exchange rate! It was a bit of a shock. We quickly realized that preparing our meals was the way to go if we didn’t want to break the travel budget in the first few days.

We took a day trip to Lillehammer, home of the 1994 Olympics. This was a bit of a sentimental stop, as our youngest son was born during that Olympics. It turned out to be a quaint town with a lot of interesting shops, and residents in traditional clothing. A nice break from the capital, and I am glad we had the chance to see it.

Next up was Lom, which is approximately 4.5 hours from Oslo. The roads were quite narrow but thankfully there wasn’t a lot of traffic. The town is known for having one of the few remaining stave churches and for being situated amidst the tallest mountains in Norway. That might explain why we noticed a lot of summer snowboarding while we were there. That night we stayed in a nice three bedroom cottage where we were surprised to learn we had to rent sheets and towels. If you were planning to stay longer than one night, I would recommend bringing your own towels and sheets to cut some costs.

From Lom it was off to Flåm on an unbelievable drive through the mountains. There are a lot of tunnels in Norway, and the Aurland tunnel is 25km long with three halls. It’s quite the engineering feat and the world’s longest car tunnel. Flåm, a seaport town, is situated in a tributary of the world’s longest and deepest fjord. It’s a bit of a tourist hub, so the town is full of tourist boats, cruise ships, trains and various tour operators. We stayed in a new three bedroom apartment that allowed us to cook our own dinners. A collapsible cooler also allowed us to take lunches on our day trips, when possible.

After Flåm, we drove to Odda, a small town and the birthplace of Bruce’s father. Experiencing the culture there was important to us as a family, and we’re glad we had the opportunity to go there. Soon after, it was on to Sweden.

Our Swedish adventures started in Kalmar, a summer tourist destination. Although the weather had been great so far, it was much sunnier in Kalmar than the northern destinations. For a break from sightseeing, we headed over to the popular beach of Böda on the island of Öland where the kids had a great time.

From Kalmar we drove to the glassblowing region of Linkoping where you can watch some of the local artisans work. I was hoping this would be the place to get my signature souvenir of the trip; unfortunately, nothing really tickled my fancy. Luckily, our hotel was in a great central location, and once settled we decided to sit outside, have a nice meal, and take in the local goings on. It was interesting to note that in Sweden it’s quite popular to order your food at the counter and bus your table when you’re done.

Soon it was on to Stockholm, where we discovered our hotel was way out of town. The younger family members decided closer was better, and some made that happen. One of the fascinating sites in Stockholm was watching all the women that poured into the downtown district at night, dressed to the nines for a night in the clubs. Since our clubbing days are past, Bruce and I tended to settle for more relaxing pursuits. The next day we visited the Vasa Museum, which was one of the most spectacular museums I’ve seen. The museum houses the Vasa, a massive warship that sunk in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961 along with everything that was salvaged with the ship. The museum attempts to show what life would have been like on board the vessel, and it was certainly able to make an impression on every member of the family.

Next it was on to the Baltics with the first stop in Tallinn. Our hotel was a ten minute walk from the old city, so we enjoyed wandering around. From Tallinn we drove to Vilnius, an eight hour drive with lots to look at. Like most of the Baltic cities, Vilnius was more economical when eating out, so we took advantage and ate outdoors as often as we could. It provided a great vantage point for people watching. Our hotel in Riga was also just outside the old city and provided easy access to all the different squares to explore and enjoy the live music.

We did venture to the capital cities of Denmark and Finland and I found them to be like most European big cities – nice places to visit and much of the same. One place worth mentioning is the Carlsberg Museum in Denmark. I had an epiphany at the museum about art, culture and the ways of the past. They had Greek sculptures with replicas next to them of how they would have been painted previously. It was a moment of cultural understanding. And, yes, we also sampled the beer.

My favourite countries on this trip were the Baltics – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. They were charming with a vibrancy and busyness not felt in the Scandinavian countries. Perhaps some of it was because on the drives in the country I could get a sense of the way of life. This was not really noticed in Scandinavia because of the steepness of the mountains and the forests hugging the roads.

Aside from a couple of plane difficulties on the way home, we had a wonderful trip. As the children have gotten older and flown the coop, these larger family trips have become more precious. If you’re looking for somewhere new to travel, Scandinavia and the Baltics are worth visiting.

Windstar Cruises - 180° from Ordinary

by Barbara Broadbent

A few year ago, Ian and I enjoyed a wonderful week in the Mediterranean on Windstar’s Windsurf, a 5-mast luxury yacht. We sailed from Venice down the east coast of the Adriatic, ending in Athens.

Windstar’s award-winning service gives you the ability to choose, so you can enjoy what you like, when you like and with whom you like. Unusual and enchanting ports offer you glimpses through history, so you can make the most of your time ashore. Then return to your welcoming yacht to be pampered by the incredible crew. You can have a gourmet dinner, listen to the strains of festive live music, visit the WindSpa, browse the book and DVD library, enjoy the deep comforts of your oceanview stateroom, or stand on deck watching your latest port slip away into the sunset.

History comes alive in captivating Croatia. Our first stop was Pula, the largest city in Istria. Many buildings of the Roman period have survived, such as the 1st century Roman amphitheatre – the sixth largest in the world. Over the years inhabitants have been the Illyrians, Romans, Slavs, Venetians, the Hapsburg Monarchy, Austrian Empire and, in 1918, taken over by Italy. The area provides great diving opportunities, as well as walking and cycling routes.

Next stop was Trogir, founded in the 3rd century BC by Greek colonists. It developed into a major port during the Roman period. Again, over the centuries many countries were in power and, finally after wartime occupation by Italy, it was liberated in 1944. Trogir is the best preserved Romanesque-Gothic complex in all of Central Europe. One of the side trips while in port here was to Split, the second largest city in Croatia, and the heart of the Dalmatian coast. Facing the harbour, Diocletian’s Palace is one of the most imposing Roman ruins in existence, a military fortress, imperial residence and fortified town.

The last port in Croatia was Dubrovnik, whose story dates back to the 7th century. By the end of the 12th century, Dubrovnik had become an important trading centre on the coast, providing an important link between the Mediterranean and the Baltic states. Centuries of peace and prosperity allowed art, science and literature to flourish. A great earthquake of 1667 left the city in ruins, and killed more than 5000 people. Napoleon and his troops entered the city in 1806 and declared an end to the republic. The great city walls, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, are still intact and considered to be the fi nest in the world.

We then enjoyed a day at sea where we sailed further down the coast, taking in the Grecian countryside. We were able to raise the sails part of this time, and that is indeed a wonderful sight. The first Greek port was Pylos, a charming small town in a picturesque natural bay. The pleasant tree-shaded main square with its statues and cafes, and cobblestone side streets, make it hard to realize that some extremely bloody battles took place in the bay over the years. More than 6000 Ottoman sailors were butchered in what proved to be one of the critical battles in the Greek War of Independence.

Monemvasia is a well-known medieval fortress with an adjacent town, located on a small peninsula off the coast of the Peloponesse, linked to the mainland by a short causeway 535 feet in length. Its nickname is the “Gibraltar of the East” or the “Rock.” The town was protected by a fortified bridge carried on 13 arches, by a castle on top of the rock and by a circuit wall which descended from the top of the hill, swung round along the seafront, and up the hill again (thus enclosing the town on 3 sides). The city today is dedicated to tourism.

And so, our journey ended in Piraeus, port for Athens, which brought sad farewells, wonderful memories to savour later, new friends to contact another time and a wealth of knowledge acquired about this captivating area of the world.