New Year's in Geneva, Switzerland

Happy New Year!

My 13 year old stepson Nicholas just spent 5 day with us in Geneva during his first trip to Europe. We had such a fun time despite the foggy cold weather. Have a look at a few of our photos!

We were dog sitting a Keeshond in addition to our Australian Cattle Dog mix and Chimaltipoo. This is in front of the ice skating rink at Parc des Bastillions.

A walk through downtown Geneva

Nicholas is checking out the Flower Clock at the Jardin Anglais.

A visit to the St. Pierre Cathedral is very interesting; and the long walk up the stairs to the towers is rewarded with amazing views!

Lake Geneva (Lac Léman en français) is always beautiful, and the Jet d'Eau is a memorable landmark.

Treasure Travel embarks on an AmaWaterways Rhine River Cruise

Me! All bundled up cruising through the Rhine River Valley

For one week in November, we cruised from Amsterdam to Basel on the AmaSerena on the Rhine River. While it was a somewhat chilly trip, we were warmly enriched by the culture, scenery, food, and wine.

Amsterdam

Our home away from home

AmaWaterways's crew on the AmaSerena did a wonderful job making us feel welcome and well served during our time on the ship. With just 82 cabins on this vessel, you receive plenty of personalized attention and fantastic service. After a week, we had made friends with many of the staff and other passengers.

Double balcony cabin - a perfect place to watch the world go by

A special evening at the Captain's Table

Wine is included with lunch and dinner on all AmaWaterways river cruises. You are encouraged to spend time away from the ship at the ports so you can be immersed in the local culture and enjoy the many included excursions.

Taking photos

Heidelberg Castle

Cathedral in Cologne

Our itinerary began in Amsterdam, Netherlands where we embarked through the man-made canals prior to entering the Rhine River in Germany. Our stops included the ports of Cologne, Rudesheim, Speyer & Heidelberg, Strasbourg & Kehl, Breisach & Freiburg, and finally Basel, Switzerland.

Cologne, Germany

Cologne is a lovely city!

Freiburg German Christmas Market

We were happy to learn the German Christmas market in Freiburg had just opened!

Christmas Markets just opened in Freiburg

Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberg Castle

Heidelberg was my favorite stop -- a beautiful town with so much charm and so many gorgeous views! Excellent food and beer can be found there as well. While visiting the castle, we were treated to a light snowfall.

Sunset on Neckar River in Heidelberg

Snowing at Heidelberg Caste

33% alcohol beer Vetter 33 with Käsespätzle (cheese noodles) in Heidelberg

Rudesheim, Germany

Rudesheim is a charming quaint village with some wonderful wines and locally made brandy. We loaded up with some great red wines, reislings, sparkling whites, and brandies from the town.

Rudesheim, Germany

Rudesheim Wine Cellar Tasting Room

Rudesheim, Germany

Rhine River Valley vineyards and scenery

Rhine River Valley castles and scenery

Drinking Rudesheimer coffee with a warm blanket while watching the Rhine Valley scenery

This part of the journey was the most scenic, so everyone was sure to stay on deck to enjoy the passing views. The crew passed out warm blankets and hot Rudesheimer coffee (which is made with flambéed local brandy) to keep us toasty.

Rhine Valley Reisling Grapes, Wineries

Rhine Valley Scenery and Castles

Castle

Castle

Rhine Valley scenery

Neckar River in Heidelberg

Heidelberg streets

Heidelberg - view from the castle

We had such a fabulous trip that we have decided to invite our friends, family, and clients on a Rhône River wine cruise in the South of France on the AmaDagio for Thanksgiving 2016. This unique sailing will be hosted by Barry and Kim Wiss of Trinchero Family Estates from St. Helena, California, and features complimentary lectures, wine tastings, exquisite cuisine and wine parings, and excursions to historic vineyards and wine cellars. More details at www.adventuresbytheglass.com or www.trytreasuretravel.com.

Azamazing Evening - a rare and private performance at Ephesus

Turkish Carpet Weaving in Ephesus/Kusadasi

The answer is YES! I did buy an angora carpet in Turkey!

Azamara Journey Ocean View Stateroom (Obstructed View)

More photos and details to come. Take a peek inside our stateroom on the Azamara Journey.

Athens and the Acropolis

I know it has been ages since my last blog post -- for that I apologize! Business and life have been so busy, which is a good thing!

I'm currently traveling in Greece! I arrived Friday evening in Athens, and spent two nights here. Later today I will be embarking on a 10 day Greek Isles cruise with the boutique luxury line Azamara Club Cruises. I have a great traveling companion (my mom), and am looking forward to the Seminar at Sea to learn more about this unique brand of cruise experiences.

Here in Athens, we're staying at the Grecotel Pallas Athena -- which is one of the boutique properties belonging under the Small Luxury Hotels of the World brand collection. This property is a very clean, lovely hotel with excellent staff and service. Our room is well appointed with a fantastic mini bar. Breakfast was outstanding with a great selection of cheese, pastries, the famous Greek yogurt, eggs, meats, etc. And it's just a short walk to the Plaka where you begin your uphill journey to the Acropolis.

As you know Athens has been having a lot of economic trouble, and this can be felt around the city. Shop owners admit to being stressed in these times, but they are very pleasant and helpful nonetheless. Shopping and food are a great value, so you can expect to find great prices. We decided our main objectives in the city are to visit the Acropolis, enjoy the wonderful cuisine, and try to recover from jet lag.

Visiting the Acropolis was truly amazing, and should be on every visitor's hit list. Your entry ticket of 12 Euros gives you access to a total of seven ancient sites and museums. The hike up to the top is hot and dry, so bring plenty of water, and wear a hat and sunscreen! The Parthenon and the other associated ruins set a spectacular stage for enjoying stunning views across the city to the Aegean Sea.

Thanks for checking out our blog. You can visit our Facebook page for more photos and to follow our travels. Stay tuned for updates from our upcoming Greek Isles cruise!