We welcome the Holy Father to the USA. Last week we brought our tour group to the Vatican to attend the weekly Papal Audience at St Peter’s where we had the privilege of seeing Pope Francis close up and listening to his sermon on the importance of family life.

Did you know that in Amsterdam the riverboats moor right next to the city’s major railroad terminal? This makes extending your Rhine or Lowlands tulip season river cruise a snap with easy rail access to cities of France, Belgium,Germany and even Great Britain.

​Amsterdam, like much of Holland, owes its life to smart water management. Distant dikes hold back the tidal North Sea and a system of canals become major freeways in and through for excursion boats giving tourists a wonderful view of the city.

This weekend, following a costumed procession through town, teams from the eight neighborhoods [contradas] of the Italian hill town of Montepulciano will compete for glory in the “Bravio della Botti” - a race rolling wine barrels over a mile up the main street of the town to the Piazza Grande.
At Piazza Grande, be sure to visit the Contucci Winery Cellars, famous for over 300 years for producing Montepulciano’s prized “Vino Nobile.” The cellars were built in the 13th century!

How to Experience Ireland on Your Own
Here are a few ways we can help you experience Ireland on your own:
1. B&B Vouchers. We can pre-pay you at over 900 3 and 4-star B&Bs. Your daily itinerary is unstructured and you just call ahead to book your next night’s room.
2. Pre-planned itineraries. Need a little structure? We can design your itinerary and pre-arrange your B&B stay as well as day tours and admissions.
3. Not sure about driving? We can arrange a professional driver for your and your group to take you on structured daily itineraries.
4. Always felt you were manor born? We have deals for itineraries that bed you each evening in elegant Irish manor homes or castles.
Please give Go Bucket List Travel a call at 804-557-3006 for more Ireland travel information and ideas and your 2016 early booking deals.