Alhambra Palace
Moorish emperors of Andalusia constructed Alhambra in the 14th century on a hilltop overlooking Granada in southeast Spain as a palace and fortress designed to be “a paradise on earth.” This UNESCO site will treat you with its aromatic gardens, lively fountains, numerous reflecting pools, delicately carved columned arcades, tile works and views of the valley below.
Later it was here that Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain granted Christopher Columbus his charter and funded his voyages of discovery.
The American Author Washington Irving lived there in the 1820’s and wrote his “Tales of the Alhambra” which went on to motivate the Spanish government to save and restore site.
As Irving wrote about the Court of Lions with its 124 white marble columns : “It is impossible to contemplate this scene, so perfectly Oriental, without feeling the early associations of Arabian romance, and almost expecting to see the white arm of some mysterious princess beckoning from the gallery, or some dark eye sparkling though the lattice. The abode of beauty is here as if had been inhabited but yesterday.”
Alhambra draws millions of visitors annually and entrance tickets are limited and time controlled. We suggest a visit in the spring or fall to avoid the summer crowds and the heat.

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!