by Dawnielle Jacobson | Jun 5, 2015 | news
David McGuffin’s Exploring Europe Tour and Travel News
June 5, 2015
Grüß Gott from Salzburg, Austria! Even though the Austrians speak German, the phrase Guten Tag (good day) is not the common greeting. Instead, Austrians use Grüß Gott meaning “may God be with you.”
I’ve logged a lot of miles in the last month. I’ve traveled to Italy, Scotland, Germany, and now Austria. Before I set foot back home on the sandy soils of Florida I will have led tours in seven European countries. I must admit, this is a pretty good gig I worked myself into!
Salzburg is one of my favorite small towns and it is a great place to experience on foot. It also has a rich musical history, from Mozart to the Sound of Music. Read about my recent trip to Salzburg here.
Visiting Salzburg is fun anytime of year, however the place comes alive at Christmas time. Charlotte and I sponsor a Christmas market tour every year around the first week in December. It features cool weather, classic destinations, local craftsmen selling their wares in wooden stalls, fantastic food and warm drinks, and a noncommercial ambience. The sweaty tourist crowds that I experienced today in Salzburg are totally replaced at Christmas time with locals and savvy tourist experiencing the joy of Christmas. Think about joining me this December in Germany and Austria for my Christmas markets tour.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | May 22, 2015 | news
May 22, 2015
Among the many attractions of the City of Light is the Louvre. It is one of the largest and most-visited museums in the world. With over 30,000 pieces of art spread across more than 650,000 square feet of gallery space, visiting the Louvre can seem like a daunting task. Of course you’ll want to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus to Milo, but how do you know what other pieces to see and where to look? Today I am sharing my PDF Louvre guide book: a two-hour guide to the best art. Download the guide here.
A Short History of the Louvre
The Louvre wasn’t always a museum. It actually started out as a fortress in the late 12th century. The city quickly outgrew its defenses, and the Louvre fell into disuse. Construction began on the building that you see today in 1527, and the palace continued to expand as the royal collection of art grew. When Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles, the French court moved away from Paris and the Louvre once again started to fall into disrepair. With the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789, the newly created National Assembly decreed that the Louvre be turned over to the government to become a national museum open to the public. The museum’s doors have been open since August 10, 1793, though at the time it only had a little over 500 paintings, many of which had been confiscated from the royal family and the French nobility.
The Art of War
Napoleon renamed the museum after himself and filled it with artistic spoils of war as his armies swept across the continent. Most notable was a set of antique bronze horses from the façade of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice which he placed on the triumphal arch outside the Louvre. After his fall in 1815 much of the artwork was returned to its rightful owners.
More dubious art dealings took place at the Louvre under the Nazi regime. As the Nazis were coming, conservators at the Louvre hastily packed up thousands of pieces of art and scattered it across the country. When the Nazis arrived, the only things left were a few sculptures that were too difficult to move. However, the Nazis soon found a new use for the building, using it as a clearinghouse to catalog, package and ship art and personal items confiscated from wealthy French (primarily Jewish) families back to Germany. Since the Louvre had resisted working with the Nazis it was not very successful in repatriating its lost artwork.
Want to experience the Louvre firsthand? Sign up for a 2016 tour to France. Details here.
by Dawnielle Jacobson | May 8, 2015 | news
May 8, 2015
Spotlight on Italian Cuisine: Tuscany
I tend to find that cuisine in Tuscany mainly consists of heavy and hearty rustic home cooking. It’s all about simple food prepared to taste great. You’ll find fresh vegetables, superb olive oils, grilled meats, unleavened bread, and all the cured ham, salami, and sausage you’ll care to eat. Finding a place to eat is not difficult because there are a slew of restaurants, sandwich shops, and wine bars in every town. Add tourism to the mix and the places to dine multiply. Culling out the best from the just “ok” takes some research. Click here to see some of my favorite dishes and some food highlights from my recent trip to Tuscany.
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And the Winner is…
Congratulations to Cora Bartholomew, the winner of the Tour Scrapbook Contest! She will be traveling for free on an Exploring Europe trip of her choice. Congratulations to the runners-up as well, Diane Schnoover and Elizabeth Powell, who won gift certificates good toward any upcoming tour. For more information on the winners and to visit their websites, click here.
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It’s never too early for Christmas!
Why not spend this Christmas in Germany and Austria? Join David on his Christmas Markets Tour and you could take a sleigh ride in the hills, stroll through markets filled to the brim with ornaments, enjoy a cup of mulled wine, and visit a snow-covered castle. This tour fills up quickly, so sign up today!
You can hear a fist-hand account of this tour and see tons of pictures by visiting Cora’s winning tour scrapbook website.
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Save on Last Minute Travel
Save 15% on any Exploring Europe tour marked with the last minute discount. Currently, tours departing in May and June are discounted. Visit Europe now and take advantage of the excellent exchange rate. See a list of tours here.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Apr 17, 2015 | news
Your Adventure Starts in the Kitchens of Rome
One of the best things about traveling on an Exploring Europe tour is the food! Eating well is a priority and all tours include breakfast every morning and half of your lunches or dinners. The next few newsletters will feature food from around Italy. See some of the outstanding restaurants that I have discovered on my quest for fresh and local dishes.
Want to experience these delicious meals firsthand? Join us on the next Best of Italy tour!
The Italian Experience
While visiting Italy, you’ll not find many “ethnic” restaurants featuring food from other parts of the world. As a general rule, Italians eat “Italian” food. However, this can differ widely from what we Americans know as “Italian.”
In Italy, each region has its own cuisine that changes with the seasons. For example, you’ll not find fresh porcini mushrooms in the spring, summer or winter… only in the autumn when they grow wild in the forest. You wouldn’t have a hearty stew in the summer and melons would not be on the menu when they are out of season.
To get the most out of your dining in Italy one must get away from the tourist menus, eat the regional cuisine, and eat with the seasons.
When in Rome…
I like to do a little research before dining anywhere. It’s a great idea to take suggestions from guidebooks and trusted travel websites when making a decision as important as where to eat. In general, Romans eat hearty meals. The pizzas, tomato pasta, and Alfredo sauce we eat at home are not typically Roman. Find places that offer Roman specialties, in Italian, on their menus and you’ll know you’re getting the real Roman meal deal. I’ve listed some of my favorite dishes from Rome and shared a bad dining experience on my blog. Find out about the delicious food you can sample in Rome and where NOT to eat here.
Delta Flight Sale
Traveling to Europe in the next month? Check out Delta’s Last Minute Europe Sale. This is the perfect opportunity to join one of our upcoming tours: Essence of Italy, The Best of Italy or The Best of Ireland and Scotland.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
by Dawnielle Jacobson | Apr 3, 2015 | news
APRIL 3, 2015
Skopelos is an island on the eastern side of Greece, in the Aegean Sea. The island shot to fame in 2008 as the filming location for “Mamma Mia.” As you tour the island you will recognize many settings from the movie, especially the Agios Ioannis chapel, perched atop a rocky outcrop that juts into the sea. But to the locals, Skopelos is known for its beautiful landscapes. Every beach boasts beautiful clear blue water, white sand or pebbles, and green pines. You can see the sunrise on the eastern beaches, then cross the island and see it set in the west.
It takes a bit of doing to get to Skopelos Island. From the port of Agios Konstantinos it is a three-and-a-half-hour scenic cruise to Skopelos Town. I suggest departing on the earliest ferry (about 9 am) which will get you to Skopelos Town by midafternoon. It also might be a good idea to pre-book a hotel or B&B, especially if it’s in the busy summer tourist season. Once settled in, take a walk in the historic town center, get a bite to eat for lunch at one of the harbor-front cafés, and maybe visit a church or two. Read more…
Ready to see Skopelos for yourself? Join me this summer on The Best of Greece Tour.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
