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Travel Stories, Cruise Reviews, and Cultural Adventures


Free walking tours offer value and a terrific way to know a city quickly
Luiz, our fine Brazilian born guide in Porto, Portugal, took us around the city to its hidden corners as well as exploring its famous...

Christene Meyers
Dec 15, 20226 min read
Bonepile Bling! Artful treasures, unique jewelry emerge from junked vehicles
Artist Celeste Barnett makes jewelry of discarded car parts that are not suitable for restoration. Here in her shop and studio, she eyes...

Christene Meyers
Nov 17, 20225 min read


Amsterdam's canals offer relaxing time with beauty, intriguing history
In Amsterdam, your canal tour boat will slow down so that you can actually see seven bridges lined up. Bruce Keller took this photo at...

Christene Meyers
Nov 10, 20225 min read


Spectacular Porto bridge climb yields uphill climb, stunning views
Take your Porto visit to new heights with the Porto Bridge Climb, an unforgettable adventure over the Douro River. Scale the iconic Arrábida Bridge for breathtaking panoramic views of the city, coastline, and vineyards. It’s a thrilling yet accessible experience that offers a unique perspective on one of Portugal’s most scenic destinations.

Cookie & Keller
Oct 27, 20224 min read


Porto Food Tour - Eating a scrumptious trail with history lesson on the side
Our lively "Taste Porto food tour" guide, Ines, walks us through a colorful market, pointing out a bounty of fruits grown near the city, and offering bits of history, architecture and favorite dishes. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Carpe Kiem Kids Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers explore the streets of Porto in a pleasant food and walking tour with top-ranked "Taste Porto." Porto Food Tour - GLORIOUS FOOD! TOUR INCLUDES TASTINGS, HISTORY, WALKING,

Cookie & Keller
Oct 20, 20224 min read


Lisbon's Tagus Cruises showcases un things to do and spectacular coastline, monuments and more
Golden sunlight glitters across the wide waters of the Tagus River as boats drift past the historic skyline of Lisbon. A Tagus River cruise offers travelers a different perspective on Portugal’s capital—one where centuries of maritime history unfold along the shoreline. From the deck, you’ll glide past landmarks that once welcomed explorers returning from the Age of Discovery, including the elegant Belém Tower and the grand Jerónimos Monastery.
As the boat moves beneath the

Christene Meyers
Oct 13, 20224 min read


A general's dream: When and If' sails smoothly into immortality
When and If is a beautiful sailing vessel combining the best characteristics of a racing boat with the comforts of a sturdy yacht built...

Christene Meyers
Sep 15, 20224 min read


Cody's wild west show offers whiz bang theater
Wyoming's Wild West fun in vintage theater tells of Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley and more Dancing, singing, storytelling and a lively pace keep the audience entertained in Cody, Wyoming,at the popular Wild West Spectacular. The show just ended a successful run, based on the life of showman, soldier and entrepreneur "Buffalo Bill" Cody, after whom the town of Cody is named. A cast including college students and graduates, theater majors and professional dancers and singers e

Christene Meyers
Aug 11, 20224 min read


Van Gogh immersion yields lavish, hypnotic multi-media experience
Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh's life and art come to life in a mesmerizing show in Las Vegas. The show gracefully weaves...

Christene Meyers
Aug 4, 20224 min read


Ketchikan catch-up: eagles, waterfalls and a smuggling bordello
Ketchikan's Creek Street is as bustling now, differently than in the 1930s when booze and brothels were the order of the day. Now, it's...

Christene Meyers
Jul 7, 20225 min read


'Love Tour' takes visitors around San Francisco with a hippie spin
A VW bus is painted in colorful fashion as Christene "Cookie" Meyers and Bruce Keller enjoy a tour down memory lane to the summer of love...

Christene Meyers
Jun 9, 20225 min read
A dog's long, lively life : Nicky lives on as a fearless, loving Yorkie
Nick is surrounded by flowers on his 16th birthday. Even though he was virtually blind and had painful spinal and rear leg issues, he was...

Christene Meyers
May 26, 20226 min read


Hawaii's Lyman Museum highlights wildlife, sea life, Polynesian travel, rich island history
Hawaii"s fascinating history is told in striking exhibits and displays at Lyman Museum in Hilo HILO MUSEUM OFFERS WORLD CLASS STUDY OF...

Christene Meyers
Apr 28, 20225 min read


Natural History Museum is treasure trove in San Diego's Balboa Park
A patron pauses outside the San Diego Natural History Museum, where fans of nature and the natural world are treated to a variety of...

Christene Meyers
Apr 21, 20224 min read


Midway marvels: historic wartime vessel engages visitors in San Diego
Interested visitors come and go on the top deck of the USS Midway. Actor Tom Cruise in "Top Gun." Press promotion shots were made aboard...

Christene Meyers
Apr 14, 20224 min read


San Diego Maritime Museum offers ships, history, views, harbor tour
Ahoy, maties! A re-enactor tells tales of a sailor's life, impersonating explorer Juan Cabrillo, aboard San Salvador at Maritime Museum of San Diego. GO DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS AT A WORLD CLASS CALIFORNIA MUSEUM Christene "Cookie" Meyers and her brother Rick Cosgriffe aboard Pilot, which takes visitors on a fun harbor tour. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER IF YOU WANT a taste of the sea, with the vessels which explored the world, you won't find a better pla

Christene Meyers
Apr 7, 20224 min read


Celebrate each day, take the trip, book the train, take the cruise
Cruises to her ancestral homes -- Norway and Ireland -- were gifts to Ellen Cosgriffe from her daughters, Robbie, standing, and Christene...

Christene Meyers
Mar 17, 20223 min read


World famous Hilton Waikoloa a Luxury Hotel with art creates intriguing walk-through museum in resort
This larger-than-life-size chariot with driver is among 1,800 stunning artworks at Hilton Waikoloa Village. The resort acquired a multi-million dollar collection of fascinating multi-media artwork. MAGIC OF PACIFIC OCEAN LIFE INSPIRES UNIQUE HOTEL ART COLLECTION STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A classic selection of art pieces includes a variety of oars and weapons. Here, Bruce Keller admires them. A LUXURY HOTEL WITH its own museum. That's an apt description

Christene Meyers
Feb 17, 20224 min read


Food Tour - Dining delights in Key West: Munching a tasty, Cuban inspired path through town
Before the restaurant opened to the public, our small tasting group was invited in to El Siboney, a small, family-run eatery part of an enjoyable food tasting tour in Key West, Florida. Conch fritters are on the menu at Mangoes, a lively fish eatery in Key West. The walking tour features five fun restaurants and lots of local history. Pork, beans and rice are a staple of the Cuban diet here served casually at El Siboney. CUBAN FOOD, VINTAGE CARS, MUSIC, COFFEE SCENERY SUG

Christene Meyers
Jan 20, 20224 min read
Key West legends: Hemingway, Truman shared love of a unique place
President Harry Truman spent happy, relaxing times during his tenure, establishing a southern White House in Key West, and hosting...

Christene Meyers
Jan 13, 20225 min read
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