Europe's charms are enhanced by seeing it through brother's eyes

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TRAVELING WITH A FAVORITE LOVED ONE  ENHANCES A TRIP THROUGH HIGHLIGHTS OF SOUTHERN EUROPE'S FAMOUS CITIES

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

SEEING FAVORITE places with people you love makes the journey special, enhancing each museum, meal and hike. As Labor Day approaches to signal the end of summer, we recommend considering a trip to Europe with someone you've wanted to travel with. Prices drop along with the temperature, children are back in school and crowds are gone.

From left, Keller, Cookie, Rick and Jane on a walking tour of Roman ruins.

Keller and I had a bonus on our recent trip. We were joined by my brother, Rick Cosgriffe, and his partner, Jane Milder. It was an unforgettable 14 days, and I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything.

Seeing, experiencing, tasting -- immersing ourselves in the newness of travel -- is a sensory experience in any case.

Enjoying the art, food, music, historic monuments  and seaside resorts with loved ones is even more special.

WE BEGAN planning the adventure nearly a year before it materialized.   We coached Rick and Jane on the trip long before they boarded the first plane of several connections. We prepared them for this fact: Things will go wrong.  They did. We advised them to roll with the punches. They did.  

PASSPORTS needed to be renewed.  Tickets had to be made both for the cruise portion and the air travel.  Hotel reservations had to be secured in both couples' names.  There were check lists and "to do" lists and reminders to line up pet sitters, garden waterers, house checkers and all the minutia that comes with planning any trip.   Moreso, when the trip is to another continent.

SINCE PART of the trip was an 11-day cruise, land tours needed to be agreed upon and chosen.

Booking early is essential to avoid sold-out tours in favorite port cities. This took hours of planning.

AS DETAILS fell into place, we soothed Rick's and Jane's worries.

Classic sculpture greeted our travelers each day in Florence and Rome.

Growing up, Rick and I found our family travels helped us gain a deeper understanding of the world. I wanted this for the two of them.  It came to be, and was  thrilling to experience the newness, to visit cathedrals and museums with the four of us together as I revisited favorite haunts with someone I've known since his birth, his longtime partner and my husband. 

A tuk-tuk ride with a friend was a special thrill for Cookie and Rick, foreground, with Keller, Jane and our driver friend in the back.

Traveling together challenged the four of us to adapt to one another while expressing our preferences and desires. We made sure to honor everyone's preferences so we could relax and fully enjoy our new surroundings. We collaborated on restaurant choices, engaging with hotel personnel and taking suggestions to enhance our adventures.

We helped one another feel comfortable in new surroundings and when Rick and Jane really wanted to do a particular tour or see a particular museum, we compromised. We also surprised them a number of times, with special excursions, including a tuk-tuk ride through Lisbon. 

View from a boat ride: The quartet approached one of the early Roman bridges in central Rome.

TRAVELING TOGETHER immersed in new sights, sounds, tastes, and textures, it is important to listen to your fellow travelers.  We drew them out, asked them for their observations, which triggered conversation and anecdotes. My brother remembered finding a charming gelato shop from a previous trip to Europe. So that became a mission as we went off the ship.

Keller, Cookie and Rick near the harbor in Ibiza.

WHAT I LOVED most about being with my two favorite fellas -- spouse and brother -- was sharing our observations about places both familiar and new.  Discovery and anticipation are great parts of travel, and finding a new museum or art gallery is  a terrific bonding experience. Rick, a gifted ceramic artist,  found a pottery studio during a stroll through the village of Le Castellet in southern France.  

And there Jane discovered that she'll never settle for anything less than a French inspired cafe au lait, when she sipped a delicious five-franc cup in the village.

General manager of NCL's Viva, Nelson Martins, is pictured in center rear, with guests on a recent Mediterranean cruise. At left are Rick and Keller with Jane and Cookie at the "GM Table."

THE EVENING most special in our memories came with an invitation to dine with Viva's general manager, Nelson Martins, at his table.

We had a fabulous time, and recommend Viva for anyone looking for all that cruising offers.

Fun cruise on NCL's VIVA 

www.ncl.com/about/contact-us

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Elegant porcelain pottery -- unique hand-painted floral art -- by retiring artist Rick Cosgriffe. It will be sold this weekend at his studio home in Billings, Montana. Details soon.

UP NEXT:  Porcelain artist Rick Cosgriffe (featured above) is parting with his cherished collection of hand-painted pottery.  He apprenticed on the California coast with artist Jim Hayes many years ago, then studied sumi painting in Berkeley and Portland, Oregon, before returning to his native Montana.  His prize-winning work is in many galleries, praised for its nature inspired beauty and fine detail.  We profile the artist, who is the writer's brother, and share particulars on his show in Billings featuring unique hand painted platters, jars, vases and tea pots. Meanwhile, explore, learn and live and check us out for a fresh spin on the arts, family, performance and nature: www.whereiscookie.com

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