Journeys Viaggio

Discover Alaska with its endless landscapes of grandeur… the abundance of animals here is nothing short of astonishing- from whales and otters in the sea, to moose, bear, and caribou on land, and majestic eagles circling in the sky. You can stand witness to the best of Alaska’s glaciers and fjords. And not to be missed is Denali National Park, the largest national park in the US. It will leave you breathless!

Juneau, Alaska

Glacier Bay National Park

Eagle- Sitka, Alaska

Denali National Park

Denali National Park

The best way to experience the wonders of Alaska is through a combination of land touring and cruising. Ideally plan to spend 12-14 days sampling this ‘Great Land,’ (Alyeska, as named by native Aleuts).
http://www.signaturetravelnetwork.com/TTE/3/970/2.2/13210#/30

The 2012 Giro d’Italia begins May 5th. This will be the 95th edition of Giro d’Italia. It will start in the Danish city of Herning, and end in Milan, covering a total of 3500 kilometers over the course fo 21days, from May 5th-27th.
The Italians have claimed the coveted pink jersey 66 of the 94 previous Giro d’Italia events.

Italians Michele Scarponi, Ivan Basso and Damiano Cunego have all been crowned Giro champions and will be looking to stay in contention. This 95th edition has been billed as wide open, which will add to the excitment.

With the summer Olympics in London, Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee… London is bursting with excitement for months to come. Believe it or not, hotel space is still available as is air from the West Coast. And participation in the special events ongoing in the city of London this summer can be blended with day trips to the many charming, easily-accessible villages outside of London proper. For example, Bath, Cambridge, and Oxford are all within an easy, short train ride.

Some highlights clickable below!
http://www.signaturetravelnetwork.com/TTE/3/970/2.2/0#/28

Traveling with AmaWaterways is truly an experience… the ships feature lounges lined with panoramic windows, outdoor decks with similarly stunning views, and comfortable and inviting furnishings throughout. Daily shore excursions take you to the heart of each destination, visiting famous landmarks as well as hidden gems. You can also enjoy local entertainment, unwind in lively bar areas, and taste delicious regional food prepared by award-winning chefs. Complimentary wines, beer, and soft drinks are served with meals.

When on a river cruise, the journey is often just as captivating as the destination. The constantly changing 360 degree views are always fascinating and beautiful.

For more information, click the link below!

http://www.signaturetravelnetwork.com/TTE/1/970/2.2/0#/33

Join me on a cruise and tour of the world’s ancient captials: Istanbul, Athens, Jerusalem, and more. The Nautica accomodates about 650 guests, and has a warm and welcoming country-club-casual atmosphere. See flyer link below for details and dates- now updated for November 2012! Hope to hear from you soon!

Oceania Nautica Cruise Flyer

Two of Italy’s finest arts-cooking and ceramics-are wonderfully combined in the tradition of Buon Ricordo plates. You’ll find them in selected restaurants all over Italy, where, if you order the chef’s special, you’ll receive a plate that’s uniquely designed, with a whimsical painting to symbolize the meal and location, so you can take home a Buon Ricordo (Good Memory) of your experience. Over time you could collect enough plates to set your table for your next dinner gathering of friends and family!  (by the way, you can sometimes find some of these plates in the flea markets in Italy)

The plate tradition began when the Unione dei Ristoranti Buon Ricordo set up a non-profit association in 1964, to promote the value of Italian regional cuisine. All Buon Ricordo restaurants go through rigorous testing and monitoring to ensure that they uphold local traditions, serve high quality food, and are welcoming to diners. Now there’s over 120 Buon Ricordo restaurants, and they’ve expanded to Japan, Hong Kong, and other European countries-ranging from family run trattorias to high-end restaurants. We like the Italian plates best. They’re made by the Amalfi Coast based Ceramica Artistica Solimene company, famous for its superior work, so they never break, and even if they get a chip, it just adds to their character.

http://www.buonricordo.com/;lng=en