TravelswithCharie

"Framed by mountains, crowned by the Hohensalzburg Fortress and divided by the turquoise Salzach River, the Salzburg landscape is pure drama.” Frommers This view

    Church of Santa Maria, Jeronimos Monastery, Belem

It's a beauteous evening, calm and free The holy time is quiet as a nun Breathless with adoration, the broad sun Is sinking down in its tranquility The gentleness of heaven broods o'er sea Excerpt from It's a beauteous evening by William Wordsworth

Mantalinga Island or Good Luck Island beckons from across the sea. Just under 20 minutes from Baybay beach in Roxas City, it's rocky shores, tidal pools and sweeping view of Baybay are enough reasons to make the short crossing.     Mantalinga Island

Pack your bags and travel now while the U. S. dollar is soaring in value against foreign currencies. This Frommers' article discusses the strength of the USD vs. the euro, the English pound, the Japanese yen, the Mexican peso and the Chinese yuan. http://www.frommers.com/tips/money-and-currency/the-us-dollar-continue-to-soar-against-virtually-every-foreign-currency-cutting-the-cost-of-rooms-and-meals-abroad In this article from Mashable, it seems the U.S. dollar is the preferred currency even in the afterlife. http://mashable.com/2017/03/30/usd-hellnotes-malaysia/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link#km0F8n1Nmaqf

There has been a lot of buzz lately about Mararison Island. For good reasons. How can one not rave about the crystal clear waters around the island and the long stretch of beach with nary a soul? Or the opportunity to take a hike up the hills for a panoramic view of the "land where the mountains meet the sea"?  We docked by the pile of ginormous jackstones which serve as breakwater for the island. Someday these will be properly redistributed so the beach will be well protected and halt the sea's reclamation of the beachfront.  The sea was calm in February when we visited Mararison. It didn't rain though the sky was heavy. And as it was low tide, the curving sandbar, Kawit, was visible from our open cottage on the beach. The hut rental was P300. After leaving our things in our cottage, we went in search for grub. We found fish and vegetables for sale just a short distance from the beach. And we were pointed to a

"Pleasant Verona! With its beautiful old palaces, and charming country in the distance, seen from terrace walks, and stately, balustraded galleries. With its Roman gates, still spanning the fair street, and casting, on the sunlight of to-day, the shade of fifteen hundred years ago. With its marble-fitted churches, lofty towers, rich architecture, and quaint old quiet thoroughfares, where shouts of Montagues and Capulets once resounded....."  Pictures from Italy, Charles Dickens, Chapter 8 The walls of Verona When Romeo was forced to leave Verona, he despaired: "There is no world for me outside the walls of Verona, except purgatory, torture, and hell itself. So to be banished from Verona is like being banished from the world, and being banished from the world is death."   Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Arena di Verona Still standing since the first century AD, the Arena no longer hosts gladiator fights but it still draws a crowd. It is the v

Miami Beach South Beach

Basilica of San Petronio and Piazza Maggiore

The European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for U.S. citizens after the U.S. failed to agree to allow visa-free entry to five members of the European Union namely, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Poland and Romania under a visa-free reciprocity agreement. "The vote urges the revocation of the visa-free scheme within two months." The European Commission has been given two months to take legal steps to require visas for U.S. citizens entering the EU. The Commission, for its part, advocates "continued engagement and patient diplomatic contacts".  How would this affect travel plans to Europe if the visa requirement is imposed? It will certainly add an extra inconvenience, acquiring a visa. How easy would it be to get one? How much will it cost? What is the duration of the visa? So many questions yet to be answered. If you're planning on traveling this summer to EU countries, you might want to hold off getting your ticket until the visa issue has been resolv

1. Visit Santa Monica Parish Church, a National Historical Landmark. 2. Try "puso", a specialty of Holy Grounds Coffee Shop located in front of the Church. 3. Go to Buntod Beach which has a commanding view of Olotayan Island. 4. Visit a heritage house, Balay ni Nanay Lording, and try their choriwich with thick hot chocolate. 5. Order pica-pica at Dante's Taberna on Friday and Saturday nights then dance the night away.

    View of Cebu City from the Marco Polo Hotel

    Eataly Milan Smeraldo

If you haven't decided yet where to go in 2017, here are suggestions from travel magazines and bestselling travel guide books for the best destinations in 2017: Condé Nast Traveler     Jeronimos Monastery, Portugal http://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/the-best-places-to-travel-in-2017

    Baybay Beach Two of my travel articles about Capiz were published recently. Check them out at the links provided below. 7 of the Best Things to do in Capiz https://waytogo.cebupacificair.com/things-to-do-capiz/ 10 Reasons why you should visit Capiz http://www.sunstar.com.ph/iloilo/lifestyle/2016/11/03/10-reasons-why-you-should-visit-capiz-506932 ***** Image by Charie

Here are some places and experiences you might wish to include when planning your summer travel. Plus an essential guide on tipping and a word about sayonara. Happy travels! France Art trains in France From Paris to Versailles (Condé Nast Traveler) http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2016-05-18/france-decorates-trains-to-look-like-versailles

Milan Cathedral, Milan  New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2015 Milan, Cuba, Philadelphia, Yellowstone National Park, Elqui Valley in Chile, Singapore, Bolivia, Faroe Islands, Macedonia For more of the 52 Places to Go in 2015 check this link:  http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/01/11/travel/52-places-to-go-in-2015.html?ribbon-ad-idx=2&src=me&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Europe&action=swipe&region=FixedRight&pgtype=article Lonely Planet Top 10 Countries El Nido, Philippines Singapore, Namibia, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Republic of Congo, Serbia, Ireland, Philippines, St. Lucia, Morocco For more on these countries and other top travel lists from Lonely Planet click here: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/countries National Geographic Best Trips 2015 Mont  St. Michel, France Corsica Medellin, Colombia Koyasan, Japan Maramures, Romania Haida Gwaii off the coast of British Columbia  Oklahoma