Alaska, I've been dreaming of her for years. The legendary beauty...a place where there is wildlife, glaciers and mountains in epic proportions. Unspoiled, unobstructed, unlike anything I’ve experienced before.... finally I had a chance to turn my own travel dream into a reality.
In August of 2009 I took a Princess cruise up the inside Passage which offered an amazing look at Alaska's coastline and extended my cruise by adding a rail tour to Denali. My voyage of the Glacier itinerary originated in Vancouver, British Columbia and would carry me through the Inside Passage, terminating at Whittier. My trip included a train trip along Alaska's frontier land and terminated on board the Diamond Princess. Once aboard the ship I quickly settled into cruise ship life filled with a bustling casino, on board entertainment; a spa, swimming pools and, of course a number of bars and restaurants. Although the cruise ship experience was familiar to other ships, the breathtaking views were unlike anything I have ever seen before. Standing on the deck of the ship overlooking the wall of blue-gray ice and rock of Glacier Bay made me wonder if this was what Heaven might be like. There was a sudden "stillness" that settled over the land and suddenly it was followed by a muffled "boom!" as a grinding, sliding piece of ice poured in a mammoth avalanche which slammed into the water below I watched as the ship plowed through the frigid waters of Glacier Bay National Park and Gulls wheeled through the air, while chunks of glittering ice littered the water of the narrow passage, giving the entire scene a wild and artic look. Gray skies and a light mist welcomed us as we toured the towns of Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway where we had the chance to tour, shop and explore each ports' Historic Districts. Each port is an easy walk from where the ship was docked. A few minutes north of Juneau, the capital city, was Mendenhall Glacier, a 13-mile river of ice that ended at Mendenhall Lake. A tour of Mendenhall Lake consisted of a visit to the visitors' center, hiking trails and a view of the most beautiful bluish wall of glaciers I have ever seen. The tour of Skagway was a combination of history and tourism. It is the gateway city to the Klondike, a visual treat of frontier architecture. With streets filled with souvenir and gift shops, selling everything from tacky T-shirts to high-end jewelry and furs. Alaska, the experience was priceless! To find out more about this destination, Princess cruises and Alaska's itineraries and land-based cruise tours, log on to www.ahymantravelnetwork.com
1 Comment
I invite you to come with me as I re-explore the sights, sounds and awe- inspiring experiences of my trip to "unforgettable China". Day 1 Beijing As I arrived in Beijing, the capital and cultural center of China, I immediately realized I was in a place where virtually every boulevard and building was a step back in history. The tall buildings and the number of people living in a small space where people were literally on top of each other immediately shocked me. After a long plane ride, and a bus ride that seemed more like being locked in a traffic jam on the world's longest "parking lot" I looked forward to a good nights rest and then off to see the sights of Beijing. Day2 Beijing Today we experienced a full-day tour of the sights and sounds that make Beijing a spectacular destination. Among the sights visited were the Forbidden City, home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors and now a repository of precious art and antiques, The Temple of Heaven, famous for its elegance and symmetry, and the Summer Palace, an oasis of tea gardens, pavilions, painted corridors and shimmering Kunming Lake with Empress Dowager's eccentric marble ship. Day 3 Beijing One of the world's most magnificent sights and one of the Seven Wonders of the World is the Great Wall, which snakes along nearly 4000 miles of impossible steep hills and harsh, rugged plains. Today's excursion gave us ample time to explore the Wall and marvel at the manpower that went into building the world's longest structure made entirely by hand. Day4 Xi'an It is impossible to overstate Xi'an's importance in China's history. Here began the fabled Silk Road where a string of dynasties made their capital and where a Neolithic culture built a village 6000 years ago. The highlight of this trip was the excavation site of 8000 Terra Cotta Soldiers buried around the tomb of Emperor Qin, builder of the Great Wall and other massive endeavors. Our day was rounded out with stops at the old City Gate and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Xi'an is truly a vital center of history, culture and archaeology. Day5/ Day 6 Shanghai Today we board the plane for our trip to Shanghai. Shanghai is the largest and most cosmopolitan city. Our time in Shanghai was spent visiting popular shops and restaurants. A full day tour included a trip to the riverfront Bund where foreign traders left a legacy of European- style buildings. One of the highlights of this day was a trip to the beautiful Yuan Gardens. Our day ended with a native dumpling dinner cultural show, a perfect ending to a perfect day Day 7 With new insights and fond memories of the shopping trips, the educational seminars, the cultural shows, the authentic foods, the beautiful gardens and landscapes and a preview of the 2008 Olympic sights, we board the plane with new found memories of an unforgettable china experience. Machu Picchu – The Lost City
The desire to explore more exotic, lesser known destinations was the driving force to make me want to visit Peru. In the past decade this destination has grown in popularity, the third largest behind Brazil and Argentina. Even before Peru’s move into the spotlight, mention of the country brought one thing to mind: Machu Picchu. The ruins of this stunning 15th-century city tells of the Inca Empire at it’s height and remains the country’s signature attraction. Machu Picchu is a must see at the heart of the tourism industry and it was a must see on my bucket list. Machu Picchu has something for everyone, for archaeology buffs and for those travelers who have an interest in lost worlds, this destination will not disappoint. I was amazed at the site’s remarkable location, pristine –almost untouched- look, which explains its appeal and the steady stream of tourists. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu stands nearly 8,000 feet above sea level on the eastern slopes of the Andes. The remarkable site is hidden in the dense tropical forests of the upper Amazon basin. The ruins range along the high ridge surrounded on three sides by the Urubamba River. The first sight of Machu Picchu is awe-inspiring, especially since there is no visible clue of its existence from below. Our tour guide, and I highly recommend you get one, told us that depending on the time of day and the weather, the mountain is sometimes clothed in an eerie mist. On the day we visited it was a picture perfect day and we were able to clearly experience the vast panorama view of massive stone structures, thick walls and winding staircases rising at staggered levels along the side of the mountain. Machu Picchu has around 200 buildings arranged on wide parallel terraces around a huge central square . There are numerous stone stairways set in the walls, which allow for access to the different levels. The city is roughly divided into an agricultural sector. The most important structures, including the temples, palaces and the main square displays the sites primary archaeological treasures including the Temple of the Sun, The Temple of the Three Windows (with a fantastic view of the Andes in the distance) and a ritualistic carved rock (sun dial) that functions as an astronomical agricultural calendar. There are a few options for getting to Machu Picchu. You can take the train from Cusco for a day trip to the ruins or take the train to Agua Calientes and overnight in that small town and then take the 20 minute bus ride along a narrow winding road up to the ruins. For the very adventurous, you can set out for a 2 hour hike up the mountain to the ruins. If you are in good physical shape, you can forgo the train ride and hike the challenging trek along the legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, but I warn you it is not for the faint of heart. Machu Picchu, as I mentioned was on my bucket list, the hike was not. The Peruvian government limits the number of hikers on the trail to 500 a day. Guides and advance bookings are mandatory. It helps to visit the ruins early in the morning or late in the afternoon when there are fewer visitors. I highly recommend this destination, To read more about Machu Picchu, search Google for more websites. To find out about recommended hotels visit: (www.machupicchuhotels-sumaq.com/hotels) To read more about my adventures in Peru and to see comments concerning my visit and my reviews on Trip Advisor#TeacherAgent101 |
AuthorAudrey Hyman is the owner and CEO of the Hyman Travel Network, a full service travel agency located in the suburbs of Washington, that specializes in cruises and all inclusive vacations Archives
January 2018
Categories |