tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91897393420093014422026-10-13T14:40:18.032-04:00Travel On The LevelInformation and advice for anyone who wants to travel with less strenuous walking and fewer stairs.Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-78075787115414272742019-03-01T13:24:00.000-05:002019-03-01T13:24:52.919-05:00Grand stairways are a Hallmark of Russia's Palaces and Museums: St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg is also a city of unnecessary steps, but oh, what beauty lies at the top. Or bottom, as the case may be. Usually both.
The Hermitage from the water
The Hermitage is the number one priority for most visitors. Second only in size to the Louvre, there are 3 million objects in its truly encyclopedic collection, thanks to the example set by mega collector Catherine the Great.
Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-8130660399347114252018-11-12T14:13:00.000-05:002018-11-12T14:18:43.720-05:00Grand stairways are a Hallmark of Russia's Palaces and Museums: Moscow
A guide said it best. "Moscow is a city of unnecessary steps."
Actually, that goes for all of Eastern Russia you are likely to encounter on a river cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg. We go to see the grandeur of the Romanovs and are faced with seemingly endless grand stairways to negotiate in addition to the expansive distances of palaces.
The good news is that the stairs are Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-36584118871371963212018-05-31T15:05:00.000-04:002018-08-17T15:04:01.057-04:00Meeting the Terracotta Warriors and their Horses
China's Terracotta Warriors are atop many a bucket list and worthy of the effort to see them.
Xi'an, about an hour away, is an excellent headquarters from which to start. It was the first capital of China thanks to the country's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (201-210 B.C.), who ordered the warriors for his tomb. Then named Chang'an, Xi'an served as capital for 13 dynasties until the Mongol Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-11212863355045943972017-11-08T10:19:00.001-05:002018-06-20T11:46:37.897-04:00Should Levelers Try an Expedition Cruise?
Lonely Planet declared 2018 the year of the expeditionary cruise.
As a Leveler, should you try one? If you have always wanted to, yes. Otherwise, maybe.
Expedition cruises can be expensive; they go to extreme areas that require special equipment and attire, skill to navigate and reach with limited accessibility. Serious expedition ships are smaller, less luxurious, without the Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-64335526817458096372017-11-02T15:09:00.000-04:002018-08-17T14:13:34.447-04:00Down the Danube from Budapest to Bucharest: Romania
Morning in Gurgiu
Unless you opt for an extension, Romania gets short shrift on the Budapest to Bucharest Danube cruises. Passengers disembark at Gurgiu in the morning and bus to Bucharest for the night before flying home. The cruise includes lunch, a tour and dinner at the hotel. However, with most flights leaving early in the morning (my friend and I had a 2:30 a.m. wake-up call) no one hit Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-57624994927045315152017-10-25T14:25:00.000-04:002018-11-05T10:25:43.511-05:00Down the Danube from Budapest to Bucharest:: Bulgaria
Ruse
We can walk from the ship to town center and our downriver speed has given us extra time to do so. Fortunately, our guide is ready and it is Leveler flat, although initially the surface is uneven in places.
Rose Freedom Square. Photos © by Judy Wells.
We come to the pretty Freedom Square, its park filled with flowers and monuments to soldiers surrounded by attractive buildings.
Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-39631536629576401272017-10-17T13:41:00.000-04:002018-08-17T14:32:10.497-04:00Down the Danube from Budapest to Bucharest: Serbia and the Iron Gates
The Danube and Valva Rivers meet in Belgrade. Photo © by Judy Wells.
Situating a settlement at the confluence of two rivers can be an advantage economically and strategically. The problem is, as we learned entering Kalemegdam Fortress in Belgrade, Serbia, everyone else wants it, too.
We didn't see an "attack here" sign, but in the past 2,016 years the city has been destroyed 77 times and Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-1543205578681971002017-10-12T09:34:00.001-04:002018-08-17T14:38:01.323-04:00Down the Danube from Budapest to Bucharest: Croatia
Vukovar
Following World War II, Marshall Josef Tito cobbled Yugoslavia together by combining a number of previously autonomous states. When he died, the struggle of those countries, beginning with Croatia and Slovenia, to regain independence brought simmering resentments and prejudices to the fore. The confrontations were ugly, in many cases involving ethnic cleansing, beginning at Vukovar Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-18348075138625078892017-10-06T15:40:00.000-04:002018-08-17T14:44:52.953-04:00Down the Danube from Budapest to Bucharest: Hungary
A nighttime cruise through Budapest with its Parliament a highlight for river cruisers. Photo © by Judy Wells.
River cruises are ideal for Levelers, especially if time and funds are limited.
• The scheduling, meals and touring are taken care of for you.
• There are no waves so no seasickness.
• Modern river ships not only have elevators (although on board you will rarely need to handle more Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-69530609096951692272016-07-19T14:31:00.000-04:002017-09-09T10:33:16.490-04:00Chapel Hill: Historic college, good beer and great food
Chapel Hill seen from the deck of Top of the Hill.
If cuisine is your thing, Chapel Hill, NC, is your place, Levelers. It's flat and full of mouth-watering options.
Situated as the southwestern base of the isosceles triangle that is completed by Durham and Raleigh, Chapel Hill is home to the University of North Carolina, one of the America's three oldest public universities, and Southern Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-21584863473233368802016-06-24T15:22:00.000-04:002016-06-24T15:22:02.079-04:00Raleigh shares the art of life
Downtown
Good food, good times, good art and music. Subtract misguided state legislation and Raleigh, NC, is a great place to visit. I was there for a four-day meeting this spring and began wishing for less meeting and more free time to explore, always a good sign.
Downtown is particularly full of things to do, see and hear.
It gets hot in the summer so start with a cold beer. Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-36305413589598596822016-06-08T14:37:00.000-04:002016-06-08T14:37:52.418-04:00Fun in Fayetteville
Levelers will like the gentle terrain around Fayetteville, NC.
North Carolina is so filled with interesting destinations that many worthy stops are ignored. Fayetteville, in the state's Sandhills area, is one. Levelers will find its gentle elevation changes easy going.
What are your interests? Patriots, the area's African-American or Gaelic history, adventure, antiquing, the Civil War, Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-63385368999221451702016-05-31T10:47:00.000-04:002016-05-31T10:47:57.618-04:00Amsterdam on the Level, part 4: Blooms Away!
I woke at 6 a.m. and listened. No rain. Looked out window to the slit of sky. Not as dark as previous mornings. Repeated the process in 30 minutes. Same results. Got dressed and was at the door when the ticket office opened. Keukenhof day!
It takes about one hour to get there and with the typical bus tour from Amsterdam you have three hours inside on your own.
Tip: I recommend a tour because Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-24039630081435112292016-05-23T14:19:00.000-04:002018-11-05T13:31:22.877-05:00Amsterdam on the Level, part 3What did I miss seeing this time in Amsterdam? A few fascinating things I'd seen before and a new list for next time.
I had already made a thorough visit to Rembrandt House Museum. The master lived here from 1639 to 1658 and the interior has been restored to its original state.
Even more important to connoisseurs, almost a complete collection of the 290 Rembrandt etchings that we know aboutJudy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-27273553423855355282016-04-21T17:03:00.001-04:002018-11-05T13:45:05.505-05:00Amsterdam on the Level, Part 2
Don't you want to know what the inside of these homes look like? Small museums give you entree.
Smaller museums are often overlooked in cities like Amsterdam where travelers allot perhaps two days to see and do what could take a month to cover. Too bad because many are a treat.
A treat but potential challenges for us Levelers.
I decided to find out which are worth the effort. It was my Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-7180951691011682302016-04-15T16:40:00.001-04:002016-04-18T10:02:44.502-04:00Amsterdam on the Level, part 1
You would think that a small country like the Netherlands which is either at sea level or below would be heaven for Levelers. It is, outdoors.
Inside, well, consider this. The Dutch ruled the seas and trade in the 16th and 17th centuries, creating untold wealth. All the money and dikes in the world could create only so much land, though. Space was extremely limited; houses were narrow and Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-90979417896371487492016-01-05T13:35:00.002-05:002016-01-05T14:02:34.678-05:00The Two Personalities of Jekyll Island
Marshes. Photo © by Judy Wells.
View from historic district pier. Photo © by Judy Wells.
On one side of Jekyll Island, GA, the Intracoastal Waterway is a
highway for boaters and the Marshes of Glynn a nursery for thousands of
aquatic species. The Jekyll Island Club, founded by America's industrial
millionaires who traveled here in their massive yachts for the winter,
welcomes Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-75011412197295853942015-11-02T14:50:00.000-05:002015-11-02T14:50:31.642-05:00Travel Writers' Travel Auction
See Rome, Paris, London or Istanbul the Rick Steves way.
Ride acrossCanada and back with deluxe accommodations from Via Rail.
Stay at the Peabody Memphis and star as its Honorary Duck Master.
Rick and the other members of the 60-year-old Society of American Travel Writers have once again assembled a stellar list of travel treats and Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-77333745594730541282015-09-03T09:39:00.001-04:002015-09-03T09:39:01.580-04:00Cambodia and Vietnam the Easy Walking Way
AmaDara on the Mekong River
I first was attracted to AmaWaterways by their three levels of excursions each designed for different levels of activity. Now, having taken one of their cruises, I am attracted to them by the quality of their ships, cuisine, personnel and also those different levels.
The trip to Cambodia and Vietnam is not an easy one. It seems to take forever to get there and evenJudy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-49268694563824430002015-08-12T09:19:00.001-04:002015-08-12T09:19:23.698-04:00Walking Easily Through Portland and Ogunquit, Maine
Maine is known for its rugged, rocky, hilly coasts and terrain, but don't let that deter you. You can get "the Maine experience" without risking limb or exhaustion.
Portland
Most appropriate that I barely caught my breath after arriving in Portland, ME, before embarking on a food tour. This city of only 66,000 people has 300-plus mostly independent restaurants. The combination of reasonable, Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-35572776189970045752015-07-23T09:15:00.002-04:002015-07-23T09:17:16.898-04:00Walking Easily Through the Canadian Maritimes
Nova Scotia
Clouds settle over Halifax harbor.
Getting there by air can be a challenge. Flying into Halifax, you probably will step down the airplane steps
and onto the tarmac. With luck it will be sunny and dry but Halifax is
known for its fog banks that roll in obscuring everything, delaying
flights and bringing cold, damp weather.
Factor in the friendly, hospitable natives, the Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-5757996209758555992015-06-05T11:24:00.000-04:002015-06-05T11:25:14.840-04:00Zion on the Level
Photo courtesy Xanterra Parks and Resorts.
Good news for Zion National Park lovers.
Zion Lodge has begun narrated tram rides through this spectacular canyon.
From April through October, only shuttle buses have been allowed on the park's roads. The only exception for visitors were lodge guests.
Until this summer. The tram departs from the lodge bus stop Mondays at 5 p.m. and Wednesdays and Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-62141927542306596562015-05-04T16:15:00.002-04:002015-05-04T16:18:22.243-04:00Take the slow lane through France on a hotel barge
Under bridges and through locks is a great way to see a country. Photo © by Judy Wells.
It took less than six nights to hook me on barging.
La Renaissance. Photo courtesy European Waterways.
• That I was on European Waterways' La Renaissance, one of the most spacious hotel barge in its fleet, helped.
Spring blooms were glorious. Photo© by Judy Wells.
• That spring was in full flower in Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-41665589564712310212014-07-16T21:41:00.000-04:002015-02-20T13:34:20.529-05:00Inside Atlanta
Ready to go for the greenest motorized tour in Atlanta.
Atlanta is a fascinating city with an interesting history, but it can be hilly and is hot in summer. This can present problems for Levelers, but I've found a solution. Just remember, touring a city you think you know can be an humbling eye-opener. I've been visiting Atlanta since I was seven years old, but on a city tour with Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9189739342009301442.post-50225510694320852352014-07-07T13:46:00.001-04:002015-02-20T13:28:00.307-05:00Atlantic City for Levelers
Diving horses are gone but the streets made popular by Monopoly game boards are still there. Photo © by Judy Wells.
Atlantic City, which may have been America's first beachfront resort, has been supplanted by newer, glossier destinations but it still offers visitors an interesting stay. After all, this city of 487,000 welcomes and entertains 20 million of us a year.
The good news for Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com1