Spotlight On Meiringen
By Ted Heck Elementary, my dear Watson. There are clues everywhere to point out that Meiringen in the Bernese Oberland canton of Switzerland is a noteworthy ski destination. Sherlock Holmes died in the Reichenbach Falls in Meiringen during a tussle with his archenemy Professor Moriarty. Died temporarily, that is. Fans of the famous, fictional detective […]
Austria’s World Tourism Games Draws Big Crowd
By Ted Heck One of the best examples of all the sports fun you can have in the Alps in summer time was the World Tourism Games sponsored by the Austrian National Tourist Office in 2006. They pulled out more stops than an organist struggling with a Mozart composition. They left nothing to chance when […]
The York of Yore
By Ted Heck We Americans can boast with equanimity about our English heritage that was recently celebrated with the 400th anniversary of the settling of Jamestown. Citizens of the walled city of York in northeast England wouldn’t be impressed. They can go back in time 20 centuries and more, with a rich history that transcends […]
The Edifices of Edinburgh
By Ted Heck It had been 62 years since I first visited Edinburgh. The Scottish capital had gotten younger, with more spiked hair, face jewelry and tight jeans on the streets than we would see at a Britney Spears concert—if we were silly enough to attend one. Perhaps older folks among the city’s nearly five […]
Bed and Breakfast and Beyond Smiling Service in the English Countryside
By Ted Heck Richard Stewart of Keswick, a charming village in England’s famed Lake District, is more gregarious than a gaggle of geese. He has the right temperament to be host of a bed and breakfast with his significant other Linda Williamson. Connie and I found their Dunsford guest house in Rick Steves’ excellent guide […]
Switzerland Revisited
By Ted Heck Connie and I spent two weeks in Switzerland this spring, where I spent a couple of days on the slopes of Meiringen and a week in the gigantic Jungfrau Region. It was a trip I organized myself, showing that I sometimes fail to practice what I preach. In touting merits of membership […]
Cézanne’s Mountain Revisited
By Ted Heck It was a lot more comfortable seeing paintings of Mont St. Victoire this time than when I first saw the real thing 64 years ago. This time it was in a special exhibition of Paul Cézanne’s work and his influence on later painters, a show that attracts crowds to Philadelphia’s Museum of […]
Ireland
Tourism Ireland is promoting a 2013 year-long series of festivals and events that will take place. Direct flights are already in place from the U.S. to Belfast, Dublin and Shannon. ‘Jump into Ireland’ is the theme and they have lined up a stellar selection of partners. Here’s a few that recently visited the U.S. to promote […]
Greenland
Arctic Circle Ski Race and Trail Biking Films And other adventure films: Backcountry Skiing; Climbing; Heliskiing; Hiking; Ice Cap Crossing; Kayaking; Mountaineering and Running. http://99backcountry.com/ Trail Biking in Sisimiut Lots to do in Greenland for the Adventurous Firstly, there are no road or railroads connecting the cities. All travel between towns takes place by air […]
Finland
SNOWSHOEING IS A FUN ACTIVITY TO DO WHEN VISITING FINLAND. IT IS EASILY DONE JUST OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL CITY OF HELSINKI WHERE THE BEAUTY OF NATUR IS COVERED IN UNSPOILED SNOW. It’s not complicated. “If you can walk, you can walk in snowshoes”. Merely strap on a pair and you’re ready to go. February to April […]
