Category Archives: Cruising

Our Galápagos 2026 Adventure

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Our planned island itinerary & our ship

At GetAway Travel we are very excited about our planned once-in-a-lifetime vacation to the Galápagos Islands  with a stop in Quito. There is no other place on earth where ecosystems on land and at sea are preserved like time has stopped. Our adventure will be carefully curated and directed by naturalists and certified guides to guarantee an amazing experience. The archipelago is quite spread out so a cruise allows for maximum time on the islands as we travel  aboard the fabulous Celebrity Flora.

Each island, as Charles Darwin noted, has flora and fauna adapted to the specific island and even to specific parts of an island. Each day there are excursions planned, and described in detail so you can pick your level of activity, with lunch and dinner on the ship. You will be made aware of what you can expect to see in terms of wildlife, too — from the iconic tortoises, to the playful sea lions to magnificent sea and land birds that don’t nest or live anywhere else in the world!

In addition to island excursions, you can also enjoy time on the beach as well as hiking, snorkeling and diving.

 

Our proposed island itinerary

 

 Here’s a snapshot description of the islands we are scheduled to visit and what you can expect to experience. Each trip to and from an island is a visual experience involving spectacular cliff scenery, exotic bird sightings, surgeonfish and sharks visible in the clear waters as well as sea lions, fur seals, tortoises, turtles and lizards.

Santa Cruz Island, Dragon Hill

 

Santa Cruz — This is the population center of the islands and home to the National Park Service tortoise breeding center as well as the Charles Darwin Research Center. The center is in Puerto Ayora and an exhibition hall showcases the 60 plus years of scientific research of the Galápagos. The Van Straelen Interpretation Center has exhibits on marine ecosystems and some interesting material on the vulnerability of sharks and the study of Galápagos sharks.

Dragon Hill is named after its population of iguanas.

And, of course, plenty of tortoise sightings!

Giant Tortoise on Santa Cruz

Just north of Santa Cruz is Daphne Major and Daphne Minor. Visitors are only allowed on Daphne Major, a volcanic cone famous for the scientific study done by Peter and Rosemary Grant on the finch populations on the islands.

Daphne Major Island

A volcanic cone is a heap of ash piled up and rising out of the water. Time has pounded the ash into solid ground. A crater at Daphne Major is the breeding ground for the blue-footed boobies. There is a large population there, but the birds are on other islands, too. They are quite curious and on occasion drop in on visitors’ boats.

Black-browed Albatross flying near Isabella Island

Isabella Island — The largest of the Galápagos Islands, it is the product of five volcanoes erupting together. A lava flow raised up part of the island from the sea so visitors can walk through what used to be an underwater reef. Here you can see flamingos, marine iguanas and sting rays in the shallow pools. There will also be sea turtles, some Galápagos penguins.

The island is shaped like a seahorse because of the way the active volcanoes joined to form the land mass. The joined lands have separate subspecies of tortoises because they had different environments before they were joined.

Endemic Marine Iguana on Isabella Island

This island has more types of giant tortoises than the other islands combined. The Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabella is the second largest active volcano in the world.

Galapagos sea lions on Espanola beach

Espanola — the oldest of the Galápagos Islands, it is home to a large colony of sea lions. The beautiful white sands of the beach at Gardner Bay are a great place to relax and swim, and also observe the sea lions. It is also a nesting site for sea turtles and you can observe at least three species of Darwin’s finches and the Española mockingbirds.

Waved Albatross on Espanola

Punta Suarez is home to almost the entire world’s population of the Waved Albatross. Our visit is planned for January and colony life then should be in full swing with parents taking care of their babies. A short hike along the cliffside takes you to a lava fissure that shoots up a huge geyser of water.

Floreana Island

Floreana — It was the first capital of the Galápagos and where Darwin met with the islands’ governor. It is a nesting site of the sea turtle and you can see flamingoes, stilts and white-cheeked pintail ducks.

Flamingo – Floreana Island

In the 1600s, whalers, pirates and other adventurers set up a wooden barrel at Post Office Bay. Seaman would leave letters with addresses on them and their fellow travelers would take and deliver the letters.

Sunset at Fernandina Island

Ferdinandina Island — geologically, Ferdinandina is the youngest of the islands. It is a barren, pristine land mass. But the surrounding nutrient-rich waters attracts manta rays, hammerheads, whales, sharks and dolphins. It has the largest population of marine iguanas. It is a nesting site for the flightless cormorants.

Flightless Cormorants on Fernandina Island

Celebrity Flora, our home away from home

 The largest and most luxurious of the island cruise ships, every stateroom is a suite. Take advantage of premium linens, a personal suite attendant and locally sourced chocolates and bath products.

Celebrity Flora

One of the most eco-friendly ships sailing today, its interior design is done with sustainable, natural materials.

Sunset Lounge on the Flora

Common areas are almost all windows to allow maximum access to the wonderful scenery. An observatory with library is dedicated to materials about the islands.

Naturalist Lounge on the Flora

There are programs and lectures by naturalists and Galápagos National Park guides about the area.

Menus are crafted by Michelin-starred chefs sourcing fresh local ingredients and seafood. There are two restaurants, one is upscale (business causal) and the other is casual dining. There is also a “dining under the stars” option.

Oh and Complimentary laundry service twice per cruise!

The ship supplies complimentary snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, binoculars and walking sticks.

Let’s go Snorkel

GetAway Travel is offering you a chance to join us for a vacation of the lifetime! Contact us at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel

Quito: Gateway to the Galapagos

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A spectacular capital city built on the ruins of an Incan city, Quito is the oldest of all the South American capitals. Quito is a combination of two Tsafiki words translated to “center of the world.”

Its city center is so well preserved, Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors to the Galapagos Islands usually start their adventures in Quito. One of GetAway Travel’s 2026 adventures involves a fabulous trip to the Galapagos which starts in Quito. Check back for upcoming blogs featuring Galapagos and our scheduled cruise ship. The island cruise will be an awesome experience, but don’t for a minute think our time in Quito won’t also be an adventure to remember.

Beautiful, ancient churches

 Quito has one of the largest concentrations of some of the most beautiful churches in Latin America.

La Campañía de Jesús

La Campañía de Jesús has an amazing exterior, but the interior makes one gasp in astonishment. The interior is covered in nearly seven tons of gold leaf. The interior as well as the exterior reveal French and Italian Baroque influences as well as some Moorish influence.

One of the most ornate religious buildings in Ecuador, the gold leaf, gilded plaster, wooden carvings are topped by two green and gold domes at the top of the vaulted ceiling.

Campañía de Jesús inside dome

Pay attention to the intricate carvings, you can see Ecuadorian plants and indigenous faces among the carvings. There are 44 paintings and sculptures in the interior.

Climb the  Neo-Gothic tower at the Basilica del Voto Nacional for great views of the city. The largest Neo-Gothic cathedral in South America, the construction was inspired by the Bourges Cathedral in France. Construction began on the cathedral in 1887 and it was deemed nearly finished in 1909. According to local legend, the church’s construction will be fully complete shortly before the end of the world.

Basilica del Voto Nacional

As you travel to the top, admire the intricate gargoyles and spires. (Psst, there’s an elevator if you don’t want to take the stairs.)

Church and Monastery of San Francisco

The church and monastery of San Francisco is the oldest church in Quito and the oldest church and largest religious complex in Ecuador. The church, convent and adjacent museum hold more than 3,500 pieces of colonial art. Above the church altar is the famous Winged or Dancing Virgin sculpture. Created by Bernardo de Legardo, the design of her dress and position of her hands make it seem she is in motion.

The Basilica of our Lady of the Merced was founded by the priests of the La Merced order. The library contains historic parchment books and the museum has art pieces and antique jewelry.

But wait, there’s so much more…

 The Teleférigo is a cable car/gondola lift that runs from the edge of the city center to the east side of the Pichincha Volcano. One of the highest aerial lifts in the world, it moves slow enough to give riders great views and photo opportunities. Vulqano Park is at the base station of the cable lift. It has picnic areas and 24 different attractions including roller coasters, bumper cars, swings, carousels and a haunted house.

Teleférigo Cable Car

Just outside of Quito is Ciudad Mitad del Mundo at the equator line. Here, you can stand with a foot on either side and be in two different hemispheres. The interactive museum has exhibits from the Highland and Amazonian tribes with explanations of their history. There’s great collections of musical instruments, clothing, textiles and more.

Monument of the equator

The El Panecillo monument is a hill shaped like a loaf of bread topped by a towering statue of the winged Virgin Mary. With a height of 134 feet, it is the tallest aluminum statue in the world. The glowing statue was constructed by Spanish sculptor Agustin de la Herrán. Each of the 7,400 pieces was numbered and it was shipped to Quito to be re-assembled.

La Ronda shopping

Shop the Mercado Artisanal, a thriving artisan market with a vast selection of handmade crafts, textiles, ceramics and souvenirs. Take a walk down Calle La Ronda, a charming cobblestone street lined with colorful buildings that house art galleries, shops and cafes.

Panama hats on display – La Ronda

Capilla de Hombre is a museum dedicated to the works of Oswaldo Guayasamín Calero. Referred to as the Michelangelo of Latin America, his paintings and sculptures were lauded by UNESCO who gave him a prize for the power of his body of work.

Parque La Carolina has been compared to New York’s Central Park. The 165-acre expanse of green space has something for everyone, an auditorium with performances, a children’s library and food stalls. The Quito Botanical Gardens are here. You can view foreign and native plants, a lagoon, an orchid garden, a garden dedicated to medicinal plants, a hydroponic rose garden and a cloud forest. The cloud forest is a subtropical area kept at a temperature due to the plants so it actually generates its own low cloud cover.

Parque La Carolina

It is also home to a vivarium with 40 species of reptiles, amphibians, snakes, turtles, iguanas and frogs. The Museum of Natural Sciences houses 200,000 specimens of flora, fauna and paleontology including an almost complete mastodon skeleton!

View of Cotopaxi volcano from Quito

Interested in our Galapagos adventure with Quito as a starting point? Give GetAway a call and join us! We can be reached at: (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel

Experience China on a river cruise

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China is a study in opposites, from the tallest mountain in the world to the largest plateau in the world; dedicated to innovation and growth and fiercely protective of family structure and hierarchy. A great way to experience a taste of this fascinating country is on a Yangtze River Cruise. The world’s third largest river touches a third of the country’s population If you are interested in discovering the mystery of China on a cruise, GetAway Travel can help with that!

Chongqing, Chengdu and Fengdu

 The Yangtze River starts its journey to China in the Tanggula Mountains in Tibet. The longest river in China, it is the third largest in the world behind the Nile and the Amazon rivers. A cruise on the Yangtze, which can go three days, six days or 10 days, is truly a trip that embraces history on the water. Cruises start in Yichang and go to Chongqing, or vice versa.

In Chongqing visit the Three Gorges Museum to get a preview of what building the world’s largest hydroelectric power station entailed. It gives you some insights into the marvel that produces energy, prevents flooding and makes for safe travel on the river.

Chongqing

Known as Little Hong Kong or the Mountain City, Chongqing has fabulous scenery and fascinating historical sites.

Three Natural Bridges – and here’s one of them

Three Natural Bridges, the largest natural bridge group in Asia is magnificent. If it looks somewhat familiar, it was featured in the Transformers 4 movie. The Dazu Rock Carvings are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Religious cliff carvings were done here during the Tang to the Early Song dynasties. There are more than 102 places with carvings including 360 giant sculptures including Buddha statues that are more than a mile and a half high!

Get a different view of the Yangtze by taking the Yangtze River Cableway across the river and get your panda fix at the Chongqing Zoo. In addition to 12 pandas, there’s also 230 species of animals, birds and fish.

Giant Pandas

Speaking of pandas, you can take a high-speed train (217 mph) from Chongqing to Chengdu and spend some time at the Giant Panda Research Center. See giant pandas, red pandas and other endangered species such as swans and peacocks. Learn all about pandas and their history at the Giant Panda Museum and enjoy the panda art at the Panda Art Museum. There’s also outstanding works of art in the Chengdu Museum and ancient Chinese architecture is recreated in streetscapes.

Chengdu China historic district

Get something to eat in Chengdu, it is the capital of Sichuan province where the vastly popular Sichuan cuisine comes from. Due to the popularity of the food style, Chengdu is a UNESCO Gastronomy City.

Chengdu Sichuan hot pot

Fengdu is known as the Ghost City due to the vast array of demon-decorated temples and statues that depict what the Chinese people imagine hell is like. Fengdu is the Jade Emperor scenic area that includes 30 different styles of traditional architecture with 208 carved deity statues including the largest image of the Jade Emperor in the world.

Shibozhai red pagoda of Fengdu Ghost City

When the water level of the Yangtze rose due to dam construction, architectural and cultural artifacts were either recreated or relocated to Xianguanshan Park. The park features reproductions of historic and ancient residential buildings, courtyards, temples, gates, wood carvings and temples. There are regular performances of opera, acrobatics, rock music and puppet shows at the park.

Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges Dam

 At a cost of $23 billion and a construction schedule that took 10 years, Three Gorges Dam is 687 feet high and almost 1 1/2 miles wide. It takes eight hours to go through the series of locks at the dam.

Qutang Gorge

Qutang Gorge is the first of the three gorges and the most dramatic. Two mountains, Red Passage and White Salt stand guard at the entrance to the gorge. The ancient city, White Emperor City, is at the entrance to the gorge. Future kings and poets supposedly travel here to be inspired by the views.

Wu Gorge

Wu Gorge or Witches Gorge, is the second gorge with sheer cliffs on each side that rise so high they sometimes block out the sun. Six peaks line the North side and six line the South side. The most famous peak is the Goddess Peak which is said to resemble a kneeling maiden.

Xiling Gorge

The deepest of the three gorges is Xiling Gorge. It is actually seven smaller gorges with interesting names like Military Books and Precious Sword based on ancient legends.

The dam is in the middle of Xiling Gorge. The dam has raised the level of the river to 574 feet above sea level.

About 1.5 million people needed to be relocated because of the dam and one of the relocation villages is across the river from Fengdu.

The dam is five times larger than the Hoover Dam and it generates 10 times more hydroelectric power.

Cruise goers through the gorges are treated to breathtaking landscape including the sheer cliffs, narrow river paths and dense forests. Many of the cruises also feature shore excursions which include cultural actives such as calligraphy and tai chi classes, mahjong lessons and lectures about traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

Tai Chi

A touch-off point for the cruises can be Shanghai which will be explored in a future post.

If a fascinating cruise along the Yangtze is on your bucket list, GetAway Travel will make that happen. We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel

 

Eastern Danube cruise: fascinating, relaxing, unique experience

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River cruises offer the opportunity to experience charming and historic destinations that are not typically offered by ocean cruises.  You won’t have to worry about fighting crowds to get a seat at the bar, sit on the deck or worry about getting stuck in a windowless cabin. Everyone gets a view on a river cruise. There’s a variety of exciting shore options offered.

Wake up in the morning to a fabulous new port, new scenery and new excursion options. Speaking of new, the destinations on a cruise on the lower Danube are a bit off the beaten path, so they are new to most travelers.

Sue cruising the Danube

There are elegant, charming cities that still bear the scars of overcoming Communist rule, but they are also a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. Looking for a relaxing and authentic cruise experience? GetAway Travel can help you book your river adventure.

Budapest, cowboys, Croatian culture

 Hungary’s capital, Budapest is an amazing place. The Danube flows through the city and the views on either bank are great. The Chain Bridge, a suspension bridge held up by massive chains, is a spectacular sight during the day or at night as is the Parliament Building.

Budapest at night

Kalocsa, Hungary, in the Hungarian Puszta region, was formerly the seat of the archbishop. It is more than 1,000 years old. The town is surrounded by 8,000 acres of farmland where “red gold” or the pepper that give the world paprika, grows.

Paprika peppers and garlic

Bright floral murals brighten the streets of Kolocsa, you can visit the Paprika Museum and the House of Folk Art Museum. Horses have long been the main mode of transportation for the people of the region. The residents of the region embrace the past and continue to elevate horsemanship to an art form. Enjoy a fabulous demonstration at the Bakodpuszta Equestrian Center.

Kolocsa, Hungary

Vukovar is the biggest river port city in Croatia. The Central Cross is a 40-ton monument located at the confluence of the Vuka and Danube rivers. Made of white Brac and Pazin stone, it honors the defenders of the fight for Croatian freedom in October 1998.

The town of Vokovar

Eltz Manor is an 18th century Baroque palace damaged during the 1991 Battle of Vukovar, but now fully restored. The Vukovar City Museum is located here. More than 1,500 Croatian and European works of art are on display. You can climb the Vukovar Water Tower to get some great views of the city. The tower is a testament to what the city went through during the war, it sustained 600 direct hits, but remains standing.

Vokovar, Croatia – water tower shows the scars of war

Osijek is a short distance from Vukovar and is the fourth largest city in Croatia. The economic and cultural center of Eastern Croatia, it embraces its rich history, but also has interesting modern attractions. Indeed, the city’s top attraction, Tvrda, a Baroque fortress, has quaint cobblestone streets within its preserved fortified walls, as well as trendy cafes and galleries.

Main square in the town of Osijek

Inside the walls you will find an eclectic mix of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture due to rebuilding.

St. Michael Church in Osijek

The main square includes Osijek Cathedral as well as the Museum of Slavonia which houses a vast collection of historical and cultural artifacts dating back to prehistoric times, artwork and a collection of natural history items of fossils, minerals, flora and fauna with some great interactive exhibits.

Holy trinity monument in Osijek

The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, on the square, is a Baroque style church with an exterior that features intricate sculptures and domed towers. There are amazing frescoes inside, elaborate altars with ornate carvings and stunning stained glass windows.

The Iron Gate, wine country and Dracula

 The Danube wanders through wide valleys and stretched out countrysides until it gets to an area between Serbia and Romania. At the area known as the Iron Gate, it narrows to less than a mile wide with imposing red cliffs on each side. Here Mother Nature and the river carved a gash between the Carpathian and Balkan mountains. In this forbidding area, the Golubac Fortress has stood guard over the Danube while control changed hands from Serbs, Hungarians, Bulgarians and Turks.

Danube gorge – the Iron Gate

The Lepenski Vir is an archeological site and museum that stores finds from a culture that lived on the banks of the Danube 6,000 years ago. Sifting through the sediments here uncovered seven layers of settlements as well as the remnants of stone altars, tools, pottery, jewelry, statues and skeletal remains.

Traditional houses at Lepenski Vir

The Belogradchik Fortress in Vidin, Bulgaria is a Roman fortification built to take advantage of natural rock formations of between 320 and 820 feet high on three sides. The views from the top of the fortress are breathtaking.

The Belogradchik Fortress

The first wine school opened in Vidin in 1887. The area produces high-quality dry white and sparkling wines as well as elegant reds with a distinct fresh and fruity aroma. You can tour the Bononia, Vidinski Games or Los Dos Alamos wineries. The Magura Winery is famous for what is referred to as the Bat Gallery, a cave with darkness and humid that produces ideal conditions for aging great sparkling wine.

Synagogue ruins in Vidin, Bulgaria

Nearby Ruse is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area was inhabited by monks for hundreds of years. They began living in caves carved into the hills and out of the rock they carved the Churches of Ivanovo as well as individual cells, monasteries and churches.

Ruse, Bulgaria

An Eastern Danube River cruise should, of course, include an obligatory visit to Romania’s Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle.

Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania

Do some exploring in Brasov first. Here you’ll see lovely medieval buildings painted in bright colors as well as the Town Hall and Black Church, the only two original buildings still standing after a devastating 17th century fire. Both are Gothic style architecture and the Black Church is easily one of the most impressive churches in Eastern Europe. It has high ceilings, an impressive pipe organ, fabulous stained glass windows and an extensive collection of Ottoman-era prayer rugs. The striking neo-Gothic architecture of Beth Israel Synagogue makes it a “must see” site to visit.

Town of Brasov, Romania

Nearby Peles Castle was the summer residence of King Carol I. The castle reflects architectural styles of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance. The surrounding gardens are incredible. There is a profusion of flowers, fountains, sculptures and manicured garden areas.

Peles Castle, Brasov

The Peles Castle, as well as Bran castle have great collections of medieval art, furniture and weapons on display.

How about it? Are you up for an adventurous cruise on the Eastern Danube? The travel advisors at GetAway are ready to help you out. Call (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel

Experience the joy of the season at European Christmas Markets

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While it’s true there’s no place like home for the holidays, there’s no reason why you can’t start your holidays at one or more of the fabulous Christmas markets held all over Europe. This year when you gather for the holidays, start thinking about making some new holiday memories starting with a fabulous getaway that includes some stops at Christmas markets. Your travel advisors at GetAway can plan your trip including some stops for shopping and enjoying some new holiday experiences. 

 Markets got their start in Vienna 

 Christmas markets are street markets designed to celebrate the holiday during the four weeks of Advent leading up to and sometimes, depending on which country you are in, past Christmas into January. They are thought to have originated in Vienna, but were made popular in Germany. 

Vienna, Austria, City Centre Christmas Market

The first Christmas market supposedly was in 1296 in December when Emperor Albrecht I of Austria granted shopkeepers a one-to-two day market so the townspeople could stock up before the winter. Christmas markets are held in town squares and the little, decorated wooden stalls offer arts and crafts items, candles, toys, Christmas decorations and figurines as well as food and drinks. Some town halls transform into giant Advent calendars with different windows lighted each night. 

Nutcrackers in Rudesheim Germany Christmas Market

Now, virtually every country including Germany, Denmark, France, Austria, Portugal, Spain and England have Christmas markets. So your GetAway advisor can plan plenty of sightseeing in a country and have your trip end with a fantastic Christmas market experience. You can fill that second empty suitcase you brought with your holiday gifts, and, of course, a couple of items for yourself! 

 Festive sights, sounds and food 

 The most famous Christmas market is in Vienna, which actually has a dozen or more markets located throughout the city. The largest market is in Rathausplatz, in the square facing Vienna City Hall. Markets in Vienna are, well, grand — like the residents strive to match the fabulous, grand architecture of the city. There’s lots of light displays and Rathausplatz has an ice skating rink. And, just a note, when markets are described as having stalls with items, we are taking upwards of 200 stalls. 

Christmas Market Mainz, Germany

Markets, no matter what city in what country, serve a variation of gluhwein. Gluhwein is hot mulled wine spiced with cloves, anise, cinnamon and citrus fruits. Red wine is the most prevalent, but you can find it done with white wine. There is usually a version of apple cider if you want a non-alcoholic beverage and, of course, hot cocoa. Gluhwein, where ever you are, is served in a mug which you put a deposit on. You can return for a refill, or keep the mug for the price of the small deposit. They make great keepsake souvenirs. 

Make sure to go to the markets hungry. In France, where you should wait until dusk to go shopping because the twinkling lights are magical, you can get oysters, champagne, caviar, poutine and freshly grilled meat. 

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Port wine: A Portugal treasure

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Port wine is to Portugal as Champagne is to France. Each of those spirits have to be prepared using strict guidelines and their ingredients have to be sourced from a certain area. The only sparkling wine that can be called Champagne must come from the Champagne Wine Region of France and the only wine that can be labeled “Port” has to be from the Douro Valley of Portugal. 

Whether you are a port person or a champagne connoisseur, GetAway Travel can construct a trip for you. We’re working on a port-forward trip right now! It takes you to the Douro Valley and it’s aboard a fabulous modern ship designed for river cruising. 

What’s all the fuss about location? 

 The narrow Douro Valley has its own microclimate which makes it the optimal area to produce grapes used in port. In the 1700s, Portugal’s prime minister took measures to distinguish the specific area of the Douro Valley as being the only area where true port could be produced. It set production standards, the same way there are standards set for only some sparkling wines to be known as champagne. 

Port Casks aging at Offley

The unique aspect of the valley is that the soil as well as the terraced vineyards, were transformed by hand. The vineyard owners worked the soil to produce specific grapes and the terraces were set up to retain water as well as drain water if needed. More than 80 types of grapes are produced in the valley. Many of the vineyards have to still harvest by hand because of the way they are set up. 

Port wine must be at least two years old before it can be sold to the public and producers are only allowed to sell 30% of what they make so there is always port wine aging with producers. The port “winters” in the valley in barrels or kegs because that type of climate helps the fortifying agent mix with the wine. It then is moved to Porto (where it gets its name) because the humid, mild climate there is better for continued aging. 

Port tasting in Porto

 Tell me more about port 

 Port wine is not a chugging wine, it’s a sipping wine most often served with dessert or even as a dessert. It is considered the most delicious dessert wine on the planet! 

It is a fortified wine (more on that later) and it is richer, sweeter, heavier and higher in alcohol content than normal wines. It has an alcohol content somewhere between 19 and 20%. Heady stuff, but it goes great with fine cheeses and rich desserts. 

There are two main kinds of port, ruby and tawny. 

Ruby is slightly less sweet than tawny and it has berry and chocolate undertones. Tawny has caramel and nut nuances, but aged tawny can also have undertones of graphite, hazelnut, almond, butterscotch and graham cracker. 

There’s also white port, rose port and vintage port. Vintage port is rare, it is made from the best grapes of a single type of grape. Port houses declare a port wine as “vintage” only a few times in a decade. 

very old Vintage Port

 Do they still stomp the grapes? 

 Yes, yes they do — and here’s why. Those bitter seed nibs in grapes do nothing to add to the taste of port and feet stomping the grapes slide over the seeds and they can be drained out later. Some vineyards do employ mechanical feet machines to crush the grapes and they cross their fingers not a lot of the seeds get crushed. 

The harvested grapes, all picked in one day, are put in granite treading tanks and stomped to release the juice and the pulp from the skins. It is a synchronized process to make sure all of the grapes get crushed. When that is done and the skins are floating to the top of the tanks, the treading continues to keep moving the skins under the juice so fermentation starts. When about half of the natural sugar has fermented, the treading stops and the skins are allowed to sit on the top of the tank and the juice is drained out. The wine is then fortified with a distilled grape spirit called brandy. The sugar turns to alcohol and that’s where the high alcohol content happens. 

View from Taylor tasting room in Porto

 Tell me more! 

 Drink port with rich cheeses like bleu cheese, chocolate and caramel desserts, salted and smoked nuts and even sweet, smoky meats. You can add it to chocolate cakes or chocolate sauces and it can be simmered to a thick sauce, similar to a balsamic glaze. 

Rosé port should be served ice cold. It’s very trendy to serve it cold in the summer with a twist of lime. 

White port should be served cold, tawny port should be cool, like about 50 to 58° Fahrenheit and ruby should be served at cellar temperature which is about 60°. Port should be stored on its side and set upright about 24 hours ahead of serving and decanted if possible. The shelf life of port is about halfway between wine and liquor. 

We could talk about port all day, but we’d rather you learn more on a trip to the Duoro Valley. Contact us about that trip, or any other fabulous trip you’ve been thinking about. We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel  

Riga, Latvia: one of the Baltic states crown jewels

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Riga, Latvia is a happening place. Really, Riga, Latvia? Yep, the city has a spectacular variety of architecture including one of the largest representations of Art Nouveau, it’s got lots of entertainment options, shopping, fabulous food and its fair share of quirky places to visit. Riga is one of the places you can enjoy during our July 2022 cruise from Copenhagen to Stockholm. More details here — Baltic tour — or give us a call at 262-538-2140. 

 Riga fun facts 

Located on the Baltic Sea, Riga is the largest city in the Baltic States with a population over 630,000. Its Old Town is a UNESCO site and it has churches that date back to the city’s origins in 1201. It has medieval buildings, wooden buildings and fabulous examples of Art Nouveau architecture. Five religious denominations existed peacefully in Riga, each with its own church. Latvia’s president lived in a palace in Riga. Latvian is the oldest European languages and most of the country’s population speak Russian, Latvian and English. 

It has the fifth fastest internet in the world! 

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Copenhagen: One of the happiest places on earth

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Sure, there are some theme parks that contend they are the happiest places on earth, but Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark, has scored consistently as the happiest city in the world on the World Happiness Report. 

Really, there is such a thing! 

 At GetAway Travel we’ve got Copenhagen included in one of our upcoming group trips. We can help you plan a trip to just Copenhagen, or any place else you might consider your happy place.  

 Come on, get happy 

Copenhagen

More than 400 cities in and around Europe are checked out as part of the World Happiness Report. The report’s focus is on the environment of a country — social, natural and urban. Through the respondents’ answers, it calculates happiness, well-being, sustainability and resilience. 

Finland is the happiest country, but Denmark is second with Copenhagen ranking as the happiest city. Danes celebrate what they call “hygge” which translates to comfort or coziness. How can you go wrong visiting a country that values comfort? It ranks high in the areas of health services, housing, utilities, social network, leisure activities, climate and personal safety.  Continue reading →

Dining on Virgin – Vote Now for your Chance to Win

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Virgin Voyages is one of the world’s newest cruise lines. 

It promises to be different, with pop-up and immersive entertainment, experimental dining, unique parties and no kids!  It has all new ships and it’s own private beach to visit in the Bahamas.  

Now we figure the best way to check it out is to go on board ourselves in November to see which of our clients might appreciate it the most.  The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady is currently sailing out of Miami.  We have our air tickets, our cabin and our dining reservations all set.  Let’s go have some fun!

Wait! Let’s talk dining 

This can be a travel challenge for us as Sue is gluten-free, grain-free and must also avoid seed oils.  You can envision how this provides certain challenges.  The Scarlet Lady has over 20 eateries.  A select number are reservation only, but all of them are included in your cruise fare.  The dining promises to be immersive and experimental – but will Sue like it?  To be fair, Paul eats everything (except for razor clams) so he can lead the way in adventurous eating onboard – but, will Sue follow?

You can follow 

First off – whenever we travel we post frequently to Facebook.  You can follow along to see and hear first hand about our travel, the ship and the onboard experience.  Please like us – we like you!

You can Vote 

Check out our first ever in the universe, amazing, and one of a kind voting options.  The person that correctly predicts how many stars Sue will give for our reserved dining meals will be deemed Grand Champion!  If you know Sue well you may have an advantage…or will you?  Really it’s up to the Scarlet Lady to deliver. 

The quiz will give you details on the dining options, a sample of what’s on the menu and then you just vote on how you think Sue will score it from 1 to 5 stars.  We won’t spam you – we don’t like spam…or razor clams.

Here’s the link to the quiz. Easy-peasey and lots of fun.

https://forms.office.com/r/GvxuJaYfXa

Our cruise is in Mid-November.  The winner will be announced just as soon as Paul tallies the scores, Sue scores her own and we find time to make Thanksgiving dinner for family after we get back.  Cheers!

St. Petersburg: Russia’s culture capital has much to offer

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It seems like you can’t watch a movie or television show which mentions Russia without seeing the iconic onion-shaped colorful domes of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. The history of Russia is steeped in drama, color and culture and you can experience it first hand on the GetAway Travel July 2022 Baltics and Beyond cruise. We’ll be spending three days in fabulous St. Petersburg.  

 Architecture, antiques and aristocracy 

 The port city of St. Petersburg was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great and it has some of the best preserved architecture from the extravagant era of the Russian aristocracy. There’s opulent baroque-style palaces, classic sculptures, royal gardens and grand cathedrals throughout the city.  

Many of the most famous art collections call the city home and there are world-renowned ballet and opera performances throughout the year. 

Visitors benefit from the fact that Russian rulers vied for years to create the most spectacular monuments to honor themselves and their families or mark crucial events in their lives. 

Steeped in history, the city is also home to some of the most romantic water backdrops. There are more than 90 waterways including miles of man-made canals throughout the city.  

Depending on the season, boat tours also include watching the opening and closing of some of the city’s drawbridges. The Palace Drawbridge opening and closing features music and a light show! 

St. Petersburg is very pedestrian friendly with much of the signage in Russian as well as English. Ask your travel advisor at GetAway about walking tours, boat tours and even Segway tours. And, of course, there is shopping and fine cuisine. You can hunt for bargains at the Udelnaya Flea Market on the city’s northern edge. There are more than 700 restaurants, cafes and tea rooms in St. Petersburg where you can enjoy the local fare. 

Don’t miss the Hermitage and Faberge Museums 

 The State Hermitage Museum is one of the largest museums in the world housing 3 million works of art including paintings and sculptures from nearly every European country as well as Asian, Greek and Egyptian pieces. It was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great to showcase her private collection and it is actually five interconnected buildings. There’s the Winter Palace which was the official home of the Romanovs, the Little Hermitage, the Great Hermitage, the New Hermitage and the Hermitage Theatre. 

Winter Palace St Petersburg

The Winter Place is the largest building and it was commissioned by Catherine to be a reproduction of the Papal Palace in Vatican City. There are themed motifs in various rooms including Gothic and Renaissance, fabulous chandeliers, sweeping staircases and, of course, artwork by Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt and DaVinci. 

The Museum Faberge is in the Shuvalov Palace along the Fontanka River. As an added bonus, you can view the stunning statues of the four horses and their horsemen. Each statue is set at a corner of the Anichkov Bridge and the marble statues depict horses and their tamers in various stages of getting the horses under control. 

There are 44 fabulous Faberge eggs and at any given time, at least a dozen are on display in Russia. Some are lost and some are in other museums, but the Museum Faberge has the most significant collection. There are more than 4,000 art exhibits in two restored room in the palace. They give visitors a feel for the grandeur of the time when the eggs were created as well as the craftsmanship it took to make them. 

 But wait, there’s so much more! 

 St. Petersburg is home to St. Isaac’s which is the largest orthodox cathedral in the world. The Peter and Paul Fortress actually was one of the original fortresses built in the city and is houses the Museum of the History of St. Petersburg as well as the Museum of Cosmonautics and Rocket Technology. The Peter and Paul Cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of baroque architecture. It’s tall golden spire topped with a golden cross and angel is a main symbol of the city. 

There is, of course, a Museum of Russian Vodka and for a small extra fee you can sample three kinds of vodka at the end of the tour. You can experience the fully immersive tour of the Freud Museum of Dreams or go to the Street Art Museum which is set up in a sprawling factory and industrial site. 

Baltic & Beyond Cruise Itinerary

 At GetAway Travel we can help plan your tours so you are sure to experience exactly what you want as soon as the ship comes into port in St. Petersburg. Or, perhaps you’d like us to set up a visit to several Russian cities? We’re here to help with all of your travel needs. We can be reached at:  (262) 538-2140, e-mail: sue@getaway.travel or paul@getaway.travel