MOSCOW - A Great Tour Guide for Moscow!

Private (reasonably priced) Tour Guide in Moscow - NIKA SPASSKAYA. She's a professional trained Tour Guide for Moscow and she's able to set up private day time tours for crews.

Nika is very sweet and friendly and she speaks perfect English. (she learned it while attending university in Penn State for a year).

She has experience working with our crews, so give her a call to take you by the hand and show you around.

By the way, Nika also has access to a car (her boyfriend's), if one is necessary to visit sites away from the city center. Just give her some notice via email before you arrive to set this up.

To reach Nika, call her mobile - 8-903-259-7337 or drop her a note via email at spasnika@yandex.ru

Enjoy your guided visit! and let us know how it all went!

Nice Walk In Bahrain

I just returned from doing a quick turn to Bahrain this past week. During our four hour sit, I decided to venture out for a wonderful walk around the lagoon that sits behind the airport's Movenpick Hotel.

I began my walk by accessing the lagoon path from the right side of the Movenpick Hotel. Once on the path, I walked veered to the right. Remember, the temperature in the Middle East during the months of January, February, March is perfect for a walk - cool and breezy most of the day.

While walking, I came across a nice city park along the water that had a playground, a pretty water fountain, a couple of waterfront cafes and some fast food - popcorn, sodas, ice cream providers - street providers. Some of the shops were closed, maybe because it was late afternoon, but most of them were open for business. Who knew there were so many food options along the water?

Some of the options I found were a Coffee Shop, a Hamburger Shop along the water and a new small restaurant still under construction, also located on the water right after the Hamburger joint. This last place looked to be only a couple of weeks from opening to the public with furniture in place. All three options are nice alternatives for accessing food/snacks outside of our layover hotel and really, only a short walk away.

So there you have it, as I ventured out to get some fresh air and exercise in Bahrain, I discovered these new options for food near our layover hotel. I also walked the whole perimeter of the lagoon - a great exercise and really, very doable and safe for both, women and men while in Bahrain.

Next time you're you're scheduled to fly the Bahrain turn, with it's long four hour plus sit, remember this option. Head out to the lagoon, walk a bit, get some fresh air, relax and grab a bite to eat along the water.

For women, please just observe the local modesty norms for clothing and please wear something that is not too revealing. If in doubt, ask the concierge of your hotel before you head out for your walk, if your outfit is appropriate just to be on the safe side.

Enjoy your walk and happy trails!

Argentina -ARKAKAO Gelato in Buenos Aires

Elegant European Cafe setting and delicious ice cream! ARKAKAO GELATO in Buenos Aires. A must for a taste of authentic "home-made" Italian ice cream in Recoleta. ARKAKAO, a brand originally from Italy, has recently opened it's new locale a couple of blocks away from Ave 9 de Julio (the wide avenue with the obelisk).

Arkakao comes to Buenos Aires with the promise of serving delicious ice creams that are prepared daily with out chemicals, artificial colors, or additives. They also offer to deliver these yummy treats to your home or hotel room. So next time you're in Buenos Aires, make a b-line for this beautifully refurbished Parisian Style mansion where they serve delicious Italian Gelato ice-cream in style.

Some notable flavors served by ARKAKAO are Dark Chocolate with orange; Dark Chocolate with cinnamon; Vanilla from Tahiti; Caramel Flan and Dulce de Leche. Mmm, mmm, delicioso!

Arkakao's location in Recoleta also offers an interior garden room setting and a couple of tables on the sidewalk for those who prefer to enjoy their ice creams outdoors.

ARKAKAO

Quintana Ave 188

Recoleta, Buenos Aires

4813-7585

Thank you Elsa!!!

Geneva - Three day Train Pass - The Swiss Flexi-Pass

This just came in from Laura, an adventure seeking crew member who just returned from Geneva, Switzerland a few days ago. She sends us valuable information on the Swiss Flexi-Pass, a three day train pass that covers unlimited travel trough Switzerland on trains, buses and boat lines. All this, for a flat fee of 216 Swiss Francs per person. It sounds pricey, but it's not if you compare the price of individual train tickets to any destination in Switzerland by train. With The Swiss Flexi-Pass, if planned carefully, you can travel extensively throughout Switzerland for a more economical price.

The Flexi-Pass can by purchased at the Office of the Train Station. Bring your Passport to show that you are a non-resident, since these passes are only available for non-residents. Laura and her friends took a train to Luzern, a boat ride from Luzern through the Interlaken, had lunch (not included) along the way and then took the train back to Geneva through part of the Golden Pass route (which is the scenic route through Switzerland). She still has a day left in her pass to use when she returns to Geneva before the end of the month.

Thanks Laura! Now I can't wait for my next trip to Geneva!

ROME - ITALIAN TARTUFO ICE CREAM @ Tre Scalini

Next time you visit Rome, try the Italian Tartufo Ice Cream Dessert from Tre Scalini!

It's not just a dessert, its an explosion of chocolate flavors in your mouth - a real treat for the chocolate lover. Tartufo Ice is chocolate ice-cream covered with thick, dark chunks of chocolate, topped with fresh whip cream and a cookie - a totally decadent and delicious treat that will be hard to share. I tried, I promise and I failed.

"Beware of imitation" warns the sign at Tre Scalini ...

So where is Tre Scalini? Not far from our layover hotel, thank god! In Piazza Navona and the corner of Via Di S. Agnese In Agone (photo enclosed).

The good news is that you won't need to sit down in an expensive cafe in Piazza Navona to try this delightful treat. Just walk inside the Tre Scalini bar to purchase your Tartufo Ice Cream "to go" for only 5 Euros. They will dress it up with fresh whip cream and a cookie while you wait and in minutes, you'll be walking out the door with your prize dessert in hand. Yum, yum, delish! I wish I could have one right now.

Do you have a favorite dessert in Rome?

ROME WITH A VIEW

During my travels to Rome, I've discovered a few spots worth a visit where one can take in some fantastic scenic views of this gorgeous city. For those interested, here is my list:

1- Climb to the top of the Castle St. Angelo. This small castle structure sits right on the Tiber river, near the Vatican (photo enclosed above). It houses a small cafe, some scenic balconies and a roof top deck with a stunning panoramic view of Rome that will knock your socks off. It's specially beautiful during sunset hours when the city is glowing in gold colors. The cost to climb to the top of the Castello is five Euros and it's worth every penny! Don't forget your camera. Last to leave, closes the door. Just kidding, but do get there before 6pm, because the doors close by seven pm.

VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE CASTELLO ST. ANGELO - ROME

2- Climb to the top of The Vittoriano building - a large, white monumental structure located on one side of the Piazza d'Italia. This is the building that is better known as the "typewriter" or the "wedding cake" by Romans, because of its size and shape. The Vittoriano's scenic elevator is best accessed through some stone steps located on the left side of the building - Left, if you're coming from the layover hotel via the Piazza d'Italia and Via del Corso. Once you reach this (left side), climb the stone stairs to a second floor lobby of a military museum. At the top of the stairs, look to your left for a door that leads you to the first level open deck. You're not quite there yet, just half way.

This level houses a nice outdoor cafe/bar, nice viewing decks of the city with maps that describe what you see in the distance. Once you're done with your viewing in this level, proceed to the famous "elevator to heaven". Yes, that's the real name and it will take you further up for a better view of the city. Access to "heaven" will cost you around 5 Euros. Once again, worth every penny! Bring your camera and enjoy the glorious views from "heaven". Best times to visit, at sunset and at night when the whole city is covered with tiny lights!

VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE VITTORIANO BUILDING/MONUMENT

3- Views from the top of the Piazza del Popolo - Climb to the very top of The Spanish Steps, then veer to your left following the path that borders the city's elevated ledge. Keep walking past the Cassina Valadier Restaurant (a period house converted into a restaurant set on your right) until you reach a scenic area with an overlook deck on your left side. You are now in this perfect spot to view the Piazza del Popolo and the city from a high point. Get your camera ready. Once the sun begins to set, the colors will be spectacular and this show is all for free!

VIEW FROM TOP OF PIAZZA DEL POPOLO

4- Last but not least, I've hear the view from the top of the St Peters Cathedral's dome in The Vatican is worth the difficult climb to the top. I have not done this yet, but I hear it's worth the effort. If you go, please share the details of your visit with us. I will try this climb on my next visit to Rome. Hope you get there soon.

Enjoy!

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