After a delightful weekend in London, we’ve just boarded the MS Sirena in Piraeus, the port for Athens, Greece. Arriving at the Athens airport with an pre-arranged transfer to the cruise ship, it’s about a 45 minute ride from the airport. Embarkation was quick, but staterooms aren’t quite ready as…
It’s about 11:30AM on Saturday and we’ve just touched down at London’s Heathrow airport. We’re en route to Athens to meet the MS Sirena, the newest Oceania Cruises “R-class” ship. But before Athens we’ll enjoy two nights at the 45 Park Lane Hotel, see Book of Mormon in the West…
Call it “Paris of the East” or “megacity of the new millennium”, this energetic, confident and uninhibited metropolis is really quite a youngster. Following the British victory over China in the First Opium War (1842) and while already active in Hong Kong, the British established a settlement along the banks…
After a very quick day in Xi’an, we’re back to the airport ready to board a flight to Hangzhou. Hangzhou may not be destination familiar to international visitors however is it one of the most important tourist cities in China, with many visitors coming from Shanghai which only about 100…
Our last day in Beijing begins with a walk around Tiananmen Square with seemingly endless lines of Chinese visitors waiting to see the National Museum of China and Memorial Hall, the final resting spot of former Chairman Mao Zedong. Outside China, this location undoubtedly brings to mind the 1989 pro-democracy…
Leaving the Four Seasons at 8:30AM, we’re on the way to the Great Wall today, about 2 hours north. Our destination is a bit further than other tour companies use, but should also provide a quieter, less crowded access point. Arriving early (which is unheard of with Beijing traffic), we’re…
After touching down at Beijing Capital International Airport, we’re greeted by airport VIP staff to assist with our immigration and customs clearance. This tiny, delicate looking woman keeps us nearly running behind her as she sprints down the hallways. At luggage claim, she insists on helping us load all three heavy…
After about 13 hours onboard our Japan Airlines Dreamliner we touch down at KIX – Kansai International Airport, 24 miles southwest of central Osaka and built on a man-made island in Osaka Bay. After clearing immigration and customs, we are met and shuttled to an awaiting mini-van for the 70…
We’re headed to China with Imperial Tours! This travel professionals “FAM” trip will include typical aspects of consumer tours plus hotel meetings and site inspections. Before joining the tour in Beijing on Saturday, we’ll spend 4 nights in Kyoto, Japan. After a quick flight to LAX from DEN, we’ve enjoyed…
On Friday, we depart from the Abercrombie & Kent tour for a private flight-seeing tour of the famous Nazca Lines. Most flights are from Pisco Airport which is about 4 hours south of Lima by car. Along the way, we enjoy some time relaxing at beautiful sea-side resort of La…
