ALL ABOARD WITH CARL
Veteran Journalist Carl Larsen writes about travel news and adventures.
DESTINATION DINING: HOLLAND AMERICA’S KONINGSDAM
Our current seven-day Holland America Mexican Riviera cruise is unlike any of the 34 we’ve experienced. Unlike most other voyages we’ve taken, the itinerary wasn’t part of our equation. The destination we cared about was the ship itself. Our cruise, which ends...
THE CACHOPO CHRONICLE
A few years ago, we unintentionally ended up in the Spanish coastal town of Santa Pola on a day trip from Alicante that had gone wrong. That’s when we stumbled on Restaurante Asturiano La Sidrería de Santa Pola and discovered Asturian cuisine–comfort food on steroids....
HISTORY & FINE DINING MEET IN MADRID
The highlight of our short visit to Madrid with our friends Gary and Debbie Wasserman was undoubtedly our memorable lunch feast at Botin, the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurant. We had dined here once before at the suggestion of our friend Mary Ann Eger....
FEASTING IN ALICANTE
During our last three visits to Alicante, Spain, we walked by La Taverna del Racó del Pla a dozen times. Hidden in a narrow side street a couple of blocks from the Mercado, it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but when we peered through the windows, we were...
CRAZY ABOUT CADIZ
You may have wondered why I haven’t posted much about our stay in Cadiz for the last eight days. Besides the fact we’ve been busy exploring the city, I wanted to confirm our first impressions of this place, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe....
THE TROUBLE WITH PORTUGUESE WINES
It may come as a surprise, but Mary and I enjoy a glass of wine now and then. (Cue the laughing hysterically soundtrack). In our household, wine time has been an important ritual for more than 33 years. It always begins at 5 p.m. sharp, unless we're traveling, but I...
A LUSOPHONIOUS DINING EXPERIENCE AT BAHR
For the most part, we focus our travel dining on well-reviewed family-owned eateries that serve traditional fare. Occasionally, we take a break and enjoy a good steakhouse or an Italian or Asian restaurant. Rarely, usually once during a long stay, do we splurge on a...
MAD ABOUT BACALHAU
Portugal has some quirks. One of the biggest head-scratchers is its love affair with bacalhau or stinky salt cod to laypeople. Why a country known for its seamanship and rich fishing grounds would prefer salted dried cod over the tasty fresh stuff is baffling. Equally...
A VISIT TO THE NATIONAL TILE MUSEUM
Portugal is best known for explorers, bacalhau, Pastel da Natas, sardines, wine cork, and decorative tiles not necessarily in that order. You know they’re important because there’s a museum dedicated to almost all of them. One, in particular, caught Mary’s fancy, the...
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Ron and Mary’s favorite travel photos and videos.
