by Penny Zibula | Oct 13, 2019 | Europe, Road Reads, Travel
A Tale of Cruelty, Courage, Compassion and Survival If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that “Look for the surprises,” is my motto. In this case, the surprise found me in the form of Daniel Farcas. He emailed me, asking if I would review his 2014 book,...
by Penny Zibula | Aug 26, 2019 | Europe, Travel
Two Historical Perspectives on One Unforgettable Maritime Tragedy Part 2: Titanic Experience Cobh Several months after Simon, Otto, and I immersed ourselves in history and tragedy at Titanic Belfast, we found ourselves in County Cork, Ireland. There, in the town of...
by Penny Zibula | Aug 12, 2019 | Europe, Travel
Two Historical Perspectives on One Unforgettable Maritime Tragedy Part 1: Titanic Belfast The story of the ill-fated maiden voyage of RMS Titanic has been the subject of books, poems, films, documentaries, theatrical productions, and much speculation. Most focus on...
by Penny Zibula | Jun 21, 2019 | Europe, Road Reads, Travel
The Classic Epic of D-Day, June 6, 1944 by Cornelius Ryan Reading this well-written and researched historical account of the D-Day invasion evoked powerful emotions. But when I visited Omaha Beach, nothing had prepared me for the overwhelming flood of grief and...
by Penny Zibula | Feb 1, 2019 | Europe
A Knowledgable Guide Plus a Sturdy Jeep Equals a Perfect Day in This Island Paradise. We were asleep when our cruise ship, the Holland America Nieuw Statendam docked at Funchal, the capital city of the Portuguese island of Madeira. But once fully conscious, Simon,...
by Penny Zibula | Jan 10, 2019 | Europe, Food & Beverage, Travel
A New and Flexible Way to Discover Local Culinary Treasures. In recent years, food tours have become almost commonplace on travelers’ itineraries. We’ve taken a guided walking tour in Barcelona, peddled a quadracycle tour in Fort Lauderdale, and careened through...