by Penny Zibula | Dec 29, 2017 | Central and South America, Europe, Middle East, North America, Travel
The Good, The Great, and the Bittersweet As I write my last post for 2017, it’s 26˚F outside. There’s no snow on the ground, but it’s bloody cold! I’m sitting in the comfy recliner in my warm office, wrapped in a cozy blanket, lap desk and laptop resting securely on... by Penny Zibula | Dec 15, 2017 | Europe, Travel, Travel Tips
Powerful and Poignant Accounts of Leaving Home and How the World Has Benefitted. Ireland is like a savory and sweet stew, composed of multiple textures and complex flavors. Throughout the last 700 years, the stew has boiled over, sending its contents out into the... by Penny Zibula | Dec 1, 2017 | Europe, Travel
Preserving Poland’s Subterranean Treasures for Future Generations. As my fingers traced the mother’s face, her horror and anguish were transmitted straight to my heart through my fingertips. I was carefully exploring the figures in a salt carving depicting the... by Penny Zibula | Nov 24, 2017 | Accommodation, Europe, Travel, Travel Tips
A Comfortable Retreat for Business or Pleasure Immediately upon entering our room at the Mespil Hotel, we knew we were welcome. The greeting was hard to miss, coming in the form of a platter of dainty petit fours, and a chocolate, “Welcome,” written in flowing script... by Penny Zibula | Nov 17, 2017 | Accommodation, Europe, Food & Beverage, Travel, Travel Tips
Diary of a Some-Time Cruisaholic and Her Cruise Shy Husband (Part 3. Going Below the Surface on the Westerdam) If you’ve read J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, you’ll remember how kid-pleasing food and pumpkin juice appeared directly on the tables in the dining hall... by Penny Zibula | Nov 10, 2017 | Accommodation, Europe, Food & Beverage, Travel, Travel Tips
Diary of a Some-Time Cruisaholic and her Cruise Shy Husband (Part 2. Food and Fun) Ask anyone to talk about their experiences aboard a cruise ship, and the answer will boil down to two components: food and fun. In both these areas, Holland America Westerdam excelled....