SPEND SOME TIME IN ALASKA

LET'S GO CRUISING IN ALASKA

So since we are going cruising...we need to think Summer.  We can leave from Vancouver and spend a few days there before boarding on a fabulous Alaskan Cruise. Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Sea, can give you a great taste of Alaska.  You will sail the inside passage which embodies the best of Alaska's pristine nature and rugged beauty.  The wildlife, the rain forest shrouded in mist, magnificent fjords and the majesty of Hubbard Glacier and this is just day 2 on board.  WOW!  The Salmon Capital is a hub for sports fishing...and nothing tastes like a fresh caught salmon right out of the icy waters...yum yum.  As your cruise ship sails along wonderful ports like Juneau, Skagway and arriving Seaward, where you will disembark for your land excursion.  A scenic drive to Girdwood at the base of Mount Alyeska.  Ascend to the summit in the aerial tram for the best views.  Experience Denali like never before...I have just touched on some highlights to this fabulous Land and Sea vacation.  Just remember if you decide to do this make your reservations quickly...the ships are a little smaller and the cruise time only runs from Mid May to Mid September.  Pack for the cold, because even in the summer it can be a bit nippy...and Happy Sailings.

RIVER CRUISING OVERSEAS

We are excited that spring is right around the corner and what better way to see the Tulips of Holland.  Let's take that short riverboat cruise in Europe down the Rhine with a Rhine Highlights.  An 8 day from Amsterdam and Basel.  Explore the maze of historic streets and canals.  Float past gorgeous castles.  Stroll through Cologne, venture on to Basel in Switzerland.  Spring time is a lovely time to visit, the weather is spring like so you may want to pack a light jacket and a sweater that can fit under the jacket.  This way you can dress in layers.  I am always chilly...Also be aware it is business casual is recommended at dinner on board.  During the day make sure you have a comfy shoe...because you will be doing a lot of walking and exploring.  But these river boats fill fast.  I know the Scenic Cruise line which is mainly an all inclusive cruise is already booked solid for May and July.  If you would like to know more about these cruises feel free to contact me.  Just go to my website and all my info is on there.

CAN'T TALK ENOUGH ABOUT PASSPORTS

If you have been listening to my podcast, you know I am adamant about having one.  If you are traveling anywhere out of the country even to Canada you will need a passport.  Now once you fill all the paperwork out and get everything sent in, your almost there.  You can also pay to have the passport expedited, but don't count on it being in your mailbox in a day.  Same goes for renewing your passport, you need at least 6 month left on your passport when renewing.  You can renew by mail if you meet certain criteria.  Such as, your passport was issued within the last 15 years, it should be undamaged and your current name is on the passport.  This holds true for those that married and now carry your spouse's name.  Also you must be at least 16 years of age when you got your passport.  A little extra time and your passport is good for years.  Makes traveling a lot easier.  Even if you are on a cruise ship.

DESTINATION OF THE WEEK
BARCELONA

Barcelona, Spain, is the capital and the most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and the second-largest city in Spain, after Madrid. It’s also Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast and the most popular tourist destination in Spain.

Barcelona has many venues for live music and theater, including the Gran Teatre del Liceu opera theater, the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya, the Teatre Lliure and the Palau de la Música Catalana concert hall. Barcelona also is home to the Barcelona and Catalonia National Symphonic Orchestra (Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, usually known as OBC), the largest symphonic orchestra in Catalonia. Barcelona has a great number of museums, which cover different areas and eras. The National Museum of Art of Catalonia possesses a collection of Romanesque art while the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art focuses on post-1945 Catalan and Spanish art. Several museums cover the fields of history and archeology, like the City History Museum, the Museum of the History of Catalonia, the Archeology Museum of Catalonia,and  the Barcelona Maritime Museum.

Local cuisine blends seafood with products from the Pyrenees like vegetables, rabbit, duck and lamb. Dishes that combine sweet and savory flavors, such as rabbit with figs, are also fairly common. Food often features Catalonia's four basic sauces—allioli (pure garlic and olive oil), romescu (almonds, hazelnuts, tomato, garlic, and olive oil), sofregit (fried onion, tomato, and herbs), and samfaina (a ratatouille-like vegetable mixture). Typical entrees include habas a la catalana (a spicy broad-bean stew), bullabesa (fish soup-stew similar to the French bouillabaisse), and espinacas a la catalana (spinach cooked with oil, garlic, pine nuts, raisins, and bits of bacon).

Barcelona also boasts an extensive motorway network and is a hub of high-speed rail. Barcelona is served by a comprehensive local public transport network that includes a metro, a bus network, two separate modern tram networks, a separate historic tram line, and several funiculars and aerial cable cars. The Barcelona Metro network comprises nine lines, identified by an "L" followed by the line number as well as by individual colors. Barcelona is a major hub for RENFE, the Spanish state railway network, and its main intercity train station is Barcelona-Sants station. Generally, Barcelona has high-speed rail links with major cities of Spain.

Barcelona enjoys a Mediterranean climate. The summer's season lasts about six months, from May to October, although also in November and April sometimes there are warm temperatures. Winters are mild.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

SAILORS STEW

What You'll Need
2 h to make 30 m for prep 8 servings 426 cals

• 1 (3 pound) boneless chuck roast, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 large potatoes, peeled and thickly sliced
• 2 onions, sliced
• 2 large carrots, sliced

• 1 (8 ounce) package fresh mushrooms, quartered
• 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans beer
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

 How to Make It

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place meat in a plastic bag with the flour. Toss to coat evenly.

2.  Heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Remove beef cubes from the bag, and shake off excess flour. Brown beef cubes on all sides, and remove to paper towels to drain.

3.  Place potatoes on the bottom of a 3 quart casserole dish or Dutch oven. Place the beef cubes over the potatoes, then cover with carrots and mushrooms. Pour in the beer, beef broth, and soy sauce. Toss in the peppercorns.

   4.  Bake uncovered for 2 hours in the preheated oven, or until meat           is very tender.

TIP....THERE IS NO SALT IN THIS RECIPE...IT HAS BEEF BROTH AND SOY SAUCE...BUT BASED ON YOUR TASTE YOU MAY WANT TO ADD SOME SEA SALT.  AGAIN ITS ON YOUR TASTE. 

Well I sure hope you are tuning into my podcast.  You can subscribe to it for free.  You can find it real easy on I-tunes/Stitcher/Buzzsprout.  You can also visit my website atwww.zeemichaelsontravel.com and you can let your imagination run wild.  If you want to visit any of these places that we talk about or something you see on my website, give me a call and I will help you Make Your Travel Dreams Come True.