River Cruises Are Hot

And the word is catching on as more travelers realize that this is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore Europe! For those who have cruised the Mediterranean, river cruising brings you to countries that you can't reach on ocean-going vessels - like Austria, Bulgaria, Switzerland and Hungary. They allow you to explore the heart of countries whose shores you've visited, such as France, Germany, Belgium or The Netherlands.  There's so much more to see!

Those who are far more learned in geography than I can tell you that most European capitals are not on the coast, but located on the banks of the great European rivers which, for centuries, provided the main source of transportation throughout the region. When the ship docks you're right in the midst of the city, and tours are included in the cruise fares! You can also enjoy time in well known regions outside the great cities; like Provence, the Balkan and Carpathian Mountains, or the Mosel River Valley.  Many river cruise lines also offer land extensions a little further inland to Munich, Prague or even Transylvania.  I wanna go, I wanna go!

I'm determined to do my first river cruise within the next year.  It's a goal.  I'd love to cruise the entire Danube from Luxembourg all the way to Bucharest; but I don't think my boss will give me 21 days out of the office. (She doesn't even give me Saturdays and Sundays off at the moment.) So my next best choice would be a Christmas Markets cruise that visits the magical cities of Vienna, Linz, Nuremberg and Budapest when they're all lit up with holiday decorations, maybe dusted with snow (yes, even though I'm a Florida girl) and the streets are filled with carolers.  Anybody want to join me?

Two days ago I received a flyer with some wonderful rates on AMA Waterways for sailings that still have space for 2010. A 12 day land & river tour of the Danube with pricing starting from $1499 on Nov. 11 or 20th.  A 7-night sailing from Amsterdam to Basel with 2 nights in Lucerne and 2 nights in Zurich from $1599.  There are several more, but I'm not trying to made this an advertisement. 

Wish I could do them all, but then I wouldn't be in the office to answer calls (guess I could get a satellite phone, couldn't I?).  Well, like I said, I doubt my boss would let me.

Roger and out.


www.topsailjourneys.com

It's All Going to the Dogs!

As a dog lover, and Foster Mother to three dogs here on Key Biscayne, I like this idea:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - Pluto never had it so good: The next major attraction to open at Walt Disney World won't be for the kids - it will be for the dogs.

Best Friends Pet Resort, scheduled to open Aug. 27, will offer not just boarding, but also bedtime stories and a water park for dogs.

The luxury facility will accommodate way more than 101 Dalmatians. With more than 50,000 square feet of space, half of it outdoors, it has room for 270 dogs, 30 cats and assorted other animals, including birds, potbellied pigs and small mammals like hamsters and guinea pigs. (Sorry, no turtles, snakes or lizards.)

Standard indoor boarding for dogs runs $37 nightly. For additional fees, you can get services like doggy play group or bedtime stories for pooches accustomed to snuggling up with children while a parent reads aloud. (On the Best Friends reading list: "The Poky Little Puppy.")

Upgrades for dogs include vacation villas with outdoor patios and flat-screen TVs for watching videos like "Homeward Bound" ($59), or 226-square-foot luxury suites ($76) with private outdoor play yards and personal pet concierges.

Cats can choose between two- and four-story condos.

In addition to the water park, Best Friends offers play groups, outdoor runs, walking trails and areas for playing ball or Frisbee.

Pets can be left for the day without overnight boarding, and owners can drop by to visit or play on their way from hotels to the park.

"We know that people who bring their pets with them to Disney want to see their pets," said Deb Bennetts, spokeswoman for Best Friends, which operates more than 40 pet-boarding facilities around the U.S. "If they were simply going to board their pet, they would board their pet at home. They want to see and interact with their pet while at the resort, so we've made it easy for them to do that with all of this wonderful outdoor space."

The Best Friends resort will replace five existing kennels at Disney World and will be located on Bonnet Creek Parkway within the Disney complex directly across from the Port Orleans resort.