Italy and Greece are at the top of our destination list and the original Honeymoon plan was to get a small taste of both with a 15 day cruise from Rome to Athens by way of Jerusalem. We still can't wait to take this trip or a similar one to explore the Mediterranean.URL to trip: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/eastern-mediterranean/cities-of-antiquity/index.html

Emily spent months reading books on Russia in preparation for Plan C of our Honeymoon and at this point we know we are going just not quite sure when. Help us make it sooner by contributing to the Russia Fund. Details on the trip can be found at this URL: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/russia/waterways-tsars/2022-moscow-stpetersburg/index.html

Our game collection was hit hard by the Great Water Heater Flood of 2019, many of the games were salvaged, but are in poor condition. We would love your assistance in repairing/replacing/expanding our game collection. If you want to pick out a specific game please visit the following link (NOT YET SET UP) to check our game collection.

We would love to come visit all of you! (assuming/once the pandemic has died down).

Explore the historically important and culturally refined cities of Parma and Bologna, and learn more about two of the region’s iconic exports—cured meats and Ferrari sports cars.

You will meet your guide upon arrival in Rome and see the important monuments of ancient Rome on a panoramic tour—the Aurelian Walls, the Pyramid of Cestius, the Circus Maximus and the Colosseum. In Vatican City, the smallest sovereign state in the world, visit the world-renowned Vatican Museums. You can see its diverse collection ranging from Egyptian and Etruscan art to pieces by Raphael and Caravaggio. In the famed Sistine Chapel, marvel at the art-adorned walls and, of course, Michelangelo’s famous ceiling painting in which the hand of God gives life to Adam. Find more inspiration in St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world and one of the holiest sites in the Roman Catholic Church.

After a scenic drive, make a photo stop at the Mount of Olives, with its breathtaking panorama of the Old City. See the picturesque Garden of Gethsemane and visit the impressive Church of All Nations; then, walk into Jerusalem’s Old City. You will see the Western Wall, where Jews insert written prayers into the mortar’s nooks. From here, view the Temple Mount, crowned by the glittering Dome of the Rock, sacred to Muslims. Follow the Via Dolorosa, or “Way of Sorrows,” the road Jesus walked bearing the cross, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—site of Christ’s crucifixion, entombment and resurrection. (An internal visit to the tomb cannot be guaranteed.) Continue to Bethlehem for exterior views of the Church of the Nativity, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important place of pilgrimage for Christians.

Meet your guide and drive to the north shore of the island, where you will meet your Sea Trek guide on a gently sloping beach. After an orientation on breathing skills, head into the water with your helmet secure and prepare yourself for a near zero-gravity experience, led by a calming guide who will bring you to a new appreciation of the sea. You will come face to face with beautiful marine life, perhaps a school of zebra fish or a sea turtle. Your walk will last about 20-25 minutes, with no need to resurface for air or fuss with bulky equipment.

Perched on the edge of a submerged volcano, the reef earned its name from the underwater geothermal springs that vent volcanic gases from the sandy bottom to the surface. On arrival, a Professional Association of Dive Instructors-certified guide will explain how to use your snorkel gear and what you are likely to see in the water. Then, embark by RIB, an open air boat, for your snorkeling destination. The reef is home to a wide variety of aquatic life, including vibrant sponges, lobster, iridescent parrot fish, hawksbill turtles and squid. Dip below the azure waters and explore the extensive coral formations as you swim through a bubbling curtain of warm, volcanic gas, which gives the impression of swimming in a glass of Champagne. Afterward, return to port and your awaiting ship.

Join a Dominican icon during a home-hosted visit and discover the secrets of Creole cuisine. Alix Boyd Knights enjoyed a long career as the Speaker of the House of Assembly. In recognition of her years of public service, Knights was honored with the title of Madam Speaker Emeritus and continues to share her knowledge with the professionals who follow in her footsteps. Recently retired, her passion for food has become her renewed focus, which she demonstrates as she opens the doors to her stunning home and invites you to learn more about Dominican life and cuisine. Using fresh, locally sourced produce—some of which comes from her own garden—she will create a seasonal menu which you will assist in preparing. Savor your creation along with a glass of rum punch or juice while enjoying the views from her veranda. Afterward, you will bid farewell to your host and return to your ship.

Discover the allure of this Baltic capital, situated along the Gulf of Finland. Nicknamed the “White City of the North,” Helsinki is home to many museums and galleries as well as interesting sights including the Old Town, Helsinki Cathedral and Sibelius Monument.

Stroll the streets, explore the residences and squares, and glimpse life in this city frozen in time. In 79 AD when Mt. Vesuvius erupted, Pompeii was buried under 20 feet of ash. Excavation has revealed with astounding precision exactly what life was like on that day. During your guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will walk ancient cobblestone warrens past baths, temples, an amphitheater and the forum—public buildings once teeming with life. Peer into the mansions of the wealthy and the more modest homes of the working class. See remarkable plaster casts of victims, anchored to the moment of catastrophe: a mother protecting her child, a dog tied to its chain. As you explore, your guide will describe a typical day in Pompeii.

Drive with your guide across the Negev Desert to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Masada, perched at the edge of a desert plateau that overlooks the Dead Sea. Along the way you will pass Qumran, where the famed Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a cave in the mid-20th century. Upon arrival at Masada, ascend to the fortress by cable car, taking in spectacular views. Constructed just before the time of Christ by King Herod, it is arguably the most impressive archaeological site in Israel and is the site of a famous Roman siege that ended in the tragic mass suicide of Masada’s residents. Later, continue to the western shores of the Dead Sea. You will stop at a seaside resort so you can take a dip in these buoyant waters, known for their curative properties for centuries.

You will meet your guide and drive first to the tabletop summit of Mt. Carmel. From here you can enjoy commanding views of the Mediterranean, inland plains and the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, a burst of color and topiary gloriously draped over a wide slope on the mountainside. Continue to the ancient seaport of Acre, continuously inhabited since the Phoenician period. This historic port city is one of the most important sites of the Holy Land for its pivotal role as a major trade center. Its Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rich with impressively preserved buildings and ruins, including the remains of the ancient harbor and the Ottoman city walls. These sturdy defensive walls, one of Acre’s most distinctive features, still surround the Old City today, forming a sandstone barrier at the harbor’s edge.

Visit Mt. Parnassus and Delphi, where ancient leaders sought advice and prophecies changed the course of nations. The mythical oracle is gone, but the city is a magnificent treasure. Drive with your guide to the foothills of Mt. Parnassus, where the ancient city clings to a scenic slope. Walk up the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle dispensed her advice. Continue uphill to the Theater, dating from the 4th century BC; from the top-row seats, take in stunning views of the Stadium of Delphi and the partially restored Tholos within the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. You may also hike up to the ancient stadium, the best preserved of its kind in Greece. Visit the excellent Delphi Archaeological Museum to view fine examples of votive offerings and statues, including the astonishing life-sized “Charioteer of Delphi.”

Sample some of Puerto Rico’s local cuisine during a walking tour of historic Old San Juan. Meet your culinary guide and set off to explore the eateries that line the cobblestone streets of this nearly 500-year-old colonial city. Your guide will choose your destinations and a selection of tasty dishes for you to sample based upon availability. During your tour, you may stop for a cup of coffee accompanied by a Pan de Mallorca, a Puerto Rican sweet roll. You may also pause to sample local fruits and various regional dishes. You might try mofongo—fried and mashed plantains—stuffed with chicken, roast pork with rice and pigeon peas, or a fish and chickpea stew. Between stops, your guide will take you past historic landmarks such as the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, the oldest cathedral in the US, and La Fortaleza, a 16th-century fortress and the current governor’s mansion.

THANKS TO SAGE PATENT GROUP, when we finally get to to the Caribbean, on Day 1 we will get to experience the natural wonder of glowing waters with a unique after-dark kayak adventure. Travel to Fajardo with a knowledgeable guide, who will share commentary about Puerto Rico—also known as “la Isla del Encanto” (Enchanted Island). In the small fishing village of Las Croabas, you will be greeted by experienced eco-guides. They will help to prepare you for your paddle in equipped two-person kayaks, and provide all necessary safety equipment, lights and refreshments. Then, paddle out under the night sky to the entrance of the Las Cabezas de San Juan Reserve. Here, you will enter a mystical channel where the mangroves create natural tunnels, and the sights and sounds of wildlife surround you. Enjoy a peaceful paddle along the edge of the mangrove forest at Laguna Grande, and—conditions permitting—have a chance to see the magical sparkling swirls of waters that glow with bioluminescent microorganisms.