Best Western in Cologne? They seem to be everywhere. This one doesn’t even look like a traditional building. It must have been something else first. I wonder what. I don’t think it goes back to the Romans. Here’s another Best… Continue Reading →

I hope this guide includes Dunkirk. I just wrote The Dunkirk Plot and need a guide. The table of contents promises a military guide to the Benelux, which is supposed to be Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. That sounds promising.

I’m now reading the Baedecker Guide to Cologne. I think I can use the Schloss Augustusburg as a model for the schloss in Escape From The Berghof. I’m buying the Berlin Baedecker Guide because I hope I can find a… Continue Reading →

The Baedecker guide I just bought of Hamburg looks like an old one. You can tell by the sophisticated picture on the front that resembles a landscape painting. Nobody prints guides like this anymore. Now they always have flashy photos,… Continue Reading →

Wow! Dora would take this with her when she went to see the Sphinx at Christmas time when her mother-in-law showed up. It has the ambiance of the 1930’s in the picture on the front of the guidebook. And that’s… Continue Reading →

Munich would be our third stop on our whirlwind Germany/Austria tour in July. First would come Wurzburg which would be an overnight stop where we could experience our first real German dinner. Then would come Nuremberg, to see the Nazi… Continue Reading →

I’m trying to locate where to stay in Salzburg, Austria. That’s the Sound of Music town. It’s also in the shadow of the Berghof which is about 12 miles away. The very meadow where Maria first sang in the Sound… Continue Reading →

I wonder if various hotels in Germany take precautions about bed bugs. Would a fancy place like the Mandarin Oriental in Munich have box spring covers? Would a small place like the Hotel Rosenvilla in Salzburg do so? I even… Continue Reading →

I figure I need about two of everything except underwear where I need 7. That’s all I can fit in my rollacase. Remember, Rick Steves says you have to push your own luggage. The QM2 gives expedited check out and… Continue Reading →

I just bought a Battenkill carry-on Rollacase by Orvis for my birthday. It will go with the briefcase I bought for Gary and Kenny for Christmas. Now Gary needs one of these, too, especially the one with the garment bag… Continue Reading →