Cruise Port Review: Santo Tomas de Castillo, Guatemala

I am not even sure where to begin to describe this cruise port. Let me see!  Ugly. Worthless. Smelly. Forgettable. Worst ever. I am running out of adjectives.  I think you get my message. Actually, I should have gotten the message when I saw the options for excursions and the reviews of said excursions. The private excursions company that my cruise consolidator hooked me up with didn't even offer any. 

When you looked at the port, it is a port, an active port with containers, trucks and stinky fumes. Just what every cruiser is hoping for. 

Now in the distance, you can see some mountains and lots of greenery. But the only thing you can do at this port in the beating sun is to visit a metal building which houses local craftspeople. I am not someone who enjoys haggling and I refuse to be overcharged, a bad combination in this part of the world. 

We opted to stay on board. We did climb to the uppermost level of the ship to get what views were available to us but had we not stopped here, it would have not been any sort of loss in my opinion. 

I am still pretty stunned that they even took us here, Santo Tomas de Castillo, Guatemala has nothing whatsoever to recommend itself to tourists. 

Tennessee: Visiting Elvis' Graceland

If you are in the Memphis, Tennessee area, you must take the time to tour the most visited private home in the world. Graceland, on Elvis Presley Blvd. is the home Elvis Presley purchased in the late 1950s and today it stands as a monument to the man known as "The King". If you plan on visiting Graceland, you need to plan ahead.

It is advisable to purchase your tickets online before you come. You have a choice of how much you want to see on your visit. The basic house tour was $38.75 for adults. You can save if you are a senior or if you have AAA or if you become an Elvis Insider. A variety of other options are also offered depending on how interested you are and how much you want to spend.

A large parking lot is located across the street from the mansion. Parking was $10 per vehicle and $15 for large vehicles. You then walk through the blue canopy into the main building where you pick up your tickets. You will have your purse checked, are handed a self-guided audio tour, have your photo taken, and then have to climb onto a bus that will shuttle you across the street to the mansion.

If you are expecting something the size of Tara you will be disappointed. By today's standards, this is hardly big enough to even be called a mansion. It is smaller than most new home construction. You walk in through the front door and enter the foyer. On the stairs leading upstairs, there are three of Elvis' favorite guitars. The tour will not take you upstairs into the bedroom and private areas of the house. In life this was private and they have decided it should remain so.

The formal living room is on the right and it is the first room you walk into. At the far end, you will see the grand piano. There are pictures on the wall and in many ways, it seems as if family members will be down soon to sit on the 15-foot white sofa. The decor looks as if it is still 1977, and the reality is, time has stood still here since the day Elvis died.



You are guided by your audio tour through the dining room, the pool room, the basement, the kitchen, and the jungle room. It isn't a long tour and before you know it you are back outside and standing in the carport where Elvis parked some of his famous vehicles.

The tour continues to the office that his father Vernon kept in the rear of the house to the trophy room where you will see his many awards, Grammys, platinum records, and costumes he wore both during his performances on the stage and in the movies. There is a lot to see in this building and it is very interesting. On display are the clothes that both he and Priscilla wore on their wedding day as well as some of Lisa Marie's baby clothes.

While you are on the grounds you will see Lisa Marie's swing set which looks like any other swing set from the 1970s. It is no more elaborate than what any other little girl would have had in that time period.

The Racquetball court has been converted into a museum housing some of his later costumes and awards.

The last stop is the meditation garden and this is where Elvis is buried with his parents, twin brother, and his grandmother. It is a very serene place and no one was talking much. The whole area was surrounded by flowers that are sent almost daily by adoring fans. Elvis has not been forgotten by the hordes who loved him in life.

For anyone who grew up in the era of Elvis, Graceland is a must-visit. Even if you are too young to have known him in life, this is the story of a simple and good man from Mississippi who had a big talent. He shared much of what he received and was adored by many. He never forgot where he came from, which was Tupelo, Mississippi. From a poor working-class family, Graceland became home to his parents as well as his grandmother.

His plane the Lisa Marie can be visited with a more extensive ticket as can his automobiles. Depending on how much you want to spend, how big a fan you are, and how long you have you could really almost spend the day doing just this. Needless to say, there is a gift shop and you can purchase a mug, postcards, tee shirts and lots of other items. Even a cookbook with the all too famous fried peanut butter and banana sandwich recipe.

It is expensive to visit Graceland but it is expensive to maintain a collection like this. If you are a fan, don't hesitate. It is not as luxurious as you may expect but it is much homier and you get to know the real man as well as the rock and roll icon.

The joys of driving to and from Florida

On January 1, for the last three years, we have left home in Connecticut and headed west and then south to end up in Ocala, Fl. Most of our friends don't understand why we do this and even more so that we only drive 250  miles a day. We stop 4 nights on the way down and more on the way back.

Why don't we just drive it in two days or fly? First, there is not a convenient airport to Ocala and second, it would mean buying a car. Plus we are too old to drive it in two days, we would be exhausted and we wouldn't get to see anything.

Instead, we drive to somewhere in Pennsylvania, usually around Hazelton, there is a Fairfield Inn that we like with a Damon's Grill in the parking lot. This way we don't have to worry about where we are going to eat dinner.

Our second night is spent in Virginia, it may be Staunton, it could be Winchester or sometimes Harrisonburg. All of them have a lot to recommend them. We love the Museum of the Shenandoah in Winchester, the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in Staunton and the prices in Harrisonburg. 

The third night is spent in the area around Lake Norman in either Davidson or Mooresville. Both of them have a lot to recommend them including comfortable accommodations and excellent restaurants. Davidson also has some fun shopping options. 

The fourth night on the road is always in Savannah. We stay in the same Fairfield Inn every time if a room is available again because of the restaurant in the parking lot, a Houlihans. 

On the way back home, I go a different way, we stick to I-95. We drive a little farther the first day to Bluffton, South Carolina. If it is a Sunday, we know where the Catholic Church is and we have stayed at both the Fairfield Inn and the Candlewood Suites. Candlewood Suites has a great restaurant in their parking lot, the Oakatie Ale House. 

The second night is somewhere in the vicinity of Wilson, NC. The determining factor is usually price. One year we chose Smithfield and discovered the Ava Gardiner Museum. 

Our third night in somewhere near Chantilly, Va. We have chosen a variety of destinations, again the price is the determining factor. This year we chose the Hyatt Place. We have stayed at Holiday Inn, Marriott and Fairfield Inn in the past. We spend several days here visiting our friends and also visiting historic houses in the neighborhood. 

This year was an exception, we drove straight up 75 into Georgia and visited the Jimmy Carter Historic Site and Andersonville. We spent the night in Americus at a Best Western Plus hotel.

We spent our second night on the road in Greensboro, NC at a Springhill Suites. Another year we spent several nights in Roanoke, Va so I could visit the sites there. 

We are pretty flexible about where we stay depending on what we plan to do in the area.

Now you have a better idea why I don't particularly find the option of flying to Florida all that appealing, there are so many interesting places to visit along the way. 

Massachusetts: A spring visit to Naumkeag in Stockbridge

Stockbridge is located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts and is a picture perfect place to enjoy any season of the year. It is no wonder that Joseph Choate, a successful attorney chose it for the location of his summer cottage, Naumkeag. He used the renowned architectural firm of Mckim, Mead & White to design the 44 room home. Naumkeag is the Gilded Age at its finest and yet, is very much a family home.

Joseph and his wife Caroline had the home built in 1887 and both came here for the summer (May-October)  until their deaths.  They actually celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary here which touched me profoundly since I was here celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary.

For all their financial and marital success, tragedy seems to have haunted the Choates. Three of their 5 children died young and Mabel who inherited the house, never married or had children. Only youngest son Joseph provided them with grandchildren.

The house is not that easy to find and once you find it, look out for the large rock which is rather a hazard as you turn into the long driveway. Parking is down a serpentine driveway and that walk up is excessively steep. This is not for the faint of heart or weak of knees. A couple of parking spots are located right in front of the house and it may be possible to park here if you are handicapped but certainly, it would be a drop-off point for someone who is mobility challenged.

You purchase your tickets at the gift shop/welcome center. You can also pick up sandwiches or salads or a snack to eat out on the terrace. We did and enjoyed the company of an adorable chipmunk.

We arrived at 1 p.m. we could have taken a garden tour but we opted for the house tour at 1:30, house tours are done on the half hour.

Other buildings design by this firm, Rose Cliff in Newport, New York, and Boston Public Libraries, Hyde Park the Vanderbilt home, Hillstead Museum and Olin Library at Wesylan University in my hometown of Middletown, Conn.

The tour lasts the better part of an hour and you need to be mobile enough to climb the stairs since the tour does go upstairs. 

Be sure to allow time to tour the gardens. They are worth visiting on their own even without the house. I suggest that you also visit the house so that you can learn about the Choates, it makes the house and gardens make sense. 

The Blue Steps are one of the great attractions in the gardens. 

While this is a "cottage" it is more of a mansion but a mansion that you can picture yourself living in. The Choate children spent many enjoyable summers here and the house reflects that. 

The original gardens were created between 1888-1890 to designs from Nathan Barrett. Where the Chinese Garden is now located there were formal perennial beds.  In 1926, Mabel Choate with the help of Fletcher Steele created the Afternoon Garden. Thirty years of garden development followed finishing with the design of the Moon Gate in 1956. 

Naumkeag is protected and managed by The Trustees. 

Hotel Review: Red Lion Inn Stockbridge, Mass.

 The Red Lion Inn is exactly what you would picture the quintessential New England Inn would look like. Actually, it is picture perfect. A long front porch with rocking chairs for enjoying a cup of coffee, a good book or just people watching. It is no wonder that this is the place I chose to spend our 50^th wedding anniversary.

I booked a king room and we were given a beautiful room at the end of a corridor on the third floor with a porch overlooking the pool area. It had flower boxes and chairs to sit and enjoy. Part of the porch also overlooked the street on the side of the inn but in the late afternoon, the traffic was tolerable.

Parking at the Inn is interesting and not necessarily in a good way. You can I suppose if you are really lucky to get one of the spots in front of the Inn. Unfortunately other than that for a first timer, it is challenging to figure out where to park. '

Traffic is heavy, you need to make a decision rather quickly and we ended up driving around the block twice before figuring out that there was a parking lot behind the buildings near where we thought the side entrance to the building was. As it turned out, we did very well, we were parked right next to the pool which is a great area to be in and we could see our car from the porch off our room.

Once you are inside, it is a maze of halls and it is evident that the building has been added on to over the years. It took me no time at all to figure out my way around and by the time we left, I was quite familiar with everything.

Coming in from the rear as we did, it is a long way from the front desk. You will pass a modern elevator and the dining room on your way to the check-in desk. When in doubt, just ask one of the friendly staff members for directions.

We checked in and then were escorted to the birdcage elevator for our trip up to the third floor. This is a charming way to be introduced to the hotel.

The room was lovely, sheer drapes at the corners of the four-poster, a lovely bay window with two chairs for reading, a fireplace and that porch, what more could we have asked for.

Two large bottles of Saratoga water were on the desk along with the place of chocolate covered strawberries that I had ordered. In addition, there was a happy anniversary note and a lovely dishtowel which was a total surprise.

Turndown service stopped by our room before we went down to dinner and dropped off two delicious chocolate mint patties.

On the third floor, we got the modern elevator in the library where there is also a rather antiquated computer. I didn’t mind, I had my laptop with me and Wi-Fi was strong and reliable. I will detail our dinner and breakfast in a food post but I will say, we were not displeased.

The room has its own thermostat so you are in control of the heat. The bed was very comfortable and I had a wonderful night’s sleep. The bathroom was roomy enough and met all of our needs. Plenty of towels and amenities were provided and the shower had excellent strength and plenty of hot water.

I have to admit, I fell in love with the Red Lion Inn. The room rates are not prohibitive and I thought that our package which included the 2 tickets to the botanical gardens was actually a good value. I can’t wait to come here again. 

Quebec: Summer weekend getaway

When it comes to a summer weekend getaway Quebec City is ideal. Heading north is always a good idea; chances are the weather will be considerably cooler than where you live.

Keep in mind that to travel to Canada you need to have at the minimum a Passport Card. The day has passed when you could dash across the Canadian border with only your driver’s license in hand. Be prepared for strong questions on both sides about where you are going, how long you are staying and the reason for your visit.

You can drive to Quebec City; it is about 9 hours from New York City. An international airport is located within just a few miles of the city if you prefer to fly. Once you are in the city, you will be able to walk to just about everything you would want to do or see in a weekend. Cabs available to hail if you want to ride somewhere.

Where to stay

The ultimate in luxury is to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac. It has the premier location on the Terrace Dufferin and the views of the St Lawrence River or the city from the rooms at the hotel are stellar, they do however come at an additional price. It is a splurge to stay here but one that for a weekend is worth it. Even if you can't afford to stay here, you can stop in and take a stroll around the lobby and the shops.


If you are looking for a smaller less intimidating hotel located in the shadow of the Frontenac, The Hotel Chateau Bellevue fits the bill nicely. It is small, friendly, has abundant charm and a similarly excellent location.
What to see

Quebec City has too many attractions to fit everything into a weekend, do a little research and decided what interests you the most. If you want a little history, The Musee de la Civilisation in the lower city has several excellent exhibits that will give you a very good overview of the Province of Quebec.


If you are more interested in a quick history lesson the Musee Cire or Wax Museum will give you a brief very visual history lesson. The Plains of Abraham has an Interpretation Center which explains the history of the transition from French to English Colony which happened in the mid-18th century.

If you want to learn about the history of Quebec City from a supernatural point of view, Ghost Tours of Quebec will take you on a walk on the more macabre side of Quebec history.





What to do 

• Walk on the Terrace Dufferin and enjoy the stellar views. 
• Take a ride on the funicular which transports you to the lower city. 
• Climb into a caleche and let your driver point out the sights to you. 
• Just stroll along the cobbled streets of the city. 

Shopping is a major occupation in Quebec City and the Petit Champlain district offers great opportunities for everything from cheesy souvenirs to designer clothes.

Dining

If you want to sample the food of Quebec, Aux Anciens Canadiens is a Quebecois restaurant where you can sample the meat pies, the pea soup and of course the sugar pies for which Quebec is famous. As you walk the streets find a place to sample poutine, French fries with gravy and cheese. It is artery clogging but a national obsession.

Quebec has several local breweries, be sure to sample some local beer and if you have the opportunity wine from the Ile d"Orleans.You can use these suggestions for a weekend in the Paris of the North, Quebec City or you can come up with your own. The motto of Quebec is “I Will Remember” and after your weekend, you most certainly will.

Quebec: Websites for planning a trip

Quebec is unique in North America with its bilingual French and English culture. History is located throughout the province as well as an architecture that will take you back to Europe as soon as you see it. If you are planning a vacation to “la belle province” you will want to find websites for planning a trip to Quebec. Here are a few to get you started.
Quebec Original

Quebec Original is the official site of Quebec Tourism. It is a beautiful site that is also quite comprehensive. Not only will it help you find out exactly what you might want to see and do, it will let you book accommodations.

They offer a Featured section that will tell you what is special about visiting right this minute. If you are planning more in the future you might want to check out the Explore section.


No matter what you want to know about the Province of Quebec and visiting there, this website will help you to find it. It is easy to navigate, clean and concise and provides some stunning photos to keep your interest. Tourism Quebec has done an excellent job of engaging tourist and then providing them with the useful information that they need to plan their trip.


The Plan Your Trip tab will be especially useful for first-time visitors as it covers topics such as customs and immigration, currency and money exchange, electricity, alcohol and bars and even tipping. It should be the first thing you look at when planning. If you only want to look at one website, Quebec Original should be enough to make your plans to visit Quebec a reality.

Quebec City and Region

Quebec City and Region is just that, the website that covers the information you need when you want to visit Quebec City and the region nearby. Quebec City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Province of Quebec and also the capital.


The link is to the English version and the funny thing is the French version has quite a different photo array so I suggest even if you don’t understand French, visit the French site just to enjoy the photos. You can visit as a visitor, as media or as a meeting planner.



Must See Attractions offers a stunning photo and written review of the places and sights that you won’t want to miss. Old Quebec provides a map of the historic area and then divides it into historic districts to help you get your bearings. Sections on Accommodations, Activities and Attractions, Discount Passport and more are offered.

This is a well-organized site that will be a great help to anyone planning to visit the Quebec City region.
Quebec Web

Quebec Web is an interesting site, no bells, and whistles just straight to the point information about all the different regions from the far north to the U.S. border to Gaspe in the east and to the border of Ontario in the west, it is all covered here by region.

The regions are listed on the left on the homepage and a click takes you to a page full of information with links galore. You can find out about the activities that are available in an area, the festivals and events and just about any information about that area that you want.

This is a nice website, simple to use and very straightforward.
Montreal Tourism

Montreal Tourism is the official website for the city of Montreal and it is a great looking site. At the very bottom of the home page, there is a link to all the Gay and Lesbian attractions that the city has to offer, it may be a small link but it offers plenty of great information.

The site is geared to tourists and you can watch a two-minute video, visit the blog or just start clicking away at all the information at your fingertips. This is the definitive Montreal guide for anyone planning a visit.

When you are planning a visit to the Province of Quebec or to one of its lovely cities or regions, you will want to use the best Quebec travel websites to give you the best and latest information on what is happening. These few will get you started on your vacation planning.