As I watched the 4th of July fireworks in my small home town in Oregon, I started to wonder what kinds of similar celebrations are happening in other countries at different times of the year. Most countries appear to have at least one day of national pride, and it is often associated with gaining independence or winning a pivotal battle, and it usually is observed with a holiday. After some extensive research, and by research I of course mean “Googling” the following is a compilation of just a few of my findings. Knowing these dates may also help you plan your trip...
Anyone who has planned trips for friends and families, or even their own trips can tell you that it can take a lot of time, and when finished, one still doesn’t know whether everything is going to work as planned, or as presented on the web.
While traveling, I learn a lot about great healthy and delicious food while traveling that I like to prepare for friends during summer dinners that is easy as uno, due, tre!. Summer is finally here and two things come to mind: stay in shape so I can take it all off at the beach/pool, and can’t wait for the Zoom summer cruise to the Mediterranean in September. I think about our cuisine aboard the SeaDream Yacht and want to share one of the favorite healthy recipes that I learned onboard. MEDITERRANEAN SHRIMP IN A SHOT GLASS Uno – Ingredients and...
A lot of people ask me if we can really run legal trips to Cuba. My answer is, yes of course U.S. Citizens can travel to Cuba legally. Zoom Vacations has already hosted a few trips to Cuba in the last year alone, permitted by a People-to-People Cultural Exchange license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, and is offering a third in October of this year. This program is an exception to the embargo laws banning U.S. Citizens from traveling to Cuba. First offered by the Clinton Administration for a brief period, the Obama...
When people hear “Peru” most of them instantly think of Machu Picchu, and indeed, it is the country’s biggest tourist attraction. However, what impresses people almost as much as Machu Picchu, and certainly wins the award for best surprise, is how much they love Lima. Yes, Lima. Like in many places around the world, if you go to Lima for work, you may not love it. Come with Zoom Vacations, and if you are like our other travelers, you will find yourself saying, “I cannot believe how much I like Lima!” The colonial square and heart of Lima is simply stunning, and...
It has been months since I returned with our group from Cuba, and I have to say that the experience has remained emblazoned on my memory. I can’t seem to forget the wonderful people I met, the unparalleled architecture we saw, and the beautiful cultural performances we witnessed, such as an inspirational choral performance. It is amazing how little our group knew about Cuba when we arrived, and how much insight we gained by our visit. Perhaps it is the gorgeous painting I bought in Cuba (my favorite in my home) hanging over my bed that keeps Cuba forever on...
