This week we visited Zion National Park in Utah.  Driving to the park from St. George, we saw many rock formations in a variety of colors.  Once we got into the park and got on the propane-powered shuttle (the only way to go into the park from April to October) the natural beauty of the park was evident.  The walls of the canyon, which have been building and changing for 250 million years glow in the sunlight in reds, grays, tans, and whites.  Once an inland sea, geographical formations built up over time and were etched by winds and water to create this natural beauty.
     If you want to hike, bike, camp, or commune with nature, Zion is a place you can do that.  We went on several of the easier hikes and though there were many others on the trails, it was never crowded.  Whether looking up at a massive 6,000 foot mountain of Navajo sandstone or looking down into a 1500 foot canyon, there are sights on which to feast your eyes.

Besides having to unpack just once for the week-long cruise, I love that the ship stops right in the heart of the city or village, and we can get off and walk around.  Each stop along the way has amazing things to see and do and a guided tour is offered at each stop.  The guides are locals who know the area well, and the tours are designed to offer a wide range of guests a unique experience.  There may also be optional tours to choose from. 

I like that some river cruise lines have different levels of walking to accommodate everyone; normal pace where you will see all the included sites, a faster option for those who want the highlights but may want to wander off on their own, and a slower paced tour for those with mobility issues or those just want to go a bit slower.

Headsets are included and can be found in your cabin.  They will be for use on all the tours so that you're able to hear everything even if you're not right next to the guide.

I love that some river cruise lines include bicycles.  On our AMA Danube cruise, we could take the bikes out while in the villages and ride around town or take a guided bike tour.  We even had the option of riding from one town to the next and meeting the ship there.

River cruise ships are much smaller and more intimate than ocean liners.  Most carry between 120 and 200 people.  Getting on and off is an easy process, and there's no waiting in line for dining.

All of your meals are included, and most river cruise lines include unlimited local wine or beer with lunch and dinner and champagne at breakfast.  We've found the food to be excellent.  The chefs will "wow" you with their culinary delights and fabulous desserts.

Entertainment is usually local.  The cruise line may bring on a group of children to perform a cultural dance, or perhaps a local polka band to entertain the guests. 

Getting off the ship and walking down cobblestone streets, looking into local shops and markets, I feel like I'm in a storybook.  Sailing past castles and cathedrals makes for a beautiful cruise.  And going through locks was a totally new experience!

I always return home feeling enriched, with a deeper understanding of other peoples and cultures.  If you’re like me and new experiences and adventures excite you, river cruising is for you.


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   We were transported via motor coach to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO site and one of Vietnam's most treasured landmarks in the Gulf of Tonkin.   The trip was about 4 hours through some picturesque, very green and lush countryside.  We boarded our "junk", which was really quite luxurious, for our overnight cruise of the bay.  We were taken to our stateroom where we would be spending the night.
   Ha Long Bay is a remarkable place that was unlike anywhere I had ever seen before.  It's known as the "Bay of the Descending Dragon" and is famous for its dramatic limestone cliffs, thousands of islands and islets and groups of "floating villages".  We cruised among the many rock/island formations that dotted the bay and saw lots of other interesting junks.  Generations of Vietnamese live and work on the many junks throughout the bay; fisherman and pearl divers include families with grandparents and children all working together.
    Mike hiked to the top of one of the formations with the group.  I would have loved to go, but was still feeling the affects of my fall from the day before.  The following morning, some of the early risers went and explored a limestone cave.
  We had an amazing feast that night.  It happened to be Thanksgiving in the U.S., and they even prepared turkey, which I imagine was difficult to find, for one of the courses.  We were given a menu with what we assumed was three "choices":   fish, turkey, and shrimp.  They brought out each course, which was a full meal in itself!  With the fish were potatoes and vegetables, then the turkey was brought out, followed by the shrimp meal.  This was after salad and soup.  No way could I eat all of that food, but it was delicious and prepared perfectly.
   Ha Long Bay is peaceful and serene and not to be missed when traveling to Vietnam!

    We arrived in Hanoi after a flight from Los Angeles, with an overnight (unplanned; we missed our connection due to mechanic issues on the plane) stay in Tokyo, and took a cab to our hotel, the Sofitel Legend Metropole, a 5 star hotel built in 1901.  The staff was amazingly attentive from the time we stepped out of the cab until we departed two days later.  The Sofitel is such a beautiful hotel, peace and tranquility in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city.  The hotel is conveniently located and you can walk so many places from here.  The grounds, pool bar, restaurants, rooms were all perfect.
   The city of Hanoi is a mixture of ancient and modern, a meeting of East and West. It's known for the graceful colonial architecture, frenetic streets filled with motorbike traffic, lovely parks, ancient temples, and peaceful lakes.
   The second day we had a tour of the Presidential Palace grounds and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.  This is when my body decided to faint!  We were standing and listening to our guide and the next thing I knew, I was lying on the pavement looking up at my husband, a Vietnamese man, and some of our group.  The Vietnamese man was the President's personal physician, who had come out to assist.  He checked my vital signs and recommended I go to the International Hospital.  Instead, my husband and I went back to the hotel and I rested for the remainder of the day.
  Unfortunately, we missed the rest of the Hanoi tour, including seeing the Hanoi Hilton, made famous during the Vietnam War, and the puppet show that evening.   But driving through the city when we departed, we were amazed at all the bicycles and motor scooters.  There were entire families (up to 5 people) riding on one scooter.   Crossing the street is very interesting!  No one pays any attention to stop lights, so it's constant traffic.  We were told to just walk straight across and people would slow down or go around us.  That was pretty scary!
   I did spend the rest of our trip with a black eye, a big bump on my forehead, and skinned knees!

It's been 10 years since passports became mandatory for U.S. citizens traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. They have always been required for all other countries. 

Since passports are valid for ten years, the U.S. State Department is expecting a surge in passport applications and renewal requests this year.  They make take up to 16 weeks to process.  More than 17 million Americans are expected to apply for or renew passports in 2016, up from about 14 million in 2015. It is important to note that passports must be valid for up to six months at the time you return from your travel destination.   You can contact the  Advisory Section of the U.S. State Department at (202) 647-5225 or by visiting the State Department website at http://www.state.gov/travel  to obtain Passport and visa information.