Arts and Entertainment

Hotels are too expensive, to my way of thinking, if a family of more than four wants to get away together. My sons and their families, eight of us, rented an entire house with a pool on the beach on Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast. Granted the airfare can be expensive but once in Nicaragua things are less expensive.

At first glance the house rental for two weeks may seem expensive but not when divided by eight.

I have been to Granada, Nicaragua, several times in the last 25 years and impressed with how it has improved over the years. I didn’t stay in Granada this year but took a day trip to Granada with stops along the way. Our first stop was at an overlook in Caterina, one of the highest hills surrounding the Apoyo Lagoon, and the view was superb.

Imagine a group of islands that look like they have been untouched by the hand of man, and yet has resorts and services that are top notch. Palau, in the western Pacific Ocean and part of Micronesia, only has a population of 20,000 but offers wonderful adventures.

Haiti holds many wonderful surprises which can often happen when visiting a destination is not overexposed. In the late 1700s Haiti was the glory of the French colonies and one of the richest colonies in the world. In 1804 Haiti became the first black independent nation.

The Rhine River is one of Europe’s busiest rivers and for tourists one of the main Rhine attractions is the castles. There are more than 40 castles on the Rhine many of which are now hotels, restaurants, and museums. There are a lot of castles for sale some of which are around $300,000 USD. There are some that cost even less but most of the costs start after it is purchased.

Paraguay is a landlocked country between Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia in the heart of the South American continent. The little-visited, little-known country is too often passed over by travelers who wrongly assume that a lack of mega-attractions means there’s nothing to see. However, it’s ideal for those keen to get off the gringo trail for a truly authentic South American experience.

The Lorelei (there are several variations of the spelling) is a famous German myth. It was popularized by Heinrich Heine in his poem, “Legend of the Loreley;” a story about a lovesick maiden who lured unwary sailors to dangerous currents and reefs with her bewitching song sung from high atop the cliff. The stretch spelled disaster for many a sailor who piloted this treacherous stretch of the river.