Travel Russia Today

When I visited Prague last November, one of the most pleasurable experiences I had was the visit to a glass artist’s manor and gallery. Manto’s work will definitely wow you and, trust me, you will have an even more amazing time hanging out with him and his wife.

I joined a group of ladies that were visiting the manor on that day. We even got to see a video of how he works on the glass – he does it so naturally you would think it is that easy! But the best part was towards the end, when, after drinks (for inspiration!), we all got to make our own piece of art. Manto will walk you through what is needed to have one of the most personable souvenirs you can bring back from your trip to Prague. And with at risk of sounding pretentious… mine turned out beautiful and it is now on display in my house. And, of course, at the end you get to autograph his artist wall.

I also had a chance to visit his gallery a week before the grand opening! The gallery is located in a baroque house in old Prague, within walking distance of the Mandarin Oriental hotel where I was staying. The gallery holds some of his most fantastic work, and is very much worth checking out.

Manto is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Prior to my first trip to Russia, I was so excited to get there and see this amazing country, but on the inside, I was quite nervous about one thing—the food. I don’t think I’m a picky eater, but after comparing my diet with those I work with…I am extremely picky. As you know, Russia is known for its caviar and vodka-two things that I do NOT enjoy. After my first meal, which included both of those things, I couldn’t help but think…it’s going to be a long 7 days!

I did finally find something I liked- Pelmeni. Pelmeni are amazing dumplings filled with pork or beef. YUM! Once I discovered these marvelous little balls of dough, I think I ordered them at every meal. A very close second to the Pelmeni was a starter we had while out in the country at one of our recommended restaurants- Podvorye. Podvorye is a cute wooden cabin in the village of Pavlovsk with outstanding food. We sat down at our table and were immediately served vodka. I politely declined. Next thing I know they placed the most beautiful tomatoes down on the table. But they weren’t just tomatoes-they had this awesome garlic, cheese and herb mixture spread on top. I could have eaten just those for lunch. Too bad, I had to share.

So as you can see, I ended up faring pretty well in the food department….who needs caviar and vodka when you have pelmeni and tomatoes!

I recently enjoyed a day exploring the Norwegian Fjords by traveling via Norway in a Nutshell. This full day journey, involving trains, ferries and a bus will delight any one with its breathtaking views of the fjords. Tiny villages, some consisting of only two or three homes, dot the coastline. Occasionally, I would spot a lone house perched on a cliff and wonder how they survive so isolated.

Countless waterfalls plunge into the sea. The captain of our ferry pulled up along a waterfall and everyone was served a cold, sparkling glass of water. It was the best water I ever tasted but, I must admit, I enjoyed a different drink along the journey even more...

We had a nice stop in Flam (a gorgeous town in Norway) for forty five minutes before continuing on. There were several buildings surrounding the port and when we wandered past the restaurant and souvenir shop we could not believe our eyes when we spotted a brewery.

The Aegir Brewery is a stave designed, barn-like building. The interiors featured wood carvings everywhere and stone floors as if a Viking designed it himself. At the bar, we were delighted to meet the bartender/owner and discover he is a fellow American from Buffalo. He presented us with a tasting board of six micro-brews. With only about thirty minutes before our departure we did our best to sit back and enjoy each sip. The Indian Pale Ale was the clear winner in our group. We would have loved to have spent the whole afternoon there but, alas, we must continue on.

Everyone always wants to go to St. Petersburg during the White Nights Festival (May 15- July 15th), Munich during Oktoberfest, and Croatia during the summer months but I am here to tell you that I have done it and if you do not like crowds (like the one you see here of people waiting hours to enter the Hermitage Museum), you will not want to be in these places at these times! I have been to St. Petersburg over 10 times and I must say that some of my most enjoyable times have been during the winter months. Mind you, I live in Florida so Russia in the winter is a BIG step out of my comfort zone but well worth it.

We always think that we have to be part of an epic moment to have a memory but I can assure you that whether you see Catherine Palace July 1st or January 1st, you will still be impressed. Better yet, don't you want to be able to walk through the Old Town of Dubrovnik on your own- not with 10,000 of your not-so-close friends? Europe, as do most places, has its high season (when airfare and hotel rates are through the roof) during the summer months (May- September).

If you want to save some money, not have to fight with crowds and ultimately have an island such as Hvar to yourself then I suggest booking your trips during the less peak times, such as October- April.

I think we can all agree that eating inside or anywhere near an airplane is, to put it mildly, an unpleasant experience. On domestic flights in the US, I feel outright insulted when the flight attendants offer to sell me a pre-packaged snack. I would not want it even if it was free. Obviously, on transatlantic flights you get hungry and I admit that I have eaten my share of the “chicken or beef” dinners. I do so as fast as I can so as not to expose the meal to the germ-filled air being circulated through the aircraft. Does that sound neurotic or reasonable?

The airports usually do not offer anything better than fast-food chains or candy stores. You can imagine my surprise and joy when I recently flew through Munich and fell on an organic bakery. As I was wandering through the airport trying to kill time, I saw what I at first thought a mirage - beautiful huge loafs of artisanal sourdough bread lined up above a counter full of fresh vegetables. The walls around were covered with inscriptions spelling bread in several languages, from German and English to Italian, Hebrew, Arabic or Russian. And above it all: Aran Bakery and Coffeehouse.

The nice man behind the counter put together a wonderful open-face sandwich for me with a delicious spread of fresh cucumber and chives. You can choose from many different spreads, or order a soup and end the meal with some of their pastry creations. I never felt more civilized at an airport than when I was delaying the dreaded departure for the gate and savoring each sip of my wonderful foamy latte.

You must do it once in your life. This was my second time but it may as well have been the first. The first was in Palm Springs but that experience, while exhilarating, pales in comparison to my second “first” time.

We woke before dawn. In the darkness of the room it was impossible to tell what time it was but the alarm was buzzing and the alarm clock never lies. You see there were no windows in the room and at the flick of the switch you had no idea if it was four a.m. or four p.m. But a night or two in a cave is a story for another time. My feet hit the cold stone floor- and it WAS very cold. Later that day there would be a blizzard but as we peeked out into the dark morning, stars twinkled in the sky as the crisp cold air enveloped us.

A 30 minute ride took us out of town and to an area that could have been in the desert west. As the sun barely touched the horizon the outline of an old horse drawn cart sat on a ridge just above us. And then the whoosh! The powerful noise and heat were overwhelming, exciting and welcoming as the warmth sent the cold air wafting away.


On the ground lay the fabric to reach from top to bottom of a nine-story building. An organized web of ropes and lines reached along to a wicker basket the Wicked Witch of the West could have filled with 200 Totos.

We met our fellow travelers over a cup of steaming coffee and a biscotti. Australians, Spaniards and Japanese made up the majority of flyers that day. The excitement was palpable and when it came time to clamber over the side of the gigantic picnic basket that hovers below the balloon the handlers had to hold the over-enthusiastic among us to avoid the rush. Every possible assistance is given when climbing in but you have to have at least some agility and therefore the trip is not for everyone.

In no time at all a very slight shake of the basket, a burst of hot air into the balloon and we had left the ground and the total silence of the Cappadocian morning was deafening. It was spectacular – more spectacular than words can ever describe. The flight takes you over the inaccessible valleys and canyons of the region. The pilots are incredible and adeptly maneuver the balloon dropping down to almost touch the canyon floor and sides and then soaring aloft again over scenery that belongs on another planet. There are always other balloons in the area, sometimes lots of them. Seeing them in this ethereal setting makes you feel as you though are in a movie.

The light changes as the sun rises into the sky and all too soon the pilot has decided on the landing site – this does depend on the weather conditions but is always a safe procedure. The fact that you actually have to crouch down into the basket during landing should not concern anyone. It is the balloon equivalent to fastening your seat belt for landing. The basket lightly brushes the dusty ground and comes to a stop and it is over. Champagne and orange juice are shared and you receive the statutory certificate proving that you have been there and done that. But you will not need a certificate tucked away in the back of a drawer to remind you of one of the most fantastic experiences you will have during your travels. The experience comes at a price you will not regret it.

While visiting Prague over the summer, I had the opportunity to visit the famous Estates Theater-where Mozart performed Don Giovanni. The theater is beautiful and a definite must see while visiting the city. More than the theaters beauty or history, the real excitement for me was being taken around by the maestro of the theater, Mr. Pavel Vondruska-a sweet man who just makes the experience that much better.

Mr. Vondruska is a famous actor and musician in the Czech Republic who has starred in numerous feature films such as the Oscar winning film-Kolja. Pavel's career started many years ago as the conductor for the Estates Theater. Pavel invites his guests to admire the beauty of the theater and to fall in love with it- just as he has!

After he showed us around, we went backstage to see what happens behind the scenes. At the end of the tour, he took us to his little secret place-a room where the actor and actresses go after the performances. There was, of course, a piano and he sat down and played one last piece for us. Not only were there goose bumps but tears when he was finished.

Mr. Vondruska hugged each of us as we walked out and it is a memory I will forever have in my mind. It truly was a fantastic experience and I recommend anyone who goes to Prague to do it…it’s one you will never forget!