Author Archives: travelbynatasha

About travelbynatasha

I am a retired attorney who loves to travel. Several years ago I began working on a Century Club membership achieved by traveling to 100 "foreign" countries. Today, at 49 years of age the count is at 82. Many were visited on land based trips. Some were cruise ports. Some were dive sites. Most have been fascinating.

A castle and Christmas markets in Heidelberg, Germany

Posted on February 13, 2020 by travelbynatasha

Today we have a day-long trip into Heidelberg to visit the castle and Christmas Markets. Its a familiar ride given my summer visit here. You go through the industrial areas before reaching one of the most fairytale-like cities in Germany. … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged artillery garden, Barrel Buliding, English Building, Fat Tower, Friedrich Building, funicular, Germany, Hall of Glass, Heidelberg, Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberger Schloss, Karl Theodor Bridge, Kornmarkt, Old Bridge, Ottheinrich Building, Perkeo, Ruprecht Building | Leave a comment

Eberbach Abbey, Rudesheim, and Wiesbaden Germany

Posted on February 12, 2020 by travelbynatasha

There was an early buffet dinner this evening to accommodate those wanting to go to the Christmas Market in the evening and for the group of us that wanted to take an optional tour to Kloster Eberbach in nearby Eltville. … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Eberbach Abbey, Eltville, Germany, Kloster Eberbach, Kurhaus, marktkirche, Rudesheim, Staatstheater, Twinkling Star Market, Wiesbaden | Leave a comment

The German Corner and Castles on the Rhine

Posted on February 11, 2020 by travelbynatasha

Our second full day of the Christmas market cruise began with a stop at the German Corner where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet. The landscape is dominated by the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on one side of the Rhine and the Statute … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Basilica of St. Castro, Castles on the Rhine, Deutsches Eck, German Corner, Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm I, Koblenz, Rhine River | Leave a comment

Christmas in Cologne

Posted on February 10, 2020 by travelbynatasha

Once again I was off on an river cruise adventure to the Christmas Markets. The itinerary is actually the same as one I did in the summer. This was to be my market trip with my sister Emma. We had … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Christmas Markets, Cologne, Cologne Cathedral, German Christmas Markets, Germany | 1 Comment

Vila Nova de Gaia and another look at Porto, Portugal

Posted on September 26, 2019 by travelbynatasha

We have been looking at those Port wine cellars across the river since we arrived in Porto and today is our day to visit. After you cross the Dom Luis I Bridge over the Douro River, you are actually in … Continue reading →

Posted in international | Tagged Calem, Cruz, Dom Luis I Bridge, Fado, Ferreira, Funicular dos Guindais, Gaia, Gran Cruz House, Impar, Porto, Portoalities, Portugal, Ribeira, Sara Riobom, Traca, Trecho dos Guindais, Tuking People, Vila Nova de Gaia | Leave a comment

The Douro Valley, Portugal

Posted on September 25, 2019 by travelbynatasha

Today we have an early departure from the hotel for our small group tour of the Douro Valley, the region of Portugal where the grapes for fortified wine known as Port are grown. Because we will miss the standard breakfast time, … Continue reading →

Posted in international, River Cruise | Tagged Amarante, Casa dos Barros, Croft, Douro River, Douro Valley, Gran Cruz House, Magellan, Pinhao, Porto, Portugal, Praca da Ribeira, Sabrosa | Leave a comment

Porto, Portugal

Posted on September 23, 2019 by travelbynatasha

We are disembarking our cruise ship today in Lisbon. We were here in May at the conclusion of our transatlantic cruise. We stayed on for a few days then and even took some day trips out of the city. The … Continue reading →

Posted in international | Tagged Alpha Pendular, Arrabida bridge, Campanha Train Station, Casario, Dom Luis I Bridge, Dona Maria Bridge, Grand Cruz House, Jardin do Infante Dom Henrique, Lisboa Oriente, Maria Pia Bridge, Monastery of Serra do Pilar, Oporto, Palacio da Bolsa, port, Porto, Portugal, Ribeira District, Sao Francisco Church, Sao Joao Bridge, St. Francis Monument Church, Taberna dos Mercadores, Vila Nova de Gaia | Leave a comment

The Principality of Asturias, Spain

Posted on September 20, 2019 by travelbynatasha

Today we are docked in Gijon in the Bay of Biscay for a tour of the Asturias providence of Spain. This is our last stop before reaching the port of Lisbon, Portugal where we will disembark. We are doing the lazy … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international | Tagged Asturias, Aviles, Gijon, Monte Naranco, Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre, Oviedo, Santa Maria del Naranco, Spain | Leave a comment

Bilbao, Spain: A City Transformed by a Museum and the Largest City of the Basque Country

Posted on September 13, 2019 by travelbynatasha

Today we are in Bilbao, located in the northern part of Spain. Bilbao is the largest city of the Basque Country which cover parts of Spain and France. Twenty-three years ago this was considered a gritty, industrial city and not … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international | Tagged Abando Train Station, Basque, Bilbao, Bilbao La Vieja, Bilbi, Casco Viejo, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Merkatua La Ribera, pintxo, Plaza Nueva, Rio Nervion, Spain | Leave a comment

Margaux, the Bordeaux Wine Region, France

Posted on September 12, 2019 by travelbynatasha

Today we are taking our most expensive excursion of the cruise. We are going to the Margaux region outside Bordeaux to visit a winemaker, tour a chateau, and have lunch. I thought we were also doing tastings yesterday, but Boris … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international, River Cruise | Tagged Bordeaux, Château Prieuré-Lichine, France, La Cite du Vin, Margaux, Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas | Leave a comment