Mt. Pilatus...spectacular views!

Mt. Pilatus outside of Lucerne, Switzerland is a magical place. The gondola ride up the side of the expansive mountain provided beautiful views of cute Swiss chalets. We had a beautiful sunny day for our adventure. Lunch in the cafe was very good and provided us with extra time to admire the mountainside. Traveling with friends is always fun and making new friends along the way is part of what Viking River Cruises is all about! This was our day on our own during our Pre- Rhine Getaway.

Happy travels to all!

~ Cindy

#MyVikingJourney #VikingMani #VikingCruises

Christmas on the Rhine....A Lucerne Point of View

Christmas on The Rhine: A Lucerne Point of View

The Christmas Markets in Europe are a thing to experience at least once in your life. This time, was our second. Our first experience was on the Danube a few years ago and we decided to try another market adventure, but this time on the Rhine. Of course it would be with Viking River Cruises, our number one cruise line choice. 

We began our itinerary with a pre in Lucerne, Switzerland. Lucerne is a lovely city even in the winter. With the backdrop of Christmas Markets to entice and Mt. Pilatus, we enjoyed two days to walk around the city and take the gondola up the mountain. 

Enjoy a few remembrances of our trip on the Rhine Getaway in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Happy Travels!

~ Cindy

#MyVikingJourney  #VikingMani 

Anchorage to Seward Aboard the Gold-Domed Alaskan Train...

ZamsZanyTravels is on the move again! The Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward, AK in the Gold-domed car was a real treat for us. Preparing for our Viking Alaska cruise, we opted to fly in early and explore for a few days before embarking on the Viking Orion. The scenery was well worth it. It was a bit cloudy today, but the sun finally peaked through toward the end of our 4 hour train ride. 

Happy travels!

#MyVikingJourney #VikingOrion #ZamsZanyTravels

Columbia Glacier Cruise....

In Valdez, AK, one optional excursion Viking offers is the Columbia Glacier Cruise. We had another beautiful day which provided us with some breathtaking views of the Prince William Sound on our way to the Columbia Glacier. Global warming has contributed to the shrinking of this glacier, however, once it reaches the shoreline and creates a more stable source, its retreat is likely to slow down enough to make it possible for the glacier to reform.

We had a light lunch on board and were able to spot quite a bit of sea life. This is one excursion you don’t want to miss!

Happy travels!

#MyVikingStory #MyVikingJourney #ZamsZanyTravels

Viking Italian Cooking School Aboard the Viking Orion....

On sail days, Viking offers very special cooking classes. We took advantage of the Viking Orion’s Italian cooking school and savored a delicious luncheon of Saltimbocca Romana Style, Wild Mushroom risotto, and Tiramisu! The chef prepared the majority of the meal while we chopped up vegetables for the meal. It’s always fun to do on a sea day.

Happy travels!

#MyVikingStory #MyVikingJourney #ZamsZanyTravels

Scenic cruising through Yakutat Bay & Hubbard Glacier...

Scenic glacier-carved mountains and fed by the enormous Hubbard Glacier, Yakutat Bay spreads some 18 miles across at its widest point. Stunning vistas surrounded us as we traversed through icy waters filled with icebergs and smaller ice formations. It was a bit hazy, but we managed to have some beautiful vistas.

Happy travels!

#MyVikingStory #MyVikingJourney #ZamsZanyTravels

Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise

Arriving early in Seward, AK, we took advantage of a very special cruise through Resurrection Bay and beyond in the Kenai Fjords. The day couldn’t have been better. Beautiful vistas plus so many animal sightings. Sea otters, Sea lions, Orcas, Dolphins, Fin whales and more! A real bonus was the meal on Fox Island with prime rib, salmon, and the option to add Alaskan crab! Delicious and a day to remember.

Happy travels!

#MyVikingStory #MyVikingJourney #ZamsZanyTravels

Dog Sledding with the Seavey’s....

Mushing fun with teams of dogs at the Seavey family kennels in Seward, AK! Great excursion as we mushed on a training sled with 14 Iditarod dogs. We learned about the art of mushing and met the dogs - Alaskan huskies which are actually a blend of breeds which are bred to have an amazing physiology that allows them to run for long periods of time without experiencing fatigue.

“The Last Great Race” is an annual long-distance dogsledding competition that runs nearly 1100 miles. When I was teaching 6th grade, we read Gary Paulsen’s “Woodsong” and followed the Iditarod. My students really enjoyed watching the mushers and tracking them across Alaska during the race.

Very good and educational excursion. Highly recommend! 

#MyVikingStory #MyVikingJourney #ZamsZanyTravels

Portugal Rivers of Gold with Viking River Cruise Trailer!

This trailer features "Portugal Rivers of Gold" with Viking River Cruises. Sailing the Douro River and featuring highlights of our cruise. More videos to come! 

Happy travels,

~ Cindy 

#MyVikingJourney #VikingOsfrid #ZamsZanyTravels

Sailing Up the Douro River....Our Journey Continues...

Viking River Cruise Portugal Rivers of Gold has been one of the most scenic river cruises we have taken. We traversed several locks and viewed exquisite vineyards and olive groves along the riverbanks. Enjoy a few moments of our cruise along the Douro River! Perhaps it will be your new destination!

Happy travels,

~ Cindy

#ZamsZanyTravels #MyVikingJourney

Quinta da Aveleda...Winery and Garden Tour

Quinta da Aveleda is an optional tour on Viking River Cruises “Portugal Rivers of Gold.” The gardens are so beautiful and we were able to sample some wines and learn about their history at this historic estate. 

Aveleda estate has been owned by the Guedes family for centuries. The estate is surrounded by well-manicured gardens and rustic architecture. There are many rare species of trees. The weather was perfect and we really enjoyed the gardens.

#MyVikingJourney

Sailing Up the Douro River aboard the Viking Osfrid!

The Douro River is simply one of the most scenic European rivers I have ever sailed. Vineyards and olive groves beckon to us with their beautiful terracing and intricate landscape patterns. It's been truly a lovely experience aboard the Viking Osfrid. The crew are fabulous even when we had a few missteps with the air conditioning and no hot water the second morning of our embarkation. Meeting new friends  and traveling with old friends is always fun and interesting. 

Viking River Cruises, Portugal Rivers of Gold itinerary, is one that is very popular and scenic. And the excursion options are varied and allow for more exploration into the countryside and meeting the people that live in these rural areas along the river. 

All in all, it's a cruise I would recommend.

Happy travels,

~ Cindy

#MyVikingJourney

Picnicking in Marialva with a Castle to explore...

Sailing the Douro River with Viking River Cruises' Portugal Rivers of Gold itinerary offers some wonderful excursions. One in particular that we really enjoyed was an optional excursion in Barca d’Alva, Portugal. We enjoyed a lovely picnic in the vineyards and a tour of the Marialva Castle. There were six in our tour which made for a wonderful intimate setting for all. Many Portuguese dishes were shared along with some local wine. Rose was my favorite. It was very peaceful and delightful! 

#MyVikingJourney