Trying to escape? Listed below are two current journeys native readers took to discover artists’ studios in Cuba and the Northern Lights in Norway. Test them out, then discover extra reader journey inspiration at www.mercurynews.com/tag/wish-you-were-here/.
CUBA: San Jose’s Noelle Gillies joined Genuine Cuba Excursions to journey to Cuba earlier this 12 months and celebrated the Havana Biennale. “They arranged all hotels, an antique car tour of Havana, most meals, a Cuban tour guide, a bus and bus driver,” Gillies mentioned. “We visited artists in their studios and in galleries. We were greeted with cola and lime, with an optional shot of rum. Then we had a delicious family-style lunch with fresh fish, coffee and guava pastry. We also traveled to the Caribbean coast and visited UNESCO World Heritage sites in the old towns of Cienfuegos and Trinidad de Cuba.”
TRAVEL TIPS: “We stayed in a beachside resort hotel called Melia Trinidad Peninsula, which was spectacular,” Gillies mentioned. “Cuba is definitely worth visiting in February, the weather is great that time of year. Authentic Cuba Tours has a huge amount of different kinds of tours for all interests.”
NORWAY: The Northern Lights have been a scorching vacation spot for our readers, however they proceed to be stunned by the opposite enjoyable actions they’ve found alongside the best way. Mill Valley residents Holly Hadlock and Ned Black lately took a visit to the Arctic Circle in Norway. They discovered the Northern Lights to be spectacular, however “we were pleased at how much else there was to do,” Hadlock mentioned. “We went snowshoeing, dog sledding, cross-country skiing and visited several very good museums. I had planned on being miserably cold but was quite surprised at how ‘warm’ it was. Even though it lightly snowed on and off every day, it never got below 28 degrees.”
TRAVEL TIPS: “Plan on at least a week because a cloudy night means no visible Northern Lights,” Hadlock mentioned. “Don’t rent a car. Leave driving on unfamiliar, snowy roads to the tour companies. They know the microclimates and where to go. Some even provide warm snowsuits, hot soup and cocoa so you can be comfortable in the middle of the winter night. And yes, plan on eating a lot of fish.”
Be a part of the enjoyable! Ship a photograph of your self in your newest adventures — native, home or worldwide — to jmastrodonato@bayareanewsgroup.com. Inform us the place you might be, who everyone seems to be and the place they’re from, and share a journey tip or two to assist fellow readers go there, too.
