Rich in history, Quito, the second highest capital city in the world situated at some 9,300 feet above sea level, is one of the oldest and best preserved cities in the Americas.  Due to the city’s preservation of its blended past, UNESCO declared Quito one of the “world’s cultural heritage sites” in 1978.  We stayed at Hotel Patio Andaluz, a National Monument originally built in 1534, located within easy walking distance of Old Town Quito’s Main Square.  Take a drive north to the Middle of the World, where you will be able to straddle both hemispheres at once. 

In the Imbabura Province you can explore the colorful artisan’s market of Otavalo.  In addition to the textile and craft market, there is a fruit and vegetable market too.  By exploring surrounding villages you are able to see the ancient weaving techniques that are still used by the famous Otavalo artisans.  Shopping opportunities abound!  In addition, this region is one of high volcanic mountains and beautiful crater lakes.  First constructed in 1790, we stayed at Hacienda Pinsaqui, a uniquely restored colonial hacienda which was originally a textile workshop.  We also visited Hacienda La Compania de Jesus with its extraordinary, state of the art rose plantation.

Then there’s the Amazon jungle.  We stayed at the Sacha Lodge, located within a 5,000-acre private ecological reserve, where a typical day begins at sunrise or earlier, in order to take advantage of the cool morning hours when the rainforest’s animals are most active.  Climbing to the top of a three tower canopy enabled us see above the forest’s treetops and experience some incredible birdwatching.  We paddled dugout canoes along the creeks, spotting animals and admiring orchids, bromeliads and palm trees.  Black caiman alligators thrive in the lake at the entrance to the Lodge.  A highlight was canoeing within two feet of a nine foot caiman.  Yikes!!!!!!  What an exhilarating experience.

Onto the the Galapagos Islands where you come as close as humanly possible to an awesome array of wildlife.  Galapagos is one of the most important national parks on earth and was declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO.   Snorkel with sea lions and look into the eye of a century-old giant tortoise.  Galapagos is truly a living museum. We opted to be land based, staying at the Finch Bay Eco Hotel on Santa Cruz Island, exploring the islands on one of its 60 foot yachts.

We ended our tour in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city.  Malecon 2000 is the city’s attractive riverside walk, accompanied by excellent museums, top-notch restaurants, hotels and bars.  Our trip had a fiery finish!  The Tungurahua volcano erupted on the last day of the International Women’s Forum Conference, closing the airports.  Of course, Casto Travel came to the rescue, arranging a vanpool to Quito, hotel accommodations, and revised flights back to the U.S.A.  Casto Travel personnel are THE BEST!

Happy travels, Nannette and Susie
San Francisco Bay Area

We departed Feb 13th to spend the 1st 6 nights in Peru—up in the Andean country.  Arrived in Cuzco and went directly to the Sacred Valley—stayed 3 nights at Casa Andina–a wonderful hotel in the Urubamba Valley that is restful and perfect for getting acclimated to the altitude.

Machu Pichu was closed but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  We were able to see many of the Inca and Pre-Inca sights that are not usually shown to tourists on a “short tour” of Cuzco and its surroundings.  In fact all six of us agreed that we didn’t miss not going to Machu Pichu.  We visited Ollyantantambo (more impressive than Machu Pichu I think), Moray, and Pisac.  We visited the women’s weaving cooperative, founded and run by Nilda—an extraordinary woman, who has restored the ancient Inca weaving styles and patterns, had lunch in a private hacienda (Huayocari)—fantastic old hacienda dating back to the 1500’s, had a private cooking lesson and visit to the local market in Urumbamba by Chef Roger Behar, visited local craft markets and learned so much about Inca and pre Inca culture from our fabulous guide Edgar Medevil (an archeologist by training and guides during the rainy season).  Then to Cuzco and the wonderful sites of Sacsayhuamam, Pikillacta (a pre Inca city dating back to 600AD—buried for centuries), and  Tipon  as well as all the great sites in Cuzco.  Stayed at the Monastario –athe best hotel in the Andean area including all of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia.  And the food—the best.  We never had a bad or even mediocre meal.  We ate at different restaurants every day at lunch and dinner.  I do have a list.

Then on to the Galapagos on the Explorer II –a wonderful ship that I highly recommend.  A very professional staff,  great naturalists, good lectures, and very good food.  Every cabin is a Jr. Suite, with plenty of room, good lighting, nice amenities.  2 excursions per day plus snorkeling at least once a day.  We were lucky most of the time with good weather.  Only had to slosh through muck and rocks one day –on North Seymour.  We couldn’t get over the lack of fear of all the animals, reptiles.  Hard not to pet them as you walked within a few inches of them—almost stepped on a few iguanas and a baby sea lion—who was on the steps of our landing as we docked on an island.

Then to Quito.  We stayed one night at the Casa Vieja—NOT recommended –but changed to the Hilton Colon—excellent hotel in a perfect location for walking around. (tho not recommended to walk alone or at night in Quito). We had a tour of the old city, went into the Presidential Palace to see a special guard graduation program.

We spent 2 days in the Otavalo area –staying at the Hacienda Cusin (excellent), whose owner has an extraordinary collection of old Inca textiles and art. The Otavalenos have become successful and prosperous with their talents. Each community in this area is known for one or another trade or art forms.  We visited workshops of bread-doll factory,  2 different weavers,  wood carvers. Spent an hour or so at the Otavalo market—in the afternoon when the tourists have left.  The Big Market days are Wednesday and Saturday, when the “Indiginous people” come in from miles around with their arts and crafts.  Went to weavers” homes,  hat makers’ homes, small  family run “biscuit” makers, “dough” toys makers, etc.

And Friday, thanks to our terrific guide, Edison and his connections,  he took us to one of the largest rose plantations to see their operation, and then have lunch at the Hacienda of the owners–La Compania de Jesus.  What a special treat and the best meal we had in Ecuador  (the food is not as good as in Peru).  Unfortunately, the trip had come to an end and we all departed –sad to leave so soon.

Eco-adventures uses the best tour companies in both countries –Setours in Peru and Metropolitan in Ecuador.  I spoke to many guides, hotel people, etc (in Spanish) to find out about the best companies—and these names came up all the time at the top of the list.

I have no criticisms of anything on the trip.  Our guides were excellent, knowledgeable and flexible. –we did change the itinerary as we went along to fulfill the requests of some of us in the group, or to add special activities.

I only regret that I didn’t have more time to explore these area.  But I will be back!

Puerto Vallarta started becoming a resort town in the 1960’s and since then it has grown into a town of nearly 350,000 people. Most are locals but many are retirees and anyone who decided to visit it often enough to purchase a condominium there. This growth has prompted the development of many hotels and condominiums. The area of newer development is called Nuevo Vallarta, which is mainly a hotel zone. So if you like to be in the middle of all the action, day and night, than staying in a hotel in Nuevo Vallarta is the place for you; many touristy shops and restaurants are located here. However, there are other locations such as Zona Hotelera and Zona Marina that offer beautiful hotel accommodations as well.

In Puerto Vallarta the tourist can enjoy everything under the sun including golfing, whale watching, sport fishing and ecotourism. Surfers from all over the world have even found a place to surf in the northern town of Sayulita, about 25 miles north of PV. However, for off the beaten path beaches you may want to take a water taxi ride to the small fishing town of either Quimixto or Yelapa. To get to these towns you will need to get to the suburb called Boca de Tomatlan, reached by taking the Barra de Navidad road or carretera, traveling south of Puerto Vallarta; getting to the fishing towns could be on either taxi or public bus. Once there, you will find a few small water taxis (basically small fishing boats) that will transport you to one of the three small fishing villages. The first stop is Las Animas, next is Quimixto, and the final one is Yelapa. If agreed, the water taxi will drop you off where you wish in the morning and will come back for you at a predetermined hour in the afternoon. Quimixto is the most recommendable of the three to visit; but going early is the best bet to avoid crowds. In Quimixto you will find a hiking trail leading to a beautiful water fall; this area is wonderful for hiking.

A few hotels, especially those located in the southern parts of Vallarta such as in Conchas Chinas and Mismaloya offer their own private beach, such as Dreams Resort and Spa. However, there are many alternate hotel options, for an array of budgets, with a short distance to the beaches in that area. This area is surrounded by more tropical greenery and you will also find eco adventures such as canopy tours.

On the opposite end, the Northern side is what many refer to as the Riviera Nayarit (Nayarit is the state bordering north of Jalisco, which is the state Puerto Vallarta is in), but the official name is Punta Mita. Punta Mita is also a beautiful location, without the closeness of the mountains as found in the south, but a beautiful area with newer developments. One of these new developments is the exclusive and luxurious Four Seasons Hotel; located about 42 km from Puerto Vallarta airport.

Puerto Vallarta has everything a beach town can offer; beach, nightlife, small town ambiance, archeological site (Ixtapa) and it has been transformed into a creative and artistic Mecca. Many talented retirees and professional artists have made this town their home. This makes Puerto Vallarta a great place to view art displays as well theatrical events. It’s a good idea to always check with your hotel concierge or front desk for information on performances during your stay.   In the evenings one can enjoy anything from a loud, fun atmosphere of the restaurant bars found on the Malecon, to a quieter seafood dinner , to a possible art exhibition, whether it be performed or displayed.

Puerto Vallarta is a very unique destination in Mexico. Many tourists are repeat tourists for many reasons and the best part is that the place maintains its beauty and charm. So whether you travel alone, with your loved one or your whole family I am certain that Puerto Vallarta will not disappoint.

See you in PV and Happy Travels!

We strolled around the ship looking at various sites including:

The Winter Garden, a lovely, light-filled indoor/outdoor poolside setting with a retractable glass ceiling was lovely.  I could only imagine sitting in the Winter Garden with a good book in hand and having a glass of champagne.  There are two swimming pools on board. One of the pools is located in the back of the ship perfect for sunbathing and enjoying a view of the ocean. Queens and Princess Grill dining.  The restaurants are identical.  Elegant surroundings, lovely ocean views, expansive decks and a private lounge for cocktails and meeting friends.   A courtyard connects both restaurants. Queen and Princess Grill passengers can mingle with each other and enjoy el fresco dining in the lovely Tuscan-inspired setting of The Courtyard. The Queens Room (ballroom) is elegantly appointed and is the perfect setting for the Royal Nights themed balls. Hemispheres with its 270-degree ocean view and circular skylight for stargazing was beautiful.  There is a special designated area for around the world passengers to meet and socialize. I’ve seen photos of the Library but it is even better then portrayed in the photos.  Two storeys of rich polished woods linked with the spiral staircase.  We were told that there are nearly 6,000 titles available to the passengers. The Royal Spa has a large hydro-pool and heated lounge chairs. The fitness center is located at the front of the ship and all of the treadmills face out to the sea. The Royal Court TheatrePassengers can reserve a box for $25.00 per person evokes the grand theatres of London’s West End, and offers the first private boxes of any theatre at sea and unobstructed sightlines.  Thirty minutes prior to the production there is a private lounge where they will be served champagne and dessert. A few minutes before Showtime a Cunard White Star escort takes them to their private box where they will enjoy champagne, truffles and an entertaining production.  This special event cannot be reserved until the passengers are on board.  Best to reserve as soon as you get on the ship. It is a popular event. I had lunch in Britannia Restaurant.  The food was quite good and the service excellent.  It is a two-storey venue and has an elegant and intimate atmosphere.  We had a peek at Todd English’s restaurant and I would feel confident to recommend it for a special evening. Cost for Todd English is $20.00pp for lunch and $30.00pp for dinner. A lunch at the Golden Lion Pub of fish and chips is complimentary ConneXions Internet Centre had an adequate amount of computers setup in private cubicles.  2 hours is $47.95, 4 hours is $89.95 and 8 hours is $167.95.

AMERICANS LOVE London for a lot of reasons, aside from what we laughingly say about Londoners speaking almost understandable English. It’s a city with endless diversified pleasures for all tastes.

In the summertime it’s a great place to join with people from all over the world. I spent a week there last summer savoring the scene, before taking a Princess cruise around the British Isles.

Dining, drinking or walking the summer streets in London is almost like being everywhere else at the same time. The joyful chatter coming from visiting tourists is a cacophony of up to 80 different languages and it’s mostly happy talk. The attraction of London is universal.

Being in London is an immersion in culture, entertainment, shopping, dining or simply pub crawling. The London pubs are so crowded on weekend evenings, it’s standing room only extending out on the sidewalks. Soho is the place to see and be seen. Londoners are beer drinkers and the suds flow freely from taps not bottles. Any pub will have an assortment of up to a dozen or more different beers and ales to pull.

Daytime in London is a totally different scene, whether it’s upscale shopping at the world’s greatest department store, Harrods, or mixing with the lower end at Camden Lock. There are thousands of stalls at Camden Lock selling everything from far-out clothing and jewelry to trendy and more traditional things. For people watching it’s hard to beat this outdoor circus atmosphere.

Not to be missed is the London theater scene, better than New York’s Broadway for a number of reasons. London theaters are many, and mostly on the small side. No matter where you sit to watch a performance you feel more intimately involved because you are closer to the stage. And the cost of admission usually is less.

Except for the few truly hit shows, which are sold out well in advance, half-price tickets are the rule rather than the exception. In Leicester Square the city operates a booth selling tickets for many of that day’s matinee and evening performances at half price. Private ticket agents with stalls and offices in the surrounding streets also offer bargain-priced tickets for shows that may not be available at the city booth, and you can get tickets there for future performances.

One way for an economical theater evening is to purchase a package deal, dinner and the theater at cut-rate price for both. Numerous ads for this are available by looking for “London theater-dinner package” on Google.

London is a shopper’s paradise. If its toys you’re after, London has the greatest toy store in the world, Hamley’s. This store on Regent Street, near Oxford Street, is 249 years old with five floors of extensive displays of things to amuse and delight youngsters. It’s more than just displaying toys. It includes demonstrations. Hamley’s employs 50 young people to show you what you can’t live without once you see what it can do.

For a unique dining experience my favorite is an off-beat crypt in St. Martin in the Fields Church, at Trafalgar Square. The crypt floor consists of well-trodden tombstones of historic church figures. It’s a huge room with open seating tables. There is a self-service, cafeteria-style section serving both hot and cold dishes, all delightfully prepared. But the piece de resistance is a superb bread pudding, the like of which is unmatched even in the city’s high-priced restaurants.

London can be expensive for a visitor. The exchange rate with the pound hasn’t been good for the dollar lately. Hotel rooms do run high. But, there’s a good way to lower that cost. If you plan to stay at least a week, rent a furnished apartment. You get all the comforts of home in a prime area at maybe half the price of what a hotel would cost. Search for these apartments by Googling “London furnished flat.”

The song may say, “I love Paris in the springtime.” But summers in London are cooler in temperature and warmer in almost every other way.

Ed Arnow can be reached at BrentwoodBuzz@aol.com.

This is The Cruise for the person who wishes low profile albeit attentive service.  By the time you have returned from breakfast topside cabins were remade, fresh Bulgari amenities replacing used ones, fresh ice in the ice bucket, and specially requested juices and sodas replenished in the mini-fridge.  Our cabin was completely ready and renewed for the day.  The ship has 3 cabin decks with ample outdoor space for walking or lounging, a small casino bar area downstairs and ample bar services topside, poolside and inside, a watersports deck in back and ample area to be either quiet or busier with others on board.  Up top are the famed lounging sunbeds.  These fabulously comfortable deep-cushioned deck beds can be made up at night for sleeping under the limitless star-filled skies!!!  Dining is just that — taken either in the lovely dining salon or up top on the varied deck dining areas with tables for two, four or more depending on your personal choice.  You can just enjoy the company of your traveling companion or with new-found shipboard friends.  There are no set dining start times so you dine as you wish and times you desire.  Everything on board SeaDream is meant to let you enjoy your time in your own fashion.  The wonderful Thai spa services are simply fabulous.  And if you must work out, there is a gym and even golf simulator room for your use.  This could not have been a more perfect five days of total enjoyment.

Ports-of-call:  Gustavia, St Barts was amazing with a long Swedish history and city design and a harbor full of some of the largest private yachts I have ever seen.  Our 4,333 ton SeaDream II seemed almost part of the family of private yacht cruisers anchored in the larger outer harbor area.  Dockside in town various private yachts were lined up side by side.  I had always heard that the air landing on the island was an heart-thumping arrival experience.  I climbed the saddle of the two hills behind town to find a small prop plane arriving just over my head and diving down to land expertly on the small strip.  French and Swedish traditions live side by side.  The liquor outlet advertised itself in both French & Swedish.  French is the language of St Barts today.   We also cruised over to spend time in the British Virgin Islands — lovely and unspoiled Virgin Gorda, Norman Island with its amazing cove and water, and finished our short cruise with the famed “beach lunch and champagne/caviar splash” on impeccable Joost van Dyke.  Yes, the Dutch were here, too!!!  Bathing suits on, we waded into the water where a surfboard manned by our ship’s chef and maitre d’hôtel and several of our waiters attired in slightly wet clothes served glasses of champagne along with caviar and all its accompaniments to applause and the clicking of camera lens as we waded in.  Great fun!

St Thomas proved once again that history trumps modernity.  The roots of this busy island keep cropping up in street names (Toldboldgade which is Danish), in left-side driving (England left her imprint here), in the variety of religious houses of worship (Lutheran founded by the Danes; Jewish in the 2nd oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, as well as Catholic, Protestant and other declarative Christian houses of worship).  As a former free port as well as long time European entrepôt and former slave trading community, today’s population reflects the diversity of peoples who came here to live.  Island living means graciousness and hospitality to others.  Once outside the most densely visited sites of the busy cruise port restaurant-shops-souvenir warehouse district (itself fun and historical) you can feel the inherent grace of the island.  Waters are azure, aqua and green blue; palms and bougainvilleas sway and rustle in the tropical breezes, and fabulous iguanas are found along warmed walls and rocks, some green in their new lives – some more rusty/gray as they age.  Ah, island life.

Spend 12 days aboard the luxurious Crown Princess as it shuttles you to a wide range of dream ports in England, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. I’ve just returned from the last of its 2009 British cruises, but there are four more scheduled for the Crown Princess in 2010, beginning in June.

The trip is a blend of the present and the past. For Titanic buffs, it’s history relived. The Crown Princess sails out of Southampton, England, where the Titanic set sail with a shipload of passengers and crew for a fateful encounter with an iceberg. The Titanic’s second and what turned out to be her last port of call was at Cobh, Ireland, where Titanic memorabilia now abounds. It also was our port call but hardly our last. We docked at the same pier where the Titanic docked so many years before. Later in our voyage, we called at Belfast, in Northern Ireland, where the Titanic was built. Side trips from the Crown Princess took us to the Titanic’s shipyard and dry dock, still standing frozen in time. To top it off, there’s a Thai restaurant in Belfast, where you can dine and toast the ship. It’s called The Thaitanic.

The cruise offered a great deal more than Titanic memories. In Liverpool, we were overwhelmed with present-day tributes to the Beatles. The shadows of John, Paul, George and Ringo are everywhere. Liverpool reeks with Fab Four Beatlemania. You travel around this city to an ever-increasing Beatle beat. Songs of the Beatles enjoy a huge following, but it’s a matter of taste. My taste in music leans more toward the unforgettable words and music of Cole Porter. The ship gave us a gourmet musical treat on this score. A Cole Porter Review featuring a nonstop medley of Porter’s music was nothing short of fabulous. It was a super production in the ship’s theater featuring the ship’s orchestra and 17 singers and dancers multi-costumed in front of elaborate stage sets on a nonstop visit to Porterville.

This cruise has a different kind of taste to savor for lovers of fine Irish and Scotch liquor. During our port visit at Cobh-Cork, we toured Ireland’s famed Jameson’s Distillery for an educational introduction to the intricate process in making Irish whiskey. In Glasgow, Scotland, we had a parallel experience at a distillery for Scotch.

Back aboard the Crown Princess, it’s the plush life at whatever speed you want to travel. Passengers do it at their own pace, gambling in the casino, relaxing on deck or in one of the many bars and lounges. Some of them are with entertainment and some without. The ship’s theater has nightly shows on a grander scale. A Princess cruise specializes in catering to many different passenger tastes. Dining can be at a scheduled time or at your own pace with “Anytime Dining.” Two of the four large dining rooms are for those who desire elastic dining times.  It’s true on all 18 Princess cruise ships, making numerous fans of the Princess approach to freestyle dining. Around the world, there are 7½ million passengers in the Princess Captain’s Circle, indicating they have done multiple cruises on the line.

All told, we stopped at four ports in Britain, two in Ireland and three in Scotland. Our final port was supposed to have been at Le Havre, France, but it didn’t happen. Gale winds in the North Sea and English Channel made that leg of the trip impossible. It was a disappointment for passengers who had booked tours to Paris, or to the Normandy D-Day beaches.  The English captain of the Crown Princess, Nick Nash, put it succinctly. “The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority, and we have found it necessary to cancel our call at Le Havre. We regret any passenger disappointment. But I have no other choice. The weather simply has beaten me.”

The official name is Bahias de Huatulco (or Bays of Huatulco). The area is made up of 9 bays with about 36 beaches, from the most rustic virgin beach to the most popular swimmable beach.  The more popular bays are Bahia de Santa Cruz, Bahia Chahue and Bahia Tangolunda. Most of the bays are not resort developed yet and may not be so easily seen from the road or have easy access to get to. If renting a car, which I would recommend for at least a couple of days, you are able to explore the different beaches in the different bays at your own leisure.
Huatulco has four main parts, all within a mile or two of each other, these are, Tangolunda, Santa Cruz, La Crucecita, and Chahue.

Huatulco is a fairly new tourist destination since it only started being developed in the 1980’s. The area is protected by FONATUR, a government agency dedicated to the development of tourism in Mexico. The result is an ecologically friendly area that is protected against future development. And for those nature-concerned travelers, you will like this piece of fact, Huatulco has been awarded the Green Globe certification and it is the only resort in Mexico to have received this award. Cancun and Puerto Vallarta…eat your heart out!

So, you ask, what can I do there beside beach swimming and sunbathing? Well, my fellow travelers, despite the under developed conditions and lack of a huge international tourism crowd, Huatulco has many services to offer, such as restaurants, hotels and tourism operators. The traveler can enjoy activities such as golfing, hiking, biking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, boat touring, motor touring, horseback riding, and coffee plantation tours. Hotels vary depending on your budget; you can get something as exclusive as Dreams Resort Huatulco or Las Brisas Huatulco, to more affordable type accommodations. I’m sure one of the expert Casto Travel leisure agents will set you up in a fantastic hotel. Oh and as far as security for tourist, it is quite safe; all its parts have a small town atmosphere.

One beach I recommend that is not too far out of the way, but it can get a bit crowded is Playa La Entrega. This beach is great for snorkeling. One way to find secluded beaches that are not very visible from the road is to do as I did. While driving around on the main road that runs parallel to the beach beware of parked vehicles on the side of the road. If you come across a few with nothing in sight of where the car owners could be, then you’ll likely find an entrance to a small trail leading to a beautiful secluded beach. Just remember to test the waters first as there are no lifeguards on duty. Some of these beaches may have quite a drop in your initial steps into the ocean.

I hope you make it to Huatulco one day, but I also hope you keep it a secret because we would not want to make this beautiful place too crowded.

The airport is 20 minutes from the resorts in Tangolunda and the major carrier is Mexicana.

Happy Travels!

New England is a wonderful travel destination at all times of the year – however I think it is the most glorious in the fall.

We picked Route 7, which follows the Housatonic River along the western edge of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. Our first stop was in Kent which is lovely little town. We hiked in Kent Falls State Park along beautiful water falls.  Drove across the Bulls Covered bridge and hiked along the Bull’s Bridge Gorge. We were constantly oo-ing and ah-ing over the colors and the scenery.  Leaving Kent there was the Cornwall covered bridge to drive across.

Our next stop was in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where the highlight was the Norman Rockwell Museum. Norman Rockwell spent his last 20 years there. Nearby in Lenox there is the National Historic Landmark, The Mount. The 1902 estate of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton with  acres of beautiful gardens.

We continued north to Williamstown to visit the Clark Art Institute with its outstanding collection of European and American art. The Clark is surrounded by 140 acres of woodlands, meadows and hiking trails.  We spent the night in Addison, Vermont (near Middlebury) in the most charming country inn, the Whitford House (off the beaten track). The nearby town of Vergennes is well worth a visit.

Before ending our trip in Burlington, we visited Shelburne open air Museum. A complex of 37 buildings on 45 acres with an incredible collection of folk art, furnishings, tools etc used in the early years of the 20th century. We returned home with many bottles of Vermont maple syrup and decided we need to go back for more exploring of this beautiful part of the country.