Why Visit Iceland … ?
If you are looking for fantastic natural beauty ( waterfalls , geysers , volcanoes , snow-capped mountains , blue lakes , verdant plains , icy glaciers , rugged coastlines , scenic harbors , rushing rivers , and a Blue Lagoon ), go to Iceland .
If you are looking to interact with friendly , articulate , interesting people ( wool yarn dyer , climatologist / glacier explorer , goat farmer , horse breeder / singer-musiciancomposer , horse trainer / artist / reforester / chef , greenhouse farmer , and folk singers ), go to Iceland .
If you want to visit a walkable , vibrant , artistic urban center with a multitude of restaurants , bars and museums , go to Iceland .
However , if you want to experience Iceland with the most active , entertaining , interesting , helpful , knowledgeable and joyful Trip Experience Leader , you will have to travel with Margret Ros Hardardottir . She is nothing short of terrific . Good luck !
James Montano 20-time traveler Lake Frederick , VA
Pioneers in Switzerland
Splendid scenery , culture , and food . Mountains , cheese , chocolate , wine , diverse cultures , snow , friendly people ...
and did I mention chocolate ? What more could you ask for ? Yes , we ate a lot on this trip . But , hey , it was Italy , with a
pre-trip to Switzerland . How could we not ?
Part of our group were the pioneers on the first-ever departure of the Switzerland pre-trip . Being just a week before Easter and it being Switzerland , chocolate was again in ready supply and shaped into wonderful whimsical creatures . This was a cold spring for Switzerland which meant some things that were expected to be closed for spring maintenance were still open and in use for skiing . Other options were unavailable due to winter weather conditions . Regardless , our intrepid leader of the pre-trip , Davide Orioli , turned on a dime to find alternatives . With mountain beauty at every turn , and a small group of seasoned , “ go with the flow ” travelers , we made the most of every opportunity , even hiking in somewhat slushy snow in Zermatt to views of the Matterhorn . Try as I might , I couldn ’ t see any little red bobsled cars racing down it .
I suspect some seasonal adjustments to the Switzerland itinerary will be made as the trip matures , but it was great fun to be out in the lead .
William Benson 23-time traveler Westlake , OR
The Balkans , Reborn
My prior knowledge of the Balkans was rudimentary , but I knew that history is still fresh there . During Crossroads of the Adriatic : Croatia , Montenegro , Bosnia & Herzegovina , and Slovenia , I learned that after a thousand years of development , the last 75 years have once again created a new reality .
Our guide , the energetic Sanja , gave us the perfect blend of fun and entertaining contemporary life , as well as a sobering perspective on recent history . Discussions with people who were children during the 1990s wars made it all real — along with the shrapnel marks on buildings and the “ Sarajevo Roses ” ( look that up ).
But today ’ s people have created a vibrant culture that we were lucky enough to experience firsthand . The farm stay in Karanac was unique among all of my traveling experiences . The hosts are fun people in a very small village welcoming O . A . T . travelers to their farm overnight and giving us a taste of their lives — and some great cheese .
The natural beauty in the national parks was another unexpected joy on this trip . The local guides were both educational and entertaining . I was never bored for a moment .
I think this trip has just the right blend of classic O . A . T . features : culture , history , natural beauty , a joyful time with fellow travelers , and an excellent guide .
James Carroll 6-time traveler Chapel Hill , NC
DISPATCHES • AUGUST 2022 7