vacation Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Global Travel Authors

January 3, 2016December 26, 2020

Chasing the Elusive Northern Lights in Iceland

All visitors to Iceland fall into two distinctive categories: those who saw the northern lights and those who did not. When Irene set her trip target on Iceland, she was determined to place herself, our daughter, and I squarely in the first category. The problem was that unlike the predictable crowds at JFK on the way to Iceland, the famous northern lights of Iceland are highly unpredictable. However, the best time to see them is from November through December. So mid-November looked pretty good. Oh, and it also happens to be one of the coldest months of the year.

August 20, 2015January 27, 2021

Holiday Magazine Publishes Irene Shaland’s Swiss Alps Article

Gimmelwald village located in Swiss Alps

It was great news when our Swiss Alps article appeared in Europe. The UK/French travel magazine Holiday Magazine published Irene Shaland’s latest travel article “The Non-Skier’s Guide to Enjoying the Swiss Alps.” This used to be a legendary travel US magazine that was reborn in its new home, Paris, recently.

The majestic Alps were often on my mind as an ultimate travel destination. However, unlike our many friends, my husband Alex and I never took up skiing or hiking. So, when considering an Alpine resort for our Spring 2015 trip to Switzerland, we first thought: Oh, my, all this money for just staying in an expensive hotel, drinking overpriced hot chocolate, and watching young people skiing…Then we thought: “Heck, why not? I am glad we did. The two days and two nights we spent in the Swiss Alps was a time of absolute enjoyment… Continue reading the article and enjoy the photos at http://www.holidaymag.co.uk/murren.html

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Irene Shaland is an internationally-published art and travel writer, educator, and lecturer. Irene has a life-long passion for travel with a higher purpose. Together with her husband-photographer Alex, Irene has visited over 70 countries. Her research trips result in numerous publications and series of educational lectures and slide-shows. Learn more about Irene Shaland

November 9, 2014December 11, 2020

Overlooked by visitors, Catania is a masterpiece of Sicilian Baroque

The third largest city of Sicily, a UNESCO-listed Catania lies in close proximity to the majestic mountain Etna. The city was always subject to the brooding moods of that volcano. In the late 1600s, Mt. Etna struck twice: first drowning Catania and over 12,000 of its inhabitants in boiling lava, and then, in less than 25 years, leveling the city again by a murderous earthquake. Only 2,000 people survived. However, like phoenix out of ashes, Catania, rebuilt by architects from Rome, was reborn as one of the greatest baroque cities of the Mediterranean.

October 9, 2014December 11, 2020

Discovering Palermo and Sicily with Bianca Del Bello

Bianca and a group of tourists in Palermo

I met Bianca Del Bello by pure chance when searching for experts in Palermo Jewish history. After a few email exchanges, I knew that I met not only a superbly knowledgeable historian but also a friend with a big heart. Bianca and I designed a Palermo Immersion Experience for our small group: my husband and I, and our four friends.

October 5, 2014December 21, 2020

Palermo Italy

Piazza San Domenico in Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Our exploration of Sicily began in Palermo, the main city of the island. Irene’s heroic efforts to prepare me for the trip paid off: I read Lonely Planet’s Sicily cover to cover, but Palermo came to life only when our friend and guide Bianca Del Bello took our small group on a walking tour of Palermo.

November 26, 2013March 7, 2021

A quick look around Milan Piazza del Duomo

Take a quick look around Milan famous main square, Piazza del Duomo, with its Duomo Cathedral, Victor Emmanuel II statue, and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Milan is a perfect stop on a European vacation trip.

Look for our in-person and virtual lectures and events you might want to attend: EVENTS

Read useful tips for traveling to Milan, Italy: Milan Tips

Interested in Jewish history around the world? Meet Irene Shaland and her books, lectures, and magazine articles.

Are you an adventurer? Meet Alex Shaland, the author of “Suburbanites on Safari.”

November 23, 2013December 11, 2020

AA MasterCard and 30,000 Miles

My husband Alex and I have both applied and got confirmed (in less than 30 seconds!) for a 30,000 miles offer from American Airlines MasterCard this past Sunday. How did we do it?

November 11, 2013December 26, 2020

Do you want to fly for free around the world year after year?

Where to? Kenya? Nepal? Easter Island? No problem: Use your mileage! Fly to almost anywhere for free? Do you think this is impossible? Absolutely not. Alex and I have been flying for free for over twenty years. Well, almost for free: we do have to pay airline and airport taxes. And this is how we did it…..