The Costco Connection

TRAVELCONNECTION

Living history

Europe provides a unique historical experience

ONE OF THE best aspects of traveling is the
opportunity to view and experience history. You
can walk along roads that are thousands of years
old, and meander through ancient cities and
structures that have withstood the centuries.
months, around 4:30 in the afternoon. That’s
when the light is perfect, and casts magical shad-
ows around this last Moorish stronghold.

Exploring by water

Strolling through history

The great charm of Paris is not only in visiting the many wonderful art museums, but traveling between them. From the Louvre, walk through centuries-old neighborhoods to the Musée d’Orsay (a former train station that now houses artworks created between 1848 and 1914, including masterpieces by the great impressionists). Then, stroll through the 17th-cen- tury Jardin des Tuileries—a public garden where Parisians celebrate, meet, promenade and relax—until you reach the Musée de l’Orangerie, home of Monet’s Water Lilies.

Another way to experience the beauty and history of a country is by river cruising. The ships on these cruises are relatively small, go at a slower pace and can reach destinations that the bigger ships simply can’t. You can approach each special destination in a way that allows you to engage with your location and its part in world history, providing you with an up close and personal opportunity to have a genuine, authentic and fully curated experience in the region. On French river cruises, the immersion centers on the beauty of French culture, from the wineries of Bordeaux on the Gironde, Dordogne and Garonne rivers to Monet and other impressionists who painted along the banks of the Seine. There’s a rich and never-ending parade of castles— some as old as 900 years—along the Rhine.

TODD BIGELOW

PETER GREENBERG

Peter Greenberg is the
multiple–Emmy Award–
winning travel editor
for CBS News and host
of The Travel Detective
on public television
(petergreenberg.com).

Amble along the banks of the Seine to see how the river divides the city into the Left Bank (on the south side) and the Right Bank (north of the river), and learn how the first settlers (a Celtic tribe called the Parisii) inhabited one of the river’s islands around the third century.

MORE IN ARCHIVES At costcoconnection.com, search “Travel Connection.”

BOTTOM: © M.V. PHOTOGRAPHY / SHUTTERSTOCK, TOP: VIKING RIVER CRUISES

When navigating Rome, I like to walk on the marble steps and ancient roads and wonder who might have preceded me. In Rome, the architecture and history of the Roman Empire still live and surround you, from the first republic and the Caesars to the generals and imperial Rome. Everywhere you turn you will encounter direct and intense historical and physical perspectives.

On the fabled Danube, passengers sail through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary, exploring Budapest’s imperial

In Spain, take the train from Seville to Malaga. The trip lasts about three and a half hours, but once there, head to the Alhambra of Granada and the famous courtyard of the lions. The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex constructed between 1238 and 1358 on a plateau that overlooks the city of Granada. A tip for your walk: In the winter months, start at 3 p.m.; in the summer

delights, taking in Bratislava’s baroque wonders and Passau’s ancient fortress. In Austria, Vienna is the “Waltz Capital” and the spectacular Wachau Valley is a wine lover’s dream. Onshore, be sure to visit magnificent Melk Abbey and take an excursion into the Czech Republic to picturesque Český Krumlov. These are not just river cruises, but immersive enrichment trips, and the storytelling at each location is unparalleled.

COSTCOCONNECTION
Costco Travel offers packages
to destinations throughout
Europe and around the world.
Costco Travel also offers river
cruises in Europe and China.
To learn more, click “Travel”
at Costco.com or call toll-free
1-877-849-2730.
THE

OUR DIGITAL EDITIONS Click here for a video showing highlights of a Viking river cruise. (See page 9 for details.)

In Portugal, you can glide through the Douro Valley, where grapes have been grown for 2,000 years, and meet the winemakers who have been a part of its storied history. Porto, where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean, is filled with architectural wonders; stroll along the bustling Rua de Santa Catarina, and sip the city’s storied port wines after touring one or more of the area’s notable cellars.