Tango Time in Buenos Aires

Taking a time-out on the streets of Buenos Aires

“Keep your eyes down or you’ll get asked to dance.”

My eyes stayed plastered to the floor and sometimes, just to mix it up, on the table. I was NOT going to Tango and no one was going to catch my eye.

That’s the danger in the local dance halls in Buenos Aires. Like the one my friends Maria and Jennie dragged me to in the capital of Argentina. A sparse dance hall, there were a multitude of tables and chairs that emptied to fill the rectangular dance floor when the band resumed.

It was a freakish and yet amazing site to see hundreds suddenly move en masse. But Tango is not the only draw to Argentina. Nor is South America the only continent you can visit from here.

Nope! What about the frozen continent? What about Antarctica? What about taking it with Tauck World Discovery and do it in luxury?

Route for Antarctica

The best part? From select American cities the airfare to Buenos Aires is only $890 per person and, AND… if you are a repeat customer you get two nights free in a hotel at the beginning or end of the trip. If you are a new customer you get one free night!

And what does the trip include? Good question. Two days in Buenos Aires before flying to the southern tip of Argentina.  A visit to the Terra del Fuego National park? Some Penguins? Some Glaciers? Sign me up.

Or perhaps you want to wander where the Incas did? Well prior to the Spanish decided to enter South America. Tauck also has a 13-day tour for you too. It’s $4,655 per person and includes Peru and Bolivia. But who can forget Machu Picchu? Well Tauck can’t and you won’t.

Peru and Bolivia

Finish you Inca trail with La Paz, which was founded in 1548 by Spaniards. The highest capital city in the world above sea level, La Paz is also home to the highest golf course on Earth; in the thin air, a good tee shot will travel an amazing distance! Venture just outside the city to explore the lunar-like badlands dubbed the Valle De La Luna (Valley of the Moon), a stone landscape of deep gullies and bizarre rock formations, before heading to La Paz’s city center to soak up some local color in the bustling Indian Market.

OR maybe you’re look for something to do with the family? Something for the kids for Christmas? What about visiting the Christmas markets in Europe?

For 8 days and $1,990 per person Tauck’s new Christmas Market river cruise along the Danube from Vienna to Nürnberg aboard ms Swiss Jewel offers a new approach to discovering the magic of the Christmas Markets in Germany and Austria… a 700-year holiday tradition!

And remember Tauck’s Tours can all be booked through CTravel and are subject to the extra night or two hotel stays for free! Contact CTravel for more details.

The first time…..

A Christmas Market in Europe

I ever spent Christmas away from home I was cold and in Europe.  It was 2002 and I had just finished a TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) course and I was hoping to find a job. I also rented an apartment with a buddy of mine so money was tight and so was time.

My family wasn’t particularly thrilled, but I didn’t have much of a choice. And to be honest I was glad I did. Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic was fantastic with Christmas Markets in every square, mulled wine warming my hands and fantastic wood carvings to enjoy. Even the tubs of fish on the corners (kept this way to be fresh for Christmas dinner) were an interesting site.

Ok it’s cold, but isn’t Europe supposed to be cold? Isn’t the snow and the real warmth of the mulled wine worth it? For me? Yes.

What is the point? Well Viking Cruises, through CTravel, are offering amazing deals this Christmas in the form of 2-for-1 cruising and 2-for-1 airfare with free wine on select 10 and 8 day cruises. One of those includes a 10-day cruise from Nuremberg, Germany to Budapest, Hungary.

Where would you spend Christmas Eve? Vienna. And Christmas Day? Riding into the woods surrounding this operatic city.

Or maybe the sun, sand, sea option is more your speed?

Why not save 63% on an Oceania Cruise through CTravel to go from Miami to Grand Turk, Tortola, and St. John’s to name a few Caribbean destinations.

The cruise departs on January 2, 2011 and extends itself for ten days. But a Penthouse that would have cost $6,049 this year will only cost $2,500.

A Veranda will reduce from $4,849 to $2,000 and an outside room will move from $3,449 to $1,500.

by Robyn Skinner

Do children get included in your plans? Or maybe you’re looking for absolute luxury with a hint of history? Well Disney, yes I wrote Disney, offers an eight-day Egypt vacation that includes three days of cruising along the Nile.

You know, that little river that snakes through the country. But before boarding you will stop in Cairo for a tour of the famous and incredible Egyptian Museum. This place is packed to the rafters with old Egyptian goodies.

The on to a camel and a lift around the Pyramids, before flying down to Aswan (you know, where the Dam is) and then cruising for three days until Luxor.

Here the tour guides (because there are two with Disney tours) will take you to the Valley of the Kings and the temples that imbibe this town.

Disney is offering this cruise in April, June, July and December next year.

So what are you doing with your two days off? Well booking a trip with CTravel I hope (well when they open after the Cup Match holiday anyway). Happy Cup Match Bermuda!