It’s probably the most unusual, even weird, tourist attraction you’ll ever come across. The fact that the motivating force that moves it forwards and backwards is about as powerful as a “Made in the West” lawnmower is equally bizarre. Yes, its power (?) plant is a 500cc two cylinder stroke engine.

Under an unbelievably blue sky, the Palladian Traveler captures the beauty of St. Petersburg at water level as he cruises down the rivers, canals and tributaries of this city built from scratch by the visionary Tsar Peter the Great.

Yes, of course, the four Central European capitals we visited on our Danube River Cruise with Grand Circle – Prague, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, Bratislava, Slovakia and Budapest, Hungary – all wrapped in wonder, overwhelmed with their impressive history, expansive promenades and architectural grandeur. But it was an experience in Linz in Upper Austria that most impacted me.

Tanel Toom is a talented young Estonian filmmaker who cut his directing teeth on short films. His first full-length feature is “Truth And Justice,” an epic that spans decades. The story is about blind ambition and the cost to those caught in that orbit. It is the most watched film in Estonia.

From the shaded balcony of the elegant Coral Stone Club, the brilliant green of towering palms waving in the offshore breeze and the soothing rush of foamy sea swirling onto the shores of Seven Mile Beach form a dramatic backdrop to a preeminent Grand Cayman dining excursion.

The Palladian Traveler has another jaw dropping moment – actually a few – as he photo shoots his way around Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Selo.

Ask the general populace to name a famous painter, and they’d probably say Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh. Today his paintings command staggering purchase prices, with his Portrait of Dr. Gachet, painted the last year of his life in Auvers-sur-Oise, selling for 152 million dollars in today’s currency.

On my recent visit to Castilla y Léon, Spain, my fifth to the region, I knew there were so many new things to see and do, as-well-as so many I’d done before that I wanted to do again, that I couldn’t possibly fit them all into one week.

The first time I saw Andy Garcia was in The Untouchables. I was mesmerized by his acting and powerful on-screen presence. I made a note to myself that he was a young actor destined to become a major movie star and, indeed, he has. With dozens of movie credits going back to 1984, there are too many to list.

The Palladian Traveler is joined by the likes of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Velasquez as he pays a visit to the world famous Hermitage Museum.

Here are a few great items to have on your next travel adventure. When traveling, space is limited, here are a few wonderful and useful items to take with you.

While recently charting my course to California’s Eastern Sierra, I spotted a tiny town on the map called Independence. It was located off Highway 395, right along my path. And with a name like Independence, it screamed history and small town California. I had to investigate.

Give or take a few, there are 7.1 sheep for every man, woman and child in New Zealand. Or, to put an actual number on it, approximately 30 million of these mostly white colored animals. Does that mean that sheep overwhelm the country? Certainly not, but it does mean you’ll see a lot of them wherever you go there.

I’ve been reveling in the warmth of my recent trip to Costa Rica, and not just because of the heat and humidity. This alluring Central American nation of five million Ticos (citizens), roughly the size of West Virginia, consists of just .03% of the earth’s landmass, but is home to 5% of its biodiversity.

So yes, of course, the highlights of our Blue Danube River Cruise with Grand Circle Tour Company were the four European capitals we were visiting: Prague, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, Bratislava, Slovakia and Budapest, Hungary. But it was the many surprises surrounding the experiences on the ship that truly enhanced the trip.

Sax man extraordinaire Jonny Viau is always in demand. It took four years to get this interview, and before I could ask a single question, his phone goes off. The ringtone is a wailing harmonica solo; just file that away for later in our conversation.

California’s Eastern Sierra is packed with incredible scenic beauty and must-see locations. From Mono Lake and Bodie State Historic Park to Mammoth Mountain and Yosemite National Park, the region is wonderland of nature.

If you thought America’s cradle of history was just for kids, you’re only partially right. Hoist up your britches and grab your tri-corner hat: here’s how grown-ups who want to explore Greater Williamsburg beyond its colorful history can enjoy a visit.

As I entered Hotel d'Angleterre on the regal Kongens Nytorv Square in Copenhagen, I remember thinking, "Did I just time-travel into Floral Narnia?"

Well, I’m still basking in the memories of my cruise experience aboard Holland America’s ms Veendam. At the end of each day’s illuminating tours of the ports of call – Lucca and Pisa, Malaga, Barcelona, Monaco and Gibraltar – I would excitedly rush back to the vessel to my favorite lounge, the Crow’s Nest, where I’d compile my notes over a crisp, full flavored Budweiser Budvar (circa 1245).

Toys are a wonderful way to inspire travel, imagination, creativity and spark ideas on how to view the world. Here are a number of toys that will bring out the engineer, architect, fireman and artist in your kids, not to mention the budding archaeologist, athlete and journalist.

Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan are set to play the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California on Saturday night, October 26th. A momentous occasion that marks the 40th Anniversary in the duo’s life of ‘Good Time Blues.’ Truly a phenomenal achievement; 40 Years!

Every summer, throngs of tourists from Germany and Great Britain descend to splay their pallid bodies on the glorious beaches that ring this island off the coast of Spain. They soak up the sun, swim and sail in the Mediterranean, swarm Mallorca's shops and restaurants, drink her wine, consume her olive oil, and snore in her hotels.