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Adding 3 Destinations to Our Travelers’ Century Club List

by on April 28, 2019
Prinsendam cruise ship at anchor, Alghero, Sardinia
The ms Prinsendam cruise ship at anchor while guests tender into Alghero, Sardinia.

We recently returned from a 12-Day Mediterranean Rivieras Explorer Cruise on Holland America’s ms Prinsendam.

This cruise itinerary allowed us to visit three destinations on the Travelers’ Century Club List of 329 where we had not previously traveled: Ceuta, Spain (listed as Spanish Morocco); Alghero, Sardinia; and Ajaccio, Corsica.

Ceuta, Spain

  • Port of Ceuta, Spain
    Port of Ceuta, Spain
  • Casa de los Dragones or House of the Dragons, Ceuta, Spain
    House of the Dragons, Ceuta, Spain

Ceuta is a Spanish city that’s located on the north coast of Africa.

An enclave, Ceutu shares a four-mile land border with Morocco but is separated nine miles from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar.

On a corner of Kings Square in Ceuta there’s an extraordinary example of eclectic architecture: the Casa de los Dragones or House of the Dragons. Designed by Valencian architect José M. Cortina Pérez, the distinctive building with four bronze dragons was completed in 1905.

Sardinia, Italy

  • narrow passageway, Alghero, Sardinia
    Alghero, Sardinia
  • bike, Alghero, Sardinia
    Alghero, Sardinia

Covering 9,301 square miles, Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. One of Italy’s 20 regions, the island of Sardinia lies 120 miles west Italy’s mainland and only 7.5 miles south of the French island of Corsica.

Corsica, France

waterfront, Ajaccio, Corsica
The waterfront walkway in Ajaccio, Corsica.

Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Although it is located closer to the Italian mainland and Sardinia, Corsica has been a part of France since 1768.

Ajaccio, the capital city of Corsica, is best known as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1769.

Travelers’ Century Club List of Destinations

The Travelers’ Century Club (also known as the TCC) is a club for people who have visited 100 or more of the world’s countries and territories. Founded in 1954, the club has regional chapters throughout the U.S. and several locations around the world.

The TCC list of 329 destinations includes sovereign states as well as certain territories, exclaves and island groups. While we have previously visited Spain, Morocco, France and Italy, we had not visited the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, nor had we visited Ceuta, a part of Spain that is located on the north coast of Africa.

Anyone who has visited 100 or more of the places on the list is eligible to join the TCC. Travelers who have visited 50 or more of the list places can become provisional members. I became a member in 2015, and Mr. Jones joined in 2019. With our recent cruise, we added 3 more destinations to our “country” list, bringing my total count to 113, and increasing Mr. Jones’ count to 110.

In case you are interested in what The Travelers’ Century Club counts as a destination on the list, see below. We have also noted in BOLD those destinations that we have visited, and in red our three most recent additions.

The Travelers’ Century Club List of 329 Destinations

PACIFIC OCEAN (39)

  • Austral Islands
  • Australia 
  • Bismark Archipelago (New Ireland, New Britain, Bougainville, Admiralty Islands)
  • Chatham Islands
  • Cook Islands (Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Penrhyn)
  • Easter Island
  • Fiji Islands
  • French Polynesia (Tahiti, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier)
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guam
  • Hawaiian Islands
  • Juan Fernandez Islands (Robinson Crusoe Is.)
  • Kiribati (Gilberts, Tarawa, Ocean Island)
  • Line/Phoenix Islands (Palmyra, Fanning, Christmas, Canton, Enderbury, Howland)
  • Lord Howe Island
  • Marquesas Islands
  • Marshall Islands, Rep. of (Majuro, Kwajalein, Eniwetok)
  • Micronesia, Fed. States of (Pohnpei, Kosrae, Chuuk,Yap, Caroline Islands)
  • Midway Island
  • Nauru
  • New Caledonia & Deps. (Noumea, Loyalty Islands)
  • New Zealand
  • Niue
  • Norfolk Island
  • Northern Marianas (Saipan, Tinian)
  • Ogasawara (Bonin, Volcano Island, Iwo Jima)
  • Palau, Republic of
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Pitcairn Island
  • Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa)
  • Samoa, American (Pago Pago)\ Samoa, Western (Apia)
  • Solomon Islands (Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Tulagi)
  • Tasmania
  • Tokelau Islands (Fakaofu, Atafu, Union)
  • Tonga (Nukualofa)
  • Tuvalu (Ellice Island, Funafuti, Vaitapu)
  • Vanuatu (New Hebrides Islands)
  • Wake Island
  • Wallis & Futuna Islands

NORTH AMERICA (6)

  • Alaska
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Prince Edward Island 
  • St. Pierre & Miquelon
  • United States (continental)  (Mrs. Jones has visited all 50 U.S. States)

CENTRAL AMERICA (7)

  • Belize (British Honduras)
  • Costa Rica
  • El Salvador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Nicaragua
  • Panama

SOUTH AMERICA (14)

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • French Guiana
  • Guyana (British Guiana)
  • Nueva Esparta (Margarita Island)
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Surinam (Netherlands Guiana)
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela

CARIBBEAN (30)

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua & Deps. (Barbuda, Redonda)
  • Aruba
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bonaire
  • Cayman Islands
  • Cuba (Mrs. Jones only)
  • Curacao
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Grenada & Deps. (Carriacou, Grenadines)
  • Guadeloupe & Deps. (Marie Galante)
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Leeward Islands, French (St. Martin)
  • Leeward Islands, Netherlands (Saba, St. Eustatius)
  • Martinique
  • Montserrat
  • Puerto Rico
  • St. Barts
  • San Andres & Providencia
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • St. Lucia
  • St. Maarten (formerly Netherlands Antilles)
  • St. Vincent & Deps. (Bequia, Canouan, Grenadines)
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Turks & Caicos Islands
  • Virgin Islands, U.S. (St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas)
  • Virgin Islands, British (Tortola, etc.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (14)

  • Ascension
  • Azores Islands
  • Bermuda
  • Canary Islands
  • Cape Verde Islands
  • Falkland Islands
  • Fernando do Noronha
  • Faroe Islands
  • Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat)
  • Iceland
  • Madeira
  • South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands
  • St. Helena
  • Tristan da Cunha

EUROPE & THE MEDITERRANEAN (68)

  • Aland Islands (Mariehamn) (Mr. Jones only)
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Minorca)
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Corsica
  • Crete
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus, British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri & Dhekelia
  • Cyprus, Republic
  • Cyprus, Turkish Fed. State
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • England
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Greek Aegean Islands (Cyclades, Dodecanese, Northern Aegean Islands)
  • Guernsey & Deps (Alderney, Herm, Sark, Channel Islands)
  • Hungary
  • Ionian Islands (Corfu, etc.)
  • Ireland (Eire)
  • Ireland, Northern (Ulster)
  • Isle of Man
  • Italy
  • Jersey (Channel Islands)
  • Kaliningrad
  • Kosovo
  • Lampedusa
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonia
  • Malta
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • San Marino
  • Sardinia
  • Scotland
  • Serbia
  • Sicily
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Spitsbergen (Svalbard, Bear Island)
  • Srpska
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Trans Dniester
  • Turkey in Europe (Istanbul)
  • Ukraine
  • Vatican City
  • Wales

ANTARCTICA (7)

  • Argentine (Palmer Peninsula)
  • Australian Antarctic Territory South Pole (Mawson, Davis, Macquarie, Heard)
  • Chilean (Palmer Peninsula)
  • British Antarctica (Graham Land, South Shetland, South Orkney)
  • French Southern & Antarctic Territory (Kerguelen, Crozet, Amsterdam, St. Paul)
  • Norwegian (Queen Maud Land, Bouvet)
  • New Zealand (Ross Dependency)

AFRICA (55)

  • Algeria
  • Angola (Port. West Africa)
  • Benin (Dahomey)
  • Botswana (Bechuanaland)
  • Burkina Faso (Upper Volta)
  • Burundi (Urundi)
  • Cabinda
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Congo (Brazzaville)
  • Congo (Kinshasa-Zaire)
  • Djibouti (French Somaliland, Affars & Issas)
  • Egypt in Africa
  • Equatorial Guinea (Bioko, Fernando Poo)
  • Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni)
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana (Gold Coast, British Togoland)
  • Guinea (French Guinea)
  • Guinea-Bissau (Port. Guinea)
  • Ivory Coast
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho (Basutoland)
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Malawi (Nyasaland)
  • Mali (French Soudan)
  • Mauritania
  • Morocco
  • Morocco, Spanish (Ceuta, Melilla) {Spanish Territory}
  • Mozambique (Port. East Africa)
  • Namibia
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Rwanda (Ruanda)
  • Sao Tome & Principe
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia (Italian Somaliland)
  • Somaliland (British)
  • South Africa
  • Sudan, North
  • Sudan, South
  • Swaziland
  • Tanzania (Tanganyika)
  • Togo
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Western Sahara (Spanish Sahara)
  • Zambia (No. Rhodesia)
  • Zanzibar
  • Zimbabwe (So. Rhodesia)

MIDDLE EAST (21)

  • Abu Dhabi
  • Ajman
  • Bahrain
  • Dubai
  • Egypt in Asia (Sinai Peninsula)
  • Fujeirah
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Oman
  • Palestine
  • Qatar
  • Ras Al Khaimah
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sharjah
  • Syria
  • Umm Al Qaiwain
  • Yemen

INDIAN OCEAN (15)

  • Andaman-Nicobar Islands
  • British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago, Diego Garcia)
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos Islands (Keeling)
  • Comoro Islands (Anjouan, Moheli, Grand Comoro)
  • Lakshadweep
  • Malagasy Republic (Madagascar)
  • Maldive Islands
  • Mauritius & Dependencies (Agalega, St. Brandon)
  • Mayotte (Dzaoudzi)
  • Reunion
  • Rodrigues Island
  • Seychelles
  • Socotra
  • Zil Elwannyen Sesel (Aldabra, Farquhar, Amirante Islands)

ASIA (51)

  • Abkhazia
  • Afghanistan
  • Armenia (Yerevan)
  • Azerbaijan (Baku)
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Brunei
  • Cambodia
  • China, People’s Republic
  • Georgia
  • Hainan Island
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Indonesia (Java)
  • Irian Jaya (Dutch New Guinea)
  • Japan 
  • Jeju Island (South Korea)
  • Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo)
  • Kashmir
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Korea, North
  • Korea, South
  • Laos
  • Lesser Sunda Islands (Bali, Indonesia)
  • Macau
  • Malaysia
  • Moluka (Moluccas, Indonesia)
  • Mongolia, Republic (Mrs. Jones only)
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Nakhichevan
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Sabah (North Borneo)
  • Sarawak
  • Siberia (Russia in Asia)
  • Sikkim
  • Singapore
  • South Ossetia
  • Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
  • Sulawesi (Celebes, Indonesia) (Mrs. Jones only)
  • Sumatra (Indonesia) (Mrs. Jones only)
  • Taiwan, R.O.C.
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Tibet
  • Timor Leste
  • Turkey in Asia (Anatolia, Ankara, Izmir)
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vietnam

How many destinations on this list have you visited? Where will you visit next?

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A Look Inside Obstructed Verandah Stateroom 4079 on Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam

by on April 20, 2019
obstructed verandah #4079, Nieuw Statendam

What’s it like to have an “obstructed” verandah? We had the chance to find out when we sailed on Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam cruise ship in February.

door into #4079, Nieuw Statendam

We sailed in verandah stateroom #4079, which is a category VH. When you check out the Nieuw Statedam deck plan, you will notice a triangle symbol by these verandahs with a “partially obstructed view” footnote.

1st view, obstructed verandah #4079, Nieuw Statendam

This is what you see when you open the door and walk into verandah stateroom #4079 with its partially obstructed view. You see a lifeboat but you can also see the water and land past the lifeboat.

Because of their partially obstructed views, the Category VH verandahs are the least expensive verandahs on both the Nieuw Statendam and its sister ship the Koningsdam. For a comparison, check out the view from Category V Verandah Stateroom #5072. It’s located one deck higher and is one of the most expensive vernadah staterooms on these Pinnacle class ships.

view from obstructed verandah #4079, Nieuw Statendam

If you don’t mind the view, these category VH cabins are a deal. Most of them are located mid-ship on Deck 4, the Beethoven deck, which is an easy walk down to Deck 3 where the Dutch Cafe and Front Desk are located, as well as the upper levels of the Main Dining Room, the Queen’s Lounge and the Showroom at Sea. You’ll also find the casino, shops, and the wrap-around promenade on Deck 3.

stateroom #4079, Nieuw Statendam

This is the view of cabin 4079 looking back towards the entry door. There’s ample storage in the closets and drawer.

sleeper sofa, stateroom #4079, Nieuw Statendam

Notice the sofa, coffee table and overhead storage in cabin 4079. Another feature we love: the electrical plugs and USB ports on each side of the bed for charging of smartphones and other devices.

The compact bathroom has a large, well-lit mirror, undersink storage and an angled toilet.

shower, stateroom #4079, Nieuw Statendam

The double-sized, glassed-in shower has a adjustable shower head, something tall people like us appreciate.

Bottom Line on Obstructed Verandah Stateroom #4079 on the Nieuw Statendam

We enjoyed our stay in stateroom #4079. We liked the cabin’s midship location and easy walk down to the dining and entertainment amenities on decks 2 and 3. Since we were sailing in the Caribbean for this cruise, the obstructed view from the verandah was not an issue.

If you want a mid-ship verandah at a good value, and don’t mind looking over a life-boat, a category VH verandah stateroom is a good choice for you.

However, if you do care about the view while sitting on you balcony, such as sailing in Alaska’s inside passage or in Norway’s fjords, this might not be the best choice for you.

Have you sailed on Holland America Line? Do you have a favorite ship and cabin?

Share your comments or questions with us via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterestor Instagram.

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Fantastic Food in Bentonville, Arkansas

by on April 19, 2019

During a recent visit to Bentonville, we were surprised to find a printed Dining Guide that details 199 places to eat in the northwest Arkansas city of less than 50,000 people.

While a number of chain restaurants are included on the Visit Bentonville list, there’s also a plethora of local places with food from around the globe.

Our two favorite restaurants were both located on “A” Street in downtown Bentonville, not far from the town square.

Tusk & Trotter

Located in a space that was once Sam Walton’s office and warehouse, the atmosphere at Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie is casual. The upscale pub’s menus feature local produce and meats from all parts of the pig and other animals. There are vegetarian choices as well.

The Tusk & Trotter brunch menu offers some “playfully-named” items.

Chicken and Waffle Brunch, Tusk & Trotter, Bentonville, Arkansas

Mr. Jones choose the “Which Came First?” brunch entree, which is a unique take on chicken and waffles. The dish includes a choice of buttermilk or hot fried chicken breast placed on a carrot cake waffle, and topped with an over easy egg and seasonal vegetables.

I choose the vegetable flat bread topped with an assortment of herbs, cheese and slices of fresh pear.

We did not need dessert after our hearty entrees. Our mistake was to read the dessert menu, as we could not resist ordering something named “Trot on Over Here” that was voted best bacon dish by Southern Living magazine.

Trot on Over, Tusk & Trotter, Bentonville, Arkansas

This dessert starts with sticky toffee pudding cake made with brandy soaked dates. It is then topped maple bacon brittle ice cream. (Yes, there’s small chunks of salty, savory bacon in ice cream.) Then, the cake and ice cream are topped with a lucious caramel sauce.

After consuming the “Trot on Over Here” dessert, along with the complementary coffee, we were ready to explore more of Bentonville.

Tavola Trattoria

Much later in the evening, after a full day of museum visits, we headed back to “A” Street in downtown Bentonville for dinner.

After reading reviews on Yelp, we chose to dine at Tavola, described as a “casual Italian trattoria.” Since we didn’t have a reservation, and it was a Saturday night, we called the restaurant to see if they could fit us in.

“Come on by and we will fit you in.” We arrived around 8:30 pm, and while the restaurant was still full, we were promptly seated at a table for two.

wine, Tavola Trattoria, Bentonville, Arkansas

The wine list was one of the first things we liked about Tavola Trattoria. All bottles are priced at $40 for the bottle, $15 for a carafe, or $10 for a glass.

Our server helped us choose the Tritano Montepulciano D’Abruzzo to acompany our Farm Board sppetizer, and pasta choices. We also followed our waiter’s recommendation to choose from the “local favorites and signature dishes” section of the lengthy menu.

Farm Board, Tavola Trattoria, Bentonville, Arkansas

Our Farm Board appetizer contained ample portions of cured meats, cheeses, pickled vegetables, jam and some not-to-be-missed grilled bread.

Marcelo's Special, Tavola Trattoria, Bentonville, Arkansas

Mr. Jones ordered Marcelo’s Special for his entree. Hearty slices of beef tenderloin top penne pasta tossed in a spinach, garlic and basil pesto sauce.

Tavola Ravioli, Tavola Trattoria, Bentonville, Arkansas

I enjoyed the Tavola Ravioli, which includes pasta pillows stuffed with crab meat, covered in a house-made parmeson cream sauce, and seasonal vegetables on the side.

If we return to Bentonville, dining at Tavola Trattoria will be on our “must do” list. The wine list was interesting, our food was delicious, the service was friendly, helpful and professional, and the atmosphere was upscale casual and comfortable.

While the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art drew us to visit Bentonville, the food scene was a pleasant surprise.

Have you dined in Bentonville, Arkansas? What are you favorite places to eat?

Share your thoughts with with us via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram.

Planning your own visit to Bentonville? Check out these other posts:

Learn more about Bentonville and the surrounding area in Northwest Arkansas with this book:

Northwest Arkansas Travel Guide: (Includes Bentonville, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale, Siloam Springs)
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Off to Mediterranean Rivieras Explorers Cruise

by on April 12, 2019

It’s a sunny day in Lisbon, Portugal, and we are about to head to the cruise port to board Holland America Line’s “Elegant Explorer”— the ms Prinsendam.

12-Day Mediterranean Rivieras Explorer Cruise

We’re excited for this itinerary as it includes some lesser visited cruise ports that are new to us, including:

  • Ceuta, Spanish Territory
  • Alghero, Sardinia, Italy
  • Ajaccio, Corsica, France
  • Portoferraio, Elba, Italy
  • Ponza, Italy

The itinerary also includes stops in some more familiar ports that we are always happy to re-visit, including:

  • Cadiz, Spain
  • Cartagena, Spain
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Naples, Italy

Best of all, we will be back sailing on our beloved Prinsendam cruise ship one last time. Holland America Line has sold this ship to a German company, and it will leave the fleet on July 1, 2019.

We spent the summer of 2007 exploring Europe, including more than 70 days on the Prinsendam.

This cruise we are also celebrating Mr. Jones’ birthday, as well as our 20th wedding anniversary.

Eventually, we will share our adventures from this cruise here on the blog, but meanwhile be sure to check out our photos on Instagram and Facebook.

Interact with us via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram.

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