 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Many residents believe Chicago is not the place they want to reside in January, February, and March.
Photo by Ezell Hudson 7-Mar-22 – Chicago is a delightful place to live if you can overlook the riots, looting, shootings, and carjackings. Hot lead flew through the streets last year and took the lives of 800 souls. In 2021, expressway shootings skyrocketed three times higher than in 2018. There were an astounding 2,100 carjackings last year. Despite these interesting statistics that rival a war zone, many Windy City residents believe Chicago is not the place they want to reside in January, February, and March during the polar vortex. These are the winter getaway months, when this writer escapes to Highlands, North Carolina, a tranquil community of 3,000 people that resembles Mayberry. Aptly named, Highlands is situated 4,018 feet above sea level – the highest incorporated town in the Smokey Mountains.
In this magical place, which travel agents call the “Aspen of the South,” winter temperatures rise to the 50s and 60s, the sun is bright, and it hardly ever snows, so don’t bring your skis. Highlands, located within the Appalachian temperate rain forest, sits on a plateau surrounded by national forests on three sides and rushing waterfalls, mountain streams, and pristine lakes abound. Most of the residents are nice, friendly, and welcoming. Politically, it may be Trump territory. After two complete knee-replacement surgeries by the renowned Dr. Dennis Nam at Rush University Medical Center in 2020 and 2021, this pandemic-weary writer dreamed of the ultimate getaway – Europe. The vision was a slow, romantic boat cruise on the Rhine or Danube rivers, sipping wine with my beautiful wife, viewing ancient castles, and absorbing the great architectural history of Europe.
You can buy the entire package, which includes a book on Steves’ first “Hippy Trail” trip around the world when he was 23 years old. Because of the pandemic, travel addict Steves was not allowed to travel. So, the bookish Steves went into his attic, where he found dozens of his dusty travel ledgers and notebooks, which turned into a treasure trove of text for his new travel books. Don’t get me wrong. This writer loves Rick Steves, one of the best travel reporters and tourers on the globe. However, Steves’ new PBS package of books and DVDs, now available for $240, are being pitched in the wrong time zone. In March of 2022, when the Russians are invading Ukraine and thousands of people are dying, Europe is the last place sane Americans want to be vacationing. River cruises scenic but too close for comfort Meanwhile, we are being bombarded with emails to take Viking River Cruises, and discounts are rampant. Fly to Europe for free – take a river cruise for $1,999. One alluring deal is a 15-day Grand European Tour, a cruise on the Rhine and Danube from Amsterdam to Budapest with dockings in four countries – The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
The perks are free international airfare from dozens of U.S. cities – a $1,499 value – and a $400 shipboard credit for first-time guests. “Our most iconic itinerary traces the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers between the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland and the stunning landscapes of Hungary, with engaging encounters at every bend,” the Viking Cruise travel pitch chirps. Depending on which email pitch you read, the price per person for the Grand European Tour trip with basic accommodations ranges from $4,299 to $5,499. A three-day side trip to Prague in the Czech Republic also is offered for $799. The problem is Budapest, Hungary, is only 700 miles by car from Kyiv, the capitol of Ukraine.
|
