Family Tree Tours Heritage Travel

04/18/2025

From the organizers of a German genealogy conference scheduled for June in Ohio: "we have been informed by several of our overseas speakers — including three members of the IGGP [International German Genealogy Partnership] board — that they will not be traveling to participate in-person at the conference. Their decision follows a travel advisory issued by the German government after widely reported incidents in which German citizens with valid U.S. visas were deported on arrival or held in detention by U.S. authorities." Sigh...

02/26/2025

Karnevalszeit, and German bakeries are filled with Carnival doughnuts... those Krapfen, Kreppel, Bollen, Pfannkuchen etc., but in Liechtenstein and Switzerland it is time for Fasnachtschüechli.

Crisp, thin flat cakes, fried in fat and sprinkled with icing sugar. A mess when you bite into them, but it doesn't matter, they are crispy, sweet... and traditional.

Like to try them? Here is an easy recipe:

25g/1 oz Butter
300 g/2.1/2 cups flour
1 egg
3-4 tablespoons cream
Pinch of salt
Icing sugar

Knead a soft dough from the flour, egg, cream and salt, until it bubbles.
Roll out thinly, shape into round pieces and roll into really thin rounds
Fry in hot fat until golden brown

Sprinkle with icing sugar.

And in Switzerland, just as in Germany with the Karneval doughnut's different names, Fasnachtschüechli are also known as Fasnachtsküchle, Chnöiblätz, Verhabni, Hondsfläde and Fasnachtskiechli.

Photo credit: Sabinas Allerlei, Fasnachtskiechli

02/24/2025

12/23/2024

Happy Holidays to Everyone! I hope Santa is good to you and that 2025 is a happy, healthy year for you. Please get in touch if TRAVEL is on your list for the new year. I can help with heritage trips, CRUISES, other types of vacations all over the world.

12/10/2024

A good tour guide friend of mine living in England is leading a tour to County Cornwall this summer and it will be a small group so really up close and personal if anyone is interested. Email me and I'll send complete info. [email protected]

12/04/2024

I'm hooked after last year. Going next year through Germany, Switzerland and Alsace. Join us. [email protected]

12/04/2024

If you are planning on visiting the U.K. anytime soon you will need a new electronic travel authorisation to enter. Learn more here.

Information on who can get an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK.

11/19/2024

Time to catch some "Black Friday" deals on river cruises. Avalon Waterways, has this deal: Save $1,000 per couple on select 2025 Avalon Waterways Europe River Cruises (combinable with FLY FREE from select U.S. Cities)*

I have a small group tour going on a Swiss, French, Germany Christmas Market tour in 2025, can't wait. Wish it was this year.

Get in touch and I will find you a good deal.

10/11/2024

Not like that now!!

A trip back in time... to air travel and in-flight meals in the 1960's.

Those were the days with Lufthansa.... 😁

No concentrated orange juice and "something" with a lettuce leaf here... it's Fassbier and Schinkenhäger, draft beer and Schnaps, with ham hock. And is that Pumpernickel on the plate?

09/21/2024

Video of most of the roads we used through the countryside. Yes, two lane roads. On our Smugglers tour we also visited several other coastal "pirate" coves. Polperra, Fowey and Charleston. It was such a fantastic scenic day.

09/20/2024

We did a day tour called "Smugglers Tour" since Penzance and these coastal towns were hideouts for pirates. This was the Jamaica Inn and museum.