When I think of Scotland, I first think of its Scotch whisky, for which I’s justifiably famous.  For centuries Scottish distilleries have produced what are arguably the finest single malt whiskies in the world.  Distillery tours are a top tourist draw, combining days of sightseeing in the picturesque Scottish countryside with tours of various distilleries.

On more than one occasion, I’ve had someone ask me, “What’s the point in touring more than one?  After all, if you’ve seen one distillery, haven’t you seen them all?”  While I can understand how the uninitiated might make that assumption, those of us who have ever experienced a Scottish distillery tour must strongly disagree!

Taking tours of Scottish distilleries has been a great experience for me, and I’ve never found the experience repetitive in any way.  So allow me to share some of the reasons that it is worthwhile to visit more than one distillery in Scotland.  Each offers its own unique charms, from the taste of its prime whisky to its facilities and grounds.  No two distilleries create spirits in quite the same way, and each has its own fascinating history.  Finally, each distillery’s locale provides opportunities for side tours and diverse views of the Scottish countryside.

Distilleries’ History and Character

A tour of my favorite distilleries finds distinctions at every turn.

• The Oban Distillery, in the West Coast Region, is located below a steep cliff overlooking the sea.
• Then there’s the Scottish Lowland’s Glengoyne Distillery, described as the country’s most beautiful.  The first time I spotted it, I knew why.  Perched in the Campsie Hills, the distillery’s whitewashed buildings and manicured grounds are postcard perfect.
• The Scottish Lowlands is home also to Glenkinchie Distillery, set in pastoral farmlands just miles from Edinburgh.  A visit features a tour of its museum of malt whisky.
• And what about Dalwhinnie Distillery, in the Central Highlands? It sits over 1000 feet high in a splendid mountain setting.  A bit eccentric as distilleries go, it features pagoda building roofs and serves as an official Scottish weather station!
• Also in the Central Highlands, Glenturret Distillery stakes its claim to being the country’s oldest distillery, but provides a technological tour de force with its multi-sensory interactive program– scent pods, challenge games, DVDs, and a virtual bird’s-eye tour of the Scottish countryside.
• Blair Athol Distillery, in the Scottish Highlands, is not only one of the oldest distilleries, but ironically one of the most energy-efficient in the industry.

Oldest, highest, most beautiful, most eccentric – how can you possibly choose just one?

Classic Single Malt Scotch Whiskies

Once you soak up the ambiance of a distillery, it’s time to soak up just a bit of its product!  Each of my favorite distilleries has its own special ingredients or unique production methods that create diverse tastes.

• I’ve never tasted a more unusual (and delicious) whisky than Oban’s 14-year-old single malt whisky made with crystallized ginger.  It’s offered as a sample on each tour.
• At Glengoyne Distillery, a 50-foot waterfall in a natural sandstone hollow provides the pure rainwater used in the making of its whiskies.  Glengoyne whisky is known for its delicate flavor, due in part to the mild climate of the area.  Try the “Master Blender” experience – create your own whisky blend and receive a small bottle as a token of your visit!
• Glenkinchie’s whisky is known as the “Edinburgh malt” due to its proximity to the Scottish capitol.  Glenkinchie produces one of the three remaining Lowland single malts being made today.  I’m partial to its 14-year-old Distiller’s edition, double-matured in Amontillado sherry casks.
• The Dalwhinnie locale was chosen for access to nearby clear spring water and peat bogs.  They help create a whisky that is very smooth and full-bodied, using the time-honored method of aging in wooden worm tubs.
• At the Glenturret Distillery, they’re most noted for production of The Famous Grouse blended whisky.  I prefer the Glenturret Single Highland Malt Scotch Whiskey, an award-winning single malt known for its natural golden hue and delightful bouquet.
• Finally, at the Blair Athol Distillery you’ll fine smooth whiskies with a strong fruity flavor.  The production process draws from the clear waters of the Allt Dour burn, which runs through the distillery grounds.

Nearby Attractions

Wherever you’re heading, consider it another opportunity to pass through the wild and beautiful Scottish countryside and its panoramic views of mountains, rugged coasts, farmland, and parks.  Lochs and waterfalls abound, and the scenery is green and lush.  A bonus feature:  each distillery is located near must-see attractions, so you’re not getting just a distillery tour by any means.  In touring my favorite distilleries, I’ve made side trips to:

• Loch Lomond, Scotland’s most famous lake
• A Victorian architectural tour of Glasgow
• Garnethills, Scotland’s oldest and most distinctive synagogue
• Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, homes of the Scottish Crown Jewels and Scotland’s first exhibition space for the Royal Collections
• Cairngorms National Park, largest in the British Isles, featuring gorgeous scenery, diverse wildlife, and even several castles on its grounds
• Blair Castle, with magnificent artwork and 32 rooms open to the public.
• Edinburgh’s famous and scenic golf courses.

With such a variety of attractions, how can you choose just one?  Recalling some of my favorite experiences with Scottish distillery tours, I can reaffirm that, yes, you must visit more than one distillery when you go.  I’m ready to go back today!

About this time of year, I always start getting deluged with requests for suggestions for the perfect summer tour.  Summer is always a wonderful time for travel, and I have three top suggestions for you to consider this summer.  I base these particular suggestions on a combination of the weather or what’s going on there during the summer months.  So without further ado, here are my three suggestions for your dream vacation abroad.

Take a Tour of the Italian Countryside

What can be more relaxing than a summery, sunlit tour of the Italian countryside, as well as some of its most romantic cities?  And speaking of which, let’s start with Venice. You may just want to wander around its charming streets and bridges, or take a gondola ride along one of its canals – by moonlight, of course.  During the day, check out the historical buildings, including St. Mark’s Basilica as well as the first Jewish ghetto in the world, where Jews were literally locked in from dusk to dawn in centuries past.

Of course you must drive through the hills of Tuscany, a region just as romantic as recent books and movies have portrayed it as being.  Summer there is a time of heavy-hanging fruit, blooming flowers, and green hillsides.  Visit Florence, also,  but stop first for a picnic along the banks of the Arno River.

Visit the Maccabi Games in Israel

For the first time in their history, the JCC Maccabi Games are being held in Israel this summer.  They’ll combine sporting events, art classes and exhibits, and a tour of Israel locales.  This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so if you’ve never been to Israel, now’s the time to go and take the family.  And even if you’ve been dozens of times, you’ve never seen it like this!  For further information on the Games and related events, read my blog post:  What’s the Hype with Maccabia This Summer?

Cool Down in Iceland and Greenland

When the mercury’s climbing stateside, imagine a tour of the ice-clad islands of Iceland and Greenland.  After a grueling winter, the summer months are mild in both countries.  You’ll feel like the hot summers of home are a million miles away.  I’d focus my tour on southern Iceland and western Greenland.  By concentrating on these areas, you’ll be able to see incredible natural views, such as glaciers, waterfalls, gorges, geysers, and nature preserves.

For a bit of civilization, you can tour everything from ancient rooms to modern cities such as Reykjavik and Ilulissat.  The former is the world’s most northern capital, and the latter is only 120 miles from the Arctic Circle.  To learn more about native Intuits, visit one of their settlements in Greenland.

The Best Choice for You

These suggestions are meant to offer you just a taste of what your ideal summer tour might be.  Make sure your selection checklist includes the requirement for a locale with a comfortable summer climate (or lots of indoor activities!).   Check for special events and festivals in countries you’ve always meant to visit.  If you can combine some sightseeing with a knockout event, such as an art exhibition, cultural festival, or sporting event, you’ll truly have a dream vacation package.

Have fun selecting your own perfect destination this summer – I hope my choices have piqued your interest.

With a population of less than two dozen Jews, Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, seems an unlikely place to go to observe Passover.  After all, it no longer even has so much as a practicing rabbi.  But when I visited the country and saw some of its breathtaking sites and learned more about the country’s rich Jewish heritage, I became interested in immersing myself a bit more in the culture.  And when I learned the story of one of Myanmar’s few remaining Jewish families, and their efforts to maintain and even strengthen Jewish traditions, my impulse grew even more – I want to be there during Passover and participate in a communal Seder in this far-flung and exotic locale.

An Idyllic Countryside

Bordered by China, Bangladesh, India, Laos, and Thailand, Myanmar is the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia.  A former British colony, Myanmar combines colonial British charm with the exotic culture of the Far East.  Here are just a few of the sights I can personally recommend:

• Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the capital, is filled with shady parks, tropical trees, and many lakes, earning it the nickname of “the Garden City of the East.”  With beautiful turn-of-the-century British architecture juxtaposed against ancient pagodas, it’s an eclectic, lovely city.
• In Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, you’ll find the site of the Mandalay Royal Palace, with its wooden pavilions, high palace walls, and moat.  It’s also a great place to shop for handicrafts, such as silk weavings, marble, and kalaga tapestries.
• If you like gorgeous beaches, as I do, the oldest seaside resort in Myanmar, Ngapali, claims the country’s most beautiful beach. With its deep blue sea and long silvery beach lined with coconut trees, it’s a great place to stop at sunset with a camera.  Nearby is a fishing village where you can watch the boats return after a day on the water.
• Mt. Popa rises against the horizon on the road to Mandalay.  The top of the volcanic plug is dotted with numerous shrines and an ancient monastery.  Best of all, to reach its top and see the beautiful panoramic view, climb a set of 700 steps, with a crowd of monkeys as your companions!  No, I couldn’t make this up.

The list could go on – Myanmar’s natural and cultural sites are quite extraordinary.  They include vestiges of a long Jewish tradition — an historic synagogue, an old Jewish cemetery, handmade Burmese Jewish handicrafts.  But there’s a poignancy to the Myanmar Jewish heritage, as it nears potential extinction.

A Proud Jewish History

In the 18^th and 19^th centuries, Burma established a Jewish presence, first when merchants from India settled there, and then when Baghdadi Jews seeking their fortunes from trade stopped en-route and were persuaded by the government to stay.   The Baghdadi Jews in particular established an influential presence in the country, and a growing Jewish community thrived for years.  At its peak, the population was estimated at around 2,500.  With a collection of 126 Sifrei and one Talmud Torah, a Rangoon Committee for the Recognition of Israel, a Zionist organization, and a Jewish school, Jewish community and religious life were productive.

With the advent of World War II, fortunes changed.  Felt to be British sympathizers, most of the Jewish population was driven out of then Burma by the Japanese.  After a 1962 military coup, additional families fled the country.

Today, old Rangoon’s once proud synagogue sits largely empty.  Public prayer requires a minyan, only achieved when visitors or Israeli embassy employees are present.  Without Hebrew speakers, seldom will one here chants from the Torah, and the community’s been without a rabbi for over 40 years.   There aren’t even any kosher food purveyors in the entire country.

One bright note:  anti-Semitism does not appear to be a problem in modern Myanmar, described by one historian as “a tolerant home for the Jews.”  Burmese Jews, including those who have left, are known for their fierce defense of the country’s reputation.

The Samuels Family

“Every day, my father sits in the quiet synagogue, waiting to greet Jewish visitors and to share with them this rich and unique history … My father posted this sign on the front door of the synagogue:  ‘A tree may be alone in the field, a man alone in the world, but a Jew is never alone on his holy days.’”  This quote, from Moses Samuel’s son Sammy, is a tribute to a man who has worked almost singlehandedly to keep the candle of Judaism burning in Myanmar.  His story has been widely published in Jewish magazines and newspapers around the world.

Samuels has taken upon himself the care and upkeep of the one remaining synagogue in Myanmar’s Jewish community, the Musmeah Yeshua.  Built in 1896, the Sephardic synagogue is quite beautiful, with white and blue tiled pillars rising against a backdrop of green stained glass windows.  While the synagogue has few visitors, Samuels intends to maintain the building and honor its traditions.

And his son, with a fresh degree from Yeshiva University, plans to find a Jewish bride and return to Myanmar to continue the traditions his father has maintained.

A Seder in Myanmar

Recently, Sammy participated in the family’s celebration of the Passover Seder for the first time in three years. Without young children available to find the hidden matzo, Sammy pitched in and did the honors.  Kosher foods were supplied by the Israeli Embassy, whose employees were invited to the Seder and the synagogue’s religious services.  Sammy plans to return to his country and preside at future Seders.  He has said that as long as his family remains in Myanmar, “there will be a Jewish community.”

So my fantasies have taken wing, and I imagine myself at a ceremonial meal in Myanmar, joining the faithful observers who hold on to its proud religious and cultural traditions.  I’d like to help keep the Jewish spirit alive in Myanmar a little longer, in just a small way.

Yes, it’s time for a trip to old Burma. I also want to drink in the lush scenery—perhaps travel by horse cart through the countryside, or take a boat ride to see floating gardens and enjoy the tranquility of this other world. And I really want to see those monkeys again!

I Landed in Fairbanks – Now What? (Written for a July trip)

A position I did not want be in when I landed in Fairbanks was to decide which places to visit. Since I was fresh, I thought I would go in for a guided tour. The average maximum temperature in July is 73 degrees Fahrenheit in Fairbanks. Situated near the Arctic Circle, it is about 8 hours away form Anchorage in Alaska’s Interior, and is the largest interior city in Alaska. Founded in 1901 as a trading post, Fairbanks now offers supplies and services to the interiors. It actually was a good starting point for my tour to Northern Alaska as well. The city has a population of around 80,000, so I decided to take the city tour first.

City Day Tour

Fairbanks is known as the Golden Heart of Alaska just because of where it is located, and also because gold was found here which led to the gold rush in 1902. There are nearly 21 hours of sunlight in the summers, so traveling is enjoying and not tiresome. I wanted to visit some of the historic places, so I boarded a nice air-conditioned coach that took me three and a half hours to cover the historic downtown Fairbanks, University of Alaska Fairbanks museum, Trans-Alaska pipeline, University of Alaska Fairbanks Botanical Gardens, and the downtown Log Cabin Visitor Center. I arrived back before noon and had lunch. I then opted to go on the El Dorado Gold Mine Tour. The weather is so good that it is easily possible to combine two tours considering how long the day is going to last.

El Dorado Gold Mine

It is located to the north of Fairbanks on the Elliott highway. I took a narrow-gauge train and traveled to a gold mine which is still being mined, where miners showed me the modern techniques used to find gold. I did try my hand at it, but I guess I was not lucky and did not find any gold. I also got to know about the historic drift mining down in the area. Tired but satisfied with my experience, I returned back to the hotel. I had a few days at hand and decided to visit the antique auto museum the next day.

Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

I was just fascinated by what I saw at the museum. Located near the Creamers Field State Game Refuge, it has 74 American-made antiques motor vehicles including horseless carriages, the classics, and penny touring autos. It also included some rare marquees, the history and class of which were fully detailed for all to see. The 30,000 sq. ft. museum also had recorded history of the Alaskan transportation system and other vintage videos and photos.

Riverboat Ride

Finally, I thought I would take a boat ride to end my tour without having to walk through the day. I boarded a genuine stern wheel river boat and had a three-and-a-half-hour cruise that allowed me to watch local activities on the shore along two rivers. At the end of the ride, I was taken on a tour that simulated an Athabascan Indian village.

If you’ve never visited Panama (and no I’m not biased), Pesach is a perfect time to plan a tour of this lovely Central American country.  Panama has a long and proud history of Judaism, and is a popular spot today for both visiting and establishing a retirement home.  It’s even referred to as the “new Miami” (not sure if that’s good or bad but hey I’m not a Floridian).

A Little About the Jewish History of Panama

It’s thought that the first Jewish settlers in Panama were Spanish and Portuguese refugees.  After Panama became a part of Colombia in 1821, at the end of Spain’s colonial rule, many Sephardic Jews from the island of Jamaica also settled there, as well as Ashkenazi Jews from Central Europe.  By the mid-nineteenth century, a larger number of Caribbean immigrants and refugees from the Netherlands came to make their home in Panama.

Judaism in Contemporary Panama

During periods of earlier settlement, intermarriage and assimilation did not support a strong, traditional Jewish community.  But in recent decades, traditions have strengthened, and Panama is home to a proud Jewish community today.  Many recent Jewish immigrants arrive from the United States, attracted by the comfortable climate, the presence of Jewish community, and  I sued to say the strong U.S. dollar (although in Panama the USD goes a lot further than in the rest of the world – still today) (Panama has established many incentives to lure American retirees.)

Trivia Worth Sharing

What’s a little known fact is that Panama is the only country in the world, other than Israel, that had two Jewish presidents in the twentieth century.  Most Panamanian Jews are very traditional today in their practices.  At least 85 percent of households keep kosher, and most observe Shabbat.  In this small country, there are eight kosher restaurants and numerous other businesses that provide kosher foods such as breads, cheeses, or cakes.  In Panama City, you’ll even find a famous kosher supermarket known as “Super Kosher.”  It’s one of the largest kosher stores outside of Israel, this thriving market offers over 10,000 kosher foods and products from Israel, Europe, the United States, and Panama.

In addition to its wonderful kosher selections, Panama also now boasts three integrated Jewish schools with a total over 1,600 students, and several synagogues.  Over 10,000 Jews live in Panama today.  While most have settled in the capital, there are also populations in Colon and David.

Tourism in Panama

Panama has become a quite popular tourist destination.  Its close proximity to the United States makes it a convenient travel spot for U.S. travelers, and the U.S. dollar is accepted in Panama.  The countryside is beautiful.  Panama offers the contrasts of lush jungles, mountain villages, and unspoiled beaches, as well as the cultural attractions of cosmopolitan Panama City.  On my visits to Panama, I’ve most enjoyed getting out in the countryside and enjoying the slow-paced life of areas such as Chiriqui, with its flower and coffee plantations stretched out for miles.

I also enjoyed visiting the mountain village of El Valle.  I was staying in Panama City, so I drove along the stunning Pacific coast to get there.  El Valle is known for its wonderful market, where you can buy native products ranging from handmade baskets and ceramics to fruits and vegetables.

Of course Panama City, the country’s capital, offers a variety of sights, from art galleries to ancient ruins.  My favorite part of Panama City is the Casco Viego, its old quarter, where you can purchase artwork of the country’s Kuna Indians, and see the historical Plaza Bolivar and Palacio Presidencial.

A Panamanian Pesach

During Pesach, the small but strong Jewish community unites in celebration.  While I’m going to be home in Israel this year if there’s enough interest we’ll organize a Pesach in Panama (PIP) in the coming years…..I’m gauging interest.

Against the backdrop of such natural and varied beauty along with a rich Jewish cultural heritage, it’s hard for me to imagine a more enjoyable place in which to spent Pesach than in the heart of Panama (OK besides at home in Israel).