Author: Aaron Zook

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – Ocean Expo Park, Okinawa (Part I) Welcome to our new friends of the Zook Books’ Exciting Destination Blog. I’ve enjoyed meeting you at the Texas Teen Book Festival, the Texas Library Association, and other book-signing events. Check out last month’s blog on the Shurijo Castle for another tremendous Okinawa treasure. Okinawa, Japan, the main island of the Ryukyu chain, serves as a tropical paradise for many Far East nations. Think of it as a superb vacation resort. Bring sunscreen and light clothing for your day at the Ocean Expo Park. The lush tropical vegetation,… Continue reading

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – Shurijo Castle, Okinawa The land where the palm trees sway—although this is a line from a favorite song of mine, Mele Kalikimaka, that Bing Crosby sang about Christmas on the tropical paradise of Hawaii, the phrase also applies to Okinawa, Japan, the main island of the Ryukyu chain. As with many other tourist areas, Okinawa is a place that takes several weeks, if not months, to fully explore. The island is about 70 miles long and 7 miles at the widest point. The narrowest section is two miles. The lush tropical vegetation includes gorgeous… Continue reading

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – Rome, Italy Our second main course in Rome is the Colosseum. The Colosseum may derive its name from a gigantic statue know as the Colossus that stood nearby. The statue represented Nero. The massive structure of the Colosseum was an engineering marvel for its day. Known as an amphitheater, which literally means two theaters combined, it included four stories above ground and the necessary subfloors to house the wild beasts, gladiators, and other props necessary for entertaining the crowd. It is the largest amphitheater ever constructed. Started in AD 72 by Vespasian, the completion… Continue reading

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – Rome, Italy Ancient Rome—the center of world commerce for centuries. Our first Rome main course starts in the center of city life—the Forum. Built on marshy land drained into the nearby Tiber River, the Forum was the meeting place for trade, commerce, and eventually became the location for numerous temples devoted to the main Roman Gods. Within easy walking distance, the cattle and vegetable markets (near the Tiber), Marcellus’ Theater, an outdoor amphitheater, the Circus Maximus, the Hippodrome of Domitian, Titus and Trajan’s Baths, and the Colosseum bordered the Forum. From around 700 B.C.… Continue reading

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – Rome, Italy Rome—a destination of love and conquest, of fame and ruin. For our second Rome appetizer, we leave Piazza Venezia and move on to the Capitoline, the most famous of the Seven Hills of Rome. The hill consists of two separate hilltops used for different purposes. The church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli currently stands on one hilltop, the other occupied by the remains of the Great Temple of Jupiter. A massive structure awaits us at the center of the two hills. The Piazza el Campidoglio. Michelangelo conceived this plaza, which contains three… Continue reading

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – Rome, Italy Rome is an incredible destination for a traveler who wants to see what was once a world capital for the European and Middle Eastern continent. Rome dominated with brute force, power, and political might. The remains of the great capitol city inspired many poets, artists, and movie industry professionals to create a rich cultural legacy. It was once said that, “All roads lead to Rome.” A detailed description is too much for this short blog. I’d like to whet your appetite for this scrumptious Rome meal of tourist attractions with a few… Continue reading

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – The Isle of Capri – Italy We have to go back. I know it in my heart. I remember listening to the ocean break against the rocky cliffs or gazing into azure waters that spilled white foam on the beach. While some luxuriated in a warm-water swim, snorkel or scuba dive, others rocked on sailing vessels of all types, yachts, touring vessels, and other sea-going transports. The Isle of Capri is a magical, lush paradise, if one exists on this earth. We arrived in the Marina Grande, cruising in on a high-speed catamaran. The… Continue reading

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – The Königssee (The King’s Lake) Do you crave the sounds, scents, and sights of a natural setting? Make the time to get away from the bustle of a city for the country flavor of tiny villages in the mountains. Glide in a boat across a glassy lake, visit a historical chapel, and hike to Germany’s highest waterfall, all in one location. Nestled at the base of famous mountains towering as high as 2713 meters, or about 8,900 feet, the Königssee’s crystal clear waters reflect the majesty of snowcapped peaks even in the summertime. This… Continue reading

Exciting Travel Destinations and Tours – The Kaltenberger Ritterturnier Kaltenberg holds its own Knight’s Tournament (Ritterturnier) every year in southern Germany. The tournament is one of the most famous in the world. All the knights that compete often perform in movies as knights in battle, in a jousting tournament, or in some other part of a medieval film. The festival is conducted for 3 weekends in the summer, normally in July. For 2016, the July weekend dates are 15-17, 22-24, and 29-31. During those three weekends, a story is told in which you can join the journey. When you arrive… Continue reading