Welcome to the first newsletter of European Discovery.

Since this is the first newsletter, I thought I would introduce the philosophy behind European Discovery tours - in short, to explain the tagline, "The easiest way to discover your own little piece of Europe." The tours are for people who want to experience the history and culture of Europe with help from someone "in the know" and without the hassles. Organized tour groups have the reputation for being more like a large herd moving from place to place rather than a unique adventure to an unknown place. A European Discovery tour is nothing like most group tours.

There are 4 main features of a European Discovery tour that make it different.

1. The groups are always very small – 10-15 people rather than the typical group of 50. This allows us to stay at small, beautiful, locally owned B&B’s and hotels; to eat at smaller more intimate restaurants where the locals go; and to move quickly and easily through the tour with our private guides.
2. There is A LOT of free time built into every tour so you can get an introduction to a new place and then be free to explore on your own.
3. The guides, hotels, and restaurants are personally chosen and constantly reviewed for excellence. Nothing is left to chance. All our guides are top quality and the best value.
4. The last reason a European Discovery tour is different is that we are dedicated to an exceptionally high level of service before and during your tour (we escort them personally). Our goal is to make sure you get all of the help you need to be able to do whatever you want to make your tour unique. We will even help you fully plan extensions to your time in Europe.

I look at each tour as a little like cooking a great meal with the help of an expert. You start with a recipe and basic ingredients. We provide the best of everything you need to be ready to go (ideal itinerary, great intro for each location, great rooms, great food, great guides). With this solid foundation, you can then add your own creativity. You can follow the recipe exactly or add your own spice and flair with the help of an expert chef within shouting distance. Your tour works the same way. You can create an experience uniquely yours, share it with the entire group and get any level of help you need.

Our tours this year are filling fast. If you only have 1 week, we have the perfect introduction to Europe of London and Paris in 8 days for only $1,590. With this tour you see the cosmopolitan and historic capital of England mixed with the romantic and beautiful capital of France, Paris.

If you have a bit longer and enjoy a mix of beautiful green countryside and historical cities, England and Scotland in 14 days is a perfect choice. This tour includes London, Bath, the Cotswolds, York, the Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh for only $2,695.

If it’s a bit of controversy and historical challenge you’re looking for, then perhaps the 10-day Secrets of the Da Vinci Code tour is your choice for $1,895. This tour follows the trail of the book from Paris to London to Edinburgh, looking at the real historical places including discussions with experts. They will give you the facts and you can theorize for yourself what’s really possible.

We have a new tour this year; the Jewels of Italy for $1,759. This 10 day tour includes some of the best Italy has to offer. It starts with relaxing and beautiful Venice, followed by the breathtaking beauty and center of art Tuscany, and ends with the ancient ruins and impressive Vatican City in Rome.

Come join us to discover your own little piece of Europe!

    Ellie Burns-Brookens
    owner, European Discovery LLC

Jet-lag is the adjustment time needed to get used to a new time-zone after flying. I regularly see articles that say that it takes 1 day to adjust for every 1 hour of time zone traveled. That means if you went from California to London, it would take you 9 days to get used to the new time zone. You would adjust right around the time to head home!

I have found that I can reduce jet lag to 1 day using these 3 simple tips.

#1-Sleep well before you go and nap on the flight.
I hear people suggest staying up all night the night before a long flight in order to sleep on the plane and it makes me want to scream! Unless you are a person who can sleep for the ENTIRE flight, this is a terrible idea and may make you tired for the whole time you are in Europe. Get a good nights’ sleep the night before your flight. (More than 8 hours if you can.) Try to have a relaxing evening so don’t leave your packing for the last minute!

On the flight itself, try to get about 2 to 3 hours of sleep on an 8 to 10 hour flight. If you can get more, great. But 2 to 3 should be the minimum target—kids need more. If you need earplugs, eye cover, pillow, etc. bring them in your carry on bag.

#2-Drink lots of water and juice. No caffeine or alcohol.
Many people do not realize that airplanes are extremely dry places and their bodies get very dehydrated on a flight. By the time you feel thirst, you are already dehydrated so drink as much water and juice as you can. Coffee, tea and alcohol are diuretics so just avoid them. They only compound your dehydration.

I bring two large bottles of water with me and drink at least 5 to 10 cups of juice. If the attendants don’t come around often enough, get up and go to the back of the plane and get something to drink.

#3-Get exercise and sunlight.
Getting up and stretching is a must on a long flight. Getting your blood flowing and moving the major muscle groups will help reduce back, neck and leg aches. Go to the back of the plane (Or the commode if you’re shy.) and do deep knee bends and back stretches to get the blood really flowing. You can also do stretches while in your seat. Click here to learn some.

Synch your body to the new time. When you get on the plane, change your watch to the time zone you are going to so your mind starts thinking about what you would be doing at that time in the destination time zone.

After you get checked into your hotel the next thing is to go outside, walk, get some sunshine and fresh air. These are the things that tell your body it’s still daytime and the light activates many keys in your body.

Don’t nap if you can help it. If you must take a nap, make it 1-2 hours only or you will be messed up for days. If you have to nap, take your nap first then get outside and walk. Get to bed around 9 0r 10 o’clock and get tons of sleep the first night. If you can sleep through the first night the next days will be a snap.

Michelangelo at the British Museum
From now through June 24th the British Museum has a once in a lifetime exhibit of the drawings of Michelangelo accompanied by special lectures, workshops and films. This exhibition reunites material not seen together since the dispersal of Michelangelo's studio more than 400 years ago, offering a wholly different perspective on the defining genius of the Italian Renaissance. Learn more...

Another London “must-do” is the theater. Every year about this time the UK’s most prestigious theater awards called the Laurence Olivier Awards are given by the Society of London Theater. This year the winners were some of the hottest tickets in town. For my favorite category, Best New Musical, it was Billy Elliot – also nominated for 8 other awards in the evening.

The show has music by Elton John and choreography by Peter Darling and based on the film by the same name. The story follows a teenage boy in a northern-English mining community who takes a liking to ballet, despite his father’s objections. With encouragement from his dance teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, Billy auditions for the Royal Ballet School and finally sees a way to lead a life without the struggles that his father and brother have to endure. All of the leads in the show either were nominated or won awards for their performances.

I saw this when I was in London last year and LOVED every glorious singing and dancing minute and you bet I cried at the ending! If you would like to see this or any other show, just let us know and we’ll help you get tickets.

I know you probably do not associate England and fabulous food but I tell you, it has it. Just to prove that someone else agrees, check out the March issue of Gourmet magazine – the New York foodies’ bible. It declares the best place to eat in the world right now is London – yes, you heard this right, London. The best restaurant winner is Tom Aikens. This lovely French restaurant is but a single tube stop from our hotel in the Chelsea neighborhood. While it is a tad too expensive to be included on our tour (dinner 65£), I highly recommend that folks try to take in lunch as it is one of the best Gourmet lunch values in London.

My favorite restaurant mentioned in the article, Leon, won the award for Best New Opening. It’s an inexpensive fast food restaurant that uses only high quality organic ingredients. Things like grass-fed lamb, free-range chicken, even brownies made with ground almonds rather than flour. There are two locations. One near Oxford Circus stop and one in the middle of Fleet street at Ludgate. Rather than grabbing a burger to go, get something that is cheap, tastes great and is good for you. I would LOVE to have several of these in Portland but for now, London will have to do.