Clearly, the world has been our readers’ oyster this last year. These travel-loving folks have done the epic Canadian Rockies train trip from Vancouver to Toronto, made paella in Barcelona, explored the fjords of Norway and so much more. And when they returned, they took pen in hand — er, laptop keyboard — to share their adventures and travel tips.

Read on for a San Jose couple’s grand European cruise, then find more reader travel inspiration at www.mercurynews.com/tag/wish-you-were-here/.

Wish You Were Here

ITALY: Lifelong San Jose resident Steve Sosnowski and spouse Chris Kenward traveled to Rome in October as the final stop on a 12-day cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line on the Prima. “Our ship, put into service in August 2023, is the namesake and first of six Prima class ships in development,” Steve says. “We opted for ‘The Haven’ class state room — a ‘ship within a ship’ (with) private restaurant and bar/lounge, separate pool and personalized concierge service.

“We’ve been planning this cruise for more than a year and had a wonderful time. Beginning in Southampton, England, we continued on to Bourdeaux, France, Lisbon, Portugal, Cadiz and Barcelona, Spain. I have never been to the Iberian Peninsula; the highlight was a flamenco show and La Familia Sagrada in Barcelona.”

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TRAVEL TIPS: “Rome is the Eternal City and a must-see on many bucket lists. In 2025, Rome will be celebrating a Jubilee Year, considered to be an optimal time to make a pilgrimage of faith, reflection and spiritual rejuvenation. Expect many more tourists than typical as a result.”

Join the fun! Send a photo of yourself on your latest adventures — local, domestic or international — to [email protected]. Tell us where you are, who everyone is and where they’re from, and share a travel tip or two to help fellow readers go there, too.

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