Close your eyes and think “Olso.” Quick! What comes to your mind? Henrik Ibsen? Thor Heyerdahl? Vikings? Nobel Peace Prize? Oslo is all of these things and so much more.

Dream of canals and Europe, and most people think of Venice. With more canals than streets, and virtually no street traffic, the canals are Venice. But Amsterdam, Stockholm and St. Petersburg all lay claim to being the "Venice of the North," and all are worth a trip.

How can you make your arrival airport your first destination experience of your trip? A little web searching and you'll know where to find transportation to your hotel, a place to meet friends, if free wi-fi is available and where to find your favorite type of latte.

If you've seen one cathedral have you seen them all? Revel in the complex architecture, stained glass windows, niches, and chapels. But don't forget to look a little deeper, for the secret stories that are an integral part of a cathedral's history, especially Winchester Cathedral in England.

Did you know that the poet laureate Tennyson is the second most quoted writer after Shakespeare according to “The Oxford Book of Quotations.” Can’t think of a single line you would credit to Lord Alfred? How about? “Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do or die.”

You suitcase is all packed. Your passport and documents are all in order. What about your wallet? Do you have the correct currency for your destination? Currency exchange can tricky. These days exchange rates rise and fall faster than tsunami following an earthquake.