FRED PLOTKIN leads popular tours and seminars in North America and Europe and appears frequently as a speaker on cruise ships, especially Crystal Cruises. Attending an opera with Fred was included in the book, “100 Vacations to Enrich Your Life” (by Pam Grout; National Geographic Books, 2007). This article  http://www.everettpotter.com/blog/2010/02/vienna-with-fred-.html gives you a sense of the experience of traveling with Fred

1. •July 15-24, 2010: Opera Lover’s Italy with Smithsonian Journeys. We will attend Verdi’s Aïda at the Terme di Caracalla, an all-Schumann concert at the Ravello Festival, and two rare works by Donizetti (Gianna da Parigi) and Nino Rota (Napoli Millionaria) at the Valle d’Itria Festival in Puglia. There will be sublime regional meals, a cooking class, visits to gorgeous towns such as Lecce, Locorotondo, and Matera. Five nights in beguiling Martina Franca, two nights in inimitable Ravello, one night in Rome: http://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/tours/italianoperapugliarome2010?display=description#pageTitle
   

1. •August 14-25, 2010: Speaker on Crystal Symphony, sailing from      Stockholm to London, including calls in Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Copenhagen and Oslo. http://www.crystalcruises.com/VoyageDetail.aspx?CID=0219
   

1. •Sept 20-29, 2010: Music Cruise in the Classical World, with Smithsonian Journeys: Smithsonian Journeys - Music Cruise/Classical World
   

1. •October 11-22, 2010: Speaker on Crystal Symphony, sailing from New York City to Montreal, with calls at Newport, Boston, Portland, St. John, Halifax and Quebec City. http://www.crystalcruises.com/VoyageDetail.aspx?CID=0224&RK=NEC