Eric Anderson, MD

Spring came late to the Low Countries in 2013 with snow still falling in at the end of March. So what happened on the famed springtime "Windmills and Tulips" cruise through the Netherlands?

There are more than 50 museums in Amsterdam, but the Dutch don't feel the need to boast. It must be hard to be a small museum in the shadow of greats like the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh, but these small museums were well worth the visit.

The city of Amsterdam is renowned for its museums, although the Vrolik may be less known. Anatomy museums remain part of every medical student's life, but the Vrolik shows the horrors of embryology gone wrong that recent graduates might not have been exposed to.

There's an air of permanence in France, and since Eric Anderson, MD, first visited the country in 1947, he should know. He has also noticed that although the French once had a reputation for being rude, they friendlier now to strangers.

Six hours north of Athens, travelers are transported back seven centuries and find themselves in Meteora's stone forest, amidst monasteries almost suspended in space and time, perched high upon the rocks.

Many of today's physicians don't have a lot of interest in recreational reading unless they're heading for the airport and going to the beach. Here are eight medical fiction novels from old classics to new ones.

Cape Town, South Africa is a long haul for Americans, but the trip is well worth it. However, so far away and expensive to get to, a trip to this part of the world might be a one-time deal.

Once you've enjoyed the Mardi Gras festivities what else is there to see in Lake Charles? Here are four attractions year round, from traveling art exhibits to historic museums.

The fee-for-service stand is supported by patients who are comfortably off and have health insurance almost as perfect as that of our politicians'. But the reality is our health care system is broken. We need change if we're going to care for our aging population.

Big medicine is, understandably, nervous about the large number of seniors that will start coming into doctors' offices, especially since they will also be handling millions of more patients from the Affordable Care Act.

The spirit of Mardi Gras lingers in southwestern Louisiana. However, being just across the border from Texas the residents are less Southern Belle and more likely to wear cowboy boots and hold rodeos.

The world of academic medicine and gerontology is so removed from the experience of those working in the trenches that sometimes we barely learn from each other.

Lake Charles, La., has charms beyond Mardi Gras: its culinary attractions for example. Sure, since the city is in Southwest Louisiana you'd expect southern kitchen and Creole and Cajun renderings - but there's more.

Think you're unable handle the boisterous, extravagant excesses of Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Family-oriented Lake Charles provides a deeper look into Mardi Gras and reveals what the event means to a community.

Lake Charles, Louisiana, is home of the largest collection of Mardi Gras costumes in the world with costume displays, history on the inception of the celebration and a look into the organizational structure of the parade.

The cruise industry has had undeniably significant setbacks over the last 13 months. What lessons are learned from cruise misfortunes? What changes might we make in our travel?

In Thailand, amongst the country's many temples and famous floating markets, is a major tourist attraction: the ruined city of Ayutthaya. Once one of the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya was attacked, sacked and abandoned.

The role of Thailand's elephants has evolved over the years, from a cultural icon and symbol of power to a component of war, a tool in the logging industry and, finally, a part of the tourism industry.

The "wave season" is upon us - the time when cruise lines offer some of their best promotions and incentives. Not only can you get cheaper rates, but extra perks like cabin upgrades and prepaid gratuities.

Texas seemed mysterious and faraway when Eric Anderson, MD, lived in Scotland. However, after living amongst Texans, socializing with them and treating their problems, he thinks he's found what makes Texans tick - what's important to them.

South Texas is the destination for tourists who want to visit Mexico but have been scared off by recent press. In McAllen, visitors can experience cuisine and shopping that Mexicans often make a trip across the border to enjoy.

Having a hobby is always encouraged and millions of Americans have chosen birding. More than a third of these enthusiasts travel from home to pursue their passion; South Texas is a must see since it is home to the World Birding Center.

Museums are found in surprising places in the United States, so it's no surprise, given the wealth of Texas, to find sophisticated history showcases in rural South Texas.

Harlingen is hardly a household word to most Americans, but this 100-year-old community is proud of its history, including the full size Iwo Jima Monument from which the monument in Arlington was cast.

The city of Harlingen, Texas has chosen a unique way to show its history - by covering its walls in murals. And not all of the artwork is outside, some are also indoors, inside businesses and banks.

Sometimes physicians need distance to understand today's major health delivery issues. This year's meeting of the Gerontological Society of America revealed issues with long-term care, hospital readmissions and the number of geriatric emergency departments in the U.S.

Practicing geriatricians were offered an extensive selection of programs at the Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, including thousands of posters detailing the research of graduate students and senior-level scholars.

America's elderly population will double to 81 million by the year 2040, and there's little evidence we are ready for them. Speakers at the annual Gerontological Society of America discussed the under-preparedness of the country and of retirees.

The Texas Ranger museum in Waco may seem like just a Texas icon, but around the world it's actually viewed as an American one with visitors including foreign guests at the Crawford Ranch from when George W. Bush was president.

At the annual Gerontological Society of America meeting, the keynote speaker discussed the effect of social networks on the health and behaviors of groups of friends.