Remember the lyrics from Frank Sinatra’s song, Chicago?

On State Street, that great street, I just want to say:
They do things that they don’t do on Broadway!

The Chicago Theatre is one of the most lavish historic movie palaces still open. The 93-year-old film and stage show emporium seats 3,600. It’s seven stories high, with the familiar big sign stretching over State Street in front of six of the stories.

For the past decade or so, the Dutch city of brilliant tulips, beautiful canals, museums, cafés and friendly people developed the reputation as a marijuana haven for potheads. This may have turned some American seniors off from visiting Amsterdam. However, despite the lingering whiff of cannabis, the city is still one of the world’s most delightful destinations for older tourists.

We were there several several times in recent years, and found it fascinating. We did see a few laconically stoned backpackers slumping around the railroad station and in the so-called coffee shops. However, because of strict city rules, there’s no smoking on the streets, in parks, restaurants, transportation, hotels, museums and other public areas. For info on Amsterdam, go to www.iamsterdam.com

It’s on wheels and looks like a thinking bot. However, the self-propelled wheelie is actually just a live face on a TV monitor who answers questions from inquiring passengers. The Indy info expert sits in a studio somewhere in IND airport and operates a two-way sight and sound system.

Of course, some day everything will be run by real robots. They’ll actually steer ships, drive cars and fly airplanes. For veteran seniors who’ve been there and done that, there’s hope that armies of brave bots will also fight our wars. www.indianapolisairport.com

On October 20, 1944, American GIs landed on the island of Leyte, opening the campaign to recapture the Philippines, then an American colony. After bitter fighting, the Japanese surrendered the following August to end World War II.

Your travel4seniors.com editor spent those final WWII months moving up with Navy advance units from the Philippine islands of Leyte and Samar, to the main island of Luzon. When the war ended, he was at the USN Fleet Landing along Manila’s Pasig River. In the final days of the war, the city was devastated, after widespread destruction caused by aerial bombing, artillery and street combat. It was made even worse by Japanese demolitions and deliberate murder of civilians.

Today, Manila, capital of the independent nation of The Philippines, is one of the most thriving and attractive tourist destinations in the world. Luxury hotels, scores of restaurant varieties, upscale shopping, lively nightlife, sunny beaches, sparkling surf and much more now welcome visitors. For more info, go to www.manilaluzon.com/home