We went through the Panama Canal on Monday, November 19th, on Day 7 of this 16 day cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas. It took all day to cross the three locks along the Canal. The Gatun locks (pronounced Gatoon) consists of 3 gates, and with each one, the water rises 28Continue reading “Photos of Panama Canal”
Category Archives: Personal Blog
National Housing Day – Nov 22
I became aware of Canada’s National Housing Day in 2006. At the time, I was working with CMHC – Canada’s national housing agency, and local affordable housing advocates had decided to mark November 22 as a day to draw attention to the need for affordable housing in many cities across Canada. I was convinced fromContinue reading “National Housing Day – Nov 22”
Vision of the Seas…its growing on me
Until this morning, I would have told anyone asking me about cruising that big ships were the best, and particularly Royal Caribbeans big ships such as Symphony, Ovation, Harmony, Anthem, Allure, and Oasis of the Seas. That was, until I met Vision of the Seas. I find myself on Vision of the Seas because ofContinue reading “Vision of the Seas…its growing on me”
Is cruising for you?
We took our first cruise vacation in 2012. It was an exciting trip for my entire family, to mark my parents 50th wedding anniversary. The trip aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas was memorable in so many ways, but we were the only ones in the family to catch the cruise bug. The appealContinue reading “Is cruising for you?”
Me voici, avec ma casserole et ma cuillère…
J’écris mon blogue en anglais, afin de permettre à mes collègues, amis et parents anglophones de suivre mes allés et venus, et mes réflexions lors de notre beau voyage. Cependant, je vous confie qu’à chaque fois que je l’écris dans la langue de Shakespeare, je suis hantée par les fantôme de mes ancêtres, canadiens françaisContinue reading “Me voici, avec ma casserole et ma cuillère…”
Spain to Florida – the route of the Conquistadors
Juan Ponce de León and Christopher Columbus both sailed from Spain and discovered the Americas. It was Ponce de Leon who actually got the credit for discovering La Florida in 1516, and he named it so, because it was a great “place of flowers”. Fast forward 500+ years later, and we embarque on the sameContinue reading “Spain to Florida – the route of the Conquistadors”
Barcelona – How can I forget
Barcelona, such a beautiful horizon Barcelona like a jewel in the room If God is willing….If God is willing… We will meet again someday Friends until the end! VIVA BARCELONA! The song Freddie Mercury was supposed to sing with Monserrat Caballé at the opening of the 1992 Olympic Games kept playing in my head. TheContinue reading “Barcelona – How can I forget”
Oh Italy – You have so much to show us…
We left Tuscany on a beautify sunny morning in late October. We decided to take the scenic route back to Rome, before we left Italy the next day. After two month of visiting all of the hills and valleys of the Golden Triangle that is Pisa, Sienna and Florence we thought we had become quiteContinue reading “Oh Italy – You have so much to show us…”
« I’m toooo young to die… »
Eliza was a greeter we hired when we arrived from Rome to Florence. She arranged for our luggage to be collected from the train, and for someone to hail a taxi for us. While we waited she shared with us a lot of personal information. We told her we just needed a taxi to getContinue reading “« I’m toooo young to die… »”
When Uptown really is Up…
We were dropping off our friends at the Certaldo train station, when on our way home we noticed at the end of the street, a rail track going directly up the hill in front of us. Suddenly, it jogged my memory about something I had read, I believe in Rick Steves guide to Italy. OfContinue reading “When Uptown really is Up…”
Travel? Not without certain comforts of home
When we decided to be world bohemians for 4 months, it was clear that we nevertheless would need (want?) some comforts of home. Mindful of the bags we would be dragging our intention was to be ruthless and pack only what was absolutely necessary. In Italy especially, elevators are few, and the cobble stones streetsContinue reading “Travel? Not without certain comforts of home”
From Farm to Table
The trend in dining is – thankfully – farm to table where one prepares and eats meals using the freshest ingredients available locally, and in the season. We took to this back in 2014 when we were living briefly in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There, we were surrounded by fresh seafood, and fresh produce from theContinue reading “From Farm to Table”
Head over heels for Florence
Firenze – you conquer my heart every time. The last time I saw you it was March of ’78. I was a mere girl of 15, and you won me over with your fresh strawberries at every gelateria and your magnifique paintings from Boticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo. Now, I am a mature woman of 55Continue reading “Head over heels for Florence”
Trying to be a non tourist in Venice
Italy is a relatively young country, as young as Canada actually, with the unification of all of its regions and cities finalized in 1870. I will spare you the complex historical evolution of how it came to be a nation-state, but suffice to know that prior to the unification, Italy was a collection of city-stateContinue reading “Trying to be a non tourist in Venice”
This Way Please for Time Travel
It occurred to me this week, as we contemplated structures aged roughly 1600 years and which still serve their intended purpose today, that the most stunning revelation on this trip so far is the idea that cities, inhabited by thousands, existed while our country was not yet born. It’s actually the closest thing I haveContinue reading “This Way Please for Time Travel”
SOAR Coaching and Personal Insights 