Observations from excursions and “a day in the life” as experienced by 2 Canadians during their time in Tuscany, Spain, Panama, California, Napa Valley and Las Vegas from September to December 2018.
Some days begin just like any other—ordinary and somewhat predictable, marked by routine and familiar surroundings. But every once in a while, the unexpected happens, breaking through the monotony like a burst of sunlight through storm clouds. On such days, a single event can shift the ordinary into the extraordinary, filling the air with a…
For those of you who enjoy my travel notes, then this account of one of my excursions in Portugal will hit the spot. You likely have heard of the French and Italian Rivieras? There may be some among my readers who have visited these popular destinations, but did you know there is also a Portuguese…
Many of my readers have been asking about the wines of Portugal and while I am not a officianado, I am happy to devote part of my blog to a distinctive variety of wine that I discovered in Portugal – the Vinho Verde. To provide some context, Portugal is a country where different and unique…
I have been having so much fun! Arrived in Lisbon this week, and I must say its been a thrill discovering this beautiful city. I like to start my first day in a new country or city with a tour of the highlights and key local landmarks.. Lisbon tour operators offer some fun Tuk Tuk…
Over the last year, I’ve become aware that I no longer set any grand expectations when I am about to embark on a new experience. The trips I plan, and the activities I undertake are largely based on an impulse, sometimes fed by curiosity, or a mood or just a strong inclination to create a…
I have written before about cruising and until our recent trip to Mexico, preferred vacations on ships rather than resorts. I would say that for a vacation in the Caribbean, a cruise is still my preference. This year, we took 3 Caribbean cruises, visiting islands of the lesser and south Antilles (St-Thomas, St-Marten, Barbados, St-Lucia,…
Everyday, I am reminded of how blessed we were to have had the opportunity to visit Italy this year, and pray we will have the opportunity to return. I felt so inspired when we were there, and felt at peace at the same time. Some days it felt like time stood still, and that Italians…
Alors voici deux video vous donnant un aperçu du village de Iano, dans la commune de Montaione en banlieue de Florence, en Toscane, ainsi qu’un visionnement de notre logement pendant notre séjour de 2 mois. J’inclus d’abord les coordonnées de google maps afin de vous situer quelque peu. Nous étions a 1 heure de Florence,…
I am a big fan of answering when opportunity knocks. Quite by chance we fell upon a short promo/documentary on the Travel channel, of the Red Rock Casino and Resort just outside of the Las Vegas strip. By the end of the 20-minute feature, we had googled the venue and and were making plans to…
Did I ever tell you about the time we were cruising along the Pacific Coast? I have told many stories of the fabulous travels we have been blessed to enjoy these last few months. It’s hard to keep up and share all my memories. Just as we stepped off one journey, our faces still beaming…
Thirty years ago, I came to San Francisco as part of my honeymoon. It was my first visit to the west coast, and to California. The city completely charmed us, as we visited the sights, and took part in local festivities. On our way from LA to Napa Valley, we thought we would stop in…
My head has been spinning for a week, which is partly the reason why I have not posted anything on this blog since arriving in San Francisco. I also had a few “memoirs” to finalise about the tail end of our trip along Central America, and our arrival in LA/San Francisco before I could focus…
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 28…
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 from…
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 of…
