Travel should be about helping you connect with the people of the countries you are visiting, to understand their culture, their economy and their history. What I like about cruising is that we get that opportunity, not only in port, but also with the people we meet on board. There are typically over 60 nationalities…
St. Nicholas was a Bishop who lived in the fourth century in Turkey. He was a kindhearted and generous man, and because he had inherited large wealth from his parents at an early age, he developed a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to people who needed it. The stories of this…
Let me take you back to the summer of 2019. The air is warm, people are out and about and you are sitting out, possibly enjoying a refreshing beverage, listening to the sounds around you. You hear the birds of course, maybe a light breeze rustling through the trees and general murmurs and clatter people…
My 15-year old self woke the 56 year old me from a deep sleep at 4am, to tell me that there should be more successful career women coming to grade 10 classes to talk to them about how to prepare for the workplace realities. You know how you get these Eureka moments, or as Oprah…
I have been unbelievably blessed all my life and I give thanks everyday for my good fortune. I try so hard not to take anything for granted and treasure my family and our good health, and my precious friends. I am aware that one’s good fortune can change in an instant, and that many experience…
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,…
We all know that travelling gives us an opportunity to expand our knowledge and gain a better understanding of other cultures, and countries. Beyond this, the benefits of travel are quite tangible, physically and psychologically. I walk more when I travel, and my stress level goes way down. The fresh air stimulates endorphins, putting me…
We have had a wonderful year, and as I reflect on our blessings, it occurs to me that I have not shared much on our blog, despite having a great year filled with discovery, dear friends and family and new journeys. Many of you have asked about the next instalments. Not all journeys involve travelling….
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,…
Funny how opposites work. In couples, you often find that opposites attract each other, perhaps to complete one another, finding the Yin to your Yang, or your soul mate as its very often coined. In this couple, the dreamer is well balanced with the analyst, a realist that keeps the spontaneous one grounded. An opposite…
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…
