Category: Our Views on Travel

Florence is an art lovers dream destination.  It is often touted as the birthplace of the Renaissance movement showcasing leading edge architecture, art and sculpture, and a meeting place for some of the best artists of their time – Masaccio, Brunelleschi, Donatello and others. The Renaissance is said to have started in Italy during the…

To truly immerse yourself in the culture of a new country you must experience their culinary traditions.  If you have food allergies or sensitivities, or are just a picky eater, this can be truly terrifying.  However, preparing your own food from what is fresh and local is one way to embrace this facet of travel….

Spending an extended period of time in any city in Europe allows you immerse yourself in the culture and landscape of your destination.  You can move beyond the fast and furious pace of a tourist and embrace a more relaxed schedule.   We spent  14 nights at an Airbnb in Florence.  We didn’t want to…

If you are a fan of Impressionism you will most likely have already seen the south of France.  According to Fodor’s, “Artists have been drawn to the south of France for generations, awed by its luminous colors and crystalline light. Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, and Van Gogh led the way, followed by Léger, Matisse, Picasso, Chagall,…

With a whole week in Aix we had plenty of time to explore the entire Provence region.  Booking day trips allowed for flexible, economical adventures with a return to our home base each night. Our first choice, because we were in Provence after all, was a wine tour.  The region is renowned for its roses…

Last week I discussed the concept of home base travel, staying in a central location for a longer period of time and using day trips to explore the area.  We put our own theories to the test when we booked a full week in Aix-en-Provence in May. We arrived in Aix-en-Provence by train from Brussels…

From our home base in Brussels we were able to explore three of the countries important cities; Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent. Although easily and affordably available to explore on your own with a short train ride from the capital, we chose to do guided bus tours. Our choice of  tour company was spot on as we…

We spent five days in Belgium, home basing out of Brussels and travelling by bus to visit the other major cities in this small country.  It is a region full of history and art, excellent food and amazing people.  It is easy to navigate with an excellent public transit system if you want to travel…