Category: Our Views on Travel

In light of my familial connection and with a strong sense of Canadian pride it was an easy decision for Ken and I to plan a day trip to Arras to visit the Vimy Memorial while in France. Arras is a direct train ride from Gare du Nord station in Paris.  We were able to…

At three-quarters of an inch taller than 6 feet and weighing in at only 150 pounds was it any surprise his friends called him Slim.  He was single, trained as a painter, still lived at home with his parents, and at just 4 months beyond his 18th birthday he enlisted with the Army.  That date…

In a recent post I had mentioned that we had friends on a cruise ship travelling from South America back to the United States.  We were so happy to hear they are now home and although in isolation are so far healthy. I reached out to Catherine to ask about her experience and she agreed…

As a travel writer, I have been struggling with what to post on our blog this week.  Trite articles about ports of call or planning your perfect vacation seem inappropriate right now in light of what is going on in the world.  Travel, as much if not more than most industries, has been hard hit…

One of the realities of travel, especially on a cruise, is that there are lots and lots of people enjoying the same destinations and excursions as yourself.  It is the certainty of the situation and for the most part traveler’s exhibit patience and understanding.   Then there are the others.  That is not to say that…

The Palace of Versailles was home to French monarchy for about 100 years until the Revolution of 1789 changed all that. The over the top opulence last occupied by the Sun King Louis XIV is now available to the public as a museum including its surrounding gardens and manicured lawns.  About a 35 minute train…

Paris is a culture of food. Every chef studies the French method of creating mouth-watering, aesthetically pleasing adventures in cuisine rich with sauces and little consideration for calories.  We spent as much time planning our next meal while in Paris as we did our next attraction. Although we had plans to dine out while in…

Like many others around the world we watched in horror as Notre Dame Cathedral erupted in flames in April of last year.  As tourists this iconic church had long been on our bucket list and with a trip to Paris planned for the following month, it was a site we anxiously and excitedly planned to…

Paris has so much to offer any traveler, but for us one of the biggest draws were its two renowned art museums, the Louve and the Musee D’Orsay.  We took some courses in art history at our local university, poured over the recommendations in travel guides and spent the time to plan our visits to…