Category: Our Views on Travel

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…

Effective January 1, 2020 the Ontario government terminated their “out of country” coverage for residents.  Until that time OHIP covered a maximum of $400 per day for high level services and up to $50 per day for emergency outpatient and doctor services.  Although the government will continue to reimburse for claims prior to the start…

On June 6, 1944 the Allied forces of Britain, America, Canada and France stormed the beaches of Normandy France in Operation Overlord, hailed as the turning point that led to the Allied victory in World War II.  This year marked the 75th anniversary of this auspicious event.  We would have been remiss not to take…

As I have written in the past, a stop at the Trevi Fountain in Rome is almost mandatory in our travel plans.  Whether or not the lore is true, we continue to throw our three coins into the fountain to guarantee a return trip to this city which we love so much. Our last trip…

Rome is breathtaking by day, alive with scents, sounds and movement.   At night the Eternal City is shrouded in mystery, its iconic sights confined by modern floodlights.  Viewed this way does not distract from their historical significance, rather it highlights the juxtaposition of the ancient with the modern. One of the best ways for a…

Three days!  In three days we will be on a plane, soaring over the Atlantic Ocean, on our way to our next great adventure.  Our suitcases are packed, we have foreign currency, travel insurance and Google Translate.  We have a well-researched and planned itinerary showcasing a diverse consideration of culture, history, art and architecture.  We…