Category: Our Views on Travel

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…

We love to eat. Ken is far more adventuresome than I am but I’m still willing to try most exotic local cuisines. Taste, smell, texture and presentation are all important components of any meal, and a well-trained chef can make even the simplest of ingredients into a great experience. When we travel we try to…

We have visited Rome twice.  The first time was a whirlwind day as part of a Mediterranean cruise.  As fast paced as that day was I do remember two things very vividly.  We had lunch at an outdoor café under black lace umbrellas to shade us from the midday sun, ate a plate of pasta,…

The most bizarre thing happens when I am on vacation; I talk to everyone.  Normally reserved around strangers, any hesitancy I have melts away under bright skies and exotic locales.  It’s quite intoxicating.  I will start up conversations with strangers in a queue, in a bar, on buses and trains, practically anywhere that I find…

The evening was warm for May and the beer gardens were open.  We decided to forgo the touristy Hofbrauhaus during our stay in Munich, instead heading to a place more favoured by locals, the Augustiner Keller just around the corner from our hotel. The tradition in Germany is to ferment their beer underground, using the…