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…
Category: Our Views on Travel
Belgium – Brussels
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…
The 80th Anniversary at Juno Beach
Today many people will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the landings in Normandy. Few of the men and women who participated in the strike that brought about the end of the Second World War are still alive, so it falls to us to remember that it was their valour and bravery that allow us to travel…
The Troubled Past of Belfast
During our port stop in Belfast we wanted to find a meaningful way to explore the city. We considered and dismissed the breath taking nature of Giant’s Causeway and the well known history of the Titanic Museum, both of which we will see when we return. Instead we chose to do a walking tour that…
In Search of Sun, Sand and Sea
As much as we love cruising, we have never really done a Caribbean cruise. However as we get older we find the Canadian winters less appealing so we decided to join millions of others and try a cruise to the warmer climates. In January we took a week long cruise out of New Orleans into…
Inspirational Paris
Paris is one of those cities that you can visit more than once and have a different experience every time. With only four days on our last visit we were determined to see as much as we could with our old favourites sharing the spotlight with a few new ones. We spent our first morning…
Location, Location, Location!
Despite Airbnb being unwelcome in some larger cities, such as Barcelona and New York, it is an important resource for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the culture and daily life of the cities they visit. Hotels insulate visitors from the reality of the destination whereas staying in an apartment in which you are…
The Grand Tour
We are leaving from Toronto tomorrow for our five week jaunt throughout Europe, a trip we have been referring to as our Grand Tour. Today that term conjurers up visions of young people lugging backpacks, staying in hostels and enjoying their freedom following years of academic pursuit. That vision is not far from the historical…
English Immersion Programs in Europe
After spending an enriching and enjoyable week in Spain volunteering at an English Immersion program I was hooked. It offered the perfect mix of travel, teaching and volunteer work that spoke directly to my retired soul. Many of my fellow volunteers understood as they have completed numerous such programs with different organizations throughout Europe. I…