Category: Our Views on Travel

English writer Samuel Johnson is famously quoted as saying “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” A truer statement I cannot imagine as we have been to London numerous times and can’t wait to return.  London is a vibrant, every…

Our next long anticipated vacation will be a cruise in the Baltic this summer.  Our original itinerary had changed with the removal of an overnight in St. Petersburg, but so far everything else looks good. While doing some research into the Baltic ports I came across a very interesting study.  “Canada stands out as the…

St. Patrick’s Day has always been a favourite holiday for me.  I am a little bit Irish (according to Ancestry) and the date marks the beginning of nicer spring weather.  I love shamrocks and harps, the Celtic cross and all things Irish, especially the cooking.  Every year I make Irish Stew with Colcannon for our…

Although English is the language of commerce in the European Union, and most folks in tourist and related industries speak English, I have found that a few choice words or phrases spoken in the native language is appreciated when you are travelling. In my case it is also a source of hilarity as my pronunciation is…

One of my first dinners in Italy was a simple pasta with sauce, roasted tomatoes, Parmesan and fresh basil.  Coupled with a basket of the best bread I have ever eaten and a cheap glass of house wine, which in Italy is still better than any other, it was a meal I will never forget.  Add…

Socrates is quoted as stating “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” As we enter the third year overshadowed by a global pandemic it is important to embrace the new normal as it relates to everyday life; social distancing, mask wearing,…

One of the draws of any Greek destination is the food.  A cruise does not necessarily give you enough opportunities to eat while ashore so the few times we did on this recent trip were very gratifying.  A quick lunch of gyros with cold Greek beer was our go to patio meal and was both…

When Norwegian Cruise Lines decided to return to international waters they chose a destination that was popular with their loyal passengers, the Greek Islands.  As luck would have it Greece was ready to accept travellers to their country at the same time. The seven day itinerary sailing from the port of Pireaus, which services the…

In less than a week we are packing up the car and heading for Pearson International Airport in Toronto for our first international trip in over two years. As the title of this article implies I am as excited as I am nervous.  Not only are we travelling again, but we are going overseas, with…