Since 2003 Canadians have honoured the WWI battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9th. It is especially significant for me as my grandfather valiantly fought alongside many other Canadian soldiers for victory. To pay homage to all we will revisit our emotional journey to the memorial. In light of my familial connection and a strong…
Category: Our Views on Travel
Back on Board: The Money Issue
I am finding it hard to remain positive about our return to cruising as lines continue to cancel their itineraries month by month into the future. As of the writing of this article the suspension of sailings are now in effect until the end of June, and the CDC out of the United States has…
Ancient Sites of Europe – Pantheon, Rome
We were following a Rick Steves’ walk through the “Heart of Rome” when upon rounding a corner from an unassuming side street we came face to face with the Pantheon. It literally took our breath away. We had seen photos and travel shows related to the Pantheon but it cannot compare to actually seeing it…
Ancient Sites of Europe – Colosseum, Rome
Undeniably the most iconic site of Ancient Rome is the Colosseum. Identified as one of the top tourist attractions in the Eternal City, combined with the Roman Forum and a side trip to the Capitoline Museum, it provides the interested traveller with information about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. In this installation…
Ancient Sites of Europe – Pompeii, Italy
As we continue our exploration of the ancient sites of Europe we will take a trip to the city of Pompeii at the base of Mount Vesuvius in the southern part of Italy. Afterwards travel to nearby Naples to explore the Archeological Museum that displays the artifacts from this doomed ancient city. Mount Vesuvius has…
Ancient Sites of Europe – Athens, Greece
As we continue our exploration of the ancient sites of Europe we will visit the capital city of Greece to explore the Parthenon. Located high over the city of Athens on the Acropolis, this marble temple was dedicated to the goddess Athena. It was built between 447 and 432 BC during the height of the…
Ancient Sites of Europe – Ephesus, Turkey
As we await the return of European travel it is with trepidation that we consider how our favourite sites may have been affected by the global pandemic. Will our bucket list sites still be accessible? Will there be limitations on the number of people or length of time we can visit? Will some of the…
The Five Question Philosophy for Effective Travel Interaction
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…
While I Was Travelling
As we anxiously and hopefully await the day we can resume our travels I have spent much of my downtown thinking about why I travel. This article, although written a while ago, succinctly expresses how I feel about it, and why I cannot wait until its return. We recently spent a day in Berlin Germany…