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…
Port of Call – Cork, Ireland
Located on the banks of the River Lee on the southern tip of Ireland, Cork is its third largest city and an excellent port of call on any cruise. Take this opportunity to travel to Tipperary, kiss the Blarney Stone or visit ancient Celtic ruins. You will probably disembark in Cobh, just a 30 minute…
Eat Like a Leprechaun
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…
Our Top 5 in Dublin, Ireland
Like almost all of us we are only Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t readily embrace the Irish culture during a recent stop in Dublin. A beautiful city that is easy to navigate and in a day or two you can see many of its historic, cultural and artistic sites. Having said that…
Dealing With Tips and Gratuities
Having spent the better part of my youth in the service industry I am well aware of how important gratuities are to those hard working employees. That is why I find gratuities and tipping confusing when travelling. I want to be fair and to show my appreciation for good service while at the same time not going over budget. What I have…
Speaking the Language
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…
Our Top 5 Romantic Memories of Europe
Although romance has many different definitions depending on who you ask, one of my favourites is “exciting and mysterious and having a strong effect on your emotions” from the Cambridge Dictionary. Our travels have always been such for me. Each trip seems to inspire romance and excitement, and our distance over the past nearly three…
Port of Call – The French Riviera
In the French Riviera the options are endless, no matter where your actual port of call is. You can choose to explore the port in which you land, or to take an excursion into the countryside. You will not be disappointed with the lush scenery dotted with quaint villages and all things French. We were…
Eat Like a Roman
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…