A Foggy Stroll Through Ancient History In Seoul, Korea

Foggy skies over Seoul, South Korea.

On our second day in Seoul, South Korea, we found ourselves with a thick fog hanging over the city. Weather aside, it was time to take a walk and visit a couple of the key historic sites of the city. Read more

Rich Nautical Nostalgia in Bowness-on-Windermere, England

image of lakeside pavilions, bowness bay, bowness-on-windermere, lake windermere, lake district national park, england

Moving further into England’s Lake District after hiking up Wansfell Pike put Bob and me at the heart of Lake District National Park.  Our family savoured a delightful lunch on the patio of our next lodgings with gourmet terrines, fruit, cheese and pastries that we bought from a deli shop in Ambleside.  Duly nourished, we walked down to the harbour-side pavilions at Bowness Pier, and what a sight that was to behold.  The rich nautical nostalgia in Bowness-on-Windermere really struck a chord with Bob and me. Read more

Chateau de la Bourdaisiere A Magnificent French Castle

An image of Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Loire Valley in France.

An image of the main entrance gate to Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Loire Valley, France.

One of my hopes on our trip to France was to spend a night in a “real” castle like Chateau de la Bourdaisiere.  By happenstance we learned about this castle when we came upon a little tourist information booth along a country road in the Loire Valley.  It happened to be staffed by an English-speaking young woman.  Read more

Touring The Palace of Versailles Royal Grandeur

An image of the Royal Courtyard at the Palace of Versailles in France.

After spending a few days exploring the streets and life of downtown Paris, Bob and I were anxious to leave the hubbub of the city behind.  The Palace of Versailles was our next destination and is actually located in a suburb of Paris.  It is a massive complex…800 hectares of gardens, buildings, water fountains and even a man-made lake called the Grand Canal.  For both Bob and me, it was a given that we would visit the Palace of Versailles considering its history and what happened there before and during the French Revolution. Read more

Our Walk Through History In Paris

La Madeleine Church at the end of Rue Royale

Bob and I began our second day in Paris, France, with a visit to the Roman Catholic church La Madeleine located at the very top of rue Royale.  With its massive Corinthian columns,  La Madeleine Church occupies a commanding position at the end of the street, and I remember being awed when I first caught sight of it.  This church has a very interesting history. Read more

Arequipa, the White Stone City

Catedral de la ciudad de Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru

Cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Arequipa, Peru

Bright sunshine greeted us when Bob and I awoke in Arequipa, Peru at 6:30 a.m.  It is amazing how a little sunlight can change the face of a place.  When we emerged from our hotel with a city map in hand, the cobbled streets and high walls seemed less daunting than when we arrived in the dark the night before. Read more