Tag: Travel Destination

Venice Wowed Us at First Sight

 

 

elsa, Agriturismo Forzello, rovigo, italy

On our last morning before heading to Venice from Agriturismo Forzello in Rovigo, Italy, Elsa the farm cat was pummeling the shutter of the kitchen window at the crack of dawn. Read more

Our Visit to The Ancient Hill of Tara in Ireland

the hill of tara, county meath, ireland

After finishing our picnic lunch at Newgrange, there was time to make one last stop in County Meath to round out our 2-week stay in Ireland.  Near Skryne, the ancient ceremonial and burial site called The Hill of Tara was worthy of exploration. Read more

Western Brook Pond In Newfoundland

western brook pond, gros morne national park, newfoundland, canada

Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, Canada, is well known for its fjords.  Western Brook Pond is one such fjord that was carved by glaciers and is now shouldered by forests and cliffs.  Because it is landlocked, the long, narrow body of water is referred to as a pond or fjord lake. Read more

Exploring the Ruins of Old Sarum in England

Salisbury Cathedral, New Sarum, Wiltshire, England

After reading Ken Follett’s novel, “Pillars of the Earth”, which loosely parallels the construction of Salisbury Cathedral, New Sarum, and having completed Edward Rutherford’s book about Sarum, it was a consensus between Bob, me and our son that we should visit Old Sarum, the location of the original Salisbury Cathedral in England.

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Ajijic, A Town of Murals in Mexico

wall mural, ajijic, lake chapala, mexico

As Bob and I toured the small town of Ajijic, Mexico, also known for its heavy contingent of resident Canadians, we soon discovered why it is referred to as a Town of Murals. Read more

Our Journey To Kruger National Park

Entrance gate to Kruger National Park in South Africa

Our long-anticipated arrival at Kruger National Park was like a dream come true.  This journey, for me, had its roots tied to historical accounts of explorers Dr. David Livingstone and Sir Henry Stanley and their exploits on the Dark Continent.  Add to that a detailed look at Kenya in one of my high school science projects, and a life-long passion to travel to the deep, dark “jungles” of Africa was born.  Travel to the sub-Saharan region of the continent personified my imaginings of an exhilarating trip complete with risk, daring, incomparable wildlife adventures and unique landscape.  We had to conquer our fears and fan the flames of our adventurous spirit.  As we entered through the Phabeni Gate, our excitement was palpable even though I was withstanding a bout of stomach and intestinal infection that had arisen that afternoon. Read more

Notre Dame Cathedral, The Symbol of Paris

notre dame cathedral, paris, france

Our tour of the French countryside provided respite from our first few days in the bustling urban environment of Paris, but soon enough, it was back to the City of Light before returning to Canada.  I won’t say that we saved the best for last, but our final sightseeing did include a visit to famous Notre Dame Cathedral, an evening spent at Moulin Rouge, and a romantic boat cruise on the Seine River. Read more

Our Walking Tour of Florence, The Birthplace of the Renaissance

florence, italy across river arno

Who wouldn’t want to visit Florence to look upon some of the most famous sculptures in the world:  Michelangelo’s sculpture David, Bartolomeo Ammannati’s Fountain of Neptune, and Donatello’s heraldic lions?  The artistic and architectural heritage of Florence goes far beyond those sculptures and led to this city, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, being called the birthplace of The Renaissance. Read more

The famed Ponte Vecchio medieval stone bridge in city of Florence

ponte vecchio and river arno in florence, italy

Of particular interest to both Bob and me when we visited Florence, Italy, was the famed medieval stone bridge known as Ponte Vecchio. Read more

Among The Wildflowers On Quirpon Island

quirpon island lighthouse station, newfoundland, canada

When Bob and I set off from Quirpon, a picturesque village on the northern tip of the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland in Canada, it was to Quirpon Island that we were headed for a stay at the Quirpon Lighthouse Inn.  Read more