Photo of the Week: Varadero Sunset
Varadero’s white sandy beach was the perfect place to enjoy a quiet sunset, the evening breeze shaping the blue water into small, curling waves. Varadero is Cuba’s top resort community…
Hustled and Hassled in Havana
After an eventful first night in Havana, I woke up the next day excited to begin exploring the city. I couldn’t wait to ride in a classic car, admire the…
A Strange Introduction to Havana
“I hope we come away from Havana with some good stories,” I eagerly said to Mike as our bus pulled away from the airport. I was excited to be visiting…
Photo of the Week: The Orangerie, Palace of Versailles
One of my favourite views at the Palace of Versailles, is the one overlooking the Orangerie and Pond of the Swiss. The Orangerie was built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart from 1684 and…
Dachstein Ice Cave- Photo Tour, Facts and Tips for Visiting
When we were in Hallstatt, our short visit meant we had to choose between visiting the salt mines or the nearby Dachstein Ice Cave. Hallstatt is known for its long,…
Hallstatt, Austria- A Picturesque Lakeside Alpine Village
I must say, I was a pretty lucky girl to get to spend my 32nd birthday in Hallstatt. This little Austrian village, tightly nestled between a lake and mountain range,…
Photo of the Week: La Madeleine, Paris
Just north of Place de la Concorde in Paris is L’église de St-Marie-Madeleine, or St. Mary Magdalene Church. When we first came across La Madeleine, as it is commonly called,…
Palatine Hill and Domitian’s Palace- Roman History, Mythology and Ruins
One of my favourite days in Rome was the day I visited Palatine Hill. As I walked around this beautiful hill, past gardens and remnants of opulent palaces, I imagined…
3 Great Day Trips From New Orleans- Swamps, Battlefields, and Plantations
I’m almost 100% sure that anyone who has been to New Orleans will rave about what a fantastic city it is. There really is something for everyone- a vibrant music…
Photo of the Week: Strasbourg Cathedral, France
The Strasbourg Cathedral dominates the square at the end of Rue Mercière, standing tall over the heart of the city. Notre-Dame de Strasbourg was built between 1190 and 1439, a…
The Queen’s Hamlet at Versailles- A Rustic Village for Marie Antoinette
The Queen’s Hamlet is the final post in our series about Versailles. In Part One, we toured the Palace of Versailles and in Part Two we visited the Trianon Palaces….
The Trianon Palaces at Versailles- Visiting the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon
The Trianon Palaces is Part Two of a three part series about Versailles. In Part One, we toured the Palace of Versailles and in Part Three we will visit the…
Palace of Versailles Tour- Inside Versailles Palace
The first time I visited the Palace of Versailles, I was in the eleventh grade on my first trip to Europe. I still vividly recall how amazed I was by…
One Day in Strasbourg- Charm, Romance and An Incredibly Tall Cathedral
I had never heard of Strasbourg until I got an email from my mom. Attached was a slideshow of beautiful pictures from medieval towns in Europe. My eyes lit up…
Photo of the Week: Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is probably the most incredible painting I have ever seen. Michelangelo’s masterpiece, painted from 1508-1512, illustrates nine episodes from the book of Genesis, the…
Ancient Olympia- Birthplace of the Olympic Games
As we made our way over to the dirt covered track in Ancient Olympia, my heart started to beat a little faster. Could I do this? Was I ready? Or…
Train Travel- 5 Reasons Why We Love It!
When I was a kid, my family took a trip to Jasper, a small town in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. We’d been to Jasper many times, but this time was…
Photo of the Week: Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge
We only visited Cologne very briefly, stopping in for about four hours on our way from Bruges to Nuremberg. We came specifically to see the ambitious Cologne Cathedral, a World…
A Walk Through Prague: Part Two- Prague’s Lesser Town and Castle Quarter
In Part One of our self-guided walking tour of Prague we explored the Old Town, enjoying the architecture and atmosphere of Old Town Square and the contrasts of the Jewish Quarter….
A Walk Through Prague: Part One- Prague’s Old Town
Arriving in Prague, I was speechless. I almost had to pinch myself to make sure what I was seeing was in fact real, and not a scene torn from the…