INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
Santorini was the place I was most looking forward to visiting when I set off to Greece. I couldn’t wait to walk among the white-washed buildings with the famous brilliant blue domes. I pictured myself sitting on a terrace, enjoying a wonderful meal as I gaze out to the caldera, watching the setting sun paint...
When I went to France on a school trip in 1998, I thought Mont Saint Michel was the coolest place. It seemed so mysterious to me as I watched it come into view from the the bus window. This huge 8th century Gothic-style Benedictine abbey is built on a rocky island that is surrounded by water at...
Galveston is a small, romantic island tucked away in southern Texas along the Gulf of Mexico. It’s only 32 miles long and two and a half miles wide, but offers a lot for visitors to see and do. Even though there are plenty of attractions in Galveston, Mike and I opted for the simple approach- walking...
Plopping down onto the bed in my Athens hotel room, I burst into tears and announced that I wanted to turn right around and head back home. “I hate Athens!” I pouted like a tantruming child. “I’m phoning my mom and telling her I’m coming home!” Was Athens was really that bad? So bad that...
Chichén Itzá is Mexico’s most famous, and most visited, ancient Mayan sites. The spectacular focal point of this pre-Columbian/pre-Hispanic era city, is the Temple of Kukulkan, more commonly known as El Castillo. El Castillo has 365 steps, one for each day of the year. There are 91 steps on each side and the top platform makes...
One summer Mike and I set out on 15 day road trip from Edmonton to Vancouver Island and back. We spent a lot of our time on “The Island” (as us Western Canadians call it) since it has a little bit of everything- great beaches, whimsical towns, gorgeous provincial parks, and romantic gardens. There’s no...
Nestled in a valley between Palatine and Capitoline Hills, the Roman Forum still impresses, just as it must have centuries ago when it was the centre of Roman public life. During my tour of the Roman Forum, I was engrossed in its rich history and fascinated by the remaining structures. Walking along the ancient streets,...
The Sanctuary of Athena was a temple built at the gateway to Ancient Delphi honouring the goddess of Athena. The full name for the site is the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia (pronaia meaning “the one before the temple”) and it served to welcome visitors who came to Delphi from the east. The sanctuary consisted of...
A gondola ride is quintessential Venice and a must-do for any visit to this city of canals. Some might turn their nose up and call it “touristy”, but I didn’t feel like I had truly experienced Venice until I was floating down the Grand Canal in a gondola. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that almost...
My upcoming wedding has me mourning my days as a solo traveller. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad that I will have a consistent travel companion from now on. Solo travel can get lonely at times and, in all honesty, there were moments I wished I had someone special to share those incredible places...
If you have an interest in Greek mythology and archaeology, then the ruins of Knossos Palace make for an interesting stop during a visit to the island of Crete. As the capital of the Minoan civilization on Crete, Knossos is associated with many great stories in Greek Mythology. According to legend, it was here that...
Romantic New Orleans is a great place to spend a few days with your sweetheart. Live music, charming cafes and a relaxed atmosphere makes the Big Easy the perfect place to celebrate your love. 10 Romantic Things to Do in New Orleans New Orleans was the first place Mike and I visited as a couple....
When I visited Bridal Falls in British Columbia, my first thought was that it had been named appropriately. The water cascading down the smooth rocks creates a delicate look similar to a bridal veil. Not only beautiful, the height of the falls is impressive as well. Bridal Falls is the 6th largest waterfall in Canada,...
Swimming in a cenote is a sacred, almost mystical experience. It’s strange, but after visiting one, I can understand how the Maya believed cenotes were gateways to the afterlife. Cenotes are naturally occurring phenomenons, sinkholes in the Earth’s surface born when the roof of a water filled cave collapses. It’s estimated that the Yucatan Peninsula...
My day in Istanbul was one of the highlights of a Mediterranean cruise I was on. It also was the first city I’ve visited that gave me a little culture shock. The skyline was so different from any other city I had been to, minarets reaching up everywhere. The sheer amount of people and racing taxi...
Falmouth, Jamaica was the last destination of a cruise Mike and I went on so we decided it would be a good place to do one of the offered excursions. There were so many to choose from, but we opted for something that would take us off the beaten path, away from the cruise ship...
In this day and age, when people have a question, they turn to the internet to answer it. A quick search, or post on a message board and you will get more advice/opinions than you know what to do with. I was just on a forum about cruises and saw many people writing about Falmouth,...
What makes a city truly great? Is it the food? The culture? Maybe the architecture? Or its natural beauty? Its place in history? Its innovations for the future? The arts scene? The sports teams? No doubt, these qualities contribute to making a city a good place visit and an even better place to live. But...
One of the biggest challenges of visiting Rome is dealing with the crowds of tourists. Everyone wants to see the most famous sites and I am no different. I’ve travelled thousands of miles to Italy, of course I am going to go see the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, and Vatican. These places are popular...
Santorini is no doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world. The cliff top village of Oia is completely breathtaking! If you are looking for a place that makes you have a “WOW” moment, this is it. One of my biggest travel regrets is not having enough time here. My cruise ship arrived...
We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get!
We describe our travel style as "laid back luxe" and enjoy a mix of outdoor adventures and historic sites.
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