by Julie H. Ferguson I glimpse St-Malo from the sea just as Jacques Cartier did on his voyages home from the New World in the sixteenth century: the sun illuminates the old town behind its medieval ramparts and towers. I’m riding the early … [Read More...]
The Birth of St. Petersburg Russia
by Irene Butler Day Trips from St. Petersburg to Peter and Paul Fortress are a pleasant one-hour-str0ll from the city’s famous landmark, Palace Square. We make our way down charming streets and cross a bridge to the renowned fortress on Zayachy … [Read More...]
Morocco’s Mountain Market
by Chris McBeath We were high in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, surrounded by Berbers and beautiful, but inhospitable country. “Take off your jewelry, leave your wallets with the driver; and don’t leave my side." Our instructions were more like orders … [Read More...]
Curacao, Where Northern Europe meets the Southern Caribbean
by Barbara Barton Sloane “Blanch your plantains!” our instructor commands in a no-foolin’-around voice. Blanch? “What does blanch mean?” I furtively whisper to Julia, my partner in this off-the-wall adventure. You see, we were cooking for our … [Read More...]
Slow Boats on The Mekong
by Joanne Lane I first heard about the slow boat travels on the Mekong River from an Australian Queen over several cocktails. He was looking for his "spot" in Indochina and I was determined never to use road transport again on the shotgun highways … [Read More...]
The Rhythms Of Havana
Story and photos by Susan Deefholts I look down at the cobblestones outside the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales in Havana, Cuba. They are rectangular, and laid flush, like bricks—except that they’re brown and have an intriguing grain to them. … [Read More...]
India: Kaziranga’s Wild Kingdom
by Margaret Deefholts From where I sit perched on my elephant howdah, the Kaziranga National Park is a stretch of wild grassland fringed by marshland and thick jungle. The mahout nudges me gently and points. Fifty feet away, small ears … [Read More...]
Get Outta Town – Palm Springs Excursions
by Karoline Cullen A lush rolling fairway is fringed with fluttering palm trees and backed by snow-capped mountains. As you pass one golf course after another, this is the quintessential view in the desert valley stretching from Palm Springs to La … [Read More...]
Death Valley: Land of Extremes
by Karoline Cullen “There could be a cataclysmic event tomorrow,” Ed says cheerfully as he welcomes us to the Inn. I look at him in alarm and ask, “What’s going to happen?” His eyes twinkle as he drawls, “Well, we may get a millimeter of rain!” We … [Read More...]
Delos Apollo Sanctuary: Day Tripping into Ancient Greece
By Chris Millikan On a day trip from Mykonos, Greece, a local boatman drops us on Delos, a tiny offshore island. Among marble ruins scattered over its parched landscapes, a story of grandeur and decline unfolds. Introducing a world forgotten … [Read More...]
Turkey’s Beautiful Black Sea
by Barbara Barton Sloane “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. –Jacques Yves Cousteau A world of wonder is what you find at Turkey’s Black Sea. The region is rich in heritage, in sights, in culture – from … [Read More...]
Exploring a Vancouver ‘Hood
by Julie H. Ferguson When I’m in a big city anywhere, I often avoid tourist traps by exploring a neighbourhood. The experience gets me in touch with the locals and shows me what it’s like to live there. If you happen to be visiting … [Read More...]