History Is Boring

History Repeats Itself. Which May Explain Why It's So Boring.

  Some people find history fascinating; others find it completely boring. I used to be the latter, finding all those dates absolutely meaningless (stop scowling). Random dates and events seemed like completely useless knowledge. I wanted to know what was happening today! Not 500 years ago.     In high… Continue reading

Belize, A Bit Of A Disappointment

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  Belize is a tiny Central American country on the Caribbean side, so that usually means amazing turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and Spanish-speaking people. Because I have wanted to go to Belize for about 10 years, I could hardly wait, but to be honest, it was a tremendous disappointment.  … Continue reading

Ireland: What You Need To Know

  The first thing you need to know if you’re driving around Ireland is that there are no traffic lights. That’s right, no traffic lights. Instead, there are 50 million roundabouts.   On arrival the ten or more roundabouts just to get out of Shannon airport caused us great anxiety…. Continue reading

Driving On The LEFT

  “Now why in God’s creation would you take yourself ever go to Ireland if yer didn’t havta? The weather is bloody miserable! For God’s sake, it rains all the frickin’ time. Are you daft man? And the wind’ll go right through ya… give yer head a wee shake.” T’s solidly Irish… Continue reading

Wild Africa: Best of Times & Worst of Times

    We were going to Africa – AFRICA, the trip of a lifetime. Exotic, wild, enticing, mysterious Africa, but it became both the best of times and the worst of times.     Rather than go to the most touristy parts of Africa, which are too much like North… Continue reading

Getting a Ticket For Not Partying Hard Enough

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  We were trying to party hardy, really we were. Perhaps we are a little under-stated, but we were having fun, just like everyone else in New Orleans! The Ticket Officer wasn’t buying it. She gave T a ticket! A Ticket and a Scolding for not partying hard enough! Seriously. I… Continue reading

Disney World For Adults

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New Orléans: Disney World For Adults   Mardi Gras is an event which must be experienced in order to be understood. It is a mixture of traditions and high-tech. It is a Disney World for Adults!   New Orléans has experienced disaster after disaster. Hurricanes, yellow fever, floods, wars, and just plain… Continue reading

Mr. BIG Moneyyy on Caye Caulker, Belize

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  Ok, so maybe Belize wasn’t so bad after all. One of the few times in Belize that we saw that inimitable Caribbean turquoise water was when we were on the ferry heading toward Caye Caulker from the rather ugly Belize City.   It was thrilling to see the true… Continue reading

Of Accidental Heroes

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  One never knows when an opportunity may come along to be a hero. It is never planned, and probably the last thing on your mind at that moment.   My friend, G, loves to snorkel and spent many an afternoon at the far end of the lagoon at the… Continue reading

Mississippi, Alabama and Florida

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  To get from New Orléans, Louisiana, to Destin, Florida, you need to go through the states of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, over the Gulf of Mexico, and known as the Florida Panhandle. All the clichés about the South and blacks and prejudice were undeniable, but there was some surprisingly… Continue reading

How Many Countries Do You Know?

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  Do you know the countries of the world? Can you tell which country is marked on this world map? Are you able to recognize countries like the USA, Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, Germany and Mexico?    Go to: How Many Countries Do You Know Quiz    We were only able… Continue reading

Dine And Dash At Hemmingway’s Hideout In Old Havana

Dine and Dash at Hemmingway’s Hideout   The very first day we were in Cuba, we were wandering around Old Havana. We stopped for drinks at Ernest Hemingway’s favourite hangout the Hotel Ambos Mundos in Old Havana. Remember? He wrote The Old Man and the Sea, and For Whom the… Continue reading

Halloween Apples, Peanuts & Cake; If You Don’t…

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  Halloween Apples, Peanuts and Cake, If You Don’t Give Us Any, Your Toilet Will Shake!   Remember that? Ok, that was even before my time, before indoor toilets even! – but it has a lovely rhythm, n’est ce pas?   Moving to Ontario has been almost like exploring another… Continue reading

Getting To The Best Island In The World: El Nido, Palawan Island, Philippines

  Cebu to El Nido   We were on our way to El Nido, Palawan Island, Philippines, voted as holding the #1 spot for the “best island in the world” (Travel + Leisure Magazine), 2016.    Arriving at Cebu Airport for our flight to El Nido, there were colourful shops with… Continue reading

Wildest Train Ride Ever!

  The train to the SKY… SKY… SKY…   Dennis, at www.guanguiltagua.com, who organized our car and driver for Ecuador, tried to tell us that we should come back to Quito through the mountains. I tried to tell him that I don’t really like mountains, nor windy roads that make me motion sick. Plus,… Continue reading

Ring 2: Skip The Ring Of Kerry, But Don’t Miss Killarney Park

  The Kerry Peninsula (aka Ring of Kerry) is the next peninsula after the Beara Peninsula driving from Southeast to Southwest in Ireland. Although it is likely beautiful, it is the most touristy of the 3 rings, so horror of horrors, we skipped it. We heard that the Ring of Beara… Continue reading

My Book is Finally Done

  I cannot believe it! My book is finally done.   This baby has been as much work as a real baby!   I have been constantly changing it, removing yucky stuff, redressing, changing again..   …removing godawful stuff I missed, sweet baby, feeding and feeding and feeding the flow of… Continue reading

Orange Walk: The Smell Of Belize

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  We tend to travel using only our sense of sight. We look around. We see stimulating new things. We see beautiful scenery, a giant waterfall, a vast blue ocean, a sparkling lake, majestic mountains, a gorgeous hotel, or ancient ruins. Sometimes we use our sense of taste when we try… Continue reading

Travel Improves Your Sex Life

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  Wow, who would have guessed that travelling could be so healthy?! According to a survey of more than one million people, Expedia says that travellers reported that getting away from home and exploring the world increased their sex drive. Why? Because travel results in an improved mood and more… Continue reading

Azores: A Guide Like No Other

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  Before we met our guide for the island of Faial, and during a three hour wait between island flights, we went for a long walk and ended up at a snack bar where a table of 10 or 12 robust working men were having a year-end dinner. When I… Continue reading