Charmed by Prince Edward County travels

Most people visit Prince Edward County in the summer. It’s well known for Sandbanks Provincial Park, Lake on the Mountain, and many vineyards. Going in the fall has the advantage that you aren’t queuing and can add in extra stops. On my most recent trip to the county, earlier in October, we covered a lot of ground in two-and- a-half …

Bet on Banksy’s art to get thinking

There are hundreds of reasons to visit Ottawa, but my latest favourite is the Banksy 360 immersive exhibit in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park. Banksy becomes more relevant every day as the world goes to pot and this exhibit is an entertaining and powerful reminder that we can’t just accept the status quo. If you don’t know the artist, …

Another kick at my bucket list

Back in January of 2015, I wrote about my progress on my 2010 bucket list. As I stare down a milestone birthday, it seems like a good time to review it and think about a new one to keep me moving forward, with hope and purpose. My 2010 list included that I wanted to travel to Greece, try a new …

Sniffing around COVID-19 concerns

Out of an abundance of caution when I thought I had allergies, before finishing packing for a work conference, I took a rapid test, and within a minute, tested positive for COVID-19. Now, a week later, I am finally feeling more like myself, but the experience has left me with lingering concerns. First off, I worry that two years in …

Bid au revoir to ‘comfort zone’ and see the world

I’ve been travelling as much as possible since the pandemic restrictions lifted, recognizing that life is short. It’s made me reflect on why I travel and what I can learn from it. First off, I travel to see, to experience, and to taste new things. Why? Because I want to know; I want to learn. I want to actually gaze …

Winning the Game of Life

When I was a tween, I remember playing the Game of Life board game. We’d cruise around the board in a convertible car, get married, have kids (sometimes twins) that would be represented by little pink and blue pegs in our cars. The goal was to retire with the most money. As I’m closer to retirement years than not, I …

Quarantine’s sensory deprivation allowed Greece’s treasures to truly come to life

After being stuck in a mandatory quarantine for six days in Athens, our freedom was delicious in every sense of the word. With heightened senses, we were released into the world, ready to experience everything. We drank in every view, contrasting ourselves in bright colours against the whites of the ruins and rocks. Our eyes, ready for anything different, saw …

’Speed bumps’ accompany current international trek

I’ve just embarked on my second international trip post COVID-19. Given all the new challenges due to the pandemic, and perhaps the airline’s needs to make up for lost revenues, I’m wondering if we’ll see a resurgence in the use of travel agents. I say this for the simple fact, that as an experienced traveller, I had a number of …

Becoming less testy about COVID travel

Hearing that the federal government was lifting the travel restrictions allowing for non-essential travel on Feb. 28, I got really excited. Then, the fear of what all the ongoing COVID restrictions meant started to creep in. My travel planning joints are rusty and, from COVID testing to cancellation insurance, there were so many new decisions and unknowns. If you are …