Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Fun

Category image

Fun

There is no “we” in ice cream.

We don't know about you, but sometimes we pause and marvel at what amazing machines we are, we humans.  How many automobiles or airplanes live past sixty years?  How many of our fellow creatures on this earth drive those cars or fly those jets?  Makes you think, doesn't it? And why do we live so…

Read more

OMG . . LA is so HOLLOW

Los Angeles is often painted as being a vain and vapid place.  All looks and no substance.  Bring your alibis.  (We rather like the place.) But, to be honest, some of LA is, indeed hollow and in some places, shallow.  Some of its buildings, in fact. And they hide an interesting and still relevant and…

Read more

Yes you can Canberra

Sydney is a hard act to follow, when it comes to being in the league of World's Best Cities.  If you've been, you'll never forget it.  If you haven't been, well what are you waiting for? But, Sydney is not the only notable city in Oz.   Meet Canberra – Purpose built as Australia’s capital city, Canberra…

Read more

Camino de Poutine-o

In addition to its other many allures, Canada cannot escape the universal tagging of poutine.  (In case you're not up to date, poutine is a sumptuous Canadian concoction made of french fries, gravy and cheese curds.  It's addictive)  Not that we Candians complain, but c'mon now, there is more to the country than just that. For…

Read more

Skint?

It never fails.  Finally, we're able to travel again, but it doesn't always coincide with our bank balances.  And, of course, the travel companies have sales galore, and yet we're still up the creek without a paddle.  What to do? Well, like it or not, some travel companies feel our pain and look for ways…

Read more

Only the hard, only the strong

Unlike other great cities of ancient fame such as Rome, Athens or Jerusalem, Sparta seems to have disappeared off the map. What remains of the legendary town? A name? An archaeological site? A historical memory? That memory, if it exists at all, is often of a city-state with a mania for martial valour and athleticism, a…

Read more

Ne skie pas

France is a many-splendoured thing;  the food, the wine, the scenery, the joie de vivre.  No matter how many times you visit the country, you always find something new or unexpected. And, anyone who loves winter sports knows that France has some of the best ski runs in the world.  But, alas, things are changing At the…

Read more

Why U?

Why u?  This is not your father's cruise ship. Designed as the first river cruise catering to a more trendy audience, U River Cruises features more experiential itineraries that allow passengers to connect with the cities the boats visit and the people who live there. The ships themselves look nothing like what you might expect: …

Read more

Go go Bansko!

When you think of skiing, chances are probably good that Bansko doesn't come to mind first.  And, now intrigued, you may even wonder what and where Bansko is. Don't be hard on yourself, as Bansko is one of Europe's best kept secrets.  If enjoying winter sports and saving money while doing so are on your list,…

Read more

Knights of Sin(tra)

In case you've not yet been (and you should!) Sintra is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera.  Known for its spectacularly coloured buildings, it also has a long history with the legendary Knights Templar. One of the most fascinating features of Sintra is it's so-called Inverted…

Read more

Oiran Dochu

Oiran (花魁) is a word used to refer to the high-class prostitutes that worked in the Yoshiwara red-light district (Yoshiwara-Yukaku) during the Edo period. The Ichiyo Sakura Matsuri started in 2003 to preserve this piece of Edo history. It takes place along a 500m or so stretch of road with members in full Edo period dress…

Read more

Wiki peeks

We sometimes forget about Wikipedia.  It's always there, constantly refreshing itself, bedazzling us with the world's collective knowledge -  and it's free.  (They operate on donations.  We donate, do you?) One of the marvelous aspects of Wikipedia is the depth and breadth of their offering.  One of which is the annual "Wiki Loves Monuments" competion. Every participating…

Read more

Free Grand Prix

History (and fun) can be found anywhere.  Sometimes you need to look, other times it lands in your lap when you least expect it. Here is an example of the latter.  On a relatively normal stretch of everyday road in Gueux, France, you will find yourself ready to rev your engines and don your helmet.  You're…

Read more

The hotel that isn’t

There are few things more intoxicating than being able to stay in a luxurious, lauded and visually stunning hotel.  Europe is full of them. But there is one hotel that is a hotel, but actually it's not a hotel.  Luckily, you can explore it anyway.  We're talking about the Hotel Solvay in Belgium.  Listed as a UNESCO…

Read more

Hamburg-er

There are so many swanky restaurants and cafes around the world, serving such things as sea foam and Peruvian gravel.  We are very fortunate to have such choices. But, sometimes, we want something simple, something free (so to speak.)  No frills, just honest food.  And what can be simpler than McDonalds.  With over 36,000 locations, you're…

Read more

This is not your father’s caravan

This is not your father's caravan:  it's the 21st century. Contemporary caravans and travel trailers evoke scaled-down loft living on wheels – perfect for modern nomads seeking a much-needed change of scene. Modern campers are spacious, well-appointed and - best of all - economical, especially in the European models.  The days of the gas-guzzler are slipping into…

Read more