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You should visit Westminster Abbey. But, which one?

The name Westminster Abbey should ring loud and clear to almost anyone who travels. It is one of the biggest attractions (and biggest buildings) in London and is instantly recognisable. If this is news to you, for background, Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is a large, mainly Gothic…

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Adventures in (time) travel

Vancouver, Canada, is not a particularly old city. You might see some buildings from the late 1800's, but mostly it's 1970's family homes and high-rise apartments. We were driving down the street the other day in Vancouver, and passed this hotel / motel that we hadn't seen before, the 2400 Motel. We…

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Copenhagen mountain

One of the things we like to expose and promote here is interesting architecture and its even more interesting usage. With the elastic and durable materials that architects have at their fingertips now, the sky is the limit. In this case - literally. We imagine that many of you were terrified when you…

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Time stands still, but still…

People often gasp when they visit British Columbia (BC).  Visit places like Vancouver, and you will see a shiny new metropolis bursting with energy, diversity, world-awareness and history.  This article is about some of the history. Fishermen still ply the seas.  The amount of timber in BC is sometimes hard to fathom - it just goes on…

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Let it all hang out

Nothing like walking along a beach and then - hey presto! - finding out that it's for nudists. That happened to us here in Vancouver, of all places. Luckily, our sunglasses were in place and covered our eyes even if they didn't hide our embarassment. We're not prudes, by any stretch -…

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Fun with Get Your Guide

We periodically like to feature our valued affiliate friends.   Today, it's GetYourGuide.com.  Based in  Germany, they have a diverse and exciting mix of activities for almost everyone. Get Your Guide's mission statement We’re on a journey to transform ordinary trips into extraordinary ones. We are your guide, bringing you personal experiences. Wherever your travels take…

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The oldest buildings in Canada

We have to chuckle a bit at this article - the oldest buildings in Canada .  We lived in London where we almost rented a house that was built in the 1400's, so considering that one of the oldest places in Vancouver is from 1921, it's not much of a comparison. But, fair is fair and Canada…

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The reasons four the seasons

As the seasons pass, so does control of them.  In this case, we're talking about The Four Seasons hotel chain. Bill Gates (you, um,  know him from Windows and stuff) will take control of the Four Seasons hotel chain after his investment firm agreed to acquire a stake from Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s Kingdom…

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Give me MOA

Those of us who live up here in the Pacific Northwest of North America are very lucky, in many ways.  The weather, the diversity (especially of our residents) and the history that is constantly being discovered and enjoyed. As with many other countries, Canada has a population that can be considered as First Nation.  In…

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Do you want flies with that?

In 1986, Vancouver hosted the World's Fair.  An event like that is a big deal not only for the hosting city, but also for the brands that sponsor and appear in the fair. McDonald's was no exception:  behold the McBarge. The 57-metre, two-storey glass-and-metal barge was used as a floating McDonald’s restaurant during the world’s…

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The Sylvia Path

We're not sure if Sylvia Plath ever stayed at Sylvia's Restaurant and Lounge in Vancouver, but we're sure she would have felt at home. The Sylvia Hotel is a designated heritage building - there aren't too many of those in Vancouver  - ideally located on English Bay, beside Stanley Park and just 5 minutes from…

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Yea, verily. Take thee food and drink at The King’s Jail

We jest . . . but only somewhat.  Is this a castle?  Perhaps not.  Is it a jail?  It once was. Now known as the Royal Crown Castle Bar and Grill, it's a rather nice pub in New Westminster on the outskirts of Vancouver, Canada.  With inspiring views over the Fraser River, a delightful staff, good…

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Sleepless in Seattle

The Pacific Northwest in the United States is rather beautiful, especially if you don't have a problem with rain.  It rains a lot here.  Spring, summer and parts of autumn are lovely, as well, but rain is a defining term for this part of the world. And, as we know, rain fills the land and…

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Take you on a slow boat to Stratford

All apologies to Ella Fitzgerald. England is surrounded by water.  And, as you might imagine, there are rivers and streams that course through the country. Some are tiny and some are navigable. Even better, some are big enough to accommodate boats.  And even better than that, some of these boats have beds and kitchens and…

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Un poco loco?

Un poco loco = a little crazy Covid-19 Are you tired of sitting around the house, but am not sure when or if you can travel?  One option, of course, is just to bite your tongue, suck it up, etc.  Vancouver?  Toronto?  New York? Another idea - sensible and not expensive - is to treat…

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