Ah Rome - the Eternal City. So much history, so much romance, so much culture. You could spend years exploring the Italian capital and still not uncover every nook and cranny, every hidden gem. But unfortunately, most of us will not have years to while away in one of Europe's most beautiful cities. However, all is not lost, because complex and layered as it may be, Rome 101 - the real must-see places of the city - can all be done within a weekend.
We arrived in Porto exhausted and chilled to the bone.But three days later I found myself not wanting to leave. Follow along as I show you, through our camera lens, why I fell in love with the city.
From it's mountainous plateau, Avila, Spain is a sight to behold. With gigantic walls nearly a thousand years old, the city is a veritable fortress of churches and convents. It's also darn cold in February. Avila was the first stop on our road trip from Madrid to Portugal and the city didn't disappoint. Check out our take on it and wonder aloud with us what we were doing there in sub zero temperatures just one week after leaving the warm tropical beaches of Mexico.
It's the small details of life in a new place that really fascinate me. I love to find out how the locals live; where they shop, what they eat, how they get around.Find out what we've discovered about Spain that we love, and what drives us crazy.
With nearly a week in Madrid to spend, I was a bit worried about what we'd find to do in the city with a seven and four year old. Would we be resigned to a week of checking out amusement parks and playgrounds, or is it possible to enjoy the art, architecture and history of a European city with kids in tow? Well, we definitely found out...
We check out the popular island of Isla Mujeres and spend the day golf carting from one awesome site to another to make it one of the best day trips we've ever had as a family.
Like many desk-bound Canadians, I had always fantasized about finding the perfect tropical beach. A beach with the whitest sand, the clearest water, and most importantly, the fewest tourists.In 2003, I had left a promising career on hold to explore Thailand in search of Garland's perfect beach with Charles, who was then my boyfriend of just over a year.The numbers themselves argued against being able to find paradise. Close to ten million tourists visit Thailand each year, with a good proportion of them hitting the touristy mainland beaches of Pattaya, and almost as many visiting the island of Phuket.Join me as I search through sun-drenched islands in search of a paradise that may soon be lost to all of us.
How do you begin to travel more locally? Here are some great ways to get more involved and immersed in the places you visit.