Our plans, decisions, and adventures
Iceland was the final destination on the Europe 2024 trip, allowing for a brief but flexible exploration. We opted for a car rental to discover the South Coast, visiting stunning waterfalls like Urriðafoss, Seljalandsfoss, and Skógafoss. We also enjoyed Reykjavik's lively downtown, including architectural sights and the tranquil Tjörnin Lake.
The journey aboard Hurtigruten's Coastal Express, from Bergen to Kirkenes, offered a close-up exploration of Norway's stunning coastal fjords. Key highlights included brief stays in Bergen, Ålesund, and Tromsø,. The voyage showcased Norway’s landscapes and culture.
We took a train from Vienna to Prague, where the trams varied from modern to retro. Our hotel was conveniently located, making it easy to explore. Despite some rain, we enjoyed the sites, like Prague Castle and the vibrant local scene. We also checked out awesome sculptures and hidden gems throughout the city.
During our visit to Vienna, we enjoyed exploring the city's central areas, including Stephansplatz and Hofburg Palace. We appreciated the convenient location of our hotel and tried local cuisine like Wiener Schnitzel. Sightseeing included Schönbrunn Palace, beautiful architecture, and unique sites like the Hundertwasser House, all easily accessed on foot or with various transit options.
After six weeks in Spain, we traveled to Budapest for five nights, organizing visits to iconic sites in walkable areas. Highlights included the Hungarian Parliament, Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and experiencing ruin bars. The trip concluded with a scenic evening Danube cruise, offering a different view of Budapest's stunning architecture.
The Europe 2024 trip focused on a six-week house-sitting and puppy-sitting in Oliva, Spain. With a beautiful condo near the beach, we enjoyed a relaxed routine of cooking, swimming, and caring for a playful poodle named Wally. Family visits led to celebrations, day trips, and exploring local sights, including Alicante's castle.
Once we decided to head back to Canada at the end of January and started researching airfares, we discovered a direct flight from Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Azores to Toronto, Ontario. We would have preferred to fly directly to Vancouver, British Columbia, but the option of spending some time... Continue Reading →
Though we could have selected any number of towns as our base to explore the eastern Algarve, a local recommended Faro to us as a still-open-and-active winter location. We arrived in Faro by Flixbus from Seville, Spain, where we had been visiting with family. It was a bit of a walk with our suitcases into... Continue Reading →
We had been to Seville, Spain, twice before, and this short trip was all about family--family members who live in Seville (Ken's brother, his wife, and their daughter) and family members who would meet us in Seville (our son and grandson) for the first week of January 2023. In order to get there on New... Continue Reading →
Algarve is the region at the south end of Portugal. Its over 200 kilometres of coastline offer up sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, white hillside towns and historic fishing villages. With decent year-round weather (warmer and drier in winter than other parts of Portugal and not too hot even in the hottest month of August) and... Continue Reading →
So ... Much ... Rain.... At least on the day we arrived in Lisbon. We took a bus from Caldas da Rainha, where we had returned our rental car, and then took a metro to within 800m of our accommodation. Even if we had taken an Uber or Bolt ride, we would still have had... Continue Reading →
Just left: West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Now: Qualicum Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Up next: Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada
Life: Phase Next 