{"id":296,"date":"2009-04-02T05:27:48","date_gmt":"2009-04-02T09:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/?page_id=296"},"modified":"2024-07-22T13:49:25","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T17:49:25","slug":"travel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/travel","title":{"rendered":"Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"
    \n
  1. PEI – July 2023<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. UK Trip – October 2018<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Vancouver – August 2018<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Cruise – February 2018<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Africa – August 2017<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. Miami, Florida – December 2016<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. New York City – May 2014<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. Riviera Maya, Mexico (2nd time) – March 2014<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. France Tour – October 2013<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. Varadero, Cuba – April 2013<\/a><\/li>\n
  11. Rhodes & Athens, Greece – August 2012<\/a><\/li>\n
  12. Reykjavik, Vik & H\u00f6fn, Iceland – June 2012<\/a><\/li>\n
  13. Bangkok & Chiang Mai, Thailand – January 2012<\/a><\/li>\n
  14. Samana, Dominican Republic – December 2011<\/a><\/li>\n
  15. Lake Placid, NY – October 2011<\/a><\/li>\n
  16. England & Scotland – July 2011<\/a><\/li>\n
  17. New York City – April 2011<\/a><\/li>\n
  18. Lake Placid, NY – December 2010<\/a><\/li>\n
  19. Croatia – September 2010<\/a><\/li>\n
  20. PAX East Boston, MA (2nd time) – March 2010<\/a><\/li>\n
  21. Riviera Maya, Mexico – January 2010 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  22. PAX Prime Seattle, WA (1st time) and BC (7th time), August\/Sept 2009<\/a><\/li>\n
  23. East Coast NB & PEI with Darren – July\/August 2009<\/a><\/li>\n
  24. Japan solo trip – March\/April 2009 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  25. Vancouver & Shambhala Festival with Frank in Salmo, BC (6th time) – 2008<\/a><\/li>\n
  26. England – January 2008<\/a><\/li>\n
  27. Wales with Muzzy – January 2008<\/a><\/li>\n
  28. St. Petersburg, Russia- January 2008 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  29. Berlin, Germany – January 2008 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  30. England with Philip – November\/December 2007<\/a><\/li>\n
  31. Geneva, Switzerland with Brett (1st time) – November 2007<\/a><\/li>\n
  32. Morocco (1st time) – November 2007<\/a><\/li>\n
  33. Egypt – October\/November 2007 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  34. Turkey – October, 2007 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  35. Hungary – September – October, 2007 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  36. Italy with Chrissy – September 2007 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  37. England and Wales – September 2007<\/a><\/li>\n
  38. Colorado, Utah & Arizona with Frank (1st time) – August 2007<\/a><\/li>\n
  39. Vancouver & Hong Kong, China with Keira (1st time) – March\/April 2007<\/a><\/li>\n
  40. New York City – May 2006<\/a><\/li>\n
  41. San Diego, California with JVL – July 2005 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  42. Vancouver & Victoria, BC family wedding – 2004?<\/a><\/li>\n
  43. Nassau, Bahamas – Dec 2003\/Jan 2004<\/a><\/li>\n
  44. New York City with Dave – April\/May 2003<\/a><\/li>\n
  45. Askoy & Bergen, Norway with Rene (1st time) – 2000<\/a><\/li>\n
  46. Spennymoor, England – 2000<\/a><\/li>\n
  47. London, England – 2000<\/a><\/li>\n
  48. Barcelona, Spain with Rene – 2000 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  49. Shakespeare & Co. in Paris & Nice, France – May\/August 2000 (1st time)<\/a><\/li>\n
  50. Brussels, Belgium alone (1st time) – 2000<\/a><\/li>\n
  51. Edinburgh, Glasgow & Ayr, Scotland alone (1st time) – 2000<\/a><\/li>\n
  52. Spennymoor, England (2nd time, age 22) – 2000 <\/a><\/li>\n
  53. Montreal, Halifax VIA Train with James – Summer 2000<\/a><\/li>\n
  54. Vancouver & Victoria, BC out alone\/back with James (3rd time, age 22) – 2000<\/a><\/li>\n
  55. New York City with Bill in car (1st time) – 2000<\/a><\/li>\n
  56. Boston, MA alone on bus (1st time) – 1998?<\/a><\/li>\n
  57. Vancouver & Victoria, BC (2nd time, age 19) – 1997?<\/a><\/li>\n
  58. England, EF Educational Tour (first solo trip, age 16) – March 1994<\/a><\/li>\n
  59. Vancouver, Victoria & Haiku House, BC (1st time, age 15) – Dec 1993<\/a><\/li>\n
  60. England with parents (1st time, age 12) – March 1990<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    PEI – July 2023 <\/h2>\n

    Your Swoop Itinerary WO170
    \nDEPARTURE: Sunday July 09, 2023 07:00 AM Hamilton, ON (YHM)
    \nARRIVAL: Sunday July 09, 2023 10:10 AM Charlottetown, PEI (YYG) Flight WO171
    \nDEPARTURE: Thursday July 13, 2023 11:45 AM Charlottetown, PEI (YYG)
    \nARRIVAL: Thursday July 13, 2023 01:10 PM Hamilton, ON (YHM)
    \nFlights cost $510.88 CAD<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    UK Trip – October 2018<\/h2>\n

    <\/a>
    \nOct 17 [Weds] – Depart YYZ – LGW: October 17, 2018, 8:45pm \u2013 October 18, 2018, 4:00am, Pearson Airport Terminal 3 (Arrivals Level) \/ Mississauga, ON L4W 1S9, Canada
    \nOct 18 [Thursday] – 9:00am – Flight arrives London Gatwick, Terminal N [feels like 4am]; 10:00am – Deplane, get baggage, through customs [feels like 5am]; 11:06am – Depart Gatwick Airport (44m ride) [feels like 6am]; 11:50am – Arrive London St Pancras International [feels like 7am]; 11:55am – Walk from London St Pancras Intl to London Kings Cross; 12:30pm – Depart London Kings Cross (2h 37m ride); 1:30pm – Lunch meal included for 1st class [feels like 8:30am]; 3:07pm – Arrive Darlington; 3:47pm – Arrive Spennymoor; 4:30pm – Supper time at Pub; 10:00pm – Sleepy time! [feels like 5pm]
    \nOct 19 [Friday] – 9:00am – Spennymoor! [9am feels like 4am], Hang out with family, visit Durham Cathedral, Crook Hall and Gardens, Frankland Ln, Sidegate, Durham DH1 5SZ, UK
    \nOct 20 [Saturday] – 9:00am – Spennymoor, Hartlepool, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, Alston, North Pennies AONB?
    \nIn terms of villages Middleton in Teesdale, Allendale and especially Blanchland are worth looking out.
    \nAs far as roads go the lanes over the Moors from Upper Teesdale to Upper Weardale (Langdon Beck to Start John’s Chapel) are wild and beautiful as is the road from Stanhope to Blanchland and Blanchland via Rookhope to Allenheads.
    \nAll of these roads are well maintained and whilst narrow and steep can be driven in 2 wheel drive cars.
    \nThe Durham Dales Centre at Stanhope, The Forge in Allendale and opposite the White Monk Tearoom in Blanchland plus a new gallery in the centre of Alston. For a atmospheric drink after a long hike The Lord Crewe in Blanchland is incomparable if expensive.
    \nOct 21 [Sunday] – 1:47 PM – Depart from Durham on CrossCountry (3 h 57m train), 5:44 PM – Arrive Platform 1 Oxford Station, Park End St, Oxfordshire, Oxford OX1 1HS, UK, 6:00pm – Check in to Malmaison Hotel, 7:00pm – Randolph Hotel\u2019s Morse Bar for a drink
    \nOct 22 [Monday] – Oxford! Punting! Christ Church, Balliol, Eagle and Child, walking tour
    \nOct 23 [Tuesday] – Oxford > London. Take train to London Paddington, Paddington to Gatwick in time for bed, Check in to Premier Inn London Gatwick, get to sleep
    \nOct 24 [Wednesday] – London Gatwick United Kingdom Terminal N \/ 12:50, Toronto Pearson Intl Canada Terminal 3 \/ 16:06 WS4 Westjet; 10:00am Arrive at Gatwick, Terminal N, proceed to check in; 12:50pm (London time) Flight WS4 departs for Toronto; 4:06pm (Toronto time) Arrive in Toronto, Pearson Airport terminal 3; 5:00pm Get luggage, head to taxi; 6:00pm Arrive home in Oakville, have supper, relax<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Cruise – February 2018 <\/h2>\n

    <\/a>
    \nWith Micheline and Moira Sr. and kid.
    \n    <\/p>\n

    Africa – August 2017<\/h2>\n

    <\/a>
    \n: Thu Aug 10 to Thu Aug 24 2017<\/p>\n

    Aug 10 – [Thursday] Departing Toronto on Lufthansa LH0495 at 8:10pm, arriving Munich, Germany (MUC) at 10:10am (8hr total flying time).<\/p>\n

    Aug 11 – [Friday] Departing Munich on Lufthansa LH 9542 at 9:05pm, arriving Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) at 7:40am on Sat Aug 12 (10hr 35min flying time).<\/p>\n

    Aug 12 – [Saturday] Departing Johannesburg, SA (JNB) at 10:05am, arriving Cape Town, SA (CPT) at 12:15pm on Sat Aug 12 (2hr 10m flying time). Dinner in Cape Town harbour, (Victoria and Alfred Waterfront), check in to Lawhill Luxury Apartments. Wake up hella early the next day to go shark cage diving off a boat in freezing water. Fun?<\/p>\n

    Aug 13 to 23 –\u00a0Situated below Table Mountain, Devil\u2019s Peak and Lion\u2019s Head, Cape Town offers a rich cultural and industrial heritage. Cape Point & Peninsula Tour: Take in the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, before crossing over to Hout Bay, where you may choose to join an optional boat cruise to Seal Island. From here you drive to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve via Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, where you will board a funicular (optional and for your own account) to get to the top of the Peninsula to witness the symbolic meeting of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and enjoy spectacular views over False Bay. Simonstown, the naval base, and visit the African Penguin breeding colony at Boulders Beach. Then stop at the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Gardens before arriving at your hotel for overnight.<\/p>\n

    Winelands, Chocolate, Cheese Tasting: Paarl, with its imposing Afrikaans Language Monument and of course the Franschhoek Valley, including exceptional estates such as Haute Cabriere, Moreson, La Motte and Grande Provence. This is where I ate the saltiest meal of my entire life.<\/p>\n

    5 Night Bushbuck Package: 3 nights’ at Bomani Tented Lodge, all meals, local brand drinks, scheduled safari activities daily, Hwange National Park fee and laundry. Bomani is situated in the Hwange Game Reserve in the Ngamo Forest area. It has great game viewing (big 5) all year round. It is quite remote but you get such a sense of space. Bomani overlooks a water hole. See more info at http:\/\/www.imvelosafarilodges.com\/bomani-lodge.html 2 nights’ at Gorges Lodge, breakfast, dinner, full-day canoeing trip on the Zambezii River, tour of the falls, and a courtesy shuttle into Victoria Falls town. Gorges is situated about a 30 minute drive from the falls and has the most amazing views, they are really breath-taking, over the Batoka Gorge. See more info at http:\/\/www.imvelosafarilodges.com\/gorges-lodge.html<\/p>\n

    Aug 23 [Wednesday] – Departing Johannesburg, SA (JNB) at 8:35pm on Lufthansa LH9543, arriving Munich, Germany (MUC) at 7:20am (10hr 45min total flying time).<\/p>\n

    Aug 24 – [Thursday] Departing Munich on Lufthansa LH 6790 at 11:50am, arriving Toronto (YYZ) at 2:40pm on Thu Aug 24 (8hr 50min flying time).<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Miami, Florida – Dec 2016<\/h2>\n

    Amy’s birthday diving trip. Ate at Versace mansion.
    \n    <\/a><\/p>\n

    New York City – May 2014<\/h2>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Mexico – Riviera Maya, March 2014<\/h2>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    France Tour – October 2013<\/h2>\n

    : Thu Oct 10, 2013 – Fri Oct 25, 2013 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Oct 10 – [Thursday] Departing Toronto on Air Transat flight TS 488, at 5:50pm, arriving Paris, France (CDG) at 7:05am. (7hr 15min total flying time). (Flight cost CAD $863.86 x 2 = $1727.72).<\/p>\n

    Oct 11 – [Friday] Get from Charles De Gaulle Airport to Novotel Paris Gare Montparnasse<\/a> [17 rue du Cotentin, Paris, FR, 75015] 011 33153912375. Check-in Fri, Oct 11, 2013, 2:00 PM – Check-out Mon, Oct 14, 2013, 12:00 PM. (Hotel bought on Hotwire, total room cost CAD $342.83). Visit Tour Eiffel, Louvre (open until 9:45pm).<\/p>\n

    Oct 12 – [Saturday] Paris. Visit Montmartre, Notre Dame, Shakespeare and Co. Eat croissants. Drink lots of espresso.<\/p>\n

    Oct 13 – [Sunday] Paris. Visit Versailles.<\/p>\n

    Oct 14 – [Monday] Pick up rental car from Gare Montparnasse. Leave Paris, head west to Normandy. Visit Rouen, Honfleur en route to Bayeux. Stay two nights in Bayeux.<\/p>\n

    Oct 15 – [Tuesday] Drive over to Mont St. Michel. Stay in Bayeux a second night.<\/p>\n

    Oct 16 – [Wednesday] Head to the Loire Valley. Stay in Amboise. Visit Chenonceau, Chambord, Cheverny.<\/p>\n

    Oct 17 – [Thursday] Hang out in Amboise.<\/p>\n

    Oct 18 – [Friday] Return the rental car to the TGV Railway station (St Pierre des Corps) in Tours. Get on the 9:49am TGV Atlantic train #8471 to Bordeaux [$30pp\/$60 total as of Sept 15]. Have lunch in Bordeaux. Check in to Bordeaux hotel for overnight stay.<\/p>\n

    Oct 19 – [Saturday] Depart Bordeaux, catch the 9:31am IC train #4657 to Carcassonne. Arrive in Carcassonne at 12:31pm [$57pp\/$114 total as of Sept 15]. Tour Carcassonne. Catch either the 4:33pm train or the 5:56pm last train to Nimes, [$38\/$47pp or $76\/$94 total as of Sept 15] then get to Avignon, find hotel, crash. Stay two nights in Avignon.<\/p>\n

    Oct 20 – [Sunday] Day in Avignon. Check out Palace of the Popes, Broken Bridge.<\/p>\n

    Oct 21 – [Monday] Depart Avignon on TGV for Beaune, take the 9:14AM Avignon TGV Duplex #5350, arrive in Lyon Part Dieu at 10:24AM (1hr10min). Stop in Lyon for elevensies, consider checking bags at station, hanging around. Get back on train at Lyon to go to Beaune, travel takes about 1h 46m. Stay 3 nights in Beaune.<\/p>\n

    Oct 22 – [Tuesday] Hang out in Beaune. Check out the hospital for the poor, vineyards, go on a boat? Maybe lunch at Lameloise, restaurant with 3 Michelin stars.<\/p>\n

    Oct 23 – [Wednesday] More Beaune. Chill out.<\/p>\n

    Oct 24 – [Thursday] Train from Beaune back to Paris, probably via Dijon. Stay in Paris near airport.<\/p>\n

    Oct 25 – [Friday] Early flight (8:40am) from Paris CDG back to Toronto.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Varadero, Cuba – April 2013<\/h2>\n

    : Sat Apr 20, 2013 – Sat Apr 27, 2013 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Apr 20 – [Saturday] Departing Toronto on Air Canada flight AC 1852, at 4:05pm, arriving Varadero, Cuba (VRA) at 7:30pm. (3hr 25min total flying time. Upon arrival, airport transfer to Sandals Royal Hicacos Resort<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Apr 21 to 26 – Chillax. Visit Havana. Read. Wear sunscreen.<\/p>\n

    Apr 26 – [Friday] Departing Varadero, Cuba (VRA) on Air Canada flight CS 1853, at 11:00pm, arriving Toronto, Canada (YYZ) on Sat, Apr 27, at 2:30am(!). Taxi home.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Rhodes & Athens, Greece<\/h2>\n

    : Tue Aug 21, 2012 – Fri Aug 31, 2012 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Aug 21 – [Tuesday] Departing Toronto Terminal 3 (YYZ), Air Transat flight TS694, at 4:35pm, stopover in Montreal, arriving in Athens, Greece (ATH) at 11:00am on Aug 22nd. (8hr 37min total flying time). Ticket price: $455.16<\/p>\n

    Aug 22 – [Wednesday] Depart Athens (ATH), Aegean Air flight A3651, at 2:45pm, arriving at Rhodes Diagoras Airport at 3:45pm. (1hr total flying time). Ticket price: \u00e2\u201a\u00ac108.64 \/ $136.13. Darren met me at arrivals, had rented a grey Nissan Micra from Zeus Car Rentals<\/a> in Rhodes Town for 50 euros\/day. Drove to Pefkos (just south of Lindos), checked in to Hotel Ziakis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Aug 23 – [Thursday] Poolside. Chillin’ Reading. Eating kebabs. Reapplying sunscreen. You know.<\/p>\n

    Aug 24 – [Friday] Drove to southernmost tip of Rhodes, where two seas meet. Beautiful beach, calm water on one side, waves on the other. Lots of windsurfing and kite-boarding going on. Ate dolmadakia. Yum.<\/p>\n

    Aug 25 – [Saturday] Drove to Lindos. Swam in Saint Paul’s Bay – shallow and warm like a swimming pool, little white church on the side of the bay, very picturesque. Visited a medieval Greek church, quailed at climbing up in full afternoon heat to see fortress and Temple of Athena at top of massive hill. Sat in pub, drank sangria instead. Hot.<\/p>\n

    Aug 26 – [Sunday] Visited Lindos. Dinner at Gatto Blanco, coal-fire pizza.<\/p>\n

    Aug 27 – [Monday] Drove north to visit Terme di Kallithea. Tried to visit Butterfly Valley but roads were too intimidating for our car. Dinner at Pane di Capo, Pefkos.<\/p>\n

    Aug 28 – [Tuesday] Drive to Rhodes Town, return rental car to Zeus. Coffee at GranCaffe – delicious! Walk around Medieval Old Town and harbour, tour the Palace of the Grand Master (worth the 6 euro admission fee), drink a boot of beer at the Parrot Cafe. Take a taxi to the Blue Star ferry port (long walk, worth the 5 euro taxi fare!). Board an hour before departure, shower in our private 2 person cabin (97 euro each – pricey), look for dinner. Food on ferry is miserable, should have brought a picnic. Cabin was spacious for a boat, fresh linens, decent beds, but air quality was gross, intense cigarette smoke all night long piped in from above deck. Should have paid extra for cabin with air filtration.<\/p>\n

    Aug 29 – [Wednesday] Arrive in Athens at 6:30am. Take free shuttle from ferry dock to Pireaus Metro entrance. Buy 24 hour metro tickets, cost 4 euros each. Ride Metro to Syngrou-Fix station, walk to Acropolis Select<\/a> hotel. Drop off luggage at 7:45am. Walk towards Acropolis. Stop at Information booth (very helpful!), then bought 12 euro tickets for admission to Acropolis and other ruins and started the walk uphill at 8:30am. Made it to the top before 9am, not too many other tourists. Hill was a complete zoo by the time we were ready to leave at 10am. Visited Roman Agora, Temple of Hephaestus, had lunch, took Metro back to hotel. Ate dinner at “God’s Restaurant” (nice fish), evening walk through Plaka district.<\/p>\n

    Aug 30 – [Thursday] Saw Hadrian’s Gate, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Parliament Buildings, Syntagma Square, Monument of the Unknown Soldier, Numismatic Museum. Ate spanakopita for lunch, had Italian food for dinner near our hotel at “Diva” Restaurant. Packed luggage for early morning departure.<\/p>\n

    Aug 31 – [Friday] Wake up 5:30am, shower, check out of Acropolis Select<\/a> (got Booking.com special deal – 2 nights\/90 euros). Take Metro at 6am to airport: about 1 hour total journey, costs 8 euros for one person, 14 euros for a two person pass. Arrive at Athens Int’l (ATH) just after 7am. Check in to Aegean Air flight A3680 to Barcelona. Depart ATH at 8:45am, arrive Barcelona Int’l Terminal 1 at 11am. Ticket price: \u00e2\u201a\u00ac244.15 \/ $305.93 (3hr 15min total flying time). Hustle through baggage check, then downstairs to catch shuttle to Terminal 2, which is about 15 minute drive away. Check in to Air Transat flight TS 263 Barcelona to Toronto via Montreal. Depart Barcelona at 1:40pm, arrive Toronto Int’l Terminal 3 at 7:40pm — should have been 6:20pm but many delays in both Spain and at Montreal. Ticket price: $657.98. (8hr 52min total flying time + 1 hour stopover). Took taxi home from airport to Oakville, straight to bed.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Iceland – Reykjavik, Vik & H\u00f6fn<\/h2>\n

    : Wed Jun 20, 2012 – Wed, Jun 27, 2012 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Jun 20th – [Wednesday] Departing Toronto Terminal 3 (YYZ), Icelandair flight FI 602, at 9:10 pm, arriving in Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF) at 6:25 am on Jun 21st. (5hr 15min total flying time). Latitude \/ Longitude: 63.997765 \/ -22.624283<\/p>\n

    Jun 21st – [Thursday] Pick up rental car from Sixt at airport<\/a>. Drive 20 km to The Blue Lagoon<\/a> (240 Grindav\u00c3\u00adk), have breakfast and a swim – kill time until 2pm for hotel check-in. Drive 50 km to Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura<\/a> (Nauth\u00c3\u00b3lsvegur 52, Reykjavik, 101 Iceland – Phone: +3544444048, Fax: +3544444001, E-mail: internet@icehotels.is). Afternoon: Rent a bike, do the shoreline walk, see Solfar<\/a> (Sun Voyager) sculpture, visit Nautholsvik Beach. Eat dinner at Sjavargrillid [Seafood Grill]<\/a> (Skolavordustigur 14, Reykjavik 101). Phone: +354 571 1100.<\/p>\n

    Jun 22nd – [Friday] Spend one more day in Reykjavik at Hotel Natura. Possible to-do list… Morning: 10am Ride horsies! Islenski Hesturinn, The Icelandic Horse – Riding Tours. (Surtlugotu 3 | Fjarborg, Reykjavik, Iceland. Phone: +354 434 7979). Eat dinner at <\/a>Fiskfelagid [Fish Company]<\/a> (Vesturgotu 2a | Gr\u00c3\u00b3fartorg, Reykjavik) Phone: +3545525300.<\/a><\/p>\n

    Jun 23rd – [Saturday] Morning: Drive the Golden Circle route to see tectonic plates, Gullfloss (Golden Waterfall), the geysers and Thingvellir volcanic crater. Lunch: Try the traditional meat soup (lamb). Drive 5 1\/2 hours on to H\u00f6fn (start at 11am, arrive 6pm?). Check in at Hotel Edda Nesjum<\/a> anytime after 2pm.<\/p>\n

    Jun 24th – [Sunday] Stay at Hotel Edda Nesjum, H\u00f6fn. Climb and hike around Europe\u00e2\u20ac™s largest glacier \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Vatnaj\u00c3\u00b6kull – and the smaller Sk\u00c3\u00a1lafellsj\u00c3\u00b6kull glacier. Check out Skaftafell National Park and J\u00c3\u00b6kuls\u00c3\u00a1rl\u00c3\u00b3n glacial lagoon. NOTE: Bring along James Bond movie “Die Another Day”, filmed here.<\/p>\n

    Jun 25th – [Monday] Drive 3 hours to Country Hotel Hofdabrekka<\/a> (H\u00f6fdabrekku, 871 V\u00c3\u00adk, S\u00c3\u00admi) Email: hotel@hofdabrekka.is \/ Tel: (354) 487-1208. Check out Dyrholaey volcanic peninsula, Myrdalsjokull and Solheimajokull Glaciers, and the Black Sand Beach. Eat dinner at Hotel Lundi Restaurant<\/a> (Vikurbraut 24a-26, Vik 870).<\/p>\n

    Jun 26th – [Tuesday] Back to Reykjavik! Drive 200 kms back to Reykjavik, check into Reykjavik4You Apartments<\/a>. Walk around downtown, do a little shopping, see some graffiti.<\/p>\n

    Jun 27th – [Wednesday] Check out of Reykjavik4You Apartments (they were WONDERFUL), get to airport early for Darren’s flight to London at noon. My flight departed Reykjavik, Icelandair flight FI 603, at 5:00 pm, arriving in Toronto Terminal 3 at 6:55 pm. (5h 55m total flying time – Boeing 757-200).<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Thailand – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Southern Islands<\/h2>\n

    : Tue Jan 10, 2012 – Tue Jan 31, 2012 , 2011 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Jan 10th – [Tuesday] Departing Toronto Terminal 3, Air France flight AF 351, at 6:50pm, arriving in Paris, France at 08:20am on Jan 11. (7hr 30min total flying time).
    \nJan 11th – [Wednesday] 9am Leave Charles de Gaulle airport, get to city center, visit     Shakespeare & Co.<\/a>, have lunch with Caro. Option A, train line => RER B (Blue) \/ Direction => Paris (St Michel\/N\u00c3\u00b4tre Dame) \/ Ticket => \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Billet Ile-de-France\u00e2\u20ac\u009d A\u00c3\u00a9roport CDG – Paris (Zone 5 -> Zone 1) \/ Cost => 9,10\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\/$12CDN \/ Passes Accepted => Paris Visite (One Day, Zones 1-5 = 19,25\u00e2\u201a\u00ac\/$25CDN); Option B – taxi, about 50EUR\/$65CDN. Must be back at airport by 5pm to catch flight to Bangkok. Depart ParisCDG Terminal 2F at 7:25pm, arriving in Bangkok at 12:25am on Jan 12. (11hr total flying time).<\/p>\n

    Jan 12th – [Thursday] Leave BKK International airport, get to city centre. Airport Rail Train not an option, as it only operates 6am to midnight. Go to departure level to get taxi, to avoid paying a concession fee. Should cost about 400THB\/$13CDN – 251 BHT fare + 45 BHT tolls + 50 BHT concession. Check in at 1:30 am to Smile Society Hostel<\/a> (+081 442 5800 \/ 6681 442 5800) 130\/3-4, Silom Soi 6. Staying 2 nights in Standard 8 Bed Female Dorm @ 450THB per night, total 900THB\/$30CDN – 810THB due on arrival.
    \n9:30 am, Wake up, explore Bangkok. Go shopping at MBK (Mahboonkrong) @BTS National Stadium \/ walk back to BTS Siam through other malls and department stores incl. Siam Paragon, Siam Discovery and Siam Center. TIP!! Stock up on contact lenses. A box of Acuvue2 will set you back just 600 Baht.<\/p>\n

    Jan 13th [Friday] – Night Train to Chiang Mai (one way overnight sleeper ticket = 880-1450THB\/$25-47). Try for train #13 which has 1st class sleepers, departs Bangkok (Hualamphong) at 7:35pm, arrives Chiang Mai at 9:45am next day. Alternate: train #1.
    \nJan 14th [Saturday] – Check in to     Yindee Stylish Guest House<\/a> 15\/1 Soi2 Ratchawithi Road Sriphum,
    \nOld City, Chiang Mai, Thailand (+66865443320).
    \nJan 15th – [Sunday] Yindee Guesthouse. Morning – explore, Afternoon (3pm – 7pm) 4 hour Luxury Spa treatment at     Cheeva Spa<\/a>, 4 \/ 2 Hussadisewee Rd., Sriphum, Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand (2600THB\/$85CDN). Foot massage, herbal steam, body scrub, milky bath, oil massage, facial. (Phone: 053-405129 – 08-1961-0578).
    \nJan 16th – [Monday] Yindee Guesthouse. Thai Cooking School?
    \nJan 17th – [Tuesday] Check in to     Twenty Lodge<\/a>
    \nJan 18th – [Wednesday] Twenty Lodge. Day trip to Chiang Rai? Bicycle tour? Temples?
    \nJan 19th – [Thursday] Check in to     Rimping Village<\/a>
    \nJan 20th – [Friday] Rimping Village. Lovely place, wish I could have spent more time here.<\/p>\n

    Jan 21st – [Saturday] Check out of Rimping Village. Head south to Phuket? Fly to Laos?
    \nJan 22nd – [Sunday]
    \nJan 23rd – [Monday] Sick. Visit GlobalDoctor Travel Clinic, get medicine. Spend day in bed drinking fluids.
    \nJan 24th – [Tuesday]
    \nJan 25th – [Wednesday]
    \nJan 26th – [Thursday]
    \nJan 27th – [Friday]<\/p>\n

    Jan 28th – [Saturday] Return to bangkok via plane or bus. Check in to Park Plaza Sukhumvit Bangkok<\/a>, BTS Asoke Station \/ 16 Ratchadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Wattana for three nights. (+662 263 5000)
    \nJan 29th – [Sunday] Park Plaza. Tour Bangkok.
    \nJan 30th – [Monday] Park Plaza. Tour Bangkok.
    \nJan 31st – [Tuesday] Check out of Park Plaza, get to airport for 8pm. Departing Bangkok Intl, Air France flight AF 273, at 11:20pm, arriving in Paris, France at 05:45 am on Feb 1. (12hr 25min total flying time).
    \nFeb 1st – [Wednesday] 6:30am Leave Charles de Gaulle airport, get to city center, visit Louvre, Notre Dame. Option A, Option B – taxi, about 50EUR\/$65CDN. Must be back at airport by noon to catch flight to Bangkok. Depart ParisCDG Terminal 2F, on AF 356 at 1:55pm, arriving in Toronto at 4:15 pm on Feb 1st. (8hr 20min total flying time).<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Las Terrenas, Samana, Dominican Republic<\/h2>\n

    December 3 – December 17, 2011 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    Dec 3rd – [Saturday] Departing Toronto on WestJet flight #2730, at 10:00am, arriving in Samana (AZS) at 03:02pm. (4 hours total flight time). Nice flight, fast & smooth, cost $400 CDN. Samana airport clean and quick processing, no problems. Airport transfer with “Frank” in minibus cost about $70. Scary ride but fast and scenic. Check in to Casas del Mar Neptunia<\/a> (+1809-240-6884). Hung out with Suzanne, the owner, for the rest of the week. Did a few runs along the beach road, and trips to the SuperMercado for snacks.
    \nDec 17th – [Saturday]<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Lake Placid, New York<\/h2>\n

    October 7 – October 12, 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

    October 7th – [Friday] Depart Oakville by car at 8am, take 401 and bridge to USA, drive to Saranac Lake, arrive 3pm. (7 hours total driving time)
    \nOct 8th – [Saturday]
    \nOct 9th – [Sunday]
    \nOct 10th – [Monday]
    \nOct 11th – [Tuesday]
    \nOct 12th – [Wednesday] Drive home to Toronto.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    England & Scotland<\/h2>\n

    July 12 – July 20, 2011 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    July 12th – [Tuesday] Departing Toronto Terminal 3, Air Transat flight TS 146, at 7:40pm, with a stopover in Exeter(!), arriving in Newcastle at 10:55am on July 13. (10 hours total)
    \nJuly 13th – [Wednesday] Check in to     Premier Inn Durham City Centre<\/a> (+44 871 527 8338). Very nice room, decent bathroom – wish it had a fridge though! Ate in the restaurant, actually very good food and excellent service.
    \nJuly 14th – [Thursday] Walked the town, visited the Cathedral but couldn’t climb the tower as D was wearing flip-flops (good shoes needed), shopped at Oxfam, Marks & Sparks, had a pint at the Boathouse, dinner at Bella Italia by the River Weir.
    \nJuly 15th – [Friday] Climbed up Durham Cathedral tower in the morning, at 10am. Uncle Ken picks us up from Durham at 2pm, drives us to Spennymoor, then on to Redworth. Check in to     Barcel\u00c3\u00b3 Redworth Hall Hotel<\/a>, double guest room cost 218.50 GBP for three nights. Aie!
    \nJuly 16th – [Saturday] Heather and Gareth’s wedding! Beautiful.
    \nJuly 17th – [Sunday] Visit Darlington by bus (cost about 6.50 GBP return trip from Redworth on the 1 bus). Watch Harry Potter 7 part 2 in a very small movie theatre. Spend the evening in the hotel enjoying the pool, sauna, etc.
    \nJuly 18th – [Monday] Check out of     Barcel\u00c3\u00b3 Redworth Hall Hotel<\/a>, straight up to Durham train station and then Mum, D and I all went to Edinburgh together. Checked in to Parliament House Hotel<\/a> at 15 Calton Hill, (0131 478 4000) – lovely hotel, quiet, nice rooms, but LOTS of stairs to the upper rooms (10, 11 are on third floor, quite a walkup). Brunch and a pint at the Apex Hotel bar. Walked about the old town, then met up for dinner at the Mitre Bar: haggis, neeps and tatties.
    \nJuly 19th – [Tuesday] Substantial breakfast at our hotel, amazing lunch at     the Witchery<\/a> (so good!) with scotch, then tea at The Elephant House<\/a> where J.K. Rowling supposedly wrote some of Harry Potter. Train back to Spennymoor in the afternoon, a walk down the village to get fish & chips with curry sauce and mushy peas at Spenny’s Sunrise Fish Bar<\/a>. Slept at Kathryn’s in Emma’s room.
    \nJuly 20th – [Wednesday] Straight off to Newcastle Airport in the driving rain to catch Air Transat flight TS147, leaving Newcastle at 12:05pm, arrive Toronto at 2:35pm. (7.5 hours total). Arrive back in Toronto to heatwave of 35C weather. Next day, 38C!<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    New York City (4th time)<\/h2>\n

    April 20 – April 26, 2011 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    April 20th – [Wednesday] Departing Toronto Island Airport (YTZ) on Porter Flight 137 @ 06:15pm, Arriving Newark, New Jersey (EWR) @ 07:45pm
    \nApril 21st – [Thursday]
    \nApril 22nd – [Friday]
    \nApril 23rd – [Saturday]
    \nApril 24th – [Sunday]
    \nApril 25th – [Monday]
    \nApril 26th – [Tuesday] Departing Newark, New Jersey (EWR) on Porter Flight 122 @ 07:40am, Arriving Toronto Island Airport (YTZ) @ 09:10am<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Saranac Lake & Lake Placid, NY (1st time)<\/h2>\n

    Dec 25 – Dec 27, 2010 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    December 25th – [Saturday] 7am wake up, drive from Oakville to Saranac Lake. Arrive just after 2pm. Open Christmas gifts, eat lasagna.
    \nDecember 26th – [Sunday] Full breakfast and coffee with whipped cream, driving tour of Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, go snowshoeing, knit and watch NCIS.
    \nDecember 27th – [Monday] 8am Breakfast, drive back to Oakville, get in our car, drive to Toronto, go Boxing Day sale shopping at Romni.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Croatia (1st time)<\/h2>\n

    Sept 2 – Sept 12, 2010 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    September 2nd – [Thursday] Departing Toronto (YYZ) on Air Transat Flight TS170 @ 11:00pm, Arriving Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) @ 01:15pm on Sept 3. (Flight time: 8hr 15min – Cost: $888.09 return).
    \nSeptember 3rd – [Friday] Departing Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) on Croatia Air Flight 411 @ 06:00pm Airbus A319, Arriving Zagreb, Croatia (ZAG) @ 07:20pm. (Flight time: 1hr 20min – Cost: $551.91 return). Check in to     Funk Hostel<\/a> Polji\u00c4\u008dka 13 10000, Zagreb, Croatia 01 63 14 530. (Cost: about 18 \u00e2\u201a\u00ac\/135 kn per night)
    \nSeptember 4th – [Saturday] Funk Hostel, Zagreb. Ran 5km @ 7am into town. Nice market. Ate pizza\/risotto brunch at Nocturno, Skalinska 4 (On Kaptol, between Tkal\u00c4\u008di\u00c4\u2021eva street and Cathedral). Visit     Zadar<\/a>! 3 1\/2 hour bus ride, cost: 115kn + 7kn for luggage. Stayed at Venera Guest House<\/a>, \u00c5\u00a0ime Ljubica 4A, 23 000 Zadar. Saw Sea Organ<\/a>! Ate pizza at Trattoria Canzona<\/a>, Stomorica 8, Zadar, 023\/212-081 (very nice). Climbed Cathedral of St. Anastasia bell tower<\/a> in Narodni Trg (Cost: 10kn). Tried ice cream in square; maraschino cherry tasted best.
    \nSeptember 5th – [Sunday] Restful day of reading. Breakfast of calamari and coffee by the sea. Lemon ice cream (good). Saw chess players. Walked south, ate delicious meal of bruschetta, fish in paper bag, white wine by the water at Fosa. Darren smoked a cigar on the patio. Walked under city gate. Saw yachts, walked through marina. Took short boat crossing for 5kn. Had coffee and white russians on beds by the sea at The Garden night club. Sea organ at night. Ice cream in the forum (blue angel = bubble gum, krumpetta tasted bad, cheesecake & snickers were good). Walked home. Sleep.
    \nSeptember 6th – [Monday] Woke up in Zadar. Rainy! Had coffee & drippy chocolate croissants. Bought postcards. Checked out of hotel (left my Nintendo DS behind!), caught the bus 8kn to station. Waited, caught 10am bus to Split (Cost: 204kn total, 102 each). 4 hours of boredom later, arrived in Split. More rain.
    \nSeptember 7th – [Tuesday] Woke up in     Split<\/a>. Darren bought ferry tickets to Hvar. 11am on Catamaran to Hvar. Scary breakfast in B&B, potted meat looked like cat food, boiled eggs, bread, meat, cheese, cereal. 1 1\/2 hour ferry ride. Nice lunch outside on uphill street leading into the old town.
    \nSeptember 8th – [Wednesday] Darren booked afternoon dive. Cloudy, windy day! Rain. Dreadful brunch at Suncani Hvar beach club (chicken burger, fish soup & club sandwich for 300kn). Stayed in hotel, read & relaxed. Went for evening run 6km. Bought top deck cabin w\/bathroom on StariGrad ferry to Rijeka (Cost: 897kn). Dinner at Bounty (seafood spaghetti, risotto, Hvar red wine).
    \nSeptember 9th – [Thursday] Woke up in Hvar. Darren morning dive. Packed, checked out, ate breakfast. Downtown pizza lunch at Mamma(?). Bought stamps, postcards. Bus station, coffee, caught 3pm bus to StariGrad. Overnight ferry to Rijeka, 5pm to 7am. Incredibly loud vibrations! Very hot. Felt like sleeping inside the engine room. Ate meal on the boat (spaghetti bolognese, grilled meat – gross). Watched ‘Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’. Watched ‘Eclipse’. Fell asleep.
    \nSeptember 10th – [Friday] Arrived in Rijeka. Tired as all hell. Dock smelled like fish burning in a pan of diesel. Nasty. Walked to bus station, had coffee, took 7:45am bus to Zagreb. Rainy day. Darren has coffee and danish at ‘American Donut’. Pay toilets in bus station 3kn, hate that. Go back to Funk Hostel. Welcomed, staying in 6-bed dorm with Josef from Brazil, Daniel from Kazakstan. Take tram into town, lunch at Nocturno (lasagna 30kn, mushroom risotto 25kn). Walk around, eat ice cream. Visit ‘Tolkien Pub’. Go to cathedral, take photos. Go to Algoritam book store at Hotel Dubrovnik, buy Nemi 2 & 3. Dinner at Tip Top, Croatian poet Tin Ujevic’s favorite. Eat black ink pasta and risotto, expensive. Tried to find Shola, failed. Walked. Back to Funk Hostel, finished knitting shrug. Sleep.
    \nSeptember 11th – [Saturday] Visited museum in Zagreb.
    \nSeptember 12th – [Sunday] Departing Zagreb, Croatia (ZAG) on Croatia Air Flight 410 @ 07:40am Airbus A319, Arriving Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) @ 09:15am. (Flight time: 1hr 35min). Departing Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) on Air Transat Flight TS191 @ 02:40pm, Arriving Toronto (YYZ) @ 05:25pm. (Flight time: 8hr 45min).<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Boston, Massachusetts (2nd time)<\/h2>\n

    March 25 – March 28, 2010 <\/strong><\/p>\n

    March 25th – [Thursday] Depart Toronto YTZ at 11:15am, flight 941, arrives Boston BOS terminal E at 12:50pm. Check in to Sheraton Boston Hotel<\/a>, 39 Dalton Street, Boston, MA 02199. 617-236-2000 at 3pm.
    \nMarch 26th – [Friday] Attend     PAX East<\/a>.
    \nMarch 27th – [Saturday] Attend     PAX East<\/a>.
    \nMarch 28th – [Sunday] Check out of the Sheraton at noon. Depart Boston BOS terminal E at 8pm, arrive Toronto YTZ, 9:45pm.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Mexico – Riviera Maya, January 2010<\/h2>\n

    January 28 – February 4 (7 nights)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    January 28th – [Thursday] 6am flight AC746 departs Toronto terminal 1, arrives Cancun at 9:20am (3 hour flight).
    \nJanuary 29th –     Grand Palladium White Sand Resort And Spa<\/a>, Riviera Maya [Imperial Suite].
    \nJanuary 30th – Beach.
    \nJanuary 31st – Beach.
    \nFebruary 1st – Beach.
    \nFebruary 2nd – Chichen Itza?
    \nFebruary 3rd – Beach.
    \nFebruary 4th – [Thursday] 10:40am flight AC747 departs Cancun, arrives Toronto terminal 1 at 3:25pm (4 1\/2 hour flight).<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    PAX Prime Seattle, WA and West Coast Trip, August – September 2009<\/h2>\n

    August 28 – September 8 (12 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    August 28th – [Friday] 8am flight AC1163 departs Toronto terminal 1, arrives Vancouver terminal M at 10am (5 hour flight).
    \nAugust 29th – Visit Vancouver.
    \nAugust 30th – Vancouver.
    \nAugust 31st – Victoria.
    \nSeptember 1st – Victoria.
    \nSeptember 2nd – Victoria.
    \nSeptember 3rd – Float plane or ferry from Victoria to Seattle, check in to Paramount Hotel @ 724 Pine Street. Seattle, WA 98101 (Total w\/tax = $572.22)
    \nSeptember 4th –     Penny Arcade Expo<\/a>, Seattle WA. Staying in Paramount Hotel @ 724 Pine Street.
    \nSeptember 5th –     Penny Arcade Expo<\/a>, Seattle WA. Last night in Paramount Hotel @ 724 Pine Street.
    \nSeptember 6th –     Penny Arcade Expo<\/a>, Seattle WA. Check out of hotel, get back to Victoria.
    \nSeptember 7th – Head back to Vancouver.
    \nSeptember 8th – [Tuesday] 3:30pm flight AC100 departs Vancouver, arrives Toronto terminal 1 at 11pm (4 1\/2 hour flight).<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    East Coast Trip, July – August 2009<\/h2>\n

    July 31 – August 3 (4 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    July 31st – 7am flight AC400 departs Toronto, via Montreal to Moncton, drive to Sackville, NB, attend Sappyfest
    \nAugust 1st – Drive across Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island, head to Summerside, PEI.
    \nAugust 2nd – Drive to see Hopewell Rocks, NB (Bay of Fundy)
    \nAugust 3rd – Visit Acadian country, la Plage de l\u00e2\u20ac™Aboiteau in Cap-Pel\u00c3\u00a9. 8pm flight AC8996 departs Moncton, via Montreal to Toronto.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Japan Trip, March – April 2009<\/h2>\n

    March 26 – April 16 (21 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    March 26th – 9am flight AC001 departs Toronto, via Vancouver to Narita Airport, Japan (arrive on 27th)
    \nMarch 27th – Arrive Narita, take train to Shinjuku, stay at     Keio Plaza Hotel<\/a>
    \nMarch 28th – Visit     Harajuku<\/a> & Akihabara<\/a> areas of Tokyo, stay at Keio Plaza Hotel
    \nMarch 29th – Train to     Shimo-suwa<\/a>, train to Matsumoto<\/a>, stay with Stephen & Skye
    \nMarch 30th – Cycle to     Suwa<\/a>, visit , stay with Stephen & Skye
    \nMarch 31st – Train to     Kanazawa<\/a>, stay at Ryokan Shibaya<\/a>
    \nApril 1st – Kanazawa,     Kenroku-en Garden<\/a>, castle
    \nApril 2nd – Train to     Osaka<\/a>, stay at Capsule Hotel Asahi Plaza<\/a>, Shinsaibashi
    \nApril 3rd – Train to     Hiroshima<\/a>, stay at Hana Hostel<\/a>
    \nApril 4th – Ferry to     Miyajima<\/a>, stay at Backpackers Miyajima<\/a>
    \nApril 5th – Train to     Himeji<\/a>, stay at Toyoko-Inn<\/a>
    \nApril 6th – Train to     Okayama<\/a>, Korakuen Garden<\/a>, <\/strong>train to Kyoto<\/a>, stay at Bon Guest House<\/a>
    \nApril 7th – Kyoto, stay at Bon Guest House
    \nApril 8th – Train to     Nara<\/a>, stay at Bon Guest House
    \nApril 9th – Train to Kawasaki, stay with Stephen & Skye
    \nApril 10th – Kawasaki, stay with Stephen & Skye
    \nApril 11th – Kawasaki, stay with Stephen & Skye
    \nApril 12th – Kawasaki, stay with Stephen & Skye
    \nApril 13th – Bus to     Takayama<\/a>, Sann\u00c5\u008d Matsuri<\/a> (Takayama spring festival), stay Hotel Tomoe<\/a>
    \nApril 14th – Takayama, stay Hotel Tomoe
    \nApril 15th – Bus back to Tokyo, stay with Stephen & Skye
    \nApril 16th – 5pm Flight AC002 departs Narita for Toronto, arrives 3:50pm Toronto time<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Surrey, England – January 2008<\/h2>\n

    January 16 – 22 (7 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    At home in Godalming, Surrey<\/a>. Visited Guildford, Devil’s Punchbowl<\/a>, Spinnaker Tower<\/a> in Portsmouth.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    St. Petersburg, Russia – January 2008<\/h2>\n

    January 10 – 15 (6 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    January 15th – St. Petersburg, Petro Palace Hotel
    \nJanuary 14th – St. Petersburg, Petro Palace Hotel
    \nJanuary 13th – St. Petersburg, Petro Palace Hotel
    \nJanuary 12th – St. Petersburg, Petro Palace Hotel
    \nJanuary 11th – St. Petersburg, Petro Palace Hotel
    \nJanuary 10th – St. Petersburg,     Petro Palace Hotel<\/a>, Malaya Morskaya Ulitsa 14, Saint-Petersburg, 190000, Russia. Concierge desk: +7 812 600 70 75. Saw Bolshoi Ballet, Church of the Blood, Hermitage Museum.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Berlin, Germany – January 2008<\/h2>\n

    January 7 – 9 (3 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    January 9th – Berlin, Park Plaza Wallstrasse
    \nJanuary 8th – Berlin, Park Plaza Wallstrasse
    \nJanuary 7th – Berlin, stayed at the     Park Plaza Berlin Wallstrasse<\/a>. Saw Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, drank beer, ate pretzels, sausage, donuts. Went to top of Fernsehturm (TV tower), toured Bundestag, Holocaust Museum, Brandenburg Gate, Sex Museum, Zoo.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    England, November \/ December 2007 – January 2008<\/h2>\n

    November 30 – January 6 (? days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Switzerland, November 2007<\/h2>\n

    November 24 – 29 (? days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    November 29th – Fly from Geneva, SZ to London, UK
    \nNovember 28th – Stay with Brett in Geneva, SZ
    \nNovember 27th – Stay with Brett in Geneva, SZ
    \nNovember 26th – Stay with Brett in Geneva, SZ
    \nNovember 25th – Stay with Brett in Geneva, SZ
    \nNovember 24th – Fly from Casablanca, Morocco to Geneva, Switzerland<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Morocco, November 2007<\/h2>\n

    November 9 – 23 (15 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The Highlights of Morocco tour visits Casablanca, Rabat, Keknes, Volubilis, Fes, Merzouga, Tineghir, Todgha Gorges, Dades, Gorges, Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, Imlil, Aremd, Essaouira and Marrakech. I\u00e2\u20ac™ll visit the Atlas Mountains, the coast and remote desert regions, the Royal Palace, the Oudayas Kasbah and the Marrakech spice markets. Really excited about riding a camel out to see the 150 meter sand dunes in Merzouga (highest dunes in North Africa, apparently).<\/p>\n

    November 23rd – Fly Marrakech to Geneva, SZ at 11:55am.
    \nNovember 22nd – Marrakech
    \nNovember 21st – Essaouira
    \nNovember 20th – Aremd
    \nNovember 19th – Imlil
    \nNovember 18th – Dades
    \nNovember 17th – Todgha
    \nNovember 16th – Merzouga
    \nNovember 15th – Merzouga
    \nNovember 14th – Fes
    \nNovember 13th – Fes
    \nNovember 12th – Menkes
    \nNovember 11th – Rabat
    \nNovember 10th – Casablanca
    \nNovember 9th – Stay at Hotel Washington, Casablanca, 26, bd Rahal El Meskini.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Egypt, October – November 2007<\/h2>\n

    October 18 – November 8 (? days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The Absolute Egypt tour visits Cairo for the Pyramids, Great Sphynx and Tutankhamun\u00e2\u20ac™s tomb, into Aswan for Nubian food, the temple of Philae, the unfinished Obelisk and Abu Simbel where I will see what Paul\u00e2\u20ac™s family members and ancestors worked on, a felucca trip down the Nile, a donkey ride to the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, the oasis at Dakhla, the White Desert, Baharia, the oasis at Siwa and the library at Alexandria.<\/p>\n

    November 8th – Fly Cairo, Egypt to Casablanca, Morocco at 4:10pm.
    \nNovember 7th – Cairo, Happy City Hotel.
    \nNovember 6th – Cairo, Happy City Hotel.
    \nNovember 5th – Cairo, Happy City Hotel.
    \nNovember 4th – Cairo, Happy City Hotel.
    \nNovember 3rd – Cairo, Happy City Hotel.
    \nNovember 2nd – Alexandria
    \nNovember 1st – Alexandria
    \nOctober 31st – Siwa
    \nOctober 30th – Siwa
    \nOctober 29th – Baharia
    \nOctober 28th – White Desert
    \nOctober 27th – White Desert
    \nOctober 26th – Dakhla
    \nOctober 25th – Luxor
    \nOctober 24th – Luxor
    \nOctober 23rd – Luxor
    \nOctober 22nd – Aswan
    \nOctober 21st – Aswan
    \nOctober 20th – Cairo, Happy City Hotel.
    \nOctober 19th – Cairo,     Happy City Hotel<\/a>, 92C Mohamed Farid St. Down Town, Cairo, Egypt, 2-3959222.
    \nOctober 18th – Fly from Istanbul, Turkey to Cairo, Egypt on “Carpet Air”\/Egypt Air, MS 0738, at 3:10pm, arriving Cairo terminal 1 at 4:25pm. Stay at Cairo’s     King Tut Hostel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Turkey, October, 2007<\/h2>\n

    October 6 – 17 (12 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    October 18th – Istanbul
    \nOctober 17th – Istanbul
    \nOctober 16th – Istanbul
    \nOctober 15th – Istanbul
    \nOctober 14th – Istanbul
    \nOctober 13th – Istanbul, the Blue Mosque, ferry docks, spice market and Grand Bazaar (Karpalicarsi).
    \nOctober 12th – South Cappadocia, G\u00c3\u00b6reme, Nomad Cave Hotel.
    \nOctober 11th – South Cappadocia, G\u00c3\u00b6reme, Nomad Cave Hotel.
    \nOctober 10th – South Cappadocia, G\u00c3\u00b6reme,     Nomad Cave Hotel<\/a>.
    \nOctober 9th – Istanbul, Bauhaus Guesthouse.
    \nOctober 8th – Istanbul, Bauhaus Guesthouse.
    \nOctober 7th – Istanbul, Bauhaus Guesthouse.
    \nOctober 6th – Eminonu and Taksim Square, including the Blue Mosque, ferry docks, spice market and Grand Bazaar (Karpalicarsi).
    \nOctober 5th – Istanbul, Sultanahmet,     Bauhaus Guesthouse<\/a><\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Hungary, September & October, 2007<\/h2>\n

    September 30 – October 5 (6 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    October 5th – Fly out of Budapest at 11:15pm, into Istanbul, Turkey.
    \nOctober 4th – Budapest, Mandragora Hostel
    \nOctober 3rd – Budapest, Mandragora Hostel
    \nOctober 2nd – Budapest, Mandragora Hostel
    \nOctober 1st – Budapest, Mandragora Hostel
    \nSeptember 30th – Budapest, HU staying at     Mandragora Hostel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Italy, September 2007<\/h2>\n

    September 16 – 29 (14 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    September 29th – Fly out of Venice’s Marco Polo airport at 10:15am into Budapest, Hungary.
    \nSeptember 28th – Say goodbye to Chrissy, leave Rome, travel to Venice, stay at Campground     Alba d’Oro<\/a>
    \nSeptember 27th – Sorrento, Hotel Desiree
    \nSeptember 26th – Pompeii day trip\/Sorrento, Hotel Desiree
    \nSeptember 25th – Sorrento, Hotel Desiree
    \nSeptember 24th – Sorrento,     Hotel Desiree<\/a>
    \nSeptember 23rd – Venice, Albergo ai Tolentini
    \nSeptember 22nd – Venice,     Albergo ai Tolentini<\/a>
    \nSeptember 21st – Florence, Il Porcellino Tourist House
    \nSeptember 20th – Florence,     Il Porcellino Tourist House<\/a>
    \nSeptember 19th – Siena,     Il Italia<\/a>
    \nSeptember 18th – Rome, Papa Germano
    \nSeptember 17th – Rome,     Papa Germano<\/a>
    \nSeptember 16th – Meet Chrissy at Gatwick, fly to Rome 4:30pm, stay at Papa Germano’s.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    England and Wales, September 2007<\/h2>\n

    September 2 – 15 (14 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    September 15th – Stay with Stephen & Skye in Oxford, UK
    \nSeptember 14th – Stay with Stephen & Skye in Oxford, UK
    \nSeptember 13th – Stay with Stephen & Skye in Oxford, UK
    \nSeptember 12th – Stay with Stephen & Skye in Oxford, UK
    \nSeptember 11th – Take the bus from London to Oxford, stay with Stephen & Skye
    \nSeptember 10th – London, UK staying at Robin’s apartment near Borough Market
    \nSeptember 9th – Visit Claygate, UK have lunch at the Swan, return to London and stay at St Christopher’s Village (Visit Robin?)
    \nSeptember 8th – Meet Philip for coffee, London, UK staying at St Christopher’s Village
    \nSeptember 7th – On the bus heading back to London from Wales
    \nSeptember 6th – Cardiff, Wales, staying at Nos Da
    \nSeptember 5th – Cardiff, Wales, staying at Nos Da
    \nSeptember 4th – Cardiff, Wales, staying at Nos Da
    \nSeptember 3rd – Take the bus from London, UK to Cardiff, Wales (ticket cost $36.00), staying at Nos Da hostel
    \nSeptember 2nd – London, UK staying at St Christopher’s Village hostel
    \nSeptember 1st – Fly from Toronto to London, 8:20pm<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Colorado and Utah, August 2007<\/h2>\n

    August 4 – 21 (14 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    August 21st – Say goodbye to Bastion and Soo, fly home to Toronto
    \nAugust 20th –
    \nAugust 19th – Race in the Boulder Muddy Buddy
    \nAugust 18th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c
    \nAugust 17th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Delicate Arch, Evergreen, DVDs, Hair Dye, Scotch, Returning the Rental Car
    \nAugust 16th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Goblin Valley and Big Rock Candy Mountain
    \nAugust 15th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Grand Canyon: Day Two
    \nAugust 14th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Grand Canyon: Day One
    \nAugust 13th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Arches National Park and Mexican Hat
    \nAugust 12th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Packing the Car and Getting to Utah
    \nAugust 11th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c
    \nAugust 10th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c
    \nAugust 9th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c
    \nAugust 8th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c
    \nAugust 7th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c
    \nAugust 6th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c
    \nAugust 5th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c
    \nAugust 4th \u00e2\u20ac\u201c<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Vancouver & Hong Kong, March – April 2007<\/h2>\n

    March 23 – April 4 (12 nights)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    March 23rd – [Friday] 7:00am flight WS625 departs Toronto terminal 1, arrives Vancouver at 9:02am (4 hour flight). Meet Keira at the airport.
    \nMarch 24th – Vancouver
    \nMarch 25th – Vancouver (Salt?)
    \nMarch 26th – Vancouver
    \nMarch 27th – [Tuesday] Cathay Pacific flight 889, departs VAN 02:55am Tuesday, March 27th, arrives HK 06:55am Wednesday, March 28th. (13 hour flight).
    \nMarch 28th – Hong Kong
    \nMarch 29th – Hong Kong
    \nMarch 30th – Hong Kong
    \nMarch 31st – Hong Kong
    \nApril 1st – Hong Kong Sevens Rugby World Series
    \nApril 2nd – Hong Kong Sevens Rugby World Series
    \nApril 3rd – Hong Kong Sevens Rugby World Series
    \nApril 4th – [Wednesday] West Jet flight WS 710, depart Vancouver 7am, arrive Toronto 2:30pm. (15 1\/2 hour flight).<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    New York City, May 2006<\/h2>\n

    May 19 – May 22 (4 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    May 19th – [Friday] 5:42pm flight AA573 departs Toronto, arrives New York LaGuardia at 7:16pm (1 1\/2 hour flight). Meet Dave at the airport, go to Inwood in north Manhattan.
    \nMay 20th – Pizza. Shopping. MoMA.
    \nMay 21st – Cloisters, homemade bean burritos, Wildboyz, Sam Adams.
    \nMay 22nd – [Monday] 7:15am flight AA2071 departs NYC, arrives Toronto at 8:49am (1 1\/2 hour flight). Picked up by Mum at airport.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    San Diego – California, July 2004<\/h2>\n

    July 21 – July 25 (5 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    July 21st – [Wednesday] 7:44am flight AW261 departs Toronto, arrives Phoenix at 9:18am; AW182 departs Phoenix at 10:25am, arrives San Diego at 11:35am.
    \nJuly 22nd – Check in at Holiday Inn On the Bay?, 1355 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, 92101 \/ (619) 232-3861. $152.00 per night. Get sunstroke almost immediately.
    \nJuly 23rd – San Diego Comic Convention, [San Diego Convention Centre \/ 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101]
    \nJuly 24th – San Diego Comic Convention
    \nJuly 25th – [Sunday] Flight AW896, depart San Diego 6:35pm, arrive Las Vegas at 7:45pm; flight AW269 depart Las Vegas at 11:27pm, arrives in Toronto at 6:45am(!). Total flight cost: CAD$597.17<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Nassau, Bahamas, Dec 2003 – Jan 2004<\/h2>\n

    December 29 – January 8 ( days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Dec 28th – [Sunday] FAIL by Air Canada to get Mum & I to Nassau. 4am, wake up; 5:30am cab picks Mum and I up; 6:45am *supposed to* board our plane, 7:00am *actually* make it onto plane (due to ice on stairs); 7:20am plane no go. 7:45am want to get off plane. 8am get off plane. get on NEW plane. 8:20am new plane no go. 8:50am new plane take off. 9:55am arrive in Montreal. 10:45am lost all hope. connecting flight to Nassau gone. No more flights to Nassau today. 11:30am Finally eat. 12:20pm Montreal-Toronto flight is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153delayed\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. 1:30pm Finally board plane home.
    \nDec 29th – [Monday] ?m flight AA? departs Toronto, arrives Nassau at 7:16pm (1 1\/2 hour flight).
    \nTook direct flight. All is good. Now in Nassau, drinking rum, waiting to open Christmas Gifts.
    \nDec 30th – Nassau
    \nDec 31st – Nassau
    \nJanuary 1st – Nassau
    \nJanuary 2nd – Nassau
    \nJanuary 3rd – Nassau
    \nJanuary 4th – Nassau
    \nJanuary 5th – Nassau
    \nJanuary 6th – Nassau
    \nJanuary 7th – Nassau
    \nJanuary 8th – [Thursday] Fly home to Toronto.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    New York City, April – May 2003<\/h2>\n

    April 18 – April 21 (4 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    April 18th – [Friday] 9am flight to New York LaGuardia. Picked up by Dave at the airport, taken to stay on Staten Island. Grilled cheese, apple juice, Turkish tea with Jen. Corona, recording \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcDust In the Wind\u00e2\u20ac™ and \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcBlackbird\u00e2\u20ac™.
    \nApril 19th – Walking, walking, walking. Stopping for coffee. Broadway. Forbidden Planet. Chelsea Market. Brooklyn, Superfine. \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcTenacious D\u00e2\u20ac™.
    \nApril 20th – Chelsea Market, Corona, Dave, easter, Food + Eating + Cooking, hamburger, NYC, Sephora, Thai, Times Square, Central Park carousel, Asssscat 3000, Haagen-Dazs.
    \nApril 21st – [Monday] Fly home to Toronto.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    New York City, 2000?<\/h2>\n

    June? (7 days)<\/strong>
    \nDrove down with Bill S. for Japanese Women directors class (got videotape from lesbian director).<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Boston and Salem, Massachusetts, 1997??<\/h2>\n

    June (7 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    To do list:
    \n* Filene’s Basement
    \n* Chowder
    \n* Harvard
    \n* MIT
    \n* Fenway
    \n* Salem
    \n* Museum of Fine Art
    \n* Samuel Adams
    \n* Freedom Trail<\/p>\n

    Friday – Lunch at Jimbo’s, trip to Southey, checked out Harvard, missed the ball game (Red Sox won)
    \nSaturday – Filene’s Basement, Freedom Trail until noon, Sam Adams brewery tour, ate lunch at S&S (Inman Square, Church St exit turn left, take 69 Lechmere’s to Inman, 1334 Cambridge St @ Hampshire).
    \nSunday – nice people on the T, breakfast tea with girls from hostel, day trip to Salem 10am-3pm, saw lots of crap witch memorabilia, House of Seven Gables (Hawthorne) skipped whale watching, went to amazing bookshop with vertically stacked books! Bought wicca goods and candles galore.
    \nMonday – more Harvard, Barnes & Noble, etc.<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    Victoria, BC (with Dave B, to visit CJ), 1997??<\/h2>\n

    June (7 days)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Met Hallam and Edwud for the first time!<\/p>\n

    <\/a><\/p>\n

    England – EF Educational Tour, March 1994<\/h2>\n

    (first solo trip, age 16)
    \nMarch 11 – March 18 (7 nights)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    March 11th – [Friday] 7:20pm flight AC856 departs Toronto terminal 1, arrives London Heathrow at 6:45am (7 hour flight). Tour guide: Brian Switzer. Roommate: Alyssa H.
    \nMarch 12th – Arrive in London, store luggage in hotel (Earl’s Court), roam London, check in at 2pm. Evening walking tour across Leicester Square.
    \nMarch 13th – Tour: St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, stop at Westminster Abbey. Guided visit to Windsor. Pub & dinner.
    \nMarch 14th – Walking tour of London. Horseback ride in Hyde Park with Alyssa. Evening theatre: “Blood Brothers”.
    \nMarch 15th – First time in Knightsbridge, shop at Harrods, buy Mum marzipan for 20GBP. Full day excursion to Stonehenge, Salisbury, Bath.
    \nMarch 16th – Stonehenge, Salisbury, Bath.
    \nMarch 17th – Guided visit of British Museum. Evening theatre: “Don’t Dress for Dinner”.
    \nMarch 18th – [Friday] 12:45pm flight AC857 departs London Heathrow, arrives Toronto terminal 1 at 3:45pm (8 hour flight).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    PEI – July 2023 UK Trip – October 2018 Vancouver – August 2018 Cruise – February 2018 Africa – August 2017 Miami, Florida – December 2016 New York City – May 2014 Riviera Maya, Mexico (2nd time) – March 2014 France Tour – October 2013 Varadero, Cuba – April 2013 Rhodes & Athens, Greece – […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-296","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/296"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=296"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/296\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3290,"href":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/296\/revisions\/3290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pipesdreams.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=296"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}