There was a rumor that Ms. Trudeau was intimate with one of the Stones during the Mocambo Gigs. The rumor no longer persists, due to Ron Wood’s website, where he admitted that he was indeed intimate with Ms. Trudeau.

In 2022 much to the delight of their patient fans, the Rolling Stones officially released a 23-song cd from culled from those two gigs which is “arguably the best live release from the Ron Wood years.” (*It should be noted that four of the songs from the El Mocambo were officially released previously on their double-live LP, “Love You Live.”)

Songs performed by the Stones at the El Mocambo in 1977:

March 4 Set list

1. Route 66
2. Honky Tonk Women
3. Hand of Fate
4. Fool to Cry
5. Crazy Mama(Live premiere)
6. Crackin’ Up
7. Around and Around
8. Melody(Live premiere)
9. Star Star
10. Worried About You(Live premiere)
11. Let’s Spend the Night Together
12. Little Red Rooster
13. Luxury
14. Brown Sugar
15. Jumpin’ Jack Flash

March 5 Set list

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. All Down the Line
3. Hand of Fate
4. Route 66
5. Fool to Cry
6. Crazy Mama
7. Mannish Boy
8. Crackin’ Up
9. Dance Little Sister
10. Around and Around
11. Tumbling Dice
12. Happy
13. Hot Stuff
14. Star Star
15. Worried About You
16. Let’s Spend the Night Together
17. Worried Life Blues
18. It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)
19. Rip This Joint
20. Little Red Rooster
21. Luxury
22. Brown Sugar
23. Jumpin’ Jack Flash

*There was a rumor that Ms. Trudeau was intimate with one of the Stones during the Mocambo Gigs. The rumor no longer persists, due to Ron Wood’s website, where he admitted that he was indeed intimate with Ms. Trudeau.

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I have to address how serendipity and good fortune come together; When I was in Grade 11 (I am Canadian so ‘Grade 11′ is the nomenclature as opposed to the ’11th Grade’, which is how I hear my American cousins say it), I was selected for a special new course. Twenty select students were chosen from Grade 11 and Grade 12. It was called the Sooke River Course and we got to go out in the field and learn about our natural surroundings and our history. We became biologists, paleontologists, anthropologists and all-round explorers.

Assignments such as excavating, by hand, an indigenous native Indian midden, or wading out in teams, in the mouth of the Sooke River at low tide to measure out two-square-metre grids with string and spikes over a zone of sea grasses and other plants, then documenting and reporting everything we could see within our square, be it plants or other creatures. I remember there were large white fleas bouncing about that annoyed us on that sunny day.

The Sooke River Course only existed for the year 1979 and I was fortunate enough to be part of this fabulous experiment.

When I give thought about Three Things You Don’t Know About Sooke, British Columbia, I am compelled to share 3 things you really don’t know about Sooke and will never learn about on TripAdvisor. *I am not trying to insult users of TripAdvisor, of which I am one… I am just saying… you know what I mean.

First up: The Belvedere Hotel.

Up in the bush behind the Sooke River Hotel and Castle Pub (another establishment which is no longer there), I could never imagine there once stood a fancy hotel. I grew up in this village, how could I not know about it, nor my mother nor grandparents?!

As a class we walked a short single lane dirt road revealing two old tire lanes which rapidly vanished into bushes and trees. Our instructors guided us through the forest to the top of the hill where we came upon the stone and concrete foundation the old Belvedere Hotel. Mother Nature had aggressively taken it over. It was so dark in the forest that one could barely notice it.

We stood in the forest and got our history lesson. It was so powerful you wondered if there were ghosts here. Why had it never been part of the fascinating conversations of adults when I was growing up? Long gone? Out of sight, out of mind? What a discovery for me.

The hotel burned down in 1934. One of the first things we were told was about Emily Carr, staying here and painting. The hotel was visited by British Royalty, The Prince of Wales, powerful political players and famous personalities. Now the forest had grown back and you could no longer see the harbour nor the wharf. It was gone and lost in time. It was called the Belvedere Hotel.

Second up: Grouse Nest

Since childhood, Grouse Nest was always a well-known secret. An exclusive hideaway lodge resort. Not a place for us regular folk. It is rural and the big entrance is still hidden deep in the dark forest canopy. Recently, I was on Gillespie Road and I failed to find it – I was going by memory and hadn’t been there for 30 years so it too, may have been obscured by Mother Nature.

Grouse Nest is on private property so you certainly felt like you were trespassing if you entered. I once turned down the perfectly paved driveway back in the seventies but it only took 30 meters for me to feel like I was not where I was supposed to be. I got scared and backed up to Gillespie Road, which can be dangerous because Gillespie is one of those island roads that is tangled like a map of the brain. It may be rural and quiet but a car could still come around the bend and hit you.

I heard stories. Frank Sinatra stayed there. That one is confirmed … but Elvis Presley? … that could be a rumour. I heard one simple story of a brilliant teenage girl in a gathering of wealthy folks who failed to tell the chef that she was a vegetarian. She ate what was served and later, when asked why, she discreetly replied that she didn’t want to insult the chef.

For a time, when I was young, people would notice float planes landing at Grouse Next, which is in deep on the shore of the Sooke Basin, and speculation would abound as to whom it was. John Wayne, we heard.

By the late 70’s, activity at Grouse Nest went to sleep. How could they maintain the property and keep up with yearly property taxes? Grouse Nest is still there today and is still the biggest secret. I personally know nobody who can tell me anything about it, where I might trust I am getting first-hand knowledge. Visit, Mysterious East Sooke ‘Grouse Nest’ up for sale – Sooke News Mirror

Third up: The Sooke Potholes

Growing up in 1960s & 70s, Sooke was sweet and enchanting. No traffic lights, no McDonald’s restaurant, no bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Sooke Potholes swimming spot was alive every summer like our own private Six Flags Amusement Park. Nowadays it is a beautiful government controlled Provincial Park and as a local, to me at least, that’s a form of ruin. I got over it. Once again, I believe you understand.

1960’s – Chevy’s, Ford pickups, hot rods, station wagons. 1970’s – the AMC Gremlin, Ford Pinto, hot rods, Kawasaki motorcycles. Picture a dirt road that bumbles alongside the river where everybody clamors for a space on the shoulder to park their vehicle and the children tumble out of the car, excited to go swimming in their favourite pothole. My mother had a black and white Polaroid she enjoyed showing people of me, her fat little toddler, at the second pothole ‘eating the beach’ as she would say. Yep, that’s me in my diaper grabbing sand, pebbles and stones and putting it all in my mouth. I saw that picture many times throughout my life.

What I am about to tell you may now sound like folklore and is as real as I am. I recently traveled back to the potholes because I was researching ideas for the three things I might talk about. It’s been 40 years since I had been to the potholes, which is sad because we once lived on Sooke River Road about 2.5 kilometers from the potholes, which is at the end of Sooke River Road. I had never seen the provincial park that was built, but I had heard about it. Wow, nicely paved asphalt and dedicated parking lots at different elevations and stations. Public restrooms, information boards, bear and mountain lion caution signs.

The road never went that far when I lived in Sooke. My goodness, it goes all the way up to the falls. And groomed walking trails go much further. The potholes themselves seem to look much different than the way I remember them. Could it be erosion or drought? I don’t quite recognize the place we all went swimming and recreating for all of our young years until it was time for further education or career paths. It is still as beautiful as ever though. It even looks less trodden now.

However, it is the names of each pothole that is missing. The government abandoned them and to make my dream worse I could find absolutely nothing online that referred to the names of the potholes. The government instead gives no names to the potholes but rather gives names to the beaches: Crescent Beach, Sand Pebble Beach, Skipping Rock Beach, Ripple Rock Beach

It feels like a government conspiracy that the names we all knew them by have been erased from history. The Potholes is not something you didn’t know about Sooke. Everyone knows about the potholes. They might be the reason one bothers to travel to Sooke. What you don’t know is the names everyone, including our mayors, knew the potholes by and I fear that once our generation is gone so might be the real names.

I remembered two of them easily, but I was having trouble recalling all four of them, so I used Facebook Messenger to reach out to get help with my slipping memory. (My sincerest thanks to Eric Carlson, Laurie Vanderkerkhove and Carol Michaylenko for all coming to my aid.)

The first pothole, which appeared less like a pothole on my recent visit and more like a place in the river to simply go swimming, is called Bradley (Crescent Beach). The second pothole is called Little Lady (Sand Pebble Beach). That’s where I ate the beach. The third pothole is called Wielers (Skipping Rock Beach). There were never any signs to be found back in the old days. We just knew them by their names, so it is phonetical – which is why Eric, Laurie and Carol each came back with a different spelling; Wielers, Wylers, Whylers. This pothole has the best beach and it was my favourite one to swim in. Larger with deeper spots but in areas, shallow enough that the summer sun kept it at a nice temperature.

The potholes are geologically old so the rocks are all smooth. Nice to make slides with and nice to jump off of. The fourth pothole is called Beer Bottle (Ripple Rock Beach). Now, I never used to swim at Beer Bottle because it is where the older high school kids swam. They were cool. I felt too young and abided by the unwritten social rules. I could never see them from Wielers but I could hear them, jumping off the cliff edges and laughing and hooting. I remained in my station.

The potholes were a wonderful place to go growing up. It was thee place! In the off season we could go explore and feel like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. Once I had reached high school age, my good friend John Jacobsen and I built rafts to go down the Sooke River, starting at the potholes. What a thrill. I wonder how much danger we were in? The currents and rapids can be pretty aggressive downstream. There have been drownings, unfortunately.

What you don’t know is the names everyone knew the potholes by and I fear that once our generation is gone so might be the real names. Visit and Swim at the Potholes and put it on your Vancouver Island Bucket List Swim At the Potholes – Vancouver Island Bucket List.

The post Three Things You Didn’t Know About Sooke, British Columbia appeared first on Traveling Archive.

When the ebb and flow of the urban densities that wash over us start to feel like riptide, we yearn for nature’s open spaces.  Do kids – does pre-teen daughter Katie Jane – share that quiet panic sorting out a place in the world amid all the cultural noise, the school and family pressures?  Sooner or later she will, living in the middle of Washington, DC, and dad wants to impart early the tools of realignment.  Nothing against the plains or oceans, but if you want to hypnotize a kid with nature, go for three-dimensional spaces with high vertical, try the Bugs – Canada’s Bugaboos – one of the continent’s premiere hiking and climbing arenas.

Throw in a helicopter chauffeur, a magician in rarefied air who puts a twin-engine Bell 212 into a dive that threads a needle eye of granite spires like a biplane.  Imagine that sight through the eyes of a child, jaw dropping, this new wow factor tumbling theme park thriller rides into second tier memory files.

Pressures ease as they thin out over an infinity of gray granite peaks wrapped in white glaciers.  They sink amid colorful valleys with a rich palette of greens – from cedar and hemlock and larch – the latter in fall sliding into yellow – to stream-drenched moss and lichen, punctuated by meadows of wildflowers driven in August by the reds and yellows of Indian paintbrush, columbine, monkey flower and fireweed.

These are the views that jerk the rugs of ho-hum usual, that will put everything else in perspective.  It’s a lasting comfort that there are very different places that, properly shepherded, will endure and wait for us for when we need them most.  When KJ, a patent pending perpetual motion machine, is on the road with me, she’s overtaken by serene calm.  But the underlying energy still bubbles, positively, and the Bugs can take whatever she dishes out.

Consider the vastness of the area, spilling beyond the Bugaboos into adjoining ranges of the Columbia Mountains of British Columbia.  This includes the world’s only temperate inland rainforest, running amid the rugged peaks which are a couple hundred million years older than our upstart Rockies.

The  purveyor of this experience, Canadian Mountain Holidays, operates twelve lodges, mostly for the main bread and butter of helicopter skiing, across an area nearly half the size of Switzerland.  Roll all the European Alps together, and that’s about the size of it.  And there is a similarity to the Alps, being at the top, seeing an array of peaks to the horizon.  But no people.  Five lodges also do helicopter hiking and mountaineering, and KJ and I signed on for one of the family specific offerings, at Bugaboos Lodge.  We flew to Calgary and motored to Banff and then a couple hours on a motor coach took us past Radium Hot Springs to a helicopter that took us the remainder.

The 35 room lodge is nearly a mile in elevation and looks up at the remarkable Bugaboos Glacier, flowing around the stunning Houndstooth outcrop, which tops out at 9,250 feet, all framed by a forest bowl and higher granite spires.  It’s a dang impressive swath of white for August, even if considerably trimmed from prior glory by global warming.

The guides, most of whom are also ski pros who never let career stand in the way of a good life, exhibit a genuine joy, and skill, at working with young people, from early grade school to teens.  I marveled at the heights they could coax KJ to climb, beginning with the daunting four story climbing wall that runs alongside a high stairwell.

Rooms are spartan but comfortable and roomy, ours had two big beds and a nice bath, and incredible views through windows that open wide.  Zero television anywhere!  Each room has a portrait of someone with a local mountain connection.  Ours was an English WWI military nurse, Edith Cavell, with a mountain named for her.  She became a English hybrid of Patrick Henry and the Alamo after she was executed by the Germans who claimed she helped Brit soldiers escape.  The bath is nice, but we usually showered by the roof deck with the hot tub, and adjoining steam and sauna rooms.

Our days at the lodge began early.  We were summoned by a bell ringer strolling the halls, prompting us to a stretching class and a hearty breakfast – the meals will make your lips quiver and dinners can honestly claim gourmet status.  We then scramble into queue near the copter with our equipment.  Weather changes on a dime and for most hikes one carries the necessary options in addition to plenty of water and energy snacks – chocolate to your heart’s content.  Packs with warm, rainproof parkas, rainpants, and poles are provided, as are hiking boots and, if needed, climbing shoes, ice axes and helmets.

Groups take off in fast succession,  like a precisely timed military assault, no one dares tarry. Which party one is in depends on general abilities or preferred activities, sorted by a joint assessment of guests and guides.  For some efforts families stick mostly together, for others, kids can split off with special hikes and activities, including a lake swim and games like capture the flag.  Guides impart a deep knowledge of the local ecology.

Camaraderie thrives along mountain slopes, and in a few short days of long hikes, usually two a day – four copter rides – people from very different walks of life connected to their feel for nature soon know each other.  Most return, including for ski season.  One guest told of a ski group introducing themselves at dinner, tossing out what they did, and one fellow sheepishly mumbled he was a king – for the rest of the week most thought Carlos of Spain was a wiseacre.

One late afternoon, an English barrister and his wife celebrating their 25th anniversary invited everyone to join them for champagne.  The mom then beat the pants off her son, a college athlete, at ping pong.

Katie joined my hiking group the first day, getting along well with the adults and keeping up after a guide and I divided her extra gear.  The next day she elected to hike with a younger group, no offense, Dad.

One day everyone, kids and adults, ‘coptered in after their first hikes – each copter group goes to a different locale so they don’t see anyone else on the hikes – to lunch at a fantastic locale where a barbecue was set up and the lady chef hard at work on steaks and sausages.  The surrounding mountains were deceptive, as the copter lifted away it looked like it would collide with granite any moment, but it just kept getting smaller and smaller, the canyon we were in growing larger and larger.

After lunch, most kids remained to climb area cliffs, most adults coptered to their second hikes, though they could stay, as I did, with the kids, climbing with them, some of the cliffs quite challenging in the moves they required.  KJ, now a human fly, wouldn’t believe she made it to the top of one very high granite cliff, belayed with a rope, until I later showed her photographic proof of the sun coming through her hair as her head popped above the edge.

Later that night, after a swim in lake by the lodge and a grand dinner, we joined families at a campfire for sodas and wine and stargazing.

KJ proved a marvel to the guides, who confided to me they wanted to bottle her and wished other kids were more like her.  Guides deal with their share of privileged kids whom some might regard a bit spoiled, and teens in particular aren’t shy about griping.  Katie never complained, despite her pack and despite having considerable blisters – though well-tended – owing to our discovery of too tight shoes before she was fitted with boots. The airline lost our luggage, so for the entire trip Katie had only what she was wearing and what I could find in the lost and found bin of a Banff hotel.  Wide-eyed and open to everything the guides  said, and easy with conversation, the guides couldn’t get enough of her.

But I was most proud of the attention she showed a young lad with aspergers who was there with his grandparents and who took a shine to her.  He’s the age of her younger brother, who’s recovering, splendidly from a medical fright that’s been a long tension, and her blossoming empathy was the prettiest wildflower on the mountain.

A grandfather who treats his family to a yearly hiking session confided to me that the mountain tonic worked well for one of his grandkids.  The teen had gone off his rails, heading to trouble in school and with a tough crowd.  The Bugaboos entranced him, and remain a carrot that keeps his school work up and his behavior in bounds so he can return the following year.  Along the way, he’s become a different kid, a pleasure to be around.

CMH’s empire of solitude began with Austrian Hans Gmoser, who in the 1950s became a guide for Canada’s Matterhorn, Mount Assiniboine.  During his off-time, he performed little mountain feats like the first Wickersham Wall ascent of Mt. McKinley.  One has to be in awe of such climbs, particularly given the difference in equipment decades ago.  In 1965, helicopters seemed like a good idea, and he flew with it.  CMH now catches about 7,000 skiers and 3,000 hikers a year, most of them repeat customers.

This 53 year old pressed his luck with a rocky all day climb led by Mikey Olsthoor, a seasoned skiing and mountaineering guide.  This wasn’t a venture I let Katie in on.  Mikey used the occasion to spank a college kid he’d heard complaining the day before that he wasn’t adequately challenged.  Though an innocent bystander, I was spanked as well.

I was stunned by Mikey’s sure-footedness up glaciers and cliffs, skimming the edges of crevasses and their deceptive optical illusions, his guardian angel an ice axe he wields like a sculptor.  Great to watch, then one remembers where Mikey goes, I got to go, wishing all the while I’d skipped the last couple drinks offered by the copter pilot filling in as bar keep the night before.  A gastrointestinal confrontation during the final nail biting climb forced me to summon a Zen concentration I’d thought beyond me.  I began to mull the multiple meanings of bugaboo, first a business scam in old England, then when a miner’s treasure vein runs out, finally the fears and anxieties one challenges oneself to move past.  It’s not the mountain we conquer, wrote Sir Edmund Hillary, but ourselves.

Mikey looks at a mountain, it’s like reading a book, with near psychic reading of his clients’ abilities and reservoirs of remaining strength.  Though one can’t recall exactly which crack in the rock he tickled or goosed with his toe, one at least knows there’s something somewhere one can grasp for a moment and advance inches here, a foot there, ultimately to find out no, that’s not the summit, more thrillers to come, but first a pause for views one struggles to commit to memory, with density now defined as someone up the rope, and someone below, and, things being relative, being the middleman seems crowded.

Post Script:  Catching up on our timeline, the celebrated Katie is currently finishing a masters in social work at Catholic U., and brother Jack is well and studying art at SCAD. Canadian Mountain Holidays is now booking for summer of this year, and for skiing, for winter ’21-’22.

CMH

Main Switchboard:
Tel: (403) 762-7100
Fax: (403) 762-5879
Toll Free: 1-800-661-0252
E-mail Inquiries:

In**@cm****.com

Mailing Address:
Canadian Mountain Holidays
Box 1660
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1J6
Tel: (403) 762-7100
1.800.661.0252
Fax: (403) 762-5879

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The Holiday Travel Season

While travel is slowly rebounding from its lowest point during the pandemic, things are still a tad problematic with many new COVID-19 variants out there. But many travelers are determined to continue with their vacations. According to a survey of more than 5,000 travelers by vacation rental site Evolve, 32 percent of travelers are not factoring the Delta variant into their travel plans at all, and of the travelers who are, 46.5 percent won’t consider canceling their plans because of it “until much closer to the trip dates.”

The Best Views of Fall Foliage

The Smoky Mountains website presents this guide on the top places to see the leaves change in all 50 states to start planning your journey:

There’s perhaps nothing more magical than watching in awe as the leaves start changing colors each fall. As they move from green to yellow to orange to red, the brilliant array of hues seem to dance in the sunlight and take on a whole life of their own.

Foliage starts to change in mid-August and goes strong through November when the leaves swirl off the branches. All across the nation, October tends to serve as peak season, although you have at least three long months to soak in the breathtaking views all around.

Fall Foliage Article

10 Best Places to Travel Before the Calendar Hits January 1, 2022.

T-Boy Note: Those who choose to travel are strongly encouraged to check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19 and take personal comfort levels and health conditions into consideration before departure.

The end of 2021 is approaching quickly, and the days seem to fly away. But, there’s still time for a vacation-even in November-so here’s a guide to some worthy destinations to visit this fall season.

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Wales, United Kingdom

The perfect off-the-beaten-path destination for November, Wales is located west of England, bordered by the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel, with 870 miles of coastline. The Celtic nation is home to mountains, waterfalls, rugged natural beauty, three national parks, and more than 641 castles. Its capital, Cardiff, is just two hours from London. Though there’s a chill in the air, November is a festive time with the opening of the Cardiff Christmas Market, the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, and Luminate Wales, beginning November 18. South Wales boasts the Penderyn Distillery in the Brecon Beacons, credited with reviving the country’s whisky industry. With an all-female distillation and blending team, Penderyn has created award-winning spirits using a unique copper single-pot Faraday still, which can be seen on tours of the distillery. Slate quarrying, a major industry in northwest Wales for nearly 2,000 years, has earned the slate landscape its recent recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From campsites to five-star hotels, Wales offers a variety of places to stay.

Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

Located on the Pacific just north of Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit is an increasingly popular area with luxury hotels and residences, ideal November temperatures, and convenient access from Puerto Vallarta Airport. Sandy beaches, lush forests, waterfalls, and marine life attract visitors, and in fall, humpback whales begin to arrive on their annual migration.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The second-largest of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has grown from a small fishing village to the world’s fourth most-visited destination. The discovery of oil in 1966 led to economic development, and in 1979, the first skyscraper, the Dubai World Trade Center, was built. In 2010, the Burj Khalifa became the tallest building in the world. Growth has continued at a fast pace, and Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, carries more than 50 million passengers a year. Beaches, theme parks, art, sports, adventure, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment of all kinds make Dubai a perfect destination for families, couples, and solo travelers. Expo 2020 Dubai, postponed last year, is now scheduled from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022.

Austin, Texas

Comfortable fall weather makes Austin a great time to enjoy all it has to offer. Temperatures are perfect for hiking or biking around Lady Bird Lake along the ten-mile trail or enjoying the scenery at Mayfield Park and the view from Mount Bonnell. If there’s time for a road trip to Texas Hill Country about 30 miles west of Austin, a visit to Pedernales Falls State Park provides more natural beauty and hiking trails. Foodies might want to arrive for the Austin Food & Wine Festival (November 5-7) featuring top chefs and, of course, BBQ and music. On that subject, there’s always entertainment in the “Live Music Capital of the World,” with a variety of venues, concerts, and festivals.

Tampa, Florida

With hot summer weather almost a thing of the past in autumn, Tampa is an ideal destination to journey. Located on Florida’s west coast, visitors can stroll along Tampa’s Riverwalk, explore the Tampa Museum of Art and Florida Aquarium, or visit Tampa Bay History Center. With Tampa Bay and three rivers, it’s a perfect time to get out on the water in a kayak, water bike, or a Pirate Water Taxi cruise. Minutes from downtown, Hillsborough River State Park offers nature trails, camping, and class II river rapids for a bit of adventure. Tampa’s historic Ybor City area was the center of the Cuban cigar industry, and many buildings remain from the late 1800s, now home to lively nightlife venues.

Vail, Colorado

November in the Colorado Rockies begins ski season, and Vail anticipates opening the week before Thanksgiving. But, early November is a great time for non-skiers to enjoy the wintery atmosphere, scenery, restaurants, and cozy lodging before the arrival of avid snow fans and holiday vacationers. Vail Mountain offers every level of skiing and snowboarding, attracting families and beginners as well as experts. The places to stay are as varied as the mountain trails, ranging from upscale celebrity style to comfortable and affordable.

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona’s fall weather may call for a jacket or sweater, but the chill in the air creates the ideal time to enjoy the city with fewer crowds, lower hotel rates, and the beginning of the holiday season. The month begins with Diada de Tots Sants (All Saints Day), a public holiday honoring deceased relatives and friends with flowers at their graves. Families gather for traditional foods like chestnuts and sweet potatoes. Fewer tourists make it possible to enjoy leisurely visits to the works of architect Antoni Gaudi- La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and the unique Casa Battló. The annual Barcelona Jazz Festival events take place at various venues throughout the city from late October until early December. Enjoy ‘s tapas bars, paella, flamenco, and local wines while you explore the city, and you’ll see signs of the approaching Christmas season with light displays, holiday markets, and an ice skating rink.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Late fall in Scottsdale is the perfect time to hike, stroll through Old Town, play golf, and enjoy all the area has to offer. You’re in the desert, so make time to get to know the wildlife, cacti, and beauty of the environment with a visit to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Scottsdale also offers several outstanding museums, including the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. A visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West is a fascinating glimpse into his life, work, and influence. Movie fans might want to schedule a visit to catch the Scottsdale International Film Festival from November 5-9. No matter when you go, be sure to take advantage of Scottsdale’s restaurants, craft breweries, and wine trail..

Newport, Rhode Island

This summer vacation capital is just as beautiful in winter, albeit a bit colder with average temperatures in the 40s. Like many off-season destinations, Newport offers attractive hotel prices, fewer tourists, and the opportunity to enjoy the quaint streets and stately mansions without the warm weather crowds. It’s a chance to bundle up in winter clothes, put on some comfortable boots, and a hat, of course, and marvel at the white lights and holiday decorations that appear towards the end of the month. Time your visit around Newport Restaurant Week from November 5-14 when you have a chance to sample the best New England dishes and enjoy discounts and prix-fixe specials. A visit to Newport should include a cocktail or meal at White Horse Tavern, America’s oldest tavern, the perfect place to come in from the cold.

Toronto, Canada

Sure, it’s a bit cold, but Toronto has much to offer during winter, and many travelers have been waiting to return to their favorite destinations north of the border. Food might top your list of reasons to visit the diverse city, with excellent restaurants that serve Chinese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Portuguese, Japanese, German, and just about every cuisine you can think of. And, of course, there’s local specialty, poutine – french fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy, a dish said to have originated in Quebec. Kensington Market is a neighborhood with shops, restaurants, bars, groceries, gifts, and more, a great place to browse or dine. For a break from the cold and an exciting shopping experience, head underground to Toronto’s PATH, the world’s largest underground shopping complex, where you’ll also find convenient connections to hotels and attractions. Get a head start on holiday shopping or just browse through the creative shops in the Distillery District and warm up with a specialty coffee or something a bit stronger.

5 Best Countries for Americans Who Want to Live Abroad

Courtesy of  LILLY GRAVES, Travel + Leisure

Canada: As President Biden recently put it to Prime Minister Trudeau, there is no closer friend to the United States than Canada. Regardless of who is – or isn’t – in office, Canada remains a top contender for American expats for a number of reasons that may include affordable education, cultural diversity, stability, and countless adventures in the unspoiled natural wilderness. If seeking a job, consider the largest city of Toronto, often compared to the Big Apple, where the majority of Canada’s work opportunities are located. There are plenty of other livable cities to choose from like Vancouver, surrounded by sea and mountains, which may include weekend trips to Tofino, a year-round surf town on the edge of the continent.

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Or Calgary, which is experiencing a renaissance with cool eateries, hip neighborhoods, and proximity to the best trails in the Canadian Rockies (Banff National Park is an hour away). Then there are the French-infused cities of Montreal and Quebec City in the east for those who want a slice of European living without the long flights. Depending on your circumstances, you can take your pick between several different ways to make the move; start by checking for eligibility if one of your parents or grandparents was born there.

Portugal: The fashionable country due west of Spain is attracting young expats in recent years, particularly entrepreneurs, given its incredible value and welcoming business incentives that help stretch your hard-earned dollars. Take the second city of Porto, buzzing with modern and creative energy as a manufacturing and textile hub, with a slew of new designers who have made the city their home. Following decades of decline in the late 20th century, Porto’s cobbled streets today are filled with cool cafes, restaurants, and boutiques selling goods from local weavers and ceramists. On a day off, take advantage of the city’s art district, historic churches, and palaces, as well as the Douro River that leads to the oldest wine region in Europe (Alto Douro). Less than an hour from Porto is Portugal’s third city, called Braga, which, for its part, offers a reduced tax rate for start-ups. Nicknamed the “Rome of Portugal” thanks to its Baroque architecture, Braga also offers attractive green spaces, international schools, and high-tech companies for qualified candidates. Further south is the Algarve coast with more than 300 sunny days per year for digital nomads, families, and retirees who enjoy life at the beach. You can also check out the nine islands in the Azores – some offer incentives to attract businesses and start-ups. No matter where you choose, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a kinder nation to call home.

Costa Rica: Relocating to well-trodden Costa Rica isn’t a novel idea for anyone who has ever visited the country (and likely met a few friendly expats along the way), but there’s a reason for its persisting popularity. Situated between the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, this utopic Central American nation wins people over with volcanoes, cloud forests, and exotic wildlife in the form of sloths, capuchin monkeys, and toucans. More than that, it’s the Pura Vida (“Pure Life”) philosophy for good living, which sums up this peaceful Spanish-speaking gem. Sweetening the deal, the country offers expats a straightforward residence program, affordable dental and healthcare, a stable democracy, and easy flights to the U.S. from two international airports. While the capital of San Jose has a notable food and arts scene, expats can head for either coast for long stretches of undeveloped beaches, seaside villages, surfing and yoga classes, neighborly expat communities, and business ventures often tied to eco-tourism. If you prioritize a healthy, laid-back lifestyle surrounded by natural beauty with an evergreen cool factor that is hard to imitate anywhere else, then this might be the place for you.

South Korea: The country that invented K-Pop, K-barbeque, K-beauty, and 24-hour jjimjilbangs (Korean bathhouses), draws expats wanting to be a part of this living and breathing epicenter for popular culture. The sleek city of Seoul, Asia’s third-largest economy, will surround you with killer restaurants, shopping, entertainment, night markets, and a high-tech scene with international workers who partake in the work-hard, play-hard mentality. Professionals based here will find tight-knit social groups and regular networking events for those looking to hob-nob over soju cocktails. But don’t overlook Busan, South Korea’s edgy second city with beaches, fresh fish, and an international film festival. (Fun fact: You can take a ferry to Japan from here.) No matter where you decide to live on the peninsula, enjoy access to rugged mountains and thousands of islands offering plenty of outdoor adventures like winter skiing and treks to 7th-century temples. South Korea is a safe place to live despite its close proximity to North Korea, but stay cognizant of the situation.

Austria: This Central European country can have you hiking in the Alps in the morning and enjoying a performance in a famous opera house later that evening. Austria’s capital, Vienna, has been recognized in Europe for its high quality of life and low crime rates, as well as an exciting food and wine scene, focused on organic, local ingredients. It’s also a good choice for those looking for affordability, healthcare, and international schools. Further south is the youthful city of Graz, which offers its own version of Renaissance and Baroque architecture as well abundant parks and upbeat nightlife. Beyond all of the aforementioned pleasures of living in Austria, if the idea of being surrounded by Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia gets your heart pumping, then you may have found your place.

10 Spooky Destinations for Horror Fans Around the World

If you revel in all things spooky, you’ll be thrilled to the bones by these worldwide destinations associated with horror novels and movies-including “Alien,” “Sleepy Hollow,” and “Dracula.” Drop by for a visit, if you dare to come face-to-face with the supernatural.

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HR Giger Museum and Bar

Surrealist artist HR Giger is the mastermind behind the terrifying face-huggers and xenomorphs of the “Alien” movie series. At the HR Giger Museum in Gruyères, Switzerland, you’ll be mesmerized by his eerie concept art for “Species,” “Poltergeist 2,” and the never-made 1970s “Dune” film. Marvel at his early biomechanical works, and cower in front of an extraterrestrial with an elongated skull and double-row of teeth. Then, sip on absinthe at the Giger Bar, which is decorated with his signature skeletal arches and backbone chairs.

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Bran Castle

Get a bite of Dracula’s bloody history at Bran Castle in Transylvania. The 14th-century fortress is associated with Vlad the Impaler, the vicious Romanian ruler who inspired Bram Stoker’s blood-sucking Dracula. The medieval castle seems particularly fit for a vampire, with pointed spires and gloomy views of the Carpathian Mountains. Inside, you’ll find secret stone tunnels and a collection of torture equipment-including Vlad’s favorite, a long pointed wooden stake.

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Mount Mihara

Japan’s steaming Mount Mihara is an active volcano that erupts about once every century. The island’s lava-scorched landscapes have inspired several works of horror, including “The Ring” series. In Koji Suzuki’s “Ringu” novel, the mother of long-haired Sadako loses her sanity and throws herself into the fiery crater. Mount Mihara was also featured in several Godzilla movies: the monster was imprisoned here in 1984’s “The Return of Godzilla,” but escaped in the sequel. Fans can hike or ride a horse up to the 2,487-foot (758-meter) peak, and admire dark and otherworldly views from the top.

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Stanley Hotel

Stephen King stayed for a single night at The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, and it was enough to inspire the nightmarish setting of “The Shining.” Established in 1909, this old-world manor has the same ominous feel as the Overlook Hotel of his novel. Likewise, guests of The Stanley have claimed to see ghosts from past eras haunting the halls. Dare to spend a night in the supposedly cursed Room 217, or get lost in the hedge maze.

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Salzspeicher

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The silent horror film “Nosferatu” shocked audiences when it was released in 1922. Director F. W. Murnau’s expressionist imagery remains bone-chilling today, particularly his black-and-white shots of Salzspeicher. These six brick salt storehouses were built in the 16-18th century, and they look like crumbling gingerbread homes in front of Trave River. When you see the red ruins under a cloudy sky, it’s easy to imagine that the “vampyre” Count Orlok still lurks inside.

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Lestat’s Tomb” at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

New Orleans’ Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is a spectral setting for many of Anne Rice’s tales. Don’t be alarmed to see Goths posing for photos in front of a white cast-iron mausoleum marked with the name “Karstendiek.” Fans call this “Lestat’s Tomb,” as it inspired the spike-roofed version in the film “Interview with the Vampire.” The crowded, dilapidated Lafayette Graveyard is also the final resting place of some witches, according to Rice’s “Mayfair” trilogy.

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Catacombe dei Cappuccini

Piazza Cappuccini, 1, 90129 Palermo PA, Italy
PHONE +39 091 652 7389

Only brave souls dare descend into southern Italy’s Capuchin Catacomb. You’ll find yourself surrounded by desiccated bodies clothed in tattered robes, hanging from the walls or crammed in shelves. The monastery’s dim passages contain 8,000 corpses and over 1,200 mummies preserved between the 16th and early 20th centuries. Some appear to be grinning and stretching their bony arms out towards you, as if they had come back to life. Look for the uncannily preserved body of “Sleeping Beauty,” a 2-year-old girl whose eyes reportedly open and close. Director Francesco Rosi featured the catacomb in his 1976 film “Cadaveri Eccellenti,” but the experience of walking among the dead is even more chilling in person.

Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground

Beware the Headless Horseman, who terrorizes Sleepy Hollow as he hunts for his decapitated head. Washington Irving set his influential short story in real-life locations, including the Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground (also called the Old Dutch Reformed Church). Much of the terror takes place at this 17th-century stone church, which sits next to a cemetery filled with ornate mausoleums. Take a stroll past the winged skull tombstones-and as the sky darkens, look out for the legendary ghost-rider.

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Sedlec Ossuary

Also known as the Bone Church, Sedlec Ossuary is a chapel adorned with the remains of over 40,000 human skeletons. Look up, and be awed by a chandelier made from strings of bones. The altar is stacked with skulls, with some holding leg bones in their jaws. Sedlec Ossuary was established in the 13th century, and became filled with bodies during the Black Plague and Hussite Wars. In 1870, a Czech woodcarver named František Rint crafted the bones into the Gothic arrangements seen today. Since then, Sedlec has inspired numerous works of horror, including Dr. Satan’s Lair in Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses.”

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Whitby Abbey

Bram Stoker wrote “Dracula” in 1897 while living in the English seaside town of Whitby. In the novel’s opening, the shipwrecked Count transforms into a black dog and runs up the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey. These Benedictine ruins date back to the 7th century and suffered severe damage over the years. Now, only the skeleton of stone arches and moldings remain. When you see Whitby Abbey’s sinister silhouette perched on the cliff, you’ll understand why Stoker was moved to bring the undead back to life.

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Top Ten Wine-Producing Nations in 2020

1. Italy
2. France
3. Spain
4. United States
5. Argentina
6. Australia
7. South Africa
8. Chile
9. Germany
10. China

Source: 2020 Wine Production

Top Thanksgiving Destinations

Americans are planning their trips and packing their bags for bright lights and warm beaches, according to the Allianz Travel Insurance Top 10 Thanksgiving Destination Index, which found that travel-ready Americans have made New York City and Cancun, Mexico their top picks for 2021 turkey-day destinations.

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Allianz Partners reviewed more than two million travel itineraries* around the Thanksgiving holiday for roundtrip flights departing from United States airports from Saturday, November 20 to Thursday, November 25, and returning Friday, November 26 to Tuesday, November 30 and revealed the hottest domestic and international destinations for Thanksgiving 2021.

With the return of Broadway and exciting outdoor seasonal activities like the annual Thanksgiving Day parade, New York City reclaimed the top domestic spot with Seattle, Washington slipping to second and Boston, Massachusetts in third place (up two slots from 2020). Atlanta, Georgia and Dallas Fort-Worth, Texas round out the top five, while Los Angeles, down three spots, came in at sixth place.

A popular fixture in Allianz’s annual survey, Mexico is the top international Thanksgiving destination darling for Americans with Cancun, San Jose Del Cabo and Puerto Vallarta claiming all three top spots. All but two of the top 10 international locations, with London and Paris in fourth and eighth place respectively, are beach destinations, showing that this Thanksgiving, in addition to the stuffing, Americans are searching for a side of vitamin D.

“Americans are craving a return to the good old days and nothing beats a traditional Thanksgiving surrounded by the sights and sounds of New York,” said Daniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications for Allianz Partners USA. “Whether you’ll be enjoying your Thanksgiving in the Big Apple or on the beaches of Mexico, it’s smart to protect your trip with travel insurance. In an increasingly uncertain world, travel insurance offers peace of mind by protecting pre-paid travel expenses from unforeseen covered events that may cause trip cancellations or interruptions, significant travel delays, baggage issues and medical emergencies.”

With more Americans traveling this year compared to 2020, it’s important to understand the COVID-19 guidelines in travel destinations. Earlier this year, Allianz Partners USA announced enhancements** to many of its travel insurance products in most states through an Epidemic Coverage Endorsement. Products that include this endorsement may include covered reasons that provide coverage to customers who become ill with COVID-19 or a future epidemic, are individually ordered to quarantine, or are denied boarding due to a suspected illness. Specifically, products with these enhancements may include epidemic-related illness as a covered reason to cancel or interrupt a trip, or seek reimbursement for emergency medical care, emergency medical transportation, change fees and loyalty points redeposit fees. Availability of the Epidemic Coverage Endorsement, and specific covered reasons under that endorsement, varies by product and by state. See your plan for details.

Allianz Partners offers travel insurance through most major U.S. airlines, leading travel agents, online travel agencies and directly to consumers. For more information on Allianz and the policies offered for travelers, please visit: http://www.allianztravelinsurance.com.

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*Methodology: The data of U.S. travelers’ 2021 Thanksgiving plans was gathered by analyzing the number of customers that went through the online booking process of airfare and package paths for partners offering Allianz Global Assistance travel insurance, to generate itineraries for roundtrip flights departing from U.S. airports from 11/20/2021 –11/25/2021, returning 11/26/2021 – 11/30/2021. In total, 2.3 million itineraries were analyzed using this methodology.

How Holiday Travel Will Be Different in 2021

The granite spires and snowy summits of Denali National Park and Preserve straddle 160 miles of the Alaska Range and display so much elevation they are often lost in the clouds. Photograph courtesy of Alaska Travel.

Despite numbers still being a bit lower than they were before the pandemic, demand is rebounding, especially regarding air travel. “We’re already seeing significant momentum around international and domestic flight searches when compared to 2020, up 155 percent and 212 percent, respectively,” says Matt Clarke, the VP of marketing at online travel agency, Kayak. “When compared to 2019, however, both international and domestic flight searches are down, 52 percent and 43 percent, respectively.”

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But unlike in the pre-pandemic era, when Americans would book holiday flights weeks if not months in advance, Clarke suspects folks are sitting tight as they monitor travel restrictions, waiting until the holidays approach to purchase tickets. “The trend for last-minute bookings is strong,” he says.

This wait-and-see mentality is especially true for international travel, and for good reason; Europe just designated the U.S. a high-risk country, prompting some countries like the Netherlands to reinstate quarantines for American travelers. It remains to be seen if those restrictions will be lifted in time for Christmas, a traditionally popular period for overseas travel.

As such, you can expect a surge in domestic travel in the coming months – something Kayak has already seen in the car rental industry. “The demand for car rentals in the U.S. this holiday season is already up 229 percent compared to 2019 and up 244 percent compared to 2020, an indicator that we could experience another car rental shortage this holiday season as we’re seeing an increase in those searching further in advance for car rentals than years prior,” says Clarke. It’s likely that after 18 months of remote work, Americans are finally getting accustomed to the idea of working from anywhere, allowing them to travel more freely.

FOCUS ON: MONICA VITTI

Monica Vitti was born on November 3, 1931 in Rome, Lazio, Italy as Maria Luisa Ceciarelli. She is an actress best known for her work with film director Michelangelo in L’Avventura (1960), La Notte (1961), L’Eclisse (1962) and Red Desert (1964). For ten years (1957-1967) she was the muse and the companion of Antonioni. L’Avventura made Vitti an international star, where her image later appeared on an Italian postage stamp commemorating the film.

When to Book Holiday Travel in 2021

Though some travelers might be hesitant to book travel early given the uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 variants, T-Boy suggest taking advantage of the flexible cancellation policies offered by travel companies, as prices are only going to rise as the holidays approach.

FIRST GRAPE VINES FOUND IN THE NEW WORLD

Viking expeditions of Vinland recorded the first grape vines found in the New World. Vinland, Vineland or Winland (Old Norse: Vínland) was an area of coastal North America explored by Leif Erikson around 1000 CE, nearly five centuries before the voyages of Christopher Columbus and John Cabot. The name appears in the Vinland Sagas, and presumably describes both Newfoundland and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence as far as northeastern New Brunswick (where the eponymous grapevines are found). Much of the geographical content of the sagas corresponds to present-day knowledge of transatlantic travel and North America.

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In 1960, archaeological evidence of the only known Norse site in North America (outside Greenland) was found at L’Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland. Before the discovery of archaeological evidence, Vinland was known only from the sagas and medieval historiography. The 1960 discovery further proved the pre-Columbian Norse exploration of mainland North America. L’Anse aux Meadows has been hypothesized to be the camp Straumfjörð mentioned in the Saga of Erik the Red, who was banished from his Norse homeland (in what is today’s Norway) to Iceland, and then banished from Iceland to Greenland; which really was green at the time of his arrival.

I Am an American Day

“In 1940, Congress and the President FDR passed a resolution creating” observed on the third Sunday in May. In 1952, the holiday was renamed to “Constitution Day” and moved to September 17, the day in 1787 that the Constitution was signed. Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a single celebration that commemorates the formation and signing of the US Constitution while also recognizing both naturalized citizens and those born in the US. It’s a day to learn about these subjects, as well as a day many people become naturalized citizens in group ceremonies. (On average, about 700,000 people become US citizens every year.)

World’s Historical Landmarks

With the prospects of travelling again at the tips of our fingers, all of us are eager to visit monuments in a different country so magnificent we just can’t resist sharing on our social accounts. With this in mind, TheKnowledgeAcademy.com sought to find out which of the world’s historical landmarks is the most popular on social media by combining the total social shares across Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.

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Tulum tops the charts as the most popular historical landmark across social media, earning a whopping 1,584,562,637 hashtags and pins. Located along the picturesque coastline of Mexico, it’s almost impossible not to share Tulum’s idyllic white sand beaches and Mayan ruins while you are there! Winning by a landslide, Tulum also ranks first with the most shares on TikTok (1,576,600,000) compared to the Eiffel Tower which comes in second with (398,895,800).

• In second place with more than 400 million social shares is Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower. Nestled in the beautiful grassy Champ de Mars park, the lattice tower figure has dominated social media feeds for many years. This iconic French landmark also earns the title as the most shared site on both Instagram (8,253,820) and Pinterest (312,675).
• Taj Mahal in India takes third place with 352,758,040 shares on social media. The beautiful mausoleum hewn from white marble and its elegant lotus dome draws more than 7 million tourists every year.
• In fourth is Machu Picchu in Peru with more than 199 million shares. The ruins of the Incan citadel are set atop Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains and overlooks the majestic Urubamba River which makes it a must-post on socials.
• In fifth place with 146,482,664 shares is the Statue of Liberty Monument in the United States. Holding up the torch of enlightenment on New York’s Liberty Harbour, the green-tinted statue is an unmissable share on socials for visitors from all over the globe.
• The Mayan city Teotihuacán places tenth with 38,406,867 shares across social media. Located just outside Mexico City, Teotihuacán is home to ruins of a major central road, the Street of the Dead, as well as the Pyramid of the Sun. The perfect collision of scenic views and culture has made Teotihuacán a popular addition to social feeds.
• Mexico dominates the top 10 charts, with three landmarks making the ranks (Tulum, Chichén Itzá, and Teotihuacán).

FOCUS ON: Edvard Grieg – Troldhaugen – Bergen, Norway

Despite his diminutive 5 ft frame, Norwegian composer Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a towering rock star long before the expression existed. Born into a successful Bergen merchant family in 1843, his life dramatically changed when violin virtuoso Ole Bull recognized his talent and also introduced him to the treasures of Norwegian folk music.

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Grieg studied the masters abroad, but dreamed of reprieves to his beloved Norwegian countryside – a pattern which continued after he became a world-renowned composer. Grieg and his wife built a home on Lake Nordås on the edge of Bergen, which he called his best opus so far.

Christened Troldhaugen, the Victorian villa featured a tower, flag pole and rooftop vegetable garden. It soon became a center piece for Bergen’s artistic community and visiting dignitaries. Grieg loved the attention, but needed quiet to work, and built a composer’s hut by the lake. Grieg died in 1907 of chronic exhaustion. But today his legacy lives on at Troldhaugen – a living museum consisting of the Edvard Grieg Museum, the Villa, the Composer’s Hut, Concert Hall and Edvard Grieg´s tomb. For me the highpoint of a visit to Troldhaugen was a recital at the concert hall, which is discreetly built right into the grounds, complete with sod roof. The floor-to-ceiling windows behind the stage overlooks the composer’s hut where Grieg would work, superstitiously sitting on a stack of sheet music by Beethoven so that he could reach the piano. At the end of each day, he would leave a note: “If anyone should break in here, please leave the musical scores, since they have no value to anyone except Edvard Grieg.”

Beatle Beat Trivia

Question: Paul McCartney is gifted with a remarkably high tenor vocal range. Which performance features Paul’s highest modal (non falsetto) vocal note in a Beatles recording?

Answer: In the last line of “Oh! Darling” Paul hits an astonishing High D above High C.

The post Fall Foliage, Holiday Travel Season appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Last Sunday, the hit Canadian TV series Our City Tonight interviewed Traveling Boy editor, Ed  Boitano. The main focus of the interview was how Traveling Boy was able to survive during the C-19 pandemic when few people have been traveling.

Hosts Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins offered praise and asked pertinent questions on how Traveling Boy was able to pivot during the pandemic by bringing in new categories and episodes to the site. This includes travel cartoons, international recipes, celebrity suites, travel trivia, foreign film reviews, and travel-themed polls, with the most recent, Places in the Heart; a deeply personal series by staff writers about destinations that dramatically impacted their lives.

Our City Tonight is a remarkable series, almost groundbreaking, in bringing unique viewer content that is not readily anywhere else.

For further information about Our City Tonight:

Our City Tonight – YouTube OR https://www.youtube.com/c/OurCityTonight/videos

FB: Our City Tonight

Instagram: @ourcitytonight @jimgordontv @lifewithleeta

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The drive in from the Falls is along the beautiful Niagara Parkway. Winston Churchill described the Parkway as “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world”. He was in town in 1943 after attending the Quebec Conference when the Allies were planning the D-Day landings in France almost exactly 75 years ago!  The Parkway winds along the edge of the Niagara River and forms a welcoming tree-lined entrance to one of the prettiest small towns in all of Canada. On the way you pass the famous monument at Queenston Heights that honours the death of our first national hero, Sir Isaac Brock.  The general who helped save Upper Canada in the early days of the War of 1812 but died on this hill in October 1812 during the Battle of Queenston Heights.

One of the biggest attracters for our nearly 3 million tourists to this small town of just 18,000, are its wineries. Niagara-on-the-Lake has become famous for the wines from its 40 local wineries. Many have excellent restaurants where they pair their fine wines with regional cuisine. The unique climate of the Niagara Region lends itself to winemaking and it is surprising that it is on the same latitude as southern France. The Niagara region is an area which benefits from a unique and moderate micro-climate and mineral-rich soils, making for successful world-class vintages.

This is my hometown. As a way of giving back over the past few years, I have joined a number of town committees as a volunteer. One was the committee that won many National and International awards for the town in a worldwide municipal contest. The Communities in Bloom award in 2017 was on the international stage and Niagara-on-the-Lake won the prestigious gold award over towns its size in the U.S., Ireland, Croatia and many other countries. The Communities in Bloom program is so much more than flowers. Each competing community is judged on greening through environmental, as well as natural heritage conservation and horticultural actions by citizens and municipalities.  The wonderful flower displays, and the magnificent hanging baskets downtown draw the attention and admiration of millions of visitors in the spring and summer.

In Niagara-on-the-Lake, I love saying that “history walks beside you”. This was one of the first towns settled in Ontario and was declared the capital of Upper Canada in 1792. It was first settled by United Empire Loyalists. People who were loyal to the British crown and who fled the US after the American revolution. In fact, the US border is nearby, just offshore in the middle of the Niagara River. This historic town boasts a number of National Historic sites and wonderfully restored homes in old town.

It’s hard to understand the deep heritage of this town without knowing how it suffered during the War of 1812. The US declared war on Britain in June of 1812 and prepared to attack its closest colony, Canada. The first major attack was at Queenston Heights, but the British were victorious despite the death of General Brock.  By 1813 the Americans forces were better trained and attacked Niagara in what is known as the Battle of Fort George. They were successful with overwhelming forces and the town was then occupied by the American militia for over 6 months. After the American occupation of Niagara, desertion and disease had reduced the American soldiers’ numbers and by December 1813 they decided to withdraw from Canada to Fort Niagara across the river. But before they left, they (and some Canadian traitors) burned and destroyed the whole town during a winter snowstorm. Virtually every home was put to the torch before being reclaimed by the British. In anger, the British troops retaliated and within 3 months had burned the towns of Lewiston and Buffalo across the river in New York State thus laying waste to the whole Niagara Peninsula.

In the years after the war, the town was rebuilt in that beautiful Regency/Neo-Classic style… also known in the US as Federalist. These magnificent 200-year-old homes still stand in all their restored beauty in the quiet tree lined streets of old town today. Niagara-on-the-Lake became one of the first towns in Ontario to have a recognized National Historic District and the old town district offers the largest inventory of heritage buildings in Canada constructed between 1817 and 1850.

Niagara-on-the-Lake has a lot of natural beauty because it is surrounded on one side by Lake Ontario, with its many moods, and on the other by the mighty Niagara River. The beautiful water views add so much to the charm of our town and help attract nearly 3 million people during tourist season. Many flock to our shoreline and the views of Toronto 32 miles across the lake.

Another interesting fact about Niagara-on-the-Lake is that it is the point for marathon swimmers to start when swimming across the lake to Toronto. In the early 1950s, marathon swimming was a very popular sport. One of the best of the marathoners was young Marilyn Bell and in 1954 she became the first to swim the lake from Niagara to the Toronto shoreline at the age of only 16. It took her 24 hours and captured the imagination of all Canadians.  It seems every year more swimmers attempt this grueling 32-mile swim route. There is a plaque in Queens Royal Park honoring these successful swimmers and I’m proud to say my son’s name is on the plaque. I accompanied him (in the luxury of a boat) on his successful 19-hour swim in 2008.

There are seven National Historic sites in our small town protected and maintained by Parks Canada. The most popular with visitors is Fort George. The fort was built around 1800 but was destroyed during the War of 1812. In May of 1813 it was attacked and burned by the Americans. Following the attack and the destruction by “hot shot’ from cannons at Fort Niagara, the town was occupied by American forces. Fort George was carefully restored in the 1930’s based on accurate drawings that still existed in England.  Today it welcomes as many as 100,000 visitors from all over the world and costumed interpreters teach tourists and students alike about the impact of the War of 1812. Our nearby houses shudder with the sounds of cannon fire during reenactments in the summer.

Culture, along with heritage, thrive in this town. For instance, the successful Shaw Festival theater started in the 1960’s and now the Shaw is considered a world class theater destination. In the past 50 years, this theater that has brought with it a cultural rebirth to the town.  Now, along with the Shaw we have a number of summer music festivals, including classical music presented by Music Niagara and the annual Jazz Festival which brings music to town parks and wineries.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a “must visit,” and a wonderful gem on the shores of Lake Ontario.

The post Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario: Where History Walks Beside You appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Padre Pro’s last request was to be allowed to kneel and pray. When the firing squad’s shots failed to kill him, a soldier shot him at point-blank range. Pro had been falsely accused in the bombing attempt of former Mexican President Álvaro Obregón, and had become a wanted man. Betrayed to the authorities, he was sentenced to death without the benefit of any legal process. On the day of his execution, Pro forgave his executioners and refused a blindfold. He died proclaiming, Viva Cristo Rey! (Long live Christ the King!) On a recent trip to Mexico City, I was exploring the Roma Norte Neighborhood, courtesy of Visit Mexico City.  Located on the edge of the city’s bustling downtown and historical sites, my photographer, Deb Roskamp, and I were just about to take a break in one of Roma Norte’s idyllic tree-lined pocket parks, when a small building, adjacent to a parish church, caught our  attention.  Its sign read: Museo Padre Pro. The name sounded curiously familiar, so we went inside.

The museum was small, but felt spacious, allowing emotional space to reflect on this man Pro and his remarkable life story. At the entrance to the museum, books, posters and postcards were sold. All the information was in Spanish, but fortunately my photographer was Spanish-speaking wife, who translated Pro’s history to me. His story was of a  Catholic priest who defied the fiercely anti-clerical and anti-Catholic provisions of the 1917 Constitution, which were now vigorously enforced in 1926. This enforcement resulted in severe penalties for priests, including death, who criticized the government or wore clerical garb outside their churches. The articles also mandated secular education in schools, prohibiting the Church from participating in primary and secondary education, forbade public worship outside of church buildings and restricted religious organizations to own property. The final article revoked basic civil rights of clergy members, denying priests and religious workers the right to vote.

In 1926, the Jesuits sent Padre Pro to Mexico City just three days after Plutarco Elías Calles banned all public worship. Since he was not known as a priest, Pro went about clandestinely — sometimes in disguise of a variety of professions — celebrating Mass, distributing communion, baptizing children, hearing confessions, anointing the sick, and even celebrating weddings. He would often dress as a beggar to collect money for the poor. The whole time, he was risking his life because public worship was explicitly outlawed and priests would be arrested immediately. Details of Pro’s ministry in the Underground Church come from his many letters displayed in the museum. Soon under surveillance by the Calles regime, a failed attempt to assassinate Álvaro Obregón, provided the state with a pretext for arresting Pro.  A man confessed his part in the plot, testifying that Pro was not involved, but this was ignored.

In prison, unsure of his fate, Pro spent his time praying for the others in confinement and for the salvation of humankind. On the morning of November 23, a guard appeared at the cell door and called for Padre Pro. He turned to the other prisoners and exclaimed, Good-bye, brothers, till we meet in Heaven!

Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel – Leonard Cohen’s Montréal

Montréal is a city of cathedrals, and for my first trip to the city my plan was to walk from one church to the next, never knowing what experience awaited me around each corner. While wandering on the edge of Old Montréal’s cobbledstoned streets, I stumbled upon Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel, known as The Sailor’s Church due to its proximity to the Old Port. I was quite moved by the statue of a woman atop its dome, who seemed to reach out to the St. Lawrence River. Upon closer inspection I realized that the statue was Our Lady of the Harbour, made famous by Leonard Cohen in his song, Suzanne. As a fan of Cohen, it was an important discovery in which I will never forget. The church also features an observation tower with remarkable views of Old Montréal and the St. Lawrence, and a museum, which includes artifacts pre-dating the arrival of the New France colonists in 1642. Admission to the chapel is free.

The Dying Lion Monument of Lucerne – Swiss Guard

The Dying Lion of Lucerne is a powerful memorial that pays homage to the selfless Swiss Guard who died defending the royal palace in Versailles during the French Revolution. When angry French masses stormed  the palace on August 10, 1792, the 1,000  Swiss Guardsmen stood up as the last defenders of the French monarchy — but in vain. (History has not been kind to Louis XVI, but we forget that he underwrote the Continental Army during the American Revolution). The Guard, renowned for their bravery and unconditional loyalty, never surrender, even at the point of death. A Swiss Guardsman had to be an unmarried Swiss Catholic male between 19 and 30 years of age who had completed basic training with the Swiss Armed Forces. The Dying Lion of Lucerne  monument was initiated by Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, a junior lieutenant with the Swiss Guard, and was hewn out of stone after rallying Lucerne’s artistic community. It was described by Mark Twain as “The most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.”

Today, the Swiss Guard’s esteemed stature remains as defenders of the Pope in the Vatican. Since the assassination attempt on John Paul II of 13 May 1981, a much stronger emphasis has been placed on the Guard’s non-ceremonial roles. The Swiss Guard has developed into a modern guard corps equipped with advanced small arms, and members in plain clothes now accompany the Pope on his travels abroad for his protection. I recall with frustration while standing in line at  Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City where a group of American tourists were mocking a  Swiss Guard’s historic mode of dress. I tried to explain to them that they were among the world’s greatest defenders. I was met with further laughter: “In those little outfits!” I thought, yes; but far more appropriate than the American tourists’ baseball caps, sweat strewn tee shits with logos, and frayed baggy shorts.

The Magical Mystery Tour – The Beatles in Liverpool

The Magical Mystery Tour of Liverpool is the ultimate Beatle experience for the ultimate Beatle fanatic, and if you fit that description, it is well worth the journey. The tour introduces you to over thirty places directly associated with the Beatles and those people who were close to them.

Tickets are purchased at the  Beatles Story Museum at the renovated Albert Dock, on the River Mersey. If you have the time, the museum offers a good Beatles primer before you get on the bus. Full of memorabilia, rare photographs and interactive exhibits, it covers the lads’ beginnings to their rise to stardom and eventual departure from Liverpool.

Participants board one of the company’s fleet of three yellow psychedelic Magical Mystery Tour coaches identical to the bus used in the 1967 BBC film “Magical Mystery Tour.” A team of professional tour guides who are all expert Beatle historians conduct the two and a half-hour journey. And each of them seems to have their own personal story and relationship with John, Paul, George and Ringo.

Selected Highlights:

The Jacaranda club where the lads would hang out during their student days

The Liverpool College of Art where John met Stuart Sutcliffe, later a temporary Beatle,  and Cynthia Powell, who became his first wife.

Penny Lane and Strawberry Field/s.

The childhood homes of John, Paul, George and Ringo.

St. Peter’s Church Hall, where Paul first met John while he was performing with his Quarry Men skiffle group.

And, of course, the reconstructed Cavern Club.

Yes, these are places that I will always remember.

The real story of ‘Yellow matter custard, Dripping from a dead dog’s eye’ in “I am the Walrus.” John Lennon heard that a Liverpudlian school teacher was teaching  courses about the meaning in Beatle songs. The lyric is a Liverpudlian school boy taunt. Lennon though the kids would get a kick out of it, so he put it into the song.

The post Pilgrimages: Places I Remember, Part 6 appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Mount Royal and Montréal

In 1535, French explorer, Jacques Cartier, climbed a small mountain, which overlooked the St. Lawrence River in Upper Canada and gave it the name, Le Mont Royal. Cartier was the first European to navigate the St. Lawrence River, and, along with his explorations of the Canada’s Atlantic coast, laid France’s claim to North America. Cartier is also credited with naming Canada, which stems from the Huron-Iroquois word kanata, meaning village or settlement. As Montréal’s small trading post grew due to its strategic setting on the river, the mountain became the symbol of the city and eventually its name. A wooden cross, now made of steel grinders and 158 spotlights, was erected. The slopes of the mountain were gradually incorporated into residential properties, but city fathers established a park on the very top for the world to enjoy.  This is where my journey begins each arrival, with an easy climb to the top of the mountain for sweeping views of this bilingual city of over four million people, the fourth-largest French-speaking city the world. Who’s Number 1:  Why that’s Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, who has now edged out Paris as the world’s number one French-speaking city.

Old Montréal

Located between the St. Lawrence River and the downtown center, the cobblestone streets of Old Montréal is an essential must-see attraction. Established in 1642, the French settlement was once a fortified town and the birthplace of the city proper.  Best explored on foot, this area of graceful stone buildings is worth visiting any season, but the real secret is to plan a trip the last weekend in August when the Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, recreates an 18th-century public market. You will see locals dressed in folkloric Quebecois costumes, stalls with regional food items, demonstrations by craftspeople, musicians and, even a military camp and marching band.

Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel

Montréal is a city of cathedrals, and for my first trip to the city my plan was to walk from one church to the next, never knowing what experience awaited me around each corner. While wandering on the edge of Old Montréal, I stumbled upon Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel, known as The Sailor’s Church due to its proximity to the Old Port. I was quite moved by the statue of a woman atop its dome, which seemed to reach out to the river. Upon closer inspection I realize that the statue was Our Lady of the Harbour, made famous by Leonard Cohen in his song, Suzanne. The church also features an observation tower with remarkable views of Old Montréal and the St. Lawrence, and a museum, which includes artifacts pre-dating the arrival of the New France colonists in 1642. Admission to the chapel is free.

Little Italy

Coming from a Northern Italian ancestry, I’m always drawn to Italian communities. Montréal’s Little Italy (Piccola Italia) is the second largest (after Toronto) in Canada. The community is filled with Italian cafés, restaurants and bars, specialty food shops, cultural landmarks, and Jean-Talon Market, Montréal’s most vibrant open-air food area. Vendors sell flowers, and locals play bocce at nearby Parc Dante. Also located there is Madonna della Difesa Church, one of the most important landmarks in the area. An insider secret is the fresco situated above the High Altar, shows a virile Benito Mussolini astride a horse, commemorating his signing of the Latern Treaty. In 1929 he was still pretty much regarded as a good guy among Little Italy’s community.

Mount Royal Cemetery

I’ve never been one attracted to the morbid, but these 165 acres, located on the north slope of Mount Royal, are worth exploring both for their beauty and sense of history. Founded in 1852, and now a National Historic Site, the setting is almost romantic with its large green spaces, monumental headstones and crosses from the Victorian era.  Buried at the cemetery include John Molson, Molson Beer industrialist and benefactor of numerous Montréal institutions, John Abbott, 3rd Canadian Prime Minister, other Confederation Fathers, iconic hockey players — remember, hockey was invented in Canada — and even victims of the Titanic. Leonard Cohen lies at rest atop Mount Royal, buried beside his parents, grandparents and great-grandparents in the cemetery of the congregation with which he maintained a lifelong connection. Historical guided tours are available to learn about the life of some of the other famous figures that are buried in the cemetery.

Underground Montreal

Yes, the winter months are long and cold, but for Montréalers there is an 18.5 miles underground city of malls, food courts, office complexes, hotels, apartments, and Metro stops. It’s not even necessary to wear a coat. It is unique for a city that so proudly preserves it past to have something so modern, and I’ve always enjoyed strolling its maze of tunnels, corridors, escalators, and concourses. Later, I learned that Houston, Texas has an underground mall as well, modeled after Montreal’s. But this was designed for much needed protection from the blistering Texas summer sun and its humidity.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono Suite 1742

Located in the famous Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, this one-bedroom suite was the site of the legendary 1969 Bed-in for Peace in Montréal, where John and Yoko recorded the song Give Peace a Chance.  Guests singing along included Timothy Leary, Petula Clark, Tommy Smothers and whoever happened to be present in the room. The living room and bedroom feature memorabilia composed of press articles, framed gold records and pictures of the famous couple. The suite is available for lodging and can also be rented for parties.  Sometimes I will only make a pilgrimage to the room’s exterior, just to see the plaque on the door.

Montréal Bagels

In Montréal you will you hear it pronounced “bah- gal” and yes, they are different.  In contrast to the New York-style bagel, which also contains sourdough, the Montréal bagel is smaller, thinner, sweeter and denser, with a larger hole, and always baked in a wood-fired oven. It contains malt, egg, and no salt, and is boiled in honey-sweetened water before being baked. You will also hear from locals that they are the best and most authentic bagels in world.  I once took a homeless man, a Montréal expat living in Vancouver, for coffee and asked if he would like a bagel, too. He replied that they were not real bagels, and declined. His favorites and now mine: Montréal’s historic St.-Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel.

Montréal Smoked Meat

We all know pastrami and corned beef, but what is smoked meat? Well, it’s basically beef brisket that has been dry-cured, but then soaked (unlike pastrami) to desalinate it before seasoning and smoking. The seasoning is apparently a secret, for no one will divulge anything else other than it makes the most delicious sandwich on the planet. Schwartz’s (circa 1928) is the oldest deli in Canada and is considered institution, though others will make a case for the newcomer, Reuben’s Deli and Steakhouse, at only a mere 40 years of existence.

Other attractions

Touring Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal and Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral, strolling trendy St-Catherine and St Laurent Boulevards, exploring the Downtown Museum Quarter and wandering the Quartier Latin, the main Francophone district. You can also take a spin on La Grande Roue de Montréal, the highest observation wheel in Canada at 197 feet.

How to get there

Virtually all major airlines offer flights to Montréal, but if you have the time, why not go the distance and travel in luxury aboard VIA Rail Canada. I’ve trekked the rails from Vancouver to Halifax, and from the comfort of an armchair, crossed six provinces, experiencing everything from towering mountain peaks, sweeping forests and unique wildlife to wide-open prairies, two oceans and world-class cities. It’s even better with a Caesar, a Canadian version of the Bloody Mary, in your hand. With the sound of tracks, it’s easy to slip off to a luxuriant night of sleep.

Where to stay

There is no hotel more conveniently situated than the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Located above the train station (Via Rail & AMTRAK) and connected to the underground city, this legendary hotel is within walking distance of downtown’s numerous attractions as well as Old Montréal. Offering 1,039 rooms, in which 100 are suites, this landmark property has played host to Charles de Gaulle, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Mikhail Gorbachev and, if it was a not a surprise, Queen Elizabeth ll.

For further information about travel to Montréal, visit Tourisme-Montreal.org or (877) BONJOUR.

The post Memories of Montréal: Going to France without French Prices appeared first on Traveling Archive.

So, with Canada Day just passing our door, we thought this would be an appropriate time to ask a group of our illustrate Canadian friends, all connected to the world of travel, one question: Who is their favorite Prime Minister? It proved to be a good pathway for the beginning of dialogue between our nations. As can be expected their answers were both thoughtful and astute. And, to quote Canadian writer Will Ferguson in his affectionate, humorous book, “Why I Hate Canadians” — Why are they so damn nice?

The List: Canadians on their Favourite Prime Ministers

All are all flawed and none have a perfect record of victories but they worked conscientiously and for the people. — WC, British Columbia

1. Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King OM CMG PC (December 1874 — July 1950) was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada in 1921–1926, 1926–1930 and 1935–1948. He is best known for his leadership of Canada throughout the Second World War when he mobilized Canadian money, supplies and volunteers to support Britain while boosting the economy and maintaining morale on the home front.

“First of all he was named after a true rebel who fought the ruling classes in the mid 1800’s. William Lyon Makenzie was a hot headed Irish immigrant who really up-ended the political power structure of the day as well as being a newspaper publisher here in Niagara, Ontario. King was his grandson. He must have been good — he got elected 3 different times and was the PM during the Second World War. All that and he had almost no personality. He was described as ‘cold and tactless’ with few personal friends and never married. But he lead his party for 29 years in an effort to create ‘social harmony’ in Canada so he was obviously politically astute. However his enduring personal quality was a spiritualist who kept in touch with his deceased mother. Now that is unique!” — TC, Ontario

“Mackenzie King kept our little population country together at crisis. He was at the table with American President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill at Le Frontenac (Le Château Frontenac, historic hotel in Québec City) as a equal in planning Normandy attack that made us proud. We did not let them down with a victory at Juno.” — JPD, Québec

2. Lester B. Pearson

Lester Bowles Pearson PC OM CC OBE (April 1897 — December 1972) was a Canadian scholar, statesman, soldier, prime minister, and diplomat, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. He was the 14th Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968, as the head of two back-to-back Liberal minority governments following elections in 1963 and 1965.

“Pearson introduced universal healthcare, the Canada Student Loan Program, the Canada Pension Plan, the Order of Canada, our now well recognized Maple Leaf Flag.” — WC, British Columbia

“Lester Pearson was the complete package and cared deeply for the betterment of all Canadians regardless of race, religion and social class. His liberal reforms were a shining star for those who suffered from poverty and hunger with nowhere else to turn. My elderly parents were a living example of that. And for that alone, he will always be my favourite PM.” — NM, Nova Scotia

3. Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau PC CC CH QC FRSC (October 1919 – September 2000) was a prominent lawyer, intellectual, activist in Québec politics and 15th Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, between 1968 and 1984. Trudeau’s outgoing personality caused a media sensation, inspiring “Trudeaumania,” and helped him to win the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1968, when he was appointed prime minister of Canada.

“Pierre Trudeau was chiefly concerned with maintaining the unity of Canada and ensuring good relations between English and French Canadians. Trudeau — a determined anti-separatist — helped defeat the French separatist movement. In 1980 Trudeau began work on plans to reform Canada’s constitution. The resulting Constitution Act of 1982 remains in place.” — GB, Ontario

“Trudeau was hip and popular (as well as unpopular) and he cared. He was a political rock star. He used the F-word, put up his middle finger 🖕🏽 and called Reagan a two bit pipsqueak. He did not like Reagan. Reagan fell asleep at meetings.” — WC, British Columbia

4. Justin Trudeau

Justin Pierre James Trudeau PC MP (born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who has served as the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada since 2015 and has been the leader of the Liberal Party since 2013.Son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, his experiences as a teacher, father, and advocate for youth have shaped his dedication to Canadians — and his commitment to make Canada a place where everyone has the opportunities they need to thrive.

“For your question, I would have to say my favourite Prime Minister is our current one, PM Justin Trudeau. I think he’s done a fantastic job through this crisis and has made young people interested in politics again.” — LF, Manitoba

“Justin Trudeau has brought vision and vigour to Canada in a changing world. His June speech honouring Nelson Mandela says it all, ‘As we reflect upon the legacy of Nelson Mandela, we are reminded of the power of individuals to bring about change, and the responsibility we all share to make the world a better place.'” — JS, Ontario

5. Kim Campbell

Avril Phaedra Douglas “Kim” Campbell PC CC OBC QC (born March 10, 1947) is a Canadian politician, diplomat, lawyer and writer who served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993. Campbell is the first and only woman to hold the position. She was also the first baby boomer to hold that office, and the only Prime Minister born in British Columbia.

“Well, Kim Campbell wasn’t in long but we finally had a female Prime Minister. That’s a point of pride for us. Plus, I’m a tad biased as she was from my home province of British Columbia.” — SM, British Columbia

“Probably not my favourite Prime Minister, but Kim Campbell was important for showing women that anything is possible. I believe she remains active today in the same cause.” — KA, British Columbia

Thank you all, Canada, for your illuminating comments and participation in our poll. Our lonely and polarizing eyes look to you for guidance. Soon, I pray, that North America will be united as we fight this savage pandemic together. And let’s keep the dialogue going; we can learn much from each other. Readers are welcome to reply with their own comments, which will be published in our next article. If you are so inclined, contact our editor:

**@Tr**********.com











. — Traveling Boy

Epilouge: C-19 Pandemic in Canada.

Canada has its hotspots — Toronto and Montreal, secondary Calgary and Vancouver. But, those were the 4 designated cities where international flights could enter the country until nearly the end of March, so it stands to reason they had travel-related infections at the beginning which mushroomed in to community and work place spread. Here in Manitoba we have had a total of 322 cases, 300 recovered, 22 active (none in hospital) and, thankfully, only 7 deaths and none since April. Our population is only 1.3 million, but still pretty impressive stats. Our provincial government locked down early and was very careful with the phases of re-opening. We’re now in Phase 3 with most things open, amateur sports back on, restaurants at 50%. Basically just movie theatres, concert and professional sports venues are still closed.

We watch in horror as the virus explodes in the US. I must admit I can’t even watch the news anymore as the numbers are just too depressing, the ignorance too upsetting. If I hear “Wearing a mask is against my civil rights” one more time…..!” I guess those same idiots don’t wear seat belts, either?

— LF, Manitoba

C-19 Pandemic in the U.S.

My wife and I had planned a day of fun for U.S. Independence Day at Malibu’s Zuma Beach, but found it was closed along with all other L.A. County beaches. Not a problem, we understand the theme of taking a couple steps backwards in a united front to defeat the deadly C-19 pandemic.  Yes, the arrow’s shooting straight up in the states. Nevertheless my family is fine, but worry about my wife as a frontline worker who seems to be almost exclusively helping entire families inflicted due to gatherings.   Mask shaming is a thing of the past. Some bad citizens are actually verbally attacking those wearing masks, even throwing items at shop and restaurant employees who won’t admit these self-absorbed people for not wearing them. Like California’s rage driving laws, we are told to just ignore any form of confrontation. As the French say, “What can you do if a jackass kicks you?” We hope and pray that our bad citizens come to terms with this crisis, and realize that they and the Executive Office, who considers the pandemic a mere afterthought, are the problem. Together, standing united, we can fix it.

My wife’s ancestral home county of Yakima, Washington (pop. 251,000) is off the charts with more cases by numbers than Seattle’s King County (2,25 million).  Fortunately the state government is cracking down, instructed to issue fines for not wearing masks in public places, and steeper ones for businesses who allow them in. Time will tell if this form of hard love will be effective.

We remind ourselves that Covid-19 Direct Relief,  addresses the courage of health workers on the front lines, honoring them with meaningful support, and the people most at risk in this pandemic are cared for — regardless of politics, religion, or ability to pay.

DONATE to DIRECT RELIEF

— EB, California

Postscript: Covid News from Manitoba

Manitoba had its 13^th straight day with no new cases (as of June 12). Total cases 325, recovered 314, hospitalized 0, deaths 7. I’m kind of anticipating a small spike now that we’re well into Phase 3 with small gatherings allowed, minor sports back in action and visitors travelling in the western Canada/NW Ontario bubble. Our truckers are still crossing the border for essential supplies, so the drivers are at risk of infection. But, we have to keep essentials coming in. Hopefully the drivers can stay healthy. — LF, Manitoba

CANADA / USA Relationship open letter from Florida

US Judge Praises Canada: As The Best Neighbour America Has In The Whole World!

This is an open letter written by a Florida judge about the CANADA / USA relationships & history.

Robert Meadows (Circuit Court Judge, Florida) wrote:

Here is one American’s take on the growing trade war with the US and Canada.

“Have you ever stopped to consider how lucky we Americans are to have the neighbors we have? Look around the globe at who some folks have been stuck sharing a border with over the past half century:

North Korea / South Korea

Greece / Turkey

Iran / Iraq

Israel / Palestine

India / Pakistan

China / Russia

We’ve got Canada! Canada. About as inoffensive a neighbor as you could ever hope for. In spite of all our boasts of “American exceptionalism” and chants of “America first,” they just smile, do their thing and go about their business. They are on average more educated, have a higher standard of living, free health care, and almost no gun problems. They treat immigrants respectfully and already took in over 35,000 Syrians in the last two years.

They’re with us in NATO, they fought alongside us in World War I, World War II, Korea, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, Afghanistan, the Kosovo War and came to our defense after 9/11. There was that one time when Canada took a pass on one of our wars: Vietnam. Turned out to be a good call.

They’ve been steady consumers of American imports, reliable exporters of metals and petroleum products (they are the biggest importer of U.S. products from 37 states), and partnered with NASA in our space missions.

During 9/11 many aircraft were diverted to Newfoundland, an island province off Canada’s east coast where Americans were housed in people’s homes for two weeks and treated like royalty. In return for their hospitality, this administration slapped a 20% tariff on the products of Newfoundland’s only paper mill, thereby threatening its survival.

And what do Canadians expect of us in return? To be respected for who and what they are: Canadians. That’s what I call a good neighbor.

But the King of Chaos couldn’t leave well enough alone. Based on his delusions of perpetual victimhood, out of the clear blue, he’s declared economic war on Canada. On CANADA! And he did it based on Canada being a national security risk to the US! For no good reason, other than the voices in his head that told him it was a war he could win. So why not do it, then?

Again, we’re talking about Canada. Our closest ally, friend and neighbor.

On behalf of an embarrassed nation, people of Canada, I apologize for this idiotic and wholly unnecessary attack. Please leave the back channels open. We the People of progressive persuasion stand with you.

The post Canadians’ List of Favourite Prime Ministers appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Winterlude – Ottawa, Ontario

Every February, Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, is host to Winterlude; three weekends of excitement and activity that celebrates Canada’s winter climate and culture. The festival includes ice skating, culture and live music shows along Rideau Canal Skateway; spectacular ice sculptures competition at Confederation Park; and activities for children, skating, ice mazes, ingenious ice slides, food, music and games at Jacques-Cartier Park.

Where does Winterlude take place?

Winterlude is known as one of the biggest and most popular winter events in Canada. The festival that started in 1979 attracts, every year, thousands of tourists from Canada and USA. Due to the numerous visitors during the festival days and the high demand for accommodations it is recommended to check hotel rates and book rooms well in advance. Most Winterlude activities are free of charge, but registration and admission fees may apply to certain events. See the festival’s program, venue, lineup information show time / schedule of events, how to get, parking, etc. here.

Winterlude starts off on January 31 to February 17, 2020.

For me, a highlight is when the frozen 4.8-mile-long Rideau Canal is transformed into the world’s longest skating rink. Located in the heart of Ottawa, between Parliament Hill and the Fairmont Château Laurier, seeing business people skating to work with backpacks and briefcases in hand is a sight that I will never forget. And I know that children on skates will never forget seeing a clumsy, terrified journalist trying to negotiate the ice.

Signature Winterlude Snack: BeaverTails are named after the shape of one of Canada’s national symbols – the beaver. Made with fried whole wheat pastry, then tossed in a bowl of cinnamon and sugar, they are a popular treat when taking a break at one of the booths along the Rideau Canal. They can also be made with toppings of garlic, cheese, jam or chocolate sauce.

About Ottawa

Situated on the border of the provinces of Ontario and Québec in central Canada, the Ottawa area is one of Canada’s most bilingual places with nearly half a million people speaking both English and French. As Canada’s capital, it boasts endless tourist attractions and rates a visit regardless of the season. Your tour should begin with a trip to the observation deck of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, which offers sweeping views of this world-class city. If you’re lucky, you may watch the proceedings of the Senate or House of Commons from the public galleries. Other attractions include vibrant neighborhoods, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian War Museum, which shows Canada’s history of war from the perspective of an average person.

Where to Stay: Fairmont Château Laurier

When in Ottawa, why not go the distance and stay in the legendary Fairmont Château Laurier. This palatial limestone structure with turrets is modeled after a French château and is located in the heart of the city, across the river from the Parliament Buildings. It makes a great place for warming après-snow enjoyment after a day in the cold.

Carnaval de Québec – Québec City, Québec

Nestled on the banks of Old Québec City, Carnaval de Québec is the biggest winter carnival in the world. Sixty-five years of history is reflected in this two-week festival that includes snow sculptures, Ice Tower, night parades, concerts, ice fishing, skating and other activities based on Québecois folkloric traditions.

When does Carnaval de Québec take place?

The Royal Court, the centerpiece of the reimagined festivities, offers a treasure trove of experiences for all age groups. Meet Bonhomme inside his very own Loto-Québec Royal Court! With bountiful lights, interaction, games and wonders, the Royal Court is bound to delight your every sense. The western-themed Tailgate and its country music, is the best way to kick off a day of canoe racing. You’ll hear the athletes yell as they brave the ice and reach for the buoy that hangs from the ferry itself. See the festival’s program, venue, lineup information show time / schedule of events, how to get, parking, etc. here.

Carnaval’s 2020 events commence February 7 – 16, 2020.

What’s New

The post-rigodon Lower-Canadian band Alaclair Ensemble and the rising stars of Quebec rap, FouKi and QuietMike, join forces to light up the stage of Bonhomme’s Ice Palace at the Loto-Québec Zone for one crazy festive evening.  The Christie North Slope, a brand-new snow sliding site, features a dizzying slide: the Christie Descent. This 300-foot long incline launches from a pad built right on Grande Allée street. Come encourage dozens of fearless athletes and witness their spectacular performances!

Located just a short drive out of the city (10 minutes) is the Hôtel de Glace, the only ice hotel in the Americas. Entirely made out of snow and ice, this magical man-made palace features rooms and suites, exteriors spas and sauna, a bar, a café, an exhibition room, a chapel for weddings and an ice slide. Guided daily tours are also available.

Signature Carnaval Snack: Maple Taffy (“tire d’erable”) is made by pouring hot, thick maple syrup onto a board of fresh snow. When it begins to harden, you grab a popsicle stick and pick up the taffy in a rolling motion, wrapping it around the stick. Maple syrup is a staple of Québecois cuisine, reflecting the natural taste of the countryside, where “sugar shacks” in maple groves are used to boil maple.

About Québec City

Québec City was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and is the only walled city in North America. The best way to explore this historic city is to stroll its narrow, cobblestone streets lined with stone houses, cathedrals and cafes. The city itself is nothing less than a living museum. Québec City has embraced its history, which is reflected with more than 32 museums, exhibition halls and interpretation centers. Pedestrian streets are populated with local artisans and musicians in this city were 95% of the residents are French-speaking. A quick journey down the funicular leads you to Lower Québec, the birthplace of the city. A ferry ride on the St. Lawrence River is mandatory for stunning photo opportunities.

Where to Stay: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac

Towering over the St. Lawrence River, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is more than a hotel – it is quite literally the symbol of Old Québec. The castle-like property, with its majestic towers and turrets, evokes an era of time-gone-by, yet still serves as a center for what is Québec today. With the boardwalk to its front and the city to its rear, it offers easy walking access to Carnaval de Québec and Québec City’s countless attractions.

How to Make it Happen: VIA Rail Canada

Let’s see, two winter festivals in two different cities, two weekends and five mid-week days in between. Well, here’s how I did it: Fly Air Canada to Ottawa, on a Friday for Winterlude’s opening ceremonies. Then, on Wednesday hop aboard VIA Rail Canada for an eight-hour train trip to Québec City. You’ll discover, as I did, that this is more than a mode of transportation for Via Rail is an experience unto itself. Between cities, you’ll watch the Province of Québec’s snowy scenery roll past your window and discover the rich land that drew the first settlers there. VIA Rail’s first-class service offers plush seats, regional cuisine and an attentive staff who never seems too busy to answer questions about your journey. Make sure you order a Caesar, Canada’s answer to the Bloody Mary. On your journey, there’s also a short stopover in the main Montreal train station, which will allow you time for a self-guided madcap A Hard Day’s Night-style one-hour tour of this premier city. You will arrive in Québec City in the evening for Carnaval de Québec, then fly back at your convenience after your stay.

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