Midnight in Rome & a sunrise over Tuscany.
I had high expectations for my first trip abroad, but Italy was more than I could have imagined. I wouldn’t have changed a thing, and we managed to do a lot in a short period of time. I could wander the streets of Florence all day and never get bored. We got to see all the major sites, eat some amazing food, and shop at all the stores and markets you could think of. I would go again in a heartbeat and am already dreaming of my next trip to Europe!
Sailing in Style: Lesley’s review on Explora Journeys
In early August, I travelled with some friends for 14 days, sailing on the beautiful Explora I. This ship is definitely a 5-star experience. We cruised Explora Journeys from Istanbul to Venice, travelling up the west coast of Italy and back down around Croatia. The art, the design, everything about Explora I is unique. This ship is different than other luxury cruises (which I love as well), but this one – well, it’s quite special.
Barcelona to Paris & the lavender fields in-between.
Late June is a wonderful time to arrive in Europe… warm days, lavender fields in bloom, and that intoxicating hum of summer travel. After a whirlwind 48 hours in Spain, we hopped on the high-speed train to the south of France. In just 4 hours, we arrived in Arles and made our way to the AmaKristina, our homebase for the next 7 days while we sailed the Rhône with AmaWaterways.
Ireland’s forty shades of green.
I have just returned from Ireland, and like the Johnny Cash song, I am still dreaming of the wonderful Emerald Isle. After connecting through Toronto, my sister and I arrived in Dublin excited to experience the Irish culture and soak in the beauty. After our explorations in Dublin, we joined a Collette Tour, the Shades of Ireland. This is an excellent way to get a feel for the country when you only have a short amount of time to explore.