Visiting Normandy – 70 Years after D-Day Julie Kalan May 29, 2014 5628 This year marks a significant anniversary in world history; seventy years ago Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, and changed the tides of World War II. It was June 6, 1944 when Canadian, American, a...
World’s largest cruise ship Allure of the Seas to offer Oasis-class cruises in Europe The Montrealer March 17, 2014 11763 MIAMI: For nearly five years, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, sister ships that share the title of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships, have captured vacationers’ imagination and take...
Beautiful Bayeux – a short distance from France’s Normandy coast Julie Kalan October 28, 2013 6960 Medieval Bayeux escaped WWII destruction and was the first town liberated by the Allies Sitting on the banks of the Aure River, in the heart of Normandy, Bayeux is a quiet treasure of cobblestone streets, half...
Impressions of Normandy Julie Kalan October 18, 2012 6109 After years of seeing reproductions of Monet’s work on the waiting room walls at doctor’s offices, I had developed a kind of Pavlovian response to the images. The very sight of water lilies made me bored, impat...
A banner year to visit Olympic London donnacarter August 21, 2012 4214 Even under normal circumstances, London is one of the world’s great vacation destinations but this year sets an exceptional standard for England‘s capital city. Not only did it just host the 2012 Olympic Games,...
Wouldn’t It Be Nice Julie Kalan February 1, 2012 6140 Like sparkling gem on a golden necklace, beautiful cities line the Côte d’Azur. The center jewel of this Tiffany-box coastline is France’s fifth largest city, Nice A Nice Walk After grabbing a chocolate cro...
Carcassonne – part fortress, part fairy tale Julie Kalan December 1, 2011 5441 Framed by a clear, blue sky and bathed in the glowing mid-morning sun, the fortified town of Carcassonne evokes a scene from the pages of a pop-up storybook. The town itself lies hidden behind two concentric st...
The Heavenly Heights of Mont Saint Michel Julie Kalan November 5, 2011 10341 At the foot of the abbey, this peaceful lane follows the contours of the mount. Credit: Julie Kalan “Mont Saint Michel is to France what the Great Pyramid is to Egypt.” - Victor Hugo, January 1884 Rising a...
Grape Gifts of France – Exploring Saint Émilion and Cognac Julie Kalan September 4, 2011 7234 Hang a map of France on the wall, close your eyes and throw a dart – you are bound to hit one of the country’s world-renowned winemaking regions. A Glass of Red In the Aquitaine region of south western Fran...
Barcelona – a multi-faceted vacation city The Montrealer September 3, 2011 4047 The former capitol of the Spanish region of Catalonia, Barcelona is famous for its history, architecture, human scale and perhaps surprisingly – it beaches Barcelona is a favoured port of embarkation for Medit...
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