Carcassonne – part fortress, part fairy tale Julie Kalan December 1, 2011 5668 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 10872 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 7492 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 4311 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...
Paris – Oo La La, C’est Magnifique Julie Kalan August 9, 2011 5759 Paris is a city of love and romance, the capital of haute couture and a bastion of gastronomic delights. Magnificent sights, countless museums, grand boulevards, immaculate gardens, intriguing cafés and some of...
A Weekend in Kent Julie Kalan July 3, 2011 5266 Visiting the Most Famous Cathedral and Castle in South East England A Pilgrimage Canterbury has drawn visitors for centuries. Long before the age of vacation travel, intrepid pilgrims from all walks of life m...
Set Sail for Portsmouth and step aboard HMS Victory Julie Kalan June 27, 2011 10418 It was once said that the sun never set on the British Empire. Britain's great naval prowess helped build that empire and at Portsmouth's Historic Dockyards you can visit some of the grandest ships of the day. ...
Two days in Warwickshire – the heart of England Julie Kalan May 20, 2011 5137 Visiting a medieval castle and Shakespeare's hometown The Ultimate Castle The Mound was ordered to be constructed by William the Conqueror Photo: Julie Kalan If you ever pretended to be a princess or knig...
Bath – two thousand years of English history Julie Kalan April 3, 2011 7023 Time travel is easy in Bath – no DeLorean required. A short jaunt from London, Bath offers visitors the chance to travel through the last two thousand years of history. Ancient History Just 6 m (19 ft) below to...
Loving London Julie Kalan March 5, 2011 6351 I admit it. I love London. Some people may see it as just another cosmopolitan, traffic-filled capital that somehow never garnered the public admiration of Paris or Rome. But London is a destination that offer...
