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Today was another full day, even though our bodies still refuse to acknowledge Parisian time. We woke up between 3 and 4 a.m., completely rested and ready to go, as if the hour were perfectly normal. At the same time, we discovered a local habit that’s hard to understand for North Americans: terraces stay open …
I’m not sure what came over us, but this summer we set our sights on a Tour of France… the scenic version, not the athletic one. We bought the tickets about two months ago, but I never had time to work on the route the way I usually do. Work was so demanding that I …
Continue reading From Ottawa to Paris — Day 1: Unscheduled Authenticity
Today, at work, I found out that my workplace will be starting Workforce Adjustment(WFA) procedures next week. We were warned in September, and uncertainty has been a constant source of stress ever since. This is the second time I've been through this during my working career. The last time was in 2012, when I was …
Last night we arrived in Padua and was surprised by how clean and well-organized the city is. The cobblestone streets sparkled under the yellow glow of the street lamps, and every corner seemed to proudly showcase its understated, harmonious beauty. We hadn’t expected to find a city so clean and full of life – Padua …
Continue reading Two days in Padua: among saints, frescoes, and legendary cafés
For the past two days, we have left behind the charms of Milan to explore Switzerland, and I must confess I haven’t regretted this decision for a single moment. Until now, I believed nothing could outshine the majestic splendor of Canada, but I was wrong: Switzerland reveals itself as a fairytale realm, a true paradise. …
Continue reading Como, Garda, and Georges: Chronicle of a Halberd Foretold
Our vacations are like an Italian espresso drunk at the bar, standing up: short, intense, and with a healthy dose of morning bitterness. Every morning, while the city is already buzzing with people and cars in every direction, our waking nightmare begins: Anna, our teenage daughter with the soul of an owl and the voice …
Continue reading From Canadian Calm to Milan Chaos: Our Story
I’m circling back with impressions from our very first visit to Turin, setting off from Genoa. Near Genoa, the highway feels like an endless succession of tunnels, but once you enter Piedmont, the road suddenly widens, and ahead rise the snow-capped Alpine peaks in all their glory. The landscape is truly breathtaking. Leaving the motorway …
Continue reading Explore Turin: A Journey Through History and Art
For two days we’ve been in Turin, one of Italy’s largest cities, famous for “la dolce vita,” but in a somewhat more sober and aristocratic version. Formerly the country’s first capital, the city today is an important cultural and economic hub in Italy. Turin (Torino), panorama from the Cathedral bell tower After World War II, …
Continue reading Exploring Turin: From Sacra di San Michele to Parco del Valentino
Porto Antico in Genoa is the perfect spot for a day full of discoveries. You start at the aquarium, where transparent tunnels plunge you into the underwater world of seals, penguins, and exotic fish. Next comes the Maritime Museum, where exhibits on pirates, medieval ships, and ancient banks reveal the secrets of Mediterranean trade. In …
Continue reading 🐟 Meeting the Sea: Exploring the Aquarium and Museums in Genoa’s Porto Antico
There are days that feel like something out of a dream, and our day trip from Genoa to Cinque Terre and Portofino was exactly that. With the Ligurian Sea shimmering under the July sun, we set off on a coastal walk that left us sun-kissed and completely enchanted. We left Genoa early, the city still …
Continue reading Exploring the Enchantment of Cinque Terre and Portofino
