Kyoto is a city with a long, rich history dating back to the 8th century. It was Japan’s imperial capital for over a thousand years, from 794 until 1868 when the emperor moved to Edo, now Tokyo. There is so much to see and experience that it would be impossible to see it all in only […]
Osaka is the third largest city in Japan with a population of almost 2.6 million. It’s a vibrant modern city with a buzzing nightlife and plenty of attractions: historical landmarks, parks, museums, theatres—there is something for everyone…
Tokyo is a great destination any time of the year but it really comes alive at the end of March and the beginning of April when the cherry blossom trees are blooming. It is a popular time as it’s also spring break for the students in Japan so be sure to book early as even […]
When we first started planning our Japan visit, it seemed overwhelming. So many places to see, the crowds, all the names being foreign: how would we manage? As things came along, we found that it all fell into place and Japan was actually very tourist friendly and logically laid out. In retrospect, the few organized […]
We had an excellent guide, Mr. Edwin Frank who was a public relations officer for the Grenada Board of Tourism for many years before retiring to do his own tours. Starting with St. George’s, we got to visit the harbor area and go through many of the narrow streets learning the names, the history and […]
China was my first culture shock trip—nothing was like anything I had ever seen before. This was probably the first time I really felt like I was surrounded by strange language, different customs, and perhaps truly traveling. Twenty years ago locals got around by bicycle and bike lanes made up two thirds of the major roads. […]
Dublin, the capital and largest city of Ireland is on the mouth of the Liffey River in the province of Leinster on the east coast. The Greater Dublin area has a population of 2 million. Originally settled by Vikings, the city became part of the British Empire and grew rapidly in the 17th century. In 1922, […]
Now and again, you just have to spoil yourself. For us we decided that a 20th wedding anniversary was a good occasion to do this. We set out to do a tour of southern Ireland and stay at castles along the way. There is certainly no shortage of castles and ancient ruins in Ireland. Around every corner […]
Road tripping through Ireland isn’t for the faint of heart and can at times have some hair-raising moments, even more so, I imagine, for those (like us) that are used to driving on the right side of the road. Plenty of narrow winding roads must be taken to reach some interesting sights or off the […]
The beauty of the islands is in a class of its own. High mountain peaks raising out of crystal-clear waters, lagoons of a thousand shades of blues, fiery sunsets, lush foliage, delightful smells emanating from exotic flowers, and the enthralling beat of Tahiti’s dance, the Tamure, all contribute to making this one of the most […]