tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86076072486852785352024-03-18T02:47:32.342-07:00Maria Is My NameA simple travel blog written from a mid-life point of view.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-86683891411688586542017-05-11T09:15:00.000-07:002017-05-11T09:17:00.652-07:00Furnas: All Fire and Smoke<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;">You know you’re close when you see pillows of smoke drifting
in the air. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Smoke. So much smoke. Step out of the car to capture a photo
from the hills above, and the smell of sulfur engulfs your nostrils. It both excites and scares me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Furnas,</i> on the eastern side of the Azorean island of Sao
Miguel, is a town of geysers spewing scorching steam into the air and
bubbling-angry waters from the ground. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Getting to Furnas from the island’s
main city, Ponta Delgada, is half the pleasure. I used the north shore on the
way to Furnas and the south shore on the return to the city. The drive took me
through gob-smacking vistas, forests filled with scents of eucalyptus, land
where pineapples grow and Europe’s only tea plantation is found.</span><span id="goog_449870575"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Focus. Hug the curb</i>,
I repeated in my head over and over, to stop myself from wandering off
the road and plunging down some cliff. Beautiful as the sights were, I was
passing through with no plans of making a permanent island stay.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Furnas has long been a spa-town, thanks to the twenty-two
different mineral waters found there and used in various spa treatments. It also has amazing bread and a dish meaty
enough to have even the most carnivorous amongst us, consider a vegetarian lifestyle. </span><span style="font-size: large;">From Ponta Delgada, I set the GPS (something I highly
recommend having especially if traveling solo) to the <a href="http://www.bensaude.pt/terranostragardenhotel/en/">Terra Nostra Garden Hotel.</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The GPS took me to the gates of <a href="http://www.parqueterranostra.com/">Terra Nostra Garden</a>. Close. But
not what I was looking for. I asked a local for directions. The hotel was just around the corner,
down the first street, past the store with the vegetables on the left, next
to the café on the right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“You can’t miss it,” I was told.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s painted pink and bright-yellow. I didn’t miss it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Terra Nostra Garden Hotel has direct access to Terra Nostra Garden,
which is a nice little perk. There’s an admission fee to the garden with its famous thermal pool, but if you’re staying in the hotel, the fee is waived. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was drizzling
the one morning I had set aside for my garden and pool visit. Since you can’t
control the weather, I ventured off anyway. I took a lovely stroll around the
park with its hundreds of plants imported from around the world including Australia,
China, North America and South Africa. It’s a botanist’s dream!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I got very close to the natural thermal pool, believed to cure everything from arthritis to skin disorders. I felt its heat, which ranges from 35 – 40 Celsius. I stepped
back and examined its colour: rust, due to the high iron content. I sat on a bench and watched the gaiety
between friends, who clearly were far braver than I. They were merrily splashing about and saying things like <i>"oohh"</i> and <i>"aahh"</i> and <i>"das ist nett."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I debated the
merits of going in. It would do my skin wonders no doubt, but the effort of changing into a swimsuit to dip my
body into what looked like a pool of mud, was not very appealing. As the annoying drizzle
continued to fall on me, I came up with Plan B: Walk Away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I chose instead to enjoy the healing powers of a hot cup of tea from the comfort of a window-seat in the hotel’s restaurant. It felt
quite Zen. And why not? Is there
anything a good cup of tea can’t fix?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As morning turned to afternoon, my stomach reminded me it
was time to eat. I ordered <i>cozido</i>, the local specialty, slow-cooked over many hours </span><span style="font-size: large;">in holes dug around </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lagoa das Furnas</b></span><i style="font-size: x-large;">, </i><span style="font-size: large;">a short trip outside town.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Large metal-pots are filled with a variety of meats, sausages and vegetables. Then it's lowered deep into the thermal ground and allowed to cook five to seven hours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This method
of cooking has been used for generations by island locals. Today, this specialty can found
in many restaurants in the Furnas area. I had to try it. My conclusion: It's a </span><span style="font-size: large;">vegetarian’s nightmare! I was, in fact, vegetarian for the next 24-hours!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The best part of eating in Furnas though, is the local bread.
Called <i>Bolo levedo</i>, i</span><span style="font-size: large;">t looks very
much like a large English muffin, but it tastes nothing like it. It’s a
specialty of the Furnas valley not to be missed. Break into one of these darlings and find airy pockets just waiting to be filled with butter or jam or cheese. The
outside has a slightly crunchy edge and a sweetness that makes you say, "more please." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And on a drizzly-grey day, in a town where the earth seems to burst with anger, filling my heart with awe and slight fear, eating something as
comforting as Bolo levedo with fresh Azorean cheese made me happy, happy, happy! Of
course a glass filled with a robust local wine didn't hurt either. <i>Verdade!</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com301tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-83563645916575084852017-04-19T06:38:00.000-07:002017-04-19T07:12:29.070-07:00Canada 150 -- Ottawa Museum Roundup <div style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify;">If you haven’t already heard, let me tell you: Canada celebrates
its 150</span><sup style="text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="text-align: justify;"> birthday this year. It’s a big deal for Canada, and
it’s a really big deal for me -- 2017 marks the 50</span><sup style="text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="text-align: justify;"> anniversary
of our little family’s arrival in Canada.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It was
1967. Centennial Year. Expo ’67.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It was February. It was cold. Bloody cold!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We weren’t prepared for the cold. How could we have been? We were
coming from the Azores where a cold day meant a head scarf and a thick sweater.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We flew from the island of Santa Maria in the north Atlantic direct to Montreal, on the now defunct Canadian Pacific airline. It was my first plane trip
and I was unbelievably excited. I was dressed for the occasion too. My Sunday
best as it were -- black-patent shoes, white ankle socks, a tartan pleated
skirt with matching jacket. It was an outfit right out of a Scottish dress
shop, which was strange since we’d never been to Scotland.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ODIg0BX_t_M/WPYRPqtyzQI/AAAAAAAAbLo/wFyeUcGY88Qiin1_-WMBKCsdel_Zt0CZQCKgB/s1600/20170410_113613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ODIg0BX_t_M/WPYRPqtyzQI/AAAAAAAAbLo/wFyeUcGY88Qiin1_-WMBKCsdel_Zt0CZQCKgB/s640/20170410_113613.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My best Scottish outfit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It was dark when we landed in Montreal and snow was falling. SNOW! I’d never seen snow. It was all so thrilling. I
descended the airplane staircase feeling the bitter cold-wind whipping around my bare,
scrawny legs. The ankle socks weren’t cutting it. Once I reached the ground, an airline employee quickly wrapped a blanket around me. That was
my introduction to Canada. Cold. Dark. Snowy. Caring. Generous. I’ve loved it
ever since.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">To celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, and my own 50 years in this great land, I’m planning on heading
somewhere yet to be discovered. By me that is</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">. I’m happy to say I’ve (just about) travelled this country from coast to coast. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I’ve seen icebergs in
Newfoundland; whales in Quebec; totem poles in British Columbia. I’ve walked
icefields in Alberta; swam in the chilly waters of Georgian Bay (Ontario); jigged
for cod in Nova Scotia. I’ve eaten scallops in New Brunswick; lobster in Prince
Edward Island; buffalo burgers in Manitoba. The adventures I’ve had across this
vast country are too great to summarize in one paragraph. Still, there are more
out there.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ByRnbt5hBHs/WPYa7ZNsJWI/AAAAAAAAbMM/T1SFSMi7r-oiwPXTd3Drr54sIK2pYhUkQCLcB/s1600/rocky_mountaineer_credit_to_them.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ByRnbt5hBHs/WPYa7ZNsJWI/AAAAAAAAbMM/T1SFSMi7r-oiwPXTd3Drr54sIK2pYhUkQCLcB/s640/rocky_mountaineer_credit_to_them.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via Rocky Mountaineer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I’ve not been to: Saskatchewan, which puts it high on my list of
possible journeys this year. I’ve also not been to Canada’s north. I want to
experience the mid-night sun and the aurora borealis (norther lights). Canada’s
arctic is definitely on the list. Decisions, decisions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Ottawa is Canada-150 Party Central. There is so much
happening in Canada's capital this year, it really should be on everyone's travel plans. To get you started, here is a
quick roundup of what is happening in the various museums around the city.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://bytownmuseum.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Bytown Museum</span></a><b> </b>celebrates its 100th
anniversary by showcasing objects from its permanent collection in <b><i>A
Century of Community</i></b><i>. </i>It runs until February 19, 2018.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DhPivg-w3ns/WPYcWJa24xI/AAAAAAAAbMQ/RNI4uqiGzSke5gSn5g26IL4QAdQmXO0KwCLcB/s1600/A-Century-of-Community-1-of-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DhPivg-w3ns/WPYcWJa24xI/AAAAAAAAbMQ/RNI4uqiGzSke5gSn5g26IL4QAdQmXO0KwCLcB/s640/A-Century-of-Community-1-of-1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via Bytown Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">At the <span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://diefenbunker.ca/"><span style="color: blue;">Diefenbunker:Canada's Cold War Museum</span></a></span>, Canadian artist Valerie Noftle's
exhibition <b><i>From the Hand</i></b>, exploring the stories of veterans
through photographs of their hands, runs until July 30, 2017.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dunMcL-fHLo/VTljxsh3j1I/AAAAAAAAGYc/_5A87tbDGYEYlnpomeHcllIlWo_3DwklQCPcB/s1600/IMG_6290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dunMcL-fHLo/VTljxsh3j1I/AAAAAAAAGYc/_5A87tbDGYEYlnpomeHcllIlWo_3DwklQCPcB/s640/IMG_6290.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On June 21, 2017, a new permanent <i><b>Canada Goose Arctic Gallery</b></i> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> opens at the <a href="http://www.nature.ca/en/home"><span style="color: blue;">Canadian Museum of Nature</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">,</span> focusing on the ecology of one of the world's harshest climates. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H75ZGv50xXM/WPYjWJW5FAI/AAAAAAAAbMg/uhPSOGbVBdE5EOFZksZG1KiU6OwwE6GrQCLcB/s1600/canadagoose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H75ZGv50xXM/WPYjWJW5FAI/AAAAAAAAbMg/uhPSOGbVBdE5EOFZksZG1KiU6OwwE6GrQCLcB/s640/canadagoose.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via Canadian Museum of Nature </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">At the <a href="http://www.warmuseum.ca/"><span style="color: blue;">Canadian War Museum</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">,
the 100th anniversary of the pivotal Battle of Vimy Ridge is commemorated
between April 6 and November 12, 2017 with the exhibition <b><i>Vimy - 100 Years.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9iW3t-VbKdg/WPYeOugdn3I/AAAAAAAAbMY/IDxg33pMP68MSq79y4_w7rkP8w-AxHKZACLcB/s1600/Vimy-100-Years-credit-Canadian-War-Museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9iW3t-VbKdg/WPYeOugdn3I/AAAAAAAAbMY/IDxg33pMP68MSq79y4_w7rkP8w-AxHKZACLcB/s640/Vimy-100-Years-credit-Canadian-War-Museum.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via Canadian War Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.historymuseum.ca/"><span style="color: blue;">Canadian Museum of
History</span></a> opens its new <b>Canadian History Hall</b>,
on July 1, 2017. It tells the story of Canada through 18 "chapters"
of artifacts in three galleries. Until then, catch <b><i>Hockey</i></b>,
until October 9, 2017, which explores Canada's historic love of the sport of
hockey and its impact on Canadian identity.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mAEfzbHmiTg/WPYiyVXKoZI/AAAAAAAAbMc/4Spinp7Co28Bu1KDiXYnOK-Ihmpwg3C5wCLcB/s1600/Hockey-credit-Canadian-Museum-of-History-1-320x180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mAEfzbHmiTg/WPYiyVXKoZI/AAAAAAAAbMc/4Spinp7Co28Bu1KDiXYnOK-Ihmpwg3C5wCLcB/s640/Hockey-credit-Canadian-Museum-of-History-1-320x180.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via Canadian Museum of History</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">At the <a href="http://www.gallery.ca/en/"><span style="color: blue;">National Gallery of Canada</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">, a number of exhibitions are happening including, </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Photography in Canada: 1960-2000</b></i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i> </i>(April
7-September 17); </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>PhotoLab 2: Women Speaking Art</b></i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> (April
7-October 1, 2017) and </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Canadian and Indigenous Art: 1968 to Present</b></i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> (May
3, 2017-May 6, 2018). This all leads up to the unveiling of the new renovated
and integrated </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Canadian and Indigenous
Galleries</span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> on June 15, 2017.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">And
finally, watch for the reopening of the <a href="http://www.bankofcanadamuseum.ca/"><span style="color: blue;">Bank of
Canada Museum</span></a> (formerly the Currency Museum of the Bank of
Canada), this summer and the completely renovated <a href="http://cstmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/index.php"><span style="color: blue;">Canada
Science and Technology Museum</span></a> in November 2017.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwzw6BiXwEw/WPYkCS52jxI/AAAAAAAAbMk/wARY7_eVmW8aOZhKta5a2kwpIme5EN6gwCLcB/s1600/Bank-of-Canada-Museum-320x180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwzw6BiXwEw/WPYkCS52jxI/AAAAAAAAbMk/wARY7_eVmW8aOZhKta5a2kwpIme5EN6gwCLcB/s640/Bank-of-Canada-Museum-320x180.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo cvia Bank of Canada Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://museumspassport.ca/" style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Canada's National
Museums Passport</a></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> has been revamped and now offers admission to
3 national museums, over 3 consecutive days. It costs $35. Each accompanying
child (17 and under) receives a 30% discount on general admission. The passport
is available at the six national museums that participate in the program, as
well as at the Capital Information Kiosk across from Parliament Hill. You can
find full details <a href="http://museumspassport.ca/"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Whoa! All this and so much more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 15.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Check it all out <a href="https://www.ottawatourism.ca/"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNMY67VSxD4/WPYlAJsPQAI/AAAAAAAAbMo/cXObbsVRxfg49CRY4Ax4OhYAQi5pO5dLACLcB/s1600/gardening-flower-crocus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DNMY67VSxD4/WPYlAJsPQAI/AAAAAAAAbMo/cXObbsVRxfg49CRY4Ax4OhYAQi5pO5dLACLcB/s640/gardening-flower-crocus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via ottawatourism.ca</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-58097400892412211912017-04-03T18:05:00.000-07:002017-04-10T16:47:15.114-07:00When Is Too Much Of A Good Thing, Bad?<div style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It began the way any obsession does – with a single occurrence.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We -- my daughter, Melisa, along with her husband, Andy, arrived
in Sao Miguel, the largest of the Azorean islands at 7am, blurry-eyed from our
overnight flight from Toronto. We had exactly 12 hours to explore the island. (It
turned into 14 due to a flight delay, but since we were stuck at the airport,
the extra two hours don’t count.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Our rental car awaited us, and towing carry-on
luggage only, we were out of there in quick order. No time to waste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc6U7Yffj1E/WOwR4sapClI/AAAAAAAAbBo/2zFhkNjEMEwM9USkyCnuasKG3YLnLJSKgCKgB/s1600/20170225_133425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc6U7Yffj1E/WOwR4sapClI/AAAAAAAAbBo/2zFhkNjEMEwM9USkyCnuasKG3YLnLJSKgCKgB/s640/20170225_133425.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a really small car</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I had, more-or-less, planned our route. We would drive the
north coast of the island to the town of <i>Furnas</i>
for breakfast. Then motor to the opposite side of the island to <i>Sete Cidades</i> (Seven Cities) for a late lunch. In between, we’d
stop at this lookout and that lookout to gawk at the landscape and when the
need arose, have the obligatory<i> bica</i>
(espresso) wherever we found ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By 3pm we’d made our way to <i>Sete
Cidades</i>, with its twin-lakes – one <span style="background: white;">emerald green and the other sapphire blue – a phenomenon and one of
Portugal’s Seven Natural Wonders. (Legend has it these lakes were formed
from the tears of a poor blue-eyed sheppard boy and a green-eyed princess who
fell in love but were not allowed to marry. They cried and cried over their dilemma
and, well, you can you can figure out the rest.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOEmw3D71eU/WN1Gz3ceZGI/AAAAAAAAaxg/aqbO_HbUoJgl-xONBaKsENc3XrU-RtZEgCPcB/s1600/20170225_153605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOEmw3D71eU/WN1Gz3ceZGI/AAAAAAAAaxg/aqbO_HbUoJgl-xONBaKsENc3XrU-RtZEgCPcB/s640/20170225_153605.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">From the <i>miradoure</i> (lookout point) high above the town, we posed for
pictures with the lakes behind us. Then we crossed the street to explore the
abandoned hotel, with its graffiti laced walls and tree-lined balconies. Then we
all agreed: we were starving. Time for lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxK82RiX2d4/WN1Gz6Y2KyI/AAAAAAAAaxg/6ky8NZQW1Pse6P4AlqdB53zpp5CuLcbnACPcB/s1600/20170225_173135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IxK82RiX2d4/WN1Gz6Y2KyI/AAAAAAAAaxg/6ky8NZQW1Pse6P4AlqdB53zpp5CuLcbnACPcB/s640/20170225_173135.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Tightly hugging the curb, Andy drove our little vehicle down the escarpment and over
the bridge with green lake-water running underneath it, leading to the town of
Sete Cidades. He parked. We greeted the cow lazing on the field to our right, and
made our way to the first restaurant we spotted. With its large patio, green-plastic
tables and white chairs, it was perfect. A quick review of the menu posted
behind a small glass window confirm it.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMQkSB0xTiE/WN1GzwlKsdI/AAAAAAAAaxg/8XiSj5PoVy8KtfP_CfpYZT4ciA3DEH7lgCPcB/s1600/20170225_170331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uMQkSB0xTiE/WN1GzwlKsdI/AAAAAAAAaxg/8XiSj5PoVy8KtfP_CfpYZT4ciA3DEH7lgCPcB/s640/20170225_170331.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Andy has been part of our family for a
number of years and has become familiar with many of our traditional family
foods.</span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Early on he was introduced to
stewed octopus, salted cod, morecela <i>(</i></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">blood
sausage), sapatel<i> </i></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">(blood pudding), to
name just a few things. He was more than ready for a food adventure on this trip.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Lapas. I've heard you guys mention this. I have to try them.” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background: white;">Lapas</span></i><span style="background: white;"> are limpets,
defined by Wikipedia as</span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">: <i>an aquatic<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snail" title="Snail"><i><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">snail</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></span><i> </i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastropod_shell" title="Gastropod shell"><i><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; text-decoration-line: none;">shell</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">that is broadly conical in shape.</span></i><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TYs_Llo1nKA/WN1Hs2J3FiI/AAAAAAAAaxo/ZtxbUhHPg5I09prs31h87avBQZWz8x2xwCPcB/s1600/Common_limpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TYs_Llo1nKA/WN1Hs2J3FiI/AAAAAAAAaxo/ZtxbUhHPg5I09prs31h87avBQZWz8x2xwCPcB/s640/Common_limpet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via https://en.wikipedia.org</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To the Azorean people, lapas are a
gastronomical feast, a delicacy appreciated only by those who are comfortable
popping into their mouths organisms that are wriggling, with antennas whizzing
about. People have lost their lives scraping lapas off rocks buried deep in the
pounding surf. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Lucky for us we didn’t have to risk
our lives, neither did we have to face a live lapa. The menu offered up
‘grilled lapas’. Excellent, I thought. We ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">They arrived at our table sizzling on
a hot grill. Like a steak or fajitas, but a far stretch from anything served in
a Toronto area restaurant. The scent of garlic hit my nose with a wallop,
which, to be very clear, is not a complaint.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ue0Q_OPRXA/WOwVBAlksvI/AAAAAAAAbB0/8G6huu0q2I8oOYXiwj5tCGBl2F1AXpWVQCKgB/s1600/20170227_160913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ue0Q_OPRXA/WOwVBAlksvI/AAAAAAAAbB0/8G6huu0q2I8oOYXiwj5tCGBl2F1AXpWVQCKgB/s640/20170227_160913.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Careful not to brand our fingers on
the hot grill, we carefully retrieved one shell at a time, popped it into our
mouth and began with moans usually reserved for experiences outside the kitchen
table. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Things like, <i>wow</i>, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">and <i>oh my god, that is soooo good</i>, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">were stated.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“We should make this a thing,” I
said. “Everywhere we eat, if they have <i>lapas</i>
on the menu, we should order them.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And so we did. For the next seven
days. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Every day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We. Ate. Lapas.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yB1Loj1k8IY/WOwVBIulz6I/AAAAAAAAbB0/Ve7NiC3g-MQRQAOF1ZKV99Ovhp4ScgnaQCKgB/s1600/20170227_161505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yB1Loj1k8IY/WOwVBIulz6I/AAAAAAAAbB0/Ve7NiC3g-MQRQAOF1ZKV99Ovhp4ScgnaQCKgB/s640/20170227_161505.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Be day two, we began judging -- on
presentation, texture, amount of garlic, were they served with lemon wedges or
not? Was the taste enhanced if the lemon was squeezed over them? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By day 3 we knew what ‘over-grilled’
was (rubber-chewy is never good).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On it went…every day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOrhoUaclvw/WOwVBFjOAwI/AAAAAAAAbB0/iM_7l2bh4A034o6NmGoFJl3LcdOCrIuyACKgB/s1600/20170227_161157%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOrhoUaclvw/WOwVBFjOAwI/AAAAAAAAbB0/iM_7l2bh4A034o6NmGoFJl3LcdOCrIuyACKgB/s640/20170227_161157%25280%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Then day 6, our final day in the
Azores, arrived. New day. New restaurant. Andy had stepped away to the WC but
not before reviewing the menu.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Melisa,” I said, in the way one
reveals a secret they aren’t proud of. “I’m not sure I can eat another lapa.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">She gave me a glare that screamed:
You started this!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Our server arrived. We placed our
order.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Did you order the lapas?” asked Andy
taking his seat across from me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Sure did,” I answered<i>. I had started this.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Our trip eventually led us to Lisbon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Huh! No lapas,” said Andy on our
first night out in a Lisbon restaurant. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“No. They’re not consumed here.” I
said. And secretly praised the Food Gods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Andy settled for clams swimming in
garlic, olive oil and cilantro. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Try them,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I took one, commented to its flavour,
(it was delicious) but remained silent after that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Let’s not start this again, I
thought!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-69554392047215696332017-02-09T08:10:00.000-08:002017-02-09T08:11:56.901-08:00Capelinhos, Faial, Azores<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s a story I’ve been told many times. It’s short and never
changes. Ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“I was working that day. I met a friend who had been to the
house. He told me I should go home. I did. Walking home I looked across the
ocean. I could see large plumes of smoke. It was the day of the largest
eruption. It was the day your brother died.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That was my father’s recollection and connection, to the
submarine volcanic explosion off the western coast of the Azorean island, Faial,
in the fall of 1957. He was in Graciosa, 147 km. away, but with a clear view of
the island directly across the channel, the smoke filling the sky was easily
seen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SxeaExqkIUo/WI98bfW1jKI/AAAAAAAAWCs/6tI5c2cqi2YDW6QyNNPizofD1_XvkaNmgCKgB/s1600/20161117_135706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SxeaExqkIUo/WI98bfW1jKI/AAAAAAAAWCs/6tI5c2cqi2YDW6QyNNPizofD1_XvkaNmgCKgB/s640/20161117_135706.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">City of Horta behind me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">The eruption and tremors lasted 13 months (September, 1957
to October, 1958), displaced 2000 people, buried 300 homes and a lighthouse, and added 2.4 kms to the island’s land mass, most of which has been
reclaimed by the ocean.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On my recent trip to the Azores visiting this area was a must.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Faial, is a short 30-minute ferry ride from its neighbouring
island, Pico, where I was staying. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_SWfDlwoZI/WI99EEmJhVI/AAAAAAAAWC0/88w-i6IfSLcQ7iI2HECIG-BPapxksCtNwCKgB/s1600/20161114_133143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_SWfDlwoZI/WI99EEmJhVI/AAAAAAAAWC0/88w-i6IfSLcQ7iI2HECIG-BPapxksCtNwCKgB/s640/20161114_133143.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Faial seen from my hotel room in Pico</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Helena,
stocky, red-headed and chatty, was the tour guide and cab driver I had arranged to
meet on the pier. She was happy to show me her island. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Together we drove
through the lushness of the Natural Park of Faial, a protected area that
comprises 17% of the island's total land mass. Helena took me farther, deeper, higher towards
the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldera"><i>caldera</i></a>, a symbol of the island’s volcanic beginning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3NLJO2yaVw/WI98bcLJlGI/AAAAAAAAWCs/8b4trTodMtc4pJLA1WTP-ePY12uzrf98wCKgB/s1600/20161117_132639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j3NLJO2yaVw/WI98bcLJlGI/AAAAAAAAWCs/8b4trTodMtc4pJLA1WTP-ePY12uzrf98wCKgB/s640/20161117_132639.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a Ccldera down there ...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A shroud of fog
surrounded us. Still, the flora and fauna of the area could be observed,
including Laurel trees as tall as 60 feet. Thick-green bushes of blue hydrangeas
lined both sides of the road. Unseen birds chirped. The fog and mist, which are
common in the<i> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurel_forest">Laurisilva</a></i> forest we
drove through, added to the mystique. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The sights and sounds of Faial filled my senses – hues of
green, yellow and blue; soothing sounds of waterfalls, birds and the Atlantic Ocean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-srDEuwIYD44/WI98bXIMSTI/AAAAAAAAWCs/36BJtzCHSos6Z5SD7U0NLzTPBDF7UdWtgCKgB/s640/20161117_130449.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The last stop on my island tour was<i> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capelinhos">Capelinhos</a></i>, the site of the volcanic eruption, so entrenched in my father's memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“There is it,” said Helena. She nodded in the direction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Oh wow,” I said, somewhat shocked.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a stark contrast to all I had been observing just minutes earlier. A large mass of grey and black lay ahead of me. The azure of the sea was right there. Surrounding it. But it
was insignificant to the blackness of the earth we were driving on to. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x33X9zt-vXY/WI98bdfLgkI/AAAAAAAAWCs/LFpKa8j7BRIBHu2o50odHJX0LhlkGysrgCKgB/s1600/20161117_121837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x33X9zt-vXY/WI98bdfLgkI/AAAAAAAAWCs/LFpKa8j7BRIBHu2o50odHJX0LhlkGysrgCKgB/s640/20161117_121837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ykPnk6c_QuU/WI98bU7XkiI/AAAAAAAAWCs/DntggAv1Bn4I5KnGqShcwLcqv3hMrPm3ACKgB/s1600/20161117_110709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ykPnk6c_QuU/WI98bU7XkiI/AAAAAAAAWCs/DntggAv1Bn4I5KnGqShcwLcqv3hMrPm3ACKgB/s640/20161117_110709.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Once
parked, I stepped outside the car to experience a profane silence that was
simply unnerving. The ocean was still pounding its surf. In all practicality,
I’m sure it sounded the same as it did in the other parts of the island I had visited, but here, in this place of darkness, it all just ‘sounded’ eerie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I took a deep breath and slowly spun around, trying to take
it all in, but it’s just too big. Too large to absorb. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CsA4CWJsYBA/WI98bRfb7yI/AAAAAAAAWCs/5JPq5GJVOOEcCid143VU63s0PZCme8TlACKgB/s1600/20161117_110428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CsA4CWJsYBA/WI98bRfb7yI/AAAAAAAAWCs/5JPq5GJVOOEcCid143VU63s0PZCme8TlACKgB/s640/20161117_110428.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“This way,” said Helena. We walked down the long stone-path
leading to the underground interpretation centre, with its various exhibition
halls and an auditorium showing 3D movies about the formation of the islands: the ocean churning in fury, fire exploding from the sea. It was during the
screening, that I it hit me: <i>OMG, this
could happen again. Here. Now!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kabAXTcYMWY/WI98bffmWoI/AAAAAAAAWCs/wO7-ji1en2soIwjRLAXtpUwrl_ZTp8jrQCKgB/s1600/20161117_114942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kabAXTcYMWY/WI98bffmWoI/AAAAAAAAWCs/wO7-ji1en2soIwjRLAXtpUwrl_ZTp8jrQCKgB/s640/20161117_114942.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Coming from a part of the world where the worst natural disaster
I’ve experienced has been an ice storm with its resulting 12-hour power outage, I felt a shiver of terror come over me. Traces of my claustrophobia
kicked in, no doubt. I wanted to leave,
to at least be outdoors and not underground in a place that was already covered in volcanic ash. Once the film was over I was out of there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Back outside, I wa</span><span style="font-size: large;">ndered through the lighthouse which was
mostly buried after the eruption, but has since then been excavated to its
present state. The admission fee (10 Euros), provides access to the top of the
lighthouse, with its spectacular views over the area. I passed on this option
and chose instead to meandered around. It is a dark, silent, chilling landscape.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rEidw6o5eF8/WI98bYgxTyI/AAAAAAAAWCs/QQ3OQdGZyr8_P-B453g7VhlM9mBS8mkjwCKgB/s1600/20161117_122233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rEidw6o5eF8/WI98bYgxTyI/AAAAAAAAWCs/QQ3OQdGZyr8_P-B453g7VhlM9mBS8mkjwCKgB/s640/20161117_122233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oW-nfYSATCk/WI98bTMh8OI/AAAAAAAAWCs/2IfAuselJ7EDDPKrWENM__qELIxaL7ZFACKgB/s1600/20161117_122132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oW-nfYSATCk/WI98bTMh8OI/AAAAAAAAWCs/2IfAuselJ7EDDPKrWENM__qELIxaL7ZFACKgB/s640/20161117_122132.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I looked across the sea, towards the island of Graciosa. I
tried to imagine what my father must have felt the day he walked home, seeing
the smoke-filled sky on the other side of the water, unaware of what waited him. It was all too horrible to imagine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m not sure why. exactly, I was driven to make a pilgrimage
to this place. I just knew I had to come. And I'm glad I did. Somehow being there, seeing the darkness and absorbing the silence, made me feel closer to my
father, his story and to the brother I never knew. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-75714723712440059622017-01-19T11:50:00.000-08:002017-01-19T11:50:00.364-08:00Luxe Train Voyages: Part Two<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Following up on the <a href="http://www.mariaismyname.com/search?updated-min=2016-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2017-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=9">first part</a> of my luxe train voyages list, this is the second (and final) instalment of my top picks for train trips around the world. The list is in no particular order--simply journeys added to my bucket list.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Enjoy!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Rovos Rail Pride of Africa</b><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ml1o2ays8A/WH6WFiZ-nQI/AAAAAAAAV2A/J-_5z4CTqB8tBQI8h2pBtXH30coN1m8LQCLcB/s1600/rovo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ml1o2ays8A/WH6WFiZ-nQI/AAAAAAAAV2A/J-_5z4CTqB8tBQI8h2pBtXH30coN1m8LQCLcB/s640/rovo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo via https://www.rovos.com</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Considered to be one of the most luxurious trains in the world,
Pride of Africa takes guests between Cape Town, South Africa and Cairo, Egypt </span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">with magnificent journeys to the east and to the west also available. Pride of
Africa combines the golden age of rail travel with modern amenities. Suites are
ultra-deluxe, decorated in Edwardian period features. A well-stocked mini-bar is available, as is 24-hour room
service. </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;">Lunch and dinner are multi-course affairs served on lovely china, silver and crisp linens.</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> Fresh local ingredients and traditional dishes are on the menu. All meals are served in one one of two Victorian-era restaurant cars.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Ghan</b><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WQhOIQtEQqo/WH6VZM1hH_I/AAAAAAAAV14/PmQfldzYY64Xm93g6elRsZHffL5-x6MYwCLcB/s1600/ghan_detail_14aeda7ea98df6ef28340ff00001e30c2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WQhOIQtEQqo/WH6VZM1hH_I/AAAAAAAAV14/PmQfldzYY64Xm93g6elRsZHffL5-x6MYwCLcB/s640/ghan_detail_14aeda7ea98df6ef28340ff00001e30c2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo via http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/trains/the-ghan</span><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Named for the Afghan cameleers who once traveled this route, The
Ghan has been traversing Australia for more than 80 years, taking guests from
Adelaide to Darwin, in comfort and luxury. Large panoramic windows
provide optimum viewing of the ever-changing Australian landscape. In the
restaurant car, onboard chefs prepare menus that feature Australian and
International cuisine. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Danube Express</b><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxxL6mg6z7w/WH6Xp-mGYKI/AAAAAAAAV2Q/UtUnK4wh-mohXzVu3XjAZX5vX_E-ZJ71ACLcB/s1600/danube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxxL6mg6z7w/WH6Xp-mGYKI/AAAAAAAAV2Q/UtUnK4wh-mohXzVu3XjAZX5vX_E-ZJ71ACLcB/s640/danube.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo via http://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/trains/golden-eagle-danube-express</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, all itineraries through
central Europe either start or go through Budapest. The Danube Express serves only 50
passengers in a combination of modern conveniences and traditional style.
Deluxe sleeping carriages offer private compartments with en-suite
washrooms, and two lower beds that fold up into seating during the day. There
are windows that open throughout the train for maximum views. All meals are freshly cooked onboard by experienced chefs
using local and seasonal ingredients.</span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>4. Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Railway</b><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNdxDBNCn5s/WH6Yad9dKtI/AAAAAAAAV2U/3dOzLv4ca4YB0NQ3GuPA96rw2OcxdYLDgCLcB/s1600/golden%2Beagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nNdxDBNCn5s/WH6Yad9dKtI/AAAAAAAAV2U/3dOzLv4ca4YB0NQ3GuPA96rw2OcxdYLDgCLcB/s640/golden%2Beagle.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo via http://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/trains/golden-eagle</span><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Need to see Siberia? This is the way to do it. Launched in
Moscow in 2007, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian is an all-suite luxury train.
Its route is the famous Trans-Siberian between Moscow and Vladivostok. Covering
9,258km (6,152 miles) and taking seven days, it is</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> the </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">biggest train ride in the world. For luxury travelers, two Imperial suites were added in
2012, providing 120 square feet of space, a fixed king-sized bed, en-suite
shower, a dedicated dressing table and lounge area. Dining takes place in one
of two restaurant cars offering a central
buffet.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Eastern and Oriental Express</b><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNTYxtyReWA/WH6ZrNzLjCI/AAAAAAAAV2c/Da3RGuznXtEWt5Y5jXGU2vOpEXvHqLpiACLcB/s1600/EO-EXT-VIEW-06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNTYxtyReWA/WH6ZrNzLjCI/AAAAAAAAV2c/Da3RGuznXtEWt5Y5jXGU2vOpEXvHqLpiACLcB/s640/EO-EXT-VIEW-06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo via http://www.belmond.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.therichest.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/oriental-express.jpg"><span style="color: #743399; text-decoration: none;"><v:shape alt="oriental express" href="http://www.therichest.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/oriental-express.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_8" o:button="t" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" style="height: 427.5pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 1024.5pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t">
<v:imagedata o:title="oriental express" src="file:///C:\Users\Maria\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:fill></v:shape></span></a><span style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">This train runs 1,262 miles between Singapore, Malaysia and
Bangkok and is one of the most beautiful in the world, conjuring up images of a bygone era filled with glamour and opulence. Dining on board
this train is a highlight. Its French chef has developed dishes that have
received international accolades for blending Western and Eastern culinary
styles. Breakfast is served in your compartment, while high tea can be enjoyed
wherever you prefer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Which rail do you want to ride?</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .25in;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-56348198032493355872017-01-12T09:03:00.000-08:002017-01-12T09:18:05.284-08:00My Year Of Firsts<br />
<div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">The start of a new year gives way to reflecting on the old, and frankly, I had a hell of a year! 2016 was a year of many </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">"</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">firsts" for me, including, taking the car in for service, attending a theatre production alone and cooking for one.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In late 2015 my life
took a turn. I became a widow, a title I despise by the way, mostly because of
the reaction I receive -- m</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">ostly from customer
service personnel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Marital status?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Widow,” I
respond. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Ahhh.” </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is usually followed
by a stare from someone whose face goes from smiley to frown, faster
than a Chevy at an Indy car race. It’s a look that says to me, <i>this wasn’t covered in my customer service training.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So just how did I manage
my first year of widowhood? Frankly, a lot of it is a blur right now. One day
blended into the next, until 365 days had passed and presto, before I realized
it, a whole year was done. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I do recall travelling in 2016, each trip a
step forward in my personal grief journey. My husband, David, was an avid traveler.
Prior to our meeting he had already covered a great deal of the world. I, on
the other hand, had barely driven out of the Greater Toronto Area. </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">When we were raising children,
our trips remained close to home. Once our children were gone, we ventured out.
I had some catching up to do, after all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhHBsPidd7s/WHLpSp4EniI/AAAAAAAAVkY/LU7_8bbw0pUaJVD59mWNH4tvgDohjG-ZwCLcB/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zhHBsPidd7s/WHLpSp4EniI/AAAAAAAAVkY/LU7_8bbw0pUaJVD59mWNH4tvgDohjG-ZwCLcB/s640/121.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cape Breton, Nova Scotia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">With my travel companion gone, the question became: do I stop travelling because I no longer have
a partner to travel with, or do I go on my own? The answer was pretty clear to
me. Off I went.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My first trip in 2016 was
a mere three months after David’s death. I chose a cruise. I knew it would be a difficult trip for many reasons. The obvious ones were: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Cruising had been our
favourite type of vacation;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> It’s mostly couples you
find on a cruise ship;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I booked myself on the sister-ship
to the last one David and I had sailed on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5XOyfs1-lw/WHLsUrCY7HI/AAAAAAAAVk8/etXQgmJy-n8HrU1AIVUZ6NrPXXYvdeq-gCLcB/s1600/900x312-Upsell_Escape_110315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X5XOyfs1-lw/WHLsUrCY7HI/AAAAAAAAVk8/etXQgmJy-n8HrU1AIVUZ6NrPXXYvdeq-gCLcB/s640/900x312-Upsell_Escape_110315.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">First trip was on NCL Getawa</span><span style="font-size: small;">y </span><span style="font-size: small;">-- photo courtesy of ncl.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Still, I felt a cruise was a ‘safe’ option for a first trip. I knew what to
expect. There would be no language barriers, all meals would be taken care of, I was familiar with the lay of the ship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-24bh6kNyXqc/WHLtEPD7_JI/AAAAAAAAVlA/PrvLUr4FPXo3EAJx7DHThkkvt9VqJmJaQCLcB/s1600/IMG_6619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-24bh6kNyXqc/WHLtEPD7_JI/AAAAAAAAVlA/PrvLUr4FPXo3EAJx7DHThkkvt9VqJmJaQCLcB/s640/IMG_6619.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I took a cooking course</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did I have a great time? Contrary to what the photos might suggest, no. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I had a miserable time, spent mostly in my inside cabin, which was smaller
than today's modern walk-in closets. But the single-supplement (another first) was
100% and I wasn't prepared to pay the amount required for anything grander than a closet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the end of my 7-day Caribbean cruise,
the only thing I returned home with was the satisfaction I had done it. I
had pulled up my big-girl pants and taken my first trip since widowhood was bestowed upon me. All on
my own. That may not sound like a big deal to many, but to me, it was an
accomplishment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In May, I set off to
Halifax, Nova Scotia to visit my friend, Elaine, who herself had become a widow
two years earlier. Together we shared old memories, laughed and cried. But
that’s how it is with us widows, laughter and tears are intermingled and flow
easily from one to the other. Life moves on and you either shut the door on it,
or choose to live it. Elaine and I choose the latter.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKF1IXxx5_4/WHLuDJ_PifI/AAAAAAAAVlQ/lFwH8Ijk5dcWL4qlP7HgZyG38XADP3LkACLcB/s1600/IMG_6817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rKF1IXxx5_4/WHLuDJ_PifI/AAAAAAAAVlQ/lFwH8Ijk5dcWL4qlP7HgZyG38XADP3LkACLcB/s640/IMG_6817.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just chillin'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">We visited museums, set off on coastal drives, visited old friends and made new memories.
That’s the joy of living.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qXuxYMZVNEo/WHLuGYKBLUI/AAAAAAAAVlU/MzCzQ0bddnsTmGx0ba9cHXqK8m2OLzvKgCLcB/s1600/IMG_6698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qXuxYMZVNEo/WHLuGYKBLUI/AAAAAAAAVlU/MzCzQ0bddnsTmGx0ba9cHXqK8m2OLzvKgCLcB/s640/IMG_6698.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In August, I was off to
Granada with another <i>girlfriend</i>. I
stress the <i>girlfriend</i> bit, because she
is a friend who happens to be a girl, and because we stayed at Sandals Resorts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f2mqD0kUoYQ/WHLy__BtNtI/AAAAAAAAVl4/lW4csJXw_xQOt66vSb0-hyJrwkEvlt9yACLcB/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f2mqD0kUoYQ/WHLy__BtNtI/AAAAAAAAVl4/lW4csJXw_xQOt66vSb0-hyJrwkEvlt9yACLcB/s640/15.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">photo courtesy of sandals.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you know anything about Sandals, you’ll know it’s a ‘couples only’ resort
and we’re not that sort of ‘couple’ (not that there’s anything wrong with it). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ingrid and I had great fun going along with
the assumptions made when two women are seen clinking glasses during dinner,
entering the king-size-bed-furnished
room, or merely strolling along the beach together. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wd09iiOtakA/WHL0NHfSCqI/AAAAAAAAVmA/d_5zau87cK4hYqPAaAIIs1J0MPGvnwq1gCLcB/s1600/IMG_7075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wd09iiOtakA/WHL0NHfSCqI/AAAAAAAAVmA/d_5zau87cK4hYqPAaAIIs1J0MPGvnwq1gCLcB/s640/IMG_7075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A very romantic room </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">One evening during dinner,
when asked by a (heterosexual) couple on their honeymoon, what had brought us to
Sandals, Ingrid answered, “It’s our anniversary.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
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<tr><td><div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_4K_1wDaV4/WHLvknq54QI/AAAAAAAAVlo/ej9OofH7rBIQUFSBpLZOg3D3ZqboVtY0wCLcB/s1600/IMG_7088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_4K_1wDaV4/WHLvknq54QI/AAAAAAAAVlo/ej9OofH7rBIQUFSBpLZOg3D3ZqboVtY0wCLcB/s640/IMG_7088.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Cocktails before dinner</span></div>
</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">On yet another evening, as we walked through pathways lined with flickering candles and gently swaying palm trees (</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">very</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> romantic), I was complaining about how the photographer in the dining room had taken a photo of every couple, except us.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">“But we don’t care to have photos taken,” said Ingrid.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Yes, but I want to be <i>asked</i>,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As we continued this banter, another photographer, who perhaps had overheard our comments, crossed our path.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Would you like your
photo taken?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“Yes,” we answered in
unison.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We didn’t buy any of the
photos, so I can’t show you the grin on our faces as we posed for the
lens with arms wrapped around each other, like the amorous couple we are not. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My final trip of 2016
came in November when I visited the Azores, nine Portuguese autonomous islands
in the north Atlantic. I spent three weeks exploring, meeting new people,
eating and reflecting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xAB_wxQjGBw/WHL2bhkrSYI/AAAAAAAAVmQ/-EmddN14bDgaUkRxRXrgvVDmkh8SVWqGQCLcB/s1600/IMG_7278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xAB_wxQjGBw/WHL2bhkrSYI/AAAAAAAAVmQ/-EmddN14bDgaUkRxRXrgvVDmkh8SVWqGQCLcB/s640/IMG_7278.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Santa Cruz, Graciosa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My first week was spent
in Graciosa, the second smallest island in the chain and the island I
was born in. I stayed with an aunt and uncle who live in Toronto but return every year. Together we drove multiple times around the island (it’s
really small), taking in the pounding surf, the green hills and pastures dotted with herds of cows.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-fG96VACE0/WHL6jvxCAPI/AAAAAAAAVmk/SKuT7IgSenQQCZlNhArCmUShf0PbSoIfgCLcB/s1600/IMG_7152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-fG96VACE0/WHL6jvxCAPI/AAAAAAAAVmk/SKuT7IgSenQQCZlNhArCmUShf0PbSoIfgCLcB/s640/IMG_7152.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The last two weeks of my Azorean adventure were spent on my own, flying and taking ferries between
five other islands. I rented a car in each island, planned a route and hit the road. Along the way I met some wonderful people, took in breathtaking landscapes, ate foods I can't get in Canada.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pk7jELHq9PE/WHevfxE68EI/AAAAAAAAVvI/PveBcXYugXgJwv-BW-5_qnldiXOWgbPhQCLcB/s1600/20161113_152755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pk7jELHq9PE/WHevfxE68EI/AAAAAAAAVvI/PveBcXYugXgJwv-BW-5_qnldiXOWgbPhQCLcB/s640/20161113_152755.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grilled limpets</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I engaged in conversation often, with as many people as I could have, yet it was not enough to shake the loneliness I often felt. Still, the experience did not deter me from dreaming of future trips. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are many reasons I
chose to travel in 2016. I travelled for the love of it and I travelled for the
healing I was, and continue to seek. Grief is, afterall, a journey of sorts. And travel
through it, I must.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">After each trip, I heard
comments like:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wow, that must have been fun. <i>Really?</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I’m so jealous. <i>Really?</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I wish I could travel
like you. <i>Really?</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But the one comment that
stands out the most is this one: <i>You’re
so brave. I could never travel alone.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">To that one I ask: <i>what’s my option? Not to travel?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That is not an option for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So I welcome 2017 with
an open heart and optimism for a future filled with warm memories,
laughter, love, and lots more travel.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">TO DO:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Research destination <i>Check</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Finalize itinerary <i>Check</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Book it<i> Check<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Come on February!</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-36557021681116837292016-10-20T16:25:00.000-07:002016-10-20T16:28:35.153-07:00Luxe Train Voyages: Part One<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's that time of year again, when thoughts of getting away from the Canadian winter, even for a short while, start to itch on my mind. And scratch I must.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My thoughts have turned to trains. I enjoy train travel. It's nostalgic, romantic and even mysterious. Think Agatha Christie and the Orient Express. Sure, it's a slower way to get from one place to the other, but what's the hurry? The destination can wait. Getting there is the real voyage.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So, I've come up with a list of some of the world's most opulent train voyages, which are now on my bucket list:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.rockymountaineer.com/en_CA/"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Rocky Mountaineer</i></span></a></b><br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3yMin9b42cU/WAevwy9GBBI/AAAAAAAAR1w/2kyi1ED6ENsJzq3Bf4bhVnwKUY63IguGACLcB/s1600/train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3yMin9b42cU/WAevwy9GBBI/AAAAAAAAR1w/2kyi1ED6ENsJzq3Bf4bhVnwKUY63IguGACLcB/s640/train.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">rockymountaineer.com</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This one is at the top of my list (what sort of Canadian would I be if it were not?!) </span><span style="font-size: large;">Connecting Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, the Rocky Mountaineer takes guests through the majestic Canadian Rockies, visiting places like Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise. GoldLeaf service passengers enjoy the bi-level glass-domed car. Upstairs watch the breathtaking scenery of icy-green lakes, tall pine forests and majestic mountains go by. Downstairs, enjoy gourmet regional cuisine cooked onboard by internationally accomplished chefs. Menus feature local ingredients such as prime Alberta beef and wild Pacific salmon, accompanied by award-winning Okanagan wines. There are no overnight accommodations on this train. Guests are chauffeured to hotels for overnight, and returned the next day to continue their journey through some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on the planet. They had me at "chauffeured."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b><a href="http://www.belmond.com/venice-simplon-orient-express/"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Venice-Simplon Orient Express</i></span></a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CRbFGBFrK5A/WAezKGfW2OI/AAAAAAAAR2I/Zorumkc-L9ExCSxpJEKdKzZqIeEPLYkQACLcB/s1600/venice%2Bsimpson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CRbFGBFrK5A/WAezKGfW2OI/AAAAAAAAR2I/Zorumkc-L9ExCSxpJEKdKzZqIeEPLYkQACLcB/s640/venice%2Bsimpson.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via belmond.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Undoubtedly, the most famous of all train routes, the original Orient Express ran between Paris and Istanbul. The Orient Express was known for its culinary excellence, romance and elegance. Today the Venice-Simplon Orient Express links three of the world’s most romantic cities, London, Paris and Venice. Vintage art deco cars from the 1920s and 30s have been restored to their original grandeur, providing the elegance of an age long gone.</span></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.bluetrain.co.za/"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Blue Train</i></span></a></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObCw8un9hlw/WAexgMSgpzI/AAAAAAAAR18/fzZw47aTdvs0VPbujHJ4BociHGVV0gKtgCLcB/s1600/blue%2Btrain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ObCw8un9hlw/WAexgMSgpzI/AAAAAAAAR18/fzZw47aTdvs0VPbujHJ4BociHGVV0gKtgCLcB/s640/blue%2Btrain.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via bluetrain.co.za</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This train connects Pretoria and Cape Town in South Africa. Providing a high level of luxury and hospitality since 1946, guests can expect outstanding service, a personal butler, opulent suites and exceptional cuisine. During the day, enjoy the outstanding panoramic views from your elegant suite. At night, that same suite is converted to a personal haven with goose down duvets and pillows. Each suite comes with its own personal full bathroom consisting of shower/bath along with marble floors, marble basin with gold fittings and heated floor for maximum comfort. In the dining car, superb signature dishes, made with the finest local ingredients, are served on fine china and delicate crystal.</span></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.maharajas-express-india.com/"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Maharajas’ Express</i></span></a></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMEadSfVD5A/WAe0vvuylRI/AAAAAAAAR2Q/KOPDkbAs-ogUeYn3AwWhVzkSw00dlIqMACLcB/s1600/maharaj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMEadSfVD5A/WAe0vvuylRI/AAAAAAAAR2Q/KOPDkbAs-ogUeYn3AwWhVzkSw00dlIqMACLcB/s640/maharaj.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via maharajas-express-india.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In operation since 2010, the Maharajas’ Express route crisscrosses India, taking in most major areas. The train consists of 23 opulent coaches, catering to 88 passengers. Its plush facilities include a spa salon, fitness center, business center, WI-FI and air conditioning. There are two restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, including Indian, Chinese, and authentic Mewari cuisine. 24-hour valet service ensures guests’ needs are met around the clock. All of today’s modern conveniences have been dropped into recreated Maharajas carriages, offering guests the luxury and richness of yesteryear, with the expectations of today.</span></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.belmond.com/royal-scotsman-train/the-train"><br /></a></b>
<b><a href="http://www.belmond.com/royal-scotsman-train/the-train"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Royal Scotsman</i></span></a></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lez8_whGbs/WAe1Xtst-JI/AAAAAAAAR2U/qJ65YB5_YyozqGdN0heAFmpWiSN54sMGgCLcB/s1600/royal%2Bscotsman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Lez8_whGbs/WAe1Xtst-JI/AAAAAAAAR2U/qJ65YB5_YyozqGdN0heAFmpWiSN54sMGgCLcB/s640/royal%2Bscotsman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via belmond.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Catering to just 36 guests, this train takes passengers through rugged shores, calm lochs and wide glens of the Scottish Highlands. It’s intimate and luxurious, with 5-star dining, wine pairing and superior service. Cabins have been designed to provide ultimate luxury with lower beds, quilted bed covers, private bathrooms, high quality toiletries and bathrobes. In the Observation Car, enjoy the vast changing scenery of the Highlands from the comfort of a sofa or armchair. Dining, offers regional specialties using local produce and served in the rich mahogany paneled dining cars. Expect sensational dishes, such as warm pigeon salad accompanied by blackcurrant dressing and sumptuous apple mouse. I'm in! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stay tuned for Part Deux.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-86122047766350112772016-07-21T18:01:00.000-07:002016-07-22T07:02:04.771-07:00Philly This Summer<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="color: #717173;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you’re planning a
visit to Philadelphia this summer (and you really should), here are some things to consider and inspire, courtesy of my friends at <b>Visit Philadelphia.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;">It's a Well-Planned City:</span></b><span style="color: #717173;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">Grid Layout: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">The directionally challenged can thank city founder William Penn
for Philadelphia’s logical downtown, called <i>Center City</i>. Perpendicular streets
run north-south (numbered streets) and east-west (named mostly after trees,
including Walnut, Locust and Spruce). Pro tip: William Penn’s statue atop City
Hall faces northeast, so he can help people get their bearings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxLE2aedggM/V5FlmQjW-LI/AAAAAAAAQNI/blCQhEez7XgNV_1rmyDhw4r4skniTPr8wCLcB/s1600/philly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mxLE2aedggM/V5FlmQjW-LI/AAAAAAAAQNI/blCQhEez7XgNV_1rmyDhw4r4skniTPr8wCLcB/s640/philly.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by B. Krist for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15pt;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 15pt;"><i><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 15pt;"><i><span style="color: #717173;">Philadelphia’s Champs-Élysées:</span></i></b><i style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #717173;"> </span></i><span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15pt;">Cutting through the city grid, the diagonal Benjamin Franklin
Parkway stretches from near City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the
edge of Fairmount Park. Planner Paul Philippe Cret and designer Jacques Gréber
modeled the mile-long thoroughfare after the Champs-Élysées of their native
country. Some of the city’s most important cultural institutions, including the
Barnes Foundation, line the Parkway.</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Efd5oCmBXM/V5FmcrKM4CI/AAAAAAAAQNQ/UDn-l1f7BbEqIa69NKRMrzZhiaMDNwYngCLcB/s1600/benfrankparkway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Efd5oCmBXM/V5FmcrKM4CI/AAAAAAAAQNQ/UDn-l1f7BbEqIa69NKRMrzZhiaMDNwYngCLcB/s640/benfrankparkway.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by B. Krist for Visit Philadelphia™</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;">It Really IS All About
The Food:</span></b><span style="color: #717173;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">Soft Pretzels: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">Introduced by early German settlers, this doughy pleasure serves
as more than a snack. In the morning, locals can be seen dipping pretzels
into cream cheese for Philly’s version of a breakfast bagel. Other times of
day, mustard is the condiment of choice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1ww044Cz9A/V5FXFHpggPI/AAAAAAAAQMI/8yjz_5zV_Io-dSSZUYpEtuGKY-TCIrFmQCLcB/s1600/pretzels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I1ww044Cz9A/V5FXFHpggPI/AAAAAAAAQMI/8yjz_5zV_Io-dSSZUYpEtuGKY-TCIrFmQCLcB/s640/pretzels.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by J. Varney for Visit Philadelphia™</span></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 15pt;"><i><span style="color: #717173;">Cheesesteaks and Roast Pork:</span></i></b><i style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #717173;"> </span></i><span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15pt;">Philadelphia is known for the cheesesteak. This meat-and-cheese
icon is delicious and worth the praise. But there’s another sandwich that many
locals consider to be the real hometown choice: roast pork. Like its more
popular cousin, the roast pork starts with a quality long roll, then topped
with roasted sliced pork, provolone cheese and broccoli rabe.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHquzDRrCoQ/V5Fi37NxbwI/AAAAAAAAQMw/ojwxMW2A5aw3z3KLH5b26MIpaGI0ptWOwCLcB/s1600/cheesesteak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pHquzDRrCoQ/V5Fi37NxbwI/AAAAAAAAQMw/ojwxMW2A5aw3z3KLH5b26MIpaGI0ptWOwCLcB/s640/cheesesteak.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by B. Krist for Visit Philadelphia™</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">Water Ice: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">Called Italian ice in other parts, water ice dominates the
summer snack market in Philadelphia. It’s smoother than a snow cone or shaved
ice, and the flavor is mixed right in, rather than poured on top. Lemon and
cherry win the most-ordered contest, though the sweet treat comes in a variety
of flavors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ls8Px0HeQsU/V5FtR8YDkNI/AAAAAAAAQNo/1WIf76HdVeQaQMYIyvyFPjYA5_QqCqmzgCLcB/s1600/waterice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ls8Px0HeQsU/V5FtR8YDkNI/AAAAAAAAQNo/1WIf76HdVeQaQMYIyvyFPjYA5_QqCqmzgCLcB/s640/waterice.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by J. Varney for Visit Philadelphia™</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">Hoagies: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">Outside of Philadelphia, they’re often cal</span></span><span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15pt;">led “subs” or
“heroes.” Philly takes its hoagie game seriously: The bread has to be just
right—slightly crunchy on the outside, and soft enough to allow a hungry eater
bite through to the hearty supply of deli meat, cheese and toppings.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lbey4Asj5cw/V5FjrAv_ZwI/AAAAAAAAQM4/VgCV_H0oWq0AKp2dF60SDHtLC0rkRZ5OQCLcB/s1600/hoagies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lbey4Asj5cw/V5FjrAv_ZwI/AAAAAAAAQM4/VgCV_H0oWq0AKp2dF60SDHtLC0rkRZ5OQCLcB/s640/hoagies.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by C. Smyth for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;">How To Drink In
America’s Best Drinking City:</span></b><span style="color: #717173;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 15pt;"><i><span style="color: #717173;">BYOB:</span></i></b><i style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 15pt;"><span style="color: #717173;"> </span></i><span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15pt;">Philadelphia’s difficult-to-acquire liquor
licenses created a dining phenomenon: the BYOB, short for bring your own
bottle. Diners bring their bottle of choice—wine, champagne, beer, even
spirits—to the more than 300 BYOBs in the city, and chefs bring their best to
the plate.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SCCcnWP_ZI4/V5FeY9LVG9I/AAAAAAAAQMY/cSFYRVmJm6oS0dTH6ICNft97UFJ3aaKywCLcB/s1600/philly%2Brestaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SCCcnWP_ZI4/V5FeY9LVG9I/AAAAAAAAQMY/cSFYRVmJm6oS0dTH6ICNft97UFJ3aaKywCLcB/s640/philly%2Brestaurant.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: #717173;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Landmarks:</span></span></b><span style="color: #717173; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 15pt;"><i><span style="color: #717173;">Liberty Bell: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15pt;">The cracked Bell served as a symbol for the abolitionist
movement, and it also makes for a very American profile picture. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LdwmKOV4Hw/V5FTjMu3OHI/AAAAAAAAQLs/c5SNITbPLpMRin2LYMUqNOrFhdPZEMz4wCLcB/s1600/liberty-bell-independence-hall-976VP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LdwmKOV4Hw/V5FTjMu3OHI/AAAAAAAAQLs/c5SNITbPLpMRin2LYMUqNOrFhdPZEMz4wCLcB/s640/liberty-bell-independence-hall-976VP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by D. Cruz for VISIT PHILADELPHIA™</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">LOVE Sculpture: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">Relocated to Dilworth Park during the renovation of JFK Plaza
(a.k.a. Love Park), the LOVE sculpture is the perfect icon for the City of
Brotherly Love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bhj6sG5aaw0/V5FT-hLyaSI/AAAAAAAAQL4/YCjq3oemanoVMp30S6n-BiBVC5YzjnNkACEw/s1600/LOVEStatue_C.Smyth_02-976VP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bhj6sG5aaw0/V5FT-hLyaSI/AAAAAAAAQL4/YCjq3oemanoVMp30S6n-BiBVC5YzjnNkACEw/s640/LOVEStatue_C.Smyth_02-976VP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by C. Smyth for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">Philadelphia Museum of Art: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">The majestic Art Museum tops the Ben Franklin
Parkway. Its location and its massive Greek revival design provides a stunning
sight, perfectly captured at various points along the Parkway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rp6b7pNn-uo/V5FgD8Mg81I/AAAAAAAAQMk/AW9Ty5NxDAkT4xQa4xmSgZpK3pPXtj3HQCLcB/s1600/philadelphia-museum-of-art-east-steps2-900-600vp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rp6b7pNn-uo/V5FgD8Mg81I/AAAAAAAAQMk/AW9Ty5NxDAkT4xQa4xmSgZpK3pPXtj3HQCLcB/s640/philadelphia-museum-of-art-east-steps2-900-600vp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia™<br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">Weird and wonderful, indoor-outdoor space
glistens with glass, tiles, found objects and even bike tires. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1b2ETk-IIeg/V5FqBXiswbI/AAAAAAAAQNc/LzjFp7LxdgAvTUinicm-BhukGoq46zXugCLcB/s1600/magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1b2ETk-IIeg/V5FqBXiswbI/AAAAAAAAQNc/LzjFp7LxdgAvTUinicm-BhukGoq46zXugCLcB/s640/magic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by R. Kennedy for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: #717173;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Getting Around:</span></span></b><span style="color: #717173; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">On Foot:</span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;"> Locals
like to walk. It’s the easiest way to get around. In fact, Philadelphia ranks
fourth for most walkable cities in the country, according to WalkScore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">PHLASH: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">Fast, convenient and affordable. That’s the purple PHLASH bus.
Riders pay $2 per ride or $5 for a day pass to get to 22 stops along its
attraction-heavy route. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">SEPTA: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">Philadelphia’s public transit system includes buses, trolleys,
subways and the Regional Rail. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #717173;">Indego: </span></i></b><span style="color: #717173;">People can traverse the city’s 240 miles of bike lanes by using
Indego, Philadelphia’s popular bike-share program. It’s easy to find one
of the more than 100 docking stations. Single 30-minute rides cost $4, and the
monthly pass is $15. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #717173;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #717173;">It Sounds Like:</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="line-height: 15pt;"><i><span style="color: #717173;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="line-height: 15pt;"><i><span style="color: #717173;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Philly Accent: </span></span></i></b><span style="color: #717173; line-height: 15pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Water is wooder. Many words that start with st- get more of a
sht- treatment, so street sounds like shtreet. The pronoun “our” sounds like
are, and “orange” gets the same sound at its start—are-ange. “Bagel” goes by
beg-el (but soft pretzels are better; see above). And jeet? That’s how caring
Philadelphians ask if a person has eaten.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #717173;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #717173;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InsabY6KE80/V5FvcD0uOAI/AAAAAAAAQN0/bwJQmXYtd_MmGX-s0wq3pvnIrCjFugsnACLcB/s1600/phillyskyline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-InsabY6KE80/V5FvcD0uOAI/AAAAAAAAQN0/bwJQmXYtd_MmGX-s0wq3pvnIrCjFugsnACLcB/s640/phillyskyline.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.4px;">Credit: Photo by B. Krist for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 15pt;">Courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.visitphilly.com/" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 15pt;">Visit Philadelphia</a><span style="color: #717173; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 15pt;">. For more information on what to do in Philadelphia this summer, visit their website.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-19377553810166940102016-07-14T09:57:00.000-07:002016-07-14T09:57:54.927-07:00Halifax Foodie Haven<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Halifax is a foodie’s delight, especially if your taste buds
include seafood. With the Atlantic Ocean lapping at its doorstep, fresh fish,
lobster, mussels, oysters, scallops (think Digby) abound. If you’re more of a ‘meat
and potatoes’ person, no problem! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Let’s start with the seafood:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Question: What do the King of Siam, the Titanic and the
Halifax explosion all have in common? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Answer: <a href="http://www.fivefishermen.com/">Five Fishermen Restaurant</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> 140 Argyle Street; 902-422-4421<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I was anxious to dine at Five Fishermen, not simply because of
its menu, but also because of the history behind the building in which the restaurant is housed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Located in a historical part of Halifax, it was constructed as a schoolhouse in 1817. When Dalhousie College
took over the school, the Halifax Victorian
School of Art, established by Anna Leonowens, occupied the space. Prior to opening the art school, Anna
was the governess to the King of Siam’s children. She wrote a book and the
rest, as they say, is history. The art school eventually moved, at which time the
building was turned into a mortuary. During its stint as a funeral home, it accommodated hundreds of
bodies after two major disasters</span><span style="font-size: large;">: the sinking of the </span><span style="font-size: large;">Titanic and the Halifax explosion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">Fast forward a good number of years, and presto, we have the Five
Fishermen restaurant, which is consistently recognized as one of Halifax’s best
dining experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ayYrMEqEDuI/V4VuxU2shFI/AAAAAAAAQBo/9eR9rWcsj38_nkd-aI2uUrWYSvMUgZp1ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ayYrMEqEDuI/V4VuxU2shFI/AAAAAAAAQBo/9eR9rWcsj38_nkd-aI2uUrWYSvMUgZp1ACLcB/s640/IMG_6762.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Haligonian hostess and
friend, Elaine, and I were immediately struck by the large stain-glass windows
on the second floor. Lucky for us, our table was right next to a bank of such
windows. It only got better from there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-mhqk2qFgc/V4VvBaJi7xI/AAAAAAAAQBs/B_wg2EWbT78wuoDS0VLzoCafbSIltflSwCLcB/s1600/IMG_6754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r-mhqk2qFgc/V4VvBaJi7xI/AAAAAAAAQBs/B_wg2EWbT78wuoDS0VLzoCafbSIltflSwCLcB/s640/IMG_6754.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our dining experience began with appetizers. We ordered mussels in a creamy garlic sauce
along with crab and scallop cakes. The mussels arrived speckled with bits of finely-chopped
garlic and onion. They swam in a creamy-white sauce, which was so darn tasty, had there
been a spoon available I would have slurped it up like soup. Perhaps a little uncouth,
but so what?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RQGlSOcBpv8/V4VvL5-itoI/AAAAAAAAQCY/pOwhRUGIuYMnwVCg7yAZv2VrqMZ7NeRjACEw/s1600/IMG_6749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RQGlSOcBpv8/V4VvL5-itoI/AAAAAAAAQCY/pOwhRUGIuYMnwVCg7yAZv2VrqMZ7NeRjACEw/s640/IMG_6749.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">The crab and scallop cakes
were crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. They tasted as
you’d expect a crab cake to taste. I didn’t find the scallops heightened the flavours. What was different, and very good, was the sauce accompanying them – a vibrant
orange-coloured sauce with a hint of heat that built up in your mouth, rather
than hit you square in the pallet with an explosion of fire. I learned later it’s
made with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimchi">kimchi. </a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9M26cmcUhM/V4VvPdd7z2I/AAAAAAAAQCY/9_5LfFVaoq8y9Jqf6LfJ2nCom7AJsqaOwCEw/s1600/IMG_6750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L9M26cmcUhM/V4VvPdd7z2I/AAAAAAAAQCY/9_5LfFVaoq8y9Jqf6LfJ2nCom7AJsqaOwCEw/s640/IMG_6750.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">For our main, Elaine and I
chose the same dish – The Five Fish, and no wonder. It’s sautéed colossal
shrimp, Digby scallops, pan seared local halibut and salmon served over lobster asparagus
risotto. For good measure, we each ordered a lobster tail! Oh my!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C1xOkLk2KZQ/V4VvSuWJa2I/AAAAAAAAQCY/USXSiGLwICUT2VIwqOKEe1z85GBZrxkyQCEw/s1600/IMG_6751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C1xOkLk2KZQ/V4VvSuWJa2I/AAAAAAAAQCY/USXSiGLwICUT2VIwqOKEe1z85GBZrxkyQCEw/s640/IMG_6751.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next question: How do you know you’re in a
truly fine-dining restaurant?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Answer: The Caesar salad is made
table-side.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is exactly what you get at <a href="http://cutsteakhouse.ca/">CUT Steakhouse</a> (5210 Salter Street; 902-429-5120) -- order a Caesar salad, and a server in a crisp black and white uniform, wheels a
cart to your table with all the 'fixings' on it. The egg is cracked into the large wooden bowl, the olive
oil is poured just so, and on it goes, until your salad is done. It’s a
practice long abandoned. Needless to say, it was a very pleasant surprise to
witness this culinary performed treat right in front of me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LC1aHKvLhEU/V4VvzLD1COI/AAAAAAAAQC4/mL-QfjaZSVkY5c4fTGhvo-1a8zMbtodagCEw/s1600/IMG_6791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LC1aHKvLhEU/V4VvzLD1COI/AAAAAAAAQC4/mL-QfjaZSVkY5c4fTGhvo-1a8zMbtodagCEw/s640/IMG_6791.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">When it’s time to choose your steak, another cart is
brought to your table. An explanation of each cut is offered. It’s a learning
opportunity. For example, I learned that corn-feed adds marbling; grass-feed,
results in less marbling. Maybe this is basic steak-knowledge, but I didn’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tiBehfOeftE/V4VvrZAOGWI/AAAAAAAAQCw/FEu1vaog7fYrJvr7A6l7Jtz5oHdc5Iu0gCEw/s1600/IMG_6771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tiBehfOeftE/V4VvrZAOGWI/AAAAAAAAQCw/FEu1vaog7fYrJvr7A6l7Jtz5oHdc5Iu0gCEw/s640/IMG_6771.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chef Luis Clavel, who has developed quite a reputation around this part of the country, thanks to his creativity and approach to food, had a few surprises stuffed into his chef’s apron
for Elaine and me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">A white tagine was brought to our table. Lifting the
lid revealed, among other things, two little towers of roasted corn and sliced
octopus. When Elaine said, “The octopus is so tender,” we were told it had been
cooked using the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sous-vide">sous vide</a></i> style of cooking. I wrote the term down and made a note to Google
it, not knowing a few hours later, Chef Clavel, would <i>show</i> us what it is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6TjsxiCjyqo/V4VvaCvXurI/AAAAAAAAQCw/FS9QXBa6Ydgnb5mZSyi3_6vGSC2TUZ3pACEw/s1600/IMG_6779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6TjsxiCjyqo/V4VvaCvXurI/AAAAAAAAQCw/FS9QXBa6Ydgnb5mZSyi3_6vGSC2TUZ3pACEw/s640/IMG_6779.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Between the grilled-shrimp appetizer and the main
course, a palate cleanser<i> </i>was presented by the Chef himself. In a clear-glass serving dish was a mound of flavoured ice
crystals. A cream-coloured ball, about the size of a quarter, sat on top. Chef
Clavel poured a liquid over it all, then asked us to bite into the ball. We did as instructed. It was an explosion of sweet effervescent liquid -- a white
chocolate ball filled with Prosecco. A
surprise of the best kind!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then came our steak and its accompaniments. All perfect! </span></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UjhOhjbwoMg/V4Vvk-E9h7I/AAAAAAAAQCw/3bkkmC1vtjsDA3NB91y_UcdZ0JHVTLoKQCEw/s1600/IMG_6785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UjhOhjbwoMg/V4Vvk-E9h7I/AAAAAAAAQCw/3bkkmC1vtjsDA3NB91y_UcdZ0JHVTLoKQCEw/s640/IMG_6785.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elaine and I sat, ate, talked, ate, talked … for well over three
hours. We were in no rush and no one seemed in a rush to get us out. At the end
of our meal, Chef Clavel awaited our arrival in the kitchen to show us what<i> sous
vide </i>is. He was cooking up lamb in a hot water bath. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeSeF-DPE-k/V4VwFb-K4OI/AAAAAAAAQC8/B6zhXdkSGSsn1QGvm6dLRDX0q_fxZ3UhwCEw/s1600/IMG_6807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeSeF-DPE-k/V4VwFb-K4OI/AAAAAAAAQC8/B6zhXdkSGSsn1QGvm6dLRDX0q_fxZ3UhwCEw/s640/IMG_6807.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sous Vide Method of Cooking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elaine, Chef Clavel and me</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just when we thought we were done with food for the
night, two small paper bags were handed to us, each containing a tiny banana
bread loaf. Breakfast baby!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-co_W3COb_wE/V4VwM5iC_BI/AAAAAAAAQC8/BZ34Z3RwaQQcAQF8iZ05oNeaeEFNPgjkQCEw/s1600/IMG_6812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-co_W3COb_wE/V4VwM5iC_BI/AAAAAAAAQC8/BZ34Z3RwaQQcAQF8iZ05oNeaeEFNPgjkQCEw/s640/IMG_6812.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Also run by Chef Clavel is <a href="http://www.shuckseafood.ca/">Shuck Seafood and Raw Bar</a>, (same
location as CUT (lower level)) and <a href="http://www.eastofgrafton.com/">East of Grafton</a> (1580 Argyle Street).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">East of Grafton had not yet opened when I visited Halifax,
and obviously, is on my list for next time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-89254212351902040582016-06-28T16:40:00.000-07:002016-06-28T16:43:56.532-07:00Pier 21: Canada's Front Door<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’m proudly Canadian! I love this country and all it stands
for. It’s a vast land and I’m blessed to have travelled
it from the Atlantic to the Pacific. If I had to describe my country in one
word, it is: <i>awesome!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uWtKG551LlE/V26yNol8XBI/AAAAAAAAPwk/SghpBeKO1bMuxRfxiE01o7rP83QD_2tkQCLcB/s1600/explore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uWtKG551LlE/V26yNol8XBI/AAAAAAAAPwk/SghpBeKO1bMuxRfxiE01o7rP83QD_2tkQCLcB/s640/explore.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via www.myexplore.ca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Canada is not where I started though. Like millions of
Canadians, I came from elsewhere. I was lucky I know, to have had parents who
had the support, means (through exceptional hard work), and the foresight to come to this great land. I am an immigrant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The year was 1967. Canada was celebrating its 100<sup>th</sup>
anniversary as a nation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>One, little two,
little three Canadians….</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4UgYOywsiFQ/V262IKJje6I/AAAAAAAAPww/9oYhPwQxPuA9lCcSpLgEpVcGMVLwEyijACLcB/s1600/1967.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4UgYOywsiFQ/V262IKJje6I/AAAAAAAAPww/9oYhPwQxPuA9lCcSpLgEpVcGMVLwEyijACLcB/s400/1967.png" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was February. The dead of winter. Our little family of
three had boarded a flight on an island in the middle of the north Atlantic. A
few hours later we landed in Montreal, completely unprepared for the Canadian
winter. No boots. No gloves. No touques. <i>Nothing
</i>that would have provided adequate protection from winter in the great white
north. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was a small child then, but recall clearly as we stepped off the plane, an
airline employee wrapping a blanket around me. It’s a memory I doubt I will ever forget. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Canada has a long and proud history of opening its doors to
people in need. It’s a tradition that continues today and one we, as a nation,
are proud of. It is in fact, what makes us Canadian. Today, most newcomers
arrive by aircraft, landing directly in a major city, as we did. But that was not
always the case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Between 1928 and 1971, over one million immigrants entered
the country through what became known as Canada’s “front door”</span><span style="font-size: large;">, Pier 21 in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. Passing through its doors were refugees, troops, wartime
evacuees, war brides and their children -- people who, for whatever reasons, were seeking a better life. It was also from Pier 21 that almost
500,000 Canadian troops left for Europe during World War 2 -- 50,000 would not
return home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wHMqbCe8-0c/V3FC3GwYLBI/AAAAAAAAP1E/1rY6oLyQ8UYON-7NgjPdElzMDwgP-Nl3QCKgB/s1600/IMG_6726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wHMqbCe8-0c/V3FC3GwYLBI/AAAAAAAAP1E/1rY6oLyQ8UYON-7NgjPdElzMDwgP-Nl3QCKgB/s640/IMG_6726.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Everyone
entered or left Canada through this<i> </i>door</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The facility opened on March 28, 1928. Holland America’s, <i>SS
Nieuw Amsterdam</i> became the first ship to bring immigrants through Pier 21. The ocean
terminals in Halifax harbour had freight piers, grain elevators, a train
station, and over 220,000 square feet of space allotted for immigration.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuLgOfBO7gc/V3FFTT-eNpI/AAAAAAAAP1o/uPxOvaDfWaAwpqNhD-an5UGPLAIm62y9ACKgB/s1600/jan-blog6-photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuLgOfBO7gc/V3FFTT-eNpI/AAAAAAAAP1o/uPxOvaDfWaAwpqNhD-an5UGPLAIm62y9ACKgB/s640/jan-blog6-photo1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Photo
via www.pier21.ca</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRa8rJKNgPo/V3FEJF-d0HI/AAAAAAAAP1Y/dsw4L9Y5S8I8UPdwatsP_NKeuS7tAnwIwCKgB/s1600/Examining_new_arrivals_in_Immigration_Examination_Hall%252C_Pier_21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sRa8rJKNgPo/V3FEJF-d0HI/AAAAAAAAP1Y/dsw4L9Y5S8I8UPdwatsP_NKeuS7tAnwIwCKgB/s640/Examining_new_arrivals_in_Immigration_Examination_Hall%252C_Pier_21.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 107%;">photo
via https://en.wikipedia.org</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The immigration complex had medical and detention quarters,
an assembly hall, customs, a railway booking office and a telegraph office. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The Red Cross was onsite. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3-tCu1Ij90/V3FOgTPR5jI/AAAAAAAAP2U/4vng1wi74PIyU5ufSBv7Iq3F8OMEzoDeQCKgB/s1600/IMG_6730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m3-tCu1Ij90/V3FOgTPR5jI/AAAAAAAAP2U/4vng1wi74PIyU5ufSBv7Iq3F8OMEzoDeQCKgB/s640/IMG_6730.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There was a restaurant where meals could be purchased before boarding special passenger trains </span><span style="font-size: large;">made up of dozens of</span><i style="font-size: x-large;"> colonist</i><span style="font-size: large;"> cars – coaches designed specifically for moving immigrants inexpensively across the country. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-REGanv6mdg4/V3FOqqXFliI/AAAAAAAAP2g/2vxHmSzEqkYTIOKVK1s7sMS-BoO5Fp5dgCKgB/s1600/IMG_6734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-REGanv6mdg4/V3FOqqXFliI/AAAAAAAAP2g/2vxHmSzEqkYTIOKVK1s7sMS-BoO5Fp5dgCKgB/s640/IMG_6734.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">For the more affluent
passengers, a direct connection between Pier 21 terminal and Halifax’s railway
station was available. From there, passengers could board regularly scheduled
trains to their final destinations.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ez5SBCSc4Ik/V3LEp56Sr9I/AAAAAAAAP5U/EPQroe7MGZ4WlXTg53nJCyENxk8KAhJxACLcB/s1600/IMG_6444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ez5SBCSc4Ik/V3LEp56Sr9I/AAAAAAAAP5U/EPQroe7MGZ4WlXTg53nJCyENxk8KAhJxACLcB/s640/IMG_6444.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The 1950s saw a peak in immigration as thousands of postwar
Europeans left their homelands behind. An addition to the facility was added to
handle the extra traffic. But just as quickly, a decline happened as more and
more people began arriving by plane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The last group of immigrants who made their way through Pier
21 were 100 Cubans who, in 1970, defected in Gander International Airport
(Newfoundland). They were given accommodations at Pier 21 while their refugee
claims were processed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In 1971, the <i>SS Nieuw Amsterdam (II)</i>, which bore the
same name as the first ship to bring immigrants to the pier 21 in 1928, was the
last ship to bring immigrants to Halifax harbour. Pier 21 closed shortly thereafter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, Pier 21 is a National Historic Site and home to the
<i><a href="https://www.pier21.ca/home">Canadian Museum of Immigration</a>.</i> Tours are available at various times throughout
the day led by knowledgeable guides. On our tour, we score big with our tour
guide, George Zwaagstra.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">George arrived from The Netherlands in 1952. He entered
Canada through its “front door” -- Pier 21. He shares his personal experience. He shows us the passport he used to enter Canada. He and his family
were able to walk out of Pier 21 once all their paperwork was completed, as they
were staying in Halifax. George’s brother was already settled here. No need
for overnight stays or detention. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ce_qeztV_CE/V3FPDuaRzmI/AAAAAAAAP2s/k8s9CQaVcS4SO33d4rh-rHVA5Swv0UvlwCKgB/s1600/photo%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ce_qeztV_CE/V3FPDuaRzmI/AAAAAAAAP2s/k8s9CQaVcS4SO33d4rh-rHVA5Swv0UvlwCKgB/s640/photo%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">George tells us of the great number people who made their
entrance into Canada through Pier 21. Then he adds, “Only 10,000 were sent back.”
I detect pride in his voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Pointing to a display area, he informs his little group of
followers, “Immigrants were allowed to bring books. But not that one.” Everyone
looks. Ulysses. <i>Ulysses!</i> Banned.
Until 1949.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you’re into genealogy, the <i>Scotiabank Family History
Center (SFHC)</i>, located on the main floor, is a great place to conduct research. Basic information for anyone arriving through a
Canadian port between 1865 and 1935 can be accessed. Staff members are available to help locate historical documents. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-besOwnApEM0/V3FPpH_rwsI/AAAAAAAAP2w/V6B6mC2dv88QSz2JhzDgeUotc5SDZRv8gCKgB/s1600/Pier21_Research%2BCentre%2BTerminals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-besOwnApEM0/V3FPpH_rwsI/AAAAAAAAP2w/V6B6mC2dv88QSz2JhzDgeUotc5SDZRv8gCKgB/s640/Pier21_Research%2BCentre%2BTerminals.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Photo
via www.pier21.ca</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As far as I know, I do not have any relatives who arrived through Pier 21. So as helpful as the staff is, I don’t need assistance. Or so I think. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Would you like to request your complete immigration record?” asks a cheerful young woman in a crisp uniform.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“No. That’s okay,” I respond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Are you sure? It’s free.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“<i>Free?</i> Really? In
that case, sure.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have no idea what my “complete immigration record” is, but
I know it’s certainly not free. It is however, another way I can reap the benefits
of paying my Federal taxes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I can’t wait to receive it!</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzyUC1shLXk/V3LERPYI35I/AAAAAAAAP44/RKXO7V0LIUIZ1EVWnw4Ud7MinzIeu751QCLcB/s1600/20160524_142754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rzyUC1shLXk/V3LERPYI35I/AAAAAAAAP44/RKXO7V0LIUIZ1EVWnw4Ud7MinzIeu751QCLcB/s640/20160524_142754.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-29729327253061531902016-05-19T11:12:00.000-07:002016-05-19T16:39:04.197-07:00My City: Mississauga<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I travel abroad, say Buffalo, I tell people I’m
from Toronto. I’m not. I’m from <a href="http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/home">Mississauga</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RZF6oW_DAw/VzzWMzVNleI/AAAAAAAAOr4/keE6rosB-lMjweCkxWa8IevtTJTcATuLQCLcB/s1600/miss%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="507" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RZF6oW_DAw/VzzWMzVNleI/AAAAAAAAOr4/keE6rosB-lMjweCkxWa8IevtTJTcATuLQCLcB/s640/miss%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Hall--photo via mississauga.ca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The reason I state </span><span style="font-size: large;">Toronto rather than Mississauga, is because
most people haven’t heard of Mississauga. There are exceptions of course.
There’s always someone who knows somebody who lives in Mississauga.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">They say things like, “My wife’s best friend has family there. The McLaren’s. Do
you know them?” <i>I don’t.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Or<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> “Mississauga. Like
Mississippi??” <i>No.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gZCupwDb53g/VzzXK0sb8wI/AAAAAAAAOsA/9JIy-DEbGHoyTwrIPsavmK-Ik2stofmUgCLcB/s1600/miss%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gZCupwDb53g/VzzXK0sb8wI/AAAAAAAAOsA/9JIy-DEbGHoyTwrIPsavmK-Ik2stofmUgCLcB/s640/miss%2B2.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">montage via https://en.wikipedia.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The name, ‘Mississauga’, comes from the Algonquian <i>Mississaugas,</i> a First Nations tribe
originally from the Georgian Bay area of Ontario. With the mighty Credit River flowing
through its land, what was once a Toronto bedroom community, is now Canada’s sixth largest city. It's comprised of several unique
villages, many of which retain their original charm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l0_meBFuTIc/VzzXnVb17NI/AAAAAAAAOsE/mg3r3vZJomkhPdDQFYsGDm585n69mitWgCLcB/s1600/miss%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l0_meBFuTIc/VzzXnVb17NI/AAAAAAAAOsE/mg3r3vZJomkhPdDQFYsGDm585n69mitWgCLcB/s640/miss%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Credit lighthouse photo via https://en.wikipedia.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The city’s population boomed as Toronto city-dwellers looked
for places to raise families. Many made the move west—to Mississauga.
They got more bang for their buck by living here, while commuting
there. Today, thousands of Mississaugans still make the daily commute to Toronto for work. Many more however, now live and
work in our city, thanks to over 50 international corporations with Canadian headquarters here, companies like Microsoft, General
Mills, Wal-Mart, NCR, to name a few.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve not written about my city. It’s high-time I do. This is therefore, an introduction to the city I have called home for over 30 years. And
yes, I came west with family in tow. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The first home in Mississauga was in fact a
pretty tiny house, but it had a massive yard. There was lots of space for kids, grandparents and a dog to run around in. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The driveway fit more cars than we owned, the neighbours
were on first-name basis and did not mind their own business. It was life in
what used to be the village of Cooksville.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And that’s the thing about this city--you don’t just live in
Mississauga, you live in a village. One Mississaugan meeting another will
always state the village he/she lives in. It might sound pretentious to an
outsider, but here, it’s what we do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I now live in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarkson,_Mississauga">Clarkson</a>. My favourite library is in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorne_Park">Lorne Park</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Credit">Port Credit</a> has the best summer festivals. <a href="http://www.villageofstreetsville.com/">Streetsville</a> has the most
charm, and on it goes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBEa-F8Pz1E/Vz3xBug-w3I/AAAAAAAAOso/rrcmVZJsZwkOwcZrIyr4bBjxKB-nuLqsgCLcB/s1600/streetsville1-bia-spring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBEa-F8Pz1E/Vz3xBug-w3I/AAAAAAAAOso/rrcmVZJsZwkOwcZrIyr4bBjxKB-nuLqsgCLcB/s640/streetsville1-bia-spring.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streetsville photo via http://www.villageofstreetsville.com/<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ll be writing a bit more on Mississauga over the next
while. For now, here are just a few fun facts:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">1974 was the year Mississauga became a city.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The city of Mississauga has only ever had 4 mayors and I doubt many residents can
tell you who they were/is, with the exception of: Hazel McCallion. Hazel was our mayor
for 36 years. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thirty-six</i>!</span><i style="font-size: x-large;"> </i><span style="font-size: large;">In the latter years of her political career, Hazel </span><span style="font-size: large;">didn’t
even campaign for the job. She put her name on the ballot and that was that. You either
voted for her or you didn’t. We did.</span></li>
</ul>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada’s busiest airport, is actually
in Mississauga. When you fly into <i><a href="http://www.torontopearson.com/#">YYZ</a></i></span><span style="font-size: large;">,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> it’s not Toronto you’re landing in. (No
one ever tells you this!)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">The “largest peacetime evacuation” occurred on November 10,
1979 when a 106 car freight train carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals
derailed near Mavis Rd. and Dundas St.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">We are home to <a href="https://trilliumhealthpartners.ca/Pages/default.aspx">Trillium Health Partners</a>, comprised of two hospitals in Mississauga and one in Toronto. It can be a bit confusing with people showing up at the 'wrong' hospital on occasion, (yes, I've done this) but hey, it's top-notch healthcare and there's never a bill to settle. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Never. Ever.</i></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.shopsquareone.com/">Square One Shopping Centre</a>, with over 360 stores, is located
at the City Centre and is one of Canada largest shopping malls.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Igor Gowzenko, a Russian Embassy to Canada employee, defected
in 1945 with over 100 documents supporting Soviet espionage activities in the
West. His actions had major ramifications. He lived the rest of his life under
an assumed name, and wore a hood over his face for anonymity when making public
appearances. After the whole spy broo-ha-ha thing, he settled in Clarkson, and
is buried two blocks from where I live. </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Am I the only one who finds this fascinating?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-27137505038279319832016-05-12T08:21:00.000-07:002016-05-12T08:21:12.757-07:00Iconic Canadian Hotels<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A bit of Canadian history:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">July 1, 1867: Canada becomes a nation with four provinces in
the east coast. In 1871 British Columbia in the west joined the party, or <i>confederation</i> as it’s known. There’s a
vast amount of land between the east and west coast of Canada. A transportation
system was needed to link the true north from coast to coast. So in 1881 the Canadian Pacific
Railway (CPR) was established to complete the task. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In 1886 the last railway
spike was added and presto, the country was now on the move.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPoRTAD-6Ds/VzNuLNo-mzI/AAAAAAAAOdI/c5qSJEqexwIsl6cDTimJw0OarceoLL9zACLcB/s1600/last%2Bspike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="467" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RPoRTAD-6Ds/VzNuLNo-mzI/AAAAAAAAOdI/c5qSJEqexwIsl6cDTimJw0OarceoLL9zACLcB/s640/last%2Bspike.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last Spike photo via https://en.wikipedia.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As people began travelling for either pleasure or work, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, it became clear they needed a place to eat and stay. The solution, was to build hotels near the
train stations, making it convenient for travelers to have hot meals and
overnight accommodations. It was a clever way for CPR to secure further profits
from customers they already had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Initially centered around major urban routes, as the railway
grew and expanded beyond the east-west line, magnificent hotels were built in
pristine and remote locals--think Banff and Lake Louise.
Tourists from around the world desperate to explore the remoteness of the
Canadian Rockies began arriving. And they’ve never stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ywCvzfjV1Y/VzNtzHS8t6I/AAAAAAAAOdE/HhEstMvDnWMQRQM8wl7hEiYKH8g70jtVgCLcB/s1600/victoria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ywCvzfjV1Y/VzNtzHS8t6I/AAAAAAAAOdE/HhEstMvDnWMQRQM8wl7hEiYKH8g70jtVgCLcB/s640/victoria.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Empress, Victoria, BC photo via fairmont.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Canadian railway hotels of today, managed by <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/?cmpid=google_brx_search-branded_fairmont-revsh&s_kwcid=TC|1025556|fairmont%20canada||S|b|31540405500&gclid=CJmXr8Lil7wCFecRMwodHk4AVg">Fairmont
Hotels and Resorts</a>, are Five-star accommodations. On the outside, they look
pretty much as they did when they were originally built. Walk inside and you
are instantly transported back to a time of grandeur and luxury. It’s elegance and glamour from an era long-gone (sigh!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Here are six of my favourite “railway hotels”, based purely
on my on my own view and experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/">The Banff Springs Hotel</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2AZAdKAb2U/VzNvuk4WdLI/AAAAAAAAOdY/pylu9YaPIBQTKPAGgXiz1R7W33nENuEyACLcB/s1600/banff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v2AZAdKAb2U/VzNvuk4WdLI/AAAAAAAAOdY/pylu9YaPIBQTKPAGgXiz1R7W33nENuEyACLcB/s640/banff.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo via fairmont.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Situated in the spectacular setting of Banff National Park (Alberta),
with the green-icy waters of the Bow River at its base, and snow-caped Rocky
Mountain peaks surrounding it, the <i>Banff Springs Hotel</i> is Canada’s <i>Castle in the Mountains.</i> Opened on June
1, 1888, the Banff Springs Hotel was an instant hit with travelers looking for
outdoor adventure, fine dining and luxurious accommodations. By the 1950s
however, the hotel was in a state of shambles and there was talk of knocking it
down. One movie star changed all that. Marilyn Munro stayed here in
1953 while fil</span><span style="font-size: large;">ming, <i>A River of No Return</i>. </span><span style="font-size: large;">And the rest, as they say, is history…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/frontenac-quebec/"><br /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/frontenac-quebec/">Le Château Frontenac</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxiITwDTZgs/VzNvxniTzxI/AAAAAAAAOdc/inKGsbK5jDs50s7E4tR3UumItn7dMWJfgCLcB/s1600/frontenac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxiITwDTZgs/VzNvxniTzxI/AAAAAAAAOdc/inKGsbK5jDs50s7E4tR3UumItn7dMWJfgCLcB/s640/frontenac.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo via fairmont.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perched high on a hill overlooking the vastness of the Saint
Lawrence River, and inside the walls of old Quebec, sits the majestic, <i>Le Château
Frontenac</i>. During an era where promoting luxury tourism to wealthy travelers
was the in thing for CPR, the hotel was built as a stop-over for rail
travelers, offering luxury accommodations and ultra-pampering. It has hosted many
famous people and events including,<i> The Quebec
Conference of 1943</i>, which saw British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill,
President, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Canadian Prime Minister, William Lloyd
Mackenzie King, gather to discuss strategy for World War II. Today, <i>Le</i><b>
</b><i>Chateau</i> remains the most recognizable
architectural structure in the Quebec City skyline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/royal-york-toronto/"><br /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/royal-york-toronto/">The Royal York</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X2i0vMZyvy0/VzNxkOJvhyI/AAAAAAAAOd8/sJUQe5iGuvMND5V_ruCwDxZhV_-pJ1AmwCKgB/s1600/royal%2Byork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X2i0vMZyvy0/VzNxkOJvhyI/AAAAAAAAOd8/sJUQe5iGuvMND5V_ruCwDxZhV_-pJ1AmwCKgB/s640/royal%2Byork.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via fairmont.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Situated in the heart of city and directly across the street
from the rail station, <i>the Royal York</i>,
was built to take advantage of rail travelers arriving in Toronto.
Surprisingly, Toronto was one of the last places to have a railway hotel built.
However, when the Royal York finally open its doors in 1929, it was the
largest hotel in The British Empire. With 28 floors, it was also the
tallest structure in the country. Its features and amenities were
state-of-the-art at the time, with 10 elevators to deliver guests to their
floors, radios in every room and...wait for it…a private bathroom in each room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/empress-victoria/">The Empress</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qb8b9puJ5E4/VzNwIATweNI/AAAAAAAAOdo/4eAokyz3CXovfizxVfQRneMIujC69SR1wCLcB/s1600/victoria%2Btea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qb8b9puJ5E4/VzNwIATweNI/AAAAAAAAOdo/4eAokyz3CXovfizxVfQRneMIujC69SR1wCLcB/s640/victoria%2Btea.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo via fairmont.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Located in Victoria, BC, overlooking the harbour, <i>the Empress </i>is the city's most famous
landmark. In the summer lush green ivy climbs tightly
up its facade. Once inside, the hotel’s majestic feel continues with the <i>Bengal
Lounge</i>, decorated in Victorian-era, Indian style, a tribute to when Queen
Victoria was Empress of India. Afternoon tea has been served at the hotel since
it first opened its doors. Today, a visit to Victoria is not complete without
indulging in this oh-so-British tradition. During the summer months, more
than 800 guests and tourists are served daily. For many years the hotel went
without a sign at its front entrance. When one was finally installed, it's
rumoured an irate gentleman stated, “Anyone who doesn't know this is the
Empress shouldn't be staying here.” Enough said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/lake-louise/">Château Lake Louise</a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc7OgeXr2xA/VzNv3v04kpI/AAAAAAAAOdg/CvRey-peLN0KaN9hzPqW0l4uAVcEH1PzwCLcB/s1600/lake%2Blouise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yc7OgeXr2xA/VzNv3v04kpI/AAAAAAAAOdg/CvRey-peLN0KaN9hzPqW0l4uAVcEH1PzwCLcB/s640/lake%2Blouise.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo via fairmont.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What started off as a small log cabin overlooking Lake
Louise,(Alberta), is today a magnificent, grand-luxury style hotel, in arguably, one of
the most photographed spots in Canada. The </span><span style="font-size: large;">Château</span><span style="font-size: large;"> served visitors from various
stations along the railway line, as well as visitors dropping in for the day
from Banff Springs Hotel, just south of Lake Louise. When the hotel was
constructed in 1890, the vision was for, ''A hotel for outdoor
adventurer and alpinist.” It's a vision that would be fulfilled as thousands of
mountaineers from all over the world arrived to climb area mountains. </span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fairmont.com/laurier-ottawa/">Château Laurier</a></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ST3PbtgKCc/VzNwOXdLhqI/AAAAAAAAOd0/GEJkoLg3pFkk-lkJzXjt2SPodQqjC5TtACKgB/s1600/laurier1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ST3PbtgKCc/VzNwOXdLhqI/AAAAAAAAOd0/GEJkoLg3pFkk-lkJzXjt2SPodQqjC5TtACKgB/s640/laurier1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via fairmont.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">In the heart of <a href="http://www.mariaismyname.com/2015/04/ottawa-is-canadas-capital.html">Canada’s capital</a>, overlooking the Rideau
Canal and next door to Parliament Hill, sits a <a href="http://www.mariaismyname.com/2015/04/where-to-stay-in-ottawa-fairmont.html">true Canadian icon and Ottawa landmark</a>. </span>From the distance the structure appears as a castle on a hill. Inside it’s all glamour and
history, history, history. Notable guests have included King George IV, Queen
Elizabeth, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Nelson Mandela, and Princess
Diana, to name just a few. The hotel was home to two former Prime Ministers,
Richard Bedford Bennett and Pierre Trudeau (his son now works next door, dont-ya
know). Famous photographer, Yousuf Karsh, lived in </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Château Laurier</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> for eighteen
years. Some of his famous portraits adorn the Château’s walls including, possibly, the most famous Winston Churchill portrait -- ever!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mibdEFmnzzs/VzNv_nGyauI/AAAAAAAAOdk/J9VzYcaMxOgfkJW2Rm7VuvB9agoGLJ0hACLcB/s1600/karsh_churchill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mibdEFmnzzs/VzNv_nGyauI/AAAAAAAAOdk/J9VzYcaMxOgfkJW2Rm7VuvB9agoGLJ0hACLcB/s640/karsh_churchill.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via https://en.wikipedia.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-63196257842854217492016-04-28T09:03:00.001-07:002016-05-03T08:10:58.994-07:00Philadelphia -- More Than Cheesesteak<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCx_-pf2rqA/VyEPYHUOr2I/AAAAAAAAOKI/umxxSqcoX0Yukb7H032Vp2F9FzdddhsTACLcB/s1600/Skyline7_B.Krist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JCx_-pf2rqA/VyEPYHUOr2I/AAAAAAAAOKI/umxxSqcoX0Yukb7H032Vp2F9FzdddhsTACLcB/s640/Skyline7_B.Krist.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo courtesy of visitphilly.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I think of Philadelphia two things come to mind: Rocky
Balboa and Philly cheesesteak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve only been to Philadelphia once. Naturally, I climbed
the “Rocky steps”, reached the top and did my best Rocky victory dance. And <i>of
course</i>, I had a Philly cheesesteak—with provolone cheese. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There’s much more to Philly though, and with all the major
events happening this year, its exciting food scene (not that cheesesteak isn’t
exciting on its own), the city’s lively entertainment and arts scene, it’s
high-time I plan a return visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Philadelphia is hosting the Democratic
National Convention from July 25-28, 2016. (The world holds its breath.) This won't get me to Philly, but the following reasons have me thinking it's time for a visit:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Picasso: The Great
War, Experimentation and Change</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> (Through May 9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SW3Q4fZ3tgo/VyEQeT7AgyI/AAAAAAAAOKQ/6vVPPoIGGJc6rwGrBtJRAgXspdL_JOdWwCLcB/s1600/BarnesFoundation1_R.Kennedy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SW3Q4fZ3tgo/VyEQeT7AgyI/AAAAAAAAOKQ/6vVPPoIGGJc6rwGrBtJRAgXspdL_JOdWwCLcB/s640/BarnesFoundation1_R.Kennedy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo courtesy of visitphilly.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This display explores Pablo Picasso’s work between 1912 and
1924, highlighting the years during World War 1, when the artist began to
alternate between cubist and classical modes in his art. It’s a <a href="http://www.barnesfoundation.org/">Barnes Foundation</a> </span><span style="font-size: large;">exhibit, with some 50 works by Picasso, along with other canvasses
by his contemporaries, including Henri Matisse and Amadeo Modigliani. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The Science Behind
Pixar</b> </i>(Through September 5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-10vwBWeqopI/VyERtw-36JI/AAAAAAAAOKY/shSqKj3Boj0InxbB90DZxG_gyCLTZEDPwCLcB/s1600/Hero_Home_Slider_Pixar_Buzz_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-10vwBWeqopI/VyERtw-36JI/AAAAAAAAOKY/shSqKj3Boj0InxbB90DZxG_gyCLTZEDPwCLcB/s640/Hero_Home_Slider_Pixar_Buzz_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On display at <a href="https://www.fi.edu/">The Franklin Institute</a>, 40 interactive
exhibits guide film fans of all ages through the production process,
demonstrating how science and technology turn ideas into award-winning films.
Selfie alert: Human-size recreations of favourite characters include Buzz
Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The Golden Age of King
Mida</b>s </i>(Through November 27)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLS97ux7znc/VyEShVwpxVI/AAAAAAAAOKg/dnLvvEKrl5Ai6F3XOHQvX0ynW2xmSrAwACLcB/s1600/MidasBox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLS97ux7znc/VyEShVwpxVI/AAAAAAAAOKg/dnLvvEKrl5Ai6F3XOHQvX0ynW2xmSrAwACLcB/s640/MidasBox1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of Penn Museum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Making its world premiere at the <a href="http://penn.museum/">Penn Museum</a>, this exhibit
shows off treasures of rare art and artifacts from the Republic of Turkey which
were excavated at the ancient city of Gordion, where the real King Midas lived.
On display are items found in his father’s tomb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Creative Africa</b> </i>(May
14-September 25)</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piz5shT3KB4/VyEWVP8w0QI/AAAAAAAAOLA/BW82KXcuOyQJwhT8Zp7GFEjlcEmRBZhkACLcB/s1600/Vlisco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piz5shT3KB4/VyEWVP8w0QI/AAAAAAAAOLA/BW82KXcuOyQJwhT8Zp7GFEjlcEmRBZhkACLcB/s640/Vlisco.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Held at the <a href="http://philamuseum.org/">Philadelphia Museum of Art</a>'s, Ruth and Rayomd G. Pereleman Building, the centerpiece of this exhibit is: <i>Look Again, Contemporary Perspectives on African Art</i>. It draws from the Penn Museum's collection and spans 400 years, reflecting the diversity among African cultures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Dinosaurs Unearthed</b> </i>(June
25-January 16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5_1NLXXA5Q/VyEVmRtS3uI/AAAAAAAAOK4/J_ZnBNe8zV4KOxhv1NY89FP74pXeAsQcgCLcB/s1600/dinosaurs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5_1NLXXA5Q/VyEVmRtS3uI/AAAAAAAAOK4/J_ZnBNe8zV4KOxhv1NY89FP74pXeAsQcgCLcB/s640/dinosaurs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of The Academy of Natural Sciences</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A dozen moving, roaring, life-size dinosaurs invade <a href="http://ansp.org/">The Academy of Natural Sciences</a> </span><span style="font-size: large;">of Drexel University. This multisensory exhibit
recreates animatronic versions of the legendary beasts. Budding paleontologists can dig for relics and control dinosaurs’ movements. They can also hop on the
special weight scale to find out how many of them it would take to weigh as much
as a T-Rex.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philly Food Praise</b><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w62UjWHknfA/VyEX0ELZKsI/AAAAAAAAOLM/tyrIxY7VQqcK_fpMExec0UomRazu5BAzQCLcB/s1600/Relish-Restaurant-G.Widman-976VP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w62UjWHknfA/VyEX0ELZKsI/AAAAAAAAOLM/tyrIxY7VQqcK_fpMExec0UomRazu5BAzQCLcB/s640/Relish-Restaurant-G.Widman-976VP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of visitphilly.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Did you know there are over 300 bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB)
eateries in Philly? Well, there are, along with plenty of street food and
outdoor seating. <i>The Washington Post, </i>in
2015, named Philadelphia as one of US’s 10 best food cities and <i>Bon Appetit</i> declared Philly has the best
pizza in the entire country (I’m going already!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Philly Outdoors</b><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7IVaXhdl6o/VyEYgIcVMlI/AAAAAAAAOLU/B8v0IqWvzDcyty97IIDrA9WgVkG5IQh6wCLcB/s1600/IndegoBikeShare2_M.Fischetti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7IVaXhdl6o/VyEYgIcVMlI/AAAAAAAAOLU/B8v0IqWvzDcyty97IIDrA9WgVkG5IQh6wCLcB/s640/IndegoBikeShare2_M.Fischetti.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo courtesy of visitphilly.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once over-looked patches of land are being transformed into
fun spaces, where locals and visitors are happily utilizing them as lively
urban parks (Dilworth Park), re-imagined recreational landscapes (Spruce Street
Harbor Park) and pop-up gardens (PHS Pop Up Gardens). These spaces, once
inactive and forlorn, now provide a festive sense of community pride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Historic Philadelphia
Campaign Launch</b><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dECXOZsKjAE/VyEa_SeyKYI/AAAAAAAAOLs/4nAAJ6TyRJchpFEkV46yjMCpG6p7ex7-ACLcB/s1600/ValleyForgeWashingtonHQ2_courtVFCVB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dECXOZsKjAE/VyEa_SeyKYI/AAAAAAAAOLs/4nAAJ6TyRJchpFEkV46yjMCpG6p7ex7-ACLcB/s640/ValleyForgeWashingtonHQ2_courtVFCVB.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo courtesy of visitphilly.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Launching in May, 2016, visitors are invited to explore
<i>Historic Philadelphia</i>, an area that spans from the Delaware River to 7<sup>th</sup>
Street and from Vine to Lombard streets. This entirely walkable area boasts
serious historical credits thanks to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy
Ross House and tons of other sites significant to early American history. It’s
also here where you’ll find trendy restaurants, beer gardens, art galleries and
boutiques. Check out <a href="http://visitphilly.com/historic">visitphilly.com/historic</a> for more details.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f45mETFXvG8/VyEYpNoKPLI/AAAAAAAAOLc/BQIRmmShz6QHMAUD9HsVUa51KkpbQRSAACLcB/s1600/Skyline5_G.Widman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f45mETFXvG8/VyEYpNoKPLI/AAAAAAAAOLc/BQIRmmShz6QHMAUD9HsVUa51KkpbQRSAACLcB/s640/Skyline5_G.Widman.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo courtesy of visitphilly.com</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, have I got you thinking, Philly? Rocky</span><span style="font-size: large;"> awaits...</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy_q-8Sb5eU/VyEjL8PYGWI/AAAAAAAAOL8/jjh9IUyWNLA79ymsk_XABkDEefZN2v-6QCLcB/s1600/rocky-statue-900vp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy_q-8Sb5eU/VyEjL8PYGWI/AAAAAAAAOL8/jjh9IUyWNLA79ymsk_XABkDEefZN2v-6QCLcB/s640/rocky-statue-900vp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">photo courtesy of visitphilly.com</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-80178809503846254542016-04-20T13:28:00.001-07:002016-04-27T13:49:45.211-07:00For The Love of Bacon!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it’s true. Canadians love bacon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And why not—it’s a fatty, crispy, salty comfort food.
All-in-all, it’s a food which doesn’t rate high on the list of, ‘<i>Foods That Are Good For You</i>.’ Still we love it, and have come up with some
creative concoctions to further enjoy its tempting flavour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We dish it out covered in chocolate, drizzled with maple
syrup, sprinkled over soups and salads. Most recently I discovered it in an ice cream sundae at a local restaurant. I haven’t tried it yet, but I
will. I wasn’t in the mood for ice cream. That’s all.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5Xy4zIhbPk/Vw_J8ZHDRkI/AAAAAAAAOAY/jUnuQ0svgNkb0STPixiRCHo9En54_YcMgCKgB/s1600/20160406_185351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5Xy4zIhbPk/Vw_J8ZHDRkI/AAAAAAAAOAY/jUnuQ0svgNkb0STPixiRCHo9En54_YcMgCKgB/s640/20160406_185351.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most people are familiar with the strips of bacon made from
pork belly--the kind usually found on breakfast menus. But there’s another Canadian
creation called, <i>peameal bacon</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Peameal bacon is made from lean boneless pork loin, trimmed,
cured and rolled in cornmeal. It is credited to having been developed in
Toronto by a ham and bacon curer. Naturally, where there’s meat, there are
sandwiches to be made. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the best places to indulge in a peameal bacon
sandwich is in <a href="http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/">St. Lawrence Market </a>in the heart of Toronto. Vendors grill
slices of bacon until the centre is slightly rare and the cornmeal coating and
fat turns crisp. Then the many slices of pork are layer into a soft bun. You can
add toppings to your sandwich, such as lettuce, tomato, pickles and even a fried egg, if you like. I prefer mine, ‘straight’. When dealing with a perfect food,
why muck it up with other things?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f56qscEkpNI/Vw_MSMyengI/AAAAAAAAOBE/7Kjs0GoLQZQjQtvPU_eEW3Kie3K6rMCdwCLcB/s1600/20160226_123358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f56qscEkpNI/Vw_MSMyengI/AAAAAAAAOBE/7Kjs0GoLQZQjQtvPU_eEW3Kie3K6rMCdwCLcB/s640/20160226_123358.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Arriving at the market just before lunch, my quest was
for the perfect peameal bacon sandwich, a treat I hadn’t had in quite a number
of years. Yes, <i>years!</i> So, I was determined. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are several vendors throughout the market offering peameal bacon sandwiches, which are extremely popular with the lunchtime crowd. It’s street-food
of the best taste, so lineups can be long.
But, patience is a virtue, or so I’ve been told. I secured my position in the slow-moving line until, finally, I was able to place my order. It was worth waiting for.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5s6oDIgytk/Vw_LMunouCI/AAAAAAAAOAo/WmbSaEAFo4081ArHbxtbymTuTxbSs9nOwCLcB/s1600/20160226_125907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5s6oDIgytk/Vw_LMunouCI/AAAAAAAAOAo/WmbSaEAFo4081ArHbxtbymTuTxbSs9nOwCLcB/s640/20160226_125907.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My sandwich was exactly as I remembered – warm, soft, crispy
around the edges and most of all, tasty, tasty, tasty. St. Lawrence Market and
peameal bacon sandwiches go hand-in-hand. But there’s much more to the market. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdPm5vy97q0/Vw_MK_463aI/AAAAAAAAOA4/QMQ9jGAlfHwwzMxODsRAtdmT3WPEtlrSQCLcB/s1600/20160226_122408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdPm5vy97q0/Vw_MK_463aI/AAAAAAAAOA4/QMQ9jGAlfHwwzMxODsRAtdmT3WPEtlrSQCLcB/s640/20160226_122408.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Consisting of three building, the market hosts a weekly
antique market and farmer’s market. A public market has been held in the north
building since 1803. The south building houses vendors, daily, selling meats,
fish, cheese, vegetable and flowers. There are also bakeries and full-service
restaurants to be found here. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iChOCWuDcU4/Vw_MMyjNbNI/AAAAAAAAOA8/JoAMe6Mqoa8x8ac1mdwevoOSGCcwUHAQwCLcB/s1600/20160226_122423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iChOCWuDcU4/Vw_MMyjNbNI/AAAAAAAAOA8/JoAMe6Mqoa8x8ac1mdwevoOSGCcwUHAQwCLcB/s640/20160226_122423.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For lovers of food, St. Lawrence Market is <i>the</i> place to visit, shop and eat. It’s a
cornucopia of all things food. For that reason alone, it remains my
favourite Toronto market—it’s a place to go, eat, purchase, bring home, cook
and eat some more. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCsSN4ZzjPo/Vw_MWUk39hI/AAAAAAAAOBM/T7CtrU5G0EgUQhYUJztZ79FSXXQ26tYpgCLcB/s1600/20160226_141758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PCsSN4ZzjPo/Vw_MWUk39hI/AAAAAAAAOBM/T7CtrU5G0EgUQhYUJztZ79FSXXQ26tYpgCLcB/s640/20160226_141758.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And </span><span style="font-size: large;">in case you want to make your own sandwiches at home, yes, </span><span style="font-size: large;">you can purchase peameal bacon by the pound. Enjoy! </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-20570697220715032422016-02-24T17:47:00.001-08:002016-02-24T21:25:13.407-08:00On A Roll At Le Cordon Bleu<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Better to have a small piece of something made properly
than a large piece of something, so-so.” Those were the words of Chef Cristiana Solinas,
the quick-humoured, energetic and passionate Pastry Chef Instructor. With her
Italian accent, everything she said sounded very profound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRAg91muc5Q/Vs43B1ikYGI/AAAAAAAAM_Y/A2k5Nq4e7Ww/s1600/IMG_6541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rRAg91muc5Q/Vs43B1ikYGI/AAAAAAAAM_Y/A2k5Nq4e7Ww/s640/IMG_6541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Food is so personal,” she added. Indeed and personally, I
just love food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So it was with my love for food, good food, that I signed up
for the Quick Breads short-course at the world renowned, <a href="https://www.cordonbleu.edu/ottawa/en">Le Cordon Bleu</a>.
Luckily, I didn’t have to fly to Paris. Rather, I drove east from Toronto along the
little stretch of highway we call, The-Four-Oh-One, and hung a left just past Kingston in to Ottawa, where Canada’s very own Le Cordon Bleu campus is found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHLmatXj97U/Vs42OQLG-RI/AAAAAAAAM_Q/6TfUi-ySsY8/s1600/20151128_113656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DHLmatXj97U/Vs42OQLG-RI/AAAAAAAAM_Q/6TfUi-ySsY8/s640/20151128_113656.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Along with offering diplomas in areas like, Cuisine, Pastry
and Confectionary, the school also offers short courses for the foodies in all of us, and for
those who have recently retired and are trying to answer the question, <i>what the heck do I do now</i>? Such were the
majority of my fellow students. To be fair, there were also young
people in attendance. Most were accompanying a parent who had recently retired. I was
there, because you know, I love food!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoskGpSOrTM/Vs43g-2K2sI/AAAAAAAAM_c/4cJJIaF2AK0/s1600/IMG_6548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoskGpSOrTM/Vs43g-2K2sI/AAAAAAAAM_c/4cJJIaF2AK0/s640/IMG_6548.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The short courses offered for the gourmet enthusiast, range
anywhere from 2 hours to 4 days, depending on whether it’s a demonstration or a
more intense course, like Wedding Cakes (4 days). The selection of courses is
pretty outstanding – everything from Knife Skills (2 hour demo) to Julia Child’s
Classics (4 hours). With the 4 hour courses, students are advised to bring
their own containers to take their creations home. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-48AtazXF11w/Vs437i2eFmI/AAAAAAAANAQ/vQcdAn6i8RM/s1600/IMG_6533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-48AtazXF11w/Vs437i2eFmI/AAAAAAAANAQ/vQcdAn6i8RM/s640/IMG_6533.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The afternoon started with a demonstration in Salle Cointreau, a fully-equipped kitchen with large television screens for
easier viewing of Chef Solinas' creations. Assisting her were three students from
the Basic Pastry program. While the Chef provided instruction and demonstrated
the proper way to flambé bananas without setting the kitchen on fire, her
assistants were at the ready with bread pans and baking sheets, along with keeping a close
eye on what was baking in the oven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A notebook with recipe ingredients was provided, but not the directions.
It was up to each student to observe and make notes to allow for the recreation of the recipe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once the demonstration, which included sampling all baked
goods, was over, students were escorted to the Practical
Kitchen. Everyone had a personal workstation waiting. All the required ingredients had been pre-measured and were sealed in plastic containers. There were also
utensils, a tea-towel, an apron and of course, a Chef’s hat. Placing the hat
on my head, I immediately felt like I knew what I was doing. It was false confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-stKOf_2886s/Vs44HlRj5_I/AAAAAAAAM_o/5ZCxc_r8LJQ/s1600/IMG_6550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-stKOf_2886s/Vs44HlRj5_I/AAAAAAAAM_o/5ZCxc_r8LJQ/s640/IMG_6550.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MbRTJfsUbA/Vs44KqwAFUI/AAAAAAAAM_s/dR7tSBRKQoQ/s1600/IMG_6551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MbRTJfsUbA/Vs44KqwAFUI/AAAAAAAAM_s/dR7tSBRKQoQ/s640/IMG_6551.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The demonstration by Chef Solinas had included Jalapeno and Bacon Cornbread, Orange
and Cranberry Scones and Flambé Banana Bread. Our allotted baking time allowed for the baking of scones and banana bread only. And so we began.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Flambé
Banana Bread was the first recipe. I had made my notes. The ingredients were
all in front of me. I poured. I mixed. I flambéed. I was wearing my Chef’s hat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SxO8T4gJr7I/Vs44ZxaFi6I/AAAAAAAAM_0/06lqNTD_boU/s1600/IMG_6554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SxO8T4gJr7I/Vs44ZxaFi6I/AAAAAAAAM_0/06lqNTD_boU/s640/IMG_6554.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WeexfEx1xkI/Vs44cvitCfI/AAAAAAAAM_4/Zr_4KteEZdw/s1600/IMG_6560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WeexfEx1xkI/Vs44cvitCfI/AAAAAAAAM_4/Zr_4KteEZdw/s640/IMG_6560.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the banana bread in the oven, I began the Orange and
Cranberry Scones. This recipe was a little trickier. It required kneading, a
task which I clearly lack skill</span><span style="font-size: large;">. At various intervals, an assistant stopped at my station to
provide me with one-on-one instruction on proper kneading technique. Chef Solinas also offered direction. It was of no use. I didn’t master kneading. Undeterred, I pressed on. I was still wearing my Chef’s hat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I used my rolling pin to roll my dough to scone-appropriate thickness.
I cut the dough into squares, pressed cranberries onto the top of each square,
reviewed the recipe, re-read my scribbly notes. It all seemed perfect. I was done. My scones looked
rather perfect, I thought. I pulled down the oven door and gingerly slid my
scone-filled tray into the oven. I turned my attention back to my workstation. Yeee Gaads!! I had left one ingredient out—baking soda.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chef Solinas had spent time explaining the difference
between baking powder and baking soda, although at that moment I wasn’t
quite sure which did what. I did know that my scones were destined to be flat
squares of dough, prettied-up with cranberries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pfH2pRMJe4/Vs44hldLIlI/AAAAAAAAM_8/B5n4HiGjo00/s1600/IMG_6561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pfH2pRMJe4/Vs44hldLIlI/AAAAAAAAM_8/B5n4HiGjo00/s640/IMG_6561.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Consider it an experiment,” stated my fellow student, when
I told her what I had left out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the end, it didn’t matter. I came away with a container
filled with baked goods, which I had made in my 4 hours spent in the world’s leading
culinary school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If it was good enough for Julia Child….</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RLP16Wl2qsU/Vs44o1eup_I/AAAAAAAANAE/ZmeYbk4mRWU/s1600/IMG_6565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RLP16Wl2qsU/Vs44o1eup_I/AAAAAAAANAE/ZmeYbk4mRWU/s640/IMG_6565.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-69115464658037985742015-12-21T08:04:00.001-08:002015-12-22T14:16:55.720-08:0010 Things To Do In Ottawa This Winter<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here’s what I noticed about Ottawa in December: It’s colder
than Toronto. But Torontonian’s aren’t known for their hardy winter endurance.
We were, after all, the laughing stock of the nation, after one particularly bad
snowstorm. The then-Mayor, called in the army to help dig the city out, and
the rest of the country laughed. Out loud. To our faces. But cold is cold, and Ottawa is colder than
Toronto. It just is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">That doesn’t mean Ottawa, Canada’s capital, should be
avoided in the winter season. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ottawa, a city with a population of just over 880,00 people, is filled with history, museums, exhibits, architectural gems, restaurants, spas, skating, shopping and fun-filled activities to
keep you returning time after time. Year-round.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sure, it may be chilly, but with so much to do and fewer
crowds to contend with, winter is a perfect time for a getaway to the nation’s
capital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here are just 10 reasons to visit Ottawa this winter:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Christmas Lights Across Canada</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qPnV9ofA7CE/VnL9BmhdeZI/AAAAAAAALnE/dK0MufCQQsw/s1600/Christmas-Lights-across-Canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qPnV9ofA7CE/VnL9BmhdeZI/AAAAAAAALnE/dK0MufCQQsw/s640/Christmas-Lights-across-Canada.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Ottawa Tourism</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The 31<sup>st</sup> edition of <b><i>Christmas Lights Across
Canada</i></b> was launched on December 2, 2015, with the official illumination
ceremony on Parliament Hill. Thousands gathered, as they do each year, for this
annual ceremony. Every year, as part
of <i><a href="http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1445434705202"><b>Christmas Lights Across Canada</b></a></i>, each province and territory decorates its
capital city and holds its own lighting ceremony, contributing to the
nationwide effort. <i><b>Lights Across Canada</b></i> illuminates the Capital until January 7, 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Le Nordik Nature Spa</i></b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XL5uld8yY1k/VnL-DMSqEZI/AAAAAAAALnU/UFRswgdepws/s1600/le%2Bnordik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XL5uld8yY1k/VnL-DMSqEZI/AAAAAAAALnU/UFRswgdepws/s640/le%2Bnordik.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Le Nordik Spa</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Located in Chelsea, Québec, an easy 15-20 minute drive from
Ottawa’s city-center, <a href="https://www.lenordik.com/"><b><i>Le Nordik Nature Spa</i></b></a> is North America’s largest spa. It
offers 45,000 square feet of relaxing interior space and more than 100,000
square feet outside. Our orientation to the property, which is surrounded by
trees and rocks, included the recommended spa routine: 15-20 minutes of heat in
one of several outdoor saunas or hot pools (which we did), followed by 30 seconds in a cold plunge
pool (which we didn't). Repeat and relax in a nearby warm cabin. There’s an infinity pool with
panoramic views over the city and the salt-water floating pool is a must. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Take a Short Course at Le Cordon Bleu </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AXsQR1esmKU/VnL_2LgLQjI/AAAAAAAALng/eOnaSFn3Tfg/s1600/cordon%2Bbleu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AXsQR1esmKU/VnL_2LgLQjI/AAAAAAAALng/eOnaSFn3Tfg/s640/cordon%2Bbleu.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Ottawa Tourism</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Learn to cook like a pro! Make pasta, sauces, chocolate creations or bake. If
you’ve had one too many knife accidents in the kitchen, the demo on proper
knife skills is for you. Do it all at the world’s leading cooking institution.
Ottawa, is where you’ll find Canada's only <b><i><a href="https://www.cordonbleu.edu/ottawa/short-courses/en">Le Cordon Bleu</a></i></b> satellite school.
Choose from a demonstration, which lasts approximately two hours, or a
combination of demo and hands-on practice. The latter is approximately four
hours. Be sure to take along containers to bring your goodies home. There will
be plenty of them. I seriously can’t think of anything more ‘homey’ to do on a
cold winter day, than to surround the senses with warm deliciousness. If it was
good enough for Julia Child…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Learn About Vikings</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGZcYYzObfY/VnMAajxTC1I/AAAAAAAALno/0YUvkBsesuY/s1600/ottawa%2BVikings-Canadian-Museum-of-History-985x552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WGZcYYzObfY/VnMAajxTC1I/AAAAAAAALno/0YUvkBsesuY/s640/ottawa%2BVikings-Canadian-Museum-of-History-985x552.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Ottawa Tourism</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background: white;">Challenge your assumptions about ancient Scandinavians.</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><b><i>Vikings</i></b><i style="font-weight: bold;">, </i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;">redefines
what we know about this</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> mythical period in Scandinavia. It features more than
500 ancient artifacts on loan from the Swedish History Museum. Many of the
pieces on display have rarely been displayed outside Scandinavia. <b><i>Vikings</i></b> is at the </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.historymuseum.ca/vikings/"><b><i>Canadian History Museum</i></b></a>, and</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"> runs until April 17, 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Check Out Forged in Fire</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ldJjfGAJgb0/VnMAyXrl2_I/AAAAAAAALnw/Swh_n6JNJwk/s1600/Forged%2Bin%2Bfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ldJjfGAJgb0/VnMAyXrl2_I/AAAAAAAALnw/Swh_n6JNJwk/s640/Forged%2Bin%2Bfire.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Bytown Museum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Opening January 29, 2016, this new temporary exhibit,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1450370259122_3852"><i id="yui_3_16_0_1_1450370259122_3851">Forged in Fire: The Building and Burning
of Parliament,</i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>begins its
run. The exhibit highlights the 100th anniversary of the fire that destroyed
the original Parliament Buildings. It explores the history of the site and the
buildings that have called it home throughout its nearly 200-year evolution. The exhibit features artifacts and photographs</span><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white;">from <a href="http://bytownmuseum.com/en/index.html"><b><i>Bytown Museum</i></b></a> collection, including rare images of the construction of
Parliament by early Ottawa photographer, Elihu Spencer. It runs until October 31, 2016</span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i>Discover Amazing Women </i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SWTw3mwFlfY/VnMBm6D979I/AAAAAAAALn8/K_xN0zFP2B0/s1600/World%2BWar%2BWomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SWTw3mwFlfY/VnMBm6D979I/AAAAAAAALn8/K_xN0zFP2B0/s640/World%2BWar%2BWomen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Canadian War Museum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Through artifacts,
images, audiovisual material, oral history and text, <b><i>World War Women</i></b>,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> at the <a href="http://www.warmuseum.ca/women/"><b><i>Canadian War Museum</i></b></a>,</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">delves
into the personal stories of the women associated with these materials. It is
organized in stand-alone thematic zones, each devoted to an element of the wars
that particularly involved and affected women. The contributions made by women
to the Canadian war efforts were crucial, and their experiences forged a new
understanding of women’s capabilities both within themselves and within
society. It’s touching, moving and deeply personal. Don’t miss it. <b><i>World War Women </i></b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">is on now and runs until April 3, 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Winterlude </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iTkSSSMwWk4/VnMC3hG3yTI/AAAAAAAALoU/PftmAfohr20/s1600/Ice-Sculptures-Winterlude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iTkSSSMwWk4/VnMC3hG3yTI/AAAAAAAALoU/PftmAfohr20/s640/Ice-Sculptures-Winterlude.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Ottawa Tourism</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So it’s cold. Big deal! It was with winter in mind, that
<b><i><a href="http://www.ottawafestivals.ca/event/winterlude/">Winterlude</a></i></b> was created in the first place – to celebrate our unique
northern climate and culture. <b><i>Winterlude</i></b> is a three-day fun-filled
event with activities for the entire family. Check out the ice sculpture
competitions, play in North America’s largest snow playground and don’t miss
the 36<sup>th</sup> annual <b><i>Accora Village Bed Race</i></b>. This event features teams
in costumes racing huge decorated beds across frozen ice. <b><i>Winterlude</i></b> runs January 29 – February 15,
2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Gatineau Winter Beerfest</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pH8VuGw1bU0/VnMDNcdKLzI/AAAAAAAALoc/ytJFQDwYm4w/s1600/BeerFest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pH8VuGw1bU0/VnMDNcdKLzI/AAAAAAAALoc/ytJFQDwYm4w/s640/BeerFest.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Ottawa Tourism</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What better time for a beerfest than in the dead of winter.
Only in Canada eh! The beerfest is held at the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Canadian Museum of History. </i>Here<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>you'll discover
over 100 craft beers by brewers from Quebec and Ontario. More than 30 breweries
will be on hand. Chef, Martin De Board, the museum’s head chef, will create
appetizers to tantalize the most gourmet of taste buds. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.historymuseum.ca/event/2016-gatineau-winter-beerfest-presented-by-lachapelle-fiat/"><b><i>The Gatineau Winter Beerfest</i></b></a> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">in on January 29-30. It's held inside the museum's Grand hall and outdoors (of course).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Warm up in The Albion Rooms</i></b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VbU0OOeaSp0/VngWJ4Guj2I/AAAAAAAALvs/W56Za1mgur4/s1600/Albion-2457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VbU0OOeaSp0/VngWJ4Guj2I/AAAAAAAALvs/W56Za1mgur4/s640/Albion-2457.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via The Albion Rooms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">After an activity-filled day, catch your breath, quench your
thirst and fill your appetite in this central Ottawa restaurant. <b><i><a href="http://thealbionrooms.com/our-vision/">The Albion Rooms</a></i></b>, is a warm, conversation-friendly restaurant. Cozy up to
the bar and chat to the server as he assembles your chacouteri platter. Chef, Stephen LaSalle, has put his personal touch on several traditional British
dishes, giving new twists to dishes like scotch eggs and Cornish hen. <b><i>The
Albion Rooms </i></b>is located inside the Novotel (across from Rideau Centre
mall).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Skate, Skate and Skate Some More</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7ccTEXsi5A/VnMEgAPkMLI/AAAAAAAALoo/PwdIa9lRkx8/s1600/skate%2Bottawa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--7ccTEXsi5A/VnMEgAPkMLI/AAAAAAAALoo/PwdIa9lRkx8/s640/skate%2Bottawa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via Ottawa Tourism</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">In addition to the famous <b><i>Rideau Canal Skateway</i></b>
(opens early January), Ottawa provides a few other
skating options:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="yiv7455584749msolistparagraph" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1450365035633_15164" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1450365035633_15163"><span id="yui_3_16_0_1_1450365035633_15162"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">The<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>Skating Court</i></b>, a refrigerated
ice skating rink in Lansdowne Park, offers free open skating as well as
skating programs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Free
skating is also available on the refrigerated surface of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b id="yui_3_16_0_1_1450365035633_15167"><i>Sens
Rink of Dreams</i></b>, located just outside Ottawa City Hall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">The
historic skating rink at<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>Rideau
Hall</i></b>, the home and workplace of Canada’s Governor General, offers free
public skating each Saturday and Sunday between January 10 and March 15,
weather permitting.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-52305401609094078072015-12-08T13:14:00.000-08:002015-12-08T13:19:37.933-08:00Five Reasons to Visit Portugal This Winter<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As
frosty mornings greet Canadians from coast to coast, fantasies of warmer
climates fill our heads. We visualize clear, blue skies, sun-drenched beaches,
outdoor restaurants and long walks without the burden of parkas or waterproof
boots. Plotting our escape becomes a full-time obsession. If you’re bored
with typical Caribbean all-inclusives, where should you go?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Head across the Atlantic, my friends. To Portugal. It's easy to get to. And once you’re there, you will find it is still one of the
most economical European countries to visit—especially in the off-season,
which, luckily for us, Canuks, falls within our winter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If that alone does not convince you, here
are five more reasons why you may want to head east rather than south
this winter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">History</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SK21Ue5AThs/VkvNyF2w5AI/AAAAAAAAK_c/u5FLeRkAqTY/s1600/IMG_4704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SK21Ue5AThs/VkvNyF2w5AI/AAAAAAAAK_c/u5FLeRkAqTY/s640/IMG_4704.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Convent of Christ, Tomar</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">With
12 UNESCO World Heritage sites sprinkled throughout the country, it’s easy to
immerse yourself in the history of one of the oldest countries in Europe. In
the north, check out the Historic Centre of Oporto, with various architectural
styles enclosed within the 14th-century Fernandina Wall. To see how real
knights lived, visit the Convent of Christ in the town of Tomar, an
awe-inspiring castle that was once the headquarters for Portugal’s Knights
Templar. Renting a car will provide you with great flexibility to get to the
sites, but it’s not necessary. Portugal is well connected with trains and buses
that will get you anywhere you need to be—and very economically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Lisbon</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo3NBx0Yf-M/VkvSGKlzvPI/AAAAAAAALAA/VLw8yUpJX9E/s1600/IMG_4245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo3NBx0Yf-M/VkvSGKlzvPI/AAAAAAAALAA/VLw8yUpJX9E/s640/IMG_4245.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Spend
a few days here. For an interactive history lesson, the Lisboa Story Centre in
the Palace Square is a must. For a nostalgic tour, ride Tram 19 as it
clickity-clacks you through several Lisbon neighbourhoods. Get off in the chic
Chiado area and head over to Café Brasileiro, where poets, writers and
artists have made their way in and out of its door for over a century; coffee
here is a cultural experience. Walk freely or take public transit,
which is safe and easy to navigate.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Food</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50m6q7gLHV8/VkvRx0phDOI/AAAAAAAAK_o/NPYMnLRsQQY/s1600/IMG_4586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50m6q7gLHV8/VkvRx0phDOI/AAAAAAAAK_o/NPYMnLRsQQY/s640/IMG_4586.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yC2LSSkH_U4/VkvR8PedLiI/AAAAAAAAK_w/qnpuXq8z4tg/s1600/IMG_4999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yC2LSSkH_U4/VkvR8PedLiI/AAAAAAAAK_w/qnpuXq8z4tg/s640/IMG_4999.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Eat
your way around the country. Each region has its own unique style of cooking:
along the coast, fish and seafood rules, while inland, hearty
meals of meat and sausage reign supreme. And throughout the country,
various <i>bacalhau</i> dishes (salted dried cod fish) are found.
Portugal’s colonial past is influenced in its cooking, with spices from the
east and fiery peppers from Africa used liberally. Pastries accompanied with <i>café</i> (espresso)
are commonly enjoyed, and the selection is astounding. Forget the diet. When in Portugal, do as the locals do: relax, sip, eat, slow down.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Wine</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqLBEg3Sfzs/VkvSj8St1MI/AAAAAAAALAI/fCq53v40bs0/s1600/IMG_4970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqLBEg3Sfzs/VkvSj8St1MI/AAAAAAAALAI/fCq53v40bs0/s640/IMG_4970.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Whether
you like <i>branco</i> (white), <i>tinto</i> (red), port,
verde, rosé, it’s all here. Portugal’s most famous wine has traditionally been
port from the Douro region; however, in the last few years, the country has
been producing some great wines from the regions of Alentejo, Beiras and
Estramendura, to name a few. And there’s no need penny pinch on your wine
choices—the wine here is excellent and inexpensive. So go ahead and splurge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">943 kilometres of Atlantic coastline</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZc0M-SYxAo/VkvSAI2y2OI/AAAAAAAAK_0/aIDyAJx8r94/s1600/IMG_5017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CZc0M-SYxAo/VkvSAI2y2OI/AAAAAAAAK_0/aIDyAJx8r94/s640/IMG_5017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If
it’s a beach you're after, you'll find one in Portugal and, during the
winter months, you will have it mostly to yourself. Algarve is most famous for
its beaches, but that’s not the only area to find spectacular sand and surf.
Check out Costa Verde (Green Coast) and if you're looking for a bit more
adventure, Costa da Prata (Silver Coast) offers up some amazing waves,
particularly in the winter months.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">With
plenty of long-term rental accommodations available throughout the country,
trading snow, slush and Alberta clippers for sun, surf and outdoor cafés is
easy. And you’re in Europe, where culture, diversity, architecture and history
combine to make one magnificent tapestry. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-21259081981080064322015-07-02T08:19:00.000-07:002015-07-02T08:25:15.464-07:00Top Five Things To Do In Toronto This Summer<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you find yourself in Toronto thinking, <i>hmmm, nothing to do</i>, well, you’re not in
Toronto.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Maybe you are on the outskirts of the city, like in Vaughan or Burlington or Ajax. Or perhaps you land at Toronto Pearson airport (which is not even in Toronto), and for inexplicable reasons, you never leave. Whichever the case, you are most
certainly not in Toronto because if you were, you’d never utter the words, “nothing to do.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There is always something happening in this city of just over
six million people. From cultural to foodie to musical events, there is always
something to do, taste and drink and there is no better time to get out there and experience it all than in the summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">If you can only do five things in Toronto this summer, here are my suggestions:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">5.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Take a walk on the EdgeWalk</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://css1.www.cntower.ca/site_Files/Content/IMG/EdgeWalk-Lakeside-Small.jpg" height="479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via www.cntower.ca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is as high as you’re going to get in Toronto (without
any substance abuse).<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> <a href="http://www.cntower.ca/en-ca/plan-your-visit/attractions/edgewalk/edgewalk-overview.html">EdgeWalk</a> is the first of its kind in North
America. It is the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk on a 5 ft (1.5
meter) wide ledge encircling the top of the CN Tower’s main pod. It is 116 storeys above
the ground. Visitors walk in groups of six, while attached to an overhead
safety rail via a trolley and harness system. Trained EdgeWalk guides encourage participants to push their personal limits, allowing them to lean
back over Toronto with nothing but air and breathtaking views of Lake Ontario
beneath them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Edgewalk
is open seasonally and operates in all weather, with the exception of
electrical storms, high winds and other extreme weather conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>4. Celebrate
at Toronto’s Festival of Beer Festival </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" " src="http://www.seetorontonow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/toronto-festival-of-beer-perfect-pour.jpg" height="360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via www.seetorontonow.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The
<a href="http://beerfestival.ca/">Toronto Festival of Beer</a>, also known as Beerfest, is an annual event that takes
place this year from July 24-26 at Exhibition Place in Toronto. The festival
celebrates Canada’s rich brewing history by featuring more than 120 brands from
around the world as well as many Ontario craft brewers. The event has become
Canada’s largest beer festival with 30,000 people attending every year.
Established in 1994, the Toronto Festival of Beer has been sampling beer for
those aged 19+ for 17 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Taste
of the Danforth</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img alt=" " src="http://www.seetorontonow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/krinos-taste-of-the-danforth-2.jpg" height="360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">via www.seetorontonow.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">After
all that beer sampling, you’re going to need some food. Every year in August,
the city of Toronto flocks to Greektown on the Danforth for <a href="http://tasteofthedanforth.com/">Krinos Taste of the Danforth</a>. There are a number of exhibitors offering contests, prizes and free
samples and, of course, dozens and dozens of tasty food stations from
Danforth’s amazing array of multi-ethnic restaurants. This year’s foodie-fest
runs from August 7<sup>th</sup> to 9<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Buskerfest
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" " src="http://www.seetorontonow.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/scotiabank-buskerfest-2.jpg" height="360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">via www.seetorontonow.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is 4 days and 4 nights of non-stop, action-packed, fun-filled
entertainment. This is where comedians, contortionists, musicians, magicians,
fire jugglers, acrobats, aerial artists, clowns and daredevils all come
together for North America’s largest street performer festival. This event is
also the largest epilepsy awareness event in the world hosted on the world’s longest,
most vibrant street (Yonge Street). Admission is by donation in support of
Epilepsy Toronto. <a href="http://www.torontobuskerfest.com/">Buskerfest</a> runs August 27<sup>th</sup> to 30<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYDDm7wYJvU/VZHxZtkpm3I/AAAAAAAAIGI/JUcDa1UQGwo/s1600/20150613_122511-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RYDDm7wYJvU/VZHxZtkpm3I/AAAAAAAAIGI/JUcDa1UQGwo/s640/20150613_122511-1-1.jpg" width="574" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This is the mother lode of all events in Toronto this year. Athletes
from 41 nations across the Americas will participate. </span><a href="http://www.toronto2015.org/" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large; line-height: 18.5pt;">The Pan Am Games</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 18.5pt;"> may be the world’s third largest international multi-sport games, but
they are the single largest such event that Canada has ever hosted—bigger than the winter Olympics in Whistler, BC.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The games are officially known as, Toronto 2015, but competition venues are scattered
throughout southern Ontario, with cycling in Milton, kayaking in
Halliburton, soccer in Hamilton, for example. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.5pt; margin: 12pt 0in 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 18.5pt;">Much has happened in preparation for these games. Built on what was once wasteland, a well-planned and well-designed
village is waiting for the athletes. A long-awaited commuter train now connects
the airport to the city-centre (halleluha!) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 18.5pt;">Thousands of people are involved in ensuring the Toronto 2015 games are spectacular, including 23,000 volunteers, of which I am one of them. I’ll be working with
team Bahamas (Go Bahamas) during PanAm and team Mexico during Parapan (Vamos
Mexico). I can't wait for it all to begin. Bring it on!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The Pan Am games are from July 10<sup>th</sup> to 26<sup>th</sup>.
Parapan Am games are August 7<sup>th</sup> to August 15<sup>th</sup>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24.6666660308838px;">The games are coming, and I can't wait.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 24.6666660308838px;">What will you be doing this summer?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-75667744492865085972015-06-18T14:11:00.000-07:002015-06-18T14:14:22.442-07:00Canada's Fried Dough: BeaverTails<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why is it that everything deep-fried tastes so darn good? </span><span style="font-size: large;">Damn be the calories. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Let's take dollops of gooey dough dropped
into hot oil, deep-fried to golden deliciousness, sprinkled with cinnamon
and sugar and served warm, for example. How yummy does that sound?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sometime ago I read that every nationality has its own version of
fried dough. I believe this to be true. Sadly, I've not tasted every single version (not by lack of trying). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">New Orleans has beignets; Spain has churros; Italy has zeppole; Portugal has malasadas; Canada
has, well, we have BeaverTails (<i>Queues de
Castor</i> in French).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiRE8T5h-9U/VYMxgepdIDI/AAAAAAAAH4M/ROIn_j2p9ds/s1600/20150320_164047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OiRE8T5h-9U/VYMxgepdIDI/AAAAAAAAH4M/ROIn_j2p9ds/s640/20150320_164047.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, what exactly is a <i>BeaverTail? </i>A true Canadian culinary treat, that's for certain! They are
batches of dough that are stretched by hand to resemble the tail of a beaver.
Then these deliciously addictive, traditional whole-wheat pastries are
deep-fried in canola oil, served piping hot, drizzled with butter and your
choice of toppings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The current BeaverTail evolved from a family recipe passed
down through at least three generations and is similar to a yeasted, crack-wheat treat enjoyed in early Canadian and American farms. The first commercially
produced BeaverTail was sold in 1978. The first storefront opened in June
1980, in Ottawa’s Byward market, one of Canada’s oldest and largest public
markets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.ottawatourism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/BeaverTails-Canada-3-985x554.jpg" height="359" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">photo via ottawatourism.ca</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In February of 1981, BeaverTails made their first appearance
along Ottawa’s most famous winter attraction and the longest skating rink in
the world, the Rideau Canal Skateway. Today, skating on the canal and enjoying a BeaverTail, go hand in hand.
These warm, delicious, crispy treats are so popular along the canal, that even
on the coldest of Canadian winter days, the lineups can be lengthy. Be
prepared to wait. It will be worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.ottawatourism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/BeaverTails-Canada-1-985x554.jpg" height="359" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo via ottawatourism.ca</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Through the years a variety of toppings have been developed to
further enhance the sinful indulgence to the BeaverTail experience. Add <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Oreo cookie crumble
sprinkled on top of vanilla icing, drizzled with chocolate sauce or banana slices layered over a thick coat of hazelnut spread. My favourite topping is still <i>The Classic:</i> cinnamon and sugar. With this topping, the crispiness of the pastry is maintained. Why mess with perfection, I say</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td><img alt="Image result for beavertails" height="299" 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" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">photo via twitter.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">On
February 19, 2009 BeaverTails made international headlines when President
Barack Obama, on his first official visit to Canada, dropped into Byward Market
with the sole purpose of indulging in this iconic pastry. President Obama’s
visit was later dubbed, <i>The BeaverTail
Summit.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.ottawatourism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/BeaverTails-Canada-5-985x554.jpg" height="358" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">photo via ottawatourism.ca</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">You know you're famous
when:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">The
Barenaked Ladies change the lyrics of their song, “If I Had A Million Dollars”
to “If I Had A Million Beavertails” during a music festival.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">A
question about BeaverTails makes it into the Canadian version of Trivial
Pursuit.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">“What
is a BeaverTail?” is the answer to a </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">Jeopardy</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">
question, the US-television show hosted by Canadian born, Alex Trebek.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">During
an interview with the Globe and Mail, Canadian singer song-writer, Bryan Adams,
states that his most Canadian trait is his ability to differentiate a
BeaverTail from a Tim Horton’s Timbit.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Now, </span><i style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;">that’s
</i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Canadian.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other Fun Facts:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">BeaverTails
uses 21.1 tons of chocolate hazelnut spread per year. That’s the equivalent
weight of five elephants and twelve beavers.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Since
BeaverTails’ debut in 1978, enough BeaverTails have been</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">sold to make a straight line of tails, end-to-end,
from the BeaverTails store in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, to the store in
Whistler, British Columbia.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">Since
1981 more than 8,000 young Canadians have worked at the BeaverTails operations
in the Ottawa stores alone.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><br /></span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DXQC-CWrw0Y/VYMx89-dosI/AAAAAAAAH4U/sYn2ZtKRjtE/s1600/IMG_6177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DXQC-CWrw0Y/VYMx89-dosI/AAAAAAAAH4U/sYn2ZtKRjtE/s640/IMG_6177.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-33634958121270252732015-06-01T15:49:00.001-07:002015-06-01T15:54:34.039-07:00Cheese Glorious Cheese<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love cheese. All types--hard cheese; soft cheese; stinky cheese. What makes cheese stink anyway? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIlI1BWGSd4/VWzcRZcyfoI/AAAAAAAAHa4/zkU9xaYeALE/s1600/IMG_6264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QIlI1BWGSd4/VWzcRZcyfoI/AAAAAAAAHa4/zkU9xaYeALE/s640/IMG_6264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All
cheese starts off basically in the same manner, with curds and whey. It’s a
process as old as the centuries. But what makes some cheese so stinky as to be
banned from public transportation?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
two main factors that provide cheese its aroma are aging, also known as
ripening, and washing. The longer the cheese ages, the stronger the odour.
Washing is another method that intensifies the aroma; common washes include
rum, beer and salt water. The combination of aging and washing, is therefore,
what can produce some intense pong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But
does strong odour affect the taste of the cheese?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“I
always like to say with cheese, its bark is bigger than its bite, meaning the
smell is stronger than the taste,” says Afrim Pristine, owner off <a href="http://www.cheeseboutique.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cd4a41;">
Cheese Boutique</span></a> in Toronto.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">With
that in mind, grab your nose plugs, a baguette, your favourite wine or beer,
and give these cheeses from around the globe a try.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Limburger, Belgium and Germany</span><span style="font-family: FuturaCondensed, serif; font-size: 21.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Limburger Cheese" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Cheese_limburger_edit.jpg/260px-Cheese_limburger_edit.jpg" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of wikipedia.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Originally
created in the Duchy of Limburg, this cheese ages in the bacteria <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevibacterium_linens" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cd4a41;">Brevibacterium linens</span></a>, which, by the way, is
the same bacteria found in body and foot odour. Limburger cheese ages for three
months at which time is becomes spreadable. The most traditional way to eat
Limburger cheese is to spread it on a fairly solid bread such as rye, top it
with a slice of onion and wash it all down with a beer.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Epoisses de Bourgogne, Fra<span style="font-family: inherit;">nc</span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">e</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Époisses de Bourgogne.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/%C3%89poisses_de_Bourgogne.jpg/260px-%C3%89poisses_de_Bourgogne.jpg" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">photo courtesy of wikipedia.org</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Said
to be a favourite of Napoleon’s, Epoisses de Bourgogne has been made in central
France since the 1700s. The odour from this cheese is so strong that it has
reportedly been banned from France’s public transportation system. During its
six week aging process, the cheese is washed with a mixture of water and </span><a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-marc-de-bourgogne.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cd4a41; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Marc de Bourgogne brandy</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. The brandy is what gives the cheese its
delicate flavour and the primary source of the cheese’s strong stench. To best
enjoy this cheese, pair it with acidic fruits such as pears, apples and figs.
Nuts and a good wine are also good picks.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Vieux Boulogne, France</span><span style="font-family: FuturaCondensed, serif; font-size: 21.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRCfoXG4LjY/VWze8KFAu-I/AAAAAAAAHbE/6aTrK9oEH0c/s1600/cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRCfoXG4LjY/VWze8KFAu-I/AAAAAAAAHbE/6aTrK9oEH0c/s640/cheese.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of .produits-laitiers.com/</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Also
known as <i>Sablé du Boulonnais</i>, this soft yet firm cheese is an
unpasteurized cows’ milk cheese with a red-orange washed rind. It ages anywhere
from seven to nine weeks and is washed in beer. It was </span><span style="color: #cd4a41; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">rated as the world’s
stinkiest</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> some years back,
but despite its odourous smell, Vieux Boulogne does not have a sharp taste.
Rather it is mild and rich and best enjoyed with a good quality beer or even
Champagne. It’s French, after all, so why not?<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: FuturaCondensed, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stinking Bishop, England</span><span style="font-size: 21.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MHoLl8JG-Hk/VWzfgPevYlI/AAAAAAAAHbM/yfbZVcisWl0/s1600/Stinking_Bishop_cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MHoLl8JG-Hk/VWzfgPevYlI/AAAAAAAAHbM/yfbZVcisWl0/s640/Stinking_Bishop_cheese.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of wikipedia.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
name of this cheese says it all. This is a cows’ milk cheese made in
Gloucestershire, in the southwest of England, since 1972. This cheese ages up
to two months, during which time it is immersed every few weeks in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cd4a41;">perry</span></a> made of local </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinking_Bishop_pear" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cd4a41; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Stinking Bishop pears</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, giving the cheese its distinct pungent
odour. A pear-flavoured liqueur works well as a drink option with this cheese,
as does a good local beer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Palpusztai, <span style="font-family: inherit;">Hung</span>ary</span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Palpusztai_wrapped.jpg/220px-Palpusztai_wrapped.jpg" height="294" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">photo courtesy of wikipedia.org</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
cheese is also created by the bacterium Brevibacterium linens. First made in
Hungary in the 1890s, Palpusztai is a soft cows’ milk cheese, runny and
outright stinky. Because of its high ammonia content, it has been known to
bring tears to the eyes. But fear not. Get over the heady smell, grab a good,
strong ale and do like the locals.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-28237712673912628242015-05-05T08:07:00.002-07:002015-05-05T08:23:05.075-07:00The Sexienst WC on Earth<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The sign reads: THE SEXIEST WC ON
EARTH<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So, what do you when you see such a
sign? Well, you gotta go. And for a fee of one euro, that’s just what I do.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylTZuXs25U0/VUjXMJV--aI/AAAAAAAAGv0/YSSdSP3OgEQ/s1600/IMG_5106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylTZuXs25U0/VUjXMJV--aI/AAAAAAAAGv0/YSSdSP3OgEQ/s1600/IMG_5106.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Sexiest WC (water closet, or
washroom) on Earth is located in Lisbon at Terreiro do Paço square. It’s part
of a marketing campaign by Renova, one of the Europe’s leading consumer brands.
Renova produces, among other things, coloured toilet paper providing consumers with the opportunity to co-ordinate
their toilet paper with their bathroom decor. And we all need to do that right?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l_3RLRarfmg/VUjXZt76yII/AAAAAAAAGv8/XPsLRDZa0-c/s1600/IMG_5105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l_3RLRarfmg/VUjXZt76yII/AAAAAAAAGv8/XPsLRDZa0-c/s1600/IMG_5105.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I read about this sexy washroom
before heading to Lisbon, so when I spot the facility behind one of the many
outdoor restaurants in the square, I am excited. I am anxious. I can hardly
wait to experience The Sexiest WC in the World. What an event this is going be!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">With an ear-to-ear smile, I walk down
the dimly-lit corridor. Waiting at the end of a counter filled with rolls of
brightly coloured toilet paper is a young woman sporting two dark-coloured braids and a nose ring, who asks, “Are you using the
facility?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Yes,” I answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“It’s one euro,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I dig through the various coins in my
wallet and come up with the required funds. She takes it from me and leads me
past a large canary-yellow fountain. A rainbow-coloured wall of toilet paper is
to my left. She opens a door, tells me the light will come on when I enter, and
instructs me to step inside. I do as I’m told.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wxn5lAim1Dc/VUjXhGjVAOI/AAAAAAAAGwM/pCBENrO5wpk/s1600/IMG_5100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wxn5lAim1Dc/VUjXhGjVAOI/AAAAAAAAGwM/pCBENrO5wpk/s1600/IMG_5100.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The lights reveal wood-paneled walls
on three sides, and a mirrored wall on the other. And a toilet. And a roll of
red toilet paper.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I paid a euro for this. I take my
time. I sit and take pictures. Of a wooden wall. And a mirrored wall. And later
a toilet. Did I mention the red toilet paper?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I spot a sign that reads, “WIFI
connection.” So I try to connect, successfully. From the toilet. Yeah,
technology. But where is the sexy part?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.travelandescape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/IMG_5102.jpg"><span style="color: #cd4a41; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Credit: Maria G. Yates"
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Outside, by the canary-yellow
communal hand-washing fountain, I meet three young women from Holland. They're in fits of giggles.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“What did you think? Was it sexy
enough?” I ask.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“We’re not sure what to make of it,”
says one of the women.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Me neither. I don’t know what I
expected, but this wasn’t it,” I tell them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Like little girls in a playground, we
all laugh. Mostly because we paid a euro for nothing more than the sheer
pleasure of wiping ourselves with red, or green or pink toilet paper.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Can you take a picture of us?” asks
another of the women.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Sure. By the toilet?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Yes. With the toilet paper.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And that is as sexy as it gets. I
admit though, finding and using the facility was indeed a load off my mind.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-13285677896708362442015-04-27T14:02:00.000-07:002015-04-27T14:02:46.196-07:00Where to Stay in Ottawa: Fairmont Château Laurier<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Charles Melville Hays was a man with a vision. Born in Rock
Island, Illinois, he arrived in Canada as General Manager of the Grand Turk Pacific
Railway, with a mandate to improve the balance sheets of the railway’s
shareholders. His plan included completing a railroad to the Pacific. He also envisioned
the building of stations and luxurious hotels in all major cities. The flagship
hotel was to be in Ottawa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fairmont Chateau Laurier " src="http://www.fairmont.com/assets/0/137/9705/9764/9766/14490/8946aef4-bcc7-44c1-a959-f778601abcec.jpg" height="299" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo via fairmont.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hays got to work hiring Montreal firm, Ross and MacFarlane,
to bring his dream to life—a structure in the style of a grand château that combined
French Renaissance with the neo-Gothic vertical lines of the Parliament Buildings next door.
No expense was spared to make the hotel truly luxurious. Materials and
furnishings were brought in from all over the world. Unfortunately, Hays never saw
his vision materialize. The hotel, which was scheduled to open on April 26, 1912, had to be delayed. On April 14, 1912, Hays, who was returning from a business trip in
England on the Titanic, perished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Château Laurier, named after then Prime
Minister, Sir Wilfred Laurier, finally opened its doors o</span><span style="font-size: large;">n June 1, 1912</span><span style="font-size: large;">. It had 306 rooms,
priced at $2 per night, and was one of the first hotels to offer indoor plumbing.
It was an instant success.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fairmont Chateau Laurier" src="http://www.fairmont.com/assets/0/137/9705/9764/9766/15233/166d2592-d43c-4391-b775-f0d1db5c5787.jpg" height="242" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">photo via fairmont.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today, Fairmont Château Laurier remains a Canadian icon and
an Ottawa landmark. Many notable
guests have stayed here including King George IV, Queen Elizabeth, Winston
Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Nelson Mandela, and Princess Diana, to name just
a few. Two former Prime Ministers, Richard Bedford Bennett and Pierre Trudeau
lived here. Famous photographer, Yousuf Karsh, lived in the hotel for 18 years. His
studio, from 1973 until 1992, was on the sixth floor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On a recent visit, our room was on the 4<sup>th</sup>
floor, Fairmont’s Gold Level. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fairmont Gold Floor" src="http://www.fairmont.com/assets/0/137/9705/9764/9766/15233/f5dcd6d8-b96d-4e90-a7fa-699a1515393d.jpg" height="242" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fairmont Gold offers several complimentary amenities including private check-in and check-out, free internet and hors d’oeuvres in the Gold Lounge each evening. On one of the evenings, the scent of bacon filled the air. To my delight, I discovered bacon-wrapped scallops under a pretty silver dish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Fairmont Gold also includes deluxe continental breakfast, which is served</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> buffet style. It features cold items like muffins, cereals, bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon. Hot items such as scrambled eggs and quiche are also offered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For further feasting, there's Wilfred’s and Zoe’s
Lounge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Wilfrid's Restaurant" src="http://www.fairmont.com/assets/0/137/9705/9764/9766/14490/e169f5a5-1e95-46a0-b778-ea1daf5d25d0.jpg" height="299" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wilfred’s, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, is an awarding winning restaurant offering
regional Canadian cuisine. It dishes out items like </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Confit Duck Leg Cassoulet </i>and
<i>Bacon Lardon and Mushroom Stuffed Quail</i>.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Included in the dining experience at Wilfred’s,
are great views of both the Parliament Buildings and the Rideau Locks.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t in Ottawa long enough to enjoy dinner at Wilfred’s.
Next time…</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Zoe's Lounge" src="http://www.fairmont.com/assets/0/137/9705/9764/9766/14490/f35ac697-81f3-4c1b-8478-896b16428508.jpg" height="299" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Zoe’s Lounge is the place for an evening cocktail, but its claim to fame is its Afternoon Tea. Professionally trained servers wheel a large
tea cart to your table, then proceed to explain the distinctive taste and origins
of the tea. Choose your favourite from 15 gourmet selections and watch it go
from the canister to the teapot, right at your tableside. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wI6i7G02wBQ/VT2uTsUzMBI/AAAAAAAAGgw/tBJr-A793ms/s1600/IMG_6198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wI6i7G02wBQ/VT2uTsUzMBI/AAAAAAAAGgw/tBJr-A793ms/s1600/IMG_6198.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Zoe’s offers
Traditional Afternoon Tea ($35) or Canadian High Tea ($40). I opted for the
Canadian High Tea, which comes with fresh strawberries soaked in ice wine,
along with everything else you expect in an afternoon tea: scones, clotted cream,
mini sandwiches, and pretty pastries. The lounge itself is beautiful, with its
chic décor, glowing chandeliers and a glass adorned atrium. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Ballroom" src="http://www.fairmont.com/assets/0/137/9705/9764/9766/14490/1c5628bf-f1db-4643-88af-ffd1d961012a.jpg" height="299" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ballroom photo via fairmont.com</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ottawa is a city to be explored on foot, with all its major attractions </span><span style="font-size: large;">within walking
distance. Fairmont Château
Laurier’s central Ottawa location makes it easy to do so. To learn more about
the Château Laurier, pick-up an iPad at the front desk and take a tour. Tip: Do not look down at the screen as you follow your virtual tour guide
through the various halls and rooms of this glamorous and historical hotel. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-85824666443156513462015-04-23T14:49:00.002-07:002015-04-26T06:54:53.317-07:00The Diefenbunker: Of Spies and Espionage<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a small town, approximately twenty-five minutes outside
Ottawa, below a non-descriptive steel structure, lies an incredible
piece of history. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seventy-five feet
below ground, in Carp, Ontario, is the story of espionage, spies and a country’s survival plan during the height of the Cold War. This is Canada’s Cold
War Museum: <a href="http://diefenbunker.ca/">The Diefenbunker.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Shelters designed to ensure the continuity
of government in case of a nuclear attack, were authorized in 1958, by then Prime
Minister, John Diefenbaker. Across
Canada, a total of fifty such shelters were built. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The facility in Carp was the largest. It’s four-stories deep, with
enough underground storage for food, fuel, fresh water and other needed supplies, to accommodate 565 people, up to one month, without requiring additional supplies
from the outside. The shelter was capable of withstanding a nuclear blast up to
five megatons from 1.8 kilometers away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ro5M1IzLexE/VTlkSgzPzqI/AAAAAAAAGYg/qU-dUsNuonY/s1600/IMG_6294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ro5M1IzLexE/VTlkSgzPzqI/AAAAAAAAGYg/qU-dUsNuonY/s1600/IMG_6294.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tunnel entrance</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Walking through the long, dark, damp
tunnel leading to the bunker’s main entrance, I feel a chill and it isn't from
the temperature outside. There’s an eeriness to the place. What it was. What it
was constructed for. I’m a child of the Cold War. I was a paranoid kid and I
lived in constant fear of a nuclear attack. It's no wonder I feel cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was no bunker on the city-street I
lived on</span><span style="font-size: large;">. None that I was aware of, anyway. I resigned myself to my
ultimate demise, were a nuclear attack to happen. But, unknown to me at the
time, there was a shelter where important people, with big responsibilities
would be whisked into for safety. Canada would continue to be governed. I’d be
doomed, but the country would go on. That’s life.</span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GgM1iPgMFEI/VTlkaEHd4oI/AAAAAAAAGYw/hp_lfU7FwSE/s1600/IMG_6297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GgM1iPgMFEI/VTlkaEHd4oI/AAAAAAAAGYw/hp_lfU7FwSE/s1600/IMG_6297.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the corridors look like this</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Once
inside the facility, I feel like a kid again: A kid with a map on a scavenger hunt, skipping through 300 rooms and exhibits, so full of engrossing history, it’s hard to leave.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Iy6XY6SdDM/VTlkqhUyA5I/AAAAAAAAGZY/QqBVARpUSbs/s1600/IMG_6306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Iy6XY6SdDM/VTlkqhUyA5I/AAAAAAAAGZY/QqBVARpUSbs/s1600/IMG_6306.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prime Minister's suite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhDwnQaMZLE/VTlkf4K9VQI/AAAAAAAAGY4/Yg-xWY2ixZ8/s1600/IMG_6298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZhDwnQaMZLE/VTlkf4K9VQI/AAAAAAAAGY4/Yg-xWY2ixZ8/s1600/IMG_6298.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Communications </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Rooms,
such as the Emergency Government Situation Centre, the External Affairs
Ministerial Office, The Bank of Canada Vault and the Prime Minister’s Suite,
have been restored to their original condition. Many other rooms have been
converted to exhibits of the Cold War era. Don't be in a hurry to leave. Take
your time wandering through them. Read the stories. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--HZ9_bKGPTA/VTlkW4fP7_I/AAAAAAAAGYo/Llo9-wVMgQU/s1600/IMG_6295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--HZ9_bKGPTA/VTlkW4fP7_I/AAAAAAAAGYo/Llo9-wVMgQU/s1600/IMG_6295.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Operating room<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPspyqfl4Q4/VTlkjZeU7GI/AAAAAAAAGZA/U3r-kKvmfDI/s1600/IMG_6296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tPspyqfl4Q4/VTlkjZeU7GI/AAAAAAAAGZA/U3r-kKvmfDI/s1600/IMG_6296.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Operating room equipment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Wow! An operating room.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Look, the dental office.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Oooh, let’s find the gold vault.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMsOyCMroVM/VTlkzPo4BZI/AAAAAAAAGZo/2YBEsR6K_U4/s1600/IMG_6305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMsOyCMroVM/VTlkzPo4BZI/AAAAAAAAGZo/2YBEsR6K_U4/s1600/IMG_6305.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CBC Emergency Studio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Without any hesitation, I can say, I’ve never had so much fun in a museum
and that’s because The Diefenbunker is not a typical museum. It’s
historical, yes. But it’s the intrigue of the era: the spies, the
double-agents, the people who simply disappeared never to be heard from again,
the arrests, the trials and the jail sentences that followed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6F2ehPxfFM/VTlqHHv3X0I/AAAAAAAAGZ4/1jKWTzpsxf4/s1600/20150321_122615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6F2ehPxfFM/VTlqHHv3X0I/AAAAAAAAGZ4/1jKWTzpsxf4/s1600/20150321_122615.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic stories behind the exhibits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I survived the Cold War (the Doomsday Clock still haunts me
though). The Diefenbunker allowed me to relive moments I’d long since
forgotten. Quite simply, this place is awesome! If you haven’t been, you really
should.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There are public and group tours available throughout the year. Also, special programs are available for kids. They will learn about espionage, crack codes, make spy gadgets, dress up, and go on a mission in search of the elusive "Agent X".</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sign me up!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The museum is open year-round Monday to Sunday </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">11 a.m. to 4 p.m.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tUSmq9gQ1lI/VTqoQD3hOGI/AAAAAAAAGcA/OuUfbL1GYKc/s1600/20150321_122605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tUSmq9gQ1lI/VTqoQD3hOGI/AAAAAAAAGcA/OuUfbL1GYKc/s1600/20150321_122605.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>It reads:</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In 1952, using falsified American papers; a man entered Canada and became</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> David Soboloff. He was in fact a Soviet spy, trained to imitate a normal Canadian</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">citizen and run operations in the U.S. Unfortunately for his Soviet handlers,</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">he fell in love. He and his lover went to Ottawa and turned themselves over to the</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">RCMP, where it was decided he would become a double agent for Canada. Soboloff</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">was recalled to the Soviet Union unexpectedly and was never heard from again.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-4330837408475785402015-04-08T08:34:00.000-07:002016-05-11T12:34:54.988-07:00Visiting Ottawa: 10 Things To Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ottawa is Canada’s capital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Not Toronto. Not Montreal. It’s Ottawa, a city of just over eight hundred thousand people, sprawled along the Ottawa River with Gatineau, Quebec across
the waterway. Oui, c’est vrai! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Ottawa buzzes with politicians politicking, senators
spending way too much money and journalists informing the nation of all the shenanigans 'on the hill'. And everywhere, flags bearing the red maple leaf, hang from buildings
filled with government employees, running government business and keeping the
country moving forward. Well, at least that’s what we hope they’re doing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes,
Ottawa is Canada’s political hub, but there’s so much more to the city, as I discovered recently during my 72-hour sojourn. It simply wasn't enough time. There's so much to see and do in a city filled with museums, art galleries, historical sites, upscale restaurants. The list goes on. With spring in the air and summer just around the corner, it's time to start planning. H</span><span style="font-size: large;">ere then is my list of the:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Top 10 things to do in Ottawa</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>10. Visit the Peace Tower </b></i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd0oHcEAu3s/VzOI29XyOqI/AAAAAAAAOeo/zBxGKU-sh0Yf1NrPBqy7X-MiS6t0kK70ACLcB/s1600/canada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jd0oHcEAu3s/VzOI29XyOqI/AAAAAAAAOeo/zBxGKU-sh0Yf1NrPBqy7X-MiS6t0kK70ACLcB/s640/canada.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Peace Tower is the bell and clock tower located in the
center of the <a href="http://www.ottawatourism.ca/ottawa-insider/parliament-hill/">Parliament buildings</a>. You need to line-up and go through security
(similar to that of an airport), but this is a minor inconvenience considering
the halls you’ll be wandering through. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An elevator ride will land you right in
the tower. As the elevator whisks you up, look for the large bells that chime
at noon. Once you’re off the elevator, a 360-degree view of Ottawa and Gatineau
await you. Look carefully upwards through the glass-panes and you’ll actually
see the tower clock’s face. Atop the tower, the Canadian flag </span><span style="font-size: large;">flaps in the wind
and is changed every day, Monday to Friday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>9. Enjoy Dinner at Le Cordon Bleu Signatures Restaurant</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.ottawatourism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Signatures-Restaurant-at-Le-Cordon-Bleu_1-985x552.jpg" height="358" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image via ottawatourism.ca</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Canada’s only Le Cordon Bleu campus is located in Ottawa
providing courses in cuisine, pastry and boulangerie to students from all over
the world. Located in the culinary institute is, <a href="http://www.signaturesrestaurant.com/">Signatures</a> restaurant. Dinner
here is an experience not to be missed. Set in an elegant mansion, with winding
staircases and crystal chandeliers, one can’t help but feel grand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Under executive chef, Yannick Anton, the menu is unique and creative
using local, seasonal ingredients. It features choices like, <i>seared deer
medallion with pine nut and fir jelly crust, millie feuilles of celery root and
artichoke, deer osso-bucco ravioli and roasted figs in Saskatoon berry</i>. For
dessert try, <i>royal gala apple, poached in duminot ice-wine, ginger sponge,
praline ice-cream, pine nut granola, ginger cremeux, hot apple cider anglaise,
praline crisp, apple chips. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Your dining experience will begin with an <i>amuse-bouche</i>. And from then on, just sit back, relax and wait for
your meal to make its grand entrance into the dining room and onto your table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>8. Check Out the Shops of Sussex Drive</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sussex Drive is where you’ll find Ottawa’s high-end shopping area. Here are shops like, MaiYa Pearls, where you can work with a
designer to create your own unique piece of jewelry. Or drop into Kaliyana boutique, which offers <span style="background: white; color: #1e1e1e;">innovative pieces for
women by Canadian designer, Jana Kalous.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1e1e;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1e1e;">Located
within an easy walk of all major downtown hotels, you can shop. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1e1e;">Rest. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1e1e;">Repeat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #1e1e1e;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>7. Shop and Eat in ByWard Market</i></b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_Gw0DtRk6Y/VzOHMa5hSEI/AAAAAAAAOeY/1IjVCG_nHRUQwEPcSmI82BU4OpoXW7fJQCLcB/s1600/ByWardMarket-Square-985x552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_Gw0DtRk6Y/VzOHMa5hSEI/AAAAAAAAOeY/1IjVCG_nHRUQwEPcSmI82BU4OpoXW7fJQCLcB/s640/ByWardMarket-Square-985x552.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of ottawatourism.ca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">From Sussex Drive, meander on over to <a href="http://www.byward-market.com/">ByWard Market</a>, one of Canada’s
oldest and largest public markets. Don't be in a hurry to leave. There is so
much to see and do here. Within the market area, you’ll <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">find museums, cafés, specialty food shops, boutiques,
galleries, restaurants, pubs, and so much more. It’s both an indoor and outdoor
market, with vendors selling items like fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables
and all things maple syrup (pick-up the maple butter). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>6. Eat a BeaverTail</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0TSqsMX_AXs/VzOGqb3kybI/AAAAAAAAOeU/kTWiFnyyaMMBmTQ7qSocPBLHHx2Xto67QCLcB/s1600/20150320_164047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0TSqsMX_AXs/VzOGqb3kybI/AAAAAAAAOeU/kTWiFnyyaMMBmTQ7qSocPBLHHx2Xto67QCLcB/s640/20150320_164047.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You’re in Ottawa! Of course, you must have a <a href="http://www.beavertailsinc.com/">beavertail</a>, those delicious deep-fried pillows of dough served warm and sweet with a dusting of sugar or a spread of Nutella. Their latest
offering features maple syrup and bacon. I couldn't resist. Each bite is filled with
sweet and savoury deliciousness. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You’ll find a year-round kiosk in Byward
Market. Pick up a beavertail, grab a cup of coffee, sit yourself down and watch
the world go by. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>5. Pamper Yourself at a Luxurious Spa</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.ottawatourism.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Nordik-Spa-Nature_2-985x552.jpg" height="358" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image via ottawatourism.ca</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ottawa offers plenty of options for a day of pampering. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://holtzspa.com/">Holtz</a>, one of the most luxurious spas, is located right
downtown. <span style="background: white;">It offers holistic treatments, medispa
services and anti-aging therapies to balance body, mind and spirit.
Award-winning Santé Restaurant is also on site.</span><span style="background: white; color: #565656; font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A little farther afield, ten minutes
from downtown Ottawa, by Gatineau Park, is <a href="http://www.lenordik.com/en/homepage/">Nordik Spa-Nature</a>. It’s the largest
spa in North America with <span style="background: white;">seven outdoor
baths, eight unique saunas, an infinity pool, a restaurant and lounge</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "baskervilleregular" , serif; line-height: 107%;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><i>4. Stop and Smell the Tulip</i></b><i><b>s </b></i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85lBvdwNuds/VzOFdCMn70I/AAAAAAAAOeM/SXKh-_gf1SA7frDMty4VA6_Q-9gsuPhlQCLcB/s1600/tulips-985x554-mod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85lBvdwNuds/VzOFdCMn70I/AAAAAAAAOeM/SXKh-_gf1SA7frDMty4VA6_Q-9gsuPhlQCLcB/s640/tulips-985x554-mod.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of ottawatourism.ca</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The 2016 Canadian Tulip Festival runs May 12-23. It’s the largest
festival of its kind in the world and celebrates the friendship between
Netherlands and Canada. In 1945, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands, presented
Ottawa with 100,000 tulip bulbs, in appreciation of the safe
haven that members of Holland’s exiled royal family received during World War
II in Ottawa, and in recognition of the role which Canadian troops played in the
liberation of the Netherlands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 17.25pt;">Today, with over a
million tulips in fifty varieties blooming in public spaces across the National
Capital Region, the highest concentration of tulips can be viewed in the flower
beds of Commissioners Park, on the banks of Dow’s Lake, where 300,000 flowers
bloom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>3. Have an Adventure on the Ottawa River</i></b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7_IaQ5WVxs/VzOJIhbkT8I/AAAAAAAAOes/2dgGBDbrCAYvNOSodaEnL9L61Lb8JNmWQCLcB/s1600/Rafting-Ontario-Signatures-Experiences-985x554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j7_IaQ5WVxs/VzOJIhbkT8I/AAAAAAAAOes/2dgGBDbrCAYvNOSodaEnL9L61Lb8JNmWQCLcB/s640/Rafting-Ontario-Signatures-Experiences-985x554.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1e1e1e; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With
the Ottawa River as its backyard, there’s no better place to have a whitewater adventure.
Canada’s beautiful urban capital is home to three whitewater rafting companies:</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e;"> <a href="http://www.wildernesstours.com/">Wilderness Tours</a>,<i> </i><a href="http://www.riverrunrafting.com/">RiverRun Rafting</a> and <a href="http://www.owl-mkc.ca/owl/">OWL Raftin</a>g on the Ottawa</span> River. <span style="color: #1e1e1e;">All three rafting companies were awarded
the prestigious, “Ontario Signature Experience” designation in 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>2. Enjoy Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Chateau Laurier</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Zoe's Lounge" src="http://www.fairmont.com/assets/0/137/9705/9764/9766/14490/f35ac697-81f3-4c1b-8478-896b16428508.jpg" height="299" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image via fairmont.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is there anything more civilized than afternoon tea? (No!) Afternoon
tea is simply one of those pleasures that must be indulged in. <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/laurier-ottawa/dining/zoes-lounge/">Zoe’s</a><span style="background: white;">, in the
Fairmont Chateau Laurier, with its chic decor, glowing chandeliers, and a
beautiful glass adorned atrium, makes you feel quite regal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white;">A server wheels the large
cart filled with teas from around the world to your table. Choose your preferred
blend and watch it be prepared for you, tableside. A three-tiered platter
filled with freshly made scones, egg and salmon sandwiches is presented. Tiny
pastries line the upper tier. </span> For
the next two hours, sip, munch and simply enjoy this most British of traditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>1. Learn About Espionage at the Diefenbunker</i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://diefenbunker.ca/website2014/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Blast-Tunnel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">image via diefenbunker.ca</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Twenty minutes outside Ottawa, in a town few have heard of,
Carp, is an underground cavern where time stands still. <a href="http://diefenbunker.ca/">The Diefenbunker Museum</a>,
named after then Prime Minister, John Diefenbaker, is an underground 4-story
bunker designed to withstand a nuclear blast. Its construction was authorized
by Diefenbaker, in 1958, at the height of the cold war. Built into it is an
operating room and a dental office. A large vault designed to hold the Bank of
Canada’s gold reserves is located on the lower level. Large storage areas were built for food, water and
other essential supplies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #252525;">The bunker was built to accommodate 565 people for up to one
month without receiving additional supplies from the outside</span>. As
you make your way through the facility, you’ll learn about spies of the time and
consequences of such activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Diefenbunker is an awe-inspiring piece of Canadian
history not to be missed. </span><span style="font-size: large;">You’ll go home anxious to conduct further research on an era that was filled with tension and intrigue. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03161826622770032455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8607607248685278535.post-34875554351024014492015-04-06T16:39:00.001-07:002015-04-06T16:39:17.412-07:00Five Unusual Canadian Foods<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #404040; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;">Canadians are an interesting lot, with foods all our own.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;">We fuel up on double-doubles and timbits, while fantasizing about our
next poutine fix, and searching for the nearest BeaverTails location. And by
the way, how far in Nanaimo? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the melting of snow comes spring, a time when we begin to make plans
for the family road trip. It’s the time of year we dream of roaming this
vast country in search of the best food on the planet. Not ordinary food mind
you, that’s too dull. I’m talking about interesting made-only-in-Canada food. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;">So if you're up for a culinary adventure, head across this great country
of ours and fill up on some of the more interesting Canadian foods. From east
to west, here’s a list of five not-so-mundane Canadian foods.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cod Tongue<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://en-corporate.canada.travel/sites/default/files/imagecache/fullstory_image_465w/image/storys/feb13/codtonguesalad.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image via en-corporate.canada.trav</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">This is not exactly
tongue, but rather a </span><span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;">gelatinous bit of flesh from the fish's
throat.</span><span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"> If you’re from Newfoundland, you
know what it’s all about. For everyone else, these are little morsels, which
grew out of necessity – a tiny bit of fish that could be had for nothing, by
anyone willing to remove it from the many discarded fish heads lying about on
the fish docks. But times have changed, and today, cod tongue is a coveted
delicacy served not just in mom and pop dinners, but also in high-end
restaurants across the province. Cod tongues are usually battered and fried,
and served with an array of toppings, including <i>scrunchions</i>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>salted pork
fat which has been cut into small pieces and fried. And everything tastes
better with pork fat on it, I say!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blueberry Grunt<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="427" src="http://www.novascotia.com/sites/default/files/blogs/assets_c/2013/07/Nova-Scotia-Blueberries-dessert-thumb-430x287-3360.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image via novascotia.com</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;">This sounds like
something that would talk back to you. In fact, it’s something to talk about,
indulge, then talk about it some more because it is a scrumptiously delicious
treat. This is a sweet Nova Scotian dessert that dates back to the earliest
settlers. It’s made by gently simmering together blueberries, sugar and water.
Then, top the mixture with homemade dumplings; wait 15 minutes, dig in and
enjoy. I’m not sure if the ‘grunt’ comes from the sound of blueberries bubbling
away in sugar, or the sound you make after the satisfying event of eating this
dessert.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">BeaverTails</span></span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="This moment of absolute deliciousness is brought to you by the chocolate banana BeaverTails pastry via @hershey_333 on IG" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/cd/1f/51/cd1f51c47e8bc087958be63f4d417b16.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image via pintrest.com</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;">BeaverTails, or <i>Queues de Castor</i> in French, are deep
fried, crispy, tasty goodness shaped to resemble a beaver’s tail. Once removed
from the hot oil, they are dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Several other toping
options are available, like chocolate and whipped cream. These true Canadian
delicacies gained world-wide attention in 2009, when U.S. President Barack
Obama visited Ottawa and stopped by ByWard Market with the sole purpose of
indulging in a beavertail.</span><em><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Prairie
Oysters</span></span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Rocky mountain oysters.jpg" height="300" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Rocky_mountain_oysters.jpg/250px-Rocky_mountain_oysters.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image via en.wikipedia.org</td></tr>
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<em><b><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> well-known dish in the Canadian prairies, these
delectable tidbits are not oysters at all, but rather a testament to your
culinary explorations---calve, bull or buffalo are castrated (there are reasons
for this, but that’s another story). The removed testicles are then peeled and membranes
are removed. They are sliced, breaded,
fried and voila. Pop them in your mouth and don’t even think about how they
landed on your plate.</span></span><span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nanaimo
Bars</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="http://www.tourismnanaimo.com/cms/wpimages/wpID40imgID24.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="329" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image via tourismnanaimo.com</td></tr>
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<br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A dessert that is sweet, delicate, delish and
requires no baking. Where do you find it? Nanaimo, British Columbia of course. </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">There are different varieties or flavours
of the Nanaimo bar, but the basic version consists of a<span class="apple-converted-space"> wafer </span>crumb-based layer, topped with a
layer of light<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>vanilla<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>custard
flavoured butter<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>icing,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>which is then covered with melted<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>chocolate. This luscious dessert is
now popular around the world, and when you see them in Laos, be sure to wave
your Canadian flag.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #404040; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 191;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">What's your favourite Canadian food?</span></span></div>
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