Saffron, which is the delicate stamen of the saffron flower, is harvested in this area in October. Back in Canada, a few threads protected in a tiny plastic case, costs about $10. Here, saffron is featured in everything from tea to Turkish Delight; it is Safranbolu’s parsley. We did as all tourists do – posed … More Safranbolu – home to the world’s most expensive spice.
…an impending strike by Air Canada pilots forced us to make a tough decision. Do we play chicken and stick with our departure date of September 17 (the 11th-hour date for a strike or lockdown), or do we scramble to change our flights and leave a few days early? We chose the latter, mainly because … More A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Turkiye…
When we were planning our trip, we knew we would be in Peru for at least part of the Easter celebrations, and we wanted to find a place that went all out for pomp and pageantry. Ayacucho kept coming up as “one of the top places in Peru to celebrate Semana Santa (Easter)” and once … More Ayacucho Kicks off Semana Santa
Have you ever built up a place in your mind so much that when you finally see it there is a sense of disappointment? A friend of mine reacted that way to the Trevi Fountain in Rome; wondering what all the fuss was about. It will be impossible for anyone to see Machu Picchu and … More Minds Blown in Machu Picchu
When we were travelling a few years ago through the desert regions of California, I imagined there would be little difference between Joshua Tree, Death Valley and Anza Borrego. I couldn’t have been more wrong; the differences were pronounced. A desert is not just a desert. Such is the case with the many ruins that … More The Ruins of the Sacred Valley
We were excited to arrive in Cusco for a full week; so much history, culture, ruins, architecture, churches to absorb. Would one week even be enough? Well, one week in any interesting place is rarely enough time, but our carefully-planned itinerary was completely thrown off-kilter since a) we had both come down with head colds, … More The Complicated Beauty of Cusco
When I thought of travelling in the Amazon, the following images came to mind: hammocks slung on sweaty passenger boats slowly drifting into the heart of darkness. Monkey screeches, oppressive heat, jungle smells and a low-key dose of yellow fever (or at least a fever of some sort) thrown in for good measure. We knew … More Roughing it in the Amazon
Although Puno has its attractions and it is known for its folklore, very few tourists would make the long trek from Arequipa (and back out again), if it was not for the fascinating history and surroundings of Lake Titicaca and its inhabitants. We had the option of staying on one of the floating islands with … More Lake Titicaca and the Floating Islands: A Disappearing World.
The Colca Canyon is pretty firmly on the tourist trail for a solid variety of reasons. Second-deepest canyon in the world – between 3250 to 4160 metres deep. Largest number of wetlands in the Andes.The Colca River that bisects the canyon runs 129 km. long and empties into the Pacific Ocean. Some pretty rugged trekking … More The Colca Canyon: The Condors Were a Bonus
When we were reading about Arequipa, we were intrigued and excited about visiting Peru’s second-largest city. Founded in 1540, this colonial-era city of about one million people sits at 7661 feet above sea level and is framed by three volcanoes, Chachani, Pichu Pichu and El Misti. El Misti is the most prominent volcano, with its … More Arequipa: Finding Colour in “The White City”
Leaving Ourselves Behind 