Rumi, the celebrated 13th-century poet, philosopher, scholar and founder of the Sufi mystical cult, would have been 817 years old today. Notable – his works have lasted. They are translated all over the world and he is still considered the “top-selling poet” in the United States. Not to condense Rumi’s contributions to a few pithy … More Celebrating Rumi’s birthday in Konya
Many people come to this area for just a couple of days, with the primary attraction being a ride in a hot air balloon. Now, one can certainly see the attraction of climbing into a wicker basket and lifting off at sunrise over an otherworldly landscape. The romance, the bucket-list box ticked, the celebratory champagne … More Cappadocia: So Much More than Hot Air Balloons
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.
Leaving Ourselves Behind 