TRAVEL MEMOIRS

AZORES We're on the island of São Miguel, known as the green island. It's the largest of the nine islands in the Azores archipelago – Madeira's quiet cousins farther out in the mighty Atlantic. Though it stuck, the name Azores is actually a misnomer from when the sailors who discovered the islands mistook buzzards for goshawks – the word açores is plural for goshawk in Portuguese. full story >>>	INDIA The mystery, the hidden truths and the mystic, all of it put together defines Lucknow’s Bada Imambada. Bhool Bhulayah (a part of the Imambada) is a fascinating labyrinth built by Asaf-ud-Daula (Nawab of Lucknow) in the 17th century. It’s located in the old area of Lucknow. To begin with, it’s one of the most underrated historical sites in the world! full story >>>
POLAND When I first saw the sign, it was a black and white photograph against a background of snow. The sun sparkled on the words that once struck so much terror … Arbeit Macht Frei. Two adjectives came to mind: peaceful and simplistic. These were hardly words for a former concentration camp. From 1941-1945 one million people had been killed here. My husband Kent and I were at Auschwitz. full story >>>	ITALY On that stifling July day, the elevator was packed with hot, sweaty people. We had just come down after viewing the Eternal City from the top of St. Peter’s. "Come on, Wayne," I ordered, "Move!" "I can’t," he said. "My arm’s stuck!" Evidently his arm had been resting on the elevator door. When the door opened and slid into its pocket, it had taken his arm with it. full story >>>
HAWAII Is it worth it? Oh yes. We land, retrieve our luggage and walk out into the sunshine. The Trades are blowing; those wonderful, gentle breezes that caress the palm trees and carry the scent of plumeria, just one of the many flowers that grow in the Islands. I can feel my body letting go of all the stressors. We are back on Maui. full story >>>	ALBERTA In front of the Dinosaur Museum there was a T-Rex so large we could climb steps inside and six or seven people could gaze out of it's mouth for a sweeping view of the town with the Badlands behind it. “This is the last thing you would see if eaten by the giant T-Rex of Drumheller,” I said. full story >>>
OREGON, USA There’s a chill in the air. A river of rain washes down the living room window. Curled up in front of the fire a hot cup of Earl Grey tea in hand, Sandra asks “What if we return to the Oregon Coast? Remember the beautiful sunsets and that first glimpse of the ocean through the trees?” she adds. “And of course the people we met.” I had to agree those are the joys of travel. full story >>>	CANADA The hills are alive with music in North Central British Columbia. Wending through forests, echoing off mountains and flowing with river and stream; music and song find perfect harmony in a setting inspiring even in its silence. The Kispiox Valley Music Festival was celebrating its 18th annual birthday but for us it was experience number one. full story >>>