Travel – Page 12 – Jennifer's Journal

Autumn Walk on the East Coast

Published on October 6, 2012October 4, 2017 by J. Kelland Perry18 Comments

Come along as we take a stroll through Newtown on this beautiful October day.

autumn walk 009 — The tide is high this afternoon.

autumn walk 013 — Much of my next door neighbour’s garden is still summer lovely.

autumn walk 030 — I stopped to admire another neighbour’s potato harvest. Of course, he insisted I take a bagful.

autumn walk 075 — Dogberries, a true harbinger of Fall

autumn walk 086 — Still wearing his shorts in October, and loving it

autumn walk 111 — Our other neighbour is drying salt fish.

autumn walk 113 — Freshly painted grapnels for next year’s fishing season

autumn walk 115 — Kitties, you should have come with us.

Travel Theme: Foliage (and Other Living Things)

Published on September 30, 2012May 6, 2013 by J. Kelland Perry8 Comments

Trees and their foliage are, without a doubt, some of Nature’s most wondrous treasures.

But sometimes, the best photograph of a tree is not as much about the tree itself, but what is found in and among its foliage and branches.

Like in this photo I snapped in Varadero, Cuba, you may see tiny birds:

…two “love birds”, perhaps?

Or you might happen upon a couple of sister cats exploring among the leaves:

And if you see a magnificent tree such as this one day, don’t be surprised to find little children playing among its sturdy limbs:

L & J — Bowring Park, St. John’s, Newfoundland

This has been my contribution to wheresmybackpack.com’s weekly Travel Theme.
This week: Foliage

Thank you for the inspiration, Ailsa!

Travel Theme: Foliage (ahecticlife.wordpress.com)
travel theme: foliage (starlight427.wordpress.com)
Travel Theme: Foliage (windagainstcurrent.com)

Off to the City!

Published on July 11, 2012January 17, 2016 by J. Kelland Perry2 Comments

Now that the long-awaited summer has arrived in earnest in Newfoundland, your typical mortal starts thinking of getting out into the country. She may be planning a vacation in one of our lovely outports, or getting away from it all in a secluded cabin, or camping out and about in an RV or tent.

But where does a transplanted country mouse like me plan a summer getaway? Why, back to the capital city, of course. This Saturday, my husband and I are packing up our kitties, leaving his little hometown, and driving to my much larger hometown of St. John’s for a couple of weeks.

This change of pace also accommodates my mother-in-law and her son, who are switching houses with us for this period. I’ve been preparing my home for their stay, so that when they arrive everything will be ready for them, including some freshly baked bread and a pot of homemade soup. We hope they enjoy their holiday as well, in what we like to call our little corner of heaven on earth.

As for me, I know the time will fly by all too quickly. Between spending time with my mom in her nursing home, playing with our grandchildren, and visiting other family, that will barely leave time for much else. Somehow I must fit in some shopping, some outdoor fun, a dentist appointment, dining out, and partying too (husband’s birthday is fast approaching). George Street, maybe? We even have an out-of-town side trip planned to the Placentia Regatta celebrations with my siblings and their mates. Good times are in store, for sure.

Despite my temporary city mouse schedule, I will still do my best to post to my blog while I’m away. Have laptop, will travel!
What special plans have you made to shake things up for the summer?

Canada Tr avel: St. John’s Newfoundland a city on the move: great food and cafes (thestar.com)

Scenes From France – Part Three: More Paris!

Published on June 26, 2012February 6, 2022 by J. Kelland Perry5 Comments

Join me for one last look at our trip to Italy and France, as I share some more of my Paris photos. Ah, quelle belle ville!

France 021 — outside Notre Dame Cathedral

France 025 — impressive French Gothic architecture

France 052 — Such a friendly congregation of birds outside
the Notre Dame Cathedral!

France 054 — one of many Seine River cruises

France 007 — Fountain in the Place de la Concorde

four — Beneath the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
with an Eternal Flame.

twelve — Did you know that the Eiffel Tower is nicknamed
La dame de fer (the iron lady)?

nine — Husband and I, just before the Seine Dinner Cruise

Scenes From France – Part One: Cannes (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Scenes from Italy – Part One: Rome (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
In Passionate Defense Of The Rest Of France (missexpatria.wordpress.com)

Scenes From France – Part Two: Paris

Published on June 19, 2012February 24, 2018 by J. Kelland Perry5 Comments

Over the previous winter, my sister and I and our spouses had planned this Italy/France trip to end on a high note. Now tell me, how better to end it than with a visit to Paris in June?

I considered it an interesting fact that this beautiful city had been originally nicknamed the “City of Light” because it was a center of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment, but later earned the name when Paris began lighting the Champs-Elysees with lamps.

With so much to see and do, my camera had kicked into overdrive, so this section of my travelog will have to be shown in two blog posts. I hope you enjoy them. For the best viewing experience, click each one for a closer look.

France 372 — also a view from our window – temptation everywhere

France 240 — Academie Royale de Musique – the Paris Opera

France 357 — wrought iron balconies abound

France 355 — one of my favourite street scenes

One of our larger excursions was an afternoon at the Musee du Louvre. The Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world, and a historic monument because of its beginnings as a fortress. As it is also one of the biggest art museums worldwide, these pictures as a representation don’t even scratch the surface of what waits inside its walls.

France 340 — throngs of tourists everywhere

France 291 — view of the Louvre Pyramid in the main
courtyard from inside one of its wings

France 297 — one of the spectacular ceilings in the Louvre

France 260 — Mona was smaller than I expected.

France 313 — Okay, I know you’re smart, husband,
but stop pretending to read that ; )

Scenes From France – Part One: Cannes (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Scenes from Italy – Part One: Rome (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)

Travel Theme: Oceans

Published on June 14, 2012April 23, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry11 Comments

June 8th was World Oceans Day. World Oceans Day has been unofficially celebrated on June 8th since 1992 when Canada proposed the idea at the Earth Summit in Rio, and was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2008. The official website is worldoceansday.org.

Here is my contribution to a weekly travel theme challenge created by wheresmybackpack.wordpress.com. Because I live by the Atlantic Ocean here in Canada, I thought I would share some pics from last year when my daughter and her family visited, and had fun on our sandy seashores.

visit 025 — “I found a starfish, Nanny!”

visit 046 — “Look what I found…a baby crab!”

Scenes From France – Part One: Cannes

Published on June 8, 2012June 8, 2012 by J. Kelland Perry12 Comments

Our group of four left Italy by train, eager to begin the next leg of our adventure in a new country. Beautiful France awaited! Our first destination was Cannes on the French Riviera, and it didn’t disappoint. Warm, sunny weather, beautiful sandy beaches, exceptional shopping venues, and cuisine par excellence epitomized a delightful tourist experience. The Cannes Film Festival was over for the year, hence we saw no celebrities. But I hope my photos give you some idea of why I recommend Cannes as a preferred vacation spot.

France 116 — Almost there!
View of the gorgeous Côte d’Azur from the train..

France 154 — entrance to our lovely hotel

France 131 — This is where I’m staying next time 😉

France 190 — temperatures in the 30’s (celsius) most days we were there

France 188 — temperatures in the 30’s (celsius) most days we were there

Coming soon: Paris..

Scenes from Italy – Part One: Rome (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Cannes LIVE! Watch the glitz, the glamour and the gossip as it unfolds… (mirror.co.uk)

Scenes From Italy – Part Four: Stresa

Published on June 1, 2012March 26, 2014 by J. Kelland Perry7 Comments

We said goodbye to half of our group whose time had come to fly home, as well as “ciao” to Tuscany, then the four of us rode by train to northern Italy. Nestled by Lake Maggiore in the foothills of the Italian Alps, the pretty little town of Stresa was a welcome sight. We checked into a B & B, our home for the next few days.

stresa069 — Lake Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy.

stresa027 — We climbed the hill by cable car to see the magnificent view.

stresa099 — Pippa, the resident cat at our B & B

Scenes From Italy – Part Three: Siena and Florence, Tuscany (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Scenes from Italy – Part Two: Tuscany (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)
Scenes from Italy – Part One: Rome (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)

Scenes From Italy – Part Three: Siena and Florence, Tuscany

Published on May 30, 2012October 25, 2020 by J. Kelland Perry8 Comments

During our week-long stay at the Tuscan villa, we took a couple of day trips to nearby centres of interest. I have no words to describe the incredible feelings I experienced visiting Siena and Florence. It comes as no surprise that these cities were named World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Siena is a must-see if you want to experience a historical throwback to medieval times. Famous for all of its culture and art, it is particularly known for the Palio, a traditional horse race that takes place in the Piazza del Campo twice a year.
And of course, Florence, the capital city of Tuscany, was unforgettable. The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world due to its artistic and architectural heritage.

Here are some of my favourite shots of the two cities.

Our group entering Siena. Most of the walls that were built in the 10th and 11th century to surround the city still exist today.

one of the many steep, narrow streets of old Siena

a partial view of the city from a higher vantage point

Shops and boutiques line many of the streets

Ponte Vecchio, an arch bridge over the Arno River

facade of the Duomo of Florence – Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

Duomo is the largest brick dome ever constructed.

Coming soon: the northern Italian town of Stresa…

Scenes from Italy – Part Two: Tuscany (jenniferkellandperry.wordpress.com)

Scenes From Italy – Part Two: Our Tuscan Villa

Published on May 25, 2012June 6, 2012 by J. Kelland Perry4 Comments

After four fun-filled days of sightseeing, food and nightlife, our group of eight said “arrivederci” to Rome, and in our rental cars, headed out into the Italian countryside. Next destination: our villa in Tuscany for a full week!

We had some day trips planned for later in the week, but first we chose to relax for a while in our beautiful surroundings.