Category: Journal
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April Fools joke?
Read more: April Fools joke?If someone were to tell me that April 2nd would launch the first long weekend of the summer in Ottawa, I would think they were telling an April Fools joke. Normally, we would be thinking about skiing, not bringing the bikes up from the basement for the first rides of the year. April Fools or…
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Yay, I did it!
Read more: Yay, I did it!It’s been a mild winter in Ottawa this year. We barely have any snow on the ground, and yet the cross country ski conditions have been amazing. I’ve been out skiing more this year than ever – and I’m skiing longer distances more comfortably than ever before. Last Sunday was a huge accomplishment for me –…
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Best kept travel secrets – part one
Read more: Best kept travel secrets – part oneAn hour on a small boat in not too calm seas brings us to the centuries old fishing villiage of Battle Harbour, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We walk around for hours not seeing another person, and it is difficult to imagine that this was once the unofficial capital of Labrador. Battle Harbour was…
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What do touring cyclists do in the Canadian winter?
Read more: What do touring cyclists do in the Canadian winter?We’ve always said, you can’t truly enjoy Ottawa in the winter if you don’t get outdoors. After skipping winter last year, we were happy to get back on our skis and check out the conditions in Gatineau park. So far, it hasn’t been a great year for snow, but the cross-country skiing has been pretty…
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Flashbacks
Read more: FlashbacksSince early September (and Northern Ontario), I’ve been having flashbacks of our trip. My brain gives me full colour pictures of places we have been and the associated emotions I was feeling while at that place – usually places where we did not take pictures. It can take me weeks and several conversations with Scott…
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Fuul – A Syrian Breakfast
Read more: Fuul – A Syrian BreakfastOne of our favourite Syrian snacks is Fuul – a broad bean stew drizzled with lemon juice, olive oil, and tahini. We often found it at small stalls in the souk (market). Each stall serves it in a slightly different manner. Our local Lebonese halal grocery store has some nice big (about 1 inch long…
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Christmas in the Middle East
Read more: Christmas in the Middle EastWe will be hosting a slide show and discussion session about our journey through Turkey, Syria, and Jordan last holiday season – highlights include Bayram (Eid Al-Adha) with friends in Turkey, Capadoccia Turkey, Christmas in Aleppo Syria, Petra in Jordan, the Dead Sea, and Palmyra in Syria. When: Sunday, 13 December 2009 at 12:30 pm…
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Questions and Answers
Read more: Questions and AnswersSince we have been home, we are often asked the same questions over and over; however, every now and then someone comes up with a unique question that challenges us to reflect upon our journey in a different way. If you read this, please do not ask us what our favourite place is! Question: “What…