Unforgettable Meals From the Road

Food is one of life's greatest joys so naturally, one of the greatest joys of traveling is getting to try out local dishes while indulging in another culture.  Some of my fondest travel memories involve memorable meals I've enjoyed on the road and the people I shared them with.  From the open-air restaurants of the Caribbean and Central America to the cozy pubs of rural Scotland, here are some of my most memorable meals from the road.

Somewhere Outside of Las Vegas, Nevada
While in Las Vegas, I rented a car and took a 3-day road trip in the Mojave Desert and explored some of the more remote regions of Nevada, Arizona and California. While driving along a country road somewhere in the middle of the desert, I came across a diner standing alone among some cacti and Joshua Trees.  It looked like something you would see in one of those old western movies.  I went in.  I don't even remember what the name of the place was or what I had to eat, but I remember the atmosphere.  I was greeted with an air of subtle weariness, perhaps because I was an outsider.  I remember the view - vast desert and distant mountain ranges.  Although I felt a little uncomfortable in that remote place, it ranks high on my list of intriguing places that I've stopped at for a meal in the middle of nowhere.

Les Isles de la Madeleine, Quebec
Like most Canadians, I love a heaping plate of greasy, cheese-and-gravy-soaked Poutine.  What most people don't know is "real" poutine (made with cheese curds instead of melted mozzarella cheese) is rarely served outside of French-speaking areas of Canada.  That's why I just had to try the dish while I was in Les Isles de la Madeleine, a group of islands belonging to the predominately French province of Quebec.  I took this trip with my mother as she always wanted to go there to see the place where her grandmother came from. We found a nice little place overlooking a beautiful seaside panorama and enjoyed the best plate of poutine I've ever had.  And yes, it was made with real cheese curds. 

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico 
In Playa Del Carmen, I stayed at a small boutique-style hotel that offered a buffet at breakfast and the food was extremely good.  The first morning, I wandered down to the open-air dining area and was amazed at the choices available!  The food was better than I imagined it would be and I soon learned that the Mexican food I eat in Canada isn't real Mexican food at all.  The other amazing thing about meals at this hotel? The friendly staff interacted with me and even sat with me at my table.  They wanted to know everything about me.  Where was I from?  Is there snow there?  Do I know so-and-so from Winnipeg?  Even though they could barely speak English, they made an effort to make me feel welcome and appreciated and I had no problem answering all of their questions as I had many of my own.  

Havana, Cuba
Before I left for Cuba, I was told by others that the food is not very good.  I stayed at an all-inclusive resort and during the first few days, forced my way through a number of horrible meals (think dry bread, rancid dairy products, rotten fruit and tasteless other items) before trying a meal at a restaurant off the resort.  I was in Havana with a group of other tourists and we decided to do lunch at a small restaurant.  Now, when people tell me that the food in Cuba is disgusting, I tell them "no it's not! It's only disgusting in those cheap all-inclusives" because the meal I had in that restaurant was excellent in every way possible.  Not only was I able to enjoy a delicious, fresh, homemade meal served by the  friendliest staff, but I also got to enjoy it with a fantastic group of people from all over the world. 

Montezuma, Costa Rica
During the first leg of my travels in Costa Rica, I stayed at a lovely yoga retreat in the little surf town of Montezuma on the Nicoya Peninsula.  I can't pinpoint one particular meal during the whole week that was amazing because all the meals served were amazing and definitely among the best I've had in my entire life so far.  Fresh, organic produce and eggs taken directly from a nearby farm were used to prepare the five-course meals (appetizers, soup, salad, main course and dessert) and a softly-lit dining area overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a table big enough to seat two dozen people from all over the world made dining at this place an experience I won't soon forget.

  

La Fortuna, Costa Rica

During the second week of my adventure in Costa Rica, I spent time exploring the area of La Fortuna which included a day at the luxurious Tabacon Hot Springs Spa.  After a relaxing day soaking in the hot springs, I and the group of travelers I arrived there with were treated to a lovely meal at the on-site restaurant.  A huge buffet was served with an abundance of fresh, delicious items.  I think I heard about a dozen different languages around the table that night.  Sharing a meal with people from so many different cultures is an opportunity I never turn down. There was storytelling, email-swapping and language lessons.  And the meal?  Phenomenal!

Derricks, Barbados
I found an excellent deal on a week-long apartment rental for my trip to Barbados and the rental came with the option to have meals served three times a day.  Every morning, afternoon and evening, the lady who ran the place prepared a homemade meal right in front of me.  I enjoyed these meals in the pretty outdoor dining area where I could watch the mischievous little green monkeys playing in the nearby trees.  These meals were all made with the healthiest and freshest ingredients and were delicious. The best part about the meals was the fact that I had never heard of the recipes before so I got to try brand-new-to-me dishes.  Eating a meal each day in a home-like environment made it seem like I was visiting an old friend rather than traveling solo in a foreign country.

Pearson International Airport, Toronto
I know it seems odd that anyone could have a memorable meal in an airport let alone one of North America's biggest and busiest.  However, amidst the chaos that is Pearson International, I found a quiet little sandwich bar tucked away near my gate.  I grabbed the one thing that appealed to me in the display box which was a vegetarian sandwich, and took a seat at the back where I could watch everything going on outside the little peaceful oasis.  That sandwich was worth every cent of the 8 bucks I paid for it because it was one of the most delicious veggie sandwiches I ever had.  The coffee was good too and as I sat back, relaxed and prepared to indulge in my hot caffeinated beverage, a young man with a guitar took a seat just outside the shop and, despite the noise and chaos around him, he started to play. 

Edinburgh, Scotland
Within hours of arriving in Edinburgh, I had already hit the streets.  I knew I only had three days in the city and wanted to make the most my time.  I was dead tired, jet-lagged and starved but I walked over twenty kilometres that first day, exploring every nook and cranny of the downtown area.  By evening, I had to find something to eat, something quick and something nutritious.  Just around the corner from my hotel was a cozy little cafe.  I walked in and ordered a veggie sandwich.  The sandwich itself wasn't anything extraordinary, although it was quite good and definitely filled with veggies.  It was the atmosphere that accompanied my meal.  As I sat in a booth by the window that Friday night, the crowds were preparing for a wild night on the town.  I got a real taste of the excitement that transpires when tens of thousands of locals and international tourists intermingle for the evening's festivities.  As the streets grew more crowded, a lone bagpiper stopped right in front of the cafe and began to play.  He may have thought he was playing for the enjoyment of all those people on the street but in my mind, it seemed like that delightful serenade was made for my ears only.  

  

Broadford, Scotland

They say the best way to get to know a place is to wander around on foot.  I guess you can say I got to know Broadford quite well.  I arrived at my bed and breakfast in the early evening and the only thing on my mind was food.  I neglected to pick something up on the road and since it was getting late, it was difficult to find something to eat.  Not having a car available (and not wanting to waste money calling a cab), I started walking.  Of course, it being Scotland in September, I ended up wandering around aimlessly in rain, wind and cold.  I walked to the bottom of the hill where I had seen a few take-away restaurants.  No lights, no cars in the parking lots, no staff around.  Closed for the evening.  I walked some more.  I got hopelessly turned around and ended up going in circles and had no idea where I was or how to get back.  Finally, I found a tiny pub. Upon opening the door, I felt like I was walking onto the set of Coronation Street.  A cozy atmosphere filled with friendly locals watching sports and gossiping and laughing and carrying on.  I was greeted with a hearty welcome from the friendly barmaid who was happy to make a meal for me even though the kitchen had just closed.  She must have felt sorry for the soggy, wayward tourist.  I took a seat at the bar and was welcomed into the group of patrons who were interested in finding out more about this lone traveler looking for a bite to eat on a stormy night.   I enjoyed my meal and a pint and bid them all farewell before trekking back into the cold, wet night.   

 

 

Fort Augustus, Scotland

While I'm used to traveling alone and therefore eating alone, one of my most memorable meals was the one I enjoyed on my last evening touring the highlands and lowlands of Scotland.  I had spent five spectacular days with a dozen incredible people from all over the world. The last night of the tour was spent in a pretty little town not far from the banks of Loch Ness.  Upon arrival, we parted ways to check into our accommodations, which were scattered around town, and agreed to meet in an hour by the canal for dinner.  A lady from the United States was staying in the same bed and breakfast as me so we walked together.  Turns out we both had a really bad sense of direction.  We walked and walked and turned around several times when she admitted she had no clue where she was and neither did I.  Then the rain and wind came.  By the time we found it, we were both soaking wet and hysterical from laughing so hard at our misadventure.  Fort Augustus was not particularly bustling on that wet, cold night so by the time we got back into town, our group had dispersed and almost everything was closed.  We again found ourselves wandering around in the rain until we found a pizza shop that was still open. That night, as we sat eating pizza by a window overlooking a deserted street in a land foreign to us both, we talked about everything under the sun as if we were old friends who knew one another for years.  

 

 

 

 

You can Enjoy Las Vegas if you don't like Gambling

Las Vegas, Nevada for non-gamblers

I'm not one for gambling loud music and flashy clubs

When my sister suggested we take a trip together somewhere warm, I was thinking more of Barbados or Saint Lucia.  I can't remember how the idea of heading to Las Vegas came about, but I was skeptical.  

I don't gamble.  I don't party hard.  I don't drink much.  I don't particularly like dressing up in glamorous outfits and hitting the town.  I don't like dining in fancy restaurants.  And I I'm not one for extravagant shows. Nevertheless, we went ahead and booked a 7-night vacation at The Luxor right on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Luxur, Las Vegas

 

The first thing I noticed when we arrived at McCarran Airport was the sound of VLT machines.  I thought to myself "really, they wouldn't have gaming machines in the airport would they?" but that they did and that was very bizarre to me. 

My first taste of the strip was in the taxi that took us to our hotel and it was nothing like I expected.  I always thought of Vegas as this small city in the middle of the desert consisting of just one road, The Strip, which was one lane only and when you came to the end of it, you were back among the tumbleweed.  

I had no idea it was about eight lanes across and was just over four miles long.  The other thing that hit me was the heat.  Boy, was it ever hot.

Las Vegas Boulevard AKA The Las Vegas Strip

 

To this day, if I close my eyes and put myself back there, I can still hear the sound of hundreds of VLT machines running all at once.  It's a sound that must have become engraved in my head because for the better part of a week, all I heard when I left my hotel room was that sound. 

That being said, I quickly realized that there was more to this city that just a street full of casinos and hotels.  Each one of those Casinos and hotels are different in their own way and offer unique attractions that keep non-gamblers preoccupied.  And The Strip is full of surprises at all hours of the day and night and every nook and crannie is filled with some sort of entertainment.

Even the hotel we were staying at had a number attractions and features. And can you guess what was one of the first things I did upon arrival at The Luxor?  I took a ride on the diagonal elevators, of course! 

Naturally, there is a casino at The Luxor, but we also had the option to enjoy shows and attractions such as Carrot Top, Criss Angel, Bodies...the Exhibition and
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition which are all still featured at the hotel to this day.  

It wasn't until I walked the length of The Strip for the first time that I realized there's so much more to do besides gambling and eating.  

Speaking of eating, that first morning we were craving a delicious but cheap breakfast to get the day started.  We found a Denny's within walking distance of our hotel. Many people think Las Vegas is all glitz and glam and you have to fork over a small fortune in order to eat while visiting the city.  This isn't true.  

Within walking distance of our hotel there were several food courts with familiar and affordable eateries such as MacDonalds and Subway.  I've heard that you can get deals on casino restaurants if you gamble enough but I didn't gamble enough to see if this is actually true.    

That morning, I wore what I thought were comfortable, durable walking sandals.  It was very hot that day and by the time we walked the four miles to the end of The Strip, I had to buy a new pair of shoes.  Thankfully, there was a store with affordable, decent shoes on the way back.  So if you plan to visit, keep this in mind; you will be doing a lot of walking so bring good shoes! 

Walking that stretch that morning was quite interesting. I think Las Vegas must be one of the only places around where you can spot people dressed in evening wear and full make-up cruising around in exotic sports cars at 9AM.  

It took almost all day to make it back to the hotel because we stopped so much!  The Fountains at the Bellagio was one of my favourite attractions along The Strip.  I could sit there all day just watching those choreographed streams of water dance to the music. 

Oh and that fabulous pirate show that stopped everyone in their tracks in front of Treasure Island (I was sad to hear that this show no longer runs as of 2013), the volcano eruption that occurs in front of the Mirage, the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay and Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. 

Visitors are free to enter the casinos and hotels along The Strip and many of them have shops, exhibits and various other attractions intended to draw people in to the gambling tables but are equally effective in entertaining non-gambling visitors.  

The Fountains at The Bellagio

 

One thing I didn't want to do while in Las Vegas was shopping.  I know I'm a minority on that front but, for me, shopping (even if it's among the infamous outlet malls of Las Vegas) is something I feel is a waste of time while traveling. 

I did hear that those outlet stores are great and I noticed there are quite a few gift shops along The Strip and luxury shops are in almost every hotel.  Whether you are looking for bargains or to go all out and drop lots of $$$ on that once-in-lifetime-purchase, I am confident you will find everything you are looking for.

I'm not really into extravagant shows either and some of the more extravagant ones were well beyond my budget! That being said, I wanted to do something while I was there so I looked around for an entertaining show we could enjoy one evening over a few drinks.  

We found one that suited both our budgets are tastes; a stand-up comedy show performed by Vinnie Favorito with help from audience members with hilarious results. 

Many people assume that extravagant concerts are the only shows available but nothing could be further from the truth!  There are circus shows (I would have loved to have taken in a Cirque de Soleil show but didn't have time!), magic shows, dancing shows, burlesque shows, nostalgic shows and dinner theatres.

Gambling was at a minimum (yes I know, I'm not your typical Las Vegas tourist) but I did spend a couple of hours one evening playing the slot machines. I set a budget of 100 dollars, ended up spending 200 to win 300 only to lose it all on a max bet.  At least I can say I tried gambling in Vegas.

One of the stipulations of me agreeing to go to Las Vegas was that The Grand Canyon and some random driving in the desert be part of the deal.  And I mean why not; if you are going to be in the area where one of the world's top attractions is only a short drive away, why wouldn't you go see that attraction! 

I pre-booked a day-tour with a local company called Pink Jeep Tours and I highly recommend booking with this company!  

Our tour included pick up at our hotel, water, snacks, a lunch at a diner serving traditional Southwestern cuisine, a stop at the Hoover Dam, a stop at a remote look-off in the Grand Canyon, a helicopter ride down into the canyon and a pontoon boat ride down the Colorado River.

The day after that fabulous Grand Canyon adventure, we rented a car and drove off into the desert. 
When people asked me what we were doing driving around in the dessert for several days, I was astounded that most people didn't even know about the world-class attractions that were within a few hours' drive of Las Vegas.

I didn't find it too difficult driving around the city (except for getting hopelessly lost trying to find our way out of the city) and once I found a road that looked like it went off into the great unknown, I just kept driving and it was smooth sailing from there.  For a little while anyway.  

We had a GPS but it let us down almost immediately so I turned it off. We had no immediate plans that day and I had no idea what direction I was going or where I would end up and I didn't care.  A few wrong turns took us down some remote dead-end desert roads with stunning scenery.  This is why it's not always a bad idea to just get lost while exploring a new place.

We eventually ended up in an area of the desert knows for a high amount of UFO sightings. A big sign announcing we were about to turn onto the "Extraterrestrial Highway" was enough for me to know I was headed somewhere interesting.  

I remember reading that the infamous Area 51 base is located somewhere along this highway and a truck stop/gas station with a sign

on the front stating that it was the last stop before Area 51 confirmed that I was in the right area.  This store sold maps to the location of the fabled base but I knew better; this was just a touristy marketing ploy.  They most likely wouldn't release exact directions to what is considered a top secret military facility that the government denied even existed for years.

Early that evening, we turned back towards Las Vegas so we wouldn't be driving in the middle of the dessert at night.  I didn't have much faith in the GPS but I set it to take us directly to the hotel without having to go down The Strip on a Friday night.  

After getting lost several times (expected), we arrived back in the city right where I didn't want to end up; At the other end of The Strip in bumper to bumper traffic with our hotel at the opposite end.

The Strip on a Friday Night

The Valley of Fire State Park was one of the planned destinations for the next day.  Driving around aimlessly and exploring more of the dessert was also on the agenda.  It was a little chilly that day and despite it being the weekend, there was no one else around when we arrived at the park.  

We paid the fee and drove along the two-lane road into scenery like no other we had seen in the area.  The dark grey ashphalt with a prominent yellow line contrasted starkly with the deep red hue of the terrain.  I think we only passed one other car the entire time we were in the park.  

Driving through the Valley of Fire State Park

The Valley of Fire State Park was deserted the day we drove through.

I remember reading about Death Valley in an encyclopedia I found in my father's book collection. The mystery of the moving rocks at Racetrack Playa (which has since been solved) and the fact that the valley was the site of the highest temperature ever recorded on the planet intrigued me. 

On the last day we had the car rental, we drove the four hours to Death Valley.  It was a bit cool in Las Vegas that morning so we dressed in layers and left the top on our convertible up as we set off into the desert one last time.  

We only stopped once outside of Las Vegas to pick up snacks and coffees for the road and didn't stop again until we reached the entrance to Death Valley National Park.  I assumed it would be around the same temperature as it was in Las Vegas so I wasn't prepared for the wave of heat that nearly knocked me down when I opened the car door.  I don't think I ever experienced temperatures like that before.  It was literally like walking into an oven.

We got out and looked around at some of the tourist stops and look-offs but hiking or walking too far off the beaten track would have been dangerous in that heat.  Coming from Atlantic Canada, that's just something I am not accustomed to!  We drove for quite a while into the park and when it started getting late, we turned around and headed back towards the city.  

I wanted to be out of the dark desert by nightfall but, as per usual when I am driving in a new place, I got lost and again ended up where I didn't want to. A couple of dead end roads, unfamiliar sites we didn't remember passing on the way there and a few circles around the same place and we were back in Sin City just in time to be once again thrown into the evening traffic jam at the opposite end of The Strip. 

Our last day was spent walking up and down Las Vegas Boulevard just taking in the excitement.  Of course, no trip to Las Vegas is complete without getting your picture taken in front of the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. 

I thought you just walk up to the sign and take a picture and it's no big deal.  I didn't realize it was such a big thing until we arrived at the sign and there was a lineup of people waiting.  Another surprise?  Apparently some people make a living just taking pictures of people posing under this iconic sign. 

The Las Vegas Strip in 2009

Before I arrived in Las Vegas, I always pictured The Strip as a two-lane road with some big hotels spanning one or two blocks.  How wrong I was and how surprised I was to see that multiple lanes pass through a mile-long stretch of lavishness that can only really be experienced by seeing it yourself.  Hard to believe it's been 7 years already since I made my first trip to Sin City.  Time to plan another one!

Memories From the Road

Although I've traveled a lot, I haven’t traveled nearly as much as I want to. So far, I have seen more than half of the United States, almost all of Canada and various places in Mexico and Cuba. I'm always heading out on a road trip somewhere, whether it be to the other side of Cape Breton Island, to my second home in Newfoundland or to the mainland. These trips have gotten me the nickname of Roadrunner in my family and circle of friends.  I made a lot of memories and met some great people along the way and below is a sample of some of my greatest travel memories. When I recall a memory, I'm inspired and reminded of how important it is to have these experiences in life and I hope by reading mine, you will be inspired to recall some of your favorite memories from your travels and will share them with others. After all, travel is one of the most educational, inspiring and eye-opening things we can do throughout our lives and when people recall some of their best memories, often, it is from times spent on the road where they made new friends, tried new foods for the first time, immersed themselves into a new culture, fell in love or did something they normally wouldn’t do like bungee jumped off the side of a cliff. For me, it is not just one moment that inspires me to write this post but many life-changing moments that will stay with me forever. Here they are in no particular order…

I remember reading one of my father’s copies of National Geographic as a child and being awestruck at a feature of the Grand Canyon. From that moment on (even if it was the only place I ever got to see), I wanted to see the iconic symbol of America’s southwest. That dream came true in April of 2009 when I traveled to Las Vegas and made a side-trip to the South Rim in Arizona. Because it was my first (and certainly not my last) trip to the Grand Canyon, I decided to do a tour which combined a helicopter ride over and down into the canyon where I than drifted down the Colorado river in a pontoon boat. The experience was surreal and looking at those photos years before didn’t come close to seeing it with my own eyes, up close and personal. Our tour guide gave us the choice at the end of the first leg of the tour to either walk the horseshoe shaped skywalk for an extra fee or to head over to a place that few people are even allowed to go to. This area located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation was gated off and only open to the very few people who had a key and the permission to enter the well-preserved location far removed from the touristy areas. The stillness was incredible and while looking down into that vast canyon, it felt like I was the last person left on the planet. There was literally nothing getting in the way of that perfect moment. No power lines, no cars, no loud tourists, no screaming children, no hotdog vendors…just this large canyon stretching for miles into the desert. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about that incredible moment!

Another thing I had always wanted to do was rent a car and drive off into the Mojave Desert and find the fabled Route 66 that is at the top of many road warrior’s to-drive lists. Although I didn’t make it to that famous desert highway, I did depart Las Vegas at sunrise one fine morning in late April and explored the Mojave Desert for three days. My hometown is located in Eastern Canada and is surrounded by lush, green vegetation and rolling hills and small tree-covered mountains so this desert terrain was the complete opposite of what I am used to and maybe that is why I was so intrigued and so awestruck by my surroundings. The rock formations, the cactus, the Joshua trees and the long dirt roads that seemed to go on forever were all things so foreign to me. And don’t even get me started on the spectacular sunsets and that night sky out there in that desolate place…I never saw so many stars in all my life. I didn’t find Area 51 (of course I looked for it!) and I didn’t see any flying saucers out there but I did see actual tumbleweed floating by in the wind and even witnessed a dust devil!

The Canadian Rockies are world renowned for being one of the most beautiful places on earth and now, after making my first trip to Banff and Jasper National Parks, I can honestly say I agree with that statement. As I drove away from the hustle and bustle of Calgary, AB on that beautiful day back in 2009, I was anticipating the moment when those first snow-capped peaks would become visible up ahead. And when they did, tears welled up in my eyes for I had never seen anything so beautiful in all my life. I spent two full days driving around on main roads and back roads admiring the view and photographing the abundant and curious wildlife that often came right up to the car...and this brings me to my next defining travel moment; Kananaskis country. I happened along this area near Canmore, AB when I stopped near a reservoir to stretch my legs. I noticed an interesting looking gravel road that lead into what looked like backcountry. I got a little lost, sunlight changed to moonlight and I did eventually find my way back to the main highway but I had no regrets in taking that almost day-long detour. Valleys, snowcapped mountains, elk and bighorn sheep everywhere, crisp mountain air and a serene and silent environment like none I had every witnessed before.

I moved to Newfoundland after high school to attend college. The day I packed up my car and headed to the ferry that would take me on a 14-hour journey across the Gulf of St. Lawrence and to my new life in St. John’s was both a sad and an exciting one. Sad to be leaving my family, friends and my home of almost twenty years to start out on my own in a new place where I knew no one but excited to be branching out on my own. My parents and sisters made that long trip to help me settle into my new life and that and another memorable experience made that long trip even more memorable for me; a surfer and harmonica player from California who livened up the house band with an impromptu set of lively jigs and old favorites that had everyone in high spirits. If you ever traveled on these ferries, you know that the mood is not always so light but that night was an exception.

This next travel memory happened a good many years ago but it is still as fresh in my mind as if it happened yesterday. My family departed early one morning for one of our weekend beach road trips to Mira Gut and came across a peculiar scene on the other side of the bridge near the beach; a film crew. Of course, curiosity got the better of us and when we asked what they were filming, they said it was a music video for Anne Murray’s rendition of the song “Song for the Mira” for a country music special that would be aired on The CBC. Because they needed children to sit around a fire overlooking the Mira River, my sisters and I were invited to take part. Many marshmallows and a few hours later, we departed the beach and made our way home, stopping for ice cream along the way with the money we had made from our television debut!

My mother and grandmother often talked about the Magdelan Islands as my great-grandparents hailed from there. The islands, which are located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near PEI and belong to the province of Quebec were always at the back of my mind as a place I would visit one day. That day came in the summer of 2009 when I hopped in the car and made my way to the ferry crossing to PEI and took another ferry to the main island in the archipelago. I was immediately smitten with the laid back, Acadian way of life, the scenic outports and beautiful sandy beaches. Along the highway were giant sand dunes and when curiosity got the better of me, I climbed over those dunes to discover that eastern Canada is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in North America, not Florida as we are lead to believe by travel agents trying to get us to relax in the deep south. The beach looked like it went on forever and was completely deserted. The white sand was the softest I had ever felt on my feet and the water was so warm, it rivaled that of any water I swam in while in the Caribbean. A trip on a Zodiac over rough seas, through caves and around rocky coast to an almost deserted island away from the main island and a spectacular sunset at a beautiful lighthouse were among the other things that made that trip so memorable.

Almost everyone in the northeastern climate of eastern Canada where I am from dreams of being on a long sandy beach somewhere in the Caribbean once the snow starts falling and doesn’t stop for 8 or 9 months. Prior to my first trip “down south”, I had seen the pictures and witnessed the crystal blue water on TV and in movies but experiencing the real thing was nothing in comparison. Playa Del Carmen along the Riviera Maya in southern Mexico was my first trip to the Caribbean Sea and the moment I saw that beach and those blue waters for the first time, I knew I wouldn’t want to leave. The water was so warm, the sand so soft and the sunsets spectacular. Walking that beach with my feet in the warm surf each evening with the sound of Spanish guitars and upbeat Mexican music floating through the air reminded me of what it must be like in Heaven!

The Riviera Maya in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico is known for many things including the remnants of Mayan Ruins and beautiful world-class resorts. The beaches that these resorts are surrounded by are spectacular but are often crowded with thousands of tourists and local vendors selling everything under the sun. I love beaches but I love them more when I have them all to myself. That is why the moment I rounded that bend near the Mayan Ruins at Tulum and laid eyes on Playa Santa Fe, I knew I had found paradise! The long stretch of deserted sand with palm trees, warm water, giant sand dunes and a small beach hut complete with a few laid back locals serving cervasa was exactly how I envisioned a Caribbean beach getaway should be.

Here is another Mexico travel moment that is more a lesson learned than a memorable experience. I certainly learned that the advice that everyone had given me to not drink the water should have been taken a little more seriously. I thought I was being careful by asking the bartender to hold the ice cubes, closing my mouth in the shower and only drinking water from a sealed bottle but somewhere, somehow I managed to sip some tainted water and after a serious bout of water borne illness that had me off my feet for almost half the trip, I fortunately became well enough to enjoy some of it. I suspect the ice tea I ordered at the internet café across the street from my hotel was the culprit as I forgot to ask for no ice in my ice tea. Memorable only because it is a mistake I hope I never make again!

Death Valley, California is not a place that many people think of for a vacation destination but after reading so much about this intriguing place and its many mysteries, I put it at the top of my must-see places. When I left Las Vegas early one morning in April, it was a bit on the cool side and rain was in the forecast. I drove off into the desert and after getting lost a number of times, I found the entrance to Death Valley National Park and kept driving until I found a look-off where I could get out and stretch my legs. Nothing prepared me for the shock I got when I opened the car door and was nearly knocked off my feet by the inferno that was, as I was told, normal temperatures for the valley. I will never forget it! It honestly felt like my skin was frying in that scorching sun.

One of the most enlightening and satisfying things about travel is the people you meet along the way and I have met my share of interesting and memorable people on the road. One person in particular comes to mind when I think of the people I have met while traveling. I only spent a few moments with him at sunset on a beach in Varadero, Cuba but his kindness and interest in knowing more about me and my life back home will never be forgotten. I was sitting alone on the beach watching the sun go sun and taking a moment to relax away from the loud party atmosphere that was brewing on the resort that evening. I was a few hours away from having to catch a bus to the airport to fly back home and just wanted to take in those surroundings one last time for the road. A young man who I had noticed earlier that day when he selling sea shells and various items to sunbathing tourists was also sitting alone on the beach watching the sun go down. We made eye contact and he walked over to where I was sitting and took a place on the sand next to me. We exchanged names and that was easy enough but I soon realized that he barely spoke English and there began one of the most interesting conversations I ever had. Despite the language barrier we were able to exchange details about where we live, our families, our jobs and everything else under the sun. I learned some Spanish and he learned some English and in between, we communicated via drawings in the sand. We were still laughing and talking and learning more about our very different lives when darkness fell and I had to leave to catch my plane. After a quick embrace and a hand shake, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.

Leading up to my solo trip to Cuba, I had traveled to many places but never went to any far-flung destinations alone. It wasn’t that I was afraid to or didn’t want to. It just so happened that I always had someone to travel with. I really wanted to get away last spring and no one was available to come with me so I put on my brave face and went ahead and booked the trip and did it on my own. My family and friends were appalled and terrified at the idea of me traveling to another country alone and tried to discourage me from it. They feared I would be kidnapped, mugged or murdered because I would be an easy target. At first, I was a little intimidated by everyone around me traveling in groups but the benefits of traveling alone soon became clear to me. It was easier to meet new people, especially the locals, while traveling alone. I woke up and slept whenever I wanted without being disturbed. I went wherever I wanted whenever I wanted without having to compromise with others. There were no fights for the shower. And the list goes on and on. Everything seemed more vibrant, more alive and more interesting because I was able to focus on everything more clearly than I would have been able to had there been others with me. I spent as much time as I wanted just laying in the sand, watching the sun go down or watching the night stars appear over the Caribbean Sea. Decided than and there that this traveling alone thing is something I should do more often!

Moose are plentiful in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park and, although tourists love watching and photographing them when they wander close to the highway, they rarely do anything interesting except just stand there and block traffic or munch on leaves. There are many hiking trails in the national park and it is common to meet moose on the trails but, again, they rarely do anything interesting. I met many moose on many trails but only one of these run-ins left me with an unforgettable experience. I heard the rustling in the trees first. Than I heard the large splash in the lake below and that is when I knew something large was lurking nearby. Most people would run thinking it was a bear but I am a curious person by nature and this often means that instead of running when I should, I quietly move closer to whatever it is that has caught my attention. This is what I did that day on the trail. I moved in closer through bushes and found a place that gave me a great view of the lake without being seen. It took a moment to focus in on the large object slowly moving in the water. There, only meters in front of me were 2 large bull moose washing their antlers in the water. I watched them until they swam off into the swampy area behind the trees. I imagine this is something rarely seen by people as I have never heard of anyone else witnessing moose doing anything but running out in front of moving vehicles and eating branches.

This next interesting travel moment is probably something that is more common than I think but it certainly left me with something interesting to talk about it. While seated in a window seat high above the Gulf of Mexico, I happened to look down through the clouds to see another plane fly directly beneath my own. It was so close that I could even make out the company logo! I may or may not have been the only person, besides maybe the pilot, to see this because no one else mentioned it. Of course, the person seated next to me didn’t believe me when I told him about it but I know what I saw!

Las Vegas is a very busy place at all hours of the day but, as one would suspect, Friday night is the busiest time of the week particularly on The Strip. Bumper to bumper traffic across all lanes, pedestrians (who have often had too much to drink) darting out into the street and numerous distractions everywhere all make for hectic and nerve-wracking driving for locals and visitors alike. I had one such experience with the madness that is The Strip one Friday night on my way home from a quiet and peaceful drive in the Mojave Desert and although, at the time, it was a very stressful and nerve-wracking experience, it is one I can now laugh at. I set my GPS to take me straight to my hotel (which was located on one end of the strip) without actually driving down the busy street to get to it. I followed the directions provided and, after a near accident in a poorly marked construction zone and a few wrong turns, I ended up at the opposite end of The Strip. I barely made it in one piece to my hotel a couple of hours later than intended and my frazzled passenger was kissing the ground upon disembarking our rental car. I should have known the rented GPS would fail us because earlier that morning it had gotten us lost on some deserted desert roads…after we programmed it NOT to take us on deserted desert roads!

I moved to St. John’s, Newfoundland just out of high school to attend college and, although I was excited at going out on my own in a new place with new people and new surroundings, the one thing I was looking forward to more than anything else was witnessing the giant icebergs that come into the bays and inlets every spring. News of incoming bergs started to spread around the city in late May that year and at the first news of bergs being spotted off Cape Spear, I jumped in the car and headed out with my camera. There were three large chunks of ice in the harbour that day. I knew icebergs were big but I had no idea they were that big. I got as close as I could without actually going into the water and started taking hundreds of pictures of the stunning scenery complete with massive and ancient icebergs in the foreground. Suddenly, there was a large popping sound and some loud bangs before the largest of the three split into two smaller pieces right before my eyes! Ice chunks and debris flew everywhere and a large wave, caused by the disturbance, crashed on shore. Had there been a boat nearby, it would surely have capsized but fortunately, no one was on the water that day…just a few lucky onlookers onshore who got the once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness it.

The Cape Breton Highlands National Park is known for its stunning natural beauty, the world-famous Cabot Trail and its spectacular sunsets but, as I discovered one beautiful summer evening at Ingonish Beach, it is also known for its spectacular moonrises, particularly during a full moon. I was relaxing at the beach just after sunset with my coffee before heading out on the two hour drive home when I saw it; A yellow glow on the horizon. At first, I didn’t know what it was but soon, that yellow glow started to form into a large orange ball rising over the horizon. I watched that beautiful full moon rise to its place high in the sky. I must have sat on that beach for many hours because it was close to midnight when I started for home. To this day, I have yet to experience another full moon like it and it was one evening I will never forget. So simple and seemingly insignificant but sometimes it’s the smallest and most simple things that end up being the most memorable.

As for my future roadtrip dream? My number one bucket list roadtrip is to drive from St. John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Colombia...right across Canada.  After all, I live in this greta country so why not drive across it and see all the parts I haven't seen yet!  The Pacific Coast Highway is another one I'd like to do and a New Zealand road trip is definitely top of my list.  There are so many that I would need a road trip planner to plan all these trips for me!  Vacations without a car are another thing altogether.  I wish I could visit every country, every city, every island....so many more roadtrip and vacation memories to be made!

Farewell Las Vegas....But not Forever!

With our rental car gone back to the depot and our Grand Canyon Tour behind us, by the 18th of April, we had three days left to focus our last days of vacation freedom on getting to know Las Vegas. We didn’t wander to far from the Strip as everything we needed and wanted to see was on that one stretch. We spent our final days shopping, exploring and wandering. We took in a comedy show by Vinnie Favorito at The Flamingo, saw the shark aquarium at Mandalay Bay, caught the Sirens of TI show at Treasure Island and saw the loins at MGM Grand. The last two days in Vegas, the weather took a turn for the better; 95 degrees! To bad we were not sticking around long enough to enjoy it! Our last night, we walked around, seeing everything for the last time before heading back to get started on our packing. Everything we saw and did was for the last time at least for the time being! Before we even left Las Vegas, we were already making plans to return! The next day, we checked out of our room at 10:30am, left our luggage with the front desk and set out to find somewhere to have a good breakfast. We found a place in Mandalay Bay that served great sandwiches and than we grabbed some Starbucks and sat outside, enjoying the lovely day. The heat was almost unbearable. Too bad it wasn’t that hot when we had the convertible! At around 5:00pm, we met the airport shuttle and left The Strip for good. My sister had to go straight to her gate but my plane wasn’t leaving until 11:30 that night. I said goodbye to my sister and for the rest of the day, I wandered around the airport by myself. When I did finally enter my gate, I was surprised to see slot machines greeting departing and arriving guests! I was almost flat broke by that time but after rummaging through my purse, I found20 dollars that I had put aside to grab something to eat while I waited 9 hours in Toronto for a connecting flight home. I gave in and fed a slot machine instead in one last-ditch attempt to win enough money to extend my stay in Las Vegas. No such luck. That machine was just as hungry as I was going to be in Toronto because it ate that twenty dollars in just a few minutes! I disappointingly returned to my seat at my gate and waited for the plane that would take me back home-sweet-home to snow, wind, rain and cold. It took me almost 30 hours to get back to St. John’s with stops in Toronto and Halifax. I was exhausted and starving by time I arrived home, not to mention seriously jet-lagged! Despite being awake for 2 full days, I still had trouble getting to sleep that night. Now, I am back to work and everyday life still thinking about Vegas and already planning to return someday very soon!