We had already seen and experienced so much on this gorgeous fall day: from Brantford’s signature sights such as the Bell Homestead and the Mohawk …
The Brantford Farmers’ Market, Harmony Square, a Bike Ride & a Historic Train Station
After our action-packed morning which included a tour of The Bodega Inn, a visit to the Bell Homestead and the historic Mohawk Chapel, the Brantford …
A Tour of the Bodega Inn, the Bell Homestead and the Mohawk Chapel
My second day in Brantford, was an absolutely action-packed day. I got going early at about 8 am when I headed downstairs and requested Jennifer, …
A Perfect Staycation Begins – the Glenhyrst Art Gallery, Café Andreou & an Evening at the Sanderson Centre
Searching for an interesting weekend getaway, I have been studying a map of Ontario, looking for places that are just an hour or two outside …
Asturias Travel: Exploring the Asturian Coast, Colombres & the Cares Mountain Valley
My last full day in Asturias had arrived. I had long wanted to travel to this northern Spanish mountain region, and my six days here …
Exploring Llanes, a Mountain Drive & Hospitality at the Posada de Babel
On this gorgeous sunny day I had already fallen in love with one Asturian coastal town: the scenic town of Ribadesella had truly captured my …
The Tito Bustillo Prehistoric Cave and a Scenic Walk in Ribadesella
Well, my time in the high mountains of the Asturian Picos de Europa was over. I checked out of the Hotel La Cepada, my cozy …
Discovering the Picos de Europa
My day began with a nice breakfast overlooking the town of Cangas de Onís, a pretty town of about 6700 people that is embedded in …
Exploring Cangas de Onís and Covadonga
My last day in Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, had arrived. After a nice breakfast I checked out of the Barcelo Oviedo Cervantes Hotel and …
Exploring Bermiego, Quiros, San Martin de Teverga & the Cave La Huerta
To get to know the outdoor travel opportunities in Asturias, we had spent the morning cycling along the 22 km long Bear Trail or Senda …
A Bicycling Adventure on the Bear Trail
After a nice day of discoveries in Oviedo and Gijón, a grey sky and drizzly weather greeted me on this late May morning, and I …
A Visit to Gijón, the Largest City in Asturias
On this gorgeous Tuesday morning, I had really enjoyed my local tour through Oviedo, the historic capital of Asturias, one of Spain’s northern provinces. My …
Pre-Romanesque Santa Maria del Naranco & the La Balesquida Festival
After a much needed restful sleep on my arrival day at the Barcelo Oviedo Cervantes Hotel, I woke up early at 7 am and was …
Arrival in Oviedo – the Capital of Asturias
Spain has long been one of my favourite travel destinations. I love the Spanish language and am fascinated with Spanish history and culture. Since 2002 …
Friendly Hospitality at the Beacon by the Bay B&B
My last few hours in Peterborough had started and my three and a half day escape in the Kawartha Lakes region was rapidly coming to …
Biking to Lakefield & Kayaking on the Trent Canal
Accompanied by outdoor adventure experts Lloyd Graham and his friend Clare from Pedal and Paddle, I had spent the morning exploring Peterborough by bicycle. Then …
Bicycling through Peterborough with Pedal and Paddle
After a fabulous long day with a visit to the Lang Pioneer Village, a tour through the Elmhirst’s Resort and a great evening of outdoor …
The Elmhirst’s Resort & an Evening at the 4th Line Theatre
I had really enjoyed my first-hand introduction to pioneer life at the Lang Pioneer Village this morning and arrived late at my next stop: the …
Pioneer History Brought to Life at the Lang Pioneer Village
Day 2 of my Peterborough adventure started with gorgeous sunshine. Cora Whittington, my hostess at the Golden Pathways B&B, and I were talking in the …
Dinner at the Holiday Inn & a Free Concert by the Lake
During my introduction to Peterborough I had already been exposed to many different places and activities that make this mid-size city 90 minutes east of …
The Canadian Canoe Museum & a trip to the Otonabee River
After the excitement of having passed over the world’s highest hydraulic lift lock, I now wanted to explore another one of Peterborough’s landmark sites: the …
A Visit to the Farmer’s Market & a Lift Lock Cruise
After my brief stay in Peterborough over the July long weekend I decided to head back there to explore this travel region in greater detail. …
The Magical Village of Cuitzeo and the Monastery of Santa Maria Magdalena
On a gorgeous sunny morning my last full day in Mexico had begun. The last 12 twelve days had been an absolute whirlwind. After barely …
Exploring Lake Pátzcuaro – Tzintzuntzan, Janitzio and the town of Pátzcuaro
After our interesting visit in Quiroga, a colourful market town less than half an hour from Morelia, we had now arrived in Tzintzuntzan, literally translated …
The Rural Market Town of Quiroga, Home of the Famous Carnitas
Brilliant sunshine greeted me again on another gorgeous day in Mexico’s colonial heartland. After a restful night of sleep at the venerable Hotel Catedral, I …
Exploring the Colonial City of Morelia and Cathedral Fireworks
My second and last weekend in Mexico had arrived and I was ready to start my next out-of-town excursion from Guadalajara: I was planning to …
A Walking Tour of Tlaquepaque with a Tourist Police Officer
My second last day at the Guadalajara Language Centre had begun. During my two hours of instruction we had a great discussion about cultural differences …
A Driving Tour to Tequila: Seeing How Tequila is Made
After a nice tour through the Municipal Market in Tlaquepaque and a Spanish lesson, I was going to head out of town this afternoon. Local …
The Guadalajara Language Center and the Tlaquepaque Municipal Market
After two excursions to Lake Chapala over the past couple of days, I had another busy day ahead of me. In the morning I was …
Retiring on Lake Chapala – Meeting someone who did it
I got up early again to download all my photos from my Lake Chapala trip yesterday and headed to the Guadalajara Language Center, my Spanish …
A Driving Tour of Lake Chapala: Mexcala Island, Chapala Town, Ajijic
I had enjoyed my personal tour through “El Centro Cultural El Refugio” in Tlaquepaque and gotten good insight into the historical and artistic highlights of …
The Cultural Centre El Refugio in Tlaquepaque
After an interesting excursion to downtown Guadalajara yesterday, I had needed a good night’s sleep to rest up for another busy day. This Tuesday morning …
A Sightseeing Tour of Guadalajara
On this sunny Monday morning I got up early to download my pictures from my exciting three-day weekend in Guanajuato. I also had to get …
The Diego Rivera Museum in Guanajuato
After this morning’s exciting mountainbiking adventures outside of the city, this afternoon I would have a chance to delve into Guanajuato’s cultural attractions one last …
Bicycling Adventures in the Mountains of Guanajuato
Over the last day and a half I had received a great introduction to the city of Guanajuato. From the beautiful downtown of Guanajuato, which …
Mexico Travel: Guanajuato’s Famous and Eerie Mummy Museum
Mexico Travel – Guanajuato: The Callejón del Beso, the Mummy Museum of Guanjuato and the Famous “Estudiantina” On this busy Saturday morning we had already …
Admiring Ceramic Art and Exploring Guanajuato’s History at La Alhóndiga
After a beautiful restful night in my suite at the Quinta Las Acacias I had woken up really hungry and was looking forward to breakfast. …
Downtown Guanajuato & the Luxurious Quinta Las Acacias Hotel
My first few hours in Guanajuato had already exposed me to so much of the unique history and architecture of this gorgeous Mexican silver mining …
A First Look at Guanajuato, the La Valenciana Mine and El Pípila
During my language study trip to Guadalajara I had allocated two weekends for out-of-town excursions with the goal of visiting some of Mexico’s other colonial …
Discoveries in Tlaquepaque and Tonalá
After my very chilly first night in Mexico I woke up at 7 am at my homestay in Tlaquepaque, a pretty suburb of Guadalajara. Although …
Studying Spanish in Guadalajara
There are two things that I am very passionate about: traveling and learning languages. I like to combine both of them where I can and …
Presenting: Brandon Wilson – Author, Photographer and World Traveler Shares Tales of a Pilgrim – Part II
For several years now I have started to question life as we understand it. For some strange reason, as I get older, things such as …
Presenting: Brandon Wilson – Author, Photographer and World Traveller Shares Tales of a Pilgrim
As I have gotten older I have found myself getting increasingly disenchanted with my regular rat-race life, and I have actively searched out individuals who …
A Walking Tour of Chinatown and Kensington
In all my explorations of Toronto over the last few years I have learned that in addition to numerous world-class sights and attractions, Toronto has …
A Cross-city Cycling Tour, Salsa on St. Clair and Multiple Free Concerts
My summery biking adventures through Toronto continue. This morning I packed my backpack and as usual I entered the Taylor Creek Park system. Heading down …
A Bicycle Tour to the Toronto Islands
Sometimes you get hooked on an activity, and exploring Toronto by bike has become one of these pastimes for me. Not only is it great …
Exploring Toronto with Sights on Bikes
There is no doubt in my mind that bicycling is one of the best ways, if not the best way, to explore a city. You …
Presenting: 55 Division – A Lesson in Community Policing in the Beach
As always, Gene Domagala is the perfect person to make connections. With the date for my photo exhibition rapidly approaching and the need to finalize …
Presenting: St. Aidan’s Church and Father Stephen Kirkegaard – Charity Comes Full Circle in the Beach
It’s ironic, just as I decided to do my first neighbourhood portrait of Toronto, the Beach, my intended subject, was in the news a lot. …
Presenting: Another Neighbourhood Walk and Talk Along Queen Street with Maria Minna
Maria and I really hit it off so we planned to get together for another “neighbourhood walk and talk” to be able to check out …
Presenting: Hong Zhao – A personal evolution from Chinese Immigrant with Little English Skills to Becoming A Successful English-Language Publisher in the Beach
Like so many other good ideas for my Celebrate Toronto article series that starts with the Beach, the name of this interview candidate came from …
Presenting: Kingston Road – a Revitalizing Business Community and an Integral Part of the Beach
During a recent historic walk with Gene Domagala he took me into the local Scotia Bank office near Victoria Park Avenue and Kingston to show …
Presenting: Maria Minna – An Italian-Canadian Immigrant Story and a Life-Long Fight for Social Justice
Every Canadian neighbourhood is officially represented at three different levels: the municipal, provincial and federal levels. As far as the Beach neighbourhood is concerned I …
Presenting: Neil Macdonald and the Beach Business Improvement Association – A Community Overview
The article series about the Beach contains an entire kaleidoscope of personalities and organizations that make up this great community. The following interview with Neil …
Presenting: At Nevada’s Ristorante Hospitality is a Family Affair
You have probably realized by now that I spend the majority of my spare time in Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood. Over the years I have had …
Presenting: Andrew Howard and Rachael Smith from SNAP Beaches and the Yard Sale for the Cure – Creative Entrepreneurs and Dedicated Community Builders
Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood is a place where many creative and innovative people congregate. It is also a hotbed for enlightened entrepreneurs, people such as Alex …
Presenting: The Beaches Library – A Centre of Learning and Community Interaction
Right in the heart of the Beach, just a few steps from the intersection of Queen Street and Lee Avenue is the Beaches Library, a …
Presenting: The Beaches Lions Club – Celebrating with the Community and Making a Difference
For many decades now the Beaches Lions Club has been an integral part of the Beach Community and the driving force behind one of the …
Presenting: The Beach Rotary Club – Service Above Self in the Beach
One of the areas I really set out to focus on in my Beach neighbourhood portrait was the local spirit of charity and community assistance. …
Tasty Caribbean Treats and a Neighbourhood Tour through the Beach with Sandra Bussin
In my neighbourhood portrait about the Beach, I definitely wanted to include Sandra Bussin, City Councillor for Beaches / East York, who has represented the …
Ralph Noble: Firefighter, Lifesaver and Creator of the Most Famous Mural in the Beach – A Noble Man Indeed
Michael Prue’s office has been a great source of interview contacts and connected me with some very unique people. On this cold February morning I …
Presenting: The Balmy Beach Club – Legend by the Lake
No neighbourhood portrait of Toronto’s Beach community could ever be complete without one of the true institutions in the area: the Balmy Beach Club, a …
Presenting: The Garden Gate Restaurant a.k.a. “The Goof” – Good Food in the Beach since 1952
It was time for lunch after my extensive interview at the Balmy Beach Club, and all I had to do was walk up the street …
Presenting: Lido Chilelli – Founder of the Toronto International Beaches Jazz Festival
Every year one entertainment event in Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood attracts huge worldwide attention: the Toronto International Beaches Jazz Festival. Lido Chilelli, a local entrepreneur, is …
Presenting: The Green Eggplant – Healthy, Creative and Plentiful Cuisine in the Beach
After two fascinating interviews, one with Lido Chilelli, the creator of the Toronto Beaches International Jazz Festival, and Bill Libbus, who had given me an …
Presenting: Fire Station 227 – History, Heroism and Community Connections in the Beach
Having just completed my interview with Lido Chilelli, the creator of the Toronto International Beaches Jazz Festival, I was planning to head east on Queen …
Neighbourhood Walks and Talks: Lucille Crighton – A Textile Arts Hall of Famer & Gifted Gardener in the Beach
Toronto’s Beach community is not only a beautiful waterfront neighbourhood with mature trees and historic houses, it is also one of the favourite places of …
Presenting: John Dowding – A Private Lesson in Photography from a True Master
John Dowding and I first met a few days ago at Spiaggia Trattoria where I was doing an interview with the owner, Mary Lee. Right …
Presenting: Steven and Paul from the Accommodating the Soul B& B – Spirituality and the Personal Touch
Sometimes the most interesting encounters happen spontaneously. I had just picked up the Beach Metro Community News and noticed an advertisement for a bed and …
Presenting: Bob Murdoch from Centre 55 Has My Vote for an Honorary Doctorate of Community Service
No neighbourhood portrait about Toronto’s Beach could be complete without one of the key pillars of the community: Since he started at Centre 55 (a …
Toronto Neighbourhood Walks & Talks: Authentic Austrian Cooking and a European Coffee House Atmosphere at Konditor
When you travel to Toronto, this multicultural metropolis, you’ll have a chance to sample delicacies from all over the world, but one of the national …
Presenting: Sheila Blinoff and Carole Stimmell from the Beach Metro News – A Nerve Centre of Information Gathering and Community Involvement in the Beach
One of the central organizations in the Beach is Beach Metro Community News, a non-profit, non-partisan community newspaper founded in 1972 that is distributed throughout …
Presenting: Marie Perrotta from the Pegasus Community Project – Reaching for the Stars
One person I had heard a lot about from different sources while searching for interview candidates about Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood is Marie Perrotta, the Founding …
Presenting: Mary Lee from Spiaggia Restaurant – A Hospitality Entrepreneur with a Heart for the Arts
One restaurant I have wanted to check out for a long time is Spiaggia Trattoria (“spiaggia” is Italian for “beach) at the eastern end of …
Presenting: Michael Prue, A Working Class Success Story: From Regent Park to Queens Park
One person who has been extremely supportive of my “Celebrate Toronto” project is Provincial Member of Parliament, Michael Prue. He and his staff have connected …
Presenting: Alex Winch & the Beaches Solar Laundromat – Unstoppable when it comes to Championing Renewable Energy & Innovative Entrepeneurship
Over the last couple of years I have had the opportunity to interview many interesting personalities: tourism experts, authors, philanthropists, and enlightened entrepreneurs. For my …
Presenting: Michelle Gebhart – a true Renaissance Woman: From Army Brat to Expert Renovator, Biker Lady, Successful Restaurateur & Dedicated Youth Volunteer
My Celebrate Toronto article series is starting with the Beach, one of Toronto’s coolest neighbourhoods. Not only does the Beach offer a resort like feel …
Presenting: Arie Nerman and the Beach Hebrew Institute – The People’s Synagogue
For my Celebrate Toronto articles series I am continuously searching for people who are making positive contributions in the neighbourhood and building the community in …
The Outer Limits – Linking Toronto and Kolkata and Changing Lives
Human transformation and progress towards a more positive enlightened way of living have long been topics that fascinate me. Many of the articles on this …
Glenn Cochrane – Media Personality, Author and Expert Fundraiser – A Champion of the Beach for almost 40 years
When I recently talked to several people about my Celebrate Toronto project, which starts with an article & interview series and a photo exhibition about …
Presenting: Gene Domagala – A Human Convenience Store of Charity and Community Involvement in Toronto’s Beach
One of the lessons travel has taught me is to not only get to know the beauty of the foreign places, but to appreciate the …
A Great New Resource for Travellers to Toronto: The Toronto Greeter Program – “TAP into TO”
I am a big proponent of Greeter Programs, i.e. programs that involve local volunteers who are coordinated by the city, then matched up with tourist …
Presenting: Colleen O’Brien – The Grand Prize Winner of Our First International Story Contest
Our recently concluded Travel Story Contest was a resounding success. We received over 300 stories from people all over the world about their experiences in …
Presenting: Ben Viccari – A Lifetime Dedicated to Multicultural Communications
Interesting people are everywhere. I met Ben Viccari a few weeks ago at the initial screening of a documentary called “Small Places – Small Homes”. …
A Behind-the-scenes Look at the Royal York Hotel
The more time I spend discovering Toronto the more I realize it is a fascinating city with interesting people and places, historic and current, famous …
First-hand Explorations of the Nooks and Crannies of Casa Loma
Casa Loma, Toronto’s castle and the city’s second most important tourist attraction, has an extremely interesting history. It was the life dream and brainchild of …
Casa Loma and Sir Henry Pellatt – Fascinating Toronto History
As part of my “Celebrate Toronto” article series I have set out with a goal of making one of the most complete discoveries of this …
Detailed Explorations of Toronto’s Distillery District
As a European immigrant, historical districts always hold a great fascination to me. Over the last few years, Toronto has been enriched by the revitalization …
Presenting: Toronto’s Distillery District – A Unique Vision and 13 Acres of Historic Victorian Industrial Architecture Create One of North America’s Hottest Entertainment Districts
As a European immigrant, historical districts always hold a great fascination to me. Over the last few years, Toronto has been enriched by the revitalization …
T.O. Sizzles in the Summer
It’s been a pretty amazing summer so far. The weather has been pretty good since as far back as April. Occasionally, we’ve had rain showers …
Presenting: Lenny Lombardi from CHIN Radio – Pioneering Canada’s Multicultural Vision
As you know by now, www.travelandtransitions.com has dedicated itself to building bridges between people of different places and different backgrounds. There are many organizations and …
Skydiving – for a Great Cause
I am a great believer in volunteer work and dedicating time and effort to the greater good. Corporate responsibility embodies this spirit on the business …
The 2006 Toronto Street Festival and Afrofest
So many festivals to choose from, so little time….. This weekend Toronto had so many special events to offer, there simply wasn’t enough time to …
Summerlicious 2006: Toronto’s Restaurant Festival
During summer Toronto goes all out to entertain its residents and visitors with a wide array of festivals including street, theatre, music and culinary festivals. …
The Toronto International Dragonboat Festival 2006
One of my favourite spots in Toronto is the Toronto Islands, that lovely patch of land right in front of downtown Toronto, separated by just …
Music, Food and Fun at the Taste of Little Italy
Festival season is in full swing. Summer is a great time to be in Toronto since there are multiple events going on at the same …
Doors Open – Toronto’s Architecture Festival is a Resounding Success
Judging by the line-ups of architecture buffs on the streets, Toronto’s free architecture festival, Doors Open, is a resounding success. Since 2000 Doors Open has …
Presenting: Paul A. Teolis – World Traveller, Successful Hollywood Animator and Travel Photographer
Paul’s story is an interesting one since it combines extensive world travel and an interesting life journey – a deliberate switch from a successful career …
Ignite the Night – A Toronto Circus Night Benefits Street Children in Cusco
“Tonight a dream has come true”, said G.A.P Adventures CEO and founder Bruce Poon Tip. About a year ago he and a few of his …
Presenting: Hermilo Brito from the Ideal Language School in Cuernavaca – Making Spanish Learning Fun
One of the reasons I chose to travel to Cuernavaca this past April was that it is one of the world’s centers for Spanish teaching. …