Food & Travel
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Pretty Travel Puzzles
Travel season is upon us once more. And I’m sure that we’re all hoping that the crises that are currently affecting our world settle and permit us to indulge in this luxury once again. I know I am. So much so that I’ve already begun planning a return trip to Europe this summer. One of the things I like to do on my journeys is to record the beautiful sites I visit through photography. And one of the things I like to do at home is piece together jigsaw puzzles. So, I’ve recently combined these two pleasures by creating a series of pretty travel puzzles from some of my favourite…
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Marie-Antoinette’s Versailles Hamlet
I recently watched Sophia Coppola’s stunning version of the life of Marie-Antoinette, France’s iconic but ill-fated queen. And while enjoying this contemporary trip into a lavish piece of French history, I had the opportunity to envisage how this Austrian-born queen may have spent her time in the garden that she had built as a personal oasis. Marie-Antoinette’s Versailles Hamlet afforded her a humble retreat from the opulence and grandeur of the Versailles Chateau. The Queen’s House I first visited le Hameau de la Reine in the spring of 2016 and I must admit, I was disappointed. For metal scaffolding covered the Queen’s House that I had been so looking forward…
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Allan Gardens Conservatory: A Winter Oasis
As we approach the deep mid-winter, a light flurry of snow is gently falling, adding to the duvet of white already covering the ground. So, I thought I would add some colour to this wintry scene, in hope of brightening the day. And where better to colour our world than in a garden. In this case, I’m retracing my steps of an early April visit to Toronto’s historic Allan Gardens Conservatory. A Winter Oasis Robert McCallum‘s 1910 Edwardian conservatory is the architectural centrepiece of the Allan Gardens park. And on this day, its classically proportioned glass domes stood shining in the sun, in stark contrast to the high rises beyond.…
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The Best Eggnog Recipe Ever!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year once more. So I thought I would share something to help you make merry while you deck the halls: the best eggnog recipe ever! Now I know that not everyone is a fan of this rich and creamy seasonal drink. However, this version is so great that I believe it can convert just about anyone. Traditionally, rum plays the starring role in a nog. In this one though, the headliner is whisky. While some may prefer Scotch whisky or bourbon, I prefer the smooth, caramel flavour of Canadian whisky. So, choose your favourite liquor and whip up a batch of the best…
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The Royal Military College Memorial Arch: Truth, Duty, Valour
This past September, as I was nearing the end of my first major rowing tour in two years, I came across a monument that reminded me of Paris’ Triumphant Arc de Triomphe. You see, I was touring Ontario’s stunning Bay of Quinte and Thousand Islands. On this particular day, we had departed Kingston, Canada’s first capital, entered the mouth of the mighty St. Lawrence river, and rowed past the historic Royal Military College and Fort Henry. The sun was shining, the wind calm and the scenery breathtaking. It was a perfect day of rowing. And as our rickety school bus returned us from Gananoque, our landing point, to Kingston, I…
