Since our failed attempt in 2010 to take some culinary classes in Cozumel, we had hoped to try again when we went down for Nicole’s 2013 birthday. Unfortunately the chef in question wasn’t available while we were down there, and so we ended up deciding to play it by ear when we got to the port. And while we didn’t manage to get out of the port itself, we did get a lot of shopping done, and discovered some of the best Margaritas we’ve had in some time. Tucked away …

Whatever the line, cruise ships always ensure the days have a jam-packed itinerary, and Carnival’s Glory was certainly no different. The usual classes are available at the fitness centre while the spa offers a number of health workshops in addition to their standard assortment of services – though if you are going to indulge in some treatments keep an eye on your daily itinerary for specials. On the upper decks you could even find a basketball court or take a whirl on the mini-putt green if you ended up tiring …

We’ve been on a couple cruises – and barring any surprise birthday trips (there’s time!  It’s next month!), that’s likely the next trip for us.  If you’ve taken a look to the right, you might have seen our next scheduled trip is a cruise out of Istanbul – we’ll be going with my mom and dad, who are pretty fun to travel with.  I’m also weirdly fascinated with the larger and larger ships – Royal Caribbean’s Allure and Oasis are currently out of budget, but I’d really like to get …

I feel like a decadent capitalist pig when I tell people we’re going on a cruise – which is kind of counter to how I try to live and think, though it’s entirely possible, that under my bleeding-heart Pinko Commie vegetarian trappings, I am. However, despite the impression of dissolution, there’s a lot to like about cruises: you get to see a number of places while you and your stuff stay in one place; the food is pretty good and included; there’s stuff to do on the ship; and with some …

Oldest of the districts, Alfama spreads up the side of the southern slope from the Tagus River to the Castle of Sao Jorge at its top in a series of narrow streets and small squares. Established during the Moorish invasion of Iberia the district’s name is derived from its original Arabic name. Interestingly while the great earthquake of 1755 devastated much of the capital, the neighborhood suffered relatively little damage, but like then, continues to be notorious as one of Lisbon’s poorest districts largely populated by fishermen and the poor, …

Now that we’ve both been down to Disney World for our respective birthdays I thought I would revisit a post Nicole had made about hers and do a little comparison with my own experience at the Magic Kingdom. Given how much fun we’d had for her trip I felt obliged to go for mine own, rationalizing to myself that we’d both get a chance to see what the park looks like for Halloween and to check out the Chase Food & Wine festival that Nicole helpfully pointed out would coincide …

If you get to talking about travel with Gary and I together (or likely apart), you’ll quickly notice two things: we like to gamble, and we’re kind of into cruises lately.
I’m not really sure where gambling comes from. I know it’s not likely to win me a lot of money and I know the odds are stacked against me.  But if there’s a budget for it, I really enjoy it as a night’s entertainment – playing roulette is my chance to feel urbane and cool (whether the other gamblers are …

During our first 2012 visit to Disney World we visited Epcot and took in all of the must-sees that Nicole remembered from her childhood visits. Which of course meant a stop by Imagination! where Eric Idle in his role as the chairman of the Imagination Institution greets you for a tour of the facility before everyone’s favorite fictitious dragon Figment hijacks the visit. Located on the western side of the Future World area, the pavilion was originally opened back in 1982 and over the years has undergone three significant evolutions. …

Both times I’ve been to Ifrane, I was pretty sure I was going to die.
The first time, I’d been up for over 24 hours and Gary and I were as yet unused to the joys of travel in Morocco by Grand Taxi, so could be forgiven for equating the lack of seat belts or traffic rules with possible death. The second time, we’d gotten used to the whimsical aggressiveness of Moroccan drivers (in comparison to our boring ordered traffic), but it was night and dark and winter, making the …

During our 2011 Mediterranean cruise our second port of call in Italy was the ancient port city of Cagliari, Sardinia. Like many of our stops tourism has become one of the major industries for the city thanks like in ancient days to its position upon the Mediterranean. But due to its rich history offers a lot to see from the old city of the Castello and its commanding view of the gulf to the numerous churches scattered across Cagliari’s many hills not to mention some fabulous pizza to be had …