Itsukushima Shrine- Miyajima Island’s “Floating” Shrine
Miyajima may be known as “shrine island”, but there is just one that takes centre stage- Itsukushima Shrine. You may not know Itsukushima Shrine by name, but you probably have…
Photo of the Week: Karlskirche (St. Charles Church), Vienna
Vienna’s Karlskirche, or St. Charles Church, was built from 1716-1737 after being commissioned by Emperor Charles VI. The emperor had promised to build a church after his namesake, St. Charles Borromeo, if…
A Scenic Drive on the North Cascades Highway- Photo Series
On our way home from our Alaska cruise, we decided to take the scenic route back to Edmonton. Well, it was more of a scenic detour since it wasn’t even…
Photo of the Week: Tokyo International Forum
The Tokyo International Forum is one of the most unique and distinctive buildings in central Tokyo. Forget your typical city skyscrapers, the International Forum resembles a large ship! Its glass…
Winthrop, Washington- An Afternoon in the Old West!
“Where are you heading today?” the border security agent asked as we prepared to enter Washington. “Winthrop,” Mike confidently replied. The agent’s next question was a little odd and caught…
Photo of the Week: Dôme des Invalides
An unmissable monument in Paris’ cityscape is the glittering gold dome of the royal chapel at Les Invalides. Dôme des Invalides was first inspired by the dome at St. Peter’s…
Koyasan- Guide to Visiting the Sacred Sites of Mt. Koya
Koyasan- sacred, traditional and somewhat mysterious- was one of the most rewarding places we visited in Japan. In this quiet mountain town, we not only got a glimpse into the…
Visiting the Okunoin- Koyasan’s Ancient Cemetery
The stone path was dim and moody. Centuries old cedar trees towered above us, shading the moss-covered tombstones below. We didn’t say much as we quietly wandered deep into this…
Danjo Garan- Koyasan’s Central Temple Complex
As a sacred site for Buddhism in Japan, Koyasan features many temples dedicated to the practice of Shingon Buddhism. While each is important in their own way, none is as…
Kongobuji Temple, Koyasan- Headquarters of Shingon Buddhism
As soon as we arrived at Mt. Koya, I was excited to begin exploring the temples and shrines of this sacred Buddhist site. We started our day in Koyasan by…
Photo of the Week: The Lion Gate at Mycenae, Greece
This week I’m featuring a photo taken at Mycenae during my 2007 trip to Greece. The aptly named Lion Gate is the main entrance to the citadel of Mycenae, an…
Discovering Regensburg in One Day- A Walk Through Regensburg’s Old Town
When I was researching Regensburg as a possible destination for our European honeymoon, I kept seeing it referred to as “Germany’s best-preserved medieval town”. Hmm…now that’s a lot to live…
Yoshino- Cherry Blossoms and a Whole Lot More!
All it took was a seeing a single photo and I was hooked on visiting Yoshino. The picture showed a perfect vista- a vast valley full of pale pink blossoms,…
Photo of the Week: Johann Strauss Monument, Vienna
Vienna is known worldwide as a centre of culture and art, but is perhaps most famous for its roots in classical music. A long tradition of classical music attracted many…
Hiking Jasper’s Valley of the Five Lakes
It was a beautiful day in May. Warm, sunny, a clear blue sky above and fresh mountain air to awaken the senses. It was the perfect weather for a casual…
Fushimi Inari Shrine- A Mountain Path Like No Other
It was unlike any mountain path we had walked before. Thousands of vermilion coloured torii gates lined the way, sheltering us from the forests of sacred Mount Inari. On and…
Photo of the Week: Calgary’s Wonderland Sculpture
I am not always a fan of public art but there was one specific piece I was itching to see since it was installed in 2013. Wonderland is a bent-wire…
Bavaria’s Wieskirche- A Harmony of Landscape and Architecture
On our way from Füssen to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, we decided to take a short detour off Germany’s Romantic Road to visit the Wieskirche, an important pilgrimage church and…
Visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Hiroshima, Japan. August 6, 1945. 8:15 am. A bright flash lights up the sky. A fireball 300 metres wide burns with intense heat, 4000°C. Morning commuters disappear, vaporized or turned…
Hiroshima Castle- History, Photos and Tips for Visiting
At the mention of Hiroshima, most people immediately think about the first atomic bomb and the devastation it caused. It will forever be what Hiroshima is known for. It also…