Ireland
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The Emerald Isle... All roads lead to Ireland for the Danchuks! Not only do our dear friends, the Mulhearne's live there but we also got engaged at the Hill of Tara. So many special memories have been made here. With lots of play and lots of laughs, we had a wonderful time exploring the area in and around Kilmacthomas in County Waterford. |
France
Bonjour France! We explored the popular sights of Paris and carved out time to relax in local gardens as the locals do. In Normandy we took time to learn more about Canada's role and the sacrifices of so many within the world wars. Remembrance Day will mean so much more to us next November now. |
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Italy
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La Dolce Vita: 2000 years and going strong... We travelled back in time as we explored and learned about ancient, medieval and Renaissance times through Roman ruins, museums, churches and Tuscan towns. We also became experts on gelato through our daily indulgences. Just ask us about our favourite flavours - ha! |
Croatia
Baltic beauty... We soaked up the sun and amazing beauty found in Croatia. Dividing our time between Dubrovnik and Split, we explored the history and enjoyed the refreshing sea. We also marvelled that so many short years ago, this area was at war. |
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Tanzania
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A mesh of cultures... We spent a few days on the island of Zanzibar where Arabic, Indian and African cultures are meshed. It was an interesting time to visit - the middle of Ramadan. An incredible Stone Town made us imagine what this place might have been like in its hey day during the spice trade. |
Zimbabwe & Zambia
The Smoke that Thunders (Mosi-Ua-Tunya) ... Victoria Falls - our primary reason for visiting Zimbabwe and Zambia. The sheer size and power of this natural wonder was incredible as were the life lessons we received through our interactions with the locals. |
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Namibia
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Sand Dunes & Safaris ... Namibia is simply beautiful. Its diverse landscapes blew us away with every turn offering us vistas unlike anything we have seen before. It was here we climbed some of the world's largest sand dunes and saw African animals up close. Choosing photos to include in this gallery involved some hard choices. |
Cape Town
Introducing Africa ... Cape Town offered us many opportunities to discuss environmental and social issues with its current water crisis and the history of apartheid. We also took the time here to do some hiking in some of South Africa's beautiful National Parks including Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. |
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Cambodia
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Awestruck in Angkor Wat... Not only were we awe struck by the amazing temples in Angkor Wat, but also by the Cambodian people. We were taken aback that despite their painful past they remained kind. They were also incredibly forthright and honest about their history and the current economic and political state. |
Vietnam
On the verge... Everywhere we looked in Vietnam there was evidence of past influences. The war continues to be top of mind here yet, we felt Vietnam is very much on the verge of becoming a tourist haven. Perhaps we visited just in the nick of time. |
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Thailand
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Water fights, elephants and the UN? What a great time to be in Thailand - Songkran - the start of the new year! We got to immerse ourselves in the spiritual significance and the fun of this celebration and learned so much from cousin Kamma who we stayed with. We also traveled to Chang Mai where we explored a bit of the country side and visited elephants. |
Bali
Surrounded by beauty and spirituality Our breath was taken away by Bali's beauty - both in landscape as well as in the people we had the good fortune of meeting. Within the hilly landscape of Ubud, we visited temples, learned about the Hindu faith and enjoyed visiting the cultural centre of this country. |
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Australia
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Country and city experiences Australia was all about reconnecting with friends. Fortunate for us one family lives in the beautiful Barossa Valley in South Australia and the other friends live in incredible Sydney. It was country and city experiences for us! It was wonderful to explore, spend a special Easter and have new playmates for our 2 weeks in Australia. Huge thanks to the Barrett's and Keir's for their hospitality. |
New Zealand
2 1/2 weeks, 2 islands, 4 wheels.... A camper became our home away from home for a portion of the 2 and a half weeks we spent exploring the beautiful islands of New Zealand. Finding similarities between here and home with its down to earth people and varied, beautiful landscapes, New Zealand certainly made us feel like we were home. |
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Rarotonga
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People as warm as the climate.... We spent a glorious week in the exotic South Pacific Isle. The people are as friendly and warm as the climate and it was fantastic to be able to chill out and spend time with family. The Cook Islands are amazing place and we will definitely be back. |
Chile
Oops! Although our original intent was to go to Easter Island, a little error didn't make that possible. Instead, we used the cool weather as the perfect excuse to enjoy the view and wine. |
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Rio de Janeiro
A City of Contradictions
Rio provided just the atmosphere and unique vibe we were looking for and helped to renew our thirst for more travel! We spent time being tourists at famous landmarks, exploring history, playing at world class beaches, connecting with friends and having our senses overwhelmed by the atmosphere of Carnaval. |
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Peru
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Immersed in Incan Culture
We immersed ourselves in Incan history and culture by visiting Cusco, the former Incan capital, and Machu Picchu. It was incredible to walk the streets of Cusco and discover European architecture atop Incan walls. We were all awe struck by the ingenuity and sheer brilliance of Machu Picchu - truly a sight to behold! |
Galapagos Islands
The Enchanted Isles.... There are not enough superlatives to describe this place. Yes, it is in Ecuador too, but it so deserves its own gallery! Wildlife everywhere and if you don't like what you see (which is impossible!), wait 5 minutes because something new will literally pass your way! We were so sad to leave, but are confident that will visit again one day! Maui - you may have just your match!! |
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Ecuador
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We're now flying without a net! Ecuador was our first taste of 'flying without a net'. We were immersed in a language and culture unlike our own and it was an incredible experience. We visited the historic old towns of Quito and Cuenca and thoroughly enjoyed our time driving through the Andes taking in the incredible scenery. This was also our first experience hosteling as a family and were glad that we stayed in hostels that were welcoming to the kids. We were truly adventuring here! |
Panama City
Exploring the cosmopolitan gateway to the world! Although a quick trip, we packed a lot into our time in Panama. Visiting the Panama Canal, BioMuseo and Old Town were highlights of our time here. |
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COSTA RICA
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Our first stop on this great adventure... Costa Rica provided us the opportunity to get our travel legs under us. It was a time to relax and figure out what life on the road will be like for the next 7 months. Costa Rica's diverse landscapes offered adventures, wildlife sightings and beautiful scenery. Pura Vida! |
THE WIDE WORLD 2017Through 2017 we started our explorations in London.
One of our favourite cities, we were thrilled to be invited to Melisa and Ben's wedding. The Queen's House in Greenwich provided a dose of history while fascinators and top hats put on the class. |
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