I'm a retired CPA living in Western Canada. I enjoy travelling, reading and discussing current events. With this blog, I hope to share experiences and create conversations that are relevant to our time.
My wife and I went to Europe for three weeks in May 2019 and covered Budapest, Croatia, Montenegro and Amsterdam. I will break the trip into four different reviews as they each deserve their own attention.
We were Croatia for a week and spent one night in Zagreb, three nights in each of Split and Dubrovnik. The currency in Croatia is the Kuna, although they will accept the Euro in many places, especially cash in the market shops. The exchange is very poor so it is best to pay with Kuna.
ZAGREB
We took a train from Budapest to Zagreb as we wanted the experience of a train ride to see the countryside. It was about a 5 hour ride and all was comfortable but not quite like the trains in France or Italy. It was a relaxing trip and we are glad we did the trip by train.
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and is located in the interior of the country away from the Adriatic Sea. We only spent one night there and really there is not much to do in the city.
We took a narrated bus tour of the city which was good and we learned a lot about the city history and the buildings. We were glad we stopped but we do not expect to go back as we covered all that was needed.
We stayed about a 5 minute walk from the train station at the Astoria Best Western and it was great. The room was excellent and the buffet breakfast was very good. We arrived late at night just before the restaurant closed and they accommodated us with a burger, ham sandwich and hot french fries. Superb service.
Centre square in Zagreb.
SPLIT
We booked a train from Zagreb to Split; however, there were maintenance issues and they sent us by bus instead of the train. The bus ride was comfortable for a 5 hour trip. There was no washroom on the bus and they made one stop at a truck stop for short break. The bus driver was not helpful and we would caution travellers about this travel option.
Split is very picturesque and definitely worth a visit. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea and has a deep port for the large cruise ships to dock.
Photo op on the main walkway on the promenade in SplitCruise ships docked in Split.
We stayed at the Splendida Palace B & B. Wow, this was an excellent place to stay as the service was clearly above typical accommodations. The B & B is family owned and Marija was great to deal with from the reservation to our final checkout. She picked us up in her car at the bus station and Anna, a front desk employee, carried our bags up to our room. The breakfast was a buffet and was all we needed. The location was close to restaurants, the market and the main promenade on the water. No question for us we would stay here again if we return. The price was very reasonable.
Split is a very old city and the Diocletian’s Palace is the centrepiece on the water. The Palace is now home to small tourist shops and restaurants. The promenade out front right on the water is lined with restaurants to greet the cruise ship tourists.
The promenade on the water.Shopping street in old town SplitOne part of the Diocletian’s Palace
We had better weather on our second full day and we walked up to the top of the hill where the flag and lookout point are situated. There is a coffee shop about 2/3 of the way up and we stopped there on our way down. It is about a 45 minute walk one way. It has some elevation so people with mobility issues may not want to go. The views of the old city and port are spectacular.
A view of the soccer stadium from the top.A view of the old city from the top.The steps look daunting but they are workable.
We had some good meals in Split. You can expect to pay more than Budapest or Zagreb as this is a tourist town. There were two places in particular that I would recommend trying if you visit Split.
The Bokeria is located in the Palace area and they do not rush you. A reservation is necessary and we quite enjoyed a relaxing meal. We had an appetizer, main course, dessert, sparkling water and a bottle of local wine for $160 CDN ($125 USD), including tip.
We went to the Bokamora for supper without a reservation. The restaurant was recommended for the pizza and all was spot on. Probably the best pizza I’ve ever had. There was four kinds of cured ham on the pizza with fresh toppings. No processed meat. A large pizza to share, beer, sparkling water and tip and the bill came to $45 CDN ($34 USD). Very affordable.
If you plan a trip to Split, three nights is all you need. A great place to visit and once you see it you should be good as the cruise ship tourists make it crowded.
DUBROVNIK
We had a driver and car pick us up in Split and take us on a day tour that ended at our accommodation in Dubrovnik. We stopped at a winery for an owner guided tour and tasting. The cost was 300 Euro and it was nice to go door to door and have a guided day tour as well.
Dubrovnik, set on the Adriatic Sea, is similar to Split in many ways but the walled city makes Dubrovnik something special to visit. Three nights is plenty to see all Dubrovnik has to offer and after a while the cruise ship tourists rolling through gets tiring. Be prepared for some walking and there is elevation (more than Split) depending on where you stay.
We stayed at the Apartment Love & Hope which was about a 20 minute walk, with elevation, to the Ploce Gate entrance at the walled city. It was 800 sq ft on two levels and had everything we needed. The price was good for a tourist city and the views from the balcony were the absolute best.
The main attraction is to visit the walled city and walk around the wall. It took us about 90 minutes to make the entire trip around and it is a beautiful walk on a nice day. We had perfect weather and all the views are spectacular.
Looking back on the city from the wall.A port for docking small boats just outside the wall.These were the steps leading down to the walled city from our apartment. Easier down than up!
There is a tram that goes from Dubrovnik up the mountain to overlook the city. It was shutdown because the operating company was not paying their taxes. We took a taxi to the top and we were not disappointed. Magnificent views.
A view from the mountain top overlooking Dubrovnik.
We had some good meals in Dubrovnik and particularly enjoyed having a beer or coffee on the main street in the walled city. We had supper at the Restaurant Dubrovnik which is also designated a Michelin restaurant. The food was excellent and priced as you would expect at a high end restaurant.
Our last night we ate at the Dubravka Restaurant which is right on the water. We had the best table overlooking the water and it was a very good meal. There was no rush and the servers were very good. We had a main course, sparkling water and a bottle of wine. With tip, the total was $150 CDN ($115 USD). Very good considering where we were.
A view of the Dubravka Restaurant from the wall.
Dubrovnik is a city that you need to see. It has a rich history and the architecture of the wall and the buildings makes Dubrovnik very different from other cities.
My wife and I went to Europe for three weeks in May 2019 and covered Budapest, Croatia, Montenegro and Amsterdam. I will break the trip into four different reviews as they each deserve their own attention.
We flew overnight into Amsterdam and then over to Budapest and arrived in the early afternoon. We took a taxi from the airport and the taxi driver provided a printout of the fare based on the kilometres and the rate. I think they do this to give people greater certainty that the ride price is fairly calculated. Our other taxi trips were all done in the same way.
This was our second visit to Budapest, although the first trip was only for a couple of days before we boarded a Danube river cruise. We wanted to come back and get a better sense for the city. We were not disappointed with our three night stay.
Just arrived and first photo op.
We used Trip Advisor to find a B & B in a central location that was within walking distance to restaurants and attractions. The Carat Boutique Hotel in the Jewish Quarter worked perfectly for us. The price was reasonable and the location was superb.
This is a modern hotel and the rooms are comfortable and a good size. The bathroom was quite large. We had a room facing the interior and not the street and this is best as the street can get busy at night.
They provided an excellent buffet breakfast (eggs, meat, rolls, cereal, cheese and even champagne) and they had staff ready to assist with seating and keeping the buffet fresh. You could not walk away hungry.
Modern boutique hotel with good service and breakfast. Location, location, location………
Because we only had two full days, we could not cover everything the city had to offer. We did a “City Sightseeing” hop on, hop off city tour which is our typical first move when we are visiting a city. The ticket was good for two days and included a water boat tour on the Danube. There are a couple of city tour options and we found a helpful ticket seller near the hotel and there was also a bus stop close by. The tour is a good way to acquaint yourself with the various places you want to go back to when you have time. We usually make the full loop to ensure we see everything once.
There were three things we wanted to cover in the short time we had in addition to the city bus tour – the Great Market Hall, the Buda Hills and Castle and the Danube River Cruise.
The Great Market Hall
This is an impressive market that is huge. The first floor has fresh vegetables, fruit and meat where the locals do their daily shopping. There is a never ending supply of paprika as well – a must buy in Hungary.
The Great Market view from the second floor.
The second floor has crafts, clothes, souvenirs and cooked food options for the tourists. There are some wonderful locally made items and it is worth the look. When you get tired, try some goulash or chicken dishes.
You can easily spend a couple hours or more exploring this market.
Second floor crafts and clothes for sale.
Buda Hills and Castle
We went up to the Buda Hills and Castle on the city bus tour and we were able to get off and walk around the Castle area. The views of the Danube and the Pest side are very good. Take a walk around and enjoy.
Castle at the Buda Hills.A view of the Danube and bridges from the Buda Castle.
Palace Parliament Building view from the Buda Castle
Danube River Cruise
The river cruise was part of the ticket we intentionally purchased with the city bus tour. It was about 60 minutes and the boat was a good size and all felt very safe. We slowly went down the Danube with narration and around Margaret Island and back to the dock. The weather was good so that made it all worthwhile. I don’t think it would be quite the same in the rain.
A view from the Danube.A typical long distance river cruise ship that operates on the Danube from Budapest to Amsterdam.
Restaurants
There are some excellent places to eat or stop for a beer in the central part of Budapest. We quite enjoyed the “Red Pepper Hungarian Restaurant” which is beside the British Embassy, the “Cafe Vian” and “Jamie Oliver Pizza”
The restaurants are very affordable and the tip is usually included in the total bill. Just review the bill and it usually indicates if the tip is included.
A must have in Budapest is a Chimney Cake. This delightful pastry with a cinnamon coating is so good. Don’t leave Budapest without having at least one.
The absolute best pastry anywhere.
Random Information
Budapest is a wonderful city to visit. We were told that since Hungary joined the European Union in 2007 there is money flowing in for building refurbishing and city upgrades. You can see the work all over the city.
The official currency in Hungary is the Forint. They have not adopted the Euro even though they are in the European Union. The Euro is accepted in most places; however, the exchange rate is not great. We found it was best to use Forints in all cases.
If you are going to Budapest for the first time I would suggest at least four nights to give yourself enough time to see the main parts of the city. You can easily walk around and enjoy the Danube in a very relaxing manner.
We do hope we get the opportunity to return one day.
Most Canadians go to Cuba to enjoy the beautiful beaches at an all-inclusive resort and perhaps do a day trip into Havana. Over the year we have heard about the wonderful Cuban cigars, the tasty rum and some dissatisfaction with the food options.
Cuba was never on our radar screen for a vacation until our friends suggested a guided island tour as opposed to the typical resort offering and we jumped at the opportunity. We opted for a 9 night tour for just the four of us that included upgraded B & B accommodation, a local guide, auto transportation on the island and a couple of meals. Our airfare to Cuba, most meals and drinks, tipping and other incidentals were an extra cost to us. We felt the overall trip cost was very affordable.
GETTING INTO CUBA
There are restrictions to enter Cuba from the United States. If you plan to enter from the US, tourism is not a legitimate reason for travel to Cuba. Be sure you understand the restrictions or you may be disappointed. We flew from Canada to Cancun, Mexico and then did a return flight to Havana from Cancun before returning to Canada. We had no issues entering or leaving the Havana airport. You do need to purchase a Cuban travel document before entering Cuba. We purchased ours at the Cancun airport through our air carrier, Interjet. It cost 350 Mexican pesos each or about 18 USD. Be careful in filling out the form as any error or correction voids the form and you must buy another form and start over. Two of us made the mistake.
The form is stamped at immigration in Cuba and you must retain the form when you exit Cuba. We do not know the consequences of losing the form and we were not anxious to find out so we kept it safe. Give yourself lots of time at the airport to fly into Cuba. Interjet suggested 3 hours before departure at the Cancun airport and we had no issues by following their suggestion.
We found the flight to Havana had many Cubans returning from vacation or shopping trips and they were loaded down with baggage. We determined that Cubans can travel once per year (if they can afford to) and they are allowed to bring back 125 kilos (275 pounds) of purchases or equivalents based on an approved government list. We saw TVs, air conditioners and bags full of what we understood to be clothes, footwear and household goods. Aside from personal consumption, we were told that many of the purchases are re-sold in Cuba as a way to supplement their modest income.
CUBAN CURRENCY
Cuba currently has two types of currency – pesos used by the locals and a Cuban convertible currency “CUC” used by tourists – neither of which is any good outside of Cuba. Take them home and they are called souvenirs.
One CUC is the equivalent to 25 pesos although as a tourist the CUC is the only currency you need. We obtained our CUCs at the Havana airport and we exchanged Canadian dollars. The Cuban CUC is set on par with the US dollar to establish a medium of exchange. Cuba does not want US dollars and they charge a 10% fee to exchange US dollars. Our exchange went quite smoothly and we felt the exchange rate from Canadian dollars to Cuban CUCs was fair.
There are special places to exchange money in Cuban cities and there are also ATMs to obtain CUCs. Our friends used a Canadian bank debit card at an ATM and it worked fine. We have read online that Visa cards also work in the ATMs or you can go to a bank with a VISA or a Mastercard as long as they are not associated with a US bank. We simply took Canadian dollars and used the exchange houses.
We did not see places accepting credit cards to pay for meals, cigars, rum or souvenirs so we used cash only. Our accommodation was covered by our tour so we do not know if they accept credit cards or not.
CIENFUEGOS
After spending one night in Havana we started our tour by going to Giron to see a Revolution museum. It consisted mostly of revolution photos, a few military weapons and the sequence of events as Castro and Guevara took control of Cuba in 1959. The narratives were all in Spanish and our guide was able to give us a good tour by filling in the details. It was a good historical review but we needed the guide to provide the verbal history. I think many of the towns and cities in Cuba have revolution museums.
We also stopped at the Bay of Pigs for a quick swim and a restroom break. There was also a deep cave with swimming in the open area. It was quite an attraction for the numerous bus tours and there seemed to be quite a few Russian tourists.
Cave pool at the Bay of Pigs
We overnighted in Cienfuegos at the Casa Brisa Sur B & B. Cienfuegos is a UNESCO designated city of 150,000 on a southern coastal bay and has many colonial buildings. The Casa was very clean and fully functional with a good en suite bathroom that was fully stocked with supplies. The hosts made us feel welcome and the morning breakfast was all we needed.
We took a tour of the central square and had our first use of the internet. We bought an internet card for $2 on the street and accessed the public Wifi in the square. The card is good for one hour and if you do not use it all you can start it up again at a different public Wifi spot. We did a walk down to the harbour for a beer and watched the sunset. Our guide recommended the Big Bang restaurant in the downtown that was within waking distance to the Casa. It was very good and reasonably priced.
Sunset at the harbour in Cienfuegos
TRINIDAD
We travelled via Santa Clara to Trinidad. The main three lane highway is quite good and not that busy. There a numerous old vehicles, tractors pulling wagons and horse drawn carts in the slow lane. Once we left the main highway the roads deteriorate noticeably and the driving is more difficult. Our driver did a good job but the ride is bumpy and he had to slow for horses and bicycles.
At Santa Clara we toured the Che Guevara museum which was mostly a good photo presentation with some personal context. Again the captions were in Spanish but we could get an understanding because the photos are self-explanatory.
Che Guevara museum in Santa Clara
It is a fairly long drive to Trinidad mostly because the secondary roads are not that good. The countryside is interesting with small farm lands and we crossed some nice valleys.
Trinidad is a UNESCO designated city of 75,000 people and is located on the south coast. We stayed at the Casa Lola B & B and it was comfortable and fully supplied. There was a big courtyard to enjoy a beer and to have breakfast. The staff seemed indifferent to our being there and it felt more like a hotel as opposed to a Casa. The location was excellent as we could access linen shopping, restaurants and the public square for Wifi and for the evening to listen to music and have a beer on the “steps at the square”. There was a money exchange house down the street and a government cigar store on the corner.
We took the opportunity to have a one hour salsa lesson. We had some nerves going in but it turned out to be one of the highlights of the vacation. A good teacher can make all the difference.
These are the steps at the square in Trinidad where we listened to music and had drinks in the evening
We had two nights in Trinidad and on our full day we went to the beach that was about 14 kms away by taxi. The vintage taxi ride cost $8 each way. The beach was nice and we paid for lounges under canopies to shade us from the sun. Well worth the trip.
Beach 14 kms from Trinidad
VINALES – THE BEST OF CUBA!
It is a long drive from Trinidad to Vinales, about 7 to 8 hours. We basically had to go back to Havana and then travel to the south west. I think Vinales was my favourite part of Cuba because of where we stayed and because of the beautiful valley we were in. The Vinales Valley is a UNESCO designated area and the city has a population of about 25,000.
We stayed at the Casa Fernando Diaz and it was the absolute best. The room was nice and the bathroom was made of tile and crystal clean. There was a sitting area in the back for breakfast and to enjoy the night sky. The breakfast was good and the host made us feel very welcome.
Bathroom at the Casa Fernando DiazOur comfortable bedroom at the Casa Fernando DiazOutdoor breakfast area at the Casa Fernando Diaz
Vinales is in tobacco country and they produce some of the best cigars in the world. We toured an organic tobacco farm and we found out that once the tobacco is harvested and dried, the government takes 90% of the crop for their cigar factories and the farm keeps 10% of the best leaves for their own cigar production. The farm produces about 5,000 cigars per year and they sell for $4 each. We purchased a package of 15 cigars.
They showed us how they hand roll a cigar and explained the overall process. They gave us a cigar to smoke and we also had a shot of local rum. It takes about five leaves to make a cigar and they remove the main vein to reduce the amount of nicotine in the cigar. Apparently the government factories use machines to make most of the cigars and do not remove the vein in the tobacco leaf.
Tobacco growing on the organic farm in the Vinales ValleyA covered sitting area at the organic tobacco farm
The Main Street in Vinales had an outdoor souvenir market and was loaded with good restaurants. This area is a must see for anyone who wants to experience the real Cuba countryside. Throughout the country we saw oxen working the fields and many horse drawn carts and Vinales was no different.
Oxen pulling a wagon in VinalesOne of the numerous horse drawn carts in Cuba Botanical garden in Vinales
We visited the above Botanical garden in Vinales. The entrance was free and we contributed a donation to help with the upkeep. We had a tour and the person was very knowledgeable and it showed the forethought of the two sisters who started the garden in the early 1900’s. We ended the tour by having a traditional Cuban rum drink made and served in a grapefruit. Delicious.
LA HABANA (Havana)
We spent a total of 4 nights in Old Havana and overall it was not our favourite part of Cuba. There is a lot of structural concerns with buildings and, outside the core tourist area, the streets are dirty with lots of garbage laying around and falling out of overflowing bins. It seems that Old Havana caters to the cruise ships and outside that core area there is a general lack of interest in maintenance. Although the streets are very dark at night, we did not have any safety issues as we were careful to walk as a group.
We did enjoy number of places and sights and for that reason Havana is worth the trip. (For us it will be one trip only) The convertible, vintage car tour was very good and we toured for about an hour and went to revolution square and seen a good part of Havana.
Our vintage car tour was in a Ford Edsel, one of only two in Cuba
There is a huge marketplace on the harbour and it was full of souvenirs and local art. This is worth a walk around and a couple hours is more than enough. Right beside the marketplace was a large bar under renovation. When this is completed it looks to be a good place to spend some time.
We did a tour of the rum museum and the guide did a good job outlining the history of rum production in Cuba. This is a must do in Havana.
Model of a rum factory at the Rum Museum
A gem in Havana is “Fusterlandia”. An artist, Jose Fuster, started doing tile work on his residence and it took off as he covered his own property and the adjacent property owners ask him to tile their gates as well. The work is spectacular and it is quite crowded with tour buses. Perhaps go early to avoid the crowds.
FusterlandiaFusterlandiaFusterlandia
One evening we went to the Tropicana production show at an outdoor theatre about 30 minutes from Old Havana. The price was $95 per ticket and similar to a Las Vegas show and cost. We went early and had drinks and appetizers in the restaurant. The value and food was very good.
The show was entertaining and they provided a full bottle of rum for the four of us as well as a glass of champagne. It was a very enjoyable evening.
Tropicana production show
We enjoyed roof top drinks and a roof top supper on two different occasions. The supper was hosted by our tour company and the chef provided a true feast. We started with a mojito making lesson and followed with a three course meal that was superb.
A private roof top kitchenSunset from the roof top during supper
Havana has a natural entrance to the harbour and it was protected by a fortress built by the Spaniards. We did a brief tour of the fortress and the views of the city are worth the time to go and see.
A view of Havana from the fortressA view of Old Havana from the fortress
I mentioned that Havana has a fair share of dirty streets and decaying buildings. The public bathrooms leave something to be desired. The attendants do charge for their use; however, most bathrooms have no toilet paper or toilet seats. Many of them do not flush and they lack any sort of towels to dry your hands, assuming there is any water available for the sinks.
Garbage on the street that was there for all three days we passed byTypical garbage on a Havana street outside the core area of Old HavanaAn abandoned sports facility. One of a number of structures rendered unusable
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
We were very glad we made the tour of Cuba as we learned far more about the country than we knew before.
The quality of the food available to the tourists is as good as any we have had on our other vacations. I don’t think the people of Cuba have the same quality and that is a true shame. We understand the people are issued annual ration books and they attend the various government stores each month to access bread, rice and beans, and some meat. Vegetables are hard to come by as they go to the tourist resorts and tourist restaurants. We were told the government supplies are not enough to live on and the people must buy extra food.
Apparently a doctor in Cuba makes about $40 per month and other work pays less. The people must earn extra money from business ventures or providing services. The business ventures require a government license and most relate to tourism such as taxis, B & Bs, souvenir shops, restaurants or guiding. We met a museum guide who said he made about $70 per month and this would have included tips.
Many buildings and roads in Cuba are in very bad condition and require an immense amount of capital to get them in proper working order. The bathroom facilities are abysmal and train and bus transportation for locals is almost unworkable. People who have cell phones just got internet on them in December 2018.
Oxen pulling ploughs in 2019 does not seem to be an innovative way to enhance crop production. It seems that agriculture is in a bad time warp. Cuba has workable land and a labor force but there is a disconnect to be more productive.
We always hear that Cuba has a very high literacy rate and I have to wonder how educated people cannot come up with innovative ways to produce more food and create greater economic benefits for the people. The current system simply does not work.
The country will have an updated constitution at the end of February 2019 and it is going to name Socialism as the political and economic system for Cuba. It strikes me as odd that a country where everyone is supposed to be economically equal that they must rely on the capitalism of tourism to sustain the people. Make no mistake that capitalism exists in Cuba and the people we met do want to get ahead.
Can everyone be economically equal in Cuba? Yes, if they want to continue the race to the bottom all together. The people deserve better.
My wife and I attended a talk by Marthe Cohn, a 98 year old French Jew who was a spy in Nazi Germany. It is a remarkable story and one that needs to be heard. Marthe has a book, “Behind Enemy Lines”, which I read a few months after her talk. This book is well worth the read as it provides detailed information about the Jews struggles in occupied France.
Marthe was born in France in 1920 in the Lorraine region near the German border. She was required to learn German in school and spoke French at home with her sisters.
Most of Marthe’s family survived World War II largely because of the assistance from French people in their community. She said that 75% of French Jews survived because French communities were willing to hide them and to provide forged papers that passed German scrutiny. In fact, the only country in Europe to have a higher survival rate for Jews was Denmark where 95% of Jews survived. The Danish Jews survived because Danish fisherman used their fishing boats to take the Jews to Sweden which was a neutral territory. The common denominator was that people risked their lives and the lives of their family to protect the Jews – respect and caring for other human beings.
Marthe is one of seven children. Her two brothers escaped occupied France early because the family believed that the young male Jews would be targets for the Nazis. It was much later that they realized they were all in danger. The family was able to escape occupied France to unoccupied France because a man in their community provided them with forged papers and there was no charge. Sadly, one of Marthe’s sisters was taken, before they could leave occupied France, for helping the French resistance and ultimately she was sent to Auschwitz and the family never saw her again. Marthe and her sister had been assisting British and American airmen escape occupied France with the help of a farmer who owned property that straddled occupied and unoccupied France.
Marthe, at age 24, joined the French Army after the Allies liberated France in 1944. She transferred to French Intelligence once an officer realized she was fluent in German. Her profile made her an ideal spy and, after a few weeks of training, she entered the field by going into Germany to gain information on German troop movements. The information Marthe obtained accelerated the Allies movement into Germany and shortened the war and saved many lives.
Marthe did not talk about her work as a spy for many years after the war because she thought people would not believe her. It was only after doing some research in France that her war file turned up and the people who reviewed the file were impressed by her contributions. The French government awarded Marthe the highest French military medal. This was the same medal the French awarded to Winston Churchill.
I believe we witnessed a talk from a humble, confident women who ran forward and not away when faced with the most difficult of times.
We have been to Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina twice, the first time just the two of us and the second time with friends. These are two historic cities that worked well to see on the same trip.
We flew into Savannah, picked up a car at the airport, and spent three nights there and drove to Charleston for three nights. We drove back to Savannah for a night at an airport hotel and then flew home. It was less expensive for us to fly in and out of Savannah then to fly into Savannah and out of Charleston.
You could easily expand this trip to do four nights in each city as there is enough to do, especially on your first trip. If you go outside the historic districts the cities are just like any other city. The gems are the historic areas and there are good restaurants and B & B’s within walking distance of the main downtowns.
Savannah
Savannah was originally set up to include 24 “squares” which were separate neighbourhoods with a general store, a blacksmith shop, residences, doctor’s office, farm animals and a park. We were told that lawyers were precluded from practicing in Savannah in the original charter. It seems they expected people to settle their differences without the need for legal counsel.
Some of the squares have now been restored as city parks and the walking is very good in Savannah.
Savannah Park
We stayed twice at the Habersham Inn Savannah B & B and we really enjoyed our time there. The room was comfortable and the breakfasts were very good. The hosts were friendly and provided good tips for tourist things to do. The contact information for the Habersham Inn B & B is:
Savannah has water on three sides with the Savannah River, Ogeechee River and the Atlantic Ocean and local legend says that “spirits” get trapped in Savannah. These spirits make for excellent ghost tours that are quite entertaining. We did an evening walking tour and the guide provided some good local history. Sadly, no ghosts jumped out at us!
The downtown is on the Savannah River and is a good place to spend some time. There is shopping and lots of restaurants and bars. The Factor’ Walk is where the cotton, some of which was shipped down the Savannah River, was brought to be sold by the plantation owners. The carts would be brought in an alley and the cotton factors or brokers would walk overhead to view the load of cotton and set the price. Savannah was the centre of cotton pricing for the world at one point.
Factor’s Walk
Huey’s Southern Cafe has really good southern food and the beignets are at least as good as we had in New Orleans. The Pirates’ House Restaurant is worth trying and it has an interesting history dating back to when Savannah was settled.
Savannah River and Shipping Port
Market downtown Savannah
The Pirates’ House Restaurant
The squares are wonderful for walking and the scenery is beautiful. From fountains to flowers, the squares have it all. Take your time and soak in the history.
Fountain in a Savannah Square
While in the Savannah area, head out to Tybee Island for an afternoon. The long, hard sand beach is easy walking and it’s tough to beat the ocean.
Tybee Island Beach
Charleston
The drive from Savannah to Charleston takes a bit over 2 hours and there are some interesting spots to stop along the way. Take your time and make it a 4 or 5 hour trip.
We stayed at two different B & B’s in Charleston and neither one would make us run back. Best do your research and be sure you are within walking distance to the downtown and the water.
Charleston is absolutely full of historical houses. You can walk the historic district and never get tired of looking at these houses. They have very strict rules for repairing historic houses and some houses are developing noticeable issues if you look close. The cost to repair these houses is significant and not everyone has the money to make the appropriate repairs. It would be a shame to lose these houses as they represent a time long gone.
Charleston Historic House
Charleston Historic House
The restaurants are very good and you can get your fill of BBQ at Sticky Fingers and T Bonz. For some good Irish food check out Tommy Condon’s.
Sticky Fingers BBQ
T Bonz Restaurant
Charleston has a long cement breakwater as it is right on the Atlantic Ocean and is a major shipping port. The breakwater is good for walking around and there is a nice park and, of course, lots of historic houses close to the water.
We did a tour out to Fort Sumter where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. This is a good tour for historic information and for the scenery as you get a good view of Charleston from the water.
Charleston was a major entry point for slaves that were forced to come to the United States. It is estimated about 40% of all slaves entered through Charleston and the Old Slave Mart was near the water. Today, the City Market is a retail place for local artisans and merchants.
Charleston City Market
We toured two plantations on our visits to Charleston – Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Plantation. Either one of these plantations are good choices for tours. They were easy drives from the city for us and both were rice plantations. They had original historic buildings and fabulous gardens.
The rice farming was natural for the area because of the low, flat land and the proximity to the river. All the canals and ditches were dug by hand by the slaves.
Middleton Place Plantation
Part of Gardens at Middleton Place
Sullivan’s Island is on the Atlantic Ocean and part of Charleston County. It has a very affluent residential community and the beaches are similar to Tybee Island in Savannah. Fort Moultrie is restored on Sullivan’s Island and you can tour the grounds. Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter guarded the entrance to the Charleston Harbour on opposite sides.
Ship at Sullivan’s Island
I believe Savannah and Charleston are excellent destinations for a vacation and I don’t think you will be disappointed!
Do you know many people earning minimum wage in Canada or Saskatchewan for their livelihood?
There is quite a bit of talk in Canada about minimum wage levels given Ontario has raised their minimum wage to over $14 per hour for 2018 and plan for it to go to $15 per hour in 2019.
Some argue the increases will improve life for those at the lowest end of the work scale and others argue that jobs will be lost and the very people the raises are supposed to help will actual be hurt. Both sides refer to studies to support their case.
I want to point to some statistics as well as lay out some common sense considerations on the subject.
Actual Employees Earning Minimum Wage
First off, how many employed people in Canada and Saskatchewan actually earn minimum wage? I have asked this question to a number of people – in business and in employment positions – and I received answers mostly in the range of 25% to 35%. I was in this range of personal belief as well. These answers give the perception that quite a few people earn minimum wage. In fact, these responses lead us to believe that many people in our society are really affected by minimum wage and it should be a hot topic that needs to be addressed and indeed rectified.
Let’s look at the real facts and not the perceptions. The following information is from a Canadian Labour Congress article using information from the “Labour Force Survey microdata 2015, Government of Canada Minimum wage database”
There are about 8% of Canadian employees earning minimum wage and less than 5% of Saskatchewan employees earning minimum wage. In addition, of the people earning minimum wage, 60% are between 18 and 24 and live at home. Therefore, the people actually earning minimum wage is significantly less than the people I talk to perceive and I expect the numbers are less than most people believe.
It appears to me the actual numbers suggest that over 95% of Saskatchewan employees and 92%of Canadian employees earn more than minimum wage and employers are already reacting to the supply and demand in the market place and not the level of minimum wage set by legislation. For the vast majority of employees, minimum wage is irrelevant.
The above study also determined that about 25% of Canadian employees earn less than $15 per hour and for Saskatchewan the amount is 23%. In effect, 75% of Canadian employees earn over $15 per hour. Not bad at all in my way of thinking. Considering that many jobs should have an entry-level wage, I think the marketplace is working just fine in establishing wage levels without the need for a legislated minimum wage.
Employees Already Earning Above a New Minimum Wage Threshold
Let’s consider an employee who currently earns $16 per hour and all of a sudden their colleague or someone else now gets a minimum wage increase from $11 to $15. How can the $16 person not feel that they deserve an increase as well given there were logical differences for the original pay differential between themselves and the minimum wage person? I expect the $16 person has more education or experience or skills than the other person earning minimum wage. The result of a minimum wage increase is simply not fair and it skews the labour supply and demand pay scale.
If the employer is expected or must then give the $16 person a wage increase, a cycle is started that will effectively raise prices for goods and services and will cause inflation.
There are reasons people seek greater education or stay with a job to gain experience. They want to earn more money or create more skills to move onto better paying work. Employers do pay more for real education and for job experience and the fact there is such a low percentage of minimum wage earners proves this point.
Take an entry-level job at a fast food restaurant. It does not take long to get proficient at the job; however, an employee can learn skills to move onto higher end restaurants and earn more or apply the skills learned to their educational endeavours and future employment. These entry skills include being on time, taking and following instruction, working with other employees and work appearance and safety. Is this entry-level job their career? Probably not. If it is, perhaps this is the highest level of job they can aspire to and that’s alright as well. The fact is some jobs only pay so much and the labour supply and demand marketplace should decide this, not a legislated minimum wage.
Employer Options to Minimum Wage Increases
It seems to me that of the low percentage of minimum wage jobs in Canada, that fast food restaurants and retail stores probably have the most employees earning minimum wage at the entry levels. So how do the employers react to a significant legislated increase to minimum wage from say $11 to $15?
They can raise prices to cover increased wage costs, reduce benefits not covered by minimum wage, reduce their bottom line net income or automate to remove the minimum wage position.
If prices are raised, will the marketplace accept the increase or will business sales suffer and then employees will be reduced and the business net income will fall? Price increases can also directly affect the minimum wage earners as they are consumers of the products sold at fast food restaurants and low-cost retailers.
Reducing employee benefits is a real possibility; however, many employers will not want to do this if a better option exists. Perhaps a short-term solution.
A reduction in bottom line net income. I don’t believe the business owner will jump for this option if other options exist.
I think business will default to automation if it is possible in their industry. Think about it – there is a labour cost threshold whereby automation makes sense to replace an actual worker. We are seeing automation with self scanners in grocery stores and large retail stores. There are even some fast food restaurants that have started to introduce ordering on a computer board as opposed to a person taking the order. Given these innovations are already taking place, it is not a leap to see the technology grown and expanded. The result – less minimum wage jobs and more automated self scanners and self ordering.
Who really suffers? Jobs will be lost for the very people who need the jobs the most for life and for entry to get to the next level.
Government intervention for the perceived betterment of society does not always return the intended results. Perhaps it is better to let the marketplace work and quit the onerous interference and unnecessary rules and regulations.
We made our first trip to Ireland in May 2017 with another couple and we are already planning to go back! Ireland is a great place to visit and there is no shortage of things to do. We spent two weeks and you need all of that time. The weather was quite good with only a couple of days of light rain and it did not stop us from doing anything at all.
We flew into Dublin and spent three nights before joining our six night bus tour that returned us to Dublin where we had one more night before taking the train to Belfast where we stayed three nights. I will outline our travels city by city after covering some basics.
Overall Considerations
Money wise, you will need Euro for Ireland and Irish Pounds or British Pounds for Northern Ireland. Best spend your Irish Pounds before you leave Northern Ireland. We did have some Irish Pounds when we went to London and a Pub did take them after the waitress talked to her manager.
The Guinness and other beer is excellent in the Pubs and the Pub food is very tasty and we did not hesitate to eat at a Pub. The fish is always fresh and the chips (fries) are hot. The Irish stew was good as was the bangers (sausage) and mashed potatoes and gravy. Surprisingly, we did not gain any weight in Ireland and it must have been because of all the walking as I had two to three pints of beer a day!
We did not rent a car in Ireland because they drive on the other side of the road and the cars are almost all standards. Combine this with narrow roads and we thought we would leave the driving to someone else. In Dublin and Belfast we walked or took tours. The six-day bus tour was with Royal Irish Tours and they were excellent. They are a Canadian travel company specializing in Ireland and we would have no hesitation going with them again. https://www.royalirishtours.com
The bus was not crowded and there was a dedicated driver and a separate tour guide providing information as we travelled. There was a washroom on the bus; however, it was not needed as there were plenty of stops on our daily travels.
Dublin
It felt like a slow process to clear Customs when we arrived in Dublin. Perhaps it was a number of planes arriving at the same time or maybe we were just tired from the overnight flight. We took a cab from the airport to our hotel and there was a fixed fare from the airport to the downtown. This went well and no issues. We stayed at the Albany Guesthouse and made the reservation four months in advance. It has a good central location; however, the Trip Advisor reviews are correct – if you get a room facing the street it is noisy at night from the nightclub down the street. I contacted them a week before our trip to see if we could get a room off the street and, given we booked so far in advance, I thought we would be fine. We were not and they made no effort to get us a different room. We will not stay there again.
We were close to St Stephen’s Green and Trinity College and I think this is the area to stay in. It is nice walking through the park and people really get out and use the park. On a Sunday it was full of families and people enjoying a gorgeous day and having picnics. Trinity College is well worth the tour and you must see The Book of Kells and visit the historic library.
Trinity College Historic Library
We did a City bus tour and it covered the many highlights of the river, churches and parks. It gave us a good sense of what we needed to go back and see in the two full days we had in Dublin.
The Guinness Brewery was good to tour and we finished off with a pint at the top of the building overlooking parts of the city. We were able to walk here from the downtown area where we stayed.
We had an afternoon beer and snacks at the Brazen Head which is Ireland’s oldest Pub established in 1198. Good all around.
There is no problem walking around Dublin and finding restaurants and pubs. The shopping is mostly tourist “knick knacks”. You can also get your Starbucks fix as needed.
If you have three or four nights in Dublin you should be able to easily cover all the places you want to see.
Royal Irish tours booked all the accommodation and we were not disappointed. Large, comfortable rooms in all cases and I would say 4 stars. Durty Nellie’s Pub is a short walk from the Hotel and they have great beer and pub food. We ordered inside and sat on tables outside in the sun. Very pleasant and a good place to start the country tour.
Durty Nellie’s
Bunratty Castle
Killarney
We spent three nights in Killarney and did day tours to the country. This was very nice because we were not moving suitcases every day and there was a good feel to come back to the same place every night. The hotel was the Earls Court and the breakfasts were wonderful. https://www.killarney-earlscourt.ie. We also had dinner there a couple of nights and it was good as well.
From Killarney we toured the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula. On the way we visited a working sheep farm and we were given a demonstration of how the sheep dogs work the flock based on commands from the farmer. This was one of the highlights of the trip. The farmer had 3,000 sheep covering 3,000 acres of land. The land is rocky and hilly and probably only good for sheep farming. The price of raw wool is not good at one Euro for one sheared sheep and the farmer makes a living by giving the demonstrations to tourists.
We also did a horse-drawn carriage ride through Killarney National Park and our driver was third generation. The tour departs and returns from the downtown Killarney.
Carriage Ride in Killarney National Park
After leaving Killarney we stopped at Blarney Castle and Gardens on the way to Kilkenny. Of course, we had to kiss the Blarney Stone which is at the top of the castle and you must navigate a winding staircase to get to the top. The view is quite nice and the gardens are worth seeing.
The hotel has a good location for walking and we found a local pub called The Field that was just down the street and around the corner. They had live Irish music in the evenings and we went there both nights we were in Kilkenny. The manager was good to talk to and it was a good Irish experience. http://www.thefieldkilkenny.com/
We toured the Waterford Crystal factory, the Irish Stud Farm and Gardens and an Irish Famine Ship while in the Kilkenny area. They were all quite good. The Famine Ship brought Irish settlers to North America in the 1800’s when the potato famine left many Irish starving with no economic means to support themselves. A very good history lesson.
Famine Ship for Transport to North America
Waterford Crystal
Belfast, Northern Ireland
From Kilkenny we went back to Dublin and the bus tour ended for us. The next day we took a two-hour train to Belfast in Northern Ireland. The train was comfortable and the time passed quickly as we visited with a couple of women from Northern Ireland who had come to Dublin for a concert.
The hotel is modern and was a good choice for us. It was easy walking downtown for restaurants and sightseeing. The price was good for what was provided and you could have breakfast for an extra charge if you wanted.
We really liked Belfast. The best tour we did was the Black Taxi Tour. A must to do to learn about the history of the troubles between the Catholics and the Protestants. http://blacktaxitours.com.
They tour driver picked us up at the hotel and we went for almost two and a half hours. There was a lot of information to absorb and there is still a wall that separates parts of the Belfast. Once we were done he even dropped us off at the Titanic Museum.
Black Taxi Tour
The wall separating Catholic and Protestant parts of Belfast
The Titanic Museum is very well done and definitely worth spending the afternoon touring. Many people do not know that the Titanic was an Irish ship built in the Belfast Shipyards. The museum does a good job outlining the history and respecting the loss of life on her maiden voyage that ended in the Atlantic Ocean off Newfoundland.
Titanic Museum
Another highlight was the Giants Causeway. We did a day tour out of Belfast with Paddywagon Tours and we would not go with them again. The bus sound system was poor and the front drivers window kept fogging up and the driver was using a cloth to clear it. At one point he even got a passenger to wipe the side window so he could see his mirror.
We made a couple of stops on the way to see a Game of Thrones filming site as well as a walking bridge on the ocean before getting to the Giants Causeway. We walked down to the Causeway site and took a bus back as it started to rain. The site itself is amazing because the rock formations can not really be explained as they are so unique.
The Giants Causeway
The two weeks ended far too soon and we can’t wait to get back to Ireland to visit Galway and revisit Killarney, Cork and Kilkenny.
We have been to London twice – the last being May 2017 and this is a great city to visit. We spent a week in above average weather after being in Ireland for two weeks. Hard to believe we could still enjoy a cold Guinness after being in Ireland, yet we persevered in London!
London is a good walking city and the Tube works well for underground transportation. Because the weather was so nice, we did more walking than if it had been raining and cold. There is so much to see in London that you need to have a plan to get it all done.
We have taken the Tube in from Heathrow and no problems as we stayed within a 12 – 15 minute walk from Victoria Station. Victoria Station is the heartbeat of transportation in London. The Tube, buses and trains all arrive and leave from here. You can buy an Oyster card at Heathrow to manage all your Tube and bus transportation. We found the Oyster card simplified our travel around the city. Just provide your travel plans and the helpful attendants will get you the right amount on your Oyster card. If you have money left over it can be used another time, refunded or transferred to another card.
In May, we took the train from Gatwick airport to Victoria Station on the “London Gatwick Express” and prearranged the ticket. Very simple and quite efficient. From Victoria Station it was no problem to walk to our accommodation.
Luna Simone Hotel
We stayed at the Luna Simone Hotel for both our trips and have recommended this Hotel to a number of our friends who have had excellent stays as well. We would not consider staying anywhere else in London. The contact website is https://www.lunasimonehotel.com.
The location is fantastic as it is not far from Victoria Station or from Pimlico Station. There are very good restaurants and pubs in the area and I will cover some of them later. The central locations allows for walking to many of the attractions including Buckingham Palace, Westminster or Trafalgar Square.
The hotel does not have an elevator and there are at least three floors, so if mobility is an issue you best call ahead to request a main floor unit. The hosts are quite happy to help with luggage if it is an issue. We stayed 71 steps up and we managed ourselves just fine.
The rooms are not huge, yet are comfortable and what you would expect in Europe. The bathrooms are very good and the rooms are quiet even when facing the street.
Breakfast is included and it is a full offering with eggs, bacon, toast, cereal, yogurt, muesli, beans, coffee, juice and tea. Some or all, your choice. The breakfast room is comfortable and you get a chance to talk to other travellers. The hosts are friendly and can offer suggestions or answer your travel questions as well.
We paid about $255 CDN or $200 US per night and feel this was very fair.
Restaurants
O Sole Mio – right on the corner near the Luna Simone. Italian food and tasty with good service. We also did take out pizza one night and it was very good. There is a confectionary across the street for snacks and drinks.
Grumbles – just next door to the O Sole Mio and we ate outside. A very small restaurant and the menu changes. A reservation may be necessary.
Constitution Pub – across the street from Grumbles. Great for a cold beer and pub food.
Coffee house – Just down from Grumbles and some outside seating.
Gail’s – breads and pastries is just down from the Constitution and is very good. The chocolate croissants go down very well with coffee.
The B Bar – On Buckingham Palace Road down from Victoria Station. We have been here three times and the food is quite good. You can dress a little nicer in the evening as I believe they get a clientele that is going out for the evening.
The Crypt – Located at St Martins in the Fields near the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square. The restaurant is on the lower level and is set up cafeteria style. The food is good and the setting is different.
Pubs – We tried a variety of pubs and the food was good and the Guinness was all we needed. Take a break and give your feet a rest!
Attractions
We covered most of the highlights and were not disappointed. There are far more out there and you will have to find your favourites. Many of the galleries and museums are free and a tourist guide will point these out as well as the attractions that have an entrance fee.
Be careful when walking and look to your “right” first as the traffic flow is different from Canada and the United States.
Buckingham Palace – A 25 minute walk from the Luna Simone. A must see and lots of photo opportunities. I thought it would be bigger, but it is still impressive, particularly, when you see how the parks all link together.
Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James Park – Beautiful green space and lots of walking opportunity. You will have a plenty of company, yet it is very relaxing. Take your time and watch the people and scenery. We saw mounted guards riding through the park and it was quite majestic.
British Museum and National Gallery – You can spent a great deal of time in both and not have covered everything. Plan your time well and get there early as it gets busy at both places. The British Museum was saving and protecting artifacts when we in North America were living in sod huts. A true sense of history.
Tower of London – This was an absolute favourite for me. We caught a walking tour lead by a Yeoman Warder. These men are retired military who have distinguished themselves during their service. They provide an enormous amount of factual information and do so with a good sense of humour. A guided tour is a must to get the most out of the Tower of London.
Westminster Abbey – A 20 minute walk from the Luna Simone. There is no lack of history here and for many people the walk in the Chapel is like the Hockey Hall of Fame for me. I quite enjoyed Poets Corner and it is hard not to be impressed with the massive structure.
The War Museum – So, so for me. A self guided museum with a number of floors. Lots of room to get around, although, there was no mention about the battle at Vimy Ridge and the Canadians role in taking the Ridge that no one before them could. I’m still waiting for a response to my email regarding why this was omitted from the museum. Overall, it was a good review of the British war involvement and a couple of hours is all you need.
Churchill’s War Rooms – The underground war rooms were far larger in area then I expected. I thought they would have been for Churchill and his closest advisors only. In fact, Churchill basically ran the British second world war involvement from these rooms. There were a lot of people working down there in support of the war effort and it probably got a bit crowded. If I had to choose, I would do this ahead of The War Museum.
Windsor Castle – Another favourite of mine. There is no need to pay for an organized tour to get to Windsor Castle. You can take the Tube to Paddington Station and then take a 45 minute train ride to Windsor. Walk out of the train station and there is Windsor Castle. You must pay for a self guided tour and I enjoyed the grounds and castle. We were able to see the State Apartments and the changing of the guard. Be sure to have an expensive ice cream from the Royal Creamery. The grounds are beautiful and the views are wonderful.
After the tour of the castle, we went to the Two Brewers for a refreshing beverage. It is a little walk down a street to get there and worth it. We were back in London by early afternoon.
Greenwich Village – We took the Tube out to Greenwich and it does take a bit of time. There is also a water taxi to get there that we would look into next time. Of course, you must see the prime meridian and check out some souvenirs. There is also a marine museum to visit while there. We went to Heaps Sausages for lunch and I would go again.
Trafalgar Square – A 35 minute walk from the Luna Simone. Very busy and a nice walk around to see the hub of activity. Lots of ways to get there and lots of ways to leave. No shortage of pubs and restaurants in this area.
Thames River Tour – I really enjoyed this river tour. It was narrated so points of interest were mentioned and you can get off at the Tower of London and do your touring there before returning. You get a different perspective of the city from the water and you see Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster and the main bridges. Great way to spend a sunny afternoon.
Harrods – There is a Tube stop right at Harrods so no issue getting there for all your shopping needs. I made sure not to touch anything. The shopping is very high-end and a bit outside of what I would pay for things. In the lower level you should check out a memorial to Lady Diana and Dodi Fayed as it is well done.
Natural History Museum – This is in the same area as Harrods and is easy to get to. If you are short of time, I would not worry about going here as I did not find this to be anything special.
London is an easy city to return to and soak up the history and experiences.
We travelled to Italy with another couple in September 2014. We covered the central / northern parts – Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Levanto (including Cinque Terre) and Milan before flying to London for a few days.
We booked everything ourselves and found that three nights in each place worked nicely. Bed & Breakfasts were easy to find on Trip Advisor and I made the point to make direct contact with the owners. I will provide links to the B & B’s we liked.
No need to worry about what wine to order in the restaurants as the house wine is quite good and we were never disappointed with the house Chianti. I think it is a crime to serve poor wine in Italy!
We used trains and rented a car for a few days to get around. Unless you book a tour, you will need a car to explore the Chianti and Tuscany regions. They are wonderful to see with small towns and rolling hills and valleys.
We started off in Florence and no need for a car there as it will just get in the way. From Florence, we took the train to Siena and that is where we picked up a car for six days. We covered the Chianti and Tuscany regions from Siena and San Gimignano. We dropped the car back in Siena and took the train from Siena to Pisa, with one train change Empoli. We toured the Leaning Tower of Pisa before boarding a train for Levanto which is at the north end of Cinque Terre (Five Villages). From Levanto we took a train to Milan to complete our vacation in Italy. This all turned out to be a great route and we stayed a total of 14 nights in Italy – three nights in each city with the exception of Milan where we only had two nights.
Car and Trains
Renting and driving a car in Italy is different from in Canada and the United States. The base rental rates seem attractive until you start adding in the various insurance charges. Some of the insurance is mandatory as part of the rental and some is optional. We took the “super” insurance to provide greater peace of mind and overall we thought the total rental price was reasonable. They have a lot of accidents in Italy so I think you need all the insurance you can get. We did not want to rely on our credit card insurance coverages or our auto insurance at home.
The cars are standard transmission so be prepared for something you may not be used to. The roads are fairly narrow and there is not a straight piece of road in Italy. The curves and hills are great in the country and not so nice in the urban areas. The towns and cities were built on hills for fortification purposes hundreds of years ago and they have not flattened out for the current tourists. In fact, you cannot drive in the central part of many of the cities like Florence and Siena. Parking is also an issue, particularly as you want to get close to the tourist attractions in the cities. If you drive or park in prohibited places, expect to receive a photo ticket that the car rental agency will forward to you upon your return home. This did not happen to us; however, people we know got nine tickets mailed to them.
The streets are not on the “square” so if you are used to “streets” and “avenues” that run in consistent directions with a sense of organization, you will be out of luck. The hills, curves and back lanes have no obvious plan to them. There are lots of “round-a-bouts” with sometimes five ways to get off. Throw in the Italian street names that use at least 10 to 20 vowels and consonants, and you have driving in Siena. A GPS may have helped as the map did not. The gas attendant we stopped to ask some direction from in the pouring rain was rude and not helpful.
Kathy and our friend were laughing in the back seat as I maneuvered around Siena and now this does seem funny – it was all stressful at the time. Everything turned out good with our rental car and I advice you to be very careful if you intend on renting a car in Italy.
We used the trains to move between cities and towns as well. They were good and we had no issues. There are no trains to San Gimignano and this is a place not to be missed. More on that later.
The train from Florence to Siena was direct and easy to manage. Going from Siena to Levanto required a change in Empoli and also in Pisa. The stop in Pisa allowed us to go to the leaning tower. Do you really need to see another picture? Why not…………….
It is quite a scenic train trip from Pisa to Levanto. We went by Carrara where the marble came from for the “David”. We travelled past Cinque Terre without seeing the Villages as they are right on the coast.
Levanto to Milan was a crowded train ride. The train had separate seating compartments with assigned seating. There were six people to a compartment, three on each side, and it was cozy as our luggage had to go above. Best consider one suitcase each plus a small backpack for the trip.
We liked the trains and have also used them in France, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Florence
Florence has to be one of the most interesting cities I have been to. It is a good city for walking and the galleries and museums are spectacular. Michelangelo’s David is a highlight beyond compare and worth the trip to Florence all by itself. There is a market where you can barter for leather goods and souvenirs and the park overlooking the City is very nice.
City from the park.
We stayed at a B & B that was an easy walk for us to central Florence for the tourist attractions. There were good restaurants in the area as well as bus service. There was a winding staircase up to our rooms at the B & B and the host was helpful with suitcases. The room was quite large for Europe and very quiet. We always book accommodation that has in-room bathrooms and this one was fine. Keep in mind the age of these cities and buildings. You can get quite a variety of accommodation in Europe. Here is the contact information for the B & B.
1900 Arte Vita http://www.1900artevita.com/
VIALE RAFFAELLO SANZIO
50124 FIRENZE
Ph +393471252290 / +393496434924
The breakfast was continental, which is very typical in Europe. Do not expect much, if any, meat options. Nothing special, typical croissants, cheese and fruit. This turned out to be a good location for us and we would stay here again.
B & B Bedroom
Siena
Siena is built on a hill and the central part is not open for driving or parking. Very nice city to visit and one day is enough to cover the main attractions. You need at least another day to drive around the Chianti region to the north of Siena. Take your time and it is well worth it.
We stayed at a B & B just outside of Siena and would not stay there again. It was okay but I think there are better options to be found. You need a car in this area if you hope to explore the city and region.
The train and train station worked well for coming in and leaving Siena.
San Gimignano
San Gimignano was another highlight for us in Italy. There is no train service here so you will need a car or go on a tour bus.
We stayed at a B & B “I Coppi” about a 10 to 15 minute walk into the town. The parking was good at the B & B and the views of the valley were spectacular. We sat outside with our wine and took in the scenery. This is the place to stay.
View from B & B patio
The glass went empty quickly
We were with friends so we booked the two rooms on the lower level of the house and there was an adjoining sitting area. Lots of room and comfortable. Breakfast was an exceptional continental with eggs made to your liking. The owner and her mother served the breakfast and it was more than enough. The conversation was pleasant as well. They also sell bottles of wine and the price was fair. Very convenient to enjoy on the well set out patio overlooking the valley.
There is no doubt we would stay here again if we come back. It was not expensive and the location is perfect. Below is the link to the website.
The town can be explored in a day and the restaurants for lunch and super are good. There is a torture museum that is interesting, but not suitable for everyone. The gelato will make your afternoon and they say it is world-famous! There are shops and churches to visit. It does get busy in the late morning as the tourist buses roll in.
The drive in the Tuscany area around San Gimignano took a full day. Get a map and start driving. We went to Volterra and other small towns. No problem finding a lunch place and a cold Moretti beer. We liked the Moretti better than the Peroni. The colours in September were wonderful and this is where the hills and valleys are special. On one gravel back road that I was not keen on trying, we came across a dog herding sheep in a valley. These two photos give a sense of the beauty of the countryside.
Levanto and the Cinque Terre
This is a place we could have used another day to enjoy the town. We spent our two full days visiting the Cinque Terre (Five Villages) by boat and train and really did not get to see the town the way we wanted. Levanto is on the north end of the Cinque Terre and is a really good place to stay for exploring the Five Villages.
The service provided by our B & B was excellent. The owner met us at the train and took us to the B & B. On the first night he also took us downtown for supper and picked us up. There recommendations for restaurants was very good. The other two nights we walked downtown and back for supper and it was no problem for us. When it was time to leave, he drove us back to the train station. Talk about first class service! We had their only two rooms and they were spacious and comfortable. The continental breakfast was provided on the deck outside our rooms. The contact information for the B & B is as follows.
Affittacamere La Lanterna Sopra il Moggia.
Levanto, Italy (next to cinqueterre national park).
I’m not sure pictures can even do justice to the Cinque Terre. You can access the Villages by boat, by train and by walking. They are connected by walking; however, a couple of trails were closed because of slide material that blocked the trails. Best check before venturing out. The trails are up and down and you should have good walking shoes and water. If walking is not for you, the boats and train works well and we used both. The Villages are neat to visit and there are shops and restaurants to take care of you and your money.
Milan
I liked Milan, whereas, Kathy was not as much inclined sit is very big. We arrived by train and had a B & B close to the train station that worked well. Very quiet and no issues. There were good restaurants within walking distance and the underground metro was easy for us to use.
The B & B was the BioCity Hotel and it was quite modern as you can see from the bathroom picture below. The price was reasonable and the breakfast was excellent. The contact address is.
We took the metro to see the Cathedral and check out shopping. The metro stop was right in front as we came up from the underground station. There was lots of people in the square and you best be careful for pick pockets as it seemed many people were just hanging around with no obvious purpose. If you look at the following picture closely, you will see video advertising on the side of the Cathedral. Kind of sad because the building is very nice. There were high-end shops next to the Cathedral as well as restaurants and a great ice cream shop. Needless to say, we opted for the ice cream.
Two weeks in Italy and we just touched a few places as there are far more to explore. This was a great trip and one that will stand out for a long time.
Is your family in Saskatchewan better off today then it was 10 years ago?
This question is easy to answer for me – YES. Not everyone would agree and I wish them well in the next 10 years. Of course, we should first consider in what context “better off” means before we make any knee-jerk reactions.
I’m speaking in the context of better off as it relates to the role of our provincial government. My belief is that provincial governments do not exist to make me: happy, more confident, less dependent on drugs or booze, manage the economy, run businesses in competition with the private sector, find me a job, go to school, take care of my children or use common sense.
In my opinion the role of provincial government should be to provide basic services in a financially responsible manner. These services include road infrastructure, public safety, public education, public health, facilitation of provincial free trade and stewardship of our natural resources. This list is not exhaustive and has expanded over the years as people demand more services with the intent of using other people’s money to fund the services or to fund the services with debt. The following quote from Voltaire may be appropriate.
In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
—Voltaire, 1764
This seems rather true in the context of our federal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. There is an insatiable demand for public services and our federal leader appears to be satisfied to meet the demands by taking from others or using public debt. Sadly, another topic for another day.
In Saskatchewan, in the last 10 years, we have received leadership from Premier Brad Wall and I want to congratulate him on his current retirement from politics. I have valued good leadership of various political stripes over the years – Roy Romanow, provincial NDP and Paul Martin, federal Liberal to name just two, although, I must say the list is not long.
Brad Wall brought an attitude change in this province that helped move a good number of people out of our “1930’s” mentality. The old mentality told us to be careful and not venture out into new possibilities. Of course, there were some people who overcame this on their own, but sadly, many had to leave Saskatchewan to achieve their goals and attain greatness elsewhere. The new attitude that Brad Wall instilled was that we could be better and we could create jobs and we could increase our population and be economically better off.
Brad Wall was not perfect and I disagreed with some of the people around him who did not conduct themselves in a manner befitting public office. Guess what, this has happened before and will happen again because government is basically inefficient and as some people come to the trough of power they seem to eat in excess.
Brad Wall’s detractors will say that we still had deficits under his command. Considering the economic slump in 2008 – 2009 and the precipitous decline in commodity prices, he did alright. If you check the following website, provided by The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, you will find that Saskatchewan has the lowest public debt in Canada.
The cumulative debt is still far too large for my liking and yet there is a loud group of people wanting more services with no rational way of paying for the services. You can’t have it both ways. More services require a way to pay for them. This will be the continued challenges for future provincial governments.
I believe Brad Wall’s tenure as Premier has been good for our province. Did your children have to leave Saskatchewan in the last 10 years to work in Alberta or British Columbia? Do you know of people who came home in the last 10 years because there are now meaningful jobs here for them? I know in our business we had three CPA’s came home from Alberta after having had to go to Alberta to find work. Can you imagine what this has meant to them and their families.
Both our sons live and work in Saskatchewan and I could not have envisioned this before 2007. We do not take for granted the ability to see them, go out for lunch or supper together or just talk face to face at any time we choose. In Saskatchewan, prior to 2007, our best exports were our people. Just ask the people around you.
I think the 10% plus growth in the Saskatchewan population speaks to a changed attitude and an economic improvement under Brad Wall’s leadership. We can now celebrate success in Saskatchewan and do not have to apologize for it.
Brad Wall is a cheerleader for the province and has a good sense of what it means to live, work and run a small business here with the support of government. I think you will be missed.
Brad Wall, I do not know you; however, thank you and all the best in your next ventures!
