Jen and Dave: Adventuring

It was an early start from Carcassonne, back to Barcelona to embark on the next phase of our adventure, aboard the Holland America Oosterdam.

Today was our last full day in Carcassonne, and we had a simple wander along the river Aude, winding our way back to the Cité through walkways and parks. Today we walked the bailey, the area between the two ramparts, looking at the layers of construction and renovation, modification and restoration. Then we walked through…

Today was the day to explore la Cité proper – a UNESCO heritage site, an active city, and a castle restored many times over the centuries. It was amazing. We started with the walk across the city, then the old bridge, and the businesses outside the rampart. The castle itself consists of two walls, 3…

The weather was cool and drizzly in Carcassonne, so it was a good day to day trip to somewhere sunnier and warmer – namely, Nîmes. After a lovely drive on the well-maintained toll highway, we meandered through villages and arrived downtown. And there it was. The Amphitheater of Nîmes – home to ancient Roman gladiators,…

Today was a simple day, as we kept close to the apartment awaiting the delivery of our luggage. The morning was walking around the Bastille portion of the city, checking out the Canal du Midi, and getting a glimpse of the Cité from the bridges. A stop at the grocery store, and we returned to…

After some glorious sleep we awoke to a light warm breeze, birds singing, and sun streaming in the window. After a brief wander around the immaculate La Mer, we sat down to breakfast and the best coffee Mom’s ever had (café lèche). Alas, it was time to leave the hillside for the seaside, and we…

After Jen went to bed, the others went for a short walk – mom and Dad to a viewpoint, and Dave all the way up to a mountaintop castle ruin, Castell de Burriac. Just gorgeous. Documentation says 1000 or 1300 AD.

It was a long travel day. First to Toronto, then on to Barcelona. There were good things and bad things about the trip. The second leg had an equipment change, so it wasn’t flying full. We got a row to ourselves; so did Jen’s parents, who are joining us on this adventure. The bad was…

Two sea days in a row! The first was to Glacier Bay National Park. Thé mist was lifting as we entered the channel, the sun’s rays broke through, and it was jaw-dropping spectacular. Snow-capped mountains, glacier-worn granite, turquoise waters, ice flows dotted with seals sunning themselves, and the moraine-striped cool blue of the glaciers. Wow.…

Skagway is a cute gold rush town in a horseshoe of snowy mountain peaks and misty forests, connected to the world through the marine highway, a land highway to Carcross, Yukon, the famed White Pass Railway, and the infamous Chilkoot Trail. Town is small, allowing us to wander through it all, check out the trains,…