Tortola, British Virgin Islands

I'm leaving for my Caribbean cruise in only 11 days and I can't wait to run into the ocean! One of the stops on this trip will be Tortola, British Virgin Islands. 

Tortola is the largest of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains, and sheltered, yacht-filled harbours characterize the island of Tortola, the BVI’s largest and capital island. The past of the West Indies and the present-day BVI mix and mingle with ruins existing alongside the luxury resorts that draw visitors from around the world.

You can swim or stroll the secluded palm-shaded white sands of dozens of beaches, including Apple Bay, Brewer’s Bay, Smuggler’s Cove, Long Bay Beach, Elizabeth Beach and Josiah’s Bay Beach to name just a few.

For watersports or fishing they have the protected anchorages at Brandywine Bay, Soper’s Hole and Trellis Bay as well as surfing at Cane Garden Bay.

You can discover Tortola's history with a visit to the 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum, Fort Burt, Mount Healthy Windmill, Callwood's Rum Distillery, J.R. O'Neal Botanic Gardens, Old Government House Museum and VI Folk Museum.

The Caribbean is calling!

Well it's been a month and a half since I came home from my incredible Asia trip and now in the dead of Winter the beaches of the Caribbean are sounding kinda inviting.

On March 8th I will sail for one week on the MSC Preziosa from Guadeloupe visiting Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Maarten; Dominica; St. Kitts & Nevis; Antigua and Barbuda as well as  Martinique.

I know the ship well since I sailed on her in 2018 through the Mediterranean. Looking forward to swimming in the ocean which is one of my favorite things to do.

30 December 19 - Back to Montreal

This morning I got up at 4am to make it to the airport for a a 8am flight back to Montreal. This is a shot I took from the plane, might be one of the best photos I have ever taken.

My flight was 14 hours long and it gave me time to reflect on the amazing journey I had just been on. It was filled with wondrous cities, temples, beaches, great food and interesting people.

I interacted with monkeys, elephants, falcons, camels, orangutans and the incredible tigers! There has been so many happy memories for me on this trip that this blog could not cover them all but my photos will help me remember all the fascinating days I have lived in the past month.

I took a photo package on the cruise which allowed me all the photo memories I could have and here are my favorites.

Travel may not be everything in life but it does makes everything in life more complete. When you leave your home and experience other cultures, food and environments it expands your horizons 

and I feel it makes you a more interesting person. 

You don't need to travel half way around the world to get the satisfaction of discovery, it can be the city next door or a drive a few miles away. Whatever the mode of transport or the distance, go out and travel, expand your mind and revel in the joy of adventure and it will soothe your soul and make you not only more interesting but it will expand your mind. 

For me there is nothing more exhilarating than the romance and the feeling of wonder when I travel. 

  “TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL BE MORE DISAPPOINTED BY THE THINGS YOU DIDN’T DO THAN BY THE ONES YOU DID DO”

So go out and do it!!!!!!

Until the next adventure!!!!!

29 December 19 - Doha, Qatar

This morning I left Singapore and flew to Qatar. I planned to stay one night in order to break the long flights back to Montreal, plus it gave me a chance to see this country.

Qatar is a peninsular Arab country whose terrain comprises arid desert and a long Persian (Arab) Gulf shoreline of beaches and dunes. Also on the coast is the capital, Doha, known for its futuristic skyscrapers and other ultramodern architecture inspired by ancient Islamic design, such as the limestone Museum of Islamic Art. The museum sits on the city’s Corniche waterfront promenade.

On Qatar airlines they have several cameras on the outside of the plane which permits you to see the landing on your personal monitor at your seat. I took a video of this and it's really fun to see!!!

I found Doha to be a magical place!! I stayed at the Souk Waqif Boutique Hotel Nyad..... it was so beautiful and my room was something out of an Arabian night novel. . . . 

Since I only had one afternoon and evening in Doha I went out immediately to explore the city and the Souk Waqif since the hotel is right in the middle of it. I also took a taxi to see some of the main sights.

I wandered into a falconer establishment with many falcons there....very impressive!

                                             

                                                  Then I wandered past a field with camels!

                        Had a nice dinner at a sidewalk cafe and then this parade came by.....so amazing!