Archive for the ‘Destinations’ Category

Anguilla…just because

Posted on January 17th, 2011 by Laura Byrne Paquet

Those of you who have been following my new series, the Year of Geography, know that I’m trying to learn a little about every country on the United Nations’ official list of countries by the end of 2011. But, every so often, I know I’ll come across a place that would be fun to cover […]

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Wind-powered transport in the Iles-de-la-Madeleine

Posted on June 20th, 2010 by Laura Byrne Paquet

Does Al Gore know about this? The often-windy Iles-de-la-Madeleine in eastern Quebec are a hotbed for the sport of kite-buggying: basically, zipping along the beach in a buggy, powered by a parachute-like kite. The driver holds a set of lines made of super-strong Spectra. A tug on the left turns you left; a tug on […]

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Grenada + nutmeg: Inseparable

Posted on April 28th, 2010 by Laura Byrne Paquet

Brian Godwin nutmeg Grenada

Quick, now: Name a use for nutmeg. I’m willing to wager the vast majority of the people reading this post immediately answered, “Eggnog!” And while the spice is indeed a vital topping for the Christmas beverage, it’s used in lots of other things, too, from cookies to sausages. You’ll even find nutmeg and its sister […]

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What I love–and loathe–about the U.K.

Posted on March 7th, 2010 by Laura Byrne Paquet

Manchester railway station

I’ve been in the U.K. for a few days now, and my likes and dislikes are becoming clearer by the minute. My likes are legion and my dislikes are few, and I’m passionate about them all. First, a few of my favourite things. 1. Teakettles I’m a tea drinker, partly because I can’t abide coffee. […]

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VIDEO: Bikes rule in the Netherlands

Posted on November 19th, 2009 by Laura Byrne Paquet

I just got back from a European trip that included two stops in the Netherlands. And, once again, I’ve found myself captivated by Dutch cycling culture. Not only are there dedicated bike paths just about everywhere; there are also huge bike garages at many railway stations, where you can have a mechanic tune up your […]

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One more reason to visit Gibsons, B.C.

Posted on October 15th, 2009 by Laura Byrne Paquet

Okay, I’ll admit that part of the reason I was excited about visiting Gibsons, British Columbia, was the chance to check out the place where a hoary old CBC-TV series called “The Beachcombers” was filmed. Weirdly, I didn’t even like the show when it aired from 1972 to 1990. It’s just that Canada has precious […]

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Insider tips on Brazil, New York and Montreal

Posted on October 8th, 2009 by Laura Byrne Paquet

I’ve just discovered three excellent blogs offering insider travel tips: Brazil for Insiders, Montreal for Insiders and New York for Insiders. When you’ve been there and seen that–or even if you haven’t–you’ll find inspiration for off-the-beaten path adventures. Sao Paulo by night. Creative Commons photo by Andre Deak. Brazilian-born, Montreal-based food and travel writer Alexandra […]

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Video: For fans of Slumdog Millionaire

Posted on March 1st, 2009 by Laura Byrne Paquet

For all of those who (like me) stood up and cheered when Slumdog Millionaire won the best picture Oscar, here’s a weirdly compelling little video about life in Mumbai made by three boys, aged 8 and 9. They call themselves The 3 Musketeers, which I suspect is a shout-out to the film. The video, which […]

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Video: New York beyond Manhattan

Posted on February 22nd, 2009 by Laura Byrne Paquet

So you’ve been to the Empire State Building, seen the Metropolitan Museum of Art and gone to Carnegie Hall. But you’ve just scratched the surface of everything New York has to offer–Manhattan is just one borough, after all! This video by Peter Greenberg offers good tips on some offbeat things to see and do, the […]

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Reggaelates: Now I’ve heard everything

Posted on January 26th, 2009 by Laura Byrne Paquet

OK, this post deviates a bit from my standard “like a local” fare, but a press release just crossed my desk that made me laugh. The world has officially gone mad. The spa at Jake’s, a boutique hotel in Jamaica, has just launched “Reggaelates”: Pilates classes set to reggae music. Somewhere, Bob Marley is sighing […]

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