davidsylvie

Switzerland is full of cliches, some deserved and some not. It is a beautiful compact country with picturesque towns and cities nestled along mountain lakes and up towards the alpine. The bike touring was great, but it presented some challenges as we often had to navigate along busy roads, and put up with inclement weather. Most of the time though, we spent cruising along lakes, farm roads and dedicated bike paths, while exploring some scenic towns and cities. Of course, we could always rely on the abundant chocolate to fuel our way, or at least hop on the incredibly efficient rail system to provide some quick shuttles. From Alex's amazing hospitality at the beginning and end of our trip, to Claire and Gerhold's surprise invitation, we felt very welcomed in the land of chocolate and cheese. ... read more

Every year, thousands of cyclists descend upon France. Some come on ultra-light carbon machines, others on steel-framed workhorses. Some come clad in sponsored spandex and are pampered in luxury buses, while others wear worn out clothing and settle for tents. But everyone comes for the beautiful country roads, scenic villages, fine food and wine, and fresh morning pastries. From the Côte d'Azur and Provence, to the Dordogne and Bordeaux regions, the south of France was a fine introduction to our very own Tour de France. The medieval hilltop villages and lavender fields of the southeast were a delight, while the castle-clad villages, river valleys, and vineyards of the southwest were an unexpected highlight. Everywhere, we were treated to great camping, exceptional food and fantastic hospitality. And let's not forget, fresh morning croissants to kick start the ... read more

Yeah, we know we are weeks behind and the sun and sand of the Middle East are a distant memory, but we have some homework to catch up on, and like diligent little students that would make any teacher proud, we must complete our work before the school year ends. We wrapped up our stay in the Middle East with an extended stay on the Sinai Peninsula enjoying the sparkling blue water of the Red Sea. The volcanic eruption in Iceland provided us a convenient excuse to extend our stay for a week, but in fact, it was the abundant and colourful marine life that prevented us from leaving. After completing a dive course and exploring the waters of the Sinai, we headed to Alexandria to check out the library and then a few days in ... read more

Syria was a bonus add-on to our trip to the Middle East. We were unable to get visas before we left home, so we took our chances that we would be allowed in at the border with Jordan. Thanks to a friendly chap in an olive uniform, we were welcomed into the country. In a short week, we saw magnificient mosques, remarkable Roman ruins, crusader castles and a mountainous monastery. In between were old cities with their timeless markets, and numerous encounters with friendly folks. Syria was a detour worth taking. ... read more

Ever since Grade Seven Social Studies many moons ago, the temples and monuments of Ancient Egypt have been on the radar. So up the Nile we went to see the sites around Luxor and Aswan. In this area, the barren desert is split by the Nile and sprinkled with tombs, temples and monuments dating back 4000 years. Some of these complexes have been recovered from the shifting sands, a few have been relocated due to the flooded waters of Lake Nassar, while an unknown number remain hidden under the desert. All of them have amazing hieroglyphics and stone carvings that have withstood time. What a great place for a field trip. ... read more