Coopers

It had to happen! Someday our tour would have to end…and that was February. The determination of when the tour would end was budget based. When the money runs out, the tour would end. So we are back in Canada and settled in our new home city of Ottawa. So while the tour around the world has to end…our adventure continues…just in a different form! The budget we created for the tour was essentially four months and we were hoping to stretch it to at least six, with the sale of my car and some frugality. Well the car did not sell, and we arrived at a point where the end of the budget was in sight. So we made a tentative return plan and, once that was determined, it no longer made sense to sell ... read more

Off we went into the ‘winter’ season of Thailand, which is also peak tourism season. This will be our first place to visit at peak tourism season, we are expecting inflated prices, lots of tourists, an increase in touristy activities, and hot…lots of hot. Winter here does mean cooler temperatures…but cooler temperatures are still 30 degrees! We have to endure another marathon flight from Athens to Bahrain for a 12 hour layover before flying into Bangkok. We flew Gulf Air, and they put us up in a hotel for the evening because of the long layover. However, we lose another 1.5 days traveling…it’s a big world! Upon our arrival into Bangkok airport, we were picked up by a driving service and headed 3 hours South to a town called Hua Hin. I initially thought that Hua ... read more

We just wanted to take the time to wish our friends and family an incredibly wonderful Christmas! This is going to be a special Christmas for us as we will be spending it in Athens, Greece. While we will miss our families and friend this Christmas, please know we are thinking of you and wishing you all the best. We look forward to seeing you again in early 2010! ... read more

…Burkina Faso Continued After departing the Ste. Cecile orphanage, we returned to Samagan, the White Father mission where Jacques lives. The White Fathers, as they are called, are the Missionaries of Africa organization. They are nicknamed White Fathers due to the distinctive white robes they wear. They are stationed in over 20 African countries to live and integrate within the communities and be witnesses of God. The gentlemen who become White Fathers come from around the world including Mexico, India, Rwanda, Nigeria, Burundi, Congo and elsewhere. They spend nine years training to be ordained as a White Father. As part of that training they must learn another language, to show that they are adaptable and able to integrate into a community. We spent three days at Samagan dining with the students and the White Fathers. The ... read more

For the first time in our trip we are seeing a culture that is significantly different than ours. Tunisia is where Nadine and her family lived for a year when she was 14 years old. Her and her sister (Annie) went to a French school in Sousse for a year. So Nadine is trying to go down memory lane…but apparently, Tunisia has undergone many changes in the 27 years since Nadine went to school here. She remembers the roads being clogged with horse or donkey driven wagons, bicycles, and people. Today the roads are still clogged…but now with other cars, trucks, mopeds, and people! People outside of Sousse compare Sousse today with New York city…in reference to its neon signs that have sprung up over the past decade. So it has changed, but it is still ... read more