Category Archives: 2014

2014, A to Z Challenge, Canada, Europe, Travel Notes

Wrapping up my travels of 2014

January 29, 2015 Cat Starr Astral Traveller 2 Comments

As I plan for my next adventure, it is probably good to reflect on my 2014 trips. It was the first time in a long while that I traveled with anyone and this time both of my trips were with someone.

The first was a cruise around the British Isles with my mother — and her first time to Europe. I wanted everything to be perfect and I think we both will agree that it was an amazing trip. While we saw some incredible sights, the best part was traveling with her.

Flowers for mother's day for my mom — Flowers for mother’s day for my mom

My mom at the lifeboat drill with her lifejacket — My mom at the lifeboat drill with her life jacket

Baby ducks we chased near Buckingham Palace

The next trip was completely planned for me by my friend Marshall. I pretty much left it all to him and it was amazing. I love Canada more and more and the Maritimes are beautiful beyond belief. I still haven’t seen any whales, but I saw a sunset on the beach with a fox, a circle of seals and even got photo-bombed by a seal! The food, music and people were wonderful. Now, I really need to see more of this great country.

Marshall in Halifax wearing a lobster hat

I also took part in the A to Z blog challenge. So, while I am planning for my next great adventure, I’m also mapping out my stories that will start up for the month of April. Of course it will be about travel, but the overall theme will have to wait a few more weeks. Why? Well, I’m deep into finalizing my plans to go to Cuba!

Of course, unlike most of my friends who head to an all-inclusive beach resort, I have to be different. My first couple of days, I will be on my own in Havana. Then, I’m going on the Cuba Cruise which sails around the island with stops at Holguin, Santiago de Cuba, Montego Bay (Jamaica), Cienfeugos, Punto Francis on the Isle of Youth, the back to Havana. Since I have a lot of freedom to see different things, it means that I’m doing a lot of planning.

So, look for more posts on my planning and experiences in Cuba and in April get ready for this year’s A to Z challenge.

2014, A to Z Challenge, Cruises, Europe

A to Z Challenge: X, Y, Z

May 1, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller 2 Comments

A to Z Challenge: X, Y, Z

X = ?

I tried to come up with an appropriate X word, and nothing seemed right. I feel I failed, even though I made it this far in my challenge. The only idea that really got my attention was more along the lines of “X marks the spot” and “Xrossing the sea” – but I already did a post on crossing the Atlantic and the Equator in a ship.

So much for X.

Y = “Your own”, as in travelling on your own or “solo traveler”

While I usually say I started as a solo travel in 2009 with my first solo cruise, I really started out as a solo traveler in my early teens when my parents would put me on a train in Galveston and I would be met by my grandparents in Keokuk, Iowa. Not sure why we did not worry about me travelling like this for so long, but I did and I had some wonderful adventures on the train – usually with the conductors showing me around the train. I also did a few business trips and usually added a few days before or after to explore – on my own. This got me to Paris, London and Munich.

While I do not think cruise ship lines should charge extra for solo travelers, if the list of ports is interesting, I will find a way. Cruising allows me to “test the waters” of different places and I learn which ones make me feel comfortable and which ones I’d like to see again. Since my first cruise, I’ve made other trips based on places I want to experience in more detail – Barcelona, Madrid, Buenos Aires, and Amsterdam to name a few.

Now, I have trouble even considering travelling with a companion. Doing it “on my own” gives me the flexibility I like. I can get up early and go to museums before they get busy – then take a nap in the afternoon before heading out to a local venue for a nice evening. I have taken one trip with a friend – and this year I have a plan to take 2 trips that are not solo (one with my mom and one with another friend).

We shall see how I do going it NOT on my own, but with someone else. I am, starting to plan for adventures in 2015 – and yes, these will be on your own!

Z = Zed, aka the end of the line

At least for this challenge, this is the end of the line for these posts. My next set of day-by-day travel blogs starts in less than 10 days!!!!! And yes, I am very excited to share this adventure with my mom, who has never traveled outside of North America.

T
he plan is we will meet at Heathrow Airport as long as our flights on pretty much on time. From the airport, we head to Southampton to board the Ruby Princess. The rest of the itinerary looks like this:

St. Peters Port, Guernsey
Cork, Ireland
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
Glasgow, Scotland
Inverness, Scotland,
Orkney Islands
Edinburgh, Scotland
Le Harve, France
Southampton to London

So, don’t just dream it, travel!

2014, A to Z Challenge, Cruises, Europe, Travel Notes

A to Z Challenge: W = Weddings

April 26, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller 4 Comments

W = Weddings, or more appropriately the weddings I’ve “crashed” while travelling

since I usually find myself visiting churches and other picturesque places, t would make sense that I might encounter a wedding … or two. Here are some of the weddings I’ve seen in my travels.

Probably the most unique was when I went to the Montserrat Basilica, which is outside of Barcelona. I got there a little before it opened and noticed that, among the tourists, there was a group of people who were very well dressed for a Saturday morning. Imagine my surprise when they opened the doors and the tourists lines up on the right-side aisle to see the Black Madonna and the rest went to sit in the church proper top attend a wedding!

Montserrat, Catalonia: A beautiful spot for a wedding

The line to see the Black Madonna at Montserrat

My other wedding pictures are from walking around a city and finding myself in the middle of the celebration.

Wedding in Amsterdam: The man in the blue sweater is in every photo!

Another beautiful church for a wedding in Helsinki

One thing they all had in common, the bride wore white.

2014, A to Z Challenge, Cruises, Europe, Italy, Travel Notes

A to Z Challenge: V = Venice & cruising along the Grand Canal

April 25, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller Leave a comment

V = Venice & cruising along the Grand Canal

Of course V had to be for Venice and taking a cruise along the Grand Canal in one of the vaporettos. These are like buses, but they run along the canals. There are even regular bus stops with covered docks. And, like other city transit systems, they can get packed. But, if you can, try to sit in the front for a chance at getting interesting pictures as you sail along the canal. Here are a few of my favs.

Here is is a post about Sailing into Venice

2014, A to Z Challenge, Argentina, Cruises, South America, Travel Notes

A to Z Challenge: U = Ushuaia

April 24, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller 1 Comment

U = Ushuaia, Argentina

I could write about how beautiful Ushuaia, Argentina is. Or, I could write about the wildlife or the beauty of Tierra del Fuego. But I already wrote about my experiences here. So I am going to just share the pictures again and remember the time I was at the end of the world. I hope you enjoy my memories of Ushuaia as much as I enjoyed making them.

Coastline of Tierra del Fuego National Park

Tierra del Fuego National Park — I call this one Freedom — the clouds reminded me of a woman flying and made me feel very free!

Fin del Mondo — The post office at the end of the world where you can get a postmark from “Fin del Mundo”

2014, A to Z Challenge, Africa, Africa, Travel Notes, Tunisia

A to Z Challenge: T = Tunisia

April 23, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller 2 Comments

T = Tunisia

Before going to Tunisia, the only thing I’d ever really heard about Tunisia is that it is the site of Carthage, a place the Romans destroyed. So, I was excited to learn more and see not only one of the best collections of mosaics in the Bardo Museum, but other sites around Tunis.

I also heard that this is one of the best places to find jasmine-scented oil – my favourite scent!

I embarked on an excursion that would take me to Carthage, The Bardo Museum, the souk in Tunis, and Sidi Bou Said, famous for its white buildings and blue roofs. It was a long day, but I was not sure when I would be back here.

Of course, all that is left of Carthage are ruins, but I enjoyed seeing it – and it has great views of the sea.

The souk is a crazy labyrinth of streets and alleyways. I was glad I was with a guide, because it would be easy to get lost. Of course, we visited a rug merchant and a perfumery where I got my jasmine oil.

Me on a rooftop overlooking the souk in Tunis

The Bardo Museum is fabulous and well worth a visit. I loved the mosaics and the architecture of the building. There were also some very large statues of Greek and/or Roman Gods.

Our last top was at Sidi Bou Said. The town is very beautiful with the white and blue motif. We stopped at a jewelry shop where I found a really nice lapis necklace. Bartering is not my strongest skill, however I ended up with two necklaces, a dolphin statue and a hand of Fatima charm. The owners of the shop pointed me to a little tea house across the road that had a private garden and a view of the town.

2014, A to Z Challenge, Cruises, Europe, Spain, Travel Notes

A to Z Challenge: S = Spain

April 22, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller 1 Comment

S = Spain

Spain has to be one of my favourite places in the world to visit. I see, to love everything about it – the food, the music, the architecture, the people. There is just so much to do and see and so much diversity. So much, in fact, that I am already planning for my next visit; which, unfortunately will not be until 2015. But I leave a piece of me heart there each time I go. Here are some of my highlights of four places: Malaga, Madrid, Toledo and, of course, Barcelona.

In Malaga, I spent a lot of time wandering through the fortress that overlooks the city and port, visiting the cathedral and wandering through the park that runs along the port.

Madrid is filled with people and music. I there were two impromptu drumming performances that I stumbled upon while wandering through the city. I was also there the night FC Barcelona was playing for the Euro Cup final – and I got the watch the game with a group of people sitting in the kitchen of a restaurant (before I headed back to Barcelona to celebrate the win in the streets!). I also spent a lovely Sunday in Retiro Park and meet more musicians. I do love Latin music!

Toledo is another walled city with a magnificent cathedral, marzipan and winding streets.

And then, of course, there is walking down Las Ramblas in in Barcelona.

For me, Spain is filled with life – and life cannot get better than this!

Here are more links about my adventures in Spain:

2014, A to Z Challenge, Cruises, Europe, Greece, Travel Notes

A to Z Challenge: R = Rhodes

April 21, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller 2 Comments

R = Rhodes

Old town Rhodes is an old, walled city first built in the 11^th Century by the Knights of St. John’s (the same ones responsible for many of the sights to see in Malta). The city is a tapestry of winding streets, shops and restaurants, churches and mosques, and even an ancient temple to Aphrodite. For people arriving on a cruise, it is an easy walk off the ship and into the city, making this one of my favourite places to explore. You can even walk along the beach! I feel like I stepped back in time – a truly magical experience.

The Palace of the Grandmasters is not as polished as the one in Malta. You get a sense that this was built to protect and keep the city safe from the canons on the battlements to the thick stone walls and plain interiors. I love the feel of this place and can “sense” a time when it was filled with activity. I could almost hear conversations from old.

Entrance to the Palace of the Grandmasters

Main courtyard in the Palace of the Grandmasters

Main staircase in the Palace of the Grandmasters

Maltese Cross or the Cross of the Order of St. John

Leading to the palace is the Avenue of the Knights. This street has the houses for the 8 languages that made up the Order of St. John – the points on the cross represent each of these languages.

At the base of the avenue, there is the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite. There are a lot of cats the roam the city, however on multiple visits, there seems to be one that has taken residence at the temple – a black and white cat that looks like my new kitten, Lola.

Close to the temple is the Museum of Archaeology. In one room, there is a large collection of grave markers for the knights. These are reminiscent of the decorated marble floor in the co-Cathedral of St. John in Valletta, Malta. These, however, are carved sandstone and have no colours.The symbols are the same, though.

As I always seem to do, I wander through towns – thinking that I know where I am going. It was in Rhodes that I discovered that I can get lost even in a walled city. So, after walking around the city, and getting lost, it is always nice to enjoy a nice cup of espresso.

There is a lot to see on the island of Rhodes, which is why it is on my long list of places to return to, but if you have a day – get lost in the old city.

Statue of dolphins along the beach — Along the beach

Me and travel companion Bryan on the beach

2014, A to Z Challenge, Cruises, Europe, Russia, Travel Notes

A to Z Challenge: Q = Queen

April 19, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller Leave a comment

Q = Queen

What does it take to be a Queen? Some may say you marry into the position or maybe you are born into the position. Others have taken it when they had the opportunity. And, with this position comes power, palaces, fine gowns, land, etc.

This post is a bit of a continuation from yesterday’s palaces, but I am going to focus on a series of buildings that were built and decorated for Russian Queens, or Empresses as was the correct title, and mainly on Catherine the Great who was able to grab power when she saw the opportunity. The legacy she left is on a grand scale – from the Hermitage to Peterhof to the palace known simply as Catherine’s Palace.

For the rest of us? Here is my challenge to you – find your inner power and surround your life with beauty! Become the Queen of your life.

Dress that was in the portrait of Catherine the Great

Table setting in Catherine's Palace — Table setting in Catherine’s Palace

Garden at Peterhof where Catherine II planted a tree

2014, A to Z Challenge, Cruises, Europe, South America, Travel Notes

A to Z Challenge: P = Palaces

April 18, 2014 Cat Starr Astral Traveller 3 Comments

P = Palaces

Just like cities, there seems to be one palace that many are compared to — Versailles. It may be the sheer size of the palace, or the ornate gardens. Whatever it is, all palaces seem to be compared to Versailles for one reason or another. By why should palaces be compared to another – each one has some that makes it unique and and reflects the locale. Here are some of my favourite palaces.