About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Monday, June 14, 2010

V is for VACATION


...and boy do I need a vacation! This past year has flown by due to many things that I won't get into here. And because Lorne has to pursue health issues, we won't be able to take a vacation anywhere. So I will just reVel in some of my past memorable vacations and spend this summer living vicariously through them.
My first trip to England and France was awesome! I had sworn that I would get to France before I turned 50 and I made it! After spending a week in England, my friend Cathy and I took the ferry across to Calais - a very quick trip - and when we arrived I felt like kissing the ground! Many memories come flooding back to me - wine tasting, dining al fresco in Lyon, Monaco and its great casino, climbing the Pyrenees to cross the border into Spain, dipping my toes in the Atlantic Ocean in Biarritz, visiting chateaux in the Loire River Valley, visiting Monet's home in Giverny, Normandy and the World War II museum, and of course Paris and all it has to offer. Just for fun, instead of posting a typical "touristy" photo of the Eifel Tower, see if you can find me in the above photo taken just outside the casino in Monte Carlo.
I took my older daughter on a tour of England and Scotland one year. We also touched into Wales where we had Welsh ice cream and petted sheep along a hillside on our way back into England. Poor Jamie got sick in Glasgow and I had to leave her at the hotel somewhere between Aberdeen and Edinburgh while the rest of us took a day trip to the Isle of Skye. I remember buying a scarf in the "Leslie" tartan and a lovely wool throw blanket in one of my family's tartan. We had a great time in London, too, hopping on and off the double-decker bus. Below left is me at St. Andrew's, Scotland on the beach where "Chariots of Fire" was filmed. On the right is Jamie at Warwick Castle in England watching this jester play the two flutes through his nose!















Then there was Italy in 2006, which you can read about in my archives on this blog. That was a trip of a lifetime, spending a month there and getting to see out-of-the-way places where most tourists don't get to go. We ate, we drank vino, we ate, we touristed, we ate, we drank...did I say we drank lots of vino? There were spectacular views of the Mediterranean from Lerici in the north-west, from the Amalfi Coast south of Rome, and from Taormino in Sicily. The photo shows one of my favourite things to do while in Italy!
The last place I want to mention here is the Grand Canyon. My friend Suzanne, who lives just outside of Phoenix, took me there in February of 2006. We drove through Sedona and stayed overnight in Flagstaff. The canyon was the most stunning vista I have ever seen! You just cannot imagine it unless you've seen it with your own eyes. I only wish I were young and agile enough to travel by mule all the way down to the Colorado River!
So, as I "stay-cation" this summer, I will get out all my photo albums and relive my past travels and dream about where I'll go next year. Happy Vacation to all of you who have plans.

28 comments:

Shrinky said...

I had no idea of what a well travelled lady you are, Leslie! You look absolutely radiant in the "red wine toast" photo, 'course, the glow is due to all the gresh air, nothing to do with the tipple (smile). Other than the Grand Canyon, I know most of the places you visited (I was born in Aberdeen) - thanks for bringing back some lovely memories of my own!

Sylvia K said...

What a fun post for the V day, Leslie! I, too, enjoy looking back over the lovely trips I have been able to make and this post brought back lots of memories! Hope things get better for Lorne and I do hold good thoughts for you both!

Sylvia

Mara said...

You cannot go to Italy and not eat and drink too much.

I might have an idea how you can relive your holidays/vacations a bit more than just looking through your photos of yesteryear. How about trying to cook real Italian or English or French food, buying some wine from that country to go with it (and yes, England produces wine) and make it a special vacation!

Hope the rest of the year will look up for you!

Leslie: said...

Gee, Mara, what a great idea...I'll just do that! We can sit out in the garden and enjoy. :D

mrsnesbitt said...

Oh yes leslie - and remember my new recipes I have tried out!
Really looking forward to your next visit to England we will have so much to celebrate! Love to you both! Dxxx

MaR said...

So many fun V's, forgot about vino, how could I??
Very enjoyable post, loved visiting :)

v is for vermilion

Kim, USA said...

Oh my you are a jet setter ^_^ Like your photos and that happy smile! Happy Wednesday!


ABC Wednesday~V

photowannabe said...

You made your trips sound so wonderful. There is nothing like travel. It enriches the soul. You will definitely be traveling again. Your stay-cation is just a little glitch in the scheme of things.
I think Mara has the right idea.

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Oh, that sounds heavenly, those vacations. And, yes, I could use one too!

Beverley Baird said...

You've had some awesome trips! I've been to Britain but not to Europe!
I was looking over my photos yesterday of our trip to Vancouver 2 summers ago and I was so wishing we could go back this year. You have such a gorgeous back yard! May you have some lovely trips this summer!

Willa said...

A Very relaxing Vacation, we all need one.

Hildred said...

What a lot of wonderful memories you have! You can vacation vicariously this year, and here's to good health for next year's travels.

Tumblewords: said...

I enjoyed this post! I haven't taken a vacation for several years, but have tons of photos and fond memories from my old jet-setter days. :) Enjoy your staycation!

Gayle said...

It sounds live you've been on some lovely trips. I for one, love looking at photos, so I could be perfectly entertained staying at home and reliving past vacations. Best to you.

Gattina said...

What a nice "V"acation report ! I can understand that you fell in love with Italy, lol ! I have a little Italy at home in form of a big (not fat) husband !
I love the UK too, especially the South East coast with its white cliffs. I go there every August.

Reader Wil said...

Well Leslie, if you come to my country, you may stay here and I'll show you around in this area. It's different from France and Italy, but it has some beautiful spots too.
I hope you are okay and feeling fine!

Roger Owen Green said...

one needs vacation of some sort for sanity, even if it's nearby. please keep up your spirits!

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

jingle said...

lovely tour on v.

jabblog said...

How about buying food and drink specific to the places you've visited and recreating your trips in the comfort of your own home? No hanging around at airports, no risk of 'funny tummy', no crowds and best of all you sleep in your own bed every night.

Bettey said...

Vacation!!! That sounds wonderful, and a great choice for V!

Hood Photo Blog

jay said...

Oh, you've had some great trips, haven't you? *Sigh*

Well, I live in England, so the double deckers of London are very familiar to me, and I've visited Scotland and Wales, too. I visited Italy for the first time this year (and I want to go back!!!) but I've never been to France.

The Grand Canyon is certainly one of those places where you stand and catch your breath, and you're right, it's indescribable unless you've been. Pictures can't do it justice. But actually, I prefer Bryce for sheer awe and the most stunning scenery I think I've ever seen. The Grand Canyon is a little too big to be fully appreciated by standing in one spot, not so Bryce. I want to go back there, too!

The mules are great, by the way. We took a mule trek in Zion National Park, and they are comfortable (more so than horses) and sure footed!

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Wonderful Vacations Leslie, shame about this years, but we know it cannot be helped... take care and have fun whatever you do xxox

Gerald (Ackworth born) said...

It really is great to be able to look back at trips we've done now we can travel virtually.

Trubes said...

'Staycation' Leslie, what a wonderful idea. As I can't get to my beloved Antibes, in the South of France, this year, due to the dratted back problem, I shall have a 'Staycation'!
Saying all that, however, we are booked to go and stay, in September, at a lovely cottage in Anglesey, in N.Wales.
This only 90 miles from home, so, I will be able to withstand the journey.
I hope Lorne is more comfortable after his radical treatment.

Positive thoughts winging your way from sunny 'ol Liverpool UK!

Di.xx

Powell River Books said...

Vacation memories are so fun to take out and enjoy over and over again. Sometimes when we have to stay at home for a vacation we discover and re-discover those places near home that are special. - Margy

Smalltown RN said...

Oh Leslie...I cna appreciate you need and feeling for wanting a vacation. You and Lorne have been through so much...but look at all those wonderful V words you were able to come up with in regards to vacation.

Hope you are having a great day!

nancygrayce said...

You've had some wonderful vacations! I'm so sorry that you didn't get to go on your honeymoon vacation....but in time! If anyone deserves a vacation, it's you and Lorne! I hope it happens soon.

I looked for you in the picture and I think you're the one sitting down???

Rune Eide said...

That was a magnificent walrus, moustache and all. However - it might perhaps be problem if you gave him a glass of wine? :-)