Travelling Lumsdens

I guess we may have instigated this one with the Hinchey’s… the idea being to collaborate with our partners and come up with 10 “pinch me” moments. You know those “I can’t believe I’m here” or “Oh my God this is amazing” kind of epiphanies! After a lot of back and forth these were the ideas shared.

Montserrat – Visiting the Sacred Mountain (The Hinchey’s)

Our first ‘Oh, Wow’ spot!!! Montserrat, or ‘serrated mountain’, is the site of a Benedictine Monastery located outside of Barcelona, Spain where we visited in September 2016. Holy smokes. 10 years ago!!! Start with a subway ride from the centre of the city to the train station, change trains and then finish your journey with a cablecar and you’ve reached this spectacular site first constructed around 1000AD. The basilica was rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries.

You will find yourself wondering how they ever constructed this place up here. There are about 70 monks in residence here and it’s possible to time your visit to hear a performance by one of the oldest boy’s choirs in Europe. Spectacular views, great hiking trails and spots to just sit and think. There’s something special about just being there. A MUST DO if in Barcelona.

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Globe Theatre – Much Ado “For” Nothing (The Lumsden’s)

In March of 2008, during our first European trip together, Janie and I had the good fortune to visit London’s Globe Theatre on our last night. An evening of Shakespeare… what can I say. Shakespeare was never meant to be read, it was meant for here. We were one of the first to get into the theatre and our seats were incredible. Middle row, front and centre with a totally unobstructed view of the stage… unbelievable. The viewing was sponsored by Deutsche Bank, who had partnered with the Globe to create a series of educational showings of Much Ado “For” Nothing for students across the UK. This “last performance” was open to the general public, and free.

The acting, the play, the setting, all contributed to what was one of the most memorable theatre events we’ve ever witnessed. Janie was totally smitten as well, and we both wondered what we’d done to be so fortunate. Being in London, after a full week of successful travel, watching the lights of planes fly overhead and the sounds of music / applause from the pit… totally overwhelming. We knew that we had been involved in something very special. We felt so very privileged to have been able to attend.

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ABBA Voyage Concert: London, UK (The Hinchey’s)

ABBA Voyage concert at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. We attended the concert in 2023 and we still talk about the experience today. And of course, what made this concert special was that it was totally created with avatars (now known as ABBAtars). The four band members worked for a couple of years with  Industrial Light & Magic to produce a 2 hour concert of their favourite songs in an arena built specifically for the event.

The concert uses their original voices, a 10 piece live band and avatars that look 100% like real people on stage. We felt like we could walk down to the stage and thank the band and shake their hands at the end. We will definitely return if we are lucky enough. The concert runs 7 days per week and has already had over 4 million people visit for a concert. Cameras were not allowed indoors so no ‘real’ pics.

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Grand Canyon – Journey to the Edge (The Lumsden’s)

In the summer of 2012 our family crossed, by car, America creating memories all the way. As part of this amazing journey we spent two awestruck days in Grand Canyon National Park. It was magical! While tenting along the South Rim we basked in the crackle of dried pine & smoky campfires, took breathtaking glimpses into the depths of the canyon, woke to the shrill overnight howls of passing coyotes, and shared vistas of pink, in all directions that were other worldly.

Simply a feast for the senses and absolutely an attraction that can be enjoyed by all. Memories include family hot dog roasting, numerous elk encounters, a glass of red by the last burning embers, and fresh, mountain air. We were so proud… not only to have navigated the trip thousands of kms from home, but to have given our kids the opportunity to experience this remarkable landscape.

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Venice Water Taxi: (The Hinchey’s)

Okay..we’ve grabbed regular taxis, Ubers, Lyfts, subways, trains and trams. But we had never even heard of a water taxi. We were staying in the San Polo region of Venice but arriving at a bus stop on the opposite side of the island(s). Since the city is built on 118 islands connected by canals and footbridges, no roads or motor vehicles exist there. So that ruled out the normal methods of transit. The vaporetto is their water bus but it would take too long to wind around the whole city. Gondolas are slow and expensive and a really just a touristy thing to travel a few hundred metres. After a bit of research, we settled on a “Water Taxi”.

When we arrived at our pickup spot, there it was. A beautiful wooden speedboat ready to whip us in and out of the canals to a drop off spot directly in front of our VRBO in about 10 minutes. We felt like a scene out of a James Bond movie, without bullets flying over our heads. We were a group of 6 saying very little…but instead just smiling at our new experience. On top of it all, we were seeing Venice from a whole new perspective. In the end, our driver offered to pick us up at 5 AM, a week later to take us to the airport. Yes, our boat pulled up in front of the airport leaving us a 20m walk to the airport entrance. Crazy.

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The Colosseum – Emblem of Rome (The Lumsden’s)

Our March Break destination in 2010 was a four city tour of Italy, and it started in Rome. Amid the plethora of incredible attractions is the Colosseum. We managed two amazing encounters… our first being a nighttime visit where we would take the subway to the Colosseo metro stop and the Colosseum. All a bit surreal, as though you come up from a small hole in the earth to the sensitively lit building. It was too impressive. An amazing building… Truly awesome, to be standing amidst these powerful ruins.

Our second opportunity found us to be first two visitors inside the Colosseum. It was absolutely empty. The building is massive… and so is its history! Getting inside was a bit like standing under the Eiffel tower, atop of the Empire State Building, or viewing the Parthenon amid ruins on the Acropolis … You just can’t quite believe you are where you are. I think we were so excited we wandered the inside twice!

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The Masters: A tradition like no other (The Hinchey’s)

Quoting Jim Nantz: “It’s golf’s symbol of excellence that began in 1949 with Sam Snead and is part of the very FABRIC of the Augusta National Golf Club. It’s as much a part of the Masters, as SPRINGTIME. It’s the green JACKET, and the competition for it has seen the greatest players in the GAME FASHION MAGICAL MOMENTS”. Definitely the finest sports spectacle we’ve seen. And what makes it cool is that you can’t just decide to go. Millions of people each year apply to ‘have a chance’ to buy a ticket to enter Augusta National… only to be told year after year…’Sorry. Your request for tickets has not been successful.’

But 2018 was different. Kathy and I received a call from great friends, Paul and Ann Marie Cameron. They asked if we were up for a visit to chat about something. Twenty minutes later we were seated in our living room with a nice glass of wine. And then Paul handed us the envelope that said ‘Congratulations, you have secured 4 tickets to this year’s Masters’. We didn’t want to look too excited as we weren’t sure if we were numbers 3 and 4. But we were!!! Lots of quick planning (including $800 per night hotel rooms about 14km from the course) and we were on our way to Atlanta in early April.

Too many details but to cut it short, the experience was nothing short of incredible. We were there on a Tuesday practice round which meant we were allowed to take our phones and cameras. These are not permitted on Thursday-Sunday. Just try to sneak them in and you are on your way home. We arrived around 7:00 AM and wandered every hole until about 6:00 PM. Phil, Tiger, Mike, John and Rory were our walking buddies on a number of holes as well as Nick, Ricky, Jordan and Bubba. Every blade of grass, every flower and every tree is perfect. It’s hard to describe the feeling even though we’ve had a ton of experience talking about it. It’s unlikely that we’ll ever be lucky enough to go again…but that’s okay. We were there.

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Third Reich & WWII Walking Tour – Munich (The Lumsden’s)

In 2012 we made our first visit to Germany. Being students of history, we keenly reserved space in a walking tour that examined Munich and it’s specific role in regard to the Third Reich and the rise of National Socialism in Bavaria and Germany during the first part of the last century. Our host, Juliet, guided us about Munich’s many sites, tracing the steps of the Third Reich through those early days prior to and during WWII. She expertly set the stage and enlightened our group of the sentiment in Bavaria both after the First World War and in the prelude to WWII.

This blog item is no place for a history lesson, but suffice to say that our walk through Munich with Juliet provoked much thought in respect to a time and a place in history that went terribly wrong. Being in München and seeing, hearing and touching the physical spaces that were home to this movement was powerful yet sobering… In many ways the morning could best be described as profound.

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Biking Europe (The Hinchey’s)

Not as much a single event, but an experience. We don’t consider ourselves ‘expert bikers’ but we do like to get 3-4 loops in at home during the nice months and we always try to hop on a bike somewhere in Europe. We have Croatia, France, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Austria and maybe a few more under our belts. It’s just a fun way to roam around and explore just a bit further than you would if you were on your feet.

Amsterdam was by far the scariest as you are sharing the paths with thousands of people who use their bikes for everything…work, shopping, exercise, school and whatever needs to get done. San Sebastian was the most challenging as I planned our own 30km bike route for our group. And it didn’t go real well as we got lost several times in the hills of Northern Spain as our phones, one by one, started dying and we were climbing dirt roads through a farm. At one point I said ‘That cow is giving us a strange look’. The reply from one of our crew was, ‘That’s because it’s never seen a human before’!! Munich was probably the safest as they have dedicated bike lanes everywhere both inside the city and outside of the city.

One day saw us cruise out to the BMW Museum and the Olympic site with a pit stop at a monstrous outdoor beer garden, ending with some laps up and down many of the older city streets. There are reasonably priced bike rental shops everywhere with experts on site to guide you in your choice of tours.

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The Beautiful Game – Lazio/Bari Match (The Lumsden’s)

Alright… almost every guide book & Rome website/forum suggested that for real taste of Roman culture you need to attend a football game. That suited us well… as long time live sport enthusiasts. It was our good fortune, while visiting Italy in 2010, that a Lazio vs Bari match fit very nicely into our early planning. We gathered info in regard to times, prices, seating and the “do’s and dont’s” when making such a visit. Finally, the week prior to our arrival, Janie managed to reserve tickets for the match, and the next fine Sunday afternoon found us in front of Stadio Olympico to see SS Lazio vs Bari.

It was education at its finest!!! Crowds in light blue, carrying scarves, flags and banners began to congregate out front. After a scramble to locate will call for tix (we handed our passports through a barred window) we entered. The rest was just eye candy. Through the singing and chorus of the crowd we held our ground, cheering and booing with the home team fans that surrounded us in all directions. The Bari fans were isolated by high fencing to one section of the stadium, with no seats sold in the sections to the right and left of that group. As the game’s momentum took shape we watched the antics and listened to the roars of tries taken and missed. Smoke bombs, whistles, jeers… eye popping! It turned out to be a rough game for Lazio. They lost 2 – nil and, although spirited on the pitch, were no match for the away team. To show their displeasure the home team fans started fires in at least three sections leaving a haze over Stadio Olympico and the distinct odor of burned plastic! Just WOW…

Thanks for indulging us in this flight down memory lane. As we continue to collaborate, Mike and I will post our online discussions in regard to shared experiences while travelling. Next in the hopper is a city review… an effort to land the “quick facts” on some of our favorite European destinations. Stay tuned!!!

Find below Part II of a virtual discussion / list created in June 2026 that presents an organized list of “Top Foodie Experiences” of two Antigonish Teacher travel enthusiasts, Mike Hinchey and Chris Lumsden. 

Mike: So how about this for a fun little one. We each name 5 favourite restaurants we’ve come across. Keep it simple with just CITY, RESTAURANT, FOOD, LINK and CONTEXT.

Chris: Neat idea… it will force Janie and I to reflect on all the ghosts of meals past!

Top 5 Restaurant/Food Experiences

Kathy & Mike:

San Sebastián is a beach city with tons of Pintxo bars, each with an assortment of choices as well as their specialty. Order a drink and a couple of pintxos and enjoy them at stand up tables on the street or at the bar. Pay when leaving for the next bar… usually after 20-30 minutes. The generous portion of foie gras is seared and served on a piece of baguette… usually for about 3-4 euro.

Meal, dessert, casserole… still not sure! For something entirely different we sampled Štrukli from the best of the best. A delicate delicious hot dish – simple looking yet complex in taste. Smooth, comforting, and delicious with savoury and sweet flavours. We dialled in on this, and other local delicacies, through checking out foodie recommendations in our YouTube research.

This was the most amazing dining experience we’ve ever experienced. This Michelin star restaurant offers a 20 course meal where each course is just a small nibble of something you’ve never experienced. First time eating pigeon. Cost for this molecular gastronomy has grown from 125 Euro per person to 325 Euro per person. Drinks not included.

This was an evening to be sure! Among friends, & surrounded by the love and music of a Greek wedding celebration, we landed with welcome arms at Mythos sampled the menu. Authentic, excellence in presentation and taste… it proved to be next level impetus for Athens ‘25 (some 6 years later).

Perhaps framed most succinctly by a fellow dining companion… “Who’d have thought I’d have to leave Atlantic Canada and go to Ontario to enjoy the best seafood I’ve ever eaten”. Kelly was the best… service genuine, incredibly knowledgable & done without airs!

Arrived craving fish & chips in Galway… left on the back of a Casablanca camel, riding into the Sahara. With limited option for reservation and a few keen reviews we expected (with the name) Irish Pub fare, but we found a traditional Moroccan menu and plates passing by that looked delicious and smelled divine. I’d only heard of tagine… we ate well in Galway and we’ve prepared several times at home since. The flavour/aroma is superb!

We stumbled across this little gem (maybe 5 tables inside and 4-5 outside) while hanging out in Lagos. As we walked by the patrons outside and looked at their food, we knew we had to return. It was difficult to get a table but we managed to…twice. It’s our go to suggestion for anyone visiting the area. Huge portions of amazing pastas.

Selected as a wonderful example of the tapas scene that blew our minds when visiting Madrid in 2015. It was, for us, when food first “really” connected with travel. Each night we roamed the city sampling Spanish cuisine, from paella, to jamon, & oreja…

This Times Square classic was created in an old abandoned church and houses four, coal-fired brick oven pizza. We tried a few different pizzas but returned to the Margherita with its fresh mozzarella , tomato sauce, and basil. Their motto is “John’s Pizza-No slices”.

Authentic, Spicy, Smoked Chicken,  Pork and Sausage… we enjoyed on March Break 2018! I’ve got some pictures and can describe things… What I can’t do is relate how memorable the smell was and how perfect it tasted! In short, you hop in line and select from a pre-set menu highlighted by the chicken and pork. Then, you walk by the two huge charcoal fire pits and can see and smell the food smoking under huge corrugated sheets of metal. Had to stop there for a looksy. Our guide, Clarence, coaxed the cook inside to share a sample of the pork with us and lift the metal sheet to show us the meats on top of “Sweet Wood” and Janie to the containers of Scotchies Scotch Bonnet Pepper sauce! We’d highly recommend stopping by Scotchies in Drax Hall if you’re on the north coast of the island.

Follow-up…

Chris: Hey there… loved your write ups! Upon some reflection, I think we had a hard time separating the “story” from the “taste”. To us it’s a full package… it could be awesome food, but if the service or environment proved horrible it wouldn’t be the same. I guess what I’m saying is a lot has to align before one experiences an awesome meal. A hot dog in some circumstances could prove less than desirable, but a hot dog and a beer in a Jays vs Sox game at Fenway is a whole different affair. I still feel as though I am a “novice” when it comes to the world of international food. To complicate, I think we did this list three times and, as we continue to recall past dining opportunities and account for daily cravings, we could create a new list daily!

Mike: Oh I so agree. There are lots of elements to good food. Some restaurants have great reviews…but don’t do it for us. Some have poor rankings, but the food is spot on. The staff in some make you want to come back the next day whereas others chase you away for good. Two people can have the same meal in the same spot on the same night… and record reviews on both ends of the spectrum. We’ve had $400 meals and $10 meals and the tastes just don’t line up with the price. We had a meal with a tour guide we hired out in the middle of nowhere in Portugal. There was no menu. You ate what the tiny basement restaurant was serving. We had a cheese course with bread, some amazing chicken and vegetables, and a cake we couldn’t describe. All with a bunch of wine and beer. We asked our guide about the bill and he said there are no bills. Instead, you just give the Mom and Pop what you felt it was worth. He hinted that they’d be very happy with 10€ per person. Crazy. But in the end, I find myself trying to find the ‘where the locals eat’ type of spots. Usually great food, awesome vibe and a nice price point.

Find below a virtual discussion held in May/June 2026 that explores the travel experiences of two Antigonish Teacher travel enthusiasts, Mike Hinchey and Chris Lumsden. Part I examines shared travel tips that are roughly organized under the following designations; Organizational, Money, Transportation, Eating, Attraction, Technology, and Security, each heading including a call & response statement.

Organizational Tip (Chris): Let Google Maps be your planning friend. When developing an itinerary, use the “Star” function in Google Maps to note attractions, dining options, accommodations, and public transport options at your destination of choice. Doing so creates logistical “efficiencies”, and a traveller can create daily travel loops in specific location. It supports organized transport that avoids zigzagging back and forth across a city. Further, Google Maps has website, hours, location and user reviews.

Mike – Love it. Way back…maybe when visiting Rome… I used that strategy to make sure we were following a ‘logical’ path around the city.

Money Tip (Mike): When paying bills with a credit card in other countries (ex. restaurants, bars, shops, etc…) you may be asked if you want to pay in Canadian currency or in the local currency. Always choose the local currency as your credit card company will usually provide a much more favourable exchange rate than local rates.

Chris – Excellent tip… that CDN vs local is sneaky and feels counterintuitive. Especially important with ATM’s and larger amounts. Recommendations on ATM is a super question to ask a guide… a recent airport transfer hire in Sarajevo offered us info that quickly gave us the best ATM in regard to exchange rate.

Transportation Tip (Chris): We travel light and make it part of the challenge to pack even “more sparsely” each trip. Advantages are too numerous to list, but we especially appreciate the speed we can travel, cost savings, physical ease in movement and flexibility. We check nothing, utilize one undersized backpack each as carry on, and have learned that almost everything is available upon arrival (should something be forgotten). We’ve never lost luggage, are the earliest leaving Arrivals and spend less time in transport and more time with attractions. A tight “Packing List” is always a good idea, but in essence you can go anywhere with a couple of changes in clothes, toiletries, key tech and your passport/credit card!!!

Mike – Oh… we love that one. We have followed your lead on this one lately. Our last Barcelona trip was carry on and we were surprised at how easy it was. We’ve decided to do carry on to Punta Cana in January after this year’s trip to Mexico. One hour to get through security, one hour waiting for luggage, one hour waiting for transportation and one hour to get to resort. Painful. Friends we made at the resort from Halifax did carry-on. Forty-five for security, 0 at luggage, 0 at transportation wait as they booked a private shuttle and 1/2 hr to resort as no other stops. They had almost 3 extra hours walking the beach. We’re sold. And I love my multiple packing lists. We drove friends to the airport last week for 2.5 weeks in Turkey and Greece. They were talking on the way, wondering if they had everything?? I said…do you have your phone, passport and credit card? If so…you’re fine.

Eating Tip (Mike): You have to eat, so make it a great part of the trip. Do a bit of research beforehand. Not for the Michelin star restaurants but for the local favourites. Never eat close to a tourist site as the food will be overpriced and not great. Avoid a restaurant with an English sign and a pile of food for a cheap price. Walk 4-5 blocks from that spot and look for a spot a place full of locals. Don’t be shy as they’ll usually be very helpful. Order something, even if you don’t know what it is. Try to sit outside and people watch.

Chris – During our earliest travel we seriously neglected food experiences… partially due to minimal funds, but perhaps even more influenced by classic North American meal culture that frames food as a “fuel” more than a social opportunity. Mike, as well as friends Lori & Andrew Graham, have been mentors as to how we now plan food experiences as an attraction, and incorporate active research on what, where and how to eat well while traveling. Breaking bread while abroad is essential to understanding culture… there is little quite as personal.

Money Tip (Mike): When paying, check your slip (or there may not even be one) to see if you can see a word like ‘servizio’ or something which might mean a tip is included. Be sure to read up on the tipping culture of the area as a Euro or 2 might be more than what is expected. Of course, don’t be afraid to tip for good service. If they ask, do you want to pay in CDN or local currency… always choose the currency of the country you are in to avoid extra conversions. On our last trip with 3 couples, our travel friends from Halifax introduced us to SplitWise. Anytime anyone in our group paid for something (groceries, Airbnb, restaurant, etc…) it was entered into the app by that person. Every 4-5 days we’d check it and it would detail everything and tell us who owes what to who. This way we weren’t constantly shifting $$ around and it was amazing how closely it always worked out. A good app for groups.

Chris – Prudent suggestions here… tipping culture varies widely in our experience as well. I’ve taken to YouTube numerous times (most recently for the Balkans) and identified practices in regard to service professionals. We always strive to strike a balance… and will often give monetarily when we have comfortable, authentic eating experiences. Haven’t used that SplitWise App… perhaps as Janie and I don’t normally “group travel” it’s just not been something necessary. A last year “shared” trip to Toronto would’ve been a good opportunity. Putting that idea in the hopper!

Eating Tip (Chris): Visiting a grocery store while abroad is a cultural experience… Do it! Not only is it an economical way to stock the larder at your next Airbnb, but a potential path to the what, how, and who of grocery shopping all over the world. What is being sold, how much, deciphering foreign language labels and discovering new to us products. Try a local recipe with ingredients available at the source. Even better… transfer your knowledge and try a dish at home. Just this evening we purchased Ajvar (nicknamed Croatian Caviar), a product we first sampled in Zagreb, Croatia, at our local Sobeys. Do yourself a favor and live in the community you are visiting by interacting at the local grocery store.

Mike – Love, love, love it. I would have to agree….my favourite spot to hit in each city is the grocery store. I could wander around for hours. I grew up in the grocery store world as my Dad and his 3 brothers owned 4 small grocery stores in the 4 corners of New Waterford. Dad taught me how tough it was to compete with the big guys like Sobeys!! One of the first things I do once I select our hotel/Airbnb in a city is to use Google Maps to locate the closest grocery store. Then…once I have the name of the store, I Google it and locate their flyer to learn about products and prices. Of course, the beer and wine page is always popular. Just thought of this anecdote. We were in a small grocery store in rural Tuscany with Kathy’s brother and wife. Paul and I were trying to find goat cheese but no one in the store could speak English. Finally Paul pointed at a block of local cheese and said ‘Baaaaa’. A local gent smiled at us and took us around the corner to the goat cheese. And did you notice, most cashiers in Europe are provided with chairs at the checkout!!

Attraction Tip (Mike): Take the time to arrange some tours with local experts. We’ve visited museums without a tour guide and found ourselves just wandering around for a bit and then packing it in after an hour or so. On the other hand, when we’ve booked a local expert, we hated to leave after a few hours as they just opened our eyes to so many things we would not have noticed. We’ve had guides at the Prado Museum in Madrid, along the canals of Venice and Amsterdam, along the river in Prague and in the streets of Croatia, Rome, Paris, Barcelona, London, etc….. Not once have we felt that it was a waste of money. We have used ‘Free Tours’ in many cities as well. You do the tour and then tip what you think it was worth. These are often some of the best guides as they know they have to be good. Guided tours have been the highlight of most of our trips.

Chris – That was another Mike suggestion I “borrowed” along the way for sure! Whether it be guiding in person with a Sandeman’s Free Walking Tour or virtual selections (like your Rick Steves Audio Guide tip), good guiding takes your learned experience from novice to intermediate in hours. We always highlight good guiding in our blog… it’s an essential travel hack and doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Our favourite… the very knowledgable Juliet that took us on a dramatic “Munich – Third Reich Walking Tour”. Without prompt Janie and I solicited the same answer! 

Technology Tip (Chris): Leverage the maximum from your iPhone, perhaps your most powerful & indispensable tech tool, while travelling at home and abroad. Sure you can grab anything on the web (transport, accommodation, attractions) but we find it’s the small organizational things that count. Install necessary Apps (airlines, attraction tix, public transport, museum / audio guides, Google Translate, etc.) before departure and host together in a specific folder for ease of access. Flag important e-mails (you can even change colors) in your inbox so you can quickly filter important travel documents. We “share” an e-mail address for travel, so redundancy of critical messages / attachments is built in as a fail safe. Use the camera… keep secure pictures of your passports, take a photo to note where you’ve parked at the airport, or capture an extra image of luggage drop QR codes. I always follow (on Instagram / YouTube) a local guide or travel authority for notes on tips / tricks or specific on the ground closures, and I never fail to preset the destination in a weather App.  It’s only limited by your imagination. While abroad, utilize an e-Sim (we almost exclusively use Airalo) to secure data in one or multiple countries and avoid roaming fees / know your costs. Of course, it won’t work without power, so make sure you have a reliable adapter / regular charging routine!

Mike – Next level!! Great stuff. I will definitely review this one again before the next excursion. I like the shared email thing. Nice way to keep things more connected. After reading this one, I don’t think I ever realized how much I use my devices while travelling. As side note, I have a couple of travel friends who always use a travel app. It’s one of the ones where you put everything into the one app as you build your trip. It holds flight info, hotels, Airbnb’s, museum reservations, currency exchange rates, etc…. It really includes everything. I haven’t used one yet but there are a couple of popular ones out there. I think I’m always afraid of sharing too much info with an app.

Security Tip (Mike): Scams / threats / hassles are real so know how to recognize them. Paris is probably the worst for the ’could you sign my petition’ one. Easy to spot as they are almost often a group of 2 or 3 girls holding a clipboard. While you are distracted, on of them is slipping their hand into your backpack. Pickpockets are real and they are good. The ones on public transport are the best because they can bump into you easily. We always keep important stuff in our front pockets. Leftover Canadian Tire money in the backpack is one I’ve heard people use… just to see if they really do get pickpocketed. A common one in Rome is the ‘I made a bracelet for you’. usually a guy quickly slipping a little rope bracelet on the wrist of a lady, and then aggressively asking for money in return. Or, a couple of ‘gladiator type’ guys roaming around offering to let you take a picture… but then insisting on $$ in exchange. And the popular ‘shell game’ in places like Paris. Everyone seems to be winning big until you play and lose every time. The big winners are all part of the scam. Money exchange places are always dangerous. Prague is probably the worst. People who have not planned well and are looking for some local currency get ripped off quickly. Only use ATM’s connected to a real bank. The ‘grey’ machines charge crazy rates and could contain card scammers. Kathy and I are very careful with all of these and I don’t think we’ve been victimized (knock on wood) but I did get hit with a cute one in Rome years ago. When selfie sticks were just becoming popular, I got hooked into buying one…but why not at just 10Euro. But as I was walking away, the guy smiled and said ‘You’ll need this’ as he smiled and showed me a tiny little remote clicker that would cost me another 10Euro. It clearly had a value of about 50 cents but the stick was no good without it. He gave me a kind of ‘gotcha look’ as I walked away. To get a better insight of the growing number of scams…just type in travel scams on YouTube and prepare to be entertained.

Chris – Scams… there are plenty and, fortunately, most well known! I particularly remember being ready for the “string men” by the funicular in Montemarte… doing the bracelet thing you described above. We had researched and were ready… armed with info is the best case scenario! Prague has a very well known YouTuber (The Honest Guide) who is absolutely worth the watch before setting foot in that otherwise beautiful, safe city destination.

Accommodation Tip (Chris): With destination decided, flight and transportation purchased, attraction ideas gathered the next pivotal decision becomes lodging. For the Lumsden’s this is a collaborative effort. Discussions start with a few key elements. Are there ample beds (couple – group), location near transit, amenities, dining plans, and of course budget? Seems easy enough… Standard with most hotel offerings, right? We’ve learned that where one stays is often more than a bed, and now invest as much / more planning time in our selection as any other parts of the travel process. That started for us in 2015 in Madrid, where we gained new appreciation in how accommodations can really be an attraction during time on the road. We spent a few extra bucks for a plaza view boutique hotel stay (Hotel Europa) that was as much an attraction as a bed. When selecting (whether it be hotel, rental, B&B, hostel), I research and isolate a focused location, using proximity to attractions/public transport, and neighbourhood safety. Then, Janie goes to work zeroing in on the many accommodation types and specific amenities… there is an amazing number of options that suit traveller wants / needs. We call it our version of HGTV House Hunting. Most recently, we have moved more towards rentals, especially for stays beyond an overnighter. Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com search engines are powerful… and filters support efficient research. When cost, amenities and location align, we reserve (early bird gets the worm so it’s best booked early). Our satisfaction rate with these bookings has been excellent!

Mike: Can’t agree more. Putting time into searching out accommodation is key. There are so many possibilities and such a variety of experiences. I can tell you two have this part of the planning well coordinated. From reading your blog, it also looks like you’re pretty well batting 100% over the years. I like to go on a travel forum before visiting an area and just ask…”Any suggestions as to which area might be a good spot to hang out?”…. and it will usually start a discussion involving people who’ve visited and people from the area. Experienced travellers often have a real good understanding of the different vibes in the city. Once I have it narrowed down to a few areas, I often walk the streets of the area with Google Maps to see what it feels like. And then I go in ‘Lumsden mode’ and get to work. We still recommend places like Hotel Europa and Piemonte Hotel in Rome from your suggestions. Another thing we’ve been doing is checking to see if VRBO/Airbnb owners are willing to share their private contact information when we’re leaving. This allows us or friends to visit in the future and to save a few bucks by booking outside of the travel site. If you form a good relationship with the owner, it can benefit both sides. 

Organizational Tip (Chris): Thoughtful travel involves reflection. For us that faithfully includes the articling / journaling of planning, details of daily events and curating / collecting photos of the many sights and experiences we encounter. However, as we’ve matured as travellers it has evolved well beyond. Our reflection incorporates reviews of successes, challenges, scores, flops, travel processes, or unforgettable moments lived along the way… a means for examination and incremental improvement. We choose to share our travels in real time (with a limited audience including family and friends) and have done so for over 10 years. Options, whether using specific Apps, vlogging on YouTube or other web-based software, are many and can be tailored to preference. We maintain an ad-free, un-monetized website and host two decades worth of widespread travel through North America and Europe. It’s a labour of love, as serious time / commitment / dedication are important factors to take into account. It has become our thinking piece for the 5 W’s, amassed our growth and learnings as travellers, hosted a myriad of commenting / conversations that expand on destinations and planning, but remains the “family album” of the “Traveling Lumsdens”.

Mike – Your blogs are ‘gems’. It makes me look forward to your travels as much as you folks do. I’ve returned to some of them more than once when planning a trip and I’ve directed others to check them out as well (with your permission I hope). My blogging has deteriorated over the last few trips as the blog sites I’ve used have started charging $$, have added advertising, or have just become too messy. I used to have a couple of ‘goto’ sites but they’ve lost their glamour. Time to refocus on the blogging.

Organizational Tip (Chris): There are lots of “habits” that support being efficient in regard to airport security / customs clearance. This year, with Europe and increased ETIAS security measures, advanced prep is key. Get your boarding pass in your Airline App or Apple Wallet and carefully follow gate information. Although often hectic, loud and loaded with verbal instructions, take your time in security. It saves in the long run. I always leave belt and hat in bag and empty pockets prior to arrival. We continue to use Ziploc bags for toiletries following recommended sizes / allowances. We’ve seen liquids removal requested in some settings, while allowable in others. Know you’re itinerary… where you are staying, for how long, and have passport in hand before walking up to customs officer. Really no place for “chit chat” unless initiated. Use ArriveCAN when returning to Canada 🇨🇦 to make necessary declarations and save time in customs line-up. Answer questions clearly and accurately… and, if you’re packed lightly with carry-on only, you’re either enjoying your next travel destination or quickly making your way home from Halifax Stanfield!

Mike – Consider grabbing a Nexus card. Pretty cheap and it can often get you through Canadian airports a bit easier. Our last few times through the Halifax airport, we didn’t have to remove fluids/electronics from our bags. Security just said…throw your bag there and head through. And stay away from food products, wood products, etc…. if you can. These can often lead to you being sent to secondary examination which can slow things down. I don’t need a Dutch cheese or a cutting board from Tuscany that bad.

Organizational Tip (Mike): So many solid ‘packing’ suggestions here. The packing lists are an essential part of our travel. Mostly for the logical things like clothes and bathroom stuff…. but also for the little things. Grocery bag-the little fabric ones that fold up to the size of a tennis ball but hold 30 lbs of stuff. Power bar-with so many electronics, we used to carry 4-5 adapters to look after each thing with a plug. Now we take one small power bar and no more than 2 little adapters. Plug the bar into the adapter and place it in a spot like a kitchen counter in the Airbnb. Everything stays charged and easy to find. Corkscrew-I always grab one of the little hotel room ones to leave in my backpack. One never knows when one will need one. I remember curling up with a baguette, some cheese and a bottle of wine on the side of a river in France one day, seeing the corked bottle and remembering that the little corkscrew was in my bag. Phew. AirTags/Trackers-aren’t as necessary with carry on but we do now use the credit card style tracker as I leave one in my wallet….just in case it goes missing. Raincoats-depending on the trip, we sometimes throw in a couple of dollar store raincoats…just in case. We usually travel with a rain style jacket but sometimes you’re miles from your spot and the skies unexpectedly open up. Ziploc bags-So many possibilities from keeping paper dry to keeping cheese safely packed…it seems we always find a new use.  Reading glasses-I always pack one extra cheap pair of glasses as I know how rotten it would be if I lost my main ones!

Chris – Yay for this batch of suggestions! The cloth shopping bag is a must… especially when we do a rental with kitchen. Off to buy groceries? No worries. Ziplocs… incredibly useful for a myriad of purposes! To add to your list Mike, we take a few Laundry Detergent Sheets (conveniently napkin size and without liquids) when using an equipped rental. A bounce sheet will help with freshening up clothes in backpack as well. We’ve learned it’s as important to know what not to pack! Research what’s available at the accommodation, don’t double pack (ie: why take multiple tubes of toothpaste) and limit to essentials. Less is more, more or less!!!

Organizational Tip (Chris): A lot of what’s been covered in these tips is tethered to heavily planned and organized decision making. However, please, please leave some room in your itinerary for spontaneity! If the spirit moves you… do your best to safely reach for the light! We have examples… how about purchasing on the ground last minute tix to a football match in Belfast. An incredibly treacherous evening of football… We met some amazing people! And hey… if there is a raucous don’t be scared to follow it. We did that in Vatican City and found the Pope saying prayers at St Peter’s! How about heading for an Irish pub in Budapest… rolling into “Trivia Night” hosted by a Pembroke Ontario teacher. We talked shop, enjoyed the company, and shut down Davy’s Irish Pub with a snoot full of Guinness! I guess… when it feels right, have a little faith! Some times you have to own where you’re at! 😉

Mike – Oh how I agree with this one. Early on I felt I had to totally fill the daily itinerary with activities thinking we couldn’t waste a minute in a new city. Some days I think we wore ourselves out. I remember a 28,000 step day crisscrossing Rome. Now we schedule the essentials and then have a list of ‘maybes’ at the bottom of the page. As the days go on, we often check a few off here and there. There are times when you just hear of an activity last minute or see people heading somewhere and tag along. One day we hopped off of a tram near the Vienna Opera House and there was a performance on a big outdoor screen. We curled up for 15 minutes of a free experience

Yepper… First day back was an astonishing Sept 1st, which seemed incredibly early for return. Regardless, we steeled ourselves for several days of Prep/PD and a Thursday student arrival. As per usual… we hit the ground running, rolling with the usual technology, administrative and student led dysfunction that inevitably gets sorted. Even though we are both in the twilight of our professional teaching time, there remains that excitement to meet our students and work with colleagues from past and present. Pic above is of Janie’s clean start after Student Council landed 🫣!

Next note is a lemons to lemonade attempt! The boys and I had been working diligently toward a fun-filled Labour Day Weekend. The concept was to have a Waterfront Band Reunion… the old trio getting back together for a public appearance in Canso with purpose, as cancer fundraiser. I suppose, buried even deeper, was the curiosity in finding out what we remembered, what we had learned, and that always addictive moment when you make music with others. All was set, with several rehearsals having occurred, gear assembled and bookings made. Even had some folks that were headed to Canso to attend.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas… Rainfall Warnings ⚠️, power outages and a long list of cancellations brought all into question. Common sense prevailed (outdoor venue) and it would be a total reboot for another day! We were all a bit bummed… chin up though, as we headed for Halifax to check in with family and make the most of a long weekend. Food, family, an impromptu music evening and some city exploring kept all hands occupied. Big thanks to JP for letting all this land on his doorstep!

Weekend #2 of September brought all kinds of productivity!!! Ms L was full on with Mary Beth into the preserves, and lots of salsa and mustard pickles were the result. The kitchen smelled awesome on Sunday… we sampled the salsa (no 6 day wait at Chez Lumsden) and it was excellent. Perhaps more bottling in the weeks to come 🤔! I spent a Friday/Saturday at camp engaged in that seasonal switch including storage and return of all the things that don’t over winter, while prepping for colder days. Camp kitchen packed up, raft ashore, garden prepped, shower packed up, guitar dragged home… along with new wood cut, blocked and piled. An industrious weekend capped by a big Jays ⚾ win!!!

By mid month school was well underway… we had “Meet the Creature” meetings put to rest and I got to see a couple of my kiddos from last year which was great. I was lost in paperwork with prep for IPP’s for my gang not following regular curriculum. That’ll come to a head in October when we have a first set of individual parent meetings for myself, and marks due for Janie. We also got signed up for October Conference (thnx to Janie navigating registration) which always seems a wild ride!

On Weekend #3 Ms L and I tested a hot tent setup in the backyard… basically our bell tent with a wood stove placed inside (the tent has a hatch for flue pipe). Super fun… Very cool little bit of glamping I’d call it! Had morning coffees ☕️, another kink 😴 and then a little cook up of ham & eggs 🍳! We hope to do some late season (maybe even winter) camping for an October or November outdoor activity. Research is required, as I’m a bit stymied when looking for places to actually camp. It seems using the stove in Provincial camping areas is contrary to rules and regs, and camping does not seem to make the list of outdoor activities permissible on crown land. Stay tuned!

The last weekend of September Janie headed for Halifax… events scheduled for her with Erin’s 19th B-Day Bash and some “special” shopping with Emilie. Further, Janie usually checks out Costco and Gateway to round out the trip and pick up bulk items & deals that we can manage at tiny 204 Cloverville. Thanks to Eileen’s vehicle, I sailed into Camp Lumsden for a couple of days of straight up chores… Raft / Kayaks / Wood Stores. Also worked to get cameras all functioning as expected… after getting a nice “Bobcat” hit during the week. Colder mornings already leaning in, with fall 🍂 colors reflecting in the shallow waters around Smelt Lake. The last day of the month, provincial Truth & Reconciliation Day, was a quiet (except for construction next door at Bill’s) day at home to recharge. Although a “Jays-less” post-season, we’re ready to see what October brings 🎃!