Author: Chris Lumsden

Work, in earnest, began outdoors June 2nd on a long dreamed outdoor refurb in the back area at home. We had used that area of our property widely when we’d first moved to 204 Cloverville to schedule family BBQ’s, host the odd birthday party and even just sit in the summer shade. After some investigation, Janie and I took the plunge to contract some initial landscape work and create a “push” to restore that area. Over several days the contractor did a great job getting us moving in the right direction… a nice landing area outside the back door where we can sit and enjoy the propane fire pit. Looking forward to more improvements, and maybe taking some of the development on ourselves.

Ah, and the “Boys Camp Weekend” convened this year in early June… later than usual. Lots of excellent homestyle music, yummy food off the smoker, refreshments and stories that seem to last until the next session. A merry group of 5 gents, all with instrument, in the wilds of Guysborough County. We’re all getting a little older… but somehow that sheds and discussions pick up exactly where they left off. It’s a group that accepts each of the parts that arrive, warts and all (especially me 🙃), at this particular time of life. Bugs were serious… but everything else found a pretty good landing spot! Until next time guys 😉!

Janie was on deck at home the first Sunday, as we anticipated the last phase of the solar install, panel placement & final inspection. Looking forward to following along via Phone App and gather feedback on potential harvest of some June sun (to hopefully temper the December power bill). We got closer, but still work to do before completion. Loving the look of the new panels and anticipating with great interest what we can begin to expect as a draw when wire is connected, diagram inspected and data collected. We’ve had our own solar set-up at camp for almost a decade… we know the value in both economics and convenience and are hoping for a similar result.

Janie also got an amazing surprise later in the week at DrJHG Awards Night, being named a Loran Teachers Building Leadership Award (Article outlines history of Award) which recognizes educators across Canada that have had a profound impact on their students’ educational and personal development. Ms. Lumsden isn’t exactly fond of this sort of recognition, but it was a welcome opportunity to celebrate the collage of efforts Janie quietly completes on a daily basis at school and she so very much deserves the accolades. It helped that her nomination was submitted by former student Hilus Keay and was, importantly, from the heart! Thanks to the DrJHG event organizers and Hilus for the wonderful, and uplifting, mid-June surprise and opportunity to celebrate 💓!

Speaking of school, June marched onward… for myself, it was IPP Meetings, Reports, and keeping my “boys club” at school held together. For Janie, it was the stuff of marks, graduation, scholarships, yearbooks, and the time honored rituals that take Grade 12’s to the next phase in their lives. Each year we say goodbye to staff that transfer or retire, a new set of students arrive and others move to the next stage of their education… schools are dynamic and transition is ongoing. Even though both of us are well into our careers and much of that is second nature, there are always special moments at year end that grab at you and help one return to that place that was the impetus for teaching at the start. We endure in this ancient helping profession.

Intermingled in the month was a 58th birthday, Father’s Day (every day here 🤫), camp trips and festival volunteering, which propelled moments for both reflection and productivity. And how about “Johnny Ace”, sliding into retirement but always managing to keep “the group” glued together. Amid all the chaos I found myself at a Billy Bragg Concert in Halifax mid-June for some hardcore folk with Andrew, Troy and Peter. Great show… but perhaps even better was the opportunity to hang out with everyone for a day! We considered that a start to the musical adventure that would be coming this summer!

Solstice weekend brought another event this year… our first real bear encounter at Camp Lumsden! What we think was a yearling passing through (after being chased off by boar) did damage to the back of camp, fridge, and finally porch screens. A long awaited visit with Scott and Darren was perfectly timed as we took it on as a project and replaced boards / shingles at back of camp. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like anything is in permanent trouble (although monitoring fridge). Powerful animal… an important reminder that we only borrow space from the natural environment when being so exposed in the remoteness of Guysborough County.

Lastly, at month’s end, we were elated with the surprise engagement announcement of Pete and Emilie! Emilie, in all important ways, has been part of our family since she and Pete met while BEd students at StFX. She carries a calm and pleasant presence that’s natural and consistent, and she’s an excellent educator. Together, they make a very capable couple… we are all better when Emilie is with us. Welcome aboard and congrats to you both 💍!!!

Such is June… a frenzy of milestones, celebration and work! It’s the treadmill to summer and a well deserved break (sort of 🤔). School in the rear view mirror generally means we’re looking through the windshield at Stanfest! How does it go… “A change is as good as a rest”? Regardless, the month pushed Janie and I pretty hard, and some summer days and “us projects” were next on the list!

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 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

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 with. 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.

This was the month that never seemed to end this year!!! Last couple have been very busy. May go off to a great start, with the first weekend being spent at the Camp. A gorgeous Fri/Sat set the table for outdoor chores, including having the waterline assembled, Operator’s Path cleared, wood bin replenished, garden duties (garlic and rhubarb) caught up and a switch up of bedding (out for a wash-up). Janie had company at home with Kelly K, who had arranged a stay over StFX graduation, so it was a solo camp trip for me. Lots accomplished in a short time span… feeling much more ready for camp season. Got those bed clothes returned on a weekday visit, which have been one a little more frequent this year 🤓!

And… just like that it was Mother’s Day weekend, so we packed up the Rav with some fun things to eat and headed back for the peace and quiet of Upper Whitehead. Still relatively bug free, we enjoyed a “just busy enough” weekend of chores, watching the lake, wood smoke and walking in the woods. Janie tackled the beach (raking/clean-up) and bed clothes, while I hit the firewood (blocking/splitting) and meals. We worked together to clear a short trail to the sauna/bunkie site (burnt all the brush) so it was a full Saturday. Some waterline issues that need attention, as the normal clamp tightening doesn’t seem to be holding pump prime. It’s been a couple of years since maintenance so I’m thinking leather gasket replacement is the probable next step! On a mid-week trip we replaced the gasket, as well as planted a couple of highbush blueberry plants as part of our ongoing “farm patch” experiment at Smelt Lake.

Victoria Day weekend was spent in Antigonish, as we tackled numerous chores at 204 Cloverville, including yard clean-up / mowing, posting items on FB Marketplace, Janie uploading DrJHG Yearbook edits for the looming deadline, final inspection of propane space heater (🙏), some summer baseball trip planning, landscaper visit / estimate, and visits with Mom/Dad, Peter and Uncle Jimmy/John. We have a gig at the DeCoste this August so we thought it might be a good idea to organize what that may look / sound like. All was “humming” around the house.

Chaos continued into the week with a Tuesday electrical install for new solar power array (started 3 hrs late) and a Wednesday drop of the RAV at Sullivan’s Auto for tires / MVI (that basically condemned our poor vehicle). Reality day with the rig for sure, that turned our stomachs and any “job completion momentum” upside down 🙃! To add insult, Thursday NSP solar electrical inspection / panel set-up didn’t happen 😤. Inexcusable really – NSP has long since worked its way outta my heart. The week ended on some hopeful positives with the Special Olympics at StFX, the DrJHG yearbook submitted (sort of) and some impromptu vehicle shopping! Honda Hybrid CR-V purchase Friday after school. A very busy run and we stumbled into the weekend bewildered. A Saturday overnight camp visit slowed down the pace some… with a relaxing evening campfire and being somewhat held captive indoors by the onslaught of black flies! Ahhh…

It remained busy for the last week of May as well. First the sale of the Rav, then sorting with AccessNS for sale of old Toyota and registration of new Honda. We actually have gotten to the point where we created a “shared note” to try and keep balls in the air 🤪. Once again, on Thursday, we prepped for a NSP Inspection with Eileen hanging out at Chez Lumsden to open the door for a potential visitor. That visit occurred 😃 and we’re expecting panel install sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, we have missed some max daylight hours as we move into June.

The weekend brought some downtime at camp and a smattering of improvements to the garden and more struggle with the hand pump! Friday, Evan and Monica celebrated his hard earned Graduation from Dalhousie Law ⚖. Really a wonderful achievement!!! Saturday proved one of the best weather days of the week, and we enjoyed that in the yard with the garden and campfire 🔥! And, of course, on Sunday Ms L celebrated another trip around the sun at month’s end and numerically caught up for a few weeks. We took a drive to the city to connect with the kids, enjoy “We got the Runs” on the softball diamond and head out for a meal and good company 🎉 . All in… we’ve had a “May” and are bracing for “June” in the public school system!

April Fool’s Day and a freezing rain storm! No, really… April 1st saw SRCE classes cancelled due to poor road conditions and I spent the day on the computer updating files and making web updates. I finally got some outstanding work done in regard to “Gallery” for trips dated back over a year. A fairly productive lead into a long holiday break (Thursday was a PD / PT Day).

April 2nd we hopped in the vehicles after school and pointed westward to Halifax for an evening out with the gang… the destination being Neptune’s production of Come From Away. All hands were more than impressed with the event. It was a step back in time for us… brought on all the “feels” of those tumultuous days post 9/11, and how things were about to change forever. Wonderful blend of song, humour and tears! Glad to have taken it in 🎭.

Easter isn’t quite right without our trek to PEI to hang with Janie’s family. As per usual, their home and our gracious hosts absorbed 10 extra guests like there was nobody around. Kids enjoyed seeing cousins, adults connected and checked in… always a good thing. We got some guitar playing in, siblings had fun on a little Saturday Farmers Market shopping and the weekend began and ended with freezing rain warnings. Popped in (above) our group photo for this great weekend. As always… huge gratitude to the MacKinnon’s for opening their home and allowing this long standing tradition to continue 💓!

Mid-week early in April saw an overnight at Camp Lumsden while Janie was Techsploring! Then attention quickly turned to matters at home, as Janie and Laura eyed 204 Cloverville outdoor improvement possibilities on the second weekend of the month. With Laura’s arrival approaching, I assembled two new Adirondack chairs for the back. The girl’s followed up by hitting the yard hard on Friday, Saturday and Sunday trimming, leveling, and dispatching of years of overgrowth while evenings doing research / planning and costing options. Lots of elbow grease!!! Really, although still chilly, a great bug-free / comfortable time of year for being outdoors.

Meanwhile, I started work over multiple visits at Camp Lumsden… which included a huge swath of seasonal chores (screens, wood stores, raft, trails, brush burning, etc) so big set-up weekends for some upcoming projects. Winter seems to have held on a little longer this year, with dwindling clumps of snow covering plants beds and forest trails, still to melt. On this year’s project list is the long awaited “Sauna/Bunkie” combo building to overlook the cove. Framing began in April (base) after getting a decent set of plans / materials list in place. April saw some initial power tool use in our quiet corner of the lake and shopping for the appropriate window / door systems. So far, so good!!!

The last weekend of the month was dedicated to a project at home in Canso. The gang assembled, after a series of planning messages / texts to gather tools / supplies, at my parent’s place to erect a deer fence around Aunt Sis’ garden. Trying to end the “big dinner” they’ve been having on bulbs in the plot. Pretty big job, as the “auger” was very helpful but a bit of a beast to manhandle. We had a couple of “tosses” as the machine fetched up in that rocky Canso soil and some aches and strains in places I never knew existed. Got it done by about noon on Sunday though. Love a project that starts and ends! In so many ways, April was a busy month.

A friend at school asked if I had a map with pins stuck in it that would indicate places we had visited over our travels. With having no such item, I decided that perhaps a solution online might be available. Voila… VisitedPlaces.com. Neat little virtual solution that becomes entirely sharable and easily updatable (below).

Oh… and how the visual is absolutely telling in regard to our travel. Entirely North America and Europe, which sent me pondering. I suggest, since we are teachers and a significant portion of our travel opportunity is on “time constrained breaks’, that transport time to regions such as Asia and South America make those options less attractive. However, with retirement nearing, that spinning globe really shines a light on areas we haven’t been able to incorporate to date. Light bulbs going on and maybe we’re ready, as travellers, to expand our boundaries and explore further abroad. Stay tuned!!!

“Travel is not reward for working, it’s education for living.” ~Anthony Bourdain

March Break has been “the” travel opportunity for us for almost two decades… we haven’t missed many!!! Although school, reports, and IPP Meetings figured prominently at work, much of the extra time at home was prepping for break. Thus, this monthly post links to our blog for Balkans ’26 and the incredible trip we had in Europe.

Just days away from travel time we were still putting last minute effort & preparation into the many details a trip abroad requires. Research, tech tune up, attraction tix, lodging reservations, incorporating the tips / tricks from others and transport specifics were examined and double checked for end of the week travel. We know now to ready / steady ourselves, as our style of visit is both physically and mentally demanding in our drive to wring every bit of learning from time away, and do this by being prepared!

Friday before break saw us commute to Halifax Stanfield International for all points beyond. We blogged our winding path for the next nine days as we explored the history & culture / geography & architecture of the sometimes forgotten Balkans of southeastern Europe. If our trip is any indication, it may not be forgotten for long!!! You can still read, enjoy the photos or even drop a comment at Balkans ’26! We thrive on the questions and feedback 🤓.

On return, we took almost a week to get back to normal and shake the time change woes. I like to call it “post-travel withdrawal”. We move in “high gear” during the break week and it is totally absorbed in the new environment and processes required for travel. I guess, if I was to use a sports analogy, we “leave it all on the ice”! It’s a crash when it ends and the feet cross the threshold at home… after the folk festival we call it the “Big Empty”.

Camp Lumsden saw no action beyond sporadic photos via TrailCam and reports on conditions from Cooeycoff contacts. Fishing season is just around the corner, but with remnant ice still in place, it will prove a slow start. Hoping that April proves a much better month for visits!

The month ended with a group “session” at Troy’s the included most of the usual suspects. Got to tour the DeCoste Centre, attend afternoon tunes at The Dock, visit with Andrew and frolic in an evening of music of our own making. Great night for the “Circle of Boots” gang. Thanks so much to the Greencorn’s for hosting!

“February is the uncertain month, neither black nor white but all shades between by turns. Nothing is sure.” ~ Gladys Hasty Carroll

I guess I agree with Gladys, it seems February was kind of “wrangy”! Yo-yo weather patterns, strange range of activities, work-a-day / holiday / snow day routines, flashes of time with family and friends mixed with runs of solitude, the quiet of a drive and the ebb and flow of the Olympics… the shortest month sure tested us in almost all ways. I’ll try and shake this out with just the right amount of detail.

Lots of snow for a first weekend of February visit to Camp Lumsden. It was almost a total redo of the prior weekend, requiring shovelling of parking space all the way to removing snow from the solar panels. The benefits, however, were just as keen with great snowshoe conditions and quiet evenings by the fire. Perhaps a few more of those can be snuck in prior to the collapse of weight bearing ice in the spring.

Health “matters” became thematic during the second week of February, with several of my closest undergoing hospitalization and even major surgery. Lots of checking in, several visits and family communication / navigation rounded out the week. In the foreground, prognosis for all parties was positive and moving in the best possible direction. In the back of my head, through all this, rested the notion that having one’s health and doing everything he/she can to maintain is a worthwhile goal.

Nicely timed, the NS Heritage Day Weekend rolled out mid-month and we were lucky enough to have Monica and Evan make the journey to the ‘Nish. The original plan was a camp trip, but we backed off on that and mustered for a couple nights visit to enjoy a weekend of food and fun, getting out to a show at Candid, outdoor skating on the Figure 8 in Guysborough, squeezing in a hospital visit and, of course, lending an eye to the ongoing Milano / Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Nice to connect as an antidote to heart of the winter in Nova Scotia.

On the heels of another “snow day interrupted” school week, I headed west to a long awaited Mt Allison gathering in Halifax. The “MtA Lads”, as they are lovingly referred to in my group chat, are in good health and it was excellent to catch up. Good food (led by Andrew & Monica’s recommendations), entertainment (Andy had purchased some AUS Basketball Ball Tix) and the “buzz” of the big city had us up early and to bed late! Whether it was pizza corner or Uno before crashing, it was a fun weekend getaway. Friendships seemed to pick up exactly where they left off and we still find ourselves managing regular communication / yearly visits some 35 years after graduation. I have great friends!!!

The last weekend of February saw Janie and I moving in opposite directions, as she took the opportunity to hang with the kids in the city while I snuck off to finish the month at Smelt Lake. She caught what was a very musical Saturday and I took advantage of snowshoeing conditions over ice / trails on a sunny AM/PM. As this month ends, attention turns toward March Break and travels abroad as planning hits the ground and we head, once again, for Europe. Should the travel Gods align, we’ll be posting as we make our way through the Balkans in a couple of weeks.

There are several ways to reconcile oneself with the reality of January in Atlantic Canada. In many ways a recoiling and full retreat to indoors, or fleeing south, make perfect sense. Temperature variation, precipitation in all forms, shuddering Nor’ Easters and the driveway waltz that glides with the to and fro of the “Env Canada weather radar rhythms” are order of the month. Indeed, there has been a lot of snow shifted around the yard this winter!

We, however, started the New Year with noses directly into the wind and sub-zero temperatures. Ms L and I opted for a winter camp weekend, answering downright frigid conditions under the strobe of a Wolf Moon to muster two productive overnighters in Upper Whitehead. Hearty meals, fresh air, chore-based exercise and superb, well deserved sleeping were core to the trip. Great start to the 2026 “camp season”.

And, of course, no January seems complete without what’s become an annual gathering for a Rankin’s Winter Warmer. We get to hang with the Chittys and the rest of the Stanfest family as well as connect with the kids / their friends. They include us in the weekend festivities like a favorite sweater that belongs to your Dad❤️. Music, food, and laughter ruled a fun Halifax weekend… privileged to be part of it all! Our rainy day “Big Brunch” at the Bluenose before home seems to be a real hit as we maxed out some seating for our group of eight (see pic).

What else 🤔? Ah… we organized another late month session with guitar, grub and Guinness to round out the “bring it” theme. The lads were in great form and although I’m super rusty, it’s always great fun to share a tune or add something complementary for another. Good for the soul… and hopefully a healing moment for the ills we carry. Some “tech” at this session… a few microphones set up, boys sharing pedal options, and we tracked the majority of songs sung so Troy could build a nifty Spotify playlist (now we could all snag a piece of the fun whenever there was a bunch of downtime). A very solid session! As Troy said post ditty, “My cup is full”!

Whoa… and a super “whomp” of snow in the last week of January where we missed two days of school. It was a very different storm. We are used to getting big snowfalls when the temperatures are close to 0°C, but this was an arctic snowfall with double digit below zero temps and light, fluffy snow. Made clean up easier on both myself and the gear. Janie ended up with an interrupted exam week and gotta say my merry gang were a bit out of sync as well. But hey… we go years without many snow days at all so we’re okay with the broken routine.

As for camp… we snuck in one more visit at the end of month when ice safety returned. It takes lots of extra work this time of year… from shovelling a parking spot / around camp to lugging wood and clamouring about with snowshoes. Camp Lumsden is so photogenic with freshly fallen snow and, in our case, full moons on our first and last visits of the month. Excellent challenge… with a lot calories burned up and fresh air in the lungs. So worth all the effort though, and when Janie and I return we’re dragging our butts! Great way to end a month of chilly temps, nestled in the confines of Smelt Lake.

December is fraught with traditions… some mandatory and others optional. We readied for the imminent arrival of snow with shovels / salt / snowblower taking poll position on the back porch. Of course there is the bracing for life at school, where young minds veer to Santa, holidays, presents and busted routines. It’s not an easy time for a lot of kids! Speaking of kids… we would also see our annual pre-Xmas Lumsden Mafia gathering roll out as our gang assembled on the Eastern Shore for a couple of nights of fun & games. Such was December 2025 as we charted a course (mappings 😁) to the new year.

And hello snow days… I believe we landed three (3) of them in December, which is a rarity for sure. Although the school commitment gets interrupted, it should be understood that these rarely feel as though they are a break. I’ve come to enjoy snow removal with my friend, “Big Red”. Once I’ve got a track through our space, I cooperate with neighbors to clean up their yards and help everyone secure access to the road to town for work / necessities. By the time that occurs… we are into the afternoon. The shutdowns, however, did give students a much needed reprieve after a long first reporting period and December hi-jynx.

Travel… well, we continued to fine tune our excursion to the Balkans for the upcoming March Break. Flights and accommodations are purchased, so its down to attractions and final transportation requirements (airport transfers) and a couple of excursion packages (Day Trips) that can’t wait until we are on the ground. Visits include the cities of Sarajevo and Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Dubrovnik and Zagreb in Croatia, as well as a day trip to Kotor, Montenegro. It is all “uncharted” territory… the more we research the years between 1992-95 in this region, the more we begin to understand the devastation and sheer horror everyday people experienced. It’s a very “blended” visit, with gritty, work a day, faster paced capital cities mixed in with historic jewels along rivers and ocean.

Our annual “Pre-Christmas” gathering with the kids and their partners rolled out on the weekend before the 25th. This year’s locale… Head of Jeddore, out in Ms Lumsden’s stomping grounds on the Eastern Shore. Big, beautiful new build with all the amenities, including a wood fired hot tub. It took me almost an entire day of burning to get the thing warm enough for a soak! Great meals, fun and games, and lots of reconnecting that have become part of the holiday season for our family. The gathering has definitely become an important tradition as our gang get a little older and we creep towards retirement. The plan is to try and incorporate Buzz & Emily next year if we can secure a place large enough that we can still afford 🥴!

Speaking of that, we did a quick run with a few gifts and “Ham Dinner” to Canso on Christmas Eve. Monica, Janie and I made the morning trek over Rte 16 to see the folks. Everything was very good there, with a lively visit that included lots of chatter, sustenance and even a visit with Cousin Mike. Always nice to have a sit at home and get caught up with the latest! With Xmas wishes looked after we turned the Rav homeward in the PM to welcome Pete and head for Uncle Eric’s for Christmas Eve games!

Christmas Day saw the big breakfast (we have an Eggs Benedict tradition), a modest exchange of gifts, and check ins with family and friends. Then onward for a spontaneous visit with the MacKinnons / Eileen in Summerside. Despite some snow covered black top, we made good time and jumped into the pace of that busy household! Loved the evening music session with Pete that leached into the wee hours. Home again Boxing Day, for Christmas dinner with the gang and Game #1 of the World Juniors vs Czechia 🇨🇿! Our eyes will stay on this year’s team until end of tournament.

A “slower” set of days followed, as we hunkered down at 204 Cloverville with time focused on enjoying the kids until they made their way home. We basically didn’t venture far beyond the driveway until New Year’s Eve and celebrations at Eric and Brenda’s on the bluff! Food, drink, friends and WJr’s ruled the evening (big 7-4 W against the Finns). Big thanks for the invite, the awesome snacks that got stuffed in the cooler, and the adios to ’25 / ringing in of ’26. Cheers all…