It's 1679. Place yourself in the mindset of a Portuguese ship's captain with a full cargo of port. Now, place yourself on one of the most beautiful islands of the world. No, not in the Caribbean - you're in Newfoundland, Canada, and in avoiding pirates (those rascally knaves), you've veered to St. John's and had to winter over. 

Have you ever wondered what it would REALLY be like to live in Africa? Not the Africa of tourists, or the Africa of locals (because we’re not locals), but the Africa of an expat. I have wondered about Africa, because I was an expat in Japan, which is also radically different from the US. What is it like to live in a completely different culture than your own? What cultural adjustments will you have to make, what will surprise you, and what impact will your time in Africa have, when you return home? 

Nestled just off Stratford’s main square is an artist’s cottage. It is a muted yellow with deep chocolate accents; a white portico with columns entices you in off the street. Enter through the small English cottage garden, past a sign that shows that, indeed, this is an artist’s cottage.

If there's one thing I know well, it's the deliciousness of dumplings. Thanks to my husband's love for them, I have tasted them everywhere we go. I've even become a dumpling aficionado, like him. Thinking of eating dumplings is a joy, making them is lovely, but actually eating them is divine. 

ALAS! Tavola is closed.

Sometimes the unexpected brings the greatest joy. One of the best meals I had in St. John's, Newfoundland this summer was at Tavola. It was at a meal hosted by Destination St. John's (thank you!), and since I hadn't done any restaurant research before coming to Newfoundland, I didn't know what to expect. But as with all the meals we ate in St. John's, I was delighted and surprised by the excellent food, warm interior, and great conversation.

A Jubilee is a joyful time for Catholics, a special year for forgiveness, universal pardon, and remission of sins. The Jubilee is personally marked by physical passage through one of 7 Holy Doors in the world. It is a time of pilgrimage, for to pass through the Holy Door is to go through a rite of passage. The door is open to all persons of good will.

On the northeast shores of Lamèque Island, New Brunswick, lies a folk art treasure. Sainte-Cècile Church, also known as the Candy Church, was built in the early 1900s.

Get ready and fasten your seatbelts! This summer, we took an Epic Canadian Road Trip, driving from our home in Kalamazoo, Michigan all the way out to St. John’s, Newfoundland (yes, a ferry was involved). Why? Well, I’m the co-founder of Writing Walking Women, and we chose St.

Have you ever wanted a place you could go back to, every summer, for your entire life? If you don't have a cottage in northern Michigan or Minnesota, or a camp in Maine, then you probably are still searching. I've got the answer for you - the delightful, family-friendly perfection that is the Algonquin Resort, in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Only a skip across the bay from Maine, St.

Whale watching...it's on everyone's bucketlist - and why? Because it's such a magical experience. Seeing a whale breaching, well, it's incredible. The enormous power, the immensity of the whale, and the rareness of actually seeing one? There's nothing else like it.