On Friday, I published the following text:
“I saw this quote today and felt like it was the perfect fit!
I want to look back on my life and know that I lived it to the fullest. Sharing time with my family, experiencing new countries and cultures, continuously learning and teaching, and finding the joy in everyday life should all be part of those 86,400 seconds. Every day with my family is a success; every day that I learn something new is a success; every day is a success. Continue reading
Every famous building has a story, a legend hidden deep within it, which intrigues people. In the case of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, it is the story of the hunchback who was the inspiration for the books, movies, and cartoons known as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.
The Cathedral itself is the most significant aspect of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” novel, acting as both the main setting and the focus of the story’s themes. My passion for reading and my love for the hunchback story, brought me to the Notre Dame Cathedral. I had visualized its beauty and imagined the sound of Quasimodo ringing its bells; actually walking inside was like walking through the pages of my mind. Continue reading
Top 10 Favorite Cities Visited
I’ve experienced some of the most amazing cities that the world has to offer. From great beaches, climate, friendly people, personal interests, world-famous attractions, architecture, history and culture, there are many different factors that make a city great, let alone top ten!
#9 Paris – France
Paris is the most visited city in the world with an estimated 15.6 million visitors a year. Continue reading
There was only one real reason to go to northern France and it was the Beaches of
Normandy. After four years of studying war history at Dalhousie University, I wanted to pay tribute to the soldiers who fought and gave their lives for our freedom. Juno Beach, the only Canadian sector, allowed me to re-live the pitiless battles fought by the Canadian Infantry and mindfully walked the beaches in the soldiers’ honor. Juno Beach is sometimes referred to as the Canadian beach because of the Canadian Division capturing the beach on D-Day, June 6th, 1944. The Canadian history, the sandy beaches, and the museum made Juno Beach a fascinating visit. It was a quiet, reflective day that I will hold with me for the rest of my life. Continue reading
More beautiful than Vatican City or the Eiffel Tower is the beach in Nice, France that
stretches for miles along the French Riviera. Nice’s signature attraction is the Promenade des Anglais, a bustling walkway running along the Mediterranean, but it wasn’t the promenade that caught my eye; it was the exposed skin that came as the “biggest” surprise and proved that Nice is a little naughty.
Every famous building has a story, a legend hidden deep within it, which intrigues people. In the case of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, it is the story of the hunchback who was the inspiration for book, movies, and cartoons known as “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.
The Cathedral itself is the most significant aspect of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” novel, acting as both the main setting and the focus of the story’s themes. My passion for reading and my love for the hunchback story, brought me to the Notre Dame Cathedral. I had visualized its beauty and imagined the sound of Quasimodo ringing its bells so actually walking inside was like walking through the pages of my mind. Continue reading
It is only when you are standing under the Eiffel Tower that you truly understand the sheer magnitude of it.
I decided that walking the tower steps would be a worthwhile experience. After all, not many people can say that they walked the Eiffel Tower. I only saw six people braving the steps before I purchased my ticket, but I just assumed there were several more people out of sight. It turned out that walking the tower wasn’t as popular as you’d think.
It only costs 4 € to walk to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and another 4 € to go to the top.
I stood in line for 5 minutes before paying for the challenge ahead. Continue reading
Gare du Nord Station, Paris at 10pm is a rather dark and sketchy situation. It was the perfect setting for a murder or theft, but I was no longer thinking about movies; it was a current possibility. I was expecting to see the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre or maybe Notre Dame Cathedral; instead, I saw lots of homeless people, several run-down buildings, three dingy restaurants, and two hotels.
Paris – the city of love and lights is said to be the city of lovers… the most romantic place on earth; unless your idea of “love” is two people feeling each other up while holding a bottle of wine, each, than try to avoid Gare du Nord Station at night.
I arrived in Paris via Gare du Nord Station with no knowledge of what to expect and
nothing booked for the evening. My hotel room had a single bed with dirty sheets and a balcony door that opened to a 7 story drop to the ground. The shower was black with mold and I’m still not sure what color the towel was suppose to be. The only thing I took with me from the hotel was a bad rash from bed bug bits and pessimistic view of Paris.
If you have the option to use any other station in the city, spend the extra money and avoid the disappointment and possible mugging.
Bucket List Publications 
