Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: adventure, bucket list, Egypt, Luxor, solo traveler, Valley of the Kings, West Bank, women traveler
After a week of diving the Red Sea, I travelled to Luxor. My pics from diving will need to wait until I get home, I have no way of charging my laptop unfortunately, so for now…
The day started with a trip to see Hatshepsut Temple. She was the first female leader of Egypt, who seemed to like shady business.
Later, exploring the The Valley of the Kings was amazing. We got there nice and early and from what I understand, I got off real lucky. No line ups to get into the tombs I’m told is rare, so I’ll take it.
After sweating out any extra water my system may have had on hand, we had a quick stop over in an alabaster shop. This stone is mined behind the Valley of the Kings and is famous in Egypt and all around the world. They immediately put me to work and complimented me by assuring me that I was a stronger than average woman.
Stubs.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bucket list, Egypt, Hieroglyphics, Old Kingdom, Pyramids, Saqqara, solo traveler, woman traveler
Saqarra is home to the oldest pyramid that’s ever been discovered, the step pyramid of Saqqara. Apparently many people skip this portion of Egypt which, I would not recommend. The highlight here for me was being able to still see paint on the walls inside the tombs.
The hydrophilics here are are insanely awesome. It provides the perfect opportunity for my guide to explain the basics of how to read them and how they flowed throughout the tombs into the main chambers. It’s really cool to start to piece together some of the patterns and meanings and it’s very easy to see how one would get swept up in the whole study of it.
Saqqara, Egypt
Saqqara, Egypt
Stubs.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bucket list, Egypt, Giza, Pyramids, solo traveler, Sphinx, woman traveler
Today was a very full day. Starting bright and early, we kicked off the day at the Great Pyramids of Giza. There was a moment where we were in traffic and I saw a glimpse of one. I froze. I wasn’t expecting it and it took my breath away. I think the last time I felt that way was the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains.
I am so lucky to have an amazing guide here. He has his Masters in Egyptology, I mean… could I have lucked out anymore than that?
After what seemed like a dream, we headed to do some shopping where I got to experience two of Egypts great treasures, essential oils and papyrus paper
Stubs.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Cairo, Cavern Church, Egypt, Egyptian Museum, Hanging Church, Museums, NMEC Egypt, woman traveler
Ever since I can remember, it was Egypt. The history of this place (which I’m only realizing how little I actually knew) has always been something that just stirs my soul. More than once, I thought it was time to travel here and for one reason or another, or perhaps just fate, now is the time I have finally made it. And, I’m ready.
Being on such a long and difficult journey the last year and a bit, I knew I needed something to shake me awake again. I needed to start finding myself again but in a big way. Losing your best friend and your partner forces you to reimagine life as you thought you knew it. Thinking about that made it clear why Egypt has eluded me all these years, it was meant to be right now.
This morning, my new friend Moustafa Mohsen took me to a variety of churches around Cairo and to The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. While there, I saw my first few mummies and was able to start to understand the evolution of Egyptian society. There are no words, just humility and reverence.
After getting more information in my brain in the shortest amount of time possible, we headed to Old Cairo and visited three separate Churches.
The first, Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church, also known as Abu Serga, in Coptic Cairo. In this church, Joseph his Mary and Jesus stayed during their journey to Egypt.
Tomorrow, I lay my eyes on the Great Pyramids for the first time.
Stubs.
Filed under: Uncategorized
The last few weeks have been busy preparing for the upcoming renovation. This phase represents the last big scope of work and then my dream home is almost complete.
I’ve been working with Ongrowing Works out of Cochrane, AB. They have been fun to work with and through them worked with the designers at Sociis Design, who have done such an amazing job
The river valley has been amazing the last few weeks. We’ve been wandering around in the woods more than usual and it’s been fun because the weather here has been dreamy this fall.
Stubs
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: camping, Prince Albert national Park, puggles, Saskatchewan
This is a stunning park and so few people were there, if felt more like an adventure than most parks I’ve been to lately. And with so many hiking options, it’s easy to cover lots of ground.
When I travel with my dogs, I have some challenges that always have to be considered. My old faithful Caper is 14 now and Poutine is only 4, so it’s not always easy to strike that balance of their energy levels. The solution has been Caper sometimes getting carried in her backpack, which feeds her deep sense of entitlement anyway, so it all works out. She did however do awesome and only got carried on one, 3km hike. She’s still got it.
Camping with two dogs, and especially when those dogs are puggles, also has unique challenges. We got through the first few nights but eventually the cold, the puggles constantly pushing me off the mattress and the lack of sleep combined to make the vacation no longer as enjoyable, so I moved us into a solid structure (rented cottage) and that was a boost to the team morale.
I really didn’t know what expect with this park but I was really excited about how many options there were. We hiked about 7 different trails when we were there, and that was most of the shorter loops. Each one had its own charm, and lots of them show off the bog areas, which are always some of my favourite terrain.
I will be back, for sure. What a great find, no wildfire smoke, no people and no shortage of adventure.
Stubs.
Arriving to the park from the west. Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan
Filed under: Uncategorized
I loved camping in Lac La Biche and it will not be the last time I camp there for sure. Easily one of the most under rated camping spots in the province. And if you have a boat, or paddle, you need to go. I’m already excited to go back next year.
I have done well to continue my quest of seeing as much of Canada as I possibly can, so when I thought about this trip and a huge block of Canada I hadn’t been to, it would be here. It’s no secret I love the Canadian North and this place is a real gem. The highways were awesome, and the leaves are turning yellow in some places. I am excited to start exploring tomorrow.
Every time I go away, I never seem to neglect to remember some thing of importance and this time, it was a pillow. This is not the first time it’s been a pillow so I have many methods of improvising. This time, I have filled my sleeping bag cover with clothes. Not ideal but it works. One time, I packed only 3 socks for a whole trip.
Stubs
Filed under: Uncategorized
Oh man, this place did not disappoint. It has been many years since I camped alone and when I thought about where to kick off this adventure, La La Biche had been high in my list for a long time. I’ve driven by this big beautiful lake more times than I can count and every time I had it in the schedule, I had a favourite place to stop for 15 minutes to just take in its size.
The campground here is great, so many trails and there are no shortage of ways to appreciate this lake and the views.
I had great supervision. I’m not even really sure who I bought the chair for anymore.
Stubs
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cenotes, playa del carmen, womensdiving
Since 2011, I have been wanting to journey back to Mexico to explore far more of the cenote system there. In 2011, Tiny and I did two dives while there and I was really taken by the history, formations and mystery of the system. You quickly realize how breathtakingly beautiful they are and depending on time of day or even year depends on how the light beams reflect through the caverns.
This trip I hired a guide to take me around privately so I could make the most of my time. They didn’t disappoint. Exploring only a tiny fraction of the system during my time there, I managed six dives in four different entrance points.
At the bottom, there’s some cool videos, including one of going in and out of the halocline layers in the system, basically checking out the changing levels of salinity. It could be super disorienting at times but the warmer water was very welcomed as the water is much cooler in the systems than I had remembered.
Stubs
Filed under: Uncategorized
For many reasons, my life has come full circle. Back in my happy place in Waiparous, puggles running around my feet. Now, there are two puggles. My little guy Poutine is as funny as he looks. Caper, almost 13 now, is still queen of the forest, still causing as much trouble as always.
Some pictures from two recent trips to Vancouver Island. Poncho and I made good use of our time on the island during my 40th birthday trip. Oswego Hotel downtown Victoria was a great boutique hotel with awesome rooms and the ever amazing Point No Point Resort, which has long been a favourite of both Caper and I.
A few pictures in the middle of the gallery to my northern Vancouver Island trip this summer where I got to check out Port Hardy for the first time, as well had some nice downtown in the Sookepoint Resort Cottages. You can see the desk overlooking the ocean was puggle approved.
More blogs to come in 2022… stay tuned.
Stubs.
stubsadventures 