All posts tagged: Paris

Visiting Vimy Ridge Made Me a Better Canadian

One of the highlights of my 2014 trip to France was visiting the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. For many of us, Vimy is simply something we learn about in middle school; something we recall again during Remembrance Day ceremonies or see played out in Hollywood mini series. But you don’t have to look too far down the lineage of a Canadian family to find a relative who served in World War I. We visited on an inconspicuous Sunday in May, and we were hardly the only Canadian visitors. Our Canadian National Vimy Memorial Experience We departed Paris in the morning, arriving in Arras around 11:00 a.m. We arrived at the visitor centre by cab not more than 25 minutes later. Before the taxi left us we collected a business card from our driver which came in handy later, when we had a bilingual staffer call a cab to collect us. At the visitor centre we first signed up for the free 1 p.m. tour, then watched a short documentary and picked our way through the interpretive exhibit. Following that, we walked …

48 Hours to France

Destination: Paris I’m hopping the pond back to Europa in two days. I’ll be an unofficial guide for my parents in the City of Lights. At just 9 days, this will be my shortest international trip. I’ve never been to Europe for less than 4 months, and generally speaking, have never travelled internationally for less than 3-1/2 months. So naturally I’m preoccupied with being fashionable.  As I’ve been to Paris twice before, I’m challenging myself to do the things I’ve failed to see thusfar. This includes: Vimy Ridge, a Moulin Rouge show, combing through Porte de Clignancourt (the city’s largest flea market) and Pere Lachaise Cemetery (resting place of Jim Morrison). We happen to be arriving on May 1 (aka May Day) which is a widely observed holiday in Europe. Translation: not a hell of a lot will be open, save the Eiffel Tower. I’m also very much looking forward to seeing some old friends. I’m so lucky to have good ones who will travel to meet up with me! Just like my last trip, …