Acres of Spring at Canada Blooms - Toronto

Spring is just around the corner and the 17th annual Canada Blooms invites you to enjoy the “Magic of Spring”. A thoughtful friend who knows my penchant for blooms and photo ops offered two tickets to the show and I happily accepted a diversion from the winter blahs. My favourite photographer buddy - my mum - joined me last Friday for the early morning trip to Toronto.  A line-up of at least a hundred shared our impatient enthusiasm for a day of full garden immersion. And when finally the doors opened, Canada Blooms welcomed us in to acres of Spring! 

The Toronto Flower Show challenged competitors with class titles that include Enchanting, Bewitching, and Bedazzling. My pick for most creative showed some deceptively delicious-looking cakes made entirely of plant material. 'Devish' added a touch of humour to the illusion of reality - competitors could choose 'any flavour' for their creations.

And my take on the one, not-to-be-missed gardener's experience?  Quince Flowers - my absolute favourite - a small simple exhibit that tops the list for stunning visual appeal. Picture a weather-beaten table stacked with ancient bottles, and tiny pots of greenery. Now add a hundred riotous poppies in opulent orange and yellow - stunning - my garden will have poppies this year!

Canada Blooms, the country's largest flower and garden festival is on now until March 24. This year again it co-locates with The National Home Show and, with over 200,000 visitors expected, this is North America’s largest Home and Garden Event. Highlights include over 200 hours of free lectures and demonstrations by Mark Cullens and other gardening celebrities, Scott’s Miracle Grow Learning Stage, Canada’s largest Floral and Horticultural Competition and themed Feature Gardens. Bring your little gardeners along too - the Children’s Garden Experience provides mini-gardens complete with bucket, shovel and ample opportunity to get muddy!

To find out more and purchase tickets go to http://www.canadablooms.com/.

Price: adults-$17, seniors-$14, or purchase tickets at the door: adults-$20, seniors-$17

*NOTE: Show is over for 2013 - more info to be posted as the 2014 Canada Blooms approaches!

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Disneyland - The happiest place on Earth!

Disneyland.  Photo courtesy of Disneyland official website.

One day me and the fam will take a holiday with Mickey at Disneyland Resort.  Sounds like every family does it, and I'm pretty sure my kids will one day reprimand me for neglect if we don't. Also sounds like a family vacation that will be filled with fun and memories.  My daughter will love breakfast with disney characters, and my son will love subjecting a terrified mum to some death-defying roller-coaster torture.

With 160 acres in sunny California, over 600 million visitors since its opening in 1955, and the magical Sleeping Beauty Castle as its centerpiece, its no wonder this is one of the top holiday destinations in the world.  And in case I was in any doubt why I should holiday at Disneyland, their official website cleared it up for me - Disneyland is "The happiest place on Earth".

Can't argue with that - The happiest place on Earth definitely deserves a place on my Fantasy Friday list!

Visit the Disneyland official website

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Watch the ball drop in Times Square, New Years Eve

Multitudes share the love in Times Square.  Photo courtesy of  Countdown Entertainment

One day I will join over one million other partyers in New York's Times Square on New Years Eve while one billion watch from homes across the globe.  Voices will chant a raucous countdown, watch the famous ball drop and sing Auld Lang Syne.  And people from around the world, from diverse cultures and religions, from homes of plenty and of poverty, men, women and children will unite in celebration. 

And the key word is 'Unite'.  We all value our individuality, but in Times Square on New Years Eve, the celebration is about humanity.  It's been said before and I wholeheartedly agree - we share this place called Earth and we better work together.   Now the New Year is nearly here and this scene of joyous celebration and unity brings me hope for our future.

I want to be a part of that - I want to be there - and one day I will!
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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum - Upcoming Remembrance Day Service

The Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton was a great destination for myself and my two mechanically-minded and tactily-inclined kids.

We planned to see some planes which in itself, would have been pretty cool.  What we enjoyed instead was a wealth of war memorabilia, stories of adventure and heroic deeds, and at least an hour for two kids with loads of imagination in a flight simulator.  (What is it with kids and buttons? and dropping bombs?).  They sat in the cockpit of a warplane while a volunteer, who knew an awful lot about piloting a warplane gave them a tour.  He happily answered a barrage of questions about the ejection button and shared more stories of heroics that hinted at personal experience.

I was awed by these aircraft - the beautiful craftsmanship, the expert restoration, and the sheer size!  I watched mesmerized as the museums' PBY-5A Canso Amphibian backed up (very slowly!) into the hanger.  Its 104 foot wingspan cleared the doors with barely a foot to spare.  Later I stood beneath the open 33 foot bomb bay of the museums Avro Lancaster and imagined the power of this aircraft - one of only two airworthy Lancasters left in the world.

The Warplane Heritage Museum will honour our history and the people who where a part it with a Remembrance Day Service in the hanger on Sunday Nov 11, 2012.  I can`t think of a better way to show that we remember the contributions of so many.

FANTASY FRIDAYS: "Seasons of my Heart Cooking School" - Oaxaca Mexico

The stunning kitchen of chef Susana Trilling - Photo courtesy of Seasons of My Heart Cooking School

One day I will make a pilgrimage to the Oaxacan region of Mexico for a most delicious holiday.  I will arrive at my destination, traditional Mexican whisk in hand, for a some serious learning mixed with a liberal helping of culture and gastronomic indulgence. 

I'll attend the beautifully named Seasons of my Heart Cooking School run by fantastic chef, culinary guru, and PBS cooking show host Susana Trilling.  So much more than a week in the kitchen, this is a full 'foodie' immersion.  I'll take a tasting tour of the local market and purchase ingredients for the afternoon cook-off.  A mycologist (a mushroom expert) will accompany participants on a mushroom foraging expedition and we'll make the three sumptuous cheeses of the Oaxaca region.  A fantastic feast is prepared under the expert guidance of chef Susana - and then we enjoy!

This is a Fantasy Friday that will certainly come true.  We all have to eat, right?  And if you love Mexican Food, you might as well go to Mexico to learn how to do it right.  Susana Trilling, I hope you have an apron with my name on it because Seasons of My Heart sounds like a fantastic way to take a foodie's dream holiday and do my Mexican food loving family a favour at the same time!

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Savour the delectable wines of Bordeaux, France

The beautiful vineyards of Bordeaux.  Photo courtesy of Saint-Emilion Tourisme

 One day I will indulge my taste for beautiful wine and savour a glass of Château Angélus amid the vines and estates of historic Bordeaux in France.  I will taste the terroir of Bordeaux's unique Saint-Émilion appellation in each sparkling drop and thank the wine gods of the region for the rich and well-drained calcium soils and Atlantic climate that produced such a delectable treat.  I will pair my Château Angélus with a sharp cheddar purchased at one of the many local markets, and this will be a perfect moment!

With a vineyard area of over 120,000 ha, Bordeaux is the largest wine-producing region in France.  In addition to its size, Bordeaux also produces some of the most prestigious and most expensive wines in the world - leaning heavily toward production of reds or clarets.  If you're a red wine lover, this is the place to be!

Fantasy Friday - and putting my dreams into written form - has a wonderful way of making me believe they will actually happen.  Some day, perhaps in the distant future, I will savour wine in Bordeaux.  In the meantime, I can savour Château Angélus in my garden, close my eyes, and imagine a warm summer day in the vineyards.  (At $250 a bottle I will start saving now!)

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Samba at Carnival, Rio de Janeiro

Carnival, Rio de Janeiro.  Photo courtesy of www.besttourism.com

One day I will learn to dance the samba.  Then I will fly 8000 k south, spray on gobs of glitter to catch the light and adorn bright barely-there clothes with feathers and rhinestones - all this just to join the audience for the greatest carnival on earth.

In a predominantly Roman Catholic country, Rio's Carnival represents a farewell to excess and the start of a time of religious discipline as Lent begins.  Brazilians, and Rio de Janeirans in particular, really know how to bid a rousing farewell and for four incredible days, excess is what it's all about.

Nowhere in the world will you find a party indulged with more enthusiasm and celebrated with more sparkle, more glitz, and more non-stop whistle-blowing fervor.  For this I will join 90,000 other revellers in Rios grand Sambadrome.  Samba Schools parade thousands of dancers, musicians and elaborately draped and adorned floats in a competition that takes the entire year and buckets of money to prepare for.  It will be worth the effort as the winning school gains tremendous fame and accolades as well as financial benefit for the poor communities they represent.

This Fantasy Friday is an opportunity to experience life and culture with some of the joy in celebration that has been a little lacking in my stoic British roots and North American upbringing.  Bring on the glamor, the rhinestones - the samba!

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Swim with Humpback Whales, Turks and Caicos

Humpback breaching.  Photo courtesy of Paul A. Souders//CORBIS and The Guardian, UK

One day I will don snorkeling gear and plunge into the warm blue waters off Turks and Caicos for an adventure of epic proportions.  Picture the focus of my adventure - the beautiful and massive humpback whale - a creature that weighs up to 50 tons, whose proportions would dwarf a double decker bus, and whose heart alone weighs more than a grown man.

Now picture yourself - a tiny insignificant morsel in  the world of humpback whales.  You may find yourself swimming within feet of a gaping mouth that swallows 2000 kg per day.  If you haven't been scared off yet, this sounds like a most fantastic adventure for anyone armed with a little imagination and one important fact:  humpback whales are baleen whales - their diet consists entirely of tiny filtered krill, plankton, and small fish - not people!

Salt Cay at Turks and Caicos is a humpback winter nursery where 2.5 ton baby whales are born and nurtured.  Mothers drift through sparkling waters, calves shadowing their every move, amid eerie calls that form a strange and beautiful language.  If I'm lucky, and especially if males are showing off for potential mates, I'll likely see rowdy whale-sized antics that will be awesome on a massive scale.  Breaching, or jumping ends with a loud slap that can be heard up to a kilometer away.  And if the humpback has any curiosity about its observers, it will observe us back by 'spyhopping' - poking it's head out of the water to check us out. Wait thirty seconds or so and you're sure to witness a four meter fountain at each whale exhale.

I have to confess to a childish side that emerges each time the words 'humpback whale' are added to this text.  My only 'real' experience with whales is through Disney and visions of Dory speaking whale haunt all my efforts at sensible contemplation.

This Fantasy Friday will have to be fulfilled as I am sure that Disney with its hilarious rendition cannot capture the awe I would feel in the presence of a humpback whale.

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Glamping in the Swiss Alps in Winter - Whitepod Resort

Glamping at Whitepod - campers are warm and dry in a tent - in mid-winter!  Photo courtesy of Whitepod

 One day I will go glamping in the Swiss Alps - in the winter - and I will be warm!

For those not familiar with the term, 'Glamping' describes an unlikely fusion of glamor and camping.  Hard-core campers will think this is just plain weird.  Hard-core ended for me years ago though - about when my two little darlings started tagging along with their piles of toys and their unwelcome tendency to track sand into my sleeping bag.  Now I've have had enough of shivering nights, sharing slumbers with a buzzing host of biting bugs, and the cold chill of indoor morning dew.   Now the camping (sadly) has to go, or the roughing-it has to go.

Along comes 'Glamping', and I must say, this is BRILLIANT!
Who says I can't go for a girls weekend in the wilderness and love it?  Or go tenting with the hubby and still enjoy a catered romantic dinner for two?  Or spend a week sharing a tent with dirty boisterous kids and come out clean and sane?  Glamping says you can and the options are as varied as your imagination.

My ultimate favorite is glamping at Whitepod in the Swiss Alps.  First picture yourself camping in frigid sub-zero temperatures with the frost coating the inside of your tent, wind billowing walls, and a white cloud accompanying each frozen breath.  Now instead picture yourself on a soft bed, warm as toast beside a blazing wood stove.  You're minutes from the resorts private ski lifts, and one transparent wall of your 'igloo' provides a panorama of rugged wilderness beauty.  In keeping with the spirit of  camping and roughing-it, lots of activities will keep you active and outdoors, from dog-sledding and snow-shoeing to hiking with a mountain guide.  And if you think your glamp experience has been a little short on the glamour side of things, enjoy a relaxing hot oil massage or a glass of wine in the Finnish sauna.

Who knows, perhaps a little 'roughing-it' at Whitepod may even entice a few hard-core campers to add a little glamor to the experience.

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Stand atop the highest peak in Tuvalu

Wow - looks like paradise!  Photo courtesy of South Pacific Tourism

One day (soon!) I will stand atop the highest peak of a south sea island with snow white sands and sapphire seas.  It will have been a very short climb up from an average of only one meter above the sparkling sea to my observation point at only five meters.  Tiny Tuvalu comprises nine islands and atolls that stretch along a 595 km long chain with a total land area of only 26 square kilometers.  This is truly a tiny nation - estimated at only 10,000 inhabitants.

My moment of awe at this stunning location will soon be dispelled at the realization that it will not be long before neither myself not any other person will ever get this chance again.  Tuvalu is one of too many places on earth where global warming is taking an immediate and devastating toll.  Scientists believe that the rising waters of the South Pacific will wash over this five meter peak some time in the next fifty years.

Sad excuse for a Fantasy Friday, but it would be a privilege to see this paradise in person before it becomes only a picture in a postcard.

KID POST: Adam B(age 10): At the Niagara River

The River

I was walking in Niagara Park and I saw some stairs leading down to the river.  So I decided to check it out.  Through caves and down steep cliffs I climbed going down and down .  Suddenly I came over a rock  and I saw the 172 foot cliff of the Niagara River.  Rolling waves, the falls in the distance.  It was one of Earth's miracles.  I could see people fishing, cave climbing, the Maid of the Mist. Many different cultures coming together in Niagara Falls.  And for once everywhere there was peace.  I loved it and you should go to.

Writer and Photographer: Adam B(age 10)

KID POST: Adam B(age 10): The Eye of the Nile

Eye of the Nile

I was visiting the ROM in Toronto and I was walking through the mineral room.   And I saw this giant diamond.   The 886 carat diamond called Eye of the Nile.   It is the largest diamond in the world.   It was found in 1937 in an Alaskan diamond mine and took 2 1/2 years to cut the 186 side diamond.  Wow what a diamond to find! 


Writer and Photographer: Adam B(age 10)

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Murmuration on the River Shannon in Ireland

Video: Murmuration courtesy of Sophie Windsor Clive

One day I will navigate the misty shores of the River Shannon.  The chill of the air will penetrate my dampened clothes, cold fingers numbly paddling as my canoe traces a determined line through lapping waves.  And, as likely as not, gray and bursting clouds will pelt darts of iced drops at my frozen cheeks.  This is not your typical Fantasy Friday.  This after all is Ireland, and as nature dictates, this adventure will have to take place on an autumn day as dusk falls, and the cold and the rain close in.

Trust me, this one will be worth it.

Soon, the misted sky will swarm in black as wave after rolling wave shoots massive pointalistic forms across the sky.  A murmuration joins millions of synchronized starlings in a dance of utter perfection as each creature avoids the edges and the predators that lay in wait.  Each tiny deviation is hugely magnified by a myriad of tiny neighbors, and the next wave follows a rapid shift and rolls away across the sky.

I can take a little rain, frozen fingers, even darts of ice on my cheeks for a Fantasy Friday that includes about three million starlings.  Pipe in the sound of the wind and the waves and that wonderful music from the video, and this fantasy would mirror the utter perfection of one of natures most awe inspiring displays.

KID POST: Adam B(age 10): Kitchener Botanical Gardens

The rock garden is a beautiful place to be.  Stone statues everywhere.  Thousands of flowers. Waterfalls, a river flowing through the gardens.  Trees of all sorts lining the walkways.  Fish swimming in the waters.  As the sun sets fire flies come out to enjoy and spread their light about the rock gardens.

Author and Photographer: Adam B(age 10)

KID POST: Adam B(age 10): Dominican republic

Swimming in the pool at Sol et Mar resort when the sun is setting is a beautiful sight.  The palms swaying in the background.  The golden yellow colour of the sunset.  People splashing around the pool.  The hotel in behind the pool deck.  Dominican Republic is a truly beautiful place to be. 


Author and Photo Editor: Adam B(age 10)

FANTASY FRIDAYS: Hear a lion roar at Kruger National Park, South Africa

Photo courtesy of Gary Smith at ConsiderAfrica.com

 One day I will hear a lion roar at Kruger National Park in the South African bush.  I will marvel at the gangling grace of a herd of giraffe as they thunder past and feel the warm African sun as it rises in beams of orange and gold over the velt .

This fantasy holds a special place for me.  This one has already been fulfilled, but so long ago that it's just a distant memory.  Years ago I left South Africa with my family for a very different life in Canada.  A Kruger safari was one of my last experiences and one of the few memories I have of my first home.  The lions did roar and giraffe did pass in a herd of thundering hoofs.  Now it's time to re-connect with this savage land, to observe a world where the fastest runners are the only survivors - whether hunter or prey.

I imagine a smokey braai - sun-downers and boerewors, and stories of the bush as the campfire crackles and mirrors the orange and gold of the morning sun.  The glow encircles a small group of travelers, united in the knowledge that it will not be long before they must leave their heart in Africa.

Ah - this Fantasy Friday has left me with a pang of something lost - one day I will go searching.

KID POST: Anika B(age 8): Mountsberg

Red-tailed hawk

Yes thats right!  The red-tailed hawk is right here in Mountsberg!  A red-tailed hawk is the most beautiful creature I've ever seen at Mountsberg! So come here to Mountsberg to see the most beautiful creature of all times!

Author and Photographer:  Anika B(age 8)

FANTASY FRIDAYS: View Dubai from Burj Khalifa - tallest building in the world.

Burj Khalifa, Dubai - Photo courtesy of Dubai Tourism

One day I will stand on the 124th floor of the tallest building in the world and take in the spectacular 360 degree view of one of the fastest growing cities in the world.  The Burj Khalifa, technological wonder and incredible feat of engineering has fascinated me since a fateful day when my Google trawling landed me at the image of a building shadow that must have stretched for miles.

The Burj Khalifa, at 160 stories breaks a whole pile of records - tallest building in the world, tallest free standing structure in the world, highest outdoor observation deck in the world .... But forget all those stats - I don't need numbers to be mesmerized.  It will be enough see all those shining buildings dwarfed in its' shadow.  And since Fantasy Friday allows me to take whatever liberties I like, let's revise my fantasy a little: 'One day I will stand on the 124th floor twice.'.  My second ascent will be on a rare cloudy day to stand outdoors at 452 meters up and be equally mesmerized by the sundial of Burj's shadow on a sea of billowing clouds below.

Hmmm, at the end of this post, I will take a moment to channel 'Reality Friday at the Burj' instead of 'Fantasy Friday' while blogging in a coffee shop.

FANTASY FRIDAYS: View the Northern Lights From Chena Hot Springs, Alaska

Photo copyright Chris McLennan - TravelAlaska.com

One day I will sit in the Chena Hot Springs on a cold Alaskan night, and above me will shine the greens and blues and pinks of the northern lights.  I will you know.  I'm channeling visions of me doing that exact thing in that exact location as we speak.

I feel Chena's warm waters envelop my body as the chill night air builds ice crystals in my hair and eyelashes.  Steam rises off the still water and my eyes follow its path up and up.  As my eyes meet the sky I am mesmerized by what I see - what I came here to see.  ... I'm not sure how this next part will play out.  Northern lights change from one moment to the next, but I am sure that whatever magic unfolds, it will be spectacular to someone who has anticipated this view for so long.

Thanks to its location below the most active band of northern lights, and far from the glare of city lights, Chena Hot Springs area is considered one of the premier locations for viewing this spectacular phenomenon.  Add to that a little help from resort staff who are happy to do a wake-up call if the lights start their show.  Now the odds of actually seeing the lights at four in the morning on a cold winter night are improving.

Ah, if only this wasn't just Fantasy Friday!  I will continue to dream...

Links:

• Chena Hot Springs Resort
• TravelAlaska.com

KID POST: Adam B(age 10): Ice cream at Burly

Eating ice cream on the docks of Burly Falls.  The beautiful blue lake sparkling in the morning sunlight.  The sweet taste of ice cream.

Author and Photographer: Adam B(age 10)

Might as well go - Everybodys smiling! - St. Jacob's Farmer's Market

Smiling Faces at St. Jacob's Farmer's Market

Lovely morning spent at St. Jacob's Farmer's Market in Waterloo with my mum.  We went there for the colour ... and my groceries ... and a change.  I'll go back again for the smiling faces.  What more do you need to recommend a lovely morning of shopping and wandering than warm smiles from everyone - vendors, musicians, and nice old guys with dogs. 

Go directly to my St Jacob's Farmer's Market gallery, or check out the Zoom-Foto gallery for more of my images. For more information on St. Jacob's Farmer's Market visit: http://www.stjacobs.com/farmers-market

Family Fun in Grand Style, The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa

Some people claim to be creatures of habit. I think I may be the exact opposite. Call me a creature of contradictions, and you may have an apt description of my conflicting holiday preferences. I spent hours researching for a great family vacation where mum could bask in luxury and the whole family could also enjoy a relaxing week by the lake. Whatever resort-design genius foresaw the dream vacation pictured by mums everywhere - sure did me a favor.

The JW Marriott Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa stands high on a hill above beautiful Lake Rosseau, its sprawling accommodations, pools and paths following the tree-line downwards. One step through the beautiful Muskoka entrance and I was committed to embracing every moment of this glorious luxury. The lobby opened into a very grand version of Muskoka cottage decor, lounges anchored by stone fireplaces, and a cosy library and games room. The chess and checkers tables were a hit with my son, who presided over them and met a few like-minded 10-year-olds. Our room followed the grand Muskoka cottage theme with a well-stocked kitchenette, cosy sitting area, and piles of pillows to support far too many pillow fights.

Our lakeside week included canoeing, paddle-boating, splashing in the lake, and swimming in … let me count … five pools, including one indoor-outdoor pool, and a lovely comfortably hot and bubbly hot tub. Needless to say, a lot of swimming was done - all day, every day. As the sun started to dip, the family gathered around the campfire for hotdogs, or simple meals whipped up in our kitchenette. The campfire was uniquely located for a Muskoka resort - right by the entrance where cars pull in. The landscaping was done with such skill though, that you were surrounded by a beautiful piece of wilderness - a little pond, waterfall, and rock garden and comfortable Muskoka chairs.

The highlight of our visit was a really fantastic bird of prey show. The charismatic host shared his love of these creatures - some majestic, and a few just beautiful and endearing. They flew to his gloved arm without hesitation. They also flew to the gloved arm of my daughter - a rare experience for a 7-year-old, and one that will not be forgotten.

For more information on booking your own grand Muskoka family getaway, go to: http://www.therosseau.com/.

All-Inclusive Fern Resort Includes Relaxation Time for Mum

It was a hot summer day. Myself and two rowdy kids piled into my cramped car early as the sun was rising. We packed change of clothes for sunny days, rainy days, and any other days. We added water toys, indoor toys and ‘toys’ for mom. I enjoy small-scale fame among family members (or is it ridicule?), for never forgetting anything when I travel. I had forgotten nothing this time and we were squished in and the air was steaming as we made our way north.

Two long hours later, and three squished travelers were ready for a vacation. The road to Fern Resort was lined with towering willows, the windows came down, the shade crept in, and the stress and heat of the long drive was left behind. I didn’t know it yet, but we had just arrived at the ultimate kid vacation spot for parents - the words ‘all-inclusive’ should have clued me in, but I soon learned that a fantastic vacation for the whole family can also include plenty of relaxation time for mom.

Within minutes of checking in, bags were dumped, swim suits were on, sunscreen slathered, and operation vacation was underway. A few hours passed with kids splashing, and joining in poolside activities led by an enthusiastic Fern counselor while I enjoyed a rare break with a good book. The water fun continued for three days with kayaking, canoeing, a wild ride on the banana boat, aqua-fit lessons, scuba lessons, and a giant down-hill slip-and-slide.

The highlight for all of us were the crazy antics and incredible skills of ‘Spin Cycle’. This great evening entertainment included lots of audience participation. My quiet son volunteered to be part of a bell-ringing routine, and my not-so-quiet daughter sat on the edge of her seat for the whole show, an enthusiastic participant at every opportunity. And an adults perspective on this family show? Hilarious - loved it, and was entertained from beginning to end!

Next Fern vacation - and the kids have assured me that there will be a next - packing will be much lighter, and toys will be left at home - this all-inclusive truly is all-inclusive.

For more information including a full schedule for adult, child, and family activities go to: http://www.fernresort.com/.

Mighty Techtonic Plates - Þingvellir National Park, Iceland

Geological beauty of Þingvellir National Park

More about Iceland:  Best Cure for Jetlag - The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

Day two of my 'kiss-and-fly' tour of Iceland involved a fast-paced full-day 'kiss-and-bus' tour of the 'Golden Circle' near the capital city of Reykjavik.

The Icelandic have tourism down to a fine art, and our stoic bus driver, and jolly tour guide could not have packed more into our day. I stood so close to the awesome Gullfoss Waterfall, mesmerized by the power of the thundering smash of water on rock. A short kiss-and-bus to our next stop where I witnessed silently steaming water as the famous, but now dormant, Geysir refused to spout.  Steps away Strokker's rolling water overflows, and retreats, building in momentum until finally bursting into a spectacular and short-lived cascade shooting thirty meters high.

Hours later, and many steaming hillsides, and distant volcanoes behind us, our tour bus descended into a stark valley. Our guide sang an Icelandic lullaby, and the sun glowed orange over the hills. Cliffs jutted high above a flat valley blanketed in low bushes and volcanic outcrops.  We approached the wall of cliffs and stepped off the bus onto the Mid-Atlantic ridge.

In this one incredible place, my whole trip made sense. I stood between the North-Atlantic and Eurasian techtonic plates - my eyes drank in this geological wonder, apparent in every direction. Deep crevices ran parallel across the land, continually growing as mighty plates widen their gap. Cliffs towered, and a distant waterfall dropped in one mighty plunge.  Is it any wonder that this ever-changing landscape is a hotspot for earthquakes and volcanoes? 

In this stark valley, the first parliament in the world was established in 930 AD and remained until 1789.  Þingvellir National Park was founded one thousand years later to protect this area which holds great political, cultural, and geological importance for Icelanders.

I explored, took pictures, marveled at strange formations of hardened volcanic rock, and enjoyed the peace of this quiet valley.  An hour later, a bus full of exhausted travelers sank into our seats. Our previously jolly guide gave stern instructions to go to sleep and a gentle lullaby drifted down the isle.

Where Preperation meets Opportunity - Horse Racing at Woodbine

Gypsy Ring wins the $100,000 Debut Stakes - Opening Day of Woodbine's Thoroughbred Season

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
This famous sports quote can be applied to both athletes and punters at the race track.

The 'athletes' are a host of beautiful thoroughbreds, spirited and straining in their anticipation of the race. These horses are carefully selected for breeding, conformation and spirit. Years of training, nutritional and medical care, and carefully planned race experience develop the athlete. A jockey is selected with the same care, and the two prepare with a single shared goal - to win.

Punters would also be well-advised to prepare well in order to maximize their chance of selecting the winner.  Research previous performance, compare breeding and weigh the odds.  Perhaps most importantly though, evaluate your picks' readiness to race.  Take a pre-race stroll down to Woodbine's viewing stables and observe their demeanor.   My time in the viewing stables was fascinating as I watched horses parade and punters - with steady eyes and furrowed brows - make careful note of those telling signs.  Observations made here could tip the balance between a disappointing financial loss and and a successful day at the races.

My day at Woodbine Race Track allowed me to witness first-hand the result of years of preparation. Each team has applied knowledge, experience and money to produce the winning athlete. Each jockey and horse knows how to generate and recognize opportunity on the track. Yet no one has the ability to know the winner until the race is run. Preparation and opportunity come together on the track in that magical combination known as 'luck'.

I witnessed that thrilling combination as Gypsy Ring seized the moment, pulled past her opponent, and strained across the finish line, a full length in the lead.  The crowds' roar crescendoed in mixed jubilation and disappointment.  At that moment I understood the dedication it took to place her in the winning position today at Woodbine.

Links:
Woodbine Race Track/ Woodbine Entertainment