anniversary
Memories
4th Blog Anniversary and 19 Best Pictures of 2019
1/04/2020
It's already become a good tradition to post my favourite pictures of the passing year on my blog's anniversary day. Looking back, 2019 was another busy year with abundant work-related travel, however, I managed to squeeze in two fantastic road trips as well as a five-day-long journey of a lifetime to a place that most people would pass by due to its rigid climate and high cost of travel - Canadian arctic territory of Nunavut. Most of the pictures you'll see today are from these three trips. In an increasingly busy world, I know how difficult it can be to carve out time to read blog articles, especially long ones like mine, so I'm very thankful to you, my readers, for following, liking, and commenting on my posts as well as sharing them with your friends and families. This surely keeps me motivated to continue creating content which you find relevant, engaging, inspirational, and thought-provoking. Happy New Year and wishing you and your families all the best in 2020!
Ottawa might occasionally freeze its way to the coldest capital city in the world leaving Ulaanbaatar, Reykjavik and Helsinki behind, but seeing a snowy owl in Ottawa is still quite uncommon. These birds travel very long distances all the way from the Arctic looking for warmer and richer winter feeding grounds. Apparently, city-born rabbits make a delicious meal for these large feathered predators. To learn about things to do in Ottawa in the winter, check my full article - Are Winters Really That Bad in Ottawa?
2. Ice Formations in Abraska Cave, Quebec (February 2019).
Caving rarely appears to be an option when it comes to winter activities, but there are a few very good reasons why you want to explore the largest known cave in the Canadian Shield located just outside of Ottawa during the winter months: you can see dozens of hibernated bats up close and amazing ice formations. The full article - Are Winters Really That Bad in Ottawa?
3. Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Orlando (April 2019).
Visiting Walt Disney World in Florida can be one of the most memorable experiences in your life so don't pass it by. The vast majority of first-time visitors end up going to Magic Kingdom, the very first and arguably the best of all the Disney parks in Florida and, as a result, the most visited theme park in the world. The full article - 9 Survival Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World in Florida.
Visiting Walt Disney World in Florida can be one of the most memorable experiences in your life so don't pass it by. The vast majority of first-time visitors end up going to Magic Kingdom, the very first and arguably the best of all the Disney parks in Florida and, as a result, the most visited theme park in the world. The full article - 9 Survival Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World in Florida.
4. Epcot at Walt Disney World, Orlando (May 2019).
Epcot may not score the highest among the Walt Disney World theme parks in Florida, but those who like science, cosmology, astrophysics and alike will be pleased with Epcot's unique rides that pay tribute to the 1960s when technologies quite literally reached new heights. Walt Disney World Monorail System opened in 1971, still evokes awe, so I can only imagine what it felt like riding its futuristic trains back in the 1970s. The full article - 9 Survival Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World in Florida.
Epcot may not score the highest among the Walt Disney World theme parks in Florida, but those who like science, cosmology, astrophysics and alike will be pleased with Epcot's unique rides that pay tribute to the 1960s when technologies quite literally reached new heights. Walt Disney World Monorail System opened in 1971, still evokes awe, so I can only imagine what it felt like riding its futuristic trains back in the 1970s. The full article - 9 Survival Tips for Visiting Walt Disney World in Florida.
5. Centralia Highway, Pennsylvania (May 2019).
Centralia, Pennsylvania became a ghost town after hot ashes from a landfill fire in 1962 accidentally penetrated beneath the surface and started a monstrous subterranean fire that is still ongoing to this day. The scale of the fire was not fully known until 1981 when a boy fell into a sinkhole that suddenly opened beneath his feet in a backyard. It's a fascinating and, at the same time, sad story that I will write about in one of my future blog articles. Stay tuned.
Centralia, Pennsylvania became a ghost town after hot ashes from a landfill fire in 1962 accidentally penetrated beneath the surface and started a monstrous subterranean fire that is still ongoing to this day. The scale of the fire was not fully known until 1981 when a boy fell into a sinkhole that suddenly opened beneath his feet in a backyard. It's a fascinating and, at the same time, sad story that I will write about in one of my future blog articles. Stay tuned.
6. Tundra Aerial View, Nunavut (June 2019).
Canada truly is a very large, diverse and strikingly beautiful country. And what's the best way to appreciate its sheer beauty and grandeur than seeing its vast and untamed tundra from 30,000 ft above ground. The full article - Spending Canada Day Long Weekend in the Arctic.
Canada truly is a very large, diverse and strikingly beautiful country. And what's the best way to appreciate its sheer beauty and grandeur than seeing its vast and untamed tundra from 30,000 ft above ground. The full article - Spending Canada Day Long Weekend in the Arctic.
7. Iqaluit, Nunavut (June 2019).
Due to its location and unique cultural characteristics, Iqaluit, the capital city of Nunavut is very different from other provincial or territorial capitals in Canada. You see and feel it even before your plane touches town on the Iqaluit's runway which, by the way, is among the longest runways in Canada. Interestingly, Whitehorse and Yellowknife, the capitals of Yukon and Northwest Territories respectively, sit only slightly southerly on the North American continent, but somehow Iqaluit looks a world away from them. The full article - 12 Things that Set Canadian Arctic City Iqaluit Apart.
8. Qaummaarviit Territorial Park, Nunavut (July 2019).
Polar bears call Nunavut home and can show up pretty much anywhere and anytime. With the climate change and shrinking ice as a result, polar bears that live close to Iqaluit may unfortunately resort to a city dump. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, there is a mandatory curfew and everyone must remain indoors. In case you're wondering if there is even a remote possibility of being eaten by a polar bear while in Iqaluit, I can assure you it's almost zero. There is so much air traffic around Iqaluit and so many hunters nearby, a polar bear will definitely be spotted and everyone will be notified through an emergency radio system. But outside the city, one must always carry a gun for self-defence. The full article - 12 Things that Set Canadian Arctic City Iqaluit Apart.
9. Thousand Islands, Ontario (July 2019).
The 1000 Islands is one of the top attractions in Ontario and New York located in the Saint Lawrence River. Be sure to take a boat tour or rent a kayak to experience its endless shorelines and see some of the best private retreats ranging from cozy cabins to German-style castles.
10. Montmorency Falls, Quebec (August 2019).
Québec looks and feels fabulous in many ways. The city and its vicinity offer some of the best views of Canadian nature. The stunning Montmorency Falls holds an indisputable primacy. The full article - Why People Fall In Love With Québec City.
11. Rimouski, Quebec (August 2019).
Located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, Rimouski makes a perfect travel destination. It offers nature at its best and some very interesting museums such as HMCS Onondaga and The Empress of Ireland. Stay tuned for a full article.
12. Parc National de la Gaspésie, Quebec (August 2019).
Gaspésie National Park is my favourite park in Quebec so far. It's quite large and far away from big cities, so there is space for everyone. Yet it's only a short drive from the ocean and delicious fresh seafood. Those who love mountains and alpine tundra meadows will enjoy Gaspésie's high peaks such as Mont Jacques-Cartier, Mont Dos de Baleine and other 1000-metre summits. If you're lucky, you can spot moose or even caribou. Stay tuned for a full article.
13. Percé, Quebec (August 2019).
In my list of the prettiest towns in Quebec, Percé scored the highest. Obviously, Percé Rock is the number one reason why people come to town, but there is so much more to see and do. Stay tuned for a full article.
14. Bonaventure Island, Quebec (August 2019).
Ever wanted to see an enormous colony of birds up close? Welcome to Bonaventure Island! Over 100,000 northern gannets call the island home, so there is no shortage of birds to observe and take pictures or videos of. Stay tuned for a full article.
15. Forillon National Park, Quebec (August 2019).
Forillon National Park marks the end of the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec and offers a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, phishing, visiting historical sites and so forth. Although not as large and wild as Gaspésie National Park, Forillon is nonetheless beautiful and should definitely make it on your list of places to visit in the Gaspé Peninsula. Stay tuned for a full article.
16. Pointe-à-la-Renommée Lighthouse, Quebec (August 2019).
Fourteen lighthouses in the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec are another reason people fall in love with the region. Pointe-à-la-Renommée lighthouse, my favourite, attracts visitors with its elegant architectural style, but it also has a historic significance: it sits on a site that became the first maritime radio station in North America. Stay tuned for a full article.
17. Mud Girl Run, Ontario (August 2019).
I bet you that watching the Mud Girl Run, a 5 km / 3-mile foot race with obstacles for women, is no less fun than participating in it. Especially on obstacles that involve crawling through pools of mud or sliding on slippery slopes. Check my full article - The Muddiest Activity of the Year is Postponed until 2021.
I bet you that watching the Mud Girl Run, a 5 km / 3-mile foot race with obstacles for women, is no less fun than participating in it. Especially on obstacles that involve crawling through pools of mud or sliding on slippery slopes. Check my full article - The Muddiest Activity of the Year is Postponed until 2021.
18. Ottawa O-Train, Ontario (September 2019).
On September 14, 2019, Ottawa officially entered the Big Boys Club of Canadian cities that have subways or light rail transit. If not for numerous delays and missed milestones, Ottawa would have gotten its new O-Train Confederation Line two years earlier as the country celebrated its 150th anniversary. But 2019 is nonetheless memorable for Ottawa as the city's population finally reached 1 million in June. The full article - Ottawa Finally Gets Its First Ever Subway Train.
On September 14, 2019, Ottawa officially entered the Big Boys Club of Canadian cities that have subways or light rail transit. If not for numerous delays and missed milestones, Ottawa would have gotten its new O-Train Confederation Line two years earlier as the country celebrated its 150th anniversary. But 2019 is nonetheless memorable for Ottawa as the city's population finally reached 1 million in June. The full article - Ottawa Finally Gets Its First Ever Subway Train.
19. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (October 2019).
Pittsburg seems to be a great place to live, work and have fun. Its job market is rapidly growing thanks to banking and high-tech industries, and its sports teams - the Steelers (American football), the Penguins (hockey) and the Pirates (baseball) are known well beyond its city limits. Pittsburg sits in a valley and owes its existence to the three rivers - Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio. The latter gave Pittsburg's steel manufacturers access to the largest markets in the United States and beyond its borders. Check my full article - 5 Things I Always Remember About Pittsburgh.
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