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Category: Stories

Aging Gracefully: Travel Tips and Life Lessons for Seniors

Posted on by Roberta Hill

I’ve been wrestling with this mental block about aging and travelling. The truth is, I don’t think I’m the type to grow old gracefully. I want to fight it—kicking, screaming, and clinging to every last adventure. But lately, I’ve noticed this quiet shift in the people around me, especially those who’ve hit their 80s. It’s like the world starts to shrink for them. Travel becomes harder and more complicated; sometimes, it stops altogether. For my parents, it was a mixture of two things. First is the need to stay close to home in a medical emergency. Second, the sheer physical…

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Travel in a Time of Tariff Tension: The Price of Politics

Posted on by Roberta Hill

The current political climate in the U.S. has undeniably shifted how many Canadians, myself included, think about travel. While this isn’t meant to be a political statement, the rhetoric surrounding Canada as the so-called “51st state” has left a sour taste for many. It’s not just about words—it’s about the underlying tone that has prompted a quiet but growing movement to step back, reconsider, and, in some cases, boycott U.S. products and travel altogether. Visiting the U.S. has been a regular part of our lives for years. Living in Montreal, the proximity to the border makes it easy to head…

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Castles of Wales

A Long Ago Trip to Wales

Posted on by Roberta Hill

I’ve been thinking about my oldest friend this week. Joan and I first met at summer camp when we were  11 years old, but it wasn’t until we were both camp counsellors at age 16 that we became good friends. We’ve never lived in the same city, except for one brief year during grad school. Instead, our friendship has been a patchwork of meetups in random places, stretches of silence, and the occasional emails. These days, it’s mostly a birthday card and an annual email, which is probably why she’s been on my mind lately. We both have our birthdays…

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I’ll never become a minimalist

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Well, I’ve written some blog articles on how to move towards minimalism as a traveller, and while I admire the principles behind it, I doubt it’s for me. As I grow older, I am aware of the clutter around me and how downsizing and eliminating things makes more sense for everybody, particularly those who will have to deal with my state after I’m gone. But let’s face it. It’s easier said than done. After returning from living overseas for 15 years, it took us 4 1/2 years to downsize from three lockers 10 x 15‘. I can’t believe how much…

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Why write a blog and tips on how I do it

Posted on by Roberta Hill

I’ve been writing blogs for close to 20 years. I most certainly don’t do it for the money or the fame. Very few people have read it, so why bother? I started blogging for two reasons: I love technology and wanted to try it out and explore the opportunities I had just started a new adventure in my life, moving from Canada to Europe. I enjoyed doing it for about four years, but I slowly started to think about blogs for my business website. Ultimately, they drifted off as I moved to semi-retirement. When we went on our world tour…

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It’s not OK 

It’s not OK to pretend to be Canadian!

Posted on by Roberta Hill

When I travelled in Europe in the 1970s, a few young Americans put Canadian symbols on their backpacks. I suppose it was flattering, but I didn’t like it. Not that I would get my knickers in a knot about it. But it wasn’t OK, and it’s not OK now. I appreciate that some travellers don’t live in the States anymore. You may even be ashamed and embarrassed by the current administration. However, that doesn’t make appropriating another person’s nationality, whether Canadian or otherwise, acceptable. We can spot you a mile away. We may not have called you out about it…

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Why Visit the Twelve Apostles?

Posted on by Roberta Hill

I have been to Melbourne several times; it is a wonderful city.  It is probably my favourite of all the cities in Australia. I would strongly recommend a day trip to the Twelve Apostles, which is a must for anyone visiting Melbourne, as it combines stunning coastal scenery, fascinating history, and the chance to experience one of Australia’s most famous road trips. Getting to the Twelve Apostles The Twelve Apostles are approximately 275 kilometres (170 miles) southwest of Melbourne, making them a perfect destination for a day trip. The journey takes about 4.5 hours by car along the Great Ocean…

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Weather and My Bitch’n Block Post

Posted on by Roberta Hill

This post is my bitch’n block post. Well, I can honestly say that I have appreciated and learned from every trip. As I wrote elsewhere, it’s almost impossible to pick my top 10 because everything has been quite impressive. It’s easier to the least enjoyed places, but that’s for another blog post. There have been a few places that have not or, let’s say, could’ve been better.  It didn’t take me long to realize that the weather, particularly cold, significantly impacted my experience. I get that some people love the cozy vibes of winter travel, but it’s all discomfort and…

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Discovering the Benefits of Solitude While Travelling

Posted on by Roberta Hill

There’s a difference between loneliness and solitude. Solitude is a choice that provides freedom and space from the demands and interruptions created by others. Spending time alone is good for you. It doesn’t imply that you’re antisocial, depressed, or mentally ill. There are numerous benefits to spending time alone regularly. Social media has made it more challenging to spend time alone. Even when we’re alone, we need to check in with the rest of the world. Travelling is often romanticized as a social activity filled with shared memories, laughter, and the company of family, friends, or fellow travellers. However, there…

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Around Middlebury – Not Your Typical Activities

Posted on by Roberta Hill

Today, we visited three off-the-beaten-path locations. The first was an interesting sculpture park that I am sure is unknown by many. It reminded me a little of the Parque De Las Esculturas in Santiago and even a little of a park we visited in La Petite-Gaspése. I was 18 years old when I realized that the type of art that spoke to me was three-dimensional, specifically sculpture. I don’t recall the details, but I was at some fancy place for dinner in Stockholm with my parents, and in the garden, there were these sculptures that I found extremely appealing. I…

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