Too Square to be Hip
A narcissist's guide to travel and culture
Borne of sheer cruelty and spite, the opulence of Meknes, a new Royal city for the Kingdom of Morocco, was legendary. Today, the city is a shell of its former self. As one would have it brutality engenders resentment and much as the city had risen quickly, it would fall. Yet despite its fall from …
Battered by strong Atlantic winds and crashing waves are a series of impressive, yet decaying, Portuguese fortifications along Morocco’s Atlantic coastline. Once imposing locales these cities were once the crown jewels of an oversea empire that stretched from the Americas to India. Yet today, they are but dying fortresses slowly sinking into the sea. Despite …
Geography The western gate leads to the port of the city, located on a branch of land protecting the Bay of Essaouira, a massive sandbar with beautiful beaches. This open stretch of water is protected by les Iles Purpuraires, with Mogador island being the most important of these. A Brief History Occupied since Antiquity, Mogador …
Built to impress, Karlštejn is one of the most imposing symbols of imperial might outside of Prague. Home to the King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV (Charles of Luxembourg), it has not only withstood war, but also time itself to remain a potent symbol of medieval Czech society. Geography Located south of …
While in the Jardin Majorelle, an iconic attraction of Marrakesh, I picked up a book called the Miracle of Water. Apart from giving me a great name for this blog post, the book also offered an insight on the establishment of Marrakesh an arid city surrounded by the Atlas Mountains. The book details the way …
This tiny village built on the banks of the Coldwater River and tucked away off Highway 12 is a pleasant surprise to all who have not had the pleasure of walking its streets. Renowned for its steampunk festival, historic mill and quaint shops, it is surely worth a visit – especially if you are doing …
A longtime favourite of Canadians, Banff National Park (along with its co-conspirator Jasper) evokes images of rugged outdoorsmen and pristine wilderness. Not only has the park managed to claw its way into the national consciousness – becoming part of the nations branding in the process but portraits of its glacial lakes and high adorn the …
Gravenhurst Once known as McCabes Landing and later as Sawdust City, Gravenhurst has historically been considered the gateway to the Muskoka’s. The region grew in importance when new roads were built into central Ontario during the 1850’s and the steamship industry connected ports in the Muskoka’s to Lake Simcoe in the 1860’s. The town served …
Sitting between Lake Rosseau and Lake Muskoka Port Carling is somewhat of a gateway to the Upper Muskokas. The Rosseau lake is, after all, where every millionaire vacations and Canadian luminaries (dead or alive!) such as the hockey god Steve Yzerman, the comedic actor Martin Short, the media mogul Ted Rogers, legendary actress Goldie Hawn …
Just west of the city of Ottawa (then Bytown), on the shores of the river of the same name, you will find the remnants of a man’s dreams, the creation of a powerful settlement on a 1000 (4km2) acre land grant. Today Hamnett Kirkes Pinhey’s estate, the life’s work a forgotten man, lies in ruin …
