Group Getaways by Darlene

The love of travel began when my parents took road trips and now for over 25 years I have organized group tours inspired by history and meeting people with a common goal while changing minds exploring the world.
We have crossed Canada numerous times as well as the U.S., Europe, Asia and Down under 4 times. After cruising 19 different times, this is the easiest route to see many destinations in a week or two.
Last June, for the Summer Solstice, we cruised on NCL from Copenhagen to North Cape in Norway returning at different ports of call both ways. The fjords were totally breath taking, pristine and different then cruising Alaska – must see it to understand!! We choose our itinerary by the ports and then the cruise line considering all the inclusions available, we have come to enjoy value for our Dollar and travel more often, and have had the pleasure of luxury cruises as well.
Finding new destinations is fun too, researching the location and what it offers. In Nov, we flew to Bilbao, Spain located in the north bordering France, extremely different than Barcelona, Bilbao was once an industrial iron ore city and after the Industrial Revolution it is become a tourist destination. The Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry, a Canadian paid for itself in 4 years, the Neve River curves itself through the city with many km. of walking sidewalks, paths plus bridges.
History is everywhere and St. James lived here. For us foodies the pintxos (gourmet appetizers) are a must and touring the surrounding areas outside the city is worth a few days trips.
In Sept. 2016 we toured Normandy,France area starting in Paris, a Memorial Tour of WWI and WWII by Canadians for Canadians. A group from across Canada - The knowledgeable tour guide explaining the events in history that lead up to the sites we visited. Stopping at Giverny -- the home of Claude Monet and his stunning gardens -- 2nd most visited site in France. An emotional time while visiting Juno beach and Beny-sur-mer Cemetery where my uncle is buried, a peaceful, manicured cemetery containing 2,049 graves. The Memorial Museum for PEACE in Caewn has excellent displays and movies as well -- the world famous statue of a Sailor & Nurse in an embrace is out front. Visiting Dieppe. the Pegasus Bridge, Honfleur, Amiens and the Crying Angel in the Cathedral, the Newfoundland Memorial Park where 91% were claimed. Then to Vimy Ridge --Ypres Belgium where you walk along restored trenches and tunnels, then a visit to Menin Gate where the Last Post is performed nightly at 8pm since 1928. Another excellent inclusion is the Flanders Fields Museum, the chocolate in Belgium is the best --great souvenir. Essex Farm where Jon McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields and Passchendaele and Tyne Cot Cemetery were some of the interesting visits. Yes we now have a much greater understanding of what all the men and women endured and did not speak about it on the return home. Well done and now we live wonderful lives because they cared.