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One of the greatest pleasures in life is dining well. The best part of my day? Dishing up a good meal.
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JUNE 2015
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
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hen I was 21, I quit my job, sold my car and bought a one-way ticket to Europe. It was a journey of self-discovery and it changed the course of my life. At that time, travel exhilarated me and I couldn’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to venture out into the wider world. No matter our age, travel changes us. Casting off from the self-defined safety of our lives alters us in some way. Every adventure – near or far – provides insights into new places, new foods, new customs and cultures. But, most of all, they teach us new things about ourselves. Travelling can illuminate our smallest intolerances and bring the hazy boundaries of our comfort zones into sharp relief. On my most recent trip, I discovered I don’t like travelling. I enjoy visiting new places and having new experiences; I just don’t like the actual travel. The getting there. So, having the opportunity to read about others’ experiences floats my boat now. I get to broaden my knowledge of little-known places, learn about different customs, envision breath-taking scenery and imagine tantalizing cuisine. Someone else gets to do the getting there. For now, that’s enough... until I get the bug to experience those things for myself once again. – Bobbie Jo Reid Managing Editor
On the Cover
Registration is now open to participate in the 2015 55+ BC Games to be held in North Vancouver, August 25-29th. To be eligible, you must be a resident of BC, and 55 years old by December 31 of the year of the Games, except for Track and Field, where you must be 55 years old by the date of the Games. There are 25 sporting events ranging from archery and badminton to swimming and track and field. See more on page 25. More info: www.55plusbcgames.org Cover Photo: Nancy Adams, Games volunteer photographer. 24
SENIOR LIVING
DEPARTMENTS
FEATURES 6 Bath & the Cotswolds
25 Grandparenting
A walk through this region of England – from rolling hills to rugged climbs – is like taking an historical tour of the past.
28 Attractions & Entertainment 31 Classifieds
10 Trolling for Tapas in Madrid
A Vancouver couple eat their way through the Spanish capital in search of its tempting tapas.
COLUMNS
12 Mount Rainier Medley
A visit to Mount Rainier offers unforgettable views of nature’s beauty only a few hours south of home.
14 Cartagena
Despite Columbia’s tainted reputation – or perhaps because of it – she remains one of the few lightly treaded destinations for travellers. For now.
4 The Family Caregiver by Barbara Small 24 Fit for the Adventure by Eve Lees 32 Courageous & Outrageous by Pat Nichol
16 Irish Surprise
Deborra Hope unpacks her recent trip to Ireland and looks forward to the next Senior Living/Collette Travel experience on the Lengendary Waterways of Europe.
20 An Exotic Meeting of East and West The Mediterranean island of Cyprus welcomes visitors with graceful landscapes, moderate climate, abundant sunshine and remarkable beaches.
22 Pedaling the Loire Valley
Cycling amid royal palaces and ancient villages by day is rewarded with French culinary delights by night.
26 Friends, Music and Laughter
The Remember When quartet of Victoria spurs audience members to spontaneously sing along.
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Attractions & Entertainment • Butchart Gardens, The (pg 28) • Chemainus Theatre Festival (pg 29) • Get West Adventure Cruises (pg 28) • Kettle Valley Railroad (pg 30) • Tribute to Roy Orbison, A (pg 30) • View Royal Casino (pg 29) Charities • North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (Inside Front Cover) Health | Wellness • BC Perio Dental Health & Implant Centre (pg 9) • Connect Hearing (Inside Front Cover) • Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon (pg 28) • Pharmasave (pg 19) • Saanich Recreation (pg 30)
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This guide is an indispensable resource to: • seniors looking for alternative housing • seniors moving to Vancouver Island or the Greater Vancouver area from other parts of BC or other provinces • children who are assisting their senior parent to select a housing option • professionals who work with seniors • businesses that provide services to seniors Up-to-date listings of senior housing facilities, including Independent Living, Assisted Living and Licensed Care. Addresses and contact information, housing costs, number of units in the housing complex, standard and optional services, amenities and security features.
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Housing • Agecare Harmony Court Estate (pg 18) • Alexander Mackie Retirement Community (pg 18) • Berwick Retirement Communities (Inside Back Cover) • Chemainus Gardens (pg 27) • Kiwanis Village Nanaimo (pg 32) • Legion Manor Victoria (pg 15) • Norgarden (Inside Front Cover) • Revera Inc. (pg 8) Insurance | Legal | Real Estate • Kenneth Walton Law Corporation (pg 23) • Travel Insurance Specialists (pg 5) Senior Care • Alpha Home Care (pg 32) • Saint Elizabeth (pg 4) • Shekinah Assisted Care Services (pg 27) • Sure Work Solutions (pg 31)
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THE FAMILY CAREGIVER
The Value of Letting Go
S
ometimes, when caregiving, you may find yourself in conflict with others or feeling frustrated with your situation. Learning when to let go helps both you and the person for whom you are caring – whether that involves letting go of expectations, control or trying to maintain life the way it used to be. Some caregivers are caught up in the trap of trying to enable their family member to continue on as if nothing were different with their health. Doing all they can to keep everything as “normal” as possible. But it simply isn’t anymore. Look at the expectations you have for yourself, the person you are caring for and your current situation. Are your expectations realistic or are you setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration? Are you trying to maintain life as it was before any changes in health? It can be exhausting to try to maintain a status quo that no longer exists. Life for both of you is different now. It doesn’t have to be negative, it’s just different. Focus on making choices and problem-solving based on how things are now, rather than how things were in the past. Re-create your lives now based on your current circumstances, abilities, time and energy. With these unexpected life changes come unexpected feelings (i.e. grief, anger, frustration), unexpected responsibilities (i.e. taking over financial decisions for your parent) and unan-
BY BARBARA SMALL
ticipated repercussions on other areas of your life (i.e. quitting your job to provide care). We really never know what lies ahead, what challenge may be waiting for us around the next corner. As much as we may like to predict how life is going to unfold, we usually can’t control these changes. What we do have control over is how we respond to the changes. We can resist and fight them or we can accept them and take actions toward dealing with the change in an effective way. Again, living in the present, rather than holding on to what might or “should” have been. Letting go of expectations of how others “should” respond is also key. Everyone interprets and reacts to the changing situation differently based on past experiences and beliefs. There is no one “right” way, just different ways. Finding a compromise and a way to work together that partially meets each person’s needs is possible. SL Next issue: When the Person Needing Care Resists Help
Barbara Small is the Program Development Coordinator for Family Caregivers’ Network Society located in Victoria, BC. Call 250-384-0408 or visit www.familycaregiversnetwork.org
The Family Caregiver column is brought to you by the generous sponsorship of Saint Elizabeth
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Travel
Bath and the Cotswolds: Walking in the UK
BY CHRIS & RICK MILLIKAN
Pulteney Bridge and Weir in Bath, England.
O
ur Cotswold walking holiday begins in Monkton Combe, eight-kilometres outside Bath. Settled at the historic village inn, we review our pre-booked custom itinerary, maps, trail-cards and transportation vouchers. Then, stuffing daypacks with directions, hats, jackets, water, sunscreen and snacks, we take our first self-guided walk.
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Monkton Combe, we discover, was established during Saxon times. Land grants to Bath Abbey provided monks a refuge within this verdant, steep-sided valley. Names like Monks Retreat and Monkswold remain etched on some houses. Winding on amid headstones in St. Michael’s church-
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yard, a simple poppy-strewn grave beckons to us. A poignant handwritten poem introduces Harry Patch, Britain’s last WWI veteran, who died in 2009 at age 111. On the quiet, wooded lane below, we pass the site of Fulling and Tucking Mills, closed since 1931. Trail-card footnotes describe water-driven stocks that degreased and by adding fuller’s earth, felted woven cloth for dying. Nearby stands the ivy-covered home of William Smith, Father of Modern Geology and Bath’s saviour! In 1810, the celebrated geothermal spring dried-up. Discovering it had diverted, Smith re-established its original channel. Sturdy boots and Nordic poles help us climb a steep pathway to neighbouring Combe Down. Before descending again, we admire our sleepy village below, population 356. Back at our inn, roast lamb and Yorkshire pudding rewards our successful reconnoiter. A comfortable rhythm develops over our next six days. Hearty English breakfasts and French press coffees kick off daily walking excursions averaging five hours. Mid-way, pub lunches re-charge us for return through the countryside to our lodgings. And relaxing after dinner, we swap trail stories with the regulars and fellow walkers. Meandering from Monkton Combe down to Dundas Wharf, we sight triple-arched Dundas Aqueduct built in 1798, the earlier of two spanning the Avon valley. These engineering marvels kept the Avon canal level without using locks, which until 1898 enabled barging 100,000 tons of coal to London annually. Sleek canal boats now ply the waterway for pleasure. Its scenic towpath leads us high above the Avon to glorious Bath, on the edge of the Cotswolds. On through Sidney Gardens, alongside Georgian-style townhouses and across elegant Pulteney Bridge, we reach medieval Bath Abbey, the heart of this world heritage city. In surrounding courtyards, talented musicians entertain us. Jane Austen Centre and Holburne Museum provide insights into Bath’s glittering past… and we sample Sally Lunn’s brioche-
like buns, her still-popular 16th century creations. In the Roman Baths another morning, audio-guides usher us from fashionable 18th century restorations above, to unearthed stone pavements encircling the Great Bath below. Artifacts indicate Roman presence at the sacred baths in 43AD. Detailed site models, costumed Roman characters and projected scenarios recreate daily life in the temple complex of the thriving ancient settlement. A cup of warm therapeutic waters in the Grand Pump Room next door proves unimpressive… but afternoon tea, totally dee-licious! And on a third day, we hike through Prior Park’s landscape gardens, a former estate and early quarry supplying honeyhued limestone to build Bath. We take Skyline Trail down into Bath and visit the renowned Circus and Royal Crescent, magnificent architectural masterpieces. Each extraordinary city expedition ends when the local bus whisks us away to our inn. Some rural footpaths prove easy; others test our stamina. Straining up one rugged track, we reach Cromwell’s Rest. “Cromwell took breaks between battles just there,” a resident points to one of several stone cottages. “His soldiers poisoned all area wells – except here!” Resting ourselves in a tavern beyond, the ordnance map shows us between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon, where a large 3rd century villa was discovered. Such farms supplied food and wine to Roman legions once stationed in Bath. Agriculture flourished then throughout this sheltered valley. Crossing farmlands today requires scrambling over stiles or through self-closing kissing gates, permitting our access without letting livestock out. Cutting through grassy fields and flower-filled meadows, our poles fend off stinging nettle “bites.” Up one hill, down another and zigzagging under treed arcades, the trail emerges on Limpley Stoke’s common. Most villages we encounter boast long histories; Stoke dates to 961AD.
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Bath Royal Crescent
Photo: Terri Fogarty
Along a pretty lane, dog walkers explain prominent “Save our Packhorse” posters: “Sadly, new owners shut down our beloved 17th century pub, one local laments.” Brightening, she grins, “But our parish church is worth a visit.” An exquisite carved Norman doorway highlights the 12th century gem. Scrawled notices on fences alert us to nervous mamas protecting calves. Instead, a herd of curious black bullocks trots straight at us! Resisting impulses to flee, we face ’em down. Stepping firmly forward halts them in their tracks. We scoot up the hillside and escape through a kissing gate – with a celebratory smooch. That afternoon, a taxi transfers us to Cockleford, a hamlet deeper in the Cotswolds. For three days we explore the Churn valley. On one farmland ridge, the scenery leaves us awestruck. Under clear blue skies, hedgerows border rippling patchworks of blue-green wheat and pale-green bearded barley; scarlet poppies splash crops of bright-yellow canola. “Dry stone walls” crisscross sloping pasturelands. Built without cement during the 18th and 19th centuries, these low
walls still enclose grazing sheep… that stare inquisitively at us before scampering off, bleating. During the middle ages, the Cotswold sheep’s thick, golden fleeces commanded high prices in Europe. Massive profits built the elaborate farmhouses and ‘wool churches’ dotting the landscape. Signposts mark faint trails along endless hillsides. Finally sighting the tiny Coberleys, upper and lower, we descend to a gravel road and down a lane to a confusing crossroads. A lady
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tending her flowers smiles and points us toward Colesbourne Park’s old coaching inn. Our side trip across the Churn reveals St. James Church with its square 15th century tower, a medieval beauty surrounded by flower-covered walls. Our longest day begins at Birdlip, straddling the once important Roman road linking Gloucester, Cirencester and ancient Welsh tin mines. Just outside the village, we begin trudging a rutted forest track and eventually join Cotswold Way, an extensive National Trail popular with hardy hikers. Meeting three university students motivates a swap of route information and inspiration, “Imagine! Monks on pilgrimage to Bath Abbey walked here – in sandals!” Several challenging kilometres later, a welcome bench makes the perfect spot to munch bacon sandwiches and survey the woodland trust’s magnificent views. Birds flit and chirp under beech canopies as we trek through the same sun-dappled woodlands that Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn hunted. At the Black Horse, a century’s old pub on the edge of Cranham Common, frothy pints and jacket potatoes revive us for the long tramp back to Birdlip.
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Prior Park Walk
Our last jaunt loops through one of several estates where Dick Whittington likely spent a wretched boyhood. Never leaving vast properties owned by the Berkeleys, influential 13th century land barons, this future Lord Mayor walked into London with his legendary cat. A weathered archway identifies 12th century St. Giles where Dick’s mother rests in the churchyard. Unique burials also occurred here. When Sir Giles de Berkeley died in 1294, only his heart was interred here and his beloved horse Lombard buried in the churchyard. Back along the Churn, we ultimately parallel the old walls of Cowley Manor, nowadays a hotel. Another Norman church, 12th century St. Mary’s rises amid this gracious country getaway. Days spent in little-known Cotswold villages, rural countryside and captivating Bath reveal England’s charm, natural SL beauty and history.
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JUNE 2015
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Travel
Trolling for Tapas in Madrid BY JOHN THOMSON
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Photos: John Thomson
T
he guidebook said 45. According to Fodor’s, there are 45 museums or museo in Madrid, and from the look of things outside our rental apartment on Calle Mayor, it appeared we were kitty corner to one of them, the Museo de Jamon. What? A Ham Museum? How novel. Wrong. It turned out that Museo de Jamon is not a museum, at all, but a chain of eateries that serve ham, ham and more ham. Madrid sure loves its ham. Full disclosure: My wife and I are not foodies. We’d be hard pressed to tell you the difference between a truffle and a turnip, but we are adventurous and we love sampling dishes from around the world. Spain is famous for its tapas so, naturally, we devoted our first night to searching out the best. Plus we were looking forward to the time-honoured tradition of getting free snacks with our drinks. Or so we were told. Unfortunately, complimentary tapas often meant a plate of potato chips. Trolling for tapas was a bust, but we did discover another specialty: churros, a deep-fried pastry served with cups of thick, dark, hot chocolate. Los Artenos Chocolateria is a tile and arborite café on Calle de San Martin. Great-grandfather Don Florencio established the business in 1902 and his descendants, one of whom greeted us at the door I’m sure, continue his legacy. It was 9 p.m., time for dessert. The rest of Madrid, of course, was about to start its evening meal. Our server returned with a plate of eight doughy fingers and two cups of hot chocolate. I could feel my arteries harden. A group of locals at the next table were wolfing down their order and it was hard to keep up. Eventually, we had to throw down the towel. “Sorry, it’s really good but we just can’t eat anymore,” we offered meekly. Our server looked more hurt than offended. “What? You had churros for dessert?” our tour guide Andres Jarabo exclaimed the following day. We had signed up for a Madrid wine and tapas tour before leaving Canada and here we were, two days in, meeting fellow tourists for the first time in midtown Madrid and being berated by our tour guide. “We eat churros for breakfast,” he sniffed. Tony from Birmingham revealed he started his day with churros and a bloody Mary. We all laughed. “Never, never as a dessert,”
continued Andres, as he started us off on a walking tour of La Latina, a nearby barrio. Our first stop was a charming watering hole off the Costanilla de San Pedro. “Tapas means cover and we think this is how tapas started because there were a lot of flies,” said Andres, holding his hand over the mouth of a wine glass as if to protect its contents from the pesky critters. Our tapas consisted of olives, a simple but appropriate accompaniment to the featured beverage, a fortified wine called Miro. “It’s very popular in Madrid,” said Andres. “All the bars carry it.” Our next stop was a larger establishment, its walls covered in pork hocks. Once seated, we were
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each presented with a small plate of sausage and pork belly, accompanied by a selection of riojas, intensely-flavoured, complex Spanish reds. Our third stop, also, in La Latina, introduced us to the Spanish tortilla, a much different snack than its Mexican counterpart. The Spanish tortilla is a potato omelette finessed with butter, spinach and nutmeg. It has a very subtle flavour. Andres chose to match our tortillas with a selection of crisp, clean, whites. Diving even deeper into the neighbourhood, we finished our tour at a very long, communal table. Servers brought out six wooden platters each heaped with meats. “We have the ham, we have the tenderloin and we have the chorizo, which is sausage,” said Andreas, paying special attention to the sliced tenderloin that was marinated in garlic, paprika and cumin. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The Muscatel flowed freely. “The Iberian pig is unique,” Andres said proudly. “It’s free-range and lives in an oak tree forest and eats acorns and grass. And then you cure it for almost five years. Ham becomes more tender the longer you age it.” I told Andres about our first night trolling for tapas and that potato chips seemed to be the norm. “It depends upon the region,” he replied. “In Madrid, you don’t have a lot of that but if you go to Granada they have a big tapas with drinks culture.” “Should have gone to Granada,” I murmured. The rest of Madrid? We momentarily ditched cuisine for culture and hit Madrid’s three premiere art galleries, all conveniently clustered along the Passeo del Prado, a short walk from Atoche, the central train station. Museo del Prado, with its emphasis on the Old Masters was magnificent, but exhausting. It’s so vast. Museo ThyssenBornemisza featured both classical and modern painting while Centro de Arte Reina Sophia, which features modern Spanish artists Dali, Miro and Picasso,
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was packed with tourists, ourselves included, anxious to see Guernica. The mural has a majesty to it that simply can’t be appreciated in a reproduction. We couldn’t escape the lure of tapas, however, and several days later, stumbled into the Mercado San Anton in Chueca. Ostensibly a high-end supermarket, the second floor was a foodie’s paradise, an emporium of exotic foods – sushi, Dutch pastries and lots and lots of tapas bars. It was a perfect ending WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
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to our tapas hunt – delicately battered calamari, thinly-sliced salted cod, slices of chorizo served with a fried quail egg and very small new potatoes roasted and delivered in a spicy bread crumb coating. All delicious and all available at one euro each. The secret to finding mouth-watering Madrid tapas, we discovered, was to pay for them. Paella? That too necessitated much travel and much delicious sampling. But SL that, I’m afraid, is another story. JUNE 2015
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Travel
Mount Rainier Medley BY HEATHER LARSON
W
henever I’m on a return flight from one of my travels and, it’s clear enough to make out the highest peak in Washington State, my shoulders relax and I let out an audible sigh, knowing I’m almost home. That peak is Mount Rainier and, at 4,392 metres, it’s the highest mountain in the Lower 48. Not only does the landscape afford postcard-worthy photos of breathtaking scenery, but hiking, shopping, riding a gondola, gourmet dining and wildflowers bursting with colour also come wrapped in this sensual travel package. Just under a four-hour drive from the border crossing at Blaine, Washington, you’ll want to spend at least two nights, maybe more, around and on the mountain to take in all the splendour it has to offer. In summer, all the roads are open, the flowers are blooming and it’s the easiest time to get anywhere on Mt. Rainier. Don’t worry, you’ll still see snow.
Begin Your Discovery My favourite way to start a trip to Rainier is to stop in the gateway city of Enumclaw on SR 164E (State Highway). There, you can stock up on jalapeño-salted caramels and grab a Snoqualmie ice cream cone (Mukilteo Mud is delish) for the road at Sweet Necessities. I also highly recommend topping off your gas tank in Enumclaw. Service stations are few and far between on the mountain. Watch for signs in town directing you to SR 410E and 14 12
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follow that highway to Federation Forest State Park. To park your vehicle here you’ll need to purchase a Discover Pass. It will definitely be worth the cost. You’ll have access to 12 miles of hiking trails, three interpretive trails, an interpretive centre and four picnic areas. Birders can pick up a list of the 100 varieties they may see in the area at the interpretive centre. Back on SR 410E, you’ll encounter the tiny town of Greenwater. Should you need any wet weather clothing, Wapati Woolies has hats, jackets, shirts and lots of souvenirs. Across the street, the Naches Tavern’s menu boasts stick-to-your-ribs road food like French-dip sandwiches, burgers and fish and chips. Kiddos are welcome here, too. Now might be a good time to work off some of the food and chocolate you’ve indulged in. Locate and hike the Snoquera Falls Trail behind Camp Sheppard Boy Scout Camp on SR 410, a six-and-a-half-kilometre round trip through oldgrowth forest to a spectacular waterfall.
Stay at Crystal Mountain Ready to stop for the evening? Crystal Mountain makes a perfect respite. Take the exit to the left off SR 410 onto Crystal Mountain Road. The Silver Skis Chalet has every amenity you’ll need for the night from a kitchenette, a fireplace, coffee to warm up with in the morning, to free Wi-Fi, plus an outdoor swimming pool.
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After unpacking, your first stop should be to buy tickets for the Mt. Rainier Gondola. Unless you’re a professional climber, the top of the gondola ride will be the closest you’ll ever get to the peak – a mere 19 kilometres away. Even though it’s cliché, you’ll actually feel like you can reach out and touch the mountain. Daily summer operations begin June 27, 2015, weekends only. For fine dining at a high altitude with a stunning view, make reservations for The Summit House, just a few steps from the gondola exit. If you prefer more casual fare and tipping a frosty Northwest craft beer with like-minded travellers, the Snorting Elk Cellar at the bottom of the gondola makes sense. Should you choose to pause your adventure here, sign up for a morning horseback ride with Chinook Pass Outfitters. Trot through alpine meadows ablaze with colourful bursts of wildflowers, smell fresh pine trees and listen to the birds singing. Or take up a competitive and free game of disc golf. The course map is available at The Mountain Shop.
Enter the Park You’re just a few kilometres away from the Sunrise entrance, one of the first places to capture the morning sun, into Mt. Rainier National Park. At the entrance gate, you’ll be asked to buy a National Park pass for $15. Drive up to the Visitor’s Center and savour the view from 1,950 metres. Take a guided ranger walk, photograph the wildflowers or just take pleasure in the view of Emmons Glacier. On your route down to the Paradise entrance, hike the Grove of the Patriarchs. Unplug and unwind, taking note of the smells, sounds and beautiful sights of nature. Learn the story of the mountain at the Jackson Visitors Center at Paradise through film or through hands-on exhibits. Take time to peruse the gift shop, dine at Paradise Inn and hike to your heart’s content. For rustic accommodations, choose the Paradise Inn lodging. But be warned, Paradise is the most popular place on Mt. Rainier and, therefore, the most crowded. You may prefer to stay overnight at Alexander’s Country Inn in Ashford. This Victorian Inn is situated in the shadow of the majestic Mt. Rainier. Besides a full-service restaurant that serves fresh trout from the pond in the back, you can pamper yourself with a number of spa treats at the onsite day spa. Fresh homemade blackberry pie, handcrafted breads and more make this a not-to-be-missed dining spot. Taking a trip to Mt. Rainier can be done in any number of ways. This is just one of them. However you choose to see the mountain, don’t rush it. She’s a remarkable work of SL nature meant to be thoroughly enjoyed. For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag. com/articles/mount-rainier Photo: VisitRainier.com
Terry Farmer, Founder
BC owned & operated
604-596-9670 Mt Rainier! Mt Hood! Mt St. Helen! Mt. Baker! July 8 - 12, 2015. 5 Days Experience these breathtaking Cascade Peaks up close and personal. We visit each of these mountains at a relaxed pace staying at two different hotels in Clackamas, near the mall and Puyalip. Ride the rails on a restored steam locomotive on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railway and visit their extensive collection of locomotives. Walk through the wildflowers in the sub-alpine meadows. This coach tour will bring you an appreciation of these now silent dormant volcanoes. $935 Cdn pp dble occ. No GST.
Alberni Inlet and Pacific Rim Nat’l Park July 21-23rd, 2015. 3 Days Hop aboard a scenic boat tour from Port Alberni along the West Coast, through the Broken Islands to Ucluelet on the MV Francis Barclay. Explore Pacific Rim Nat’l Park, the cedar giants of MacMillan Cathedral Grove and the famous Coombs Country Market. A great 3 day getaway on Vancouver Island. $725 Cdn pp dble occ plus GST.
DOOR-TO-DOOR PICK UP AND RETURNS WITHIN THE LOWER MAINLAND
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Travel
Cartagena:
Colonial, Contemporary, Exotic BY KATE ROBERTSON
A
Photo: Kate Robertson
fro-Colombian women dressed in brightly-coloured were vying for its control, hence the fortification. Strict historical preservation laws protect the buildings. My skirts and blouses with their heads wrapped in scarfs are selling fresh tropical fruit in Plaza San Pedro Claver. I hotel, Casa India Catalina, is a small boutique hotel that was buy some mango from one, and she slices it for me. I dig in, once a historical home. Like many properties in the Old City, juices dripping down my fingers as I sit with the others, tourists there are no street-level windows, only a door with a knocker. and locals, on the cathedral steps, watching children playing, What’s inside is not apparent from the street. So, when I see eating ice cream, feeding the pigeons. All of us are appreciat- a courtyard with palm trees and a small pool, and two storeys with balconies overlooking it, ing the rich ambiance created by I am surprised. My room déthe contrast of the Cathedral on cor is a tasteful mix of antiques one side of the Plaza – so rich in and Botero prints with touches history you will find the actual reof modernity, like glass showmains of Saint Peter Claver, the ers and contemporary bathroom first canonized saint in the West fixtures. Donovan Mendoza, the there – and modern sculptures smiling front desk receptionand contemporary outdoor patios ist, tells me that when the hotel and restaurants on the other side. opened its doors in 2007, there This contrast epitomizes Cartawere only 10 boutique hotels in gena, this tasteful mix between Cartagena, but as this accommothe colonial and the contempodation style gains popularity, that rary, with a strong dose of exotic number has more than doubled. Caribbean influence and bright Outside my hotel each turn colours dotted throughout. is like Christmas morning, a deUnlike grey, rainy Bogota, lightful discovery down every only an hour’s flight to the south street and cobblestoned alley – where I’ve arrived from that 16th and 17th century colonial morning, in Cartagena the humidA horse-drawn carriage in Cartagena, Columbia. mansions, an old convent, caity and heat are pleasant. En route thedrals, balconies draped with from the airport, my taxi wound alongside the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean, and as we tropical flowering vines and bougainvilleas, peppered with moddrove through Las Murallas, the thick stone walls that surround ern additions like Juan Valdez specialty coffee shops, art gallerthe Old City, I glanced to the ocean, expecting to see pirate ships ies and museums, and a Hard Rock café. ATMs are easy to find, on the horizon. Later, I walk atop this wall and find a table at and when I need a supermarket, there’s Éxito, selling everything Café del Mar to sip a glass of wine at sunset, enjoying the view from groceries to electronics. The block-long El Portal de los Dulces (sweets portal), where there are at least 12 carts selling and feeling the ocean spray against my skin. I learn Cartagena was designated as a UNESCO World Heri- traditional sweets in old-fashioned glass jars, is a sweet-tooth’s tage site in 1984 for its four kilometres of fortress walls, still dream. The city has an international feel, and I hear languages studded with cannons and towers, which were painstakingly from all over the world being spoken, but I appreciate that the constructed over two centuries. It was the most extensive mili- bulk of the tourists are Colombians, after all I am in Colombia. Rounding the corner to busy Plaza de Bolívar – named after tary fortification in South America and remains one of the most complete. The city was originally discovered in 1533 by the Simón Bolívar, a name you will see often in Colombia as he was Spanish and named after Cartagena, Spain. As a port, it became instrumental in the liberation of the country – jewellery, leather wealthy due to its resources of gold, silver and emeralds, but goods and arts and crafts are being sold on the street. A Botero these also made it attractive to pirates and other countries who print with its enhanced-proportion subjects catches my eye, and 16 14
SENIOR LIVING
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I buy it. I browse boutiques selling high-end designer clothing “FOLLOW THE VIKINGS” and beachwear, souvenirs and, of course, stores dedicated to 8 DAYS - ICELAND ADVENTURE - LAND “FOLLOW THE VIKINGS” “FOLLOW THE VIKING JUNE 11 JULY 4, 2016 8 DAYSeach - ICELAND ADVENTURE - LANDTOUR selling gold and emeralds, a Colombian specialty, prom8 DAYS ICELAND ADVENTURE - LA 12-DAY CRUISE -FJORDS & HIGHLAN 12-DAY CRUISE -FJORDS & HIGHLANDS 12-DAY CRUISE -FJORDS & HIGHL ising a better price than the other. 8 Day “Iceland Adventure” 12 Day “Fjords & Highlands” I’ve decided to study Spanish this trip, and my first 11 day -ofJuly 4,Landtour June 2016. by Globus 11 July 4, 20 Cruise by Holland America Wind Surf,11 Wind Spirit, Wind Star,-4, June - June July 201 classes at Babel Spanish School, I cross through the wall un8 Day “Iceland Adventure” 12 Day in Reykjavik 8 Day “Iceland Adventure” 12starts Day “Cruise Fjords Highlands” Star Pride, Lines ms Zuiderdam Star Breeze, Star Legend by Globus starts in Reykjavik Holland A by Globus starts in Reykjavik Holland America Lines ms Zuiderdam June 12-19 der the 19th century landmark Puerta delJune Reloj (clock tower) June 22 July 4 “Iceland Adventure” June 12 - 19, 2016 12 Day “CruJ 12 - 19, 2016 June822Day - July 4, 2016 to the trendy neighbouring district of Getsemani, historically by Globus starts in Reykjavik Holland Amer 180° From ordinary where artists and slaves lived. It’s a lively place at night, esJune 12 - 19, 2016 June 2 • Casual elegance and country club pecially the club strip called Media Luna or the Plaza de la style atmosphere d Santisima Trinidad, where I join some classmates one night. After relaxing thre cor te Zuiderdam. Make After relaxing three days in Copenhagen time to board the E• s Only 148 - 310 guests on board the Oslo Fjord Zuiderdam. Make sure you get up early next day to enGroups of people sit around watching the street performers, Enjoy natural wonders! • Five star service and cuisine Enjoy 3 full days in Copenhagen! joy REYKJAVIK the Norway visit. joy the Oslo Fjord. Kristiansand and Stavanger will end Welcome dinner; orientation; farewell dinner at a local restaurat Jarlshof’s Stone, the Norway visit. Lerwick, Shetland Islands, explore the Enjoy a wonderful vacation in a country of natural wonders: • Glaciers • volcanoes • lakes Then set sail and enjoy fjords chatting and laughing, drinking coffee or beer from the liquor Jarlshof’s Stone, pint in the pub. Next four days will be spentglaciers, volcanos, waterfalls, and lakes. Highlights are visits visiting Scottish p • All ocean-view accommodation town on Skye - lo Enjoy a wonderful vacation in a country of natural wonders: visiting Scottish ports such as• Glasgow, Portree - the largestto the geothermal heat and electricIslands power station in Hell• waterfalls hot springs • Shetland verness. Edinbur glaciers, volcanos, waterfalls, and lakes. Highlights are visits store across the street, some sharing bottles of anise-flavoured town on Skye - located in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland,In-isheidavirkjun, the hot springs at Geysir, accompanied by historic Edinburgh to the geothermal heat and electric power station in Hell• Open-seating dining verness. Edinburgh housing the Scottish crown jewels and the chef of the Geysir restaurant, who will offer you a taste of • baked hot-springs bread • Inner Hebrides Blackfriers, a 13th isheidavirkjun, the hot springs at Geysir, accompanied by Edinburgh Castle. Newcastle upon Tyne, don’t missfreshly baked hot-spring bread and more—all washed down Aquardiente, the national drink of Colombia. Aguardiente historic Wall a UNESCO W the chef of the Geysir restaurant, who will offer you a taste of Blackfriers, aand 13th century Dominican monastery. Hadrian’s with a glass of the local schnapps. Marvel at the largest • No charge alternative dining options local schnapps. • Blackfriers • Hadrians Wall built by the Roma After relaxing three day freshly baked hot-spring bread and more—all washed down Wall a UNESCO World Heritage site importanty monument glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull; stop at Lake Jökulsárlón to back to Copenhag means hot water or fire water, and after I try a sip, I decide I with a glass of the local schnapps. Marvel at the largest see the setting of the James Bond movie Die Another Day; built by the Romans in Britain. A day at sea and we Zuiderdam. Make sure • All non-alcoholic beverages included May beare booked separately glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull; stop at Lake Jökulsárlón to admire Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. back to Copenhagen REYKJAVIK see the setting of theevening James Bond movie Die Another Day; agree with the second translation. As the progresses, joy the Oslo Fjord. Kris • dinner Complimentary Shore Event admire Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Welcome dinner; orientation; farewell at a local restaurat Price includes; Iceland Tour, Reykjavik to Cop Price includes: 8 Day Iceland Tour; Reykjavik to Copenhagen air, 3 nights the Norway visit. Lerwic an entrepreneurial Colombian rolls in a small portable bar cart, all and transfers, night stayStone, in Copenhagen Complimentary watersports in Copenhagen , 12 Day• *Cruise, all transfers, taxes fees. three Jarlshof’s pint in Price includes; Iceland Tour, Reykjavik to Copernhagen air, taxes and fees. a wonderful vacation in a country of natural wonders: complete with a blender and plugs it into a power outlet thatstay in Enjoy all transfers, three night Copenhagen and *Cruise, • Beautiful Sail Away from every port $8199 CAD/per person - callHighlights for complete detailsvisiting Scottish ports su volcanos, waterfalls, and lakes. are visits taxes and glaciers, fees. $8199Cdn/per town on Skye -person located pops out of the bottom of a tree. He makes me a strawberry *Price based onelectric an oceanview cabin on the to the geothermal heat and power station in Zuiderdam. Hellverness. Edinburgh hou ASiA | ArABiA | CAriBBEAN & PANAmA CANAl **Airfare to Reykjavik & return from Copenhagen is not included. $8199Cdn/per person margarita, and not from a mix, but with fresh strawberries, at isheidavirkjun, the hot springs at Geysir, accompanied by Pleasehistoric call for completeCast deta Edinburgh *Price based on an Oceanview cabin on Zuide GrEEk iSlES, TurkEy & BlACk SEA | iTAly | mEdiTErrANEAN **Pricing double occupancy andoffer availability time of booking. the chef of the based Geysironrestaurant, who will you Please aattaste Note:of Airfare toBlackfriers, Reykjavik and return from Copenha a 13th centu a cost equivalent to $2. Please call for complete details. NOrThErN EurOPE | TAhiTi | TrANSOCEANiC VOyAGES freshly baked hot-spring bread and •more—all washed down Wall a UNESCO World cruiseexperts@telus.net www.yourcruiseexperts.com *Price based on an Oceanview cabin on Zuiderdam. Note: Airfare to Reykjavikin and return from a Copenhagen is not included. Donovan has assured me that exploring Please anywhere alone Cruise Holidays Victoria BC with glass of the local schnapps. Marvel at the largest built by the Romans in B Division of Cruise Holidays Nanaimo glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull; stop at Lake Jökulsárlón to 2834 norwell dr, nanaimo back to Copenhagen the Old City, any time of day is perfectly safe, and I find this to (778)433-8575 Victoria Cruise Holidays Victoria BCsetting of the James Bond movie Die Another Day; Serving Vancouver Island since 1 see the 250.758.7893 or 800.465.7245 of Cruise Nanaimo be the case. Despite the population of Cartagena beingDivision about a Holidays admire Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. (250)758-7893 Annemari’s Nanaimo Phone: 1-855-463-4391 E shawncruiseholidays@telus.net Jan-Evert’s Phone 778-245-4391 E Serving Vancouver Island since 1991 million, in the Old City, you get a small-town feel. I learn the BC Reg #2573 Inga’s Phone: E Serving Vancouver Island since 1991 604-278-7284 Office Phone: 778-433-8575 E Annemari’s Phone: 1-855-463-4391 E-mail: annemari@shaw.ca Price includes; Iceland Tour, Reykjavik to Copernh other parts of the city require more caution atJan-Evert’s nightPhone and taking 778-245-4391 E-Mail jeh88@shaw.ca www.yourcruiseexperts.com.com Inga’s Phone: 604-278-7284 E-mail: inielsen@shaw.ca Office Phone: 778-433-8575 E-mail: cruiseexperts@telus.net all transfers, three night stay in Copenhagen and a taxi is a must. Taxis are easy to find, and many of the streets www.yourcruiseexperts.com.com taxes and fees. in the Old City are accessible only to taxis or the horse-drawn carriages that are everywhere. But it’s really best explored on $8199Cdn/per person foot or on the bikes you can rent. EGION ANOR ICTORIA Night time is a pleasant time to explore with the cooler 7601 East Saanich Road, Saanichton BC Please call for complete details. temperature, and the city takes on a look of enchantment with *Price based on an Oceanview cabin on Zuiderdam. lights twinkling everywhere – on trees, plants, buildings. MakPlease Note: Airfare to Reykjavik and return from Copenhagen is ing a decision where to dine is difficult with so many choices, street vendors selling traditional foods like empanadas or Cruise Holidays Victoria BC Division of Cruise Holidays Nanaimo arepas (a must-try – maize cakes filled with meat, cheese or Spring is here, 2834 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 1X3 250-758-7893 potato), or gourmet, like La Cevicheria (featured in Anthony what a great time Serving Vancouver Island since 1991 to move into Bourdain’s No Reservations), and restaurants featuring world Legion Manor cuisines like Italian, French, Peruvian, or Colombian fusion. Annemari’s Phone: 1-855-463-4391 E-mail Victoria Jan-Evert’s Phone 778-245-4391 E-Mail Before calling it a night, for a dose of real Colombian flavour, Inga’s Phone: 604-278-7284 E-mail Office Phone: 778-433-8575 E-mail a salsa dance bar is the place to go. Colombia has its own unique style of salsa and every Colombian can dance it well. www.yourcruiseexperts.com.com Tourism in Columbia is growing by leaps and bounds, up by more than 160 per cent since 2004, and the government is injecting millions of dollars into updating infrastructure and systems. Despite this, many people still have a lot of trepidation about visiting Colombia, an unwarranted bad rap at this point, A Great Place to Call Home in my opinion. But on second thought, maybe I shouldn’t want Legion Membership not required people to discover what a gem it is, because surely, more tourLarge one bedroom corner suite now available SL ist traffic will change the unique flavour of Cartagena.
“Follow the Vikings”
REYKJAVIK Welcome dinner; orientation; farewell dinner at a local restaurat
2834 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 1X3 250-758-
2834 Norwell Drive, Nanaimo, B.C. V9T 1X3 250-758-7893
BC Registry #2573
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for $2,399 per month all inclusive.
For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag.com/ articles/cartagena
To book a tour or for other info, please call 250-652-3261 legionmanor@shaw.ca | www.legionmanorvictoria.ca
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JUNE 2015
17 15
Travel
Irish Surprise
The cliffs of Moher. Photo: Tom MacLean
BY JOHN HARRIS
A
fter 32 years in media and a starring role in the BCTV newsroom, Deborra Hope is now retired. She and her husband, Roger, recently hosted a special bus tour arranged by Senior Living Magazine and Collette Travel of BC. Here’s a glimpse of some of the “luck of the Irish” they enjoyed with 40 other folks on the Emerald Isle of Ireland. With 9,000 pubs in Ireland – and almost 900 of them are in Dublin – their tour began. Irish pubs pride themselves on their cooking, including outstanding helpings of bangers and mash. The oldest pub is Dublin’s Brazen Head, which opened its doors in 1198 and has served locals and the world famous from Van Morrison to Jonathan Swift. Oh, and Deborra and Roger, too. It’s also famous for the entertainment and an early highlight of their trip was a trio of traditional Irish performers with guitar, Uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes) and a step dancer. “By the time their music stopped, the whole place was clapping, cheering and pounding the tables,” says Deb. The next day was also marked by tradition – a tour of awe inspiring St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the beautiful trademarks of Dublin, the stately Georgian townhomes. Each door had its own vibrant colour. “A highlight, stunning,” say Deborra and Roger, was the Samuel Beckett Bridge that spans the River Liffey (pronounced ‘Leafy’). Most Dubliners call the span the Harp Bridge, as the suspension cables create a giant Irish harp over the river. When Queen Elizabeth opened the bridge in 2009, she began her remarks speaking Irish Gaelic. The Irish recall 18 16
SENIOR LIVING
with deep pride the Queen’s gesture as a bridge between two ancient nations, too long apart. The fifth day saw Deborra and Roger back on the bus with their lively new friends and popular tour guide, John Fitzgibbon, travelling into the towns of Kilkenny and Waterford. The Waterford name is world renowned for their incredible designs in crystal. “The crystal selection was far more than I expected,” says Deb. “The colours ranged from pale gold through blue and even purple.” Despite being early April, the Irish weather was beautiful and everyone enjoyed walking Kilkenny, historic buildings and towers along the River Nore. Day six, it was Roger’s turn for a treat thanks to the famous Blarney Castle. You know the story – the Blarney Stone is part of a tower wall and you’re held upside down as you bend over to give it a smooch. It’s all in fun, but a metal bar prevents visitors from hurtling to the lawns far below. Roger scoffed at the tale that once your kiss is planted, you are blessed with the gift of Irish Blarney. Deborra says, “It is true, although Roger has always had the gift.” That day included a walk through Muckross House and Gardens for a dip into the elegance of Victorian times. The next day, the sunny weather was icing on the cake as everyone gasped at the views of Galway County and the Ring of Kerry, renowned as one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world. Continuing north to Limerick, ocean vistas gave way to picturesque villages and mountain passes that opened
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to views as far as the Lakes of Killarney. Both Deb and Roger were enthralled with the stop at the Molanna Dairy Farm. Paddy and Margaret Fenton have farmed this corner of Ireland for generations, and welcome guests for tea and scones or lunch with Guinness bread. Everyone marveled at the poem composed and recited by Paddy in honour of his family and farm life. “After that visit, we could have been tempted to take up farming in Ireland, even with the seven-day workweek!” says Deb. From the quaint village of Molanna, it was on to Limerick and King John’s Castle with the Treaty Stone. There’s history here, as everywhere in Ireland, but the real excitement was the next day’s destination – the cliffs of Moher and Lough Eske Castle. The drive boasts spectacular vistas as the cliffs drop 700 feet to the wild waves of the Atlantic. In the misty distance, the cold islands of Aran, where the famous sweaters are welcome wear against the ocean winds. Back on the warm bus, they passed Galway Bay and continued north to Lough Eske.
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JUNE 10th - 25th 2016 16 Days • 41 Meals
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Photo: Deborra Hope
Deborra Hope*
Highlights: Amsterdam, Cologne, Koblenz, Rüdesheim, Miltenberg, Wertheim, Glass Museum, Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Linz, Wachau Valley, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Evening Budapest Cruise, Folklore Show
Lough Eske Castle
Lough Eske and its rivers are celebrated for fishing and for Lough Eske Castle, one of the top 10 country hotels in the world. Deborra and Roger raved about the food they found everywhere in Ireland, from the pubs of Dublin to the kitchen tables of the local farms and certainly the world-class cuisine of this hotel. What else would you order but the roast lamb? “Melt in your mouth and beautiful flavour,” Deb sighs. Roger remembered the desserts, “As gorgeous to look at as they were to eat.” The elegant qualities of the castle were echoed in next day’s visit to Belleeck Pottery, known worldwide for its Parian China. Deborra spoke of the hand-formed, hand-painted beauty imparted to ordinary items such as plates, bowls and cups. “True artistry at work,” she says. “To see it in your hand takes you back to another time.” Then they reached the charming city of Donegal. John Fitzgibbon, once again, shone with his knowledge of Ireland,
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JUNE 2015
19 17
this time of Donegal and the many skills of the craft makers supplying the shops and market stalls. “Experienced travellers on our bus said this tour was one of the best they’d ever been on,” says Roger, “especially with John as our guide.” Donegal County is surrounded on three sides by counties of Northern Ireland and it was here the tour encountered more recent Irish history. From Donegal, the travellers drove over the border from the Republic of Ireland, with its road signs in both Gaelic and English, into Northern Ireland and the city of Londonderry, now called Derry. Mr. Fitzgibbon reminded everyone that Northern Ireland currency is the pound sterling, not the Euro used in the Republic, and then announced their visit was among the first allowed between the formerly estranged parts of Ireland. Not only had Collette Travel arranged the tour into Derry, but also an unusual overnight stay. Derry is a famous historical site, home to St. Augustine’s Cathedral and the Guildhall. Deborrah and Roger found the Guildhall Clock Tower impressive. Its recent renovation and many visitors demonstrate the reconciliation in Derry and Ulster. Northern Ireland is home to the magnificent Giant’s Causeway. Sixty million years ago, a volcano formed a cobbled road leading into the sea and, ever since, it has inspired awe. The area is now protected for future guests as a UNESCO Heritage Site. “The views were stunning and we then went on a slow
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drive through Antrim Glens,” says Deb. Known locally as The Glens, these valleys are beloved for their tranquil beauty. At one point, the bus stopped for a small herd of cows to cross the road. John Fitzgibbon declared, “This is rush hour in Northern Ireland!” After an overnight stay in Derry (more pubs and more music), it was back into the Ireland of the 21st century
Here to help you
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A windswept Deb and Roger at the Cliffs of Moher.
with a visit to the capital, Belfast. There is history here too, including the pride as the city that built the Titanic. “Samson” and “Goliath,” the massive cranes used for the project, are still standing. After one more rowdy pub lunch, it was off to the city of Kingscourt and over the border back into the Republic. Just a short drive from Kingscourt was Cabra Castle. There’s nothing like staying in a castle to make you want to visit longer, especially when the stone towers are surrounded by 100 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens. Sadly, Deborah and Roger’s journey to Ireland could not be longer and they left for home in the morning, full to the brim with the wonderful surprises they found there. “Ireland surprises a lot of people,” says Tom MacLean of Collette Travel. “Many Europeans are taking culinary tours there and products like Irish butter are prized in Paris kitchens. And one other thing; it’s one of the friendliest SL countries you can visit.” Join Deborra Hope for Senior Living’s next trip, which explores the Legendary Waterways of Europe from Amsterdam to Budapest, June 10-25, 2016. For more information, see ad on page 17.
Pharmasave locations offer:
· Travel vaccinations · Referrals to travel clinics · Prescription recommendations & advice · Medication experts to discuss your specific healthcare needs · Easy prescription transfer * Services vary by location. Visit a location nearest you for more information.
Visit pharmasave.com to find a location nearest you.
Washington State Ferries Getting there is half the fun. For more information, call 888-808-7977 or visit www.wsdot.wa.gov WWW.SENIORLIVINGMAG.COM
JUNE 2015
21 19
Travel
An Exotic Meeting of East and West
BY IRENE BUTLER
One of the glorious beaches of Cyprus.
A
phrodite, goddess of beauty and love, was born on Cyprus, according to Greek mythology. Favouring this Mediterranean island, she gave it graceful landscapes, tender climate, abundant sunshine and alluring beaches. Greeks joined the prehistoric peoples of Cyprus 3,500 years ago, establishing roots that have remained strong during periods of various rulers – Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, Ottoman and British – each adding their cultural imprint in a myriad of ways. The British took over in 1878, with Greek and Turkish cultures most prominent (known as Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots). Independence from Britain and the Republic of Cyprus was proclaimed August 16, 1960. But the new constitution was unsatisfactory to Turkish Cypriots and, in 1974, they took control of the north, forming the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The border cuts across the old historic part of Nicosia (a.k.a. Lefkosia), making this the only divided capital city in the world. Our roving begins on the Greek side with its pedestrian streets of engaging shops. At “Achilles Heel” amid messy surrounds, shoemaker Achilles’ octogenarian hands blur as he mends a purse with lightning speed. Nearing a sweet shop our taste buds shout for more traditional soutzoukos – almonds strung on a string then coated with layers of a grape juice/ flour/sugar mix. The handcrafted jewelry is irresistible. A further walk takes us past ancient aqueducts and Venetian walls. 22 20
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It is time for our Turkish-side venture. We walk through the buffer zone manned by UN peacekeepers and join the checkpoint cue with our passports to obtain visas. Ottoman flare abounds with colourful shops stacked with clothing, souvenirs and foodstuffs. After browsing a bit, we sit in the sunshine in a small café sipping scalding, sweet, thick, flavourful Turkish coffee… what could be better? “Which way to Selimiye Mosque?” I ask a local. His directions bring us to a beautiful edifice, formerly St. Sophia Cathedral. Beside the mosque is a stall where we purchase tickets for a Whirling Dervish performance at Mevlevi Tekke Musuem. This physically active meditation was developed in the early 1200s by mystic Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. In a darkened theatre, vocal incantations and music sound as the dervish begins to rotate as all things in the universe – the palm of his right hand faces skyward to receive God’s beneficence, left-hand palm facing earth to channel it downward. His white skirt flares as he whirls; his eyes closed, yet no dizziness due to his meditative state. This dance of extreme discipline with an arcane philosophy is amazing to witness. After the performance, we seek out some old Ottoman inns before crossing back over. A bonus to travelling in Cyprus is the proximity between cities – we catch the two-hour bus to Pafos (Paphos). En route, the topography changes from lush to “Arizona-like” terrain with sage and dwarf trees – and then… the resort ambiance of
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Pafos is instantaneous with the Mediterranean competing for blueness with the sky; a wide promenade lined with towering palms and flowering shrubs. Tantalizing scents waft on balmy breezes from eateries within the mix of touristy-shops. Pafos was the capital of Cyprus in antiquity, resulting in such a wealth of archaeological sites, the entire city is listed as a UNESO World Heritage Site. In Kato Pafos Archaeological Park, we begin with the villas once belonging to noblemen from the 2nd to 5th centuries AD. The mosaic floors depicting mythological figures are masterpieces; Dionysus with wine goblet held high, warriors spearing beasts. “This Roman governor sure treated himself well,” Rick says as we view the rooms and baths of the House of Theseus. An incredulous moment is treading on a pathway of mosaics; the intricate tiles beneath our feet laid 2,000 years ago! Another part of the park holds ruins of numerous basilicas, ravaged by invasions and earthquakes. The only church standing is Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa, last rebuilt in 1500. In a nearby courtyard is St. Paul’s Pillar. According to tradition, the white marble column is where Apostle Paul was tied and lashed for preaching Christianity in 48 AD. He later converted the Roman governor Sergius Paulus. Another day, we make our way to Agia Solomoni Christian Catacombs. A “sacred” tree out front has a zillion pieces of white fabric tied to branches; the belief being ailments are cured in those who affix a votive… I add a tissue. We move through the hauntingly eerie chamber of tombs from the Hellenistic period; many of the hollows are adorned with icons of saints, now stained and faded. Rick usually follows his tour guide (me), but in one chamber he goes missing. I hear a splash… and a few expletives. I rush over and stare down a set of steps at Rick standing in ankle deep water. He leaps back onto the bottom step in shocked laughter. The trickster liquid returns to its dark clear stillness, so one would ever know it was not a solid slab of rock. He squish-walks in waterlogged shoes to our next site – the Tombs of Kings, so named for the grandeur of the acropolis, which once held the remains of high-ranking officials and wealthy families mostly from the Roman period. As we weave our way through the excavations, the underground tombs carved out of rock range from simple ones for individual burials, to chambers with passages and large colonnaded tombs – a captivating walk back through time. We hop a bus to Larnaka (Larnaca) with its famed Salt Lake, where flamingos find refuge – and there they are – about 500 wading and feeding on brine shrimp. Edging the lake is Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, a place of Muslim pilgrimage. Back in Larnaka proper, Agios Lazaros (Lazarus) Church glows golden in the sun – and yes, the Lazarus is the same one mentioned in biblical passages; brought back from the dead by Jesus (John 11:43). Religious persecution sent Lazarus fleeing to Cyprus in 33AD. Here, he met Apostles Paul
and Barnabas who ordained him the first Bishop of Kition (now Larnaka), where he served his remaining mortal years. His burial place was lost until, in 890AD, a tomb was excavated with the inscription “Lazarus the friend of Christ.” A church was built over the tomb, but Byzantine church leaders decreed the relics be sent to Constantinople. The crypt of the present-day church is still over the tomb. Shivers run down my spine as I touch the edges and peer into the sarcophagi found within. The church swells with baroque woodcarvings, gigantic chandeliers, and striking icons. A silver box near the entrance is the focus of all who enter. I wait my turn to gaze through its glass top at bone fragments. They were discovered in 1972 during a fire restoration within a small marble sarcophagus under the altar and identified as a part of St. Lazarus relics, so not all were removed to Constantinople as ordered centuries ago. On our last few Larnaka days, I feel I could sit forever on the velvety sand and look out over the sea. All too soon, our flight from the nearby airport awaits us. Cyprus will long be remembered for its intriguing multi-layered history, rich cultures, fabulous ruins, markets galore, friendly Cypriots and beaches that are definitely Aphrodite worthy. SL For IF YOU GO information, visit www.seniorlivingmag. com/articles/cyprus Photo: Rick Butler
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Travel
Pedaling the Loire Valley BY KATHERINE GIBSON
A cycle road snakes behind a French village. Photo: Joanne Furby
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risp white wines, tart chèvre cheese and historic châteaux had enticed our group of three men and five women to Blois, a medieval city some 185 km southwest of Paris. On a mild day in early October, we met there to begin a two-week cycling adventure west through the Loire Valley. Known as the Jardin de France, the valley follows the Loire River to the Atlantic coast. Its shores are scattered with more than 100 royal palaces and ancient villages, and the Loire à Vélo, one of the finest cycling routes in Europe, is an 860-kilometres network of cycle paths and country roads. After a one-night stay at Chambre d’hôte La Maison de Thomas, a family-owned inn off the main street of Blois, we hopped on rented bicycles to begin our journey. October is definitely off-season for most European travellers and so the local establishments greeted us with enthusiasm. The folks we met were friendly and helpful and were ever so patient with our mixture of charades and high-school French. More than 750,000 bikers pedaled through the valley in 2014, but the route was virtually abandoned when we took to the trail on that clear autumn morning. Other than a couple of rainy spells, the weather hovered around 20°C, granting us ideal cycling weather. We could easily cover our daily stages of 30 to 50 kilometres in a few hours, but opted for a leisurely pace, frequent stops and lazy lunches. A typical village café menu lists an assortment of duck, chicken, veal and pork dishes. The specialty of the day, listed as le menu, offers good value and 24 22
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guarantees fresh, creative preparation. Even the lowly tobacs have decadent pain au chocolat. Ours was a glorious adventure through a land steeped in tales of indulgent kings, rival queens and a courageous young woman named Jeanne d’Arc who, in 1430, became the heroine of France. She is still celebrated, but the valley’s chief draw is its graceful châteaux. They, and regimented rows of vineyards, manicured gardens and quiet villages lured us forward on our daily routes as we anticipated hardy lunches and dinners in village squares. We celebrated the end of each day with cold beer or fresh crisp white wines. Local, of course. And cheap. Our rewards for choosing off-season travel were legion: postcard villages devoid to tourists, rest stops in vineyards awaiting harvesting, and unhurried visits to medieval and Renaissance châteaux. Chambord is the largest castle in the Loire Valley. During WWII, this 440-room wonder housed precious artwork from The Louvre secreted there when Germany occupied Paris. The much smaller and more delicate Château de Chenonceau, considered by many to be the most beautiful of the royal residences, was the site of a rivalry between King Henry the Second’s queen and his mistress. Queen Catherine de’Medici and the beautiful Lady Diane Poitiers are remembered by gardens designed by these royal adversaries when they resided in the château (but not simultaneously). The splendid gardens still form the centrepiece of the grounds. Pedaling for several hours each day gave us ample license
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to indulge in the wines and culinary specialties of the region. This valley, with its fertile soil and long hours of sunshine, produces an abundance of asparagus, pears, apples and strawberries. But it is best known for fromage de chèvre, accounting for 70 per cent of all goat cheese produced in France. Village market stalls are stacked with these pungent cheeses in a variety of shapes, some finished with coatings of ash. The most desirable are the tiny Chotin de Chavignol and the pyramid-shaped Valencay. They pair perfectly with the dry white wines of Sancerre and Vouvary. Baskets of oysters, wild mushrooms (another Loire staple), wild boar and deer highlight the menu during hunting season. On one of our few rainy days, we lunched in a small momand-pop restaurant in the village below the Chateau d’Usse, billed as Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. The blackboard listed a small but interesting menu that offered roast rabbit in a mild mustard sauce, a terrine of chicken and chorizo sausage, and a lamb stew. I choose the rabbit and, to this day, I’d hop back on a plane for another helping. The old stone fireplace, ancient wood panel, and sideboards and wooden tables infused with more history than the most senior member of our group, made the experience one of homey comfort. The castle, while hyped with Disneyland adjectives, had the highest admission price of all the castles we visited (17€; $23 CAD) and is best viewed from the outside. Save your money for lunch. Wine is king in France with white wines holding court in the Loire Valley. However, the Chinon region is renowned for its reds, made primarily from the cabernet franc grape. These wines are reputed to be some of the most complex reds in the country. After a few tastings, Mike, our designated sommelier, declared them delightful, but lacking the depth and interest of Burgundy and Bordeaux. We agreed. “Unhurried, uncomplicated,” declared Bob as he summed up the trip. “Cycling, Charcuterie and cheese,” remarked Sandi and Ron. “I will now choose active vacations instead of viewing a country from a car or train,” said Carolyn. And Susan and Joanne echoed what we all felt: “We anticipated a cold beer at a sidewalk café as we rode our bikes through the expansive vineyards and farmland.” If the trip sounds a too perfect, it’s because it was one of the most memorable bicycle trips I have done in Europe. We planned our trip through Le Vélo Voyageur, a small company run by two young French women. They organized our accommodations, bicycles, route maps and luggage transfer leaving us free to enjoy the French countryside without any hassles. And the value for our dollar was excellent. That two-week trip ranged from 1,400€ to 2,270€ ($1,899 to $3,079 CAD) per person, depending on the choice of accommodation. Our combination of small inns, gîtes, a 17th-century farmhouse, and even a refurbished monastery, was delightful. A gentle pedal through the Loire Valley is the epitome of slow travel that ripples with new adventures. My only regret is not planning a longer trip. Another time, perhaps. SL
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Fit for the Adventure Smart Hiking
H
iking is an enjoyable activity and a convenient vacation exercise choice. But before you head for the trails, be sure you’re prepared for the unexpected. Before heading out – especially if you’re alone – tell someone where you are going, your planned route and when you expect to return. Incidentally, avoid hiking alone if your hike is in a very remote area or has perilous trails. For a hike that’s less than an hour, water is the most important thing to bring with you – especially if it’s a hot day. However, if you plan on a longer hike and in a more remote area, you’ll need to do more planning. Time your trip so you return well before dark. And check the weather forecast; weather can change quickly, so it’s best to be prepared. Carry a back pack with the following essential outdoor items: Map, compass and a fully charged cell phone; flashlight; waterproof matches or a lighter and a candle; a whistle or a mirror to signal where you are if you become lost. Three is the international distress signal: blow your whistle (or flash your mirror in the sun) three times; snacking foods and at least one litre of water per person (in higher altitudes, you will dehydrate very quickly); a small bag for your garbage; extra clothing (wind/waterproof jacket, extra socks, and a hat); a small first aid kit; a pocket knife; sunglasses, sunscreen and perhaps bug repellent; a compact, lightweight tarp that folds
BY EVE LEES
into a convenient size (for shelter/rain protection). Long hikes will deplete your energy, so don’t overlook fueling yourself properly. Keep your “gas tank” full before, during and after a hike that lasts more than two hours. Start with a healthy, filling breakfast – or lunch if your hike is a late afternoon one. If it’s a day-long hike, plan to snack every two hours with smaller, lighter food items, so you aren’t burdened with extra weight in your pack; a small box of raisins, dried fruit, vegetables like celery and carrots, or fresh fruit such as a small apple or pear. Crackers, or spoonsized shredded wheat are other ideas. Avoid packing plastic containers of prepared meals, such as rich pasta dishes. These meals can be too high in fat (which won’t supply quick energy) and the plastic just takes up more space in your pack. Also, if your hike is a long one, pre-cooked meals need refrigeration! When planning your snacks, think small, high carb (not high fat) foods for instant energy. Don’t forget to drink water. Take frequent, small sips as you hike. After your hike, it’s wise to refuel within one hour and drink at least two more cups of water. Then, enjoy a fillSL ing, nutritious meal. Eve Lees was a Personal Trainer and Nutrition Counsellor for 30 years. www.artnews-healthnews.com
Looking for Senior Housing? BC Housing Directory Senior Living Housing Directory is a valuable online resource for seniors and family members looking for alternative housing to match their desired lifestyle, or medical/mobility needs. www.seniorlivingmag.com/housingdirectory Over
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To Move or Not to Move? A Helpful Guide for Seniors Considering Their Residen�al Op�ons Advice from professionals who are experts in the area of assisting seniors with their relocation questions and concerns. This 128 page book provides helpful, easy to read information and suggestions to help seniors and their families understand the decisions they need to make. For more information or to order, visit our website at www.seniorlivingmag.com/bookstore or call toll free 1-877-479-4705.
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BY KATHY LYNN
9-1-1 Grandparents
W
hen my three-year-old granddaughter caught a slight case of pneumonia, she needed to be on oxygen. This meant a five-day hospital stay. We knew her illness wasn’t too serious; a round of antibiotics and she would be fine. But, immediately, the logistics became a challenge. Her mom was at the hospital with her, her dad was at work and her brother was with the nanny. But later in the afternoon, it would be time for the nanny to leave and Dad needed to bring Mom the items she would need to stay in the hospital overnight. He also wanted to visit with his little girl. This was the signal for us, the grandparents, to step up to the plate. We relieved the nanny and cared for our young grandson. During those five days, we filled in the gaps to ensure everyone was cared for. There are many times when it’s handy to have grandparents to fill in when life gets bumpy. When my daughter’s father-in-law died in Ontario, she could join her husband and attend the funeral because we, the grandparents, took over with their toddlers. In the chaos of day-to-day living, grandparents can have an important role by giving the parents a break. Often, simply a chance to go out for a meal without the kids is a great benefit to busy parents. When we notice that life has been hectic (and that would be always, actually) and that our children have not had a chance to spend some time together, we will suggest that a date night is in order. Not surprisingly, they never disagree. Grandparents are perfectly suited for the role of emergency care. The children know them and are comfortable with them. The grandparents have a good sense of how the children are being raised, so it’s not a disruption to the usual schedule. When the kids are babies, toddlers and preschoolers, it works best when grandparents follow the schedule set up by the parents. Kids at this age thrive on ritual and get disconcerted when the schedule changes. As the kids get older, grandparents can make some changes that are special. These kids are now old enough to appreciate that Grandma will read extra stories or Grandpa will play train with them for hours on end, if they want. I am always pleased when I can ease the life of my children as they take on the challenging task of raising my grandchildren. SL
Kathy Lynn is a parenting expert, professional speaker and author. To learn more, visit www.parentingtoday.ca
S
unny skies prevailed as the official ceremonial torch of the 55+ BC Games arrived in North Vancouver aboard a longboat and was welcomed by a cheering crowd of organizers, volunteers, government officials, aboriginal leaders and supporters. With only three months until the event, athletes participating in 25 sports and representing 12 zones throughout BC are feverishly training and honing their skills to win medals when the Games commence on August 25th. Among those competing will be a number of avid curlers from North Vancouver. One of those curlers, Brad Lund, has put down his broom to volunteer to shepherd the Games to their successful conclusion by taking on the role of President of the 55+ BC Games. Each year, a different city or municipality hosts the Games and for a period of one year and takes on the lion's share of the organizing that goes into such a grand event. Supporting these efforts and governing the process is the umbrella organization the BC Seniors Games Society. For more information about the society and the games, visit www.55plusbcgames.org SL or www.bcseniorsgames.org
Derek Francis, Director of Zone 4 (Lower Mainland), greets North Vancouver MLA Jane Thornthwaite, who brought greetings from the Government of British Columbia to the official torch ceremony.
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Arts & Entertainment
Friends, Music and Laughter BY JUDEE FONG
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Photo: Judee Fong
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haring the bond of friendship, music and laughter, Re- have a piano and music over there and Bill will be on guimember When is a quartet of active musicians in Vic- tar and he’ll sing.” Bill laughs as he got to meet Marty and toria. When they perform at seniors’ residences, their passed his impromptu audition for Remember When. A former high school band/choir teacher, Bob Whittet audiences often recognize the songs and add their voices for a met Marty through their music activities at various schools, spontaneous and spirited sing-along. “We don’t do actual singalongs,” says leader and keyboardist Marty Adams, “but people recognize the music we play. You look around the room and see people singing along, alone or as a group. When you get such an impulsive response, it makes it so much fun to play.” Marty played piano for Doc and the Doo Wops for a number of years before it disbanded. Today, he plays for the popular Rukus, another local rock-‘n’-roll band, as well as leading Remember When. “My Dad started Remember When and was looking for a piano player because he lost his singer and pianist,” says Members of the Remember When Quartet (from l to r): Newest member and guitarist Bill Mooney, Marty. “Joy joined as the vobass player Bob Whittet, vocalist Joy Fox and leader and pianist Marty Adams. calist and since I wasn’t doing too much, at the time, I said I would play for a short while with eventually working together at the same school in Metchosin. them. But I stayed even when I played with Rukus, and my Leaving Victoria, Bob returned at an opportune time to play Dad has since retired. All these experiences remain with you, bass for Marty, his Dad and Joy. “It’s been great for me because I can play my bass with a giving Remember When music appealing to all ages.” The group’s newest member, Bill Mooney was 41 when he group rather than by myself in the basement.” Joy Fox provides the vocals for the group. When she sings got his first guitar. “I had no musical training, but I wanted to play in a rock-‘n’-roll band. I bought an old guitar and taught the slow ballads, her voice evokes the blues and jazz era. “I myself six-chords. I listened to Peter, Paul and Mary records like singing slow ballads, but our list covers a wide range of pop, rock-‘n’-roll, soul, and so much more.” and played my chords along with them.” Like the others, music plays a significant role in Joy’s life. Feeling more confident, Bill gained experience playing with a couple of groups in Saskatchewan before moving to She recalls, “I was a whiny kid and my fingers couldn’t manVictoria. “I heard of Marty from a friend and, shortly after, age a piano, so I sang. I was only three, at the time. There met him at a Christmas sing-along where we decided to play wasn’t any television in our home, but we did have radio, so together a bit.” Marty interrupted with a laugh and explains, we learned the songs of my parents’ era, as well as songs from “The Christmas thing was interesting because I came with my the radio.” Today, she sings with the Starlight Pops group as well as wife to listen to a Christmas concert, but I got hit at the door with, ‘Would you mind playing the piano today?’ and while doing regular gigs with Remember When. Busy with rehearsI was fumbling for an answer, this insistent voice said, ‘We als for Starlight Pop’s upcoming Motown concert in June, Joy
says, “Remember When has a different kind of music, which never makes singing the music repetitious or boring.” The group has played together for a long time and Bill Mooney, the newest member, is right at home with them. The members have a playful banter, an easy give-and-take attitude, until they plunge professionally into a song. Amidst much laughter, the group agrees that while Marty makes up a list of possible songs, other members can suggest a better piece or veto one until, eventually, a song set is agreed upon for instruments, vocals and that fits the planned theme. Remember When loves their audience and the audiences love them. “One of the pitfalls of other groups performing at senior [residences] is that their music may play down to their audience with old, old songs,” says Bob. “I want our music to speak to the audience, to be fun and enjoyable.” Marty agrees. “Our audiences will sing along with ‘Jeremiah was a Bullfrog.’ They’ll sing along with songs from the ’60s and ’70s because they were listening to this music along with
their kids. Our playlist covers the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, as well as a few from the ’40s and ’50s, plus several current ones of today.” Joy hopes her music takes people away from their cares and troubles, if only for a short while. Sometimes, a particular song brings back a poignant memory for a few. “It’s a wonderful feeling when some of the audience comes up afterwards to give me a hug because a particular song recalls a special moment in their life,” says Joy.
“People recognize and like the music,” says Marty. “Audiences won’t scratch their heads and say, ‘Where did that come from?’ People come up to us afterwards and say. ‘I knew absolutely every word of the songs you played. I SL was singing along with you!’” To contact Remember When to sing/ play at your special occasion or site, call Marty Adams at 778-351-2999 or email: remember.when@shaw.ca Website: http://www.rememberwhenvictoria.ca
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See The Gardens in a whole new light
Butchart Gardens Stroll along tulip-lined paths at beautiful Butchart Gardens, one of the world’s premier floral show gardens. Come celebrate Canada’s Garden Days with us June 19-21. Open year-round, The Butchart Gardens is located near Victoria, on beautiful Vancouver Island. We are dog friendly. www. butchartgardens.com See ad page 28.
Night Illuminations
Every night at dusk June 15th - September 15th
butchartgardens.com 866.652.4422
Chemainus Theatre “Twist and Shout – The British Invasion”: The British are coming! Bop back to the 1960s at this irresistible music revue with chart-topping hits by the Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five and more. Nestled in the seaside community of Chemainus, this vibrant and fully professional theatre features some of the finest performers in Canada. www.chemainustheatrefestival.ca See ad page 29.
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June Jamboree
Do Not Miss Our Biggest Ever Festival of Fun
Exclusively for Seniors (55+)! Get West Vancouver Island Adventure Cruises Departing from Gold River, BC, the MV Uchuck III navigates Nootka Sound, Esperanza Inlet and Kyuquot Sound. Along the route watch supplies and kayakers being off-loaded at remote villages, fish farms, logging camps and lodges. Marvel at the wildlife, seabirds and stunning coastal scenery. To learn more about 1-, 2- and 3-day cruises, go to www.getwest.ca See ad page 28.
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Coming up
Kettle Valley Railroad An abandoned railway bed that winds through south central British Columbia between Midway and Hope offers grades that never exceed 2.2 % making it fun for bikers of all levels of expertise. With countless trestles and tunnels, and environs ranging from cool mountain forests to Canada’s only pocket desert, the 600 km route offers an endless diversity of experiences. See ad page 30.
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Celebrate Centennial 2015!
Okanagan Heritage Steam Railway in Summerland BC
Take a 90-minute trip through time! Kettle Valley Railway reservation@kettlevalleyrail.org www.kettlevalleyrail.org 877-494-8424
Roy Orbison Tribute Concert THE LONELY delivers a sensitive and dynamic tribute to the one and only Roy Orbison. From 1960 to ’64 Roy Orbison landed 22 songs on the Billboard Top 40, including “Only The Lonely,” “Crying,” and “Oh, Pretty Woman.” Led by veteran musician Mike Demers, this band has been selling out shows since their debut. Presented by Rock.It Boy Entertainment. See ad on page 30. View Royal Casino Win a Panama Canal Cruise: Do not miss our biggest ever Festival of Fun. Exclusively for Seniors (55+), the June Jamboree is 28 action-packed days of great prizes, giveaways & entertainment. Visit View Royal Casino Guest Services between June 1-28 to claim your June Jamboree Passport and chance to WIN the Grand Prize for a 21-Night Panama Canal Cruise valued at $8,500. See ad page 29.
Presented by the Saanich Legacy Foundation
Music 2015 in the Park Community Concert Series Fat Cat (Classic Oldies & Country) TUESDAY, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. JUNE 30 Goward House, 2495 Arbutus Rd.
Bring your picnic dinner and blanket and enjoy an evening of music in your local park. Face painting for kids, and food available for purchase. Donations accepted. For more details go to saanich.ca or call Julie Wallace 250-475-5408
32 30
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CLASSIFIEDS COLLECTOR SEEKING vintage/collectable cameras, binoculars and microscopes. Nikon, Leica, Contax, Rolleiflex, Zeiss, Canon, etc. Mike 250-383-6456 e-mail msymons6456@telus.net (Victoria) FOOT-CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME. Mobile Foot Nurse Jude LaRoy Begg L.P.N. serving Victoria and area. Member S.I.N.F.A. (778) 440 0781 or (250) 857 3797 judelaroybegg17@hotmail.com
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SENSUAL MASSAGE. Are you missing touch? I’m a Certified Sexological Bodyworker, I work with Couples and Individuals. Sher 250-889-4166 or send an email sexeducator@telus.net DOWNSIZING?
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Reflections, Rejections, and Other Breakfast Foods by Gipp Forster
A collection of Gipp’s humorous and nostalgic columns. A wonderful read for yourself, and a thoughtful gift Reflections, ���������� for friends and family and Other Breakfast Foods members. Limited Edition
128 pages
$10
+ GST & SHIPPING
MAGAZINE
A Collection of Published & Unpublished Writings by Senior Living Columnist Gipp Forster
“Reflections” MAIL-IN ORDER FORM
Name____________________________ Address__________________________ City_____________________ Prov ____ Postal Code_________ Ph ___________ ____ BOOKS @ $14.65 each = $_________ (includes $3.95 shipping & GST)
Make cheque payable to Senior Living MAIL TO:
Senior Living 153, 1581-H Hillside Ave., Victoria BC V8T 2C1 Please allow two weeks for shipping. OCTOBER 2009 31 39 JUNE 2015 33
BY PAT NICHOL
New Adventures
E
very day seemed to bring a new adventure when we were children. Novel things happened so often we believed that was what life was all about. As we matured, however, new adventures seemed more elusive. What is there left to discover? We’ve heard, seen and done it all. Haven’t we? I’m here to tell you that’s not true! Over the last little while, I have taken time away from house and pet sitting and I have tried plenty of things for the first time. Here are a few: 1. Eating crab from the shell and cracking legs, digging crab meat out with picks and nut crackers. Delicious and fun with much laughter – mind you, the wine may have had something to do with that. 2. A trip down roads never travelled. On my way to a speaking engagement, I took a ferry to Langdale, then a Gran Prix-type drive to Earles Cove. I spent a delightful time in the cozy restaurant taking part in an online meeting. Then, because I was the first car on the ferry to Saltry Bay, I had a front row seat for the magnificent changing seascape. Then, after another fresh, green curvy drive into Powell
Photo: Frances Litman
COURAGEOUS & OUTRAGEOUS
River, I was on to my final destination: Mile 0 on highway 101, Lund, BC. This is where I sit today writing my column while watching three eagles dip and soar over the small lake 15 metres from my window. 3. My next first was an overnight trip to Tofino and Ucluelet with my friend Pat. To all my friends, who have given me a bad time because I have lived on the Island for 36 years and have never been to Tofino, I will report back when I get home. This is all within three weeks, along with three speaking engagements sprinkled throughout. I did not venture as far as all my firsts took me last year, but it is amazing what we can find in our own backyard. Look around and you will see places that you never thought to be. I’d love to hear about the firsts you are accumulating in this, the third actMesure of life.à prendre Let’s share. Action Required THIS IS YOUR AD PROOF VOICI L’ÉPREUVE DE VOTRE ANNONCE Next time I am going to talk about Aging Vibrantly. A exVeuillez vérifier votre épreuve et cocher: Please review your proof and check: de l’entreprise Courrieltry something Business Name citing new idea inNom my life. Until then, new. SL Email Numéro(s) de téléphone Adresse Site Web
Annuaire Rubrique Orthographe
Phone Number(s) Address Website
Pat Nichol is a speaker and published author. Reach her by email at Si vous approuvez, veuillez apposer votre If approved, please sign the bottom of signature au bas de cette page et la télécopier à this page and fax to your Media Account mpatnichol@gmail.com votre conseiller médias aujourd’hui même. Pour des corrections, veuillez communiquer avec votre conseiller médias dans les 48 heures.
Alpha Home Health Care Ltd ATTN: Don Swindell 1701 ISLAND HWY VICTORIA BC V9B1J1 CANADA
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Consultant today. For corrections, please contact your Media Account Consultant within 48 hours.
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