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Author: John

Know your ABC’s – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao

Know your ABC’s – Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao

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“Now I Know My ABC’s” (Currently my daughter Sophia’s favorite song.) It’s a new month and time to explore a different location! So now we will move south to the islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, known as the ABC Islands. The islands share a common history and culture and were banded together as the Netherlands Antilles up until 1986, when Aruba was the first to secede. Aruba and Curaçao are now countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while…

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Montreal and the Islands of Quebec

Montreal and the Islands of Quebec

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The first destination we will explore is up north in the Canadian province of Québec. The metropolis of Montréal is located on an island in the St. Lawrence River. Montréal is a top culinary destination as well as a center for culture and host of the world’s largest jazz festival each summer. Montréal is a fascinating mix of old and new, tradition and innovation and is without a doubt an exciting place to explore. We will continue with visits to…

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Frere Jacques – Cocktail recipe

Frere Jacques – Cocktail recipe

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Here is something I came up with to celebrate our exploration of Montréal and the islands of Québec. Obviously I had to do something with maple syrup and I also wanted to have apple as another component. I chose the name in honor of Jacques Cartier, the explorer who was among the first to visit the Gulf of St. Lawrence and explore the area. He is credited with the discovery of the Magdalen Islands and sailed inland as far as…

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Ile d’Orleans, Quebec City’s Cornucopia

Ile d’Orleans, Quebec City’s Cornucopia

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The beautiful Île d’Orléans is an island in the St. Lawrence River located less than 15 km from Québec City. It is a center for agritourism and is often referred to as Québec City’s cornucopia or vegetable garden. Thousands of visitors enjoy it’s wide variety of food and drink offerings each year. In 2007, the island became the first region in Québec to certify it’s products. The seal “savoir-faire île d’orléans” guarantees quality products produced and grown on Île d’Orléans….

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The Acadians

The Acadians

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I have been reading a little bit about the background of the Madelinots, as the inhabitants of the Magdalen Islands are called. Many of them are descended from Acadian settlers. The Acadians were originally settlers from France who crossed over to the new world and settled in eastern Québec, the Maritime provinces and part of Maine. After British conquest as a result of the French and Indian war, the French speaking Acadians were expelled from their burning cities and wandered…

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The Magdalen Islands (Iles de la Madeleine)

The Magdalen Islands (Iles de la Madeleine)

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The Magdalen Islands are a remote and beautiful archipelago located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Though closer in proximity to Prince Edward Island, they are a part of Québec. There are eight major islands that cover an area of approximately 80 square miles. Although the population descends in part from shipwreck survivors, in 1765 22 French speaking Acadians settled here. There are said to be upwards of 350 shipwrecks surrounding the islands, though only 15 have been found. The…

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A Selection of Videos

A Selection of Videos

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Tempo – St. Kitts and Nevis Music and Images Sharing this upbeat music with images of the islands. Enjoy!   Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago Here are a couple more videos of the amazing islands of the Mergui Archipelago. The water and beaches are out of this world! The second explores Boulder Island and the theory that it was the basis for Peter Pan’s Neverland.   Canary Islands Here are two videos with some great footage of the dramatic and beautiful Canary…

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Montreal

Montreal

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Hello everybody! Our journeys start with Montréal and the islands of Québec. Why Montréal? Well, first of all, the city is located for the most part on the Île de Montréal which is the 37th most populous island on earth. It is the 6th most populous of the Americas and 1st in Canada and is located at the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottowa Rivers in the southwest of the French speaking province of Québec. Its name is derived…

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