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Destinations Detours and Dreams January 2017

What's Been Happening

Winter is now in full force in Manitoba. My sister visited in early December, arriving in the middle of a snow storm. She lives in a milder climate on Vancouver Island and has been away from Manitoba winters for over thirty-five years. While I stressed over icy driving conditions on the way back to my house from the airport, she opened the window to take photographs, commenting on how beautiful it was. When it turned bitterly cold a couple of days later she still found it beautiful and refreshing. She was amazed at car exhaust fog, the white vapor caused by cold air condensing water on exhaust gas.

It was nice to see the winter through fresh eyes and be reminded of its beauty and uniqueness. When faced with months of bundling up in heavy clothing and braving tough driving and walking conditions, it is easy to forget winter's redeeming qualities. Having spent the past four winters in warmer places, I am enjoying a bit of the winter experience again. We had two more storms in December. A Colorado Low rolled in late Christmas Day; an Alberta Clipper arrived December 30. And, as I send this, another storm is supposedly on its way. The novelty may soon wear off!

In keeping with thoughts about the positives of winter, Canadian Traveller published an article I wrote: 6 Great Reasons to Visit Winnipeg in Winter. You can read it here.

While my sister visited, we attended a reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol at Dalnavert, a former Victorian mansion now turned into a museum. We also visited a display of fairytale vignettes at the Manitoba Children's Museum. The vignettes had been a staple of the former Eaton's store Christmas display for generations. I wrote about both on the blog.

I took some time over the holidays to relax, read and spend time with loved ones.

What's On The Horizon

The New Year stretches before me like a book full of blank pages waiting to be written upon. At this point, it is truly blank because I have no specific plans in place, travel or otherwise. You can view that as empty or full of promise. I prefer to think of it as open to possibility.

As to January on the blog, I still have some stories to write about 2016 travels and more to explore in Manitoba.

Let our New Year's resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word. ~Göran Persson

Wishing all of you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

December Stories You Might Have Missed

New World Old Fort

Historic Spanish fortress Fort San Felipe in Puerto Plato, Dominican Republic

Victorian Christmas at Dalnavert

Decorations and the reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at Dalnavert Museum, a restored 1895 Winnipeg home

When a Snowbird Does Not Go South

Thoughts as a snowbird prepares to stay up north for the winter

Christmas Fairytale Vignettes

A bit of nostalgia viewing decades-old fairytale vignettes on display at the Manitoba Children’s Museum

Our Land: Art is the Story of a People

The history, heritage and culture of the Inuit revealed through art at an exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery

From The Archives

It's that time of year when people resolve to make many changes in their lives and habits. I have not made any New Year's Resolutions. My thoughts on To Resolve or Not to Resolve from 2014 still seem relevant.

It's also that time of year when people plan winter vacations to sun and beach destinations. Nevis, Queen of the Caribbees is a favourite Caribbean island.

Donna Janke is the author of Destinations Detours and Dreams, where you can find travel stories from near and far, the familiar and the obscure, the beautiful and the bizarre, with a focus on history, gardens, nature, art, architecture, culture and the snowbird life. She tells her stories through a combination of narrative, photos and personal reflection. Sign up for the monthly newsletter here.

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