Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Varna, Bulgaria

Located on the western shores of the Black Sea, the Bulgarian city of Varna is a popular summer destination and the starting point for the many seaside resorts that line the northern coast of the Black Sea.

Arguably one of Varna’s most impressive buildings, the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral is the largest and most famous Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral in the port city. It’s also said to be the second largest Orthodox Cathedral in Bulgaria after the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital.

We arrived in Varna after a long, uncomfortable overnight bus from Istanbul, so we had no idea what the city actually looked like. This stunning cathedral was the first building we saw after we stepped out of our hostel. Talk about a WOW moment!

Check out these past weekly travel photos:

• Spectacular views from the clifftop Village of Oia, Santorini
• The smallest airstrip we’ve landed on
• Check out the World’s Busiest Street Crossing
• Is this the World’s Most Unusual City?

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Have you visited Varna? What was your highlight?
Share your experiences in the comments section below, we’d love to read about it!

Photo of the Week: The Jewel of Varna, Bulgaria is a post from: Traveling Canucks

This week’s guest post has been submitted by Ellen Keith, a travel blogger, salsa dancer, history geek, and self-proclaimed wanderer.

The Faces of South America’s Future

The first connection I make with locals in any foreign country is with children. Children have an uncanny ability to cast aside fears and boundaries to feed their curiosity. Whether they’re playing or working (as is sadly often the case), they retain an innocence that radiates through their energy and smiles.

I spent 2012 journeying across South America, a continent in a period of economic and social transition as it moves into the 21^st century. Here are the faces that stood out to me there, the same faces that will one day shape South America’s future.

The Hostel Greeter.

There were fewer than ten guests at my hostel on Ilha do Mel, a small Brazilian island, but the place still appeared to have an entertainment staff. Whether he was sharing his cereal with me, showing off his capoeira moves, or doing underwater handstands, this young man knew how to command the attention of anyone nearby.

La Salsera.

The Feria de Cali is the event of the year in Cali, Colombia. Hundreds of dancers put in hundreds of hours of practice for the ability to participate in the Christmas day kickoff parade. This young salsera couldn’t have been older than sixteen, but she showed the fearlessness and strength of a professional.

Bolivian Singing Lessons.

It was a holiday in this tiny Bolivian village, but these children still spent the day playing in the schoolyard. They followed us around and were eager to sing us the songs that they had learned that week.

The Daily Commute.

San Cipriano is a village in western Colombia. There are no roads leading there, only a railroad. Public transportation is a trolley cart pulled by a motorbike which runs along the tracks, but many of the village residents walk to the neighbouring town to buy food or attend school.

Urban Playground.

La Paz, Bolivia is a labyrinth of adobe and brick buildings. But tucked in even the poorest of neighbourhoods are modest playgrounds. This boy was at the park by himself, playing on the slide.

A Moment’s Rest.

When I asked where his parents were, this Colombian boy told me that they were at home sleeping while he was out working.

Curiosity.

Erick is a shy toddler, who would rather curl up on someone’s lap than go exploring. Yet when he thinks that no one is looking, he’ll always sneak a peek to see what’s going on around him.

Bolivian Girl.

While her friends were off playing, this five-year-old Bolivian girl stuck to my side. She was transfixed by my camera and happy to pose for photos.

Carioca Face.

During carnival in Ipiales, Colombia, this boy was collecting discarded canisters of “carioca” foam which people sprayed throughout the parade. Sometimes, he got caught in the cross-fire!

Waiting for Customers.

This boy offered carriage tours of the historic centre of Cartagena. He listened to music to pass the time between customers.

Running the Show.

Lima’s Chinatown is filled with family-run restaurants. While her mother cooked, this girl served us and tried to keep up with her homework. She practiced her music scales on the recorder while we ate.

At Work or Play?

Even those who are sent to work will always be kids above anything else.

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Author bio: Ellen Keith is a salsa dancer, history geek, and self-proclaimed wanderer. She spent 2012 backpacking solo through South America and Europe. This year, she’s working on her master’s in creative writing while fueling her wanderlust with a summer in Africa. Find her on her blog, La Viajera (Spanish for “The Female Traveler”) or here on Twitter, and Facebook.

Photo Essay: The Faces of South America’s Future is a post from: Traveling Canucks

15 More Awesome Miniature Photos from Around the World

It’s been a while since we first published our photo essay of awesome miniatures from around the world. We had good intentions to publish a second post shortly afterwards, but that seems to be well over a year ago. Who knew having a baby would be so time consuming?!

You may recognize a few of these photos as past Photo of the Week selections. In case you missed the first post, here’s the link.

The miniature effect is achieved by combining heavy saturation and sharpness with “over blurring” to the areas that are out of focus. In photography circles, this technique is called ’tilt-shift photography’. Although we must confess that we created the effect using photo editing software, not with our actual camera and lens. Old school photographers will call us cheaters, but we’re okay with that – we have fun making these photos.

We hope you like them!

Child bull-rider at the Temples of Angkor, Cambodia

Cute village in the Mosel Valley of Germany

The fiery orange desert plains of Wadi Rum, Jordan

River boat in old town Zurich, Switzerland

Mysterious moai statues at Ahu Tongariki, Easter Island

Cityscape of Old Town Prague, Czech Republic

Busy bus terminal in Ankara, Turkey

Passionate baseball fans in Yokohama, Japan

Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, India

The legendary lost Incan City of Machu Picchu, Peru

Little Venice on Mykonos Island, Greece

The ancient city of Petra, Jordan

The seaside village of Omis on the Croatian Coast

 Harbour views of Vancouver, British Columbia

The peak of Mount Pilatus in the Swiss Alps

We’re curious – which one is your favourite photo?

Do you like the miniature effect?

Share your feedback in the comments section below, we’d love to hear from you!

15 Awesome Miniature Photos from Around the World is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Clifftop village of Oia on the Greek Island of Santorini

This week’s travel photo capture’s the stunning architecture of Oia, an old Greek village that’s literally built into the volcanic cliffs on the island of Santorini.

Few travel destinations offer the WOW punch that Santorini gives its visitors – and this photo does a great job illustrating why!

It’s easy to get lost in the beauty of Santorini. We spent a couple hours wandering the tight paths and alleyways of Oia, admiring its iconic blue-domed churches and luxurious private suites that overlook the sparkling Aegean Sea below.

We had a tough time choosing only one photo this week, so we’ve added a few more!

Check out these past weekly travel photos:

• Is this the World’s Coolest Cemetery?
• The smallest airstrip we’ve landed on
• The World’s Busiest Street Crossing
• Is this the World’s Most Impressive Skyline?
• Is this the World’s Most Unusual City?

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Have you visited the Greek Islands? What was your highlight?
Share your experiences in the comments section below, we’d love to read about it!

Photo of the Week: Spectacular Clifftop Village of Oia is a post from: Traveling Canucks

8 Easy Ways to Earn More Aeroplan Miles 

Traveling can be expensive, especially when you have a little one in tow. But there are many ways to offset the costs of travel, simple things that you can do every day that will make a big difference in the long run. One of which is collecting and redeeming frequent flyer miles with loyalty programs like Aeroplan.

We are big supporters and users of Aeroplan – we have been for years. We are amazed at how many Canadians are not members, since membership is free and members are rewarded with free travel and gift certificates. We assume these people are either uninformed or just plain lazy, because it doesn’t make much sense to turn away free stuff.

We use our VISA Infinite Card to accumulate Aeroplan miles quicker, but members can earn miles by using their free Aeroplan card on everyday purchases. We make it a habit to always carry our Aeroplan card on us, keeping one in the car for fuel purchases and another in our wallets for everyday purchases.

By being vigilant and always pulling out our Aeroplan card, we have earned enough points for multiple round-trip flights within North America. This year we will be going to Los Angeles and Toronto, both flights purchased by redeeming our Aeroplan miles.

Here are 8 retail partnerships that will help you earn miles faster:

• Costco – We love Costco for electronics, household furniture and when we need bulk food items (and diapers!). Customers who sign up for a Costco membership can earn a bonus of up to 1,500 miles and existing members earn miles when shopping online at Costco.ca and at the warehouse during special promotional periods.
• Birks – A new partnership that launched in 2012 allows members to earn 1 mile for every $2 spent at Birks or birks.com. For big ticket items like engagement rings and watches, this can add up fast.
• Bentley – You can find a Bentley store in most malls across Canada and you can’t beat its prices (our current luggage was purchased from Bentley). Members can earn 1 Aeroplan mile for every $1 spent on items such as luggage, handbags, backpacks, briefcases, sport duffle bags and accessories.
• Esso – Members earn 1 mile for every $3 spent at Esso stations and even more miles when they purchase Extra Grade gasoline and Supreme Grade gasoline.
• Car servicing companies – Aeroplan members have several companies to choose from including OK Tire, Meineke and Maaco. Last year, we purchased winter tires at OK Tire and earned 500 Aeroplan miles just for pulling out the card.
• Find local partnerships – Aeroplan has a number of local partnerships in which members can earn miles for clothing, footwear, jewellery and fashion accessories – you never know where you’ll see that Aeroplan symbol, so keep that card handy!
• Teleflora – Perfect for mother’s day, birthdays or a holiday, a new partnership with Teleflora allows members to earn 10 miles for every $1 spent on a purchase of floral arrangements.
• Miele – Until May 31^st, 2013 members can earn 10,000 miles on each appliance purchased online or in store. For example, if you buy a coffee machine, a dishwasher and an oven, you’ll earn 30,000 miles. That is a lot of miles! But don’t worry if you miss the deadline, more will be added in the future.

8 Easy Ways to Earn More Aeroplan Miles is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Mule Tour to Kalaupapa National Historical Park

Rated by TripAdvisor as the number one adventure on Molokai, the mule tour to Kalaupapa is highly recommended for any visitor to Hawaii’s most Hawaiian island.

A little online research revealed these descriptions - “scariest tour ever”, “hair raising experience”, and “I didn’t tell my significant other what we were about to do until it was too late”. 

Needless to say, we were intrigued. Who knew riding a mule could be so exciting?

We arrived at the mule barn 30 minutes early, surprised by the cool morning temperature. We don’t often associate Hawaii with warm sweaters, but the mule barn is located high above sea level, where temperatures and climate can be unpredictable. We were thankful we grabbed our sweaters and rain jackets before leaving the hotel.

Nicole was excited about the day’s activity, really excited. She’s been horseback riding since she was a little girl and feels right at home on the back of a horse.

Cameron on the hand, not so much. He’s not a fan of big animals and usually needs some convincing before agreeing to a day of horseback riding (here’s a video from our horseback riding adventures in Belize).

Then we met Buzzy Sproat.

Buzzy is a legend on the island of Molokai. The grey-bearded cowboy is one of Hawaii’s top mule trainers, taking adventure seekers down the steep sea cliffs for over 40 years.

He’s also quite the entertainer. I’m willing to bet that anyone who has taken this tour remembers Buzzy just as much as the breathing-taking views and haunting tales of Kalaupapa.

“You know how we find the right mule for you?” Buzzy asked our group of ten.

“By weight?” replied Sam from Seattle.

“No. By your looks. I’m going to match you with the mule that looks the most like you!”

That joke landed big time with our tour group. He was clearly working his A-material that morning.

Buzzy prepped the group and paired everyone with their mule. “Don’t worry, they know where to go. Some like to hug the cliff’s edge, but I’ve never seen a mule commit suicide, so don’t worry. They don’t know how to fly either!”

Oddly, his words were encouraging.

To reach the Kalaupapa Peninsula our group first had to travel 3 miles down the word’s tallest sea cliffs, passing 26 switchbacks and descending close to 1,700 feet.

The ride is slow and bumpy, passing steep sections with nothing more than a few shrubs separating the trail from the Pacific below.

We quickly understood why this unique excursion gets the variety of reviews that it does. It’s scary and thrilling, amusing and adventurous.

It’s unlike any other tour we’ve experienced in our travels.

The mules occasionally stop to eat grass and leaves, allowing us time to breathe the fresh ocean air and absorb our incredible surroundings.

The trip down the tall sea cliffs took about an hour, passing through dense forest and rocky trails before arriving at an eerily secluded beach.

The above photo shows you the lush sea cliffs that we tackled that morning. If you look closely, you can actually see the zigzag trail on the far right (use your imagination).

We dismounted the mules at a stable and boarded a yellow school bus that was waiting for us. Buzzy tied up his mule and jumped behind the wheel of the rusty old bus, serving as both mule master and bus driver. He’s a man of many talents!

Kalaupapa has a very dark past.

It was the isolated location of a leprosy settlement that housed thousands of men, women and children that were exiled to the island and cut off from society. Buzzy shared his personal experiences and stories about the peninsula’s haunting past, but we’ll save those tales for a future post.

Things to know before you go:

• Make reservations ahead of time. This tour is the hottest ticket on Molokai!
• Bring warm clothes and a jacket, the weather is unpredictable
• Bring some snacks. Lunch is provided but it’s very basic
• You do not need any experience, the mules are trained by Buzzy and need very little instruction
• The ride is quite bumpy, so if you want to take photos bring one of these
• It’s a full day tour, starting at 8:00 AM and finishing around 3:30, plan accordingly

The Guided Mule Ride & Historical Park Tour costs $199 per person and includes entry permits, light picnic lunch, NPS trail maintenance fee and a souvenir certificate. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth the price. You will not find a tour like this anywhere else in the world.

To learn more or to book your reservation, click here.

Read more from our trip to Molokai:

• Unspoiled coastlines. Untamed wilderness. Our upcoming trip to Molokai
• Our First Impressions of Molokai
• Aloha from the laidback Hawaiian Island of Moloka’i!
• VIDEO: Hiking the lush Halawa Valley to giant waterfalls
• The Natural Beauty of Kalaupapa
• Colourful Hawaiian Sunset on Molokai
• VIDEO: The Scenic (and dizzying) Drive to Halawa Valley

Have you visited the Hawaiian Island of Molokai? What did you think?
Share your experience in the comments section below, we’d love to read about it!

Thanks to Buzzy and the good people at the Molokai Visitors Bureau for the complimentary Molokai Mule Tour. As always, opinions shared are entirely our own. We think every visitor to Molokai should take a trip to the Kalaupapa Peninsula and learn about its history. You don’t have to ride the mule, you can also hike the trail or take a short flight.

Riding Mules Down the World’s Tallest Sea Cliffs is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Medieval Statue on Charles Bridge, Prague

This week’s travel photo captures one of Europe’s most famous bridges – the Charles Bridge.

The medieval cobblestone bridge is famous for its 30 baroque-style religious statues that line both sides of the historical bridge. It was built in the 15th century, with most of the statues erected between 1683 and 1714 (according to wiki).

I took a lot of photos that overcast winter morning, but only a few turned out well. I was on a Sepia and Colour Accent kick during that trip (don’t ask why, I’m still kicking myself – this was before I learned how to use photo editing software – doh!) so most of the photos suck.

But I like this one. I like the composition with Prague Castle in the backdrop. There’s even a little colour in the sky.

I did some digging online to learn about this statue and bridge, but I had a tough time finding this particular statue. The reason I was having trouble was because it’s actually a part of a much bigger, much more important statue – the Statuary of the Holy Crucifix and Calvary. Ironically, it’s said to be one of the most historically interesting sculptures on the bridge.

Check out these past weekly travel photos:

• Is this the World’s Coolest Cemetery?
• The smallest airstrip we’ve landed on
• The World’s Busiest Street Crossing
• Is this the World’s Most Impressive Skyline?
• Is this the World’s Most Unusual City?

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Have you visited Prague? What was your highlight?
Share your experiences in the comments section below, we’d love to read about it!

Photo of the Week: Medieval Charles Bridge in Prague is a post from: Traveling Canucks

The Scenic Drive to Halawa Valley, Molokai

Home to spectacular vistas, lush sea cliffs and cascading waterfalls, exploring the historical Halawa Valley is one of the most popular things to do on the island of Molokai (did you watch the short video from our hike to Moa’ula waterfalls?).

But in order to reach the legendary Halawa Valley, one must first travel 48 km’s (30 miles) from the main town of Kaunakakai to the most eastern point of Molokai. It’s a beautiful drive that passes secluded beaches, rocky bluffs, oceanfront villages and dense forest before it descends several kilometers down a series of windy switchbacks.

It’s often compared to the legendary ‘Road to Hana’ on Maui, only a much shorter version.

It was raining on the drive into the park but the skies cleared up after our hike to Moa’ula waterfalls, so we decided to shoot some footage of the drive from Halawa Valley to Kaunakakai.

Click on the image to watch our video from the drive

Having trouble viewing the video or reading this post in an email?
Watch directly on our YouTube channel – The Drive to Halawa Valley

Read more from our trip to Molokai:

• Unspoiled coastlines. Untamed wilderness. Our upcoming trip to Molokai
• Our First Impressions of Molokai
• Aloha from the laidback Hawaiian Island of Moloka’i!
• VIDEO: Hiking the lush Halawa Valley to giant waterfalls
• The Natural Beauty of Kalaupapa
• Colourful Hawaiian Sunset on Molokai

Have you visited the Hawaiian Island of Molokai? What did you think?
Share your experience in the comments section below, we’d love to read about it!

A big thank you to the the good people at the Molokai Visitors Bureau for hosting us and introducing us to the beautiful island of Molokai!

VIDEO: The Scenic (and dizzying) Drive to Halawa Valley is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Colourful sunset on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai

And so the sun sets on another day in Hawaii…

We captured this soft pastel sunset from the Kaunakakai Harbor pier, said to be the longest pier in Hawaii. A tropical storm had just passed through, leaving behind a few big clouds that added a little drama to the sunset.

Read more from our trip to Molokai:

• Unspoiled coastlines. Untamed wilderness. Our upcoming trip to Molokai
• Our First Impressions of Molokai
• Aloha from the laidback Hawaiian Island of Moloka’i!
• VIDEO: Hiking the lush Halawa Valley to giant waterfalls
• The Natural Beauty of Kalaupapa

Have you visited the Hawaiian Island of Molokai? What did you think?
Share your experience in the comments section below, we’d love to read about it!

Photo of the Week: Colourful Hawaiian Sunset on Molokai is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Our First Impressions of Molokai

Single file, we unload the small propeller plane and cross the tarmac towards the airport terminal. There are no fresh flower lei’s waiting for us. No big Welcome signs from hotels or cruise operators. No pushy taxi drivers or touts.

It’s refreshing, but it does not feel like the Hawaii we see pictured on the walls of travel agencies across the globe.

The airport is small and simple.

There is no line up at the Alamo kiosk, we are the only one’s picking up a rental car at this hour. The process is easy but slow. But we’re not in a hurry. We’re excited to be walking on the island we’ve heard so many great things about.

We collect our luggage from the open-air baggage claim, a stainless steel table with a capacity of 20 suitcases. Only minutes after our arrival, we find ourselves alone. It doesn’t take long for this tiny Hawaiian airport to clear out.

As we drive towards the town of Kaunakakai we can’t help but notice all of the stars in the sky. It’s dark outside. The kind of thick darkness you only find in very remote places. There are no bright lights, no traffic lights, no neon signs.

This island is different. It’s quiet and unpretentious.

Feeling lost, we stop the car and check the road map for directions. There are no visible landmarks or towering hotels to guide us. Fortunately for us, there are only a few main roads on the island, making it difficult to get lost.

Hungry from a full day of traveling, we stop at the infamous Molokai Burger, one of the few dining options in Kaunakakai (and the island for that matter). Even though this burger joint is located on the town’s main intersection, we only see a dozen vehicles pass by.

It’s a big change from neighbouring Maui and Oahu.

Surrounded by sparkling stars and chirping creatures of the night, we enjoy our greasy burgers on the restaurant’s outside patio and try to capture our first impressions of Molokai.

It’s too early to form an opinion, but we like how the island makes us feel. The cool tropical breeze feels nice. We feel the big city stress wash away, replaced by calm and curiousity.

As we so often do, we start to compare Molokai to other destinations we’ve visited. We agree that it feels like a diverse combination of Easter Island, Belize and Grand Cayman Island.

Proudly labeled as The Most Hawaiian Island and The Friendly Island, we begin to understand all that we’ve read about Molokai. It’s not touristy or overdeveloped, it’s humble and pure. It’s unlike any other destination we’ve visited and we’re thrilled about that.

We’re excited to be here, and we can’t wait to find out what tomorrow will bring!

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Have you visited the Hawaiian Island of Molokai?
What did you think? What were your first impressions?
Share your experience in the comments section below, we’d love to read about it!

A big thank you to the good people at the Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau for hosting us and introducing us to the beautiful island of Molokai!

Our First Impressions of Molokai is a post from: Traveling Canucks