To help those who might be going through some Game of Thrones withdrawal, and haven’t already seen this, we’ve got a great a cappella arrangement of the Rains of Castamere by Peter Hollens with violin accompaniment by Taylor Davis.

Also from Stan Lee’s World of Heroes their epic Cosplay Piano remix of the show’s opening theme.

When I was a child my father used to take my sister and I out some weekends to explore the city. We’d end up going to a station we’d never visited before, and wander around the neighborhood for the afternoon before jumping back on the subway and returning home. So in honor of Father’s Day I thought I would share this short documentary (runs approximately 6 1/2 minutes long) by TTC enthusiast and urban explorer Jeremy Woodcock and his amusing visit to one of the least used stations in Toronto, Bessarion Station. ^g

During his most recent tour aboard the International Space Station the Canadian astronaut became a media sensation while getting to live out a childhood dream and assume command of the station. And amongst all of the experiments he was responsible for, and the actual management of the ISS itself, Commander Hadfield has become an ambassador for the program and our continued space exploration. But after thirty-five years of public service and a career marked with notable milestones, it is unsurprising that he would seek retirement now. Even that he managed to do with flare, as while the official announcement was made on June 10th, his actual resignation was made in March aboard the space station. Likely a world’s first.

Below is a short video (approximately 1 1/2 minutes) from the Canadian Press chronicling Commander Hadfield’s last tour aboard the International Space Station.

Like most metropolitan cities, Lisbon is surrounded by many satellite cities or suburbs, and is estimated to have more than one million people pass through Lisbon each day for business or employment from these communities. Among the many industries that call the city home, it boasts the largest and most developed mass media with several leading television networks, radio stations, and newspapers headquartered there. Lisbon is also Portugal’s banking centre and a major player in international banking when the Euronext Lisbon stock exchange began participating back in 2007 with the stock exchanges of Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris with the New York Stock Exchange to form the multinational NYSE Euronext system. But despite all this the city has remained true to its more traditional roots and continues to support a healthy shipbuilding and fishing industry.

Despite having been introduced during the nineteenth century trams remain the traditional form of public transportation and with the exception of the more modern Line 15 continues to employ small four wheeled trams dating back to the early twentieth century – the earliest examples can still be seen in the Public Transport Museum. These distinctive yellow trams have become an icon of modern Lisbon tourism, but thanks to their size remain best suited for traversing the steep hills and narrow streets of the narrow city – which we certainly appreciated when we made our way up the Alfama district and the Castle of Sao Jorge at its top. This antiquated transportation is connected to an otherwise modern and far-reaching network that reliably serves Lisbon’s needs and considered one of the most livable cities in the country.

But however modern it does becomes Lisbon is a city still rich in architecture. Crossed by historical boulevards and monuments, numerous Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, and Baroque constructions can be found. Some areas have even earned the distinction of a UNESCO designation, and become an active cultural centre for Portugal hosting numerous festivals over the course of the year.

First constructed as an extension of the park’s original Studio Backlot tour the New York street wasn’t even open to public, only later when treatments were added to expand the existing street with the incorporation a new set resembling San Francisco would it be opened to pedestrian traffic and now the occasional street concert by the park’s favorite cover band Mulch, Sweat, and Shears when they’re not over on Hollywood Boulevard. This is also where you can find Jim Henson’s film Muppet Vision 3D. Utilizing multiple effects the movie is in fact a 4D experience with the entire theatre becoming the backdrop and fully immersing the audience in the Muppets’ antics.

For Nicole’s 2013 birthday we decided to take a week long cruise out of Miami. And for that week we were able to indulge in some fabulous meals accompanied by some enthusiastic entertainment in the Golden Palace dinning room. We wanted to thank the dinning staff of Carnival’s Glory for making sure we had a great trip and being so attentive! Above is some footage we grabbed from the many performances they put on for us while we were aboard (video’s just over 9:00 long).

Our forth port of call was the Caribbean British overseas territory of the Cayman Islands and its capital George Town. Located on the largest of the islands, Grand Cayman accounts for three-quarters of the country’s entire landmass at just over 22 miles long and 8 miles across at its widest point. And with a population at just over twenty thousand it’s frankly hard to imagine it as the world-famous offshore banking and investment centre it’s more commonly known for. However with just under six hundred banks and trust companies with offices located on the island, including forty-three out of the world’s fifty largest, and some Canadian ones to boot, it’s in fact known as the money laundering capital of the world. And when you’re there, it’s certainly apparent that a lot of wealth is passing through the island.

But along side the shopping the Cayman Islands still has a lot to offer by way of watersport activities like snorkeling and scuba diving through the reefs and many shipwrecks the area is also known for, and with the concentration of clubs, resorts, and hotels around the iconic Seven Mile Beach, a popular destination for visitors and tourists alike and is supported by two local bus routes.

Our third port of call during our cruise aboard Carnival’s Glory took us to the Central American country of Honduras, and the cruise line’s private beach at Mahogany Bay. However it is very much like the actual ports visited during the trip with many private businesses lining the entry to the adjoining beach. As a result if visiting one make sure to take a bit of money with you in case you do get thirsty or want to buy something. Additionally we opted for the Beach Chair ride that takes you directly over to the beach instead of using the much longer walking path – a good decision giving how taxing the humidity could be – and discovered the tickets purchased on board half the price of what they were asking in port.

Located between the islands of Utila and Guanaja, Roatan is the largest of the Honduras Bay Islands at approximately 50km long and less than 8km across at its widest point. Formerly known as Ruatan and Rattan the island is located near the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean Sea, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and is the second largest in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and making it not only an important cruise ship destination, but a scuba diving one as well. Tourism is in fact the most important economic sector for the country, but does support a strong fishing industry as well. Other activities include ziplining, glass-bottom boat tours, not to mention island tours often accompanied by some narration regarding the island’s history that often passes through the town of Punta Gorda, one of the island’s oldest settlements.

Unfortunately the unchecked tourism development and increasing populations are putting a strain on the limited natural resources available. Efforts however were being made to check the deforestation and erosion being caused by some of these activities with the planting of native plants around the harbors to help preserve the existing shorelines.

If you’re a fan of the original Star Wars franchise and haven’t already seen this, then take the hour or so and watch the first season of Space Janitors. Great web series that has a lot of fun with the trilogy. Written by the Toronto based writing team Davin Lengyel and Geoff Lapaire it has been renewed for a second season and airs on the commercial YouTube channel geek&Sundry Tuesday nights.

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Since our failed attempt in 2010 to take some culinary classes in Cozumel, we had hoped to try again when we went down for Nicole’s 2013 birthday. Unfortunately the chef in question wasn’t available while we were down there, and so we ended up deciding to play it by ear when we got to the port. And while we didn’t manage to get out of the port itself, we did get a lot of shopping done, and discovered some of the best Margaritas we’ve had in some time. Tucked away at the end of the port harbor Pancho’s Backyard offers a quiet place to sit and enjoy some music along with your traditionally made Margaritas’ and authentic Mexican food.

Short video of us feeding some of the birds while we were at Pancho’s Backyard (runs just over a minute long). Our apologies for it initially being shaky.

These drinks however are no joke, and just after one and a half each left us pretty drunk. So much so that there are actually parts of the trip back to the ship that I don’t remember, which has frankly never happened before, and included us trying on Lucha libre wrestling masks, to which Nicole had to show me the photographic proof before I’d believe her, and a visit to the Ron Jon’s surf store. So while you should certainly stop by and enjoy a drink and some Guacamole, be conservative with the number you decide to have. Otherwise you might end up coming home with some things you hadn’t planned on.