2010 loomed before me without any prospect of travel. Funds are low. Debt is high. I had planned to be tight with my money to save for a Greek Islands trip in 2011, and to just use my vacation time to head home for two weeks.

Less than a month later, I had booked a weekend trip in Halifax, Nova Scotia...

(MatadorU assignment #7...budgeting my life)

Budget my time, budget my workload, budget my pay cheques. "Budget" doesn't even sound like a real word anymore, I've used it so often.

$600/month – Student Loans and other debts

$100/month – Automatic withdraw for travel fund

$40/month –...

(MatadorU Assignment, taking my own advice...)

So you're about to launch your travel writing career. You've got some stellar words lined up in a document, and you're about to blow away some editors with your sharp wit and youthful exuberance.

Not everyone thinks your piece titled 10...

It’s hard to imagine anything more thrilling than touring an ancient wine vault while dealing with a hangover.

On Sunday morning, my roommate dragged me out of bed and to the Newman Wine Vaults located on Water Street, St. John’s, Newfoundland.

“Free admission!” She exclaimed, the kind of...

(Chapter 4 MatadorU assignment)

Fate may be the culprit that pushed a Newman’s ship off course in 1679 and into the St. John’s harbour, located in Newfoundland, Canada. Headed for London and laden with casks of wine, the ship was assaulted by pirates and poor weather. Rather than take chances,...

(MatadorU assignment #3)

Long Path Road is dead.  Dad and I sit on the front deck of our sandy bungalow, 11 p.m., him smoking and me trying to adjust to darkness without streetlights.

“Why on earth would anyone build a cabin when you already live in the middle of nowhere?” he says, taking...

My roommate is singing in the shower, her voice better than any alarm clock. I pull up the blinds in my bedroom and determine what to wear based on the number of clouds in the sky. There is no longer any smoke in the air above Water Street, although my hair still smells like a bonfire.

Signal Hill is widely regarded as the most popular tourist destination in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Surrounded by narrow trails edging along steep cliffs plunging into the Atlantic, Signal Hill played host to the 1762’s final battle of the Seven Years’ War. Signal Hill is also the site of the first...

In July, I finally stepped off my beloved rock to explore some of Canada.

In the past two years, I have travelled to six countries, but had never left my own province. Since most of my family lives in Ottawa, Ontario, I figured there would be a good place to start.

There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in a foreign country, growing plump from lemon pie and wine, without knowing how to get around and not having the language capabilities to communicate with the locals.

Having an unexpected three-day weekend in Lorient led me to some intense research for "touristy" things to do around my part of Brittany, France. I found nothing. In fact, the only advice I gathered was "stay away from Lorient, there's little to do there for the wanderer."

Harsh, albeit somewhat...

Bonjour, from France. I am safe and alive. The trip was long and harrowing, but I actually enjoyed travelling alone. I am situated on Larmor-Plage, in the province of Brittany, and I could not be happier. Beaches within walking distance, beautiful stone-faced houses, and a gorgeous apartment overlooking...

Here's a tip: Don't binge drink before a 20 hour journey to France. Sounds like common sense, non? Not for me. I am greasy and hungover and disheveled. I already have mayo stains on my jogging pants and Pepsi stains on my shirt. Here's hoping I make it to Lorient safe and sound, and won't need to use...

The grand finale. The cherry on top. The end of all ends.

Albertian and I were the only members of our clan willing to fork out the moolah to swim with the dolphins. I was hesitant at first, mostly because the idea of those creatures in confinement was bothersome, but I did some background research...

On my second morning of being sober, the girls and I decided to do something cultural and check out Chichen Itza. Our jolly, chubby guide gave us a lecture on Mayan culture (who know that the Mayan language is the 5^th most spoken language in North America?) and the history of Chichen Itza, and then offered...

Catamaran day. I woke up with my stomach searing and my head cracking. The photographers on our boat were smokin’ hot, and I wanted to rub oil all over their bodies. Instead, the girls and I pushed other tourists out of the way to get the best seat on the boat, right on top of the world. Good thing...

On Sunday, we hauled ourselves out of bed with hangovers of death to spend another lazy day at the beach. Surprisingly, the glaring sun and salt water seemed to be the cure. Until THE INCIDENT.

Whoever thought that shopping at the hacienda the morning after a night of binge drinking was clearly an idiot (aka me). There are about a dozen or more things I’d rather do than stumble around in a sweaty haze, bouncing from souvenir shop from souvenir shop (all selling the same products) or haggling...

Day 2 marked Bandaid’s 22nd Birthday, so we figured the only way to celebrate was to head to the beach to quaff drinks. The day was already brilliantly marked with a blue sky and a warm breeze. When we discovered five loungers lined up neatly in a row on the beach, we took it as a sign from God,...

**First of all, let me say that my trip to the Riviera Maya was my first experience with a resort package. I understand certain travel experiences are limited within the resort walls, and only a narrow view of a country is presented this way, but this is my travel experience nonetheless. At least enjoy...