Travels in 2020
The devastating effects of COVID-19 on a global scale have resulted in the curtailment of travel and as a travel writer my own plans for the year have been put on hold. In mid-January, I had no trips planned. By the end of January I had my entire year of travel planned with 12 trips. As of April 30, the postponements included Montreal, Mexico (2), birding adventures in Louisiana and in Point Pelee, Cuba, Whistler (2) and an Arctic expedition. The last opportunity was my annual trip to Japan in November and, alas, that had to be postponed until the Spring of 2021.
Here's hoping that things will return to 'normal' as soon as possible, for the health of the world!
Steve
Down by Lake Ontario, Toronto
December 21, 2020
Snowy Owl
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Snowy Owl Grooming
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American Kestrel
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American Kestrel
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City of Toronto
December 18, 2020
Barred Owl, just after sunrise
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Barred Owl, flew to a lower tree to check out the mice and voles
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Amherst Island, Loyalist Township
December 15, 2020
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Owl Woods
Amherst Island, Loyalist Township
December 11, 2020
Northern Harrier Hawk
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Red-tailed Hawk
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Snowy Owl
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Short-eared Owl
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Our Owl Prowls
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Whitby, October 27, 2020
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Barred Owl, Toronto, November 20, 2020
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Snowy Owl, Toronto, December 2, 2020
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Silver Fox, Toronto area along the shores of Lake Ontario
September 14, 2020
August 6, 2022
Coopers Hawk
August 5, 2020
Coopers Hawk
July 21, 2020
Yes this is ME reviewing my friend Steve Crowhurst's amazing, updated book of 332 Marketing Ideas for Travel Agents. He even mentions me...twice in the book! Check it out at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca
June 30, 2020 Birding over the last few days
Virginia Rail chick, captured through the reeds of a marsh in Burlington, seems to express joy at hearing mom calling from the other side of the pond.
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Virginial Rail chick, captured through the reeds of a marsh in Burlington, seems to express joy at hearing mom calling from the other side of the pond.
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Downy Woodpecker shares a sunflower seed with her chick in the Hendrie Valley.
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Baltimore Oriole feeds her chick in the Don Valley
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Branching out. All three of the Red-tailed Hawk chicks are exploring the home tree, outside the nest (taken with a zoom lens, a fair distance away)
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All three photos taken on June 2, 2020
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Red-tailed Hawk Chicks (Taken discreetly with a zoom lens a fair distance from the nest)
May 19, 2020
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May 19, 2020
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May 22, 2020
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May 25, 2020
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May 26, 2020
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May 26, 2020
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June 1, 2020 Branching--exploring other branches on the home tree
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June 1, 2020
Parent flies by to check on the three chicks
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June 1, 2020 Branching--exploring other branches on the home tree
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More Birding Adventures, May 2020
Bobolink in Rondeau, Ontario
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House Wren, Erieau, Ontario
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Swan and Cygnet, Erieau, Ontario
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Palm Warbler, Thickson Woods
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Yellow-rumped Warbler, Thickson Woods
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Cowbird, Thickson Woods
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Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Don Valley
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Belted Kingfisher, Don Valley
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Yellow Warbler, Don Valley
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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Don Valley
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Northern Flicker, Don Valley
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Red-tailed Hawk, Don Valley
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Birding and Bunnies in my neighbourhood (with social distancing, of course)
Tree Swallow
Cottontail Rabbit
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Male Merlin Falcon
Female & Male Wood Duck
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Double-crested Cormorants
Male Wood Duck
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Coopers Hawks, mid-town Toronto, March 21, 2020
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Merlin Falcons, mid-town Toronto, March 16, 2020
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Schomberg, Ontario, December 21, 2019 Looking for the Northern Hawk Owl--and we found it!
Japan, October 27 to November 15, 2019 (19th visit)
On this trip we visited new areas of Tokyo including Myakejima, Okutama, Senzokuike Park (Kingfisher spotting) , Gotokuji (the Cat Temple), Ikegamihonmonji (wonderful 5 story pagoda) as well as Sado Island, Niigata, Kanazawa (love it there), Hikone (great castle!), Fukuoka ( the Sumo Grand Tournament) and then two more full days in Japan...before heading home. (pictures to follow, shortly)
The lunch special at Wasuke in Kappabashi (one of our favourite places): Assorted Sashimi. So Fresh!!
TURNAT - The 12th Nature Tour Event in Cuba, Sept 24-28, 2019
Yellow (aka Mangrove ) Warbler in Las Salinas, Zapata Peninsula, Cuba
Witless Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador, August 23, 2019
Puffin Island, on our cruise in 5 foot waves and pouring rain, in Witless Bay, just south of St. John's. Please click on the Puffin to see more pics from my trip to St. John's.
Ospreys by Christie Lake, August 15, 2019
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Puffins on Puffin Island!
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Belted Kingfisher over the Don River, August 4, 2019
Yucatan State, Mexico, Press Trip, May 31 to June 4, 2019
A view of the Temple of Kukulcan from the Ball Court at Chichen Itza
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On the tour of Hacienda Sotuta Peon, just outside of Merida, the life of a sisal plantation worker is explained.
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Great Lakes Cruise on the Victory 1, Press Trip, May 27-May 31, 2019
We boarded the Victory 1 in Detroit for a short 3 night taste of what the cruise was all about.
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1949 Mercury Convertible at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, one of the shore excursions
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Shore excursion in Cleveland: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Do you remember the song Short Shorts? I do!
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Point Pelee Birding Festival, May 14-May 17, 2019
Palm Warbler
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Canada Warbler
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Scarlet Tanager
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FITCuba, Havana, May 5-May 11, 2019
Havana celebrates its 500th anniversary on November 16, 2019
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Small market on a sidestreet in Havana
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Delivering one of the Breakout Sessions on opening day of the MAST Annual Conference in Chicago, April 11, 2019
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Panama Press Trip, Feb 25 - March 2, 2019
Geoffroy's Tamarind Monkey - Gatun Lake
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Arriving at the Buenaventura Golf and Beach Resort, Cochlé Province, Playa Blanca, Rio Hato
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White-faced Capuchin - Gatun Lake Cruise
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Checking out the Northern Saw-whet Owl in Loyalist Township Feb 17, 2019
Puerto Vallarta Media Trip, Feb 10-14, 2019
Crunchy crickets with Raicilla at La Lulu Raicilleria.
The Papantla Flers perform near the Malecon
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Shrimp al Pastor Taco at Abulon Seafood Restaurant
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Great Kiskadee, Botanical Garden
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Visiting the Barred Owl in Durham, February 9, 2019
How to Sell Tokyo, Industry Webinar, January 29, 2019
Steve with Shin Kawai, the Tokyo Tourism Representative in Canada
Tokyo Talk at the Travel Media Association of Canada, Jan 22, 2019
Steve with Shin Kawai, the Tokyo Tourism Representative in Canada
Coyotes in the Park, January , 2019
Coyote Sunday in Toronto, December 23, 2018 |
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Amherst Island, Eastern Ontario, December 18, 2018
Snowy Owls
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Japan: Travels to Tottori, Shimane, Beppu, Kumamoto and Fukuoka City, Nov 6-12, 2018
The Tottori Sand Dunes
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At Sashi Shuzo Sake Brewery in Izumo
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One of the Oni (Demons) in Jigoku (Hell), Kannawa, Beppu
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Bubbling mud and geysers in Kannawa, Beppu
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In Reigando, the cave on Mt. Kimpo where Miyomoto Mushashi composed the Book of Five Rings. Kumamoto
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The November Grand Tournament (Sumo) in Kukuoka City
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Tokyo, Oct - Nov , 2018
Whales on the walls at the Epson TeamLab Borderless Exhibit in Odaiba
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Detail at the Ueno Toshogu Shrine, Ueno Park
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One of the Kusama's "Beloved Pumpkins" at the Yayoi Kusama Museum, Shinjuku
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At Kabukitaro, Mitsuru Sasaki is tansformed with kumadori (Kabuki Make-Up).
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At Suigian, we enjed the Noh Theatre performance of 'Snow'.
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Sake and Tsumami (snacks) at Suzuden, a Kakuuchi in Yotsuya.
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Dinner at Sushi Darihan in Yoyogi
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Dinner at Tokudawara in Kita Senju
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Dinner at Wasuke in Kappabashi
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Whistler B.C. October 11-12-13-14, 2018
Rainbow Glacier, Sept 12, 2018
Point Pelee, Ontario September 26-28-28, 2018
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The annual Monarch Butterfly migration from Canada to Mexico with a stopover at Point Pelee.
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Just before sunrise on September 27, 2018
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Stare down with a White-tailed Deer
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An Egret winging it's way past us
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Maryland, September 17-18-19, 2018
Seafood appetizers at the Loch Bar, Baltimore Inner Harbour
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American Museum of Visionary Art, Baltimore
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The Saloon where Edgar Allan Poe reportedly had his last drink, Fell's Point, Baltimore.
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Vesta Pizzeria, Boonsboro. The Crab Pizza with anchovies and an Antietam Red Ale
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South Mountain Creamery, next to the cow barn to prove their motto "From Cow to Cone"
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Hendrie Valley, June 3, 2018
European Starling chicks calling for food
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Mom arrives with a nice juicy caterpillar
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She shoves it into the mouth of one of the chicks
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Takes a look at her handiwork before flying off to get some more grub.
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Prince Edward County, ON, May 30, 2018
Osprey
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Cedar Waxwings
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Hendrie Valley, ON, May 25, 2018
Wood Duck
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Red-bellied Woodpecker
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The Birding Festival, Point Pelee, ON, May 8-11, 2018
Prothonotary Warbler
Female Baltimore Oriole
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Scarlet Tanager
Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
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Villa Clara, Cuba, May 1-6, 2018
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Hendrie Valley, Burlington, ON April 29
Muskrat
Canada Geese
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Male Cardinal
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Female Downy Woodpecker
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Hendrie Valley, Burlington, ON April 22
Osprey
Song Sparrow
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Red-bellied Woodpeckers
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Great Egret
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Banff, Alberta April 11-12, 2018
View from the Banff Gondola Observation Deck on Sulphur Mountain
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The town of Banff
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My article on Antigua is published in the Spring 2018 issue of Dreamscapes.
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4 Articles in the 2018 Spring issues of Canadian World Traveller & American World Traveler!
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Bombay Peggy's, Dawson City, Yukon
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Panama March 31 to April 5
Click for more pics of our 2-day Birding Adventure!
Howler Monkey, part of a troop on Pipeline Road, Soberania National Park, Panama, April 1, 2018
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Two-Toed Sloth, Achiote, Colon, Panama, April 2, 2018
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Purple Steve in the Sky
Coopers Hawks, March 19 Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
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Panama Press Trip, March 3-9
Algonquin Park, Tuesday January 30
Gray Jay by the Logging Museum
Red Crossbill
Ruffed Grouse
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Pine Marten near the Visitor's Centre
Purple Finch
Blue Jay
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Evening Grosbeaks
Think Mink!
American Mink on the snowy shoreline of Lake Ontario, in Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto just after sunrise on January 21, 2018
Red-tailed Hawks in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, January 17, 2018
Must be nest-building time.
Love is in the Air. Two Red-Tailed Hawks get together for an intense gaze.
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Red-tail performing acrobatics to wrestle a choice twig for the nest.
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Birding along the Grindstone Marshes Trail, Hamilton, Ontario, January 14, 2018
Red-Tailed Hawk
Blue Jay
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Red-bellied Woodpecker
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A female Downy Woodpecker
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Monday January 8, 2018
http://travelindustrytoday.com/2018-01-07-mountains-of-delight::27891
Tuesday January 9, 2018
http://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/The-Year-of-the-Dog-Six-Ways-that-Travel-Agents-Can-Find-Inspiration
4 Articles in the Winter 2017-2018 issue of
Canadian World Traveller & American World Traveler
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Click the graphic on the left to read...
Island Hopping in Tokyo, pp 36-37 Kotor and Perast: A Feast for the Senses in Montenegro, pp 52-53 Sterling Accommodation in Ginza, p. 62 Answering 'The Call" to Visit the Yukon, pp 72-73-74 |
Just Published!
December 15, 2017
Birding in Hamilton
December 25, 2017, Grindstone Marshes Trail
Female Cardinal in the deep snow on Christmas Day.
Birding in Hamilton
December 10, 2017, Grindstone Marshes Trail
A Great Blue Heron on the Prowl
Press Trips in Japan
November 1-24, 2017
Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa
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The Northern Alps from the Kurobe Dam on the Alpine Route to Tateyama
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Water vapour vents around the crater of Mt. Mihara, Oshima
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The Assorted Sashimi is an artistic masterpiece at Wasuke in Kappabashi
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Dreamscapes Fall/Winter, 2017
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Autumn in the Toronto area
Late October, 2017
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The Yukon Spirit: Whitehorse, Fraser, Carcross, Fort Selkirk, Miles Canyon, Dawson City
August 15-22, 2017
Short canoe trip on the Yukon River between Whitehorse and the Takhini River Junction.
Discovery Days Parade-celebrating the Discovery of Gold on August 17, 1896
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Juvenile Bald Eagle on the shore of the Yukon River, just outside our hotel in Whitehorse
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Helicopter to the Tombstone Mountains, outside of Dawson. Spectacular scenery.
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Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
August 12, 2017 A Red-tailed Hawk landed on a low branch just a few feet away...
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Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
July 20, 2017
A juvenile Blue Jay calling out for attention (i.e. food!)
Croatia: Cavtat, Pula, Rovinj, Zadar, Split, Trogir, Havr, Jelsa, Vrboska, Korcula, Lumbardo, and Dubrovnik, with two days in Kotor, Montenegro
June 15 to July 2, 2017
The appetizer at Konobo Bonaca in Sustjepan, just outside of Dubrovnik
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Hanging out by the Triumphal Arch of the Sergii (built 27-29 B.C.E.) in Pula
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Spectacular Views from the Spanjola Fortress above the city of Hvar
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Amazing stone carvings on the Cathedral of St. Lawrence in Trogir
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Veggies, fruits, olive oil and honey at the morning market in Zadar
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A late afternoon walk on the city walls of Dubrovnik--one of many highlights on the trip
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Winnipeg and the Manito Ahbee Festival
May 17-18-19-29, 2017
Releasing banded birds at the Oak Hammock Marsh
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The Canadian Museum for Human Rights
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Over 900 Performers and Competityors appeared at the Manito Ahbee Festival
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Birding Festival in Southwestern Ontario
May 10-11-12 2017
Prothonotary Warbler, Rondeau, May 10, 2017
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Red-headed Woodpecker, Rondeau, May 10, 2017
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Yellow Warbler, Rondeau, May 10, 2017
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Holguin Province, Cuba
May 2-6, 2017
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Raccoon Dreams
April 27, 2017
Algonquin Park
April 14, 2017
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We saw 4 Otters on the thawing lake, while we followed the trail at the Loggers Museum.
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Fredericksburg, Texas
April 9-13, 2017
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My first Gray Jays (Canada Jay)
Spruce Bog Trail, Algonquin Park, March 29, 2017
The Red-winged Blackbirds are back!
You can always tell the start of Spring when the Red-winged Blackbirds start calling the marches and tall grasses. You can click below to hear how they sound near the Marsh Land at Cootes Paradise (March 25, 2017)
March 18, 2017
My article's a hit! Well actually, the editor said it had "a gazillion hits".
Check it out. http://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/Seven-Tips-for-Getting-the-Most-Out-of-a-Visit-to-Puerto-Vallarta-Mexico
And I had some of the photos I took in the Vallarta Botanical Garden identified (by Nancy Holland, President of the Vallarta Birders and Neil Gerlowski, Executive Director of the Botanical Garden)
Cinnamon Hummingbird
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Varied Bunting in a West Indian Lilac bush
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Mexican Hermit
American Goldfinch and House Finch, March 2, 2017
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Chaudiere-Appalache et Centre du Quebec Press Trip, Feb 24-27, 2017
The summit at Auberge des Glacis
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My first experience show shoeing.
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At Appalaches we tried 'Cano-Raquette", snow shoeing with a husky dog harnessed to your belt.
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Denis Gagnon owns a world-renowned Foundry and is a sculpture.
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The area around Lac William
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View of Lac William
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Cooper's Hawk, Mt.Pleasant Cemetery, Feb 17, 2017
Black-capped Chickadee, Cootes Paradise, Feb 15, 2017
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White-breasted Nuthatch, Cootes Paradise, Feb 15, 2017
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Photo by Mitsuru Sasaki, Jan 28, 2017, Cootes Paradise, Hamilton Black-capped Chickadee
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Photo by Mitsuru Sasaki Feb 4, 2017 Cootes Paradise, Hamilton. Downy Woodpecker (Steve's Hand)
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Photo by Mitsuru Sasaki Feb 4 2017 Cootes Paradise, Hamilton Steve and Downy Woodpecker
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Puerto Vallarta Press Trip, Feb 6-10, 2017
Villa Premier Boutique Hotel
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Chatting with Puerto Vallarta's Mayor, Arturo Davalos Peña
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Taco de Pescados, at La Cerveceria Union in downtown Puerto Vallarta
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Dinner in the Sky event on February 8th as part of Gala Vallarta. Dining 45 meters high.
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Chef Joel Ornelas at Tintoque Restaurant
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A Wixarika (a.k.a Huichol) beaded mask, at Collectiva.
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Jan 23,2017
http://travelindustrytoday.com/2017-01-23-john-lennon-slept-here-getting-into-the-spirit-of-karuizawa::25517
Jan 21, 2017 Cootes Paradise
January 1, 2017
Three hour walk through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, The Bayview Extension, Crothers Woods, the Lowerr Don Trail and up through Riverdale. Saw a Racoon, Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers and this amazing Red-tailed Hawk.
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Living Tree Ornaments, Scarborough Bluffs, Dec 25 2016
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Blue Jay Ambush! Dec 23, 2016
Stealing peanuts from the squirrels takes stealth and patience but the rewards are, in a nutshell, very fulfilling!
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Another amazing experience in Japan, Nov 20-Dec 1, 2016
Photos and articles to follow
Yukiaku Renpaku at the Bonita fish flake factory in Daiohzaki.
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Helicopter ride over Tokyo and the Sky Tree
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Yellowtail Sashimi at Sushi No Dalihan in the Yoyogi District of Tokyo
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Serendipity in Cuba, October 22-30, 2016 Photos and articles to follow
Traditional Cuban music follows you around the country. This was taken a Club Cienfuegos.
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Cuban hats for sale in Trinidad
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Making hats on the street in Trinidad
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Craft Your Perfect Michigan Escape Pages 28-30
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Steve's Workshop at the 5th Annual Sustainability Conference on St. Eustatius, September 26, 2016
Exploring the World without Limits: Enhancing Awareness of Accessibility Tourism
Latest Issue
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Birding in Toronto
A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk, spotted in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, 9:00 am August 27, 2016
Waterloo, Ontario Craft Beer Tour August 12-14, 2016
St. Jacob's Farmers Market--Ultra Fresh Produce
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Steven Innocente @Innocente Brewery. The Inn O'Slainte Irish Red Ale is dee-licious
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Rob at Together We're Bitter (WTB) Brewery. Great products and personalities!
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Carnival in Antigua July 30 to August 2, 2016
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Keeping Pace with Tokyo
Read my article in the summer issue of Canadian World Traveller
Demonstration by the Sword Master at the Samurai Museum in Shinjuku
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Steve in the kitchen. Photo by Mitsuru Sasaki
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Exploring Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula June 26-July 1
Puffins at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Bay Bulls, Newfoundland
Photo Tour of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia June 18-22
Coyote on Skyline Trail, Cape Breton National Park, June 20, 2016
Exploring the artisanal food scene in San Antonio...and more, May 19-22
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Birding in Southwestern Ontario: Point Pelee, Rondeau and Long Point, May 9-12, 2016
Speaking at Travel Market Place, Toronto, May 2, 2016
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China Travels, March 20-31, 2016
First Article on the Maritime Silk Road, appeared on May 2, 2016
Unusual is the new Norm: Rabbits, Chopsticks and Bento Boxes
Monkey Business?
Getting ready for the Year of the Monkey
Star Wars Lessons for 2016, in the January issue of Selling Travel
Slideshow(s) on the Amazing Sites in Isan, Thailand
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Imbibing the Spirit of Koyasan, Page 13 in Canadian World Traveller
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Read my articles in the Fall Issue of Canadian World Traveller
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An introduction to the Isan Region of Thailand, Page 19 in Canadian World Traveller
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May 2, 2016 Steve presented a Breakout session on "Dabblers, Specialists and Super Specialists"
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May 2, 2016 General Session on "The Higher Ground: Transformative Travel Experiences that Connect your Clients to the Destination"
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Steve led a breakout session:
Selecting and Mastering a Travel Specialty, June 2015 |
Steve spoke about Travel Unplugged:
Acoustic Travel in an Electronic World, June 2015 |
Steve's Article on Exploring the Heart of Hokuriku P 11-12
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Features Steve's articles on the Pan Am Games
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Page 20: Steve's article on Secrets of the Wild Atlantic Way
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Wasuke Izakaya in Kappabashi: One of the best
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Sake Tasting in Tokyo's Ningyocho area
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Maruchiba Izakaya: Always packed with locals
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The mushroom rocks at Sao Chaling, near Pha Taem
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Morning scene in Nakon Phanom
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