Tag Archives: Retirement abroad

Germany

Nuremberg Christmas Markets

In December we took a memorable four day trip to Nuremberg to experience its famous Christmas Markets.  We stayed in the heart of the old town centre, which allowed us easy access to explore the historic centre.

View of one of the historic streets we explored in Nuremberg

Walking into the main square for the first time, was so impressive.  The market sits right in the centre of the old town, surrounded by historic buildings.

We explored Nuremberg’s markets which stretched across different areas of the old town.  

Everywhere we turned there were glowing stalls decorated with evergreen branches, shimmering ornaments, and golden lights. 

Ray standing in the arch of the fortified wall of Nuremberg

The air was filled with the sound of cheerful Christmas music, and chatter and laughter and of course the smell of Sausages roasting on BBQ Grills. 

We wandered from one decorated stall to another, admiring handmade crafts, wooden toys, Children rides, candles, and festive keepsakes.

And oh, the food! We made sure to enjoy the flavours of the season. We had some Nuremberg sausages, grilled and tucked into fresh rolls with spicy Mustard.

Shelley and Ray enjoying traditional Nuremberg sausages

Of course, we couldn’t resist the gingerbread man cookie for dessert. 

There was a historic house which was decorated as an advent Calendar house.

Advent house in Nuremberg

Each window was decorated and numbered for each day in December.  Every evening at 6 PM they would play a traditional German Christmas song along with lighting of each window. We decided to stay enjoy some Glühwein and take in the show.

We walked along the fortified city walls and came to some beautiful areas in the heart of the city. 

 

The Christmas markets in Nuremberg were truly a memorable experience. One we enjoyed but our time in Nuremberg wasn’t only about Christmas. We also wanted to understand the city beyond the holiday cheer, so we spent time visiting some of its World War II historical sites. But that is for another Post.

“Ich wünsche dir alles Gute und frohe Weihnachten”

Australia

Cruising the Wild Daintree: A Riverboat Journey Through Australia’s Ancient Rainforest

We took a riverboat and set off along the Daintree River which is one of Australia’s most ancient and biodiverse waterways

The first thing we noticed is the water which is murky, dark, and hides more than it reveals.

Our guide explained that crocodiles can disappear just beneath the surface, vanishing in a matter of seconds. 

As we cruised deeper into the river, the rainforest seemed to close in around us.

Exotic birds were perched along the mangroves and would fly overhead.  Within the mangroves crocodiles would blend into the mud and practicaly disappear.

Crocodile laying within the mangroves


We spot several crocodiles basking on the muddy banks, but we even discovered a few exotic frogs right in our boat.

Whether they hopped in on their own or were simply along for the ride, they added a quirky dash of personality to the adventure.


The entire journey lasted just over an hour, but it felt like stepping into another world.  Its an untouched corner of Australia which was amazing to experience. 

“Take memories and leave only footprints”

Australia

Kayaking on the Great Barrier Reef

 Our day kayaking along the North Queensland coast, within the incredible Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, was an amazing adventure. 

We began by getting our gear and preparing our kayak for the days adventures.  After setting the kayak into the water we climbed into our double kayak, Shelley in the front and me in the back, ready to paddle our way into a new adventure. We waited near the shore while the rest of our group got set up.  Afterwards we were on our way.

The day  was perfect, the water was calm, the sun warm but not harsh, and our small group, led by two friendly guides. We even had one of our guides who was a Canadian, studying Marine Biology. We set out toward the islands scattered across the Coral Sea.

As we paddled away from shore, the world felt instantly more peaceful. We slipped alongside mangroves that reached their roots down into clear turquoise water, creating miniature underwater forests. There were tiny fish that darted in and out of the tangled roots. It felt like we were getting a private viewing into the reef’s hidden nature. We were told by our guide that small sharks and fish stay in the mangroves for protection until they are big enough to survive in the open waters.

Mangroves along the shoreline of the islands

We continued along our trek and at one point, there was a school of fish that skimmed right across the surface of the water. We thought it was flying fish but apparently they are a fish that just skim across chasing bugs. They disappeared as quickly as it appeared, it was quite spectacular.

We continued our way past Daydream Island, taking in its lush green edges and the endless shades of blue around it. Hours passed without us even noticing.  Eventually, we rounded a corner of an island and arrived at a deserted beach area, which turned out to be our midday destination. The beach is called Cane Cutters Beach and it felt like we were all alone in the world. 

The beach was completely deserted, it stretched out in front of us with soft white sand and a backdrop of tropical greenery. We settled in for a peaceful picnic lunch, enjoying the stillness, the view, and the feeling of having stepped into a postcard.

Shelley at Cane Cutters Beach

After eating, we took a stroll along the beach. Ray wandered into the shallow waters, and a stingray glided slowly past him. It was just one of those moments. 

We spent an hour or so just soaking it all in. Eventually, it was time to slip back into the kayak and retrace our path across the water.

Heading back was just as enjoyable, taking our time and exploring more Mangroves along the way.

By the time we reached our starting point, our arms were tired, but our spirits were full. We helped take our gear and kayak out of the water and wash off the salt from the gear.  It’s amazing how a simple kayak, a stretch of coastline, friendly guides including a Canadian student chasing adventure and education can craft an experience that stays with you for a long time.  

North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef delivered an unforgettable day, and kayaking beside Shelley made it all the more special.

“Take only memories, leave only footprints. ”

Australia

Snorkeling Adventure Near Moreton Island: A Perfect Day in the Coral Sea

We decided to treated ourselves to a day of snorkeling in the Coral Sea.  We headed out to the stunning waters near Moreton Island for an adventure we won’t soon forget. From the moment we boarded the boat, we knew the day was going to be something special.

Shelley and Ray getting ready for the snorkeling adventure.

As we cruised toward the famous Tangalooma shipwrecks, the Coral Sea was nice and smooth and the water crystal clear. It was the perfect weather,  warm, clear, and calm. We were excited to explore one of Queensland’s most iconic underwater playgrounds.  While on our way we spotted whales breaching in the distance.  It was an incredible feeling watching those huge whales rise from the water. 

swimming towards the shipwrecks in Tangalooma Bay.

Once we arrived at Tangalooma Bay, we took one last selfie before we slipped into the crystal-clear water, grabbed our handheld power jets, and set off.

The jets made gliding through the sea effortless and incredibly fun, giving us the chance to explore even more than we expected.

individual water jet system for Snorkeling

Swimming around the shipwrecks felt like stepping into a dreamscape. The wrecks were now transformed into thriving marine havens. Corals of all colours clung to the old steel, and schools of fish darted in and out of the crevices. Everywhere we looked, there were fish of every colour.  


We snorkeled through and around several of the wrecks. It was surreal and felt like a different world. The clarity of the water was unbelievable, it was like we were swimming in an aquarium. 
We spent an hour or so exploring the wrecks before heading back to the boat for the trip back to shore.  Tired but content we sat in the boat smiling at this fun day.

 

It was a magical day for us, it felt like we had experienced something truly rare, a day where everything aligned perfectly: weather, wildlife, water, and wonder.

“G’day, mate!”

Australia

Sydney Australia Part 3

On our final full day in Sydney we decided to venture out and take the ferry to Manly Island. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our time in Sydney, and the moment we stepped off the ferry, we knew we were in for something special. The ride over was unforgettable in its own way. We had the perfect weather and the ferry ride was smooth and enjoyable.

 

As we left the harbour we watched the skyline stretch across the horizon. We could see Opera House from the water and from that angle. It was impressive. The sails of the opera house were shinning against the blue of the water.

Sydney Skyline from the Ferry

It was one of those views that seemed surreal and photos do not do it justice. 

Once we arrived in Manly, we wandered along the main street, taking our time as we browsed through the local shops, each with its own unique charm.

We saw surf boutiques, handmade crafts, cozy cafés and bars. The whole area was buzzing with energy but had this laid-back, beach-town feel.

We took our time and explored the shops and eventually, we found our way to a rooftop restaurant overlooking the beach. We enjoyed a nice meal and we were lucky enough to get a table with an incredible view of the beach.

View of Manly Beach

After exploring Manly Island we headed back to Sydney on the ferry. Once again we watched the breathtaking harbour views. But our day wasn’t over yet. After getting off the ferry we made our way to Darling Harbour for dinner.  We were in luck because it was the last evening for this dramatic Drone show in Darling Harbour. 

Ray and Shelley at Darling Harbour Sydney

We managed to find an excellent restaurant that had a great table for us to watch the drone show event. 

Our Table at Darling Harbour

This turned out to be one of the best nights of our time in Sydney.  As we ate, a drone light show lit up the sky, The drones dancing over the water in perfect formation. It was impressive and mesmerizing to watch, It was a blend of technology and artistry that left us smiling.

Dinner itself was unforgettable too. We decided to be adventurous and try kangaroo, and to our surprise, it was absolutely delicious. 

We had it paired with a beautiful bottle of Australian wine, it felt like the perfect way to celebrate our last full day in Sydney. 

Kangaroo meal in Sydney

We walked back to our room and the city lights were reflecting across the harbour, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for every moment. Manly had given us sun and seaside charm, and Sydney had given us magic after dark. It was a day a great day.

Tomorrow we are off to a new adventure.

“See you later Mate!”