We boarded the cruise ship in Venice, ready to embark on a 30-day cruising adventure from Venice to Capetown.  This first half of the cruise included ports in Croatia, Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and 8 days at sea between ports.

Highlights:
1. Family Learning Hour each evening before dinner
2. Cruise dining options
3. Learning to play bridge
4. Visits to new countries for Erik, Greece and Saudi Arabia

Lowlights:
1. Lack of all-you-can-eat soft-serve ice cream
2. Single-use internet option

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Back in 1995 when Tera and I were dating, we took a summer trip with Tera's family to Europe and on the way north driving from Italy to Austria, we took a short detour into Slovenia.  We spent about 30 minutes in the country (much to Tera's mothers dismay, since she feared for our safety due to the ongoing war in Bosnia).  We wanted a fuller experience, so we returned to Slovenia for a few days, before going to Venice prior to our cruise adventure.

Highlights:
1. Piran seaside town in Slovenia - 
2. Beautiful Slovenian countryside views
3. Skocjan caves
4. Venice in all its glory
5. Dinner with an old friend

Lowlights:
1. Construction noise in the airbnb in Venice

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We returned from Eastern Europe and spent 5 nights in Bologna, Italy, without a rented car.  It was public transportation on the efficient and effective trains of Italy for our next few days of Bologna sightseeing and Italian day-trips.

Highlights:
1. Visiting the city-state of San Marino
2. Pasta-making class in Bologna
3. Walking the pilgrimage trek of San Luca
4. Seeing the mosiacs of Ravenna
5. Airbnb within a 2-minute walk of the train station

Lowlights:
1. Free (not worth it) walking tour of Bologna
2. Last-minute change of Evgeny Kissin concert program

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We flew down to make North Macedonia and Bulgaria our base for 11 days of travelling through countries of south-eastern Europe and the former Yugoslavia.  We visited North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria and Albania.  We enjoyed them all, and would definitely return to this area of the world in future travels.
 
Highlights:
1. City of Skopje, with all it’s countless statues and colorful old bazaar and ecletic mix of architecture.
2. Multi-church going day in Sofia, Bulgaria
3. (3) Hikes in new places
4. (5) New countries to tick off our list
 
Lowlights:
​1. Getting car towed in Sofia
2. Following google maps to our doom

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Highlights:
1. Paris Musee d'Orsay and kid's excitement to be there
2. Schobrunn Zoo
3. Vienna Museums
4. Church meeting in Bratislava
​5. Hungary iron curtain info

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Highlights:
All of our 4 days with the Franks were a highlight.  They are such delightful people. We met them first in Brunei, and we became game-night buddies.  Then we participated in a bible study group together and the Franks attended church with us regularly in our home. We have already visited them at their home in Bouzouls two times previously, and I have a good feeling there will more visits.

1. Mushroom hunting and nut foraging
2. Discovering the beautiful small medieval villages of Aveyron
3. Pech Merle cave paintings
4. An evening out with a michelin star chef
5. Game night with both families

Lowlight:
​1. French train strike threw our plans into disarray

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Highlights:
1. Baux en Provence - medieval village and castle and Venice art exhibition
2. Avignon - bridge of Avignon and palace of the popes
3. Pont du Gard - ancient Roman acquaduct
4. Nimes - intact Roman ampitheatre
5. Narbonne - stunning cathedral and palace
6. Carcassone - quintessential medieval walled city
 

Lowlights:
1. French labor strike at gas stations - dwindling petrol supplies

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Highlights:
1. Calanques National Park hike
2. Gorges du Verdon drive
3. Charming villages of Ventabren and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
4. Hospitality of our friends in their French villa
5. Overall European-ness of Europe

Lowlights:
1. Missing our luggage 

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Highlights:
1. Iceberg Lake hike 
2. Seeing Grizzly bears through binoculars and telescopes
3. Comfy cabin out of the rain and elements
4. General Conference in the car
 
Lowlights:
1. Low visibility on Road to the Sun

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​Highlights:
1. Lake Louise, Agnes Lake hike to the teahouse and Moraine Lake
2. E-bike rental for 55 km round-trip ride along Bow Valley parkway to Johnston Canyon and Inkpots
3. Original national park Sulphur Cave and environs
4. Canoeing and kayaking on Lake Minnewanka
5. Lussier Natural Hot Springs
 
Lowlights:
1. Limited parking and expensive buses to the lake.  Summer would be INSANE!
2. Johnston Canyon trail closure

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