Overview of Trip
COMPLETE AGENDA FOR CHAPTER ONE - CANADA TO KOREA
The DEVOLIN ADVENTURES began when we departed Haliburton, Canada on August 24, 2015. The first chapter in those adventures, the trip from Canada to Korea, ended on February 17, 2016 when we arrived in Seoul, Korea.
STAY 1 - PARIS, FRANCE (Aug 25-29)
After landing in Brussels early Tuesday morning, picking up our rental car and driving to Paris, we begin our trip by celebrating Molly's 11th birthday in the City of Light. Her wish is to "climb" the Eiffel Tower, so that's what we'll do. Over the next 4 days, we will walk the city and see the sights. This will be our first trip on a very limited budget, so we'll need to become experts at finding inexpensive activities. On Friday, we will visit the Palace at Versailles.
Paris is a great place to begin any trip. For starters, it's on every 'Top 10 Cities to Visit' list. Barry also has fond memories of experiencing "springtime in Paris" for the first time in April 1980, and Ursula and Barry spent their honeymoon in Paris (and Belgium) in August 1993.
While in Paris, we're at the Novotel Paris Gare Montparnasse for 3 nights (a Hotwire deal for C$133 a night) and the Holiday Inn Versailles for 1 night (Holiday Inn points, so free).
STAY 2 - MONS, BELGIUM (Aug 30 - Sep 10)
In 1980/81, the Haliburton Rotary Club hosted exchange student Jean Paul Triaille, who stayed 3 months with both the Devolin and Beachli families. Over the years, many Haliburtonians have visited his family in southern Belgium, including Ursula and Barry last summer. At that time, Jean Paul and Sophie generously offered a vacant student apartment in their home to the Devolins for a couple of weeks in early September 2015.
By happy coincidence, Mons is one of two Cultural Capitals of Europe for 2015, so there are lots of special activities for visitors. While in Mons, the Devolins also plan to visit several nearby World War One sites in Belgium and northern France, including Ypres, Passchendaele and Vimy Ridge.
In terms of George and Molly's schooling, September 1 marks the beginning of their independent studies program. While travelling for the first 6 months, this is mostly a prescribed English and math curricula. Each week, Devolin family members will also write (and post online) a short essay focusing on a significant aspect of the place they're visiting. For Week One, the topic will be the special meaning of Flanders Fields to Canadians.
STAY 3 - OSLO, NORWAY (Sep 3-5) **Barry and George only**
Last winter, Barry and George read a series of children's books (Doctor Proctor) based in Norway. Several months ago, when asked where he wanted to go on this trip, George replied "Australia, Switzerland and Norway". While we won't be making it "down-under" this fall, in addition to their two week visit to Switzerland in October, Barry added this short side trip to Oslo. While the boys are away, the girls will stay in Belgium, eating chocolate and waffles.
The boys will stay at the hostel Comfort Hotel Xpress Youngstorget for C$109 per night. (Interestingly, this is a rare stay at a hostel-style hotel. When we started planning this trip, I assumed we would spend many nights in hostels. However, I found they are prohibitively expensive for 4 persons. Apartment rentals thru airBnB and VRBO, and even discounted hotel rooms, are much cheaper. This is also true for traveling by train: it is much cheaper for 4 persons to rent a car or fly. So much for my nostalgic 20th century dream of training and hosteling through Europe with my family...)
STAY 4 - DELFT, HOLLAND (Sep 11-17)
In 1979/80, Barry was selected as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and spent a year with the Pijnacker club in the Netherlands. This was a life changing experience for Barry because it became clear that while Haliburton was one (great) place in the world, it was not the only (great) place in the world.
And so, this is a memory-filled week for Barry. He will get to introduce his family to a place he lived for a year in his youth. In addition to eating cheese, riding bicycles, and visiting touristy places (including Amsterdam and the beach), the family will also meet Barry's former host families and visit many places special to him.
Hotels in Holland in September (especially Amsterdam) are expensive, so renting through airBnB is a better option. After much searching, we found a little cabin on a dairy farm near Pijnacker for 7 nights for C$600. The kids like visiting the cows, horses, rabbits and pigs - and I like running through the Dutch countryside.
STAY 5 - LONDON, ENGLAND (Sep 18-24)
We leave Holland early Friday morning to drive to Brussels to drop the rental car and fly to London. While taking a flight or ferry directly from Holland would save a few hours, we got the Brussels-London flight as a free add-on to our Toronto-Brussels flight, and it's almost always cheaper to drop off a rental car where you originally got it.
At Heathrow, we pick up our 7 day Underground Passes and head to Crofton Park, a suburb in south London where we found a nice 1 bedroom apartment near a train station for C$870 for 7 nights on VRBO. Like Amsterdam, hotels in London are expensive. By renting an apartment, we can also prepare many of our meals.
London is basically a super-sized outdoor museum, so there will be lots of walking and visiting free sights. Like Paris, I assume we will visit London again, so we won't feel the need to see and do everything in one week. One extravagance we will make is the Harry Potter studio tour.
Friday the 25th is a big changeover day. Barry will depart Gatwick Airport for Toronto at noon, and about the same time, Grandpa John Beachli will arrive from Toronto (after a one night stopover in Iceland). By mid afternoon, this newly formulated Beachli bunch will be winging their way to Nice, France. With Barry gone, John will become the alpha male for this moveable feast.
HALIBURTON, CANADA (Sep 25 - Oct 20) **Barry only**
Barry will return to Canada for the election campaign. As mentioned, John joins his daughter and grandchildren for a month. Ursula's brother Derek and his wife Deb and daughter Evelyn also join the gang for a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Barry is in Haliburton babysitting their house, convertible Mustang, and his four-legged niece Esther Mae...
The day after the election on Monday October 19, Barry wings his way back from Toronto to Basel (via London) to rejoin his family. At this point, Barry's parliamentary career is complete, and he is a private citizen.
STAY 6 - FRENCH & ITALIAN RIVIERA (Sep 25 - Oct 2)
After saying farewell to Barry, the Beachli gang will hop a flight to the French Riviera. The kids look forward to a day or two on the beach, and John looks forward to seeing the sights with an ice cream in hand. For her part, Ursula found a great apartment in Nice (downtown, near the beach) for 4 nights for C$508.
After Nice, the gang will begin a 5 day relaxing train tour along the Italian Riviera, finding their accommodation along the way. They will stay 3 nights in Genoa before ending up in Pisa, where they'll spend their last night at the Camping Village Torre Pendente (C$115 for a deluxe camper). George and Molly hope there will be lots of kids in the giant swimming pool.
STAY 7 - VENICE, ITALY (Oct 3-5)
The gang will depart Pisa early by train to Venice, arriving at noon and checking into their 3 bedroom apartment near the station. (C$125 per night from airBnB). Shortly after lunch, Derek, Deb and Evelyn will arrive from Toronto. The Beachli gang will spend 3 nights in this unique city. For Deb and Evelyn, this will be their first visit to Europe.
STAY 8 - FLORENCE, ITALY (Oct 6-7)
After a short (high speed) train ride from Venice, the Beachli gang will arrive in Florence, where they will spend 2 nights in a lovely downtown apartment (C$220 per night from airBnB).
STAY 9 - TUSCANY, ITALY (Oct 8-9)
This is where the plan is to splurge and relax for two nights at an old farm set outside of the city of Lucca. Here they produce their own wine and olive oil so we intend to enjoy some time in the cellars drinking wine and tasting fresh oil before settling into our 3 bedroom apartment on the property. The three kids will love the pool and open area to run and explore. Cooking lessons are an option that Deb and Ursula may indulge in.
STAY 10 - "THE RUSTICO", SWITZERLAND (Oct 10-11)
The rustico is a simple country cottage nestled on the hillside outside of the small town of Biasca. It is owned by Grandpa John's cousin, Werner, and his wife, Lydia, who have a farm in Jona. They use it as a weekend retreat and they've kindly let their Canadian cousins use it as a stopover enroute from Italy.
STAY 11 - JONA, SWITZERLAND (Oct 12-25)
In 1925, Johan (John) Bachli left his home in Jona. After 5 decades in Canada, he (and his son John Jr.) made the first of many visits between the Canadian "Beachlis" and their Swiss "Bachli" relatives. Over the years, many Swiss relatives have visited Haliburton, John Jr. has returned to Jona more than a dozen times, and Ursula also visited her grandfather's hometown twice - in 1986 and 2000. For George, Molly and Barry, however, this will be the first time to meet their relatives in Switzerland.
For this visit, John rented a traditional farmhouse near Jona. Derek, Deborah and Evelyn will spend the last five days of their European vacation in Jona. Four days later, Barry will arrive to spend the last 5 nights - 3 at the Rustico and 2 in Jona. On October 25, George will get to spend his 13th birthday with his extended Bachli family.
STAY 12 - ROME, ITALY (Oct 26 - Nov 2)
After leaving John in Jona, the Devolins head to Rome to continue their six month, round-the-world travel adventure from Canada to Korea. And, once again, planes are cheaper than trains or cars, so it's back to Basel for an C$83 Easyjet flight to the Eternal City. Sounds crazy, but it's true.
The first four days are in an apartment near the Vatican (C$109 thru VRBO). Barry and Ursula have been to Rome before, but didn't get to explore the entirety of the Vatican City. This time, their goal is to make that time. These few days will also provide time for homework, something that's hard to do when traveling with friends.
On October 30, the Devolins are joined for the final 4 days by their friends, the Bruce family. Their time together will be spend mostly in Trastevere. Italian ice cream, coffee, wine and pasta are also on the agenda.
STOP 13 - MARRAKECH, MOROCCO (Nov 3-5)
Early Tuesday morning, this gang of 9 will fly out of Rome, bound for North Africa, where they will spend 3 nights in a magnificent riad - a traditional home in the city centre built around private courtyards. In the 21st century, these courtyards have been converted to swimming pools, where guests can cool off after wandering the city's markets for hours on end. We found the Kasbah Jade (big enough for 10 persons) on VRBO for C$208 a night.
STAY 14 - ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO (Nov 6-8)
After Marrakech, the Bruces head inland to the mountains and desert, while the Devolins head east towards the Atlantic Ocean. After a leisurely morning in the riad, we will take a 3 hour bus ride to the coast. We will spend 3 nights (@C$123) at a small hotel in this quaint fishing town. There's also a beach that's famous for wind surfing - hope it isn't too windy for swimming! There are also local trails for short hikes and visits to nearby villages.
STAY 15 - FEZ, MOROCCO (Nov 9-11)
The final destination in Morocco will be the ancient city of Fez. After a long day on the road (3 hours in a bus, followed by 8 hours on the train) we will arrive at our destination. Less touristed than Marrakech, Fez boasts the largest surviving medieval market area in the world. Accommodation is a small hotel, Riad Sunrise, in the old city for C$84 a night.
STAY 16 - BARCELONA, SPAIN (Nov 12-14)
Spain wasn't on the original agenda, but the best flight options from Morocco to Israel happened to pass through Barcelona, so a couple of nights were added. The highlight of the trip will be seeing all the architecture that makes this city famous. A room as the hotel Casa Gracia for C$118 per night provides a base camp.
STAY 17 - JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Nov 15-24)
This 10 day stay in the Holy Land, at an apartment in downtown Jerusalem (VRBO for C$96 daily), is a highlight for everyone. Ursula and Barry have visited Israel before, but this time, want to spend more time absorbing the depth of history in Jerusalem, home of three of the world's major religions. Two daytrips will be made: one north to the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth; the other east to the Dead Sea and Masada.
STAY 18 - ISTANBUL, TURKEY (Nov 25 - Dec 1)
The final stop in Europe will be in this ancient capital, first called Byzantium, then Constantinople, and now, Istanbul. Long on Ursula's "must visit" list, Istanbul provides a second exotic window (after Israel) into the Middle East region. It seems that everyone that visits Turkey loves this city. The Devolins hope to find out why.
STAY 19 - ABU DHABI & DUBAI, UAE (Dec 2-3)
Like Barcelona, Abu Dhabi started out as a simple flight stopover. However, a three day stopover was added in order to see this unique blend of ancient Arab culture and over-the-top modernity. After some comparison, Barry booked the first two nights in Dubai, and the final night in Abu Dhabi. December 2 is UAE Independence Day, so there should be lots of special activities. On the 4th, Devolins return to the airport to flight 8 hrs to South Africa.
STAY 20 - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA (Dec 4-10)
After arriving in the late afternoon and picking up a rental car, it will be too late to make the 4 hr drive to Kruger Park in daylight. As such, the Devolins will spend the night in a hotel near the airport (C$80). The next morning, they will make the 4 hr drive east to the town of Hazyview on the edge of Kruger National Park. Barry found a great RCI timeshare 3 bedroom condo thru a friend (thanks Troy), so there will be lots of room for everyone. Molly is also delighted that the Sanbonani boasts the largest swimming pool in the region!
Sanbonani is near one of the Kruger gates, so the plan is to spend 2 or 3 days driving the park looking for wildlife. On the 10th, the Devolins will drive back to the Johannesburg airport to catch a plane early Friday morning.
STAY 21 - GARDEN ROUTE COAST, SOUTH AFRICA (Dec 11-17)
After a short flight to Port Elizabeth (Mango Airlines - C$75 each), the Devolins will pick up a rental van and head east to Jeffreys Bay, a beautiful spot on the beach. The plan is to relax for two days before heading further west to a secret destination near Knysna. This is Nannie and Poppa Devolin's Christmas present to the family, so only Barry knows the exact location - and what makes it special.
Next up in Mossel Bay for another day on the coast. Barry splurged on a nice hotel right on the beach. After a long drive on the 16th, the last two days of this tour will be spent at a hostel on the outskirts of Cape Town. The plan is to see all the far-flung sites around Cape Town with the rental car before dropping if off and spending the last 3 nights downtown.
STAY 22 - CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (Dec 18-20)
All the Devolins are looking forward to visiting one of the most beautiful cities on earth. Cape Town has been favourably compared to Vancouver, San Francisco and Hong Kong - pretty good company. The plan is to walk a lot, and enjoy our last three days in Africa. Hotels are expensive in Cape Town, and Christmas is peak season. As such, accommodation will be at a simple guest house - a family room with a double and bunkbeds, with a washroom down the hall.
MARATHON FLIGHT (Dec 21-22)
Up until this point, every flight on this trip has been direct. This 28 hour marathon breaks that pattern. It begins with a 2 hour flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg. After a two and half hour stopover, the next leg is 8 hours north to Abu Dhabi. Following another 90 minute stopover, the third leg is 7 hours to Ho Chi Minh. After 3 hours in that airport, the Devolins make their final flight, arriving in Danang an hour later at midnight.
STAY 23 - HOI AN, VIETNAM (Dec 23-31)
After the Devolins enjoy a well deserved night in a Danang hotel bed, Barry will head back to the airport to meet the Brandons, good friends who will join the Devolins in Vietnam for Christmas. Barry will bring Ted, Lorry and Connor back to the hotel for breakfast and a leisurely visit. About noon, a van will pick everyone up to take them to Hoi An, where this gang of seven will spend 9 relaxing days together in a beautiful private home with pool.
STAY 24 - HANOI, VIETNAM (Jan 5-12)
After 3 weeks in Hoi An, we shuttled to Danang where we caught the overnight train north 700 km to Hanoi. The train left at 6 pm and arrived at noon the next day. Everyone enjoyed the shared cabin, and falling asleep to the clickety clack of this nostalgic trip. While staying at a smallish hotel in the Historic Quarter, we braved the chaos of Hanoi's streets and markets.
STAY 25 - HUE, VIETNAM (Jan 12-17)
The kids wanted to ride the overnight train again, so we decided to spend our last week in Vietnam in the ancient capital city of Hue. Unfortunately, there weren't private cabins available on the train, so we flew from Hanoi to Danang (C$39 each, including luggage), then made the 2.5 hour drive in a private car. The highlights of Hue are the Citadel and the Imperial City. The Citadel is an almost European style fortress built in the early 19th century. The Imperial City is located within the Citadel, and was home to the Vietnamese royal family until 1945. While much of it was destroyed by Americans during the 1968 TET offensive, what remains feels like a smaller version of the Forbidden City in Beijing.
STAY 26 - DANANG, VIETNAM (Jan 17-18)
Rather than staying in Hue one more night and getting a private car back to the Danang airport Monday morning, we decided to leave Hue Sunday and take the train to Danang. While the road takes a shorter inland route, the train runs follows the coast, and offers spectacular scenery.
STAY 27 - KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (Jan 18-20)
STAY 28 - PERTH, AUSTRALIA (Jan 20-23)
STAY 29 - KILGOORLIE, AUSTRALIA (Jan 23-25)
STAY 30 - BRUCE ROCK, AUSTRALIA (Jan 25-27)
STAY 31 - BUSSELTON, AUSTRALIA (Jan 27 - Feb 1)
STAY 32 - MANDURAH, AUSTRALIA (Feb 1-3)
STAY 33 - SINGAPORE (Feb 3-10)
STAY 34 - KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 10-16)
STAY 35 - SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (Feb 17 - Jun 23)
The DEVOLIN ADVENTURES began when we departed Haliburton, Canada on August 24, 2015. The first chapter in those adventures, the trip from Canada to Korea, ended on February 17, 2016 when we arrived in Seoul, Korea.
STAY 1 - PARIS, FRANCE (Aug 25-29)
After landing in Brussels early Tuesday morning, picking up our rental car and driving to Paris, we begin our trip by celebrating Molly's 11th birthday in the City of Light. Her wish is to "climb" the Eiffel Tower, so that's what we'll do. Over the next 4 days, we will walk the city and see the sights. This will be our first trip on a very limited budget, so we'll need to become experts at finding inexpensive activities. On Friday, we will visit the Palace at Versailles.
Paris is a great place to begin any trip. For starters, it's on every 'Top 10 Cities to Visit' list. Barry also has fond memories of experiencing "springtime in Paris" for the first time in April 1980, and Ursula and Barry spent their honeymoon in Paris (and Belgium) in August 1993.
While in Paris, we're at the Novotel Paris Gare Montparnasse for 3 nights (a Hotwire deal for C$133 a night) and the Holiday Inn Versailles for 1 night (Holiday Inn points, so free).
STAY 2 - MONS, BELGIUM (Aug 30 - Sep 10)
In 1980/81, the Haliburton Rotary Club hosted exchange student Jean Paul Triaille, who stayed 3 months with both the Devolin and Beachli families. Over the years, many Haliburtonians have visited his family in southern Belgium, including Ursula and Barry last summer. At that time, Jean Paul and Sophie generously offered a vacant student apartment in their home to the Devolins for a couple of weeks in early September 2015.
By happy coincidence, Mons is one of two Cultural Capitals of Europe for 2015, so there are lots of special activities for visitors. While in Mons, the Devolins also plan to visit several nearby World War One sites in Belgium and northern France, including Ypres, Passchendaele and Vimy Ridge.
In terms of George and Molly's schooling, September 1 marks the beginning of their independent studies program. While travelling for the first 6 months, this is mostly a prescribed English and math curricula. Each week, Devolin family members will also write (and post online) a short essay focusing on a significant aspect of the place they're visiting. For Week One, the topic will be the special meaning of Flanders Fields to Canadians.
STAY 3 - OSLO, NORWAY (Sep 3-5) **Barry and George only**
Last winter, Barry and George read a series of children's books (Doctor Proctor) based in Norway. Several months ago, when asked where he wanted to go on this trip, George replied "Australia, Switzerland and Norway". While we won't be making it "down-under" this fall, in addition to their two week visit to Switzerland in October, Barry added this short side trip to Oslo. While the boys are away, the girls will stay in Belgium, eating chocolate and waffles.
The boys will stay at the hostel Comfort Hotel Xpress Youngstorget for C$109 per night. (Interestingly, this is a rare stay at a hostel-style hotel. When we started planning this trip, I assumed we would spend many nights in hostels. However, I found they are prohibitively expensive for 4 persons. Apartment rentals thru airBnB and VRBO, and even discounted hotel rooms, are much cheaper. This is also true for traveling by train: it is much cheaper for 4 persons to rent a car or fly. So much for my nostalgic 20th century dream of training and hosteling through Europe with my family...)
STAY 4 - DELFT, HOLLAND (Sep 11-17)
In 1979/80, Barry was selected as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and spent a year with the Pijnacker club in the Netherlands. This was a life changing experience for Barry because it became clear that while Haliburton was one (great) place in the world, it was not the only (great) place in the world.
And so, this is a memory-filled week for Barry. He will get to introduce his family to a place he lived for a year in his youth. In addition to eating cheese, riding bicycles, and visiting touristy places (including Amsterdam and the beach), the family will also meet Barry's former host families and visit many places special to him.
Hotels in Holland in September (especially Amsterdam) are expensive, so renting through airBnB is a better option. After much searching, we found a little cabin on a dairy farm near Pijnacker for 7 nights for C$600. The kids like visiting the cows, horses, rabbits and pigs - and I like running through the Dutch countryside.
STAY 5 - LONDON, ENGLAND (Sep 18-24)
We leave Holland early Friday morning to drive to Brussels to drop the rental car and fly to London. While taking a flight or ferry directly from Holland would save a few hours, we got the Brussels-London flight as a free add-on to our Toronto-Brussels flight, and it's almost always cheaper to drop off a rental car where you originally got it.
At Heathrow, we pick up our 7 day Underground Passes and head to Crofton Park, a suburb in south London where we found a nice 1 bedroom apartment near a train station for C$870 for 7 nights on VRBO. Like Amsterdam, hotels in London are expensive. By renting an apartment, we can also prepare many of our meals.
London is basically a super-sized outdoor museum, so there will be lots of walking and visiting free sights. Like Paris, I assume we will visit London again, so we won't feel the need to see and do everything in one week. One extravagance we will make is the Harry Potter studio tour.
Friday the 25th is a big changeover day. Barry will depart Gatwick Airport for Toronto at noon, and about the same time, Grandpa John Beachli will arrive from Toronto (after a one night stopover in Iceland). By mid afternoon, this newly formulated Beachli bunch will be winging their way to Nice, France. With Barry gone, John will become the alpha male for this moveable feast.
HALIBURTON, CANADA (Sep 25 - Oct 20) **Barry only**
Barry will return to Canada for the election campaign. As mentioned, John joins his daughter and grandchildren for a month. Ursula's brother Derek and his wife Deb and daughter Evelyn also join the gang for a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Barry is in Haliburton babysitting their house, convertible Mustang, and his four-legged niece Esther Mae...
The day after the election on Monday October 19, Barry wings his way back from Toronto to Basel (via London) to rejoin his family. At this point, Barry's parliamentary career is complete, and he is a private citizen.
STAY 6 - FRENCH & ITALIAN RIVIERA (Sep 25 - Oct 2)
After saying farewell to Barry, the Beachli gang will hop a flight to the French Riviera. The kids look forward to a day or two on the beach, and John looks forward to seeing the sights with an ice cream in hand. For her part, Ursula found a great apartment in Nice (downtown, near the beach) for 4 nights for C$508.
After Nice, the gang will begin a 5 day relaxing train tour along the Italian Riviera, finding their accommodation along the way. They will stay 3 nights in Genoa before ending up in Pisa, where they'll spend their last night at the Camping Village Torre Pendente (C$115 for a deluxe camper). George and Molly hope there will be lots of kids in the giant swimming pool.
STAY 7 - VENICE, ITALY (Oct 3-5)
The gang will depart Pisa early by train to Venice, arriving at noon and checking into their 3 bedroom apartment near the station. (C$125 per night from airBnB). Shortly after lunch, Derek, Deb and Evelyn will arrive from Toronto. The Beachli gang will spend 3 nights in this unique city. For Deb and Evelyn, this will be their first visit to Europe.
STAY 8 - FLORENCE, ITALY (Oct 6-7)
After a short (high speed) train ride from Venice, the Beachli gang will arrive in Florence, where they will spend 2 nights in a lovely downtown apartment (C$220 per night from airBnB).
STAY 9 - TUSCANY, ITALY (Oct 8-9)
This is where the plan is to splurge and relax for two nights at an old farm set outside of the city of Lucca. Here they produce their own wine and olive oil so we intend to enjoy some time in the cellars drinking wine and tasting fresh oil before settling into our 3 bedroom apartment on the property. The three kids will love the pool and open area to run and explore. Cooking lessons are an option that Deb and Ursula may indulge in.
STAY 10 - "THE RUSTICO", SWITZERLAND (Oct 10-11)
The rustico is a simple country cottage nestled on the hillside outside of the small town of Biasca. It is owned by Grandpa John's cousin, Werner, and his wife, Lydia, who have a farm in Jona. They use it as a weekend retreat and they've kindly let their Canadian cousins use it as a stopover enroute from Italy.
STAY 11 - JONA, SWITZERLAND (Oct 12-25)
In 1925, Johan (John) Bachli left his home in Jona. After 5 decades in Canada, he (and his son John Jr.) made the first of many visits between the Canadian "Beachlis" and their Swiss "Bachli" relatives. Over the years, many Swiss relatives have visited Haliburton, John Jr. has returned to Jona more than a dozen times, and Ursula also visited her grandfather's hometown twice - in 1986 and 2000. For George, Molly and Barry, however, this will be the first time to meet their relatives in Switzerland.
For this visit, John rented a traditional farmhouse near Jona. Derek, Deborah and Evelyn will spend the last five days of their European vacation in Jona. Four days later, Barry will arrive to spend the last 5 nights - 3 at the Rustico and 2 in Jona. On October 25, George will get to spend his 13th birthday with his extended Bachli family.
STAY 12 - ROME, ITALY (Oct 26 - Nov 2)
After leaving John in Jona, the Devolins head to Rome to continue their six month, round-the-world travel adventure from Canada to Korea. And, once again, planes are cheaper than trains or cars, so it's back to Basel for an C$83 Easyjet flight to the Eternal City. Sounds crazy, but it's true.
The first four days are in an apartment near the Vatican (C$109 thru VRBO). Barry and Ursula have been to Rome before, but didn't get to explore the entirety of the Vatican City. This time, their goal is to make that time. These few days will also provide time for homework, something that's hard to do when traveling with friends.
On October 30, the Devolins are joined for the final 4 days by their friends, the Bruce family. Their time together will be spend mostly in Trastevere. Italian ice cream, coffee, wine and pasta are also on the agenda.
STOP 13 - MARRAKECH, MOROCCO (Nov 3-5)
Early Tuesday morning, this gang of 9 will fly out of Rome, bound for North Africa, where they will spend 3 nights in a magnificent riad - a traditional home in the city centre built around private courtyards. In the 21st century, these courtyards have been converted to swimming pools, where guests can cool off after wandering the city's markets for hours on end. We found the Kasbah Jade (big enough for 10 persons) on VRBO for C$208 a night.
STAY 14 - ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO (Nov 6-8)
After Marrakech, the Bruces head inland to the mountains and desert, while the Devolins head east towards the Atlantic Ocean. After a leisurely morning in the riad, we will take a 3 hour bus ride to the coast. We will spend 3 nights (@C$123) at a small hotel in this quaint fishing town. There's also a beach that's famous for wind surfing - hope it isn't too windy for swimming! There are also local trails for short hikes and visits to nearby villages.
STAY 15 - FEZ, MOROCCO (Nov 9-11)
The final destination in Morocco will be the ancient city of Fez. After a long day on the road (3 hours in a bus, followed by 8 hours on the train) we will arrive at our destination. Less touristed than Marrakech, Fez boasts the largest surviving medieval market area in the world. Accommodation is a small hotel, Riad Sunrise, in the old city for C$84 a night.
STAY 16 - BARCELONA, SPAIN (Nov 12-14)
Spain wasn't on the original agenda, but the best flight options from Morocco to Israel happened to pass through Barcelona, so a couple of nights were added. The highlight of the trip will be seeing all the architecture that makes this city famous. A room as the hotel Casa Gracia for C$118 per night provides a base camp.
STAY 17 - JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Nov 15-24)
This 10 day stay in the Holy Land, at an apartment in downtown Jerusalem (VRBO for C$96 daily), is a highlight for everyone. Ursula and Barry have visited Israel before, but this time, want to spend more time absorbing the depth of history in Jerusalem, home of three of the world's major religions. Two daytrips will be made: one north to the Sea of Galilee and Nazareth; the other east to the Dead Sea and Masada.
STAY 18 - ISTANBUL, TURKEY (Nov 25 - Dec 1)
The final stop in Europe will be in this ancient capital, first called Byzantium, then Constantinople, and now, Istanbul. Long on Ursula's "must visit" list, Istanbul provides a second exotic window (after Israel) into the Middle East region. It seems that everyone that visits Turkey loves this city. The Devolins hope to find out why.
STAY 19 - ABU DHABI & DUBAI, UAE (Dec 2-3)
Like Barcelona, Abu Dhabi started out as a simple flight stopover. However, a three day stopover was added in order to see this unique blend of ancient Arab culture and over-the-top modernity. After some comparison, Barry booked the first two nights in Dubai, and the final night in Abu Dhabi. December 2 is UAE Independence Day, so there should be lots of special activities. On the 4th, Devolins return to the airport to flight 8 hrs to South Africa.
STAY 20 - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA (Dec 4-10)
After arriving in the late afternoon and picking up a rental car, it will be too late to make the 4 hr drive to Kruger Park in daylight. As such, the Devolins will spend the night in a hotel near the airport (C$80). The next morning, they will make the 4 hr drive east to the town of Hazyview on the edge of Kruger National Park. Barry found a great RCI timeshare 3 bedroom condo thru a friend (thanks Troy), so there will be lots of room for everyone. Molly is also delighted that the Sanbonani boasts the largest swimming pool in the region!
Sanbonani is near one of the Kruger gates, so the plan is to spend 2 or 3 days driving the park looking for wildlife. On the 10th, the Devolins will drive back to the Johannesburg airport to catch a plane early Friday morning.
STAY 21 - GARDEN ROUTE COAST, SOUTH AFRICA (Dec 11-17)
After a short flight to Port Elizabeth (Mango Airlines - C$75 each), the Devolins will pick up a rental van and head east to Jeffreys Bay, a beautiful spot on the beach. The plan is to relax for two days before heading further west to a secret destination near Knysna. This is Nannie and Poppa Devolin's Christmas present to the family, so only Barry knows the exact location - and what makes it special.
Next up in Mossel Bay for another day on the coast. Barry splurged on a nice hotel right on the beach. After a long drive on the 16th, the last two days of this tour will be spent at a hostel on the outskirts of Cape Town. The plan is to see all the far-flung sites around Cape Town with the rental car before dropping if off and spending the last 3 nights downtown.
STAY 22 - CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (Dec 18-20)
All the Devolins are looking forward to visiting one of the most beautiful cities on earth. Cape Town has been favourably compared to Vancouver, San Francisco and Hong Kong - pretty good company. The plan is to walk a lot, and enjoy our last three days in Africa. Hotels are expensive in Cape Town, and Christmas is peak season. As such, accommodation will be at a simple guest house - a family room with a double and bunkbeds, with a washroom down the hall.
MARATHON FLIGHT (Dec 21-22)
Up until this point, every flight on this trip has been direct. This 28 hour marathon breaks that pattern. It begins with a 2 hour flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg. After a two and half hour stopover, the next leg is 8 hours north to Abu Dhabi. Following another 90 minute stopover, the third leg is 7 hours to Ho Chi Minh. After 3 hours in that airport, the Devolins make their final flight, arriving in Danang an hour later at midnight.
STAY 23 - HOI AN, VIETNAM (Dec 23-31)
After the Devolins enjoy a well deserved night in a Danang hotel bed, Barry will head back to the airport to meet the Brandons, good friends who will join the Devolins in Vietnam for Christmas. Barry will bring Ted, Lorry and Connor back to the hotel for breakfast and a leisurely visit. About noon, a van will pick everyone up to take them to Hoi An, where this gang of seven will spend 9 relaxing days together in a beautiful private home with pool.
STAY 24 - HANOI, VIETNAM (Jan 5-12)
After 3 weeks in Hoi An, we shuttled to Danang where we caught the overnight train north 700 km to Hanoi. The train left at 6 pm and arrived at noon the next day. Everyone enjoyed the shared cabin, and falling asleep to the clickety clack of this nostalgic trip. While staying at a smallish hotel in the Historic Quarter, we braved the chaos of Hanoi's streets and markets.
STAY 25 - HUE, VIETNAM (Jan 12-17)
The kids wanted to ride the overnight train again, so we decided to spend our last week in Vietnam in the ancient capital city of Hue. Unfortunately, there weren't private cabins available on the train, so we flew from Hanoi to Danang (C$39 each, including luggage), then made the 2.5 hour drive in a private car. The highlights of Hue are the Citadel and the Imperial City. The Citadel is an almost European style fortress built in the early 19th century. The Imperial City is located within the Citadel, and was home to the Vietnamese royal family until 1945. While much of it was destroyed by Americans during the 1968 TET offensive, what remains feels like a smaller version of the Forbidden City in Beijing.
STAY 26 - DANANG, VIETNAM (Jan 17-18)
Rather than staying in Hue one more night and getting a private car back to the Danang airport Monday morning, we decided to leave Hue Sunday and take the train to Danang. While the road takes a shorter inland route, the train runs follows the coast, and offers spectacular scenery.
STAY 27 - KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (Jan 18-20)
STAY 28 - PERTH, AUSTRALIA (Jan 20-23)
STAY 29 - KILGOORLIE, AUSTRALIA (Jan 23-25)
STAY 30 - BRUCE ROCK, AUSTRALIA (Jan 25-27)
STAY 31 - BUSSELTON, AUSTRALIA (Jan 27 - Feb 1)
STAY 32 - MANDURAH, AUSTRALIA (Feb 1-3)
STAY 33 - SINGAPORE (Feb 3-10)
STAY 34 - KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 10-16)
STAY 35 - SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (Feb 17 - Jun 23)
