Jefie's VirtualTourist Home Page

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That's me at Castle Hidalgo in Santiago de Chile

Hello, Bonjour, Hola!!

My name is Isa and I'm a Canadian/Quebecoise with a passion for literature, history, languages (I speak English and French and I'm doing my very best to learn Spanish), and traveling of course! I'm back to living full time in Quebec City now, which I personally think is the best place to live in Canada, but I've also lived in the Gaspe region (Quebec), Kingston (Ontario), Edmonton (Alberta) and Montreal.

I've always loved traveling, but since I joined VT, this passion has turned into an obsession! Here's what this obsession has resulted in so far:

In 2005, I spent a week in Texas (San Antonio, Austin and Galveston) to visit my dear VT friend Lisa, a week in Regina, SK for work, a week in England (Guildford, Bath, Winchester, Chawton and London) with my friend Sylvia to visit all the Jane Austen related sites we could find, a long weekend in Boston and Salem with my high school friends Alain and Benjamin, and a week in Prince Edward Island with my sister, niece and nephew. In 2006, I spent an amazing week in sunny Havana, Cuba with Sylvain, I went back to Texas (San Antonio, Austin and Fredericksburg), I spent a week camping in Halifax, NS, a long weekend in Fredericton, NB with my friend Annie-Claude, and a fabulous week on the Riviera Maya, Mexico, with Sylvain.

The year 2007 started with an amazing trip to Paris, followed by a trip to Vancouver and Victoria to visit my friend Catherine, two trips to Maine, USA (Old Orchard Beach and Portland), a long weekend in New York City, and two more trips to Vancouver to cap off the year. In 2008, a life-long dream of mine came true when I got to spend 3 weeks in Spain (I visited Madrid, Toledo, Alcala de Henares and Segovia). I then went back to Boston for a week (with daytrips to Cambridge, Concord and Franconia, NH), I spent a week in Saint John, NB, a week in Santiago de Chile with my nephew Kevin, a week in Chicago, and a long weekend in Las Vegas.

My mindset for 2009 is the same as ever, meaning that I've got quite a few projects in mind, and while some will hopefully get done, some will inevitably get postponed. I plan on seeing most of the world anyways so it doesn't really matter in which order I do it. Just go with the flow and keep your mind open to new adventures!

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The world's most awesome travelmates!

Orlando, Florida (July 2009)

Once again this year the task of picking a vacation spot for our annual family holiday fell to me. I was under a bit of pressure since our last camping trip to Old Orchard Beach (Maine, USA) had been a really big hit with my niece Alexandra and nephew Kevin... and that's when it came to me: it's got to be Walt Disney World! I gathered all the information I needed, made a phone call to my sister, and waited anxiously for 2 weeks until I finally got the green light! So Alex, Kevin, Pascale and I are off to Walt Disney World for a week at the end of July, and I'm so excited! To say how long it's been since I've been to Orlando would give away how old I am, so let's just say I'm pretty sure it'll bring out the kid in me just like it did all those years ago!

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Enjoying a pint in an old Irish pub

Dublin, Ireland (April 2009)

After years and years of dreaming to go to Ireland, I finally made it to Dublin! Sylvain and I spent a fantastic week in "Baile Įtha Cliath", exploring both sides of the River Liffey, spending a copious amount of time drinking beer to the sound of Irish music, and getting acquainted with the rich, complex history and culture of Ireland. There sure was enough to see and do in the city to keep us busy for a week, and yet I come back feeling as though I've only scratched the surface of the great mystery that is Ireland - I guess that leaves me with no other option: I'll have to go back!

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Rum punch at sunset with my mom-in-law

Caye Caulker, Belize (February 2009)

Three years ago, my in-laws discovered a little piece of paradise on earth in Caye Caulker, Belize, and this year we finally got to escape from the cold Canadian winter to see what it was all about! Sylvain and I spent 10 amazing days with them in and around the sunny island of Caye Caulker for a trip that was filled with adventures (we went swimming, fishing, snorkelling and hiking through Mayan ruins), and also with plenty of rum punch (!) and quiet, relaxing time. Definitely a place to put on your travel wishlist if it isn't already there!

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Sylvain at the Cirque du Soleil's "KĄ"

Las Vegas, USA (December 2008)

I'm back from Sin City with no scandalous stories to tell other than having bought a ridiculously expensive but really cool pair of shoes!! Sylvain and I spent 3 days in Las Vegas and most of that time was spent walking up and down the Strip, stopping by all the big hotels and casinos to check out the completely over the top architecture. Before I left for Vegas, I wasn't too sure whether I would like it or not, but for the most part I have to say that I did enjoy its vibrant and very unique atmosphere... only in Vegas, as they say!!

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Greetings from Millenium Park, Chicago!

Chicago, USA (October 2008)

Have you ever had one of those trips where everything goes so smoothly you don't ever want to get back home?! That's exactly how my very first trip to Chicago went! For years I'd been wanting to visit the windy city and when I found out that the Jane Austen Society of North America would be holding its 2008 annual general meeting in Chicago, I thought it was just the perfect excuse to finally head down to Illinois for a few days. Not only was the meeting very interesting, with its usual share of amazing academic speakers and some rather over-the-top Janeites, but the 4 days I had to visit Chicago allowed me to discover a beautiful city and meet some incredibly friendly people. Special thanks to VTers dlandt and Dabs for showing me around and taking me off-the-beaten-path, my trip definitely would not have been the same without you guys!

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Kevin & I at Cerro Santa Lucia, Santiago de Chile

Santiago, Chile (September 2008)

Well, here's another trip I hadn't really planned! In September I went to the 2008 Junior Pan-American Karate Games, which were held in Santiago de Chile. It was my very first time traveling to South America, and the fact that I got to do it with my nephew and watch him compete and win the silver medal made the whole trip an incredible experience! Although we spent most of our time at the (very cold) stadium, we did get to walk around the city a bit, meet plenty of new people from all over the Americas, and got to drink some really good wine :o) It was such a fantastic adventure, I think Kevin and I will cherish these memories for a really, really long time!