The Brennens...

The YYZ Observer

June 16th, 2015

After a four hour drive that began with dropping Sadie off at Camp Grandpa, we have arrived at Toronto International Airport. We found our favorite lounge to relax and watch the Cavs…and unfortunately, Game 6 is looking pretty rough.

So here we sit, waiting for our flight. Emily found a book list and fluffy magazine, Chris is reading about boats, Shane is watching The Donald kick off his presidential campaign, and I’m documenting it all… 🙂

Tomorrow is our drive to Murren from the Zurich Airport – our first real international driving experience! We are renting a small SUV for our two week trek…and promptly dropping it off at the bottom of a mountain. Murren is car-free so once we arrive in Laurerbrunnen, we will take the cable car up the mountain for two days of Alpine fun – hiking, gondolas, and with any luck, lots of yodeling!

But first, we wait! One hour to boarding!
Today is the day!

June 16th, 2015

We’re off to great places, we’re off and away!
Counting Down and Looking Up!

June 13th, 2015

The countdown is on! We are three days away from our departure and the final details are underway…

Yesterday we discovered a slight hiccup yesterday with the rental car… We were planning to use our credit card company’s CDW insurance so I went to the card site to print the terms for the rental company. I noticed some potential issues (updating names, expiring card, etc.) and thankfully Capital One was amazingly helpful and we should be squared away to rent our little SUV in Zurich!

We’re on to last minute details…shoring up information about our first destination, Murren, Switzerland. It will certainly be the most expensive leg of our journey – but it should also be the most dramatic. (more…)
29 Days Out…

May 18th, 2015

My countdown app let me know this morning that we are twenty-nine days from departure! Good thing we got everything booked and finalized last week…

A run down of our accommodations…

(more…)
Broadening Horizons

April 2nd, 2015

I stumbled upon an article this morning from The Atlantic about how travel changes you…

For a More Creative Brain, Travel

The premise is that real, authentic travel (as opposed to the separatist approach that so many Americans take – leaving a wide berth between you and the people) not only broadens your mind, but also engages your creativity and can even make you a stronger person. (more…)
Deutschland 2015

March 31st, 2015

A few months ago I accidentally discovered the wonder that is flying out of Toronto. Friends had advised us to consider flying through Toronto…but I didn’t understand that they meant “drive yourself to Toronto and get on the cheap flights overseas!” For what we paid to fly to Dublin from Cleveland, we can fly to Sydney from Toronto. Crazy! We aren’t…maybe next time…but for half the cost of our honeymoon tickets, we are flying to Zurich! (more…)
Sad and Thrilled

August 11th, 2014

As I sit here in the Toronto Airport, I’m both sad and thrilled. Sad because this adventure is coming to a close. We have truly had the time of our lives – we have seen and done some amazing things – and the best part is that we did them together. We didn’t fight, didn’t complain (…except about our feet and calves sometimes…), and didn’t do anything that wasn’t supportive of each other and in the best interest of our adventure. I’m so proud of us. Travel can bring out the worst in people – I’ve seen it! – but it can also bring out the best. And that’s why I’m also thrilled. (more…)
Back to Dublin

August 11th, 2014

Our sad goodbye to London. 😦 we loved our time there so much, it was depressing to say sayonara to the city. We checked out of The Lilac Door and used our amazing public transit skills to figure out the bus alternative when our train station was shut down. We “landed” in Victoria Station for the last time and got ourselves on the milk run trip to Gatwick – oops. Luckily we had time to spare! (more…)
Last in London

August 10th, 2014

Our last day in London was a big one! After our typically lushy breakfast from Jane, we headed into Victoria for a bus to Trafalgar Square. That wasn’t to be, however, in light of the Bike London festivities going on. It wasn’t a race but it was an open ride through the streets for anyone with a bicycle. That was awesome for them – slow going for the buses. We got off our double decker on Memorial Bridge and made our way down the south bank to Westminster (by way of a loo for a wee) to grab the tube for Trafalgar and the National Gallery. (more…)
Day at the Museum

August 8th, 2014

Today was a challenge. We thought we could beat the crowds by hanging out in the museums but that wasn’t to be.

Today’s breakfast from Jane
Watermelon and feta – surprisingly yum!

(more…)