Travel & Culture
The Canal du Midi
By Donna Long
The Canal du Midi, a silky pale green liquid ribbon that unhurriedly meanders, connecting the Mediterranean port city of Sète to Toulouse is one of the most notable and oldest inland waterways of Europe still in use. The lofty dream of engineer Pierre-Paul Riquet to create a direct passage between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, bypassing the Strait of Gibraltar, enabling farmers and producers of wheat, wine, wools, silks, and salt a way to export their goods for trade.
The 150-mile (240 km) Canal du Midi, completed in 1681, is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 17th-century. Canal du Midi is a summit level canal, meaning that it passes over varying heights between valley’s and not in a lateral line. The canal rises on the Western end 206 ft (62.8 m) and falls 620 ft (190 m) on the Eastern side by way of 103 locks, one tunnel, and three aqueducts.
No longer a trade route, today the canal is now a dream destination for boating vacationers from across the world that yearn for the fairytale beauty of stone buildings and medieval walled cities. As you casually float the canal, you will see fields of towering bright yellow sunflowers scattered between rolling hills covered with grape vines, and sprawling stone manor homes with red terracotta shingle roofs displaying gothic, Roman, and Tuscan architectural influences.
There are several options available when cruising the Canal du Midi ranging from luxury hotel barges to self-drive boats for hire. Self-drive or self-captained boats allow you the freedom to create your itinerary and explore the uniqueness of the Canal du Midi at your own pace.
One company that offers self-captained boats is Le Boat who started cruising the French waterways in 1968. Self-captaining a boat is a safe and easy way for vacationers new to boating to get their feet wet. There are no special licenses or permits required. Before you are released to leave your departure port, there will be a brief introduction and lesson on how to drive the boat, the workings of the boat controls, and how to navigate through the locks.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the January/February issue of LiveIt magazine.
By Metro Creative
When the time comes to bid farewell to conference calls, meetings and daily commutes, retirees have open schedules to fill with whichever activities they choose. Travel is one exciting way to pass the time. Traveling can be a rewarding prospect for active seniors, particularly those who successfully pre-planned for retirement and have the income to fund various excursions.
Many seniors, both in the United States and Canada, find that travel tops their to-do lists once they retire. According to Senior Travel magazine, new travel options are emerging for newly minted retirees looking for something a little different from the status quo. The list of destinations retirees have at their disposal is limitless. The following ideas are some of the more popular ways retirees choose to travel.
Road trips rule. Taking to the highways and byways is an excellent way to see the country. Seniors can customize their routes depending on which places they want to visit. RV travel can be as comfortable or as rustic as travelers prefer. Many seniors spend months traveling in their campers, which offer many of the same amenities of home. Campsites and special RV hook-up sites offer the other necessities of traveling the open road.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May/June issue of LiveIt Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Metro Creative
Retirement ushers in a new stage in life, one in which adults have ample free time to pursue their interests and hobbies. When eight or more hours per day are no longer allocated for work, those hours can be devoted to other pursuits. Retirees have the time to travel, and such exploration need not break the bank.
A 2014 MassMutual survey found 72 percent of respondents reported feeling quite happy or extremely happy in retirement. Being able to travel when and where they desire may be a big component of this happiness. A study by Virtuoso found that travel factors significantly into the lives of today’s seniors. They spend more on travel than any other generation – an average of $11,077 a year. Travel spending is at the highest among people between the ages of 75 and 79.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May/June issue of LiveIt Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
By Donna Long
Steeped in history, biodiversity, and culture, Germany is a land promising adventure and discovery to travelers seeking to explore and learn about this country. Germany was home to many intellectual thinkers and poets who helped shape modern Western thinking. Germany’s architecture is just as diverse and complex as displayed in the various castles in this European country. Germany is known for many of its elegant and fairy-tale-like castles. This is just a small selection to help you discover more.
Prunn Castle. Located Southwest of Regensburg overlooking the Altmühl River Valley, Prunn Castle is carefully perched on an almost vertical Jurassic outcrop. The first royals of Prunn were mentioned in 1037. The castle was built sometime later, around 1200, and is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture.
The large main hall has remained architecturally intact since the 13th century. The Song of the Nibelungs, known as the Prunner Codex, was discovered in the castle around 450 years ago. The Codex is the fourth oldest complete known manuscript of the poem recounting the heroic story of the dragon-slayer Siegfried.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March/April issue of LiveIt Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
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