Raul’s 2010 Year In Review: Travel

Travelling used to be almost my day job when I was a graduate student and during my 2 year post-doctoral research. But in the past three years, I have travelled much less than I used to be. And then this year I made myself the promise I would go back to being in academia more-or-less full time, so that included having to travel for academic/research purposes. And then I got invited to cover events in different parts of our province. And then my Mom came around and we travelled all over BC and Alberta. And then I escaped to Toronto to do some water research meetings. So I do have a few blog posts in my travel section. Here is a brief recap.

February 2010

I covered the Parksville Uncorked Festival (which I will be covering next year too, in 2011) in Parksville, BC. Met the most amazing Luba Plotnikoff (@VanIslandMedia) as well as Jenn Houtby (Tigh-Na-Mara) and became friends with Dana Hutchings and Tanya Smith from CHEK News. Stayed at the fantastic Tigh-Na-Mara resort in Parksville, and discovered that doing travel writing and covering fun events is both a lot of work and a lot of fun. Amazing beginning of the year for my travel.

April 2010

I went to Nanaimo to do some research meetings and to Harrison Hot Springs to give a talk. At neither place I took any decent photos, so that’s why I decided to eschew that and just skip to the next month! Plus, I didn’t stay at either place, so I decided not to write about them as I didn’t get to really explore them.

May 2010

I was invited to stay at the Fairmont Empress Hotel when I went to speak at WordCamp Victoria 2010, again one of my best travel experiences. I have been invited back to Victoria a couple of times by Tourism Victoria, and I’m always happy to showcase the fantastic times I’ve had there.

And besides, who doesn’t love Victoria, our capital city. British Columbia is so beautiful, I never get tired of travelling around here. This is the view of the city from Craigdarroch Castle (which I visited in November 2010 when I took JT to Victoria for his birthday).

July 2010

Luckily, both my Mom and I are both travel junkies, and travelling with her is always a lot of fun. At the end of June, my Mom and I spent 5 weeks travelling around British Columbia and Alberta. We went to Victoria, Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach (all in British Columbia), Calgary (Alberta) and of course we toured the lovely Metro Vancouver (including of course my beloved North Vancouver, where my friends Ianiv and Arieanna Schweber live with their son Aiden, and Steveston and Richmond).

We spent time in Lost Lake in Whistler, British Columbia

Visited my friends Tanya and Barry Desrosiers in Calgary, Alberta

Had dinner at Pacific Prime at the Beach Club Resort in Parksville, British Columbia

August 2010

I went to Toronto for the Canadian National Water Strategy meetings. Highlights included meeting Kareem, Pamela, Ryan, and of course staying with my good friend Meghan Warby. Good times! I’ll be back in Toronto in February 2011 for a research trip and to work with my team at CIELAP.

December 2010

I’ve been doing a writing retreat (finishing a book) and visiting Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay/Comox, Parksville/Qualicum Beach and next year I’ll have a number of posts on this great trip. But for now, I have to get back to it! So, hope you had a wonderful 2010, because mine was fantastic!

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