by Classical Pursuits founder and longtime walker Ann Kirkland For some, walking is a time-wasting and arduous chore when there are so many faster ways to get from A to B. And days-long hiking is a pointless and punishing undertaking. For others, the idea of a pilgrimage smacks of self-denying […]
Tag: Ann Kirkland
ANN’S MUSINGS—My Penchant for Portugal
I confess that I have not yet been to Portugal but have been for some time under its sway. Classical Pursuits is going to Portugal this October because it has charmed and wooed me from afar. Why has this small corner of Europe come to sing so sweetly to me? […]
TRAVEL PURSUITS—Bridging the Gulf Between Us
البعد جفاء “Distance equals disaffection.” ― Arabic proverb “Life is meant to be shared. We need each other.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita, a Ghanaian writer Lamentably, cultural divisiveness is stubborn. Travel is often touted as one of the best ways to build bridges and break down barriers. But it is […]
TRAVEL PURSUITS—Cuba! The times they are a-changin
“And keep your eyes wide The chance won’t come again” – Bob Dylan Sometimes one has the chance to be an eyewitness to history at a remarkable moment. Ten years ago, visitors were told what we now know to be true: that along with the end of the Castro regime would come […]
ON THE ROAD WITH ANN—Wonder While You Wander with Ann
All of our TRAVEL PURSUITS are variations on the theme of discovery. We travel as seekers of experiences and insights we do not find at home. Taking Your Soul for a Stroll: 160 kilometers on the Camino de Santiago is a bit different from our other trips in two respects. First, […]
ANN’S MUSINGS – My secret life as a …
professional urban planner was short-lived but left an indelible mark on me. From my late teens, I wanted to be an architect but was roundly discouraged during my initial drawing class as an undergraduate. Not because I could not draw, but because, I was told, there would be no future […]
ON THE ROAD WITH ANN – Iceland, an unlikely nation
This is a personal reflection on our trip to Literary Iceland. Like all Classical Pursuits trips, I expected my prior reading and on site discussions, coupled with unrushed and thoughtful travel, to deepen my understanding of a people and a place. In this instance, before leaving home, I had formed […]
ON THE ROAD WITH ANN – Iceland in images
[wowslider id=”101″] These were taken with my phone. Better pics are bound to come from those with serious cameras and better eyes. Music is Icelandic, a free download. Iceland in words can be found here, ON THE ROAD WITH ANN — Iceland, an unlikely nation and here, GUEST BLOG – Bobbi Speck on incredible […]
ANN’S MUSINGS – Summer in the City
Over the years, friends, family and folk have expressed nodding interest in and a measure of admiration for Toronto Pursuits – without, for a moment, thinking that it would be suitable for them. If you are such a person, this post is for you. I have tried to address some common […]
TRAVEL PURSUITS – The Camino offers respite and refreshment. Really? Really!
“For a man that goes on a pilgrimage does best of all if he starts out with the heart of a wanderer, eager for the world as it is, forgetful of maps or descriptions, but hungry for real colours and men and the seeming of things.” -Hilaire Belloc As it […]