A 74-Year-Old Woman with a Yen to See the World, a Supportive Husband, and a Couple of Backpacks…

All my life, I’ve loved to travel. My dream has been to visit all the countries that interest me on every continent. Until July 2021, however, I’d never left North America.

In Spring of 2021, we could see the world beginning to reopen. Dempsey said, “This year is yours. It’s time to make your travel dream come true.” And so we did!

We’re spending fifteen weeks exploring the world, and you’re invited along.

My Blog

Granville Island

by Jillian Coleman Wheeler | Aug 22, 2022 | USA | 0 Comments

We’re in Vancouver. I’m resting a lot and we’re making a short foray out every day to see places I love, and to see what has changed since we were here last.

This is Granville Island, a destination for tourists and Vancouverites alike. It’s situated under the Granville Street Bridge into downtown. With a huge public market, restaurants, shops and arts spaces, it’s a brilliant development of space that was previously industrial.

This body of water is False Creek, an inlet from English Bay. You can see the aqua busses and various conveyances that transport people across to downtown, and all the ways people are having fun on the water.

Florence

by Jillian Coleman Wheeler | Sep 24, 2021 | Italy, Rome | 0 Comments

Then it was time to hug my friend, bid her a teary goodbye, say Arrivederci, Roma, and take the short train ride to Florence. With a population of 360,000, Florence, or Firenze, is a tenth the size of Rome, and it feels very accessible. While it is old (founded as a...

Last Day Surprise in Rome

by Jillian Coleman Wheeler | Sep 23, 2021 | Italy | 0 Comments

One more from Rome. I needed a bathing suit, and a young woman at the front desk of the pensione gave me directions to a shopping area a few blocks away. Her directions were, turn right at the front door, walk past the ruins, turn left… Wait? What ruins? Oh, just some...

Papal Audience

by Jillian Coleman Wheeler | Sep 23, 2021 | Vatican | 0 Comments

On Wednesday, I attended the weekly papal audience, something on my bucket list. I grew up in Catholic schools, boarding school, and college. Dempsey grew up in the South Bronx with no particular interest in religion, so I went on my own. I ended up with a fun group...