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Lesley Peterson is a Toronto-based writer specializing in travel, art, culture, history and legendary landscapes. She has a degree in Art History from the University of Manitoba and is a member of NATJA (North American Travel Journalists Association). Catch her on Twitter as @culturetripper or contact her at lesley@culturetripper.com. All content by Lesley Peterson copyright © 2009 - Until the Present. All photos by Lesley Peterson except where other credit noted.
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Welcome to Narnia: The Malvern Hills, England
“It all began with images; a faun carrying an umbrella, a queen on a sledge, a magnificent lion.” So author C.S. Lewis explained the inspiration for his epic children’s fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. One of the books’ most memorable images is that of a gas lamp glowing in a snowy wood just beyond the wardrobe that serves as a [...]
13.12.2012 · Filled under: Europe, Legendary Landscapes, Myths & Legends · Tags: Books, England, water · 4 Comments »
Lagoon dreams: Venice, Burano & Torcello
I’ve dreamed of the lagoon since returning from Venice a few weeks ago, dreamt of pale jade water shivering as it crosses sandbars, spangled with sun diamonds. Though we rented a car for several days to explore, we left it at the hotel that Sunday morning and took Bus 19 (about a 15-minute ride, 1.30 Euro) [...]
20.10.2012 · Filled under: Architecture, Destination Guides, Europe, Italy, Legendary Landscapes · Tags: CITIES, hemingway, HISTORY, water · 12 Comments »
Strait of Messina, Italy: myth, magic and a much-needed bridge
When Odysseus sailed the Strait of Messina he had a tough decision to make. Sailing too close to Calabria would mean passing Scylla, a sailor-snatching sea-nymph with a body composed of ravening dogs. Too close to Sicily and the whirlpool mouth of Charybdis could suck down the entire ship. Navigating the water between mainland Italy [...]
16.11.2011 · Filled under: Legendary Landscapes, Myths & Legends · Tags: Italy, SICILY, water · 5 Comments »
Myth and water around Lamezia Terme, Calabria, Italy
We’ve been using Calabria as a back door to Sicily for a few years, preferring direct flights to Lamezia Terme to non-direct flights to Palermo. Car rental is a lot easier at Lamezia, too. This time we stayed in the area for a few days to decompress and explore. Our first stop is always the quiet [...]
01.11.2011 · Filled under: Destination Guides, Europe, Italy, Legendary Landscapes, Myths & Legends · Tags: water · 2 Comments »
Scarborough Bluffs, Toronto, Ontario
I’ve never understood the mass weekend exodus to cottage country when here in Toronto we’re already on beautiful Lake Ontario with miles of coastline and plenty of clean, swimmable beaches. This summer I’ve been communing with nature right here in Toronto’s east end at the Scarborough Bluffs: wading through wildflowers on top of Cathedral Bluffs with a [...]
Miami Dreams
Miami was a dream in which I was a mermaid, drifting in the humid strata between sky and sea, living like a mermaid on raw (or nearly raw) fish: a sugar cane tuna lollipop at OLA, shrimp tiraditos at Sra. Martinez, smoked marlin tacos and myriad ceviches here and there. The sunfaded splendour of South [...]
29.08.2009 · Filled under: Architecture, Food · Tags: Beaches, CITIES, Florida, water · No Comments »
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
I never leave the house without my camera. This morning, though, preoccupied by thoughts of how Hurricane Bill might impact my trip to South Beach, I ran out to the bank leaving it on the charger. Halfway there, I saw two kids let go of a foil balloon that rose, glittering, against the sky. I was [...]