This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
Many contributors to the Plaisirs notebook plan to travel abroad in 2024. To inspire you for your next destinations, several of them talk about their plans for the year. Our loyal collaborators give you a taste of their favorite destinations for 2024. Second and final text in the series.
Icelandic stopover at the Vestmann Islands
Iceland had its heyday about ten years ago. And even if WOW Air no longer offers its discount flights from Montreal, that’s no reason to shy away from the pleasure. For good reason: this destination with unique landscapes has everything to please outdoor lovers. After exploring Reykjavik, the capital, which can be discovered in a few days, as well as the unmissable attractions of the Golden Circle, it’s time to head to places that are a little less conventional. About 150 kilometers from the city, the Vestmann Islands (Vestmannaeyjar), off the country’s southern coast, offer a breathtaking panorama. Haimaey, the largest in the archipelago, is accessible by the Landeyjahöfn ferry, a walk of around forty minutes which makes the experience even more pleasant. On site: a fortress dating from the 15th centurye century, considered to be the oldest building in Iceland, the largest colony of puffins in the world and Edfell, a recent volcano where an eruption occurred 50 years ago. A relatively easy hike to the summit also allows you to admire the fishing village from above. A museum documents both the history of the archipelago and that of the surprise eruption, which almost killed the entire population under lava and ashes in 1973. An exotic expedition to say the least!
Jessica Dostie
Paris: experience the excitement of the Olympics all year round
All eyes will be on Paris this summer, since the French capital will host the Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11. They will be followed by the Paralympic Games. For the occasion, the City of Lights has adorned itself in its finest attire and will host unique events, many of which will last all year long. If you were planning a trip to Paris during the Games period, know that the locations have been redesigned to simplify travel during this busy period. New lanes will provide 185 kilometers of reserved roads for easier access to competition areas by car, taxi or train. A 415-kilometer cycle path will also connect all the Olympic sites, with the exception of Villepinte. The Vélib’ fleet will be increased to more than 21,000 bikes this year. However, there is no need to come during the Olympics to soak up their atmosphere. Take advantage of your stay to discover the Olympic marathon route, which will pay tribute to the women’s march on Versailles on October 5, 1789. Also explore the neighborhoods of the Olympic sites full of history one by one. Their locations are indicated on the Paris Région website. The Seine will play a major role during certain events of the Games. Companies like Bateaux Parisiens offer visitors the chance to admire the iconic buildings of the City of Lights from the Seine. Several monument reopenings are expected this year. In the spring, the nave and galleries of the Grand Palais will once again become accessible to the general public. The geode of Parc de la Villette also, and it will offer a cinematic experience using new IMAX screens. After a major renovation, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral will reopen at the end of the year. Several events with the theme of the Olympic Games are also presented. The Louvre Museum is showcasing an exhibition entitled Olympism, a modern invention from April 11 to September 16.
Marie-Claude Di Lillo
Haunted by the Valley of Ghosts
Winter 2020: I am planning to go and see the famous Vallée des Fantômes up close, in the Monts-Valin national park. I already know this gem of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, but not yet during the cold season. I’m looking forward to the snowshoe hike I’m planning for March. The idea is to leave the Antoine-Dubuc pavilion shelter, to get into the tracked minibus, the Ghost Express, for a 45-minute walk with panoramic views on Chemin Bras-des-Canots. Then, we begin the circuit on foot to the summit of Pic Dubuc, at an altitude of 984 meters. At this point, the view promises to be breathtaking as the landscape stretches on both sides over the Valin mountains, the foothills and the Saguenay lowlands. The pandemic arrives. Instead of walking my boots on the snowy slopes of the Valin Mountains, I regularly climb the 233 meters of Mount Royal, very close to my home. A chance in my bad luck. 2024: return of the hiking project in the Monts-Valin park. At the end of January, I will go and witness the astonishing spectacle of winter in one of its most beautiful variations: conifers wrapped in snow, luminescent frost, the glazed surface of the lakes. I’m eager to.
Nathalie Schneider
Sri Lanka and low-emission trains
After a few tumultuous years, Sri Lanka is gradually seeing visitors return. Less stunning than its northern neighbor, the tear of India seduces with its lush vegetation, its beaches, the old-fashioned charm of its stations and its cultural richness. Although the upcoming opening of luxury establishments risks attracting a wealthier clientele, there is accommodation for all budgets. It is without a shadow of a doubt one of the corners of the world that has captivated me the most. On the European side, the renewed interest in night trains fits perfectly with the growing interest in slower travel. In December 2023, the Paris-Berlin, Berlin-Brussels and Paris-Aurillac lines were resurrected. However, it is better to book as early as possible to find reasonable prices. We will still have to cross an ocean to take advantage of these low environmental impact rail journeys… Unless we head to Florida or the American West to test Brightline trains and see the country during the day.
Marie-Julie Gagnon
Nerja and its surroundings
Going to the same place two years in a row is a good indicator of how much you love a destination. I am the example for the south of Spain. The Costa del Sol is certainly the best known of the Spanish coasts. But you should not think that this “Côte du Soleil” only offers tourist seaside resorts. In particular, the charming town of Nerja is an excellent base camp for exploring this always-good-eating corner of the country. You set up your home in an apartment or a hotel in this small coastal town or right next door, in the condos overlooking the riverbank. In Nerja, we stroll through the narrow streets, visit the shops and have an aperitif accompanied by tapas. From there, via a staircase, you can access Burriana beach, one of the most beautiful in the region, surrounded by cliffs and high mountains. Along the shore there are a few seafood restaurants that offer a meal while having your feet in the sand. This could be enough if it’s rest that you’re looking for, but what’s good about this destination is that you can alternate between days of relaxation and those of discovery. Pretty Málaga, with its museums and restaurants, is around 45 minutes’ drive away, while Granada and the majestic gardens and palaces of the Alhambra are an hour’s drive away. From Nerja, don’t hesitate to stroll through Frigiliana, one of the most beautiful white villages in Spain. It is the image of what we imagine of Andalusia, where, at every turn, the view is breathtaking.
Véronique Leduc
Travel to Newfoundland and Labrador
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