“I promised myself that one day, if I had children, I would want to pass on to them the passion for travel,” confides Geneviève Boulanger from the outset. Transmit this idea of reaching out to others […], to listen, to see other codes than those we learn here in order to ask questions and open your mind. »
Promise made, promise kept. Since the birth of her eldest child 13 years ago, she has visited different countries with her family, including Denmark, Norway, Greece and Ireland.
Last summer, however, she wanted to take Alexandre, 13, Simon, 10, and Justin, 7, on a longer journey. A project that the mother and her sons began preparing in the spring of 2021, when she warned her employer that in 2023, she would take 10 weeks of unpaid leave during the summer months.
How did the quartet decide which destinations they would visit? “I had a lot of discussions around the table with the three boys to see where they wanted to go, to take their ideas, to see what was realistic and what was less so. […] We have had a few scenarios over the years,” explains the woman who has just been appointed president of the Montreal office of the creative agency Sid Lee.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GENEVIÈVE BOULANGER
Geneviève Boulanger and her sons, Alexandre, Simon and Justin, in Portugal
Family destinations
Their choice finally fell on an itinerary lasting about a month which would take them to Portugal, Montenegro and Croatia, three perfect destinations for families, according to Geneviève Boulanger. ” It’s easy ! There are lots of families. These are countries very frequented by Europeans during the summer season. There are activities for children, family options almost everywhere… At the restaurant, everyone is always welcome and there are menus for children,” she describes, joking that they have however ate too much pizza.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GENEVIÈVE BOULANGER
View of the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
Before leaving, Geneviève Boulanger booked accommodation and rental cars, but she preferred to wait there to choose the activities they would do.
It was my intention to arrive and go to the municipal tourist office, to ask questions, to choose as a group what we wanted to do. We improvised along the way, and it was perfect.
Geneviève Boulanger
She also points out that when you prepare a trip and do a lot of research on the destination, it becomes difficult to make choices, because you would like to see everything. “Yes, we’re going to miss something, but that’s okay. The important thing, in my opinion, is to have the space to discover, to stop, to relax, to contemplate. You should not overload the schedule. »
Favorites
What were the four travelers’ favorites during their journey? “There are lots of things,” replies the woman who would like to visit 50 countries before she turns 50.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GENEVIÈVE BOULANGER
In Dubrovnik, Croatia
The Lisbon tram as well as their stop in the small town of Sintra known for its palaces constitute highlights of their stay in Portugal. Their visit to Dubrovnik, with its ruins and fortifications, is one of their fond memories of Croatia.
“One of our favorites at the end of the trip to Croatia is the Plitviče Lakes, a large national park between Zadar and Zagreb. We see it in certain children’s books about the wonders of the world. […] The children had a lot of expectations from this place,” she says, indicating that the photos in the documentaries fail to do justice to the beauty of the place.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY GENEVIÈVE BOULANGER
Geneviève Boulanger and her sons found friends in Croatia.
For the portion of the trip in Croatia, she was joined by a friend and her two children.
It was the two single mothers with the five boys. It was fantastic ! We were like a mini-community.
Geneviève Boulanger
As for Montenegro, she considers that it is a country that we hear less about here, but “which is exceptional”. “Everything is close. There are the mountains, there is the sea,” she explains.
A remarkable summer
More than six months have passed since the end of the trip, which also included a stop in Poland for the boys, where they joined their father who is from there. Despite everything, not a week goes by without Alexandre, Simon and Justin talking about their summer. “There are lots of anecdotes that stand out. I find it beautiful to see what is left and what they retain,” underlines the mother who notices that her sons are more independent and more confident since their return.
“To travel through the eyes of children is priceless. We see things that we don’t see as adults when we travel without them,” she adds.
The whole family is already looking forward to their next boarding.
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