Irene Butler

Our passion for travel mushroomed during short stints of cramming in a month of activities into two week vacations. Realizing our life's journey would not be complete without expanding our horizons to the four corners of mother earth, we sold our business, dubbed ourselves the "globaltrekkers" and set off to see the world for a full year. Experiencing the marvels of over 90 countries has only intensified our craving for more. A natural progression evolved over the years - from tourist to traveler; from pre-arranged tours to wandering; from stars in hotel ratings to stars in the sky; from suitcases to backpacks; from observing to immersion in cultures. Respecting the ecology of this small planet no matter where our odysseys unfold and paying heed to local customs in dress and behaviour are our credos. Following the sun and having fun is our motto. We invite you to come with us on our travels, "exploring the globe with gentle footsteps".

Bulgaria – Sofia and Day-Away Sites

Ahhh, Sofia, the beauteous capital of Bulgaria. One is never far from a green space with profusions of flowers, fountains and benches under shade trees. And then there is the alluring pedestrian-only street with its array of cafes where music and laughter drifts from under canopied seating …cocoons of enjoyment! Just past this ped-zone the…

Marvelous Moldova

Small landlocked Moldova may be one of Europe’s best kept secrets. It is not (as yet) flooded by tourists, it’s easy on the budget and has great sites to see.  This former Soviet republic is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and around its southern tip. The country’s climate…

Antarctica – the Great White Continent

Our Antarctica Adventure. Penguins waddle past our feet on packed snow paths called “penguin highways.” Their turn to feed, they dive into the sea, while on a hillside rookery their mate sits on a rock nest holding soon-to-be-hatched eggs. The nesting areas are action-packed and noisy – calls to re-unite parents in the crowded environs,…

How to Travel with Carry-on ONLY

Published in Europe Up Close Whether travelling for long periods, through several countries, or just going for a week; we only travel with carry-ons. My husband Rick and I travel consecutively for many months annually, visiting a number of countries, hence numerous flights. Regardless of the length of these travel-stints (our last one entailed 25…