TravelMusings

2 Posts tagged with the canada tag
Ashleigh Nushawg
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What I wouldn’t do to have been born a century earlier! It seems as if no stone has been left unturned in man’s quest to know what exists on this planet. I yearn for a time when I could be out, exploring the unknown all with my trusty map, compass and team of explorers. If this sounds like you, Newfoundland and Labrador (the Canadian province, not the dogs) will be hosting a series of events, lectures, exhibitions and more in 2009, celebrating the great 20th century explorer, Captain Bob Bartlett.

 

As the birthplace of Bartlett, Newfoundland and Labrador have decided to honor their hometown hero; “Celebrating Barlett 2009” commemorates the 100-year anniversary of Barlett helping fellow explorer Robert Peary become the first person to reach the North Pole. The festivities kick off in May, when a series of Heritage Fairs and a traveling exhibition will tell the story of Arctic exploration. For five weeks starting in July, the Marine Institute in St. John will offer free tours and a simulation of the Captain’s historic Polar voyages, where visitors can actually feel the sensation of hitting and maneuvering around icebergs. Starting July 10, St. John’s picturesque port will offer three days of sailing, entertainment, theater and special events. For more information, visit www.bartlett2009.com.

 

If a simulation of Artic exploration just doesn’t cut it for you, spend two weeks aboard the expedition ship Wanderbird looking for polar bears and exploring the coast of Labrador and the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve, Canada’s newest national park. For a cool $6,900 per person (based on double occupancy), you and 11 other passengers will board the ship on Aug. 10 in Nain, Labrador’s northernmost settlement, for 11 days of cruising. See www.wildlands.com for more information.

 

Still too tame? Tag along on a mountaineering and rock climbing expedition with Labrador Wild North Expeditions. From mid-July to mid-October, the outfitter will be offering trekking and wildlife tours. During the tours, participants will have a chance to meet local Inuit, who will teach survival skills classes. Tours range anywhere from $1,750 to $6,850. For more information, call 709-922-2333.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: adventure_travel, adventure, expedition, canada, labrador, newfoundland, exploration, north_pole, bob_bartlett, rock_climbing, mountaineering, sailing, festival, travel, outdoors, nature
Ashleigh Nushawg
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This week, Southwest Airlines announced that they will be partnering in a service agreement with Mexican carrier Volaris. The goal of this partnership is to provide “more low fares and a better customer experience across the U.S./Mexican border,” according to a Southwest press release. The airlines stated that they planned to announce codeshare flight schedules and other features about the partnership by early 2010; however, there are still certain details of the codeshare and partnership that need to be approved by both U.S. and Mexican governments. As early as spring 2009, customers will be able to purchase travel on Volaris from southwest.com.  

 

Volaris was founded in 2006 and services 23 destinations throughout Mexico. Although the airline is the country’s youngest, it already has a great reputation as Mexico’s most modern and most punctual carrier. The average age of the carrier’s 19-airplane fleet is less than 3 years old, meaning that a Volaris traveler is nearly guaranteed a nice, new plane. The airlines both hope that this partnership will allow both airlines to get passengers and their luggage to a variety of over the border destinations.

 

Both airlines hope that “the codeshare will allow business, leisure and visiting friends and family traffic to increase on both sides of the border,” according to Volaris chief executive officer Enrique Beltranena. Other ways that Volaris and Southwest plan to partner include frequent flier options, cargo and ground handling.

 

Recently, Southwest announced plans to do a codeshare with Canadian domestic carrier WestJet. Although details of that partnership are still in the works, Southwest Airlines executive vice president of strategy and planning, Bob Jordan, says that the airline will continue to “work diligently in order to expand our international codeshare even further.”

 

With plans like these in the works, count on increased efficiency and options when traveling both north and south of the border. Looks like Southwest’s new slogan should read, “You are now free to move about the continent.”

0 Comments Permalink Tags: air_travel, southwest_airlines, volaris, partnership, codeshare, budget_travel, mexico, canada, domestic_travel, international_travel

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