Travels and Adventures of Joyful Stephanie

Opa!!!! Greece!!! Let The Planning Begin!!!!!

Summer Break is just around the corner and the start of it is in Greece! I’ve 10 days in Athens before Michael arrives because his summer break begins later than mine. I am in Athens on my own for three days. This is the view of the Parthenon from the AirBnb apartment I’ve rented for…

Museum of Islamic Art – Part IV – 2018 Staycation Visit – Walk-through With Me – Part V – Final Thoughts

Here are pictures that ended my visit: Outdoor sitting areas And two incredible cars I saw on my way home! A Mercedes and an Aston Martin! All part of the experience here! 🙂 S, xo

Museum of Islamic Art – Part IV – 2018 Staycation Visit – Walk-through With Me – Part III – Powder and Damask – Islamic Arms and Armour from the Collection of Fadel Al Mansoori

This temporary exhibit is on loan from Qatari, Fadel Al Mansoori. The Guns The Knives and Armour S, xo

Museum of Islamic Art – Part IV – 2018 Staycation Visit – Walk-through With Me – Part III

Egypt and Syria – 12th – 13th Century Iran and Central Asia – 12th – 14th Century Early Islamic Art – 7th – 12th Century S, xo

Let Me Interrupt This MIA Blog Series For A Weather Update – Rain in Qatar!

It happens once a year. Usually over a week or two. The amount of rain varies. Sometimes a little each day. Or it is cloudy and humid for a few weeks…then during those weeks within a day or two – nothing but rain! This year it seems we got all the rain in one day!…

Museum of Islamic Art – Part IV – 2018 Staycation Visit – Walk-through With Me – Part II

Iran – 16th – 19th Century Iran and Central Asia 14th-16th Century Egypt and Syria 14th-15th Century Part III on the way…. S, xo

Museum of Islamic Art – Part IV – 2018 Staycation Visit – Walk-through With Me – Part I

Here is Part I of the walk-through with me of the beautiful Museum of Islamic Art during my 2018 Staycation. Arriving: Inside the main entrance and cafe: Second Floor Permanent Gallery: Introduction Gallery Patterns Calligraphy Writing in Art The Figure in Art Pattern in Art Science in Art View of…

Museum of Islamic Art – Part III – View From the Water on Kayak

At one time I was a sea kayak tour guide here in Qatar. One tour offered was based out of the waters at the Museum of Islamic Art. Here are photos from a tour one evening of the surrounding area as well as a view of the museum at night! S, xo

Museum of Islamic Art – Visits Past – Part II – Terracotta Army

This Temporary Exhibit deserves its own shout out. Selected pieces from the Terracotta Army and other precious Chinese artifacts on display at the MIA back in October, 2016. S, xo

Museum of Islamic Art – Visits Past – Part I

The Museum of Islamic Art is one the places in Qatar that is a must see. During my Staycation, I decided to spend an afternoon wandering it’s keeps. This, in turn, had me thinking of my visits past. So this is where I will start…. With my time spent at this museum, also called the…

Surviving vs Thriving

Today as I settle into day seven of my Spring Break Staycation I am drawn to write. I realize that it has taken me this long just to settle into a home vacation. Yes, while this is a decision to relax at home, and truthfully I can’t bring myself to spend money on another trip…

Spring Break 2018 – StayCation!

With our recent return from two weeks in Canada and Michael not having the same time off as me, well he only gets two days off but not even on the same week – I decided not to travel this week. This week is Spring Break for me. This was an easy decision but not…

Final Thoughts – Essex, Ontario

During our last days in Essex visiting my husband’s father Ron, and brother Joel who was down from Kapuskasing to visit us and his dad, the boys worked together to lay a new gravel driveway for their father. Ron’s health is not the best at this time, but that didn’t stop him from pitching in…

Moments – Essex, Ontario

Here are random moments of county, country life here in Essex, Ontario! Or just moments of what it is like, for me, to be back in Canada! For example… Tim Hortons coffee here is the REAL deal! Yes, we’ve tasted Tim Hortons in places as remote as the Saudi Arabian Jeddah Airport. But nothing is…

Ron’s Classic Car’s – Part II

Let me introduce you to the other side of Ron’s garage! This is the location of the man cave loft, tools, hoist, etc….! Note the pictures on the wall documenting Ron’s career of cars! The first car I will introduce to you is the 1950 Ford Custom 2 Door. This is a rare, six…

Ron’s Classic Cars – Part I

Michael’s dad has been an antique and collector cars aficionado since his teens. Since that time he’s bought and sold more than 140 classic cars, as well as owning a variety of Harley Davidson motorcycles. Our tour of his beloved cars starts here in his custom made garage, built to hold 18 cars. Ron has…