Frida Kahlo Museum, Coyoacan, Mexico City, Mexico

The Frida Kahlo Museum or the Blue House, located at 247 London street in the center of Coyoacan; one of the oldest neighborhoods in Mexico City. The house belonged to the Kahlo family since 1904 and four years after the painter’s death in 1958, was converted into a museum. The rooms show the work of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, as well as the environment in which they lived. Due to a serious accident Frida was immobilized in the column, but that does not stop her to continue painting and you can see the bed day and night bed she used. You can also see her studio, the library, the stove based on wood, their belongings and of course her works. Frida suffered since childhood (polio), the serious accident that left her prostrate, not being able to have children and her husband’s infidelity, moments that marked the pain reflected in her works. Diego Rivera asked Dolores Olmedo at his death and the death of Frida, the house was to be opened as a museum to the public except for a bathroom, which could only be opened fifteen years later. It was opened fifty years later, and they found a lot of pictures, clothes, books, toys and documents so they had to take the neighboring property to introduce these new elements.

Tips

The museum is closed on Mondays. Tickets can be purchased online.
If you want a guided tour you must book in advance. It is in Spanish, but it is possible to ask it in English if the group is 20 people or more.
There is another dramatized visit, made by an actress playing the role of Frida. It generally takes place twice a month.

Faro, Algarve, Portugal

The city of Faro, capital of the Algarve, is located in the extreme south of Portugal. The international airport is in this city and receives more and more tourists, some of which remain in the beach of Faro which is on an island while the rest are distributed in the various seaside resorts of the coast. There is a beautiful part of the city which is surrounded by Roman walls having a place that formerly was a Roman forum. There are many small restaurants, bars, cafes and theaters as well as apartments. There are not many ancient buildings or monuments as the city was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake, however there are some Moorish and Roman ruins. To see: the Cathedral; the Church of Our Lady of Carmel, well known for bone collections of more than 1200 skeletons; the Archaeological Museum; the Ria Formosa Natural Park (10km from the city); among others.

Tips

If you like golf, you will find several courses all along the way to Albufeira.

If you are in the city between June and September, enjoy visiting the island of Barreta, one of the barrier islands of Ria Formosa Park, which is accessible by boat only (20 minutes from Faro). You could admire several species of birds and practice sailing or windsurfing. There are no buildings there except what is strictly necessary for the activity of the beach.

If you are with your family, the most popular beach to go with children is on Tavira Island. You could go by ferry only; there are two lines leaving from Tavira but only one from the city center, offers regular service. You will find 7 km of fine sand with several restaurants and cafes around and also a campsite. Unfortunately, the water is cold even in summer.

Nature park of the Visitation Island, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The nature park of the Visitation Island in the heart of Sault-au-Recollet (established in 1984) is a large park located in Montreal, Ahuntsic-Cartierville and Montreal North. The island of Visitation, the old hydraulic installations, now abandoned, the island of Cheval-de-Terre, connected to Laval by the Central Prairie River and woodland left in its natural state along Des Prairies River, are part of the park it has 34 hectares. In 1736, the Sulpicians (lords of the places), connect the island to the shore by a causeway to be able to control the current strength. Simon Sicar, engineer, erect the dam and built a sawmill near the island. He then built a stone mill to grind grain and another to card wool. In 1806, a house was built for pressing apples to make cider but there remain only the basics of masonry. There is a dam at the hydroelectric plant of the Des Prairies River. There are several places and walkways from where you can observe nature and its inhabitants.

Tips

It is a perfect place to walk in summer or visit by bike, there’s a path along the river and you can visit the historical monuments mills sites, the house of the press and the miller’s house. There is also a small train with entertainment for children and other organized activities which you can view online on the park site.
There is a bar and terrace with tables next to the historic site of the mills on the edge of the water.
In winter you can practice cross-country skiing. There is a cottage that remains open to change clothes.