Hi, We’re Nusi and Gijji (Husband and Wife)
Welcome to Passports and Bags! We’re thrilled to have you here! Our goal is to share our journey with you, as well as our experiences, along with some tips and ideas that will hopefully help you in navigating your own traveling journey with confidence and ease.
Our Story:
Our story is that we live in Canada. We both had careers in the corporate world. I (Nusi) was in the insurance business and Gijji was in IT.
But we had a dream. The dream was to, some day, be in a position to have the freedom to start travelling around the world and seeing as much as we could, while we still had our health.
We worked towards it, and in 2020 we both quit our jobs, and in 2021 embarked on the life of our dreams.
Our first trip was to the stunning eastern provinces of Canada – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Absolutely loved every second of it! They’re gorgeous, and the people are just wonderfully friendly! And of course, great seafood!
In 2022 we spent a few days in California. After that we went on a 2-month long trip to Italy, Spain and Portugal. It was a fantastic trip!
Since then we’ve been to many more countries. One of the journeys we really enjoyed was a trip across Europe by Eurail visiting 8 countries. That was an incredible experience!
We’ve also been all over Asia, and to most of the GCC countries in the Middle East.
This year (February 2025), we visited Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. Spent 10 days in each city. Both are fantastic destinations. If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend them.
Then in May/June of this year (2025) spent a few weeks travelling around the Balkans. Had a wonderful time there. Lovely people everywhere.
What a blessing it is to be able to experience so many cultures and to be able to see such beauty in people around the world! I’m forever grateful for the opportunity.
The key to a great travel experience is PLANNING! Without proper planning and research, you will end up wasting a lot of time and money and not get enough out of your trips.
The planning involves figuring out where to go, what to see, where to stay, what to pack, how long to go for and how to budget for it.
We decided to start this blog to share our experiences with you and pass along whatever we learned so that it may benefit you.
Planning an international, multi-city trip?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by flights, routes, timing, or budgets, I put together a free step-by-step ebook to help you plan your trip with confidence.
Free • Instant access • Perfect for first-time travelers • unsubscribe anytime.
There are literally thousands of travel blogs on the internet, and many of them are awesome! (We use them to plan our own trips).
So we are one of many, bringing our perspective to the travel scene. We hope that you find it useful.
We wish you all the best! May you enjoy your travels as much as we do.
Popular Posts:
Recent Posts:
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15 Best Things to Do in Brussels for First-Time Visitors (2026)
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Belgium Travel for First-Time Visitors (2026): Easy Trains, Medieval Cities, and Great Food
Belgium might be small, but it delivers far more than its size suggests—historic cities, beautiful architecture, world-famous food, and some of the best beer you’ll ever taste. Belgium travel is surprisingly easy. My wife and I spent four days there in 2023 as part of a train journey through eight European countries. It’s one of…
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Slovenia Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
Slovenia may be small, but it packs in a lot. Think emerald lakes, mountain scenery, charming old towns, underground caves, and even a short but beautiful coastline. It’s clean, safe, easy to travel, and perfect for first-time visitors to Europe or travelers who want nature without the crowds. This Slovenia travel guide covers everything you…
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Where to Stay in Ljubljana (Best Areas for First-Time Visitors)
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Brunelleschi’s Dome: The Wild Story Behind Florence’s Most Famous Roof
The Story of Brunelleschi Dome If you’ve ever stood in front of Florence’s Cathedral (the Duomo) and stared up at that massive terracotta dome, you’ve probably wondered: How on earth did someone build this in the 1400s? Brunelleschi’s Dome is one of the most impressive architectural achievements in the world, and the story behind it…
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The Best Florence 3-Day Itinerary For First Timers (Landmarks, Views, And Food)
Florence 3 Day Itinerary Planning a trip to Florence? Awesome! You’ve come to the right place. Let me help you with that. Florence packs centuries of art, culture, and history into streets that are super easy to wander on foot. It is easily one of my most favorite cities in the world. It’s a treat…
