What a fantastic trip! We were never bored and the time went fast.
61 days
8900 road miles
1633 nautical miles on the cruise
24 states, some more than once
3 Canadian provinces
26 beds-some for 5-7 days
Checked some major items off our huge bucket list:
New England in the Fall
Ride the cog railway up Mt. Washington in N.H.
Visit Niagara Falls
Cruise from Boston, to Halifax, Quebec, and Montreal on the St. Lawrence Seaway
50th class reunions (mine wasn't in my home town, because we already had reservations in New England. So the only 3 people I've had contact with in 49 years and we had a mini reunion in St. Louis for 5 days!)
Air Force museum in Illinois
Drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and through several southern states
Nimitz and WWII in the Pacific museum in Tx.
Visited Tom's mom (93 this month) for 5 days and several couples who we always keep in contact with, but haven't seen for 26-34 years!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Oct. 26 El Paso to Tucson
We drove seeing lots of mesquite trees and huge stands of junipers. Eventually some varieties of cacti, but the saguaro don't grow in Tx. We gained an hour.
We had planned to spend the night in El Paso, but the speed limit was 80 all morning and we had reached there at 1:20 and would gain another hour, so we decided to drive the other 300 miles and get home. This gave us a day to unpack, etc., etc., before volunteering the second day and so I can start packing 30 Christmas care packages for the troops.
800 hours, 12-1/2 hours, but we feel fine.
We had planned to spend the night in El Paso, but the speed limit was 80 all morning and we had reached there at 1:20 and would gain another hour, so we decided to drive the other 300 miles and get home. This gave us a day to unpack, etc., etc., before volunteering the second day and so I can start packing 30 Christmas care packages for the troops.
800 hours, 12-1/2 hours, but we feel fine.
Oct. 23 Shreveport, La. to Georgetown, Tx.
One of the advantages to living in Arizona are that I don't get many headaches from barometric pressure-I had several each week in Washington. Today I have the 9th one on my trip. Another is that we have little humidity. This morning at 7:30 the temperature is 72 and the humidity is probably the same or more. We were driving in light rain and then it poured for two hours. We drove past a lot of small towns and there was very little Fall color. There was an accident on the Interstate, with traffic backed up who knows how long. We inched toward an exit and got off for lunch. Asked waittress about a back road and took it until we had passed the scene of the accident. By that time there was one in the opposite lanes and traffic was backed up 5 or 6 miles, at least.
We are staying in Georgetown, where the daughter and family of Carl and Carole Washburn live. Carl was Tom's commander in Fairbanks part of the time. We were camping buddies and our kids were all basically the same ages. Carl played guitar and enjoyed doing it with Tom. He told us he has barely touched it since he left us in 1981, but he went out and bought a new one to have while we're here. The kids and grandkids, and other relatives are all musical, so Carl has set up several hours of jamming and individual performances for tomorrow.
They had torrential rains while driving from San Antonio and eventually met us for dinner. The to Jennifer's to meet her family. They left Alaska when she was 3-1/2 and we saw her once 20+ years ago. She's now 38.
The next morning another daughter drove us around Georgetown in the rain. She showed us the Del Webb subdivision there where Carl and Carole lived for a short time. Ours will have 529 houses. This one has over 7000. We had a lot of fun with all the music and visiting that afternoon and evening. It rained 8" in their rain gauge, from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, and it had probably overflowed.
We are staying in Georgetown, where the daughter and family of Carl and Carole Washburn live. Carl was Tom's commander in Fairbanks part of the time. We were camping buddies and our kids were all basically the same ages. Carl played guitar and enjoyed doing it with Tom. He told us he has barely touched it since he left us in 1981, but he went out and bought a new one to have while we're here. The kids and grandkids, and other relatives are all musical, so Carl has set up several hours of jamming and individual performances for tomorrow.
They had torrential rains while driving from San Antonio and eventually met us for dinner. The to Jennifer's to meet her family. They left Alaska when she was 3-1/2 and we saw her once 20+ years ago. She's now 38.
The next morning another daughter drove us around Georgetown in the rain. She showed us the Del Webb subdivision there where Carl and Carole lived for a short time. Ours will have 529 houses. This one has over 7000. We had a lot of fun with all the music and visiting that afternoon and evening. It rained 8" in their rain gauge, from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, and it had probably overflowed.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Oct. 22 Birmingham to Shreveport, LA. Vicksburg National Military Park
7:30 a.m. 59 degrees. 11:00 79 degrees 3:00 85 degrees this is more like it!
Again today we drove hundreds of miles with trees on both sides of the highway.
Vicksburg, MS.
Cannons, Union and Confederate trenches, monuments to all the various cavalry, battery, and infantry divisions. The Union units were all from the Midwest: Ill, Ia, Wisc, Mich, Ohio, Mo., Ind.
Its Army laid siege here for 47 days. 17,000 Confederate soldiers are laid to rest in this cemetery- a terrible price to pay for this piece of real estate. We didn't see anything about the Union casualties.
There were several of these Iowa monuments, honoring various units
This is the USS Cairo, a Union ship that hit two mines in the nearby Yazoo river and sunk in 12 minutes. It remained in the river for 102 years.
Drove across the Mississippi River into Louisiana. A few miles later a sign said there was a rest area and hurricane shelter ahead. In Shreveport, the timber industry of the 1800's has been taken over by the gaming industry. Downtown there are several skyscrapers and some casinos are next to the highway coming into town.
Ate dinner at Becca's Steaks and Seafoods: catfish, hush puppies, rice, and fries for Tom. Chicken and sausage gumbo and a shrimp salad for me. Yum.
Again today we drove hundreds of miles with trees on both sides of the highway.
Vicksburg, MS.
Cannons, Union and Confederate trenches, monuments to all the various cavalry, battery, and infantry divisions. The Union units were all from the Midwest: Ill, Ia, Wisc, Mich, Ohio, Mo., Ind.
Its Army laid siege here for 47 days. 17,000 Confederate soldiers are laid to rest in this cemetery- a terrible price to pay for this piece of real estate. We didn't see anything about the Union casualties.
Ate dinner at Becca's Steaks and Seafoods: catfish, hush puppies, rice, and fries for Tom. Chicken and sausage gumbo and a shrimp salad for me. Yum.
Oct. 21 We've traveled 6,673 miles! Today we go through sections of Tn., Ga., and Ala.
I wasn't feeling well and Tom heard traffic during the night so we didn't get up till 7:30. 37 degrees.
We climbed quickly after leaving Asheville. Driving by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. All the mountains are covered with trees with leaves that are changing colors, but they aren't bright or vibrant. Lots of pine trees mixed in.
The highway is congested with trucks. Some areas say they aren't allowed in the left lane, but they go anyway, and drive over the speed limit most of the time.
Into TN.-past Knoxville. Huge concrete cross at a Baptist church. Earlier today we saw probably the exact same one at another Baptist church. So much traffic. No color on leaves yet.
Near Chattanooga we went into a corner of GA. Very hilly and mountainous. TN, GA, and Ala. have all looked alike-trees lining both sides of the highway and nothing to see except when you go past a town, usually. Disappointing.
Passed Ft. Payne, where the music group, Alabama, is from. Sign says there is a fan club and museum there. We saw their new CD yesterday and only 3 of the 5 guys were on the cover. In Alabama it is 74 degrees-the warmest we've seen for about 3 weeks.
We've arrived in Bessemer, near Birmingham, for the night. There is an air museum and also a movie Tom wants to see, but he said he was ready to relax at the hotel and go to dinner.
We climbed quickly after leaving Asheville. Driving by the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. All the mountains are covered with trees with leaves that are changing colors, but they aren't bright or vibrant. Lots of pine trees mixed in.
The highway is congested with trucks. Some areas say they aren't allowed in the left lane, but they go anyway, and drive over the speed limit most of the time.
Into TN.-past Knoxville. Huge concrete cross at a Baptist church. Earlier today we saw probably the exact same one at another Baptist church. So much traffic. No color on leaves yet.
Near Chattanooga we went into a corner of GA. Very hilly and mountainous. TN, GA, and Ala. have all looked alike-trees lining both sides of the highway and nothing to see except when you go past a town, usually. Disappointing.
Passed Ft. Payne, where the music group, Alabama, is from. Sign says there is a fan club and museum there. We saw their new CD yesterday and only 3 of the 5 guys were on the cover. In Alabama it is 74 degrees-the warmest we've seen for about 3 weeks.
We've arrived in Bessemer, near Birmingham, for the night. There is an air museum and also a movie Tom wants to see, but he said he was ready to relax at the hotel and go to dinner.
Oct. 20 Driving through VA., TN., N.C., On the Blue Ridge Parkway, and visiting Appomattox
37 degrees early morning in Richmond. Pine trees line the road, then all kinds of trees, but very little color on the leaves yet. It was in the 80's here last week.
We drove 94 miles of the 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a two lane road with speeds of 35-45 mph. which runs through 29 counties in Va. and N.C. So these miles took us 3 hours. Some varieties of trees have colored leaves, but many don't. Yet many leaves have fallen. There were several bluebird houses along the road.
Various elevations we noted were 1495, 2889, 3013. We could see for miles, with layers of mountains, but it was often hazy in the distance. Some overlooks were blocked by large trees. Some look way off at towns and mountains. We drove mostly through forest land, but occasionally saw bare land, a farm, church, a good sized cemetery on a hill above a farm, several large ponds, old barns, etc.
This is the house where General Lee surrendered to general Grant
Later in the day we drove a stretch of highway called the Purple heart Trail. Now, in N.C., we're on the Blue Star Highway, "honoring our armed forces". 10-1/2 hour day. Dinner at Cracker Barrel here in Asheville, N.C.
We drove 94 miles of the 469 mile Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a two lane road with speeds of 35-45 mph. which runs through 29 counties in Va. and N.C. So these miles took us 3 hours. Some varieties of trees have colored leaves, but many don't. Yet many leaves have fallen. There were several bluebird houses along the road.
Various elevations we noted were 1495, 2889, 3013. We could see for miles, with layers of mountains, but it was often hazy in the distance. Some overlooks were blocked by large trees. Some look way off at towns and mountains. We drove mostly through forest land, but occasionally saw bare land, a farm, church, a good sized cemetery on a hill above a farm, several large ponds, old barns, etc.
We saw a lot of split rail fences, including this one at Appomattox
This is the house where General Lee surrendered to general Grant
Later in the day we drove a stretch of highway called the Purple heart Trail. Now, in N.C., we're on the Blue Star Highway, "honoring our armed forces". 10-1/2 hour day. Dinner at Cracker Barrel here in Asheville, N.C.
afternoon of Oct 17 and Oct 18. Visit with Jack and Sue Keene near Richmond, VA.
Drove from Montreal to Albany, N.Y. Little to see, but pretty trees along the highway.
31 degrees when we left Albany at 7:30 a.m.. Traffic was terrible for a Sunday, or was it because of it, or is it always this way? Slow way down and even stop on the turnpike time and time again, for n apparent reason.
Drove through NY, NJ, Del., Md, and Va.
NY and NJ have large "service centers" along the highways that have a gas station separate and a building with nice restrooms, 3-4 fast food restaurants, and a convenience store. Some were named after Revolutionary era famous women.
Saw beautiful trees all day and 4 deer together. Another Six Flags park-have seen several on our trip. Old 3 story houses in NJ and nearby large loft complexes with units for sale. 2 high cranes with flags flying from them.
Drove across a tiny area of Del. into Md. Crossed a huge bridge with toll booth at the end. We asked the attendant what the names of the 2 towns on either end of the bridge were and he answered "I don't know". Hmm. Well, maybe he comes in from some other direction. We spent $22 in tolls today, mostly for interstate highways. Not that we like it, but it seems unfair that people out here pay to drive on interstates when people in most states don't. I know there are 2 highways around Denver now with tolls.
A memory of the NJ turnpike: One winter in the 1970's we drove from Washington, D.C. to Iowa and Minnesota for Christmas. We left Minneapolis and saw several accidents before we got out of town. The kids were 4,2,1. When we got near the turnpike, traffic was re-routed because it was closed because so many semis had jackknifed and they needed to be cleared. We had heavy coats, snacks and plenty of blankets, so Tom took off to find milk for Jacque's bottle. McDonald's had run out of food, but still had milk. He said he wanted to stay on the access ramp to the highway overnight instead of staying in a shelter, so that's what we did. He started the heater several times. The next year we took the train and it snowed all most all the way there and back!
Drove through a long tunnel under the Baltimore harbor.
Silver alert message flashing on elevated highway signs. I googled it and it said 36 states now have the system where they announce a missing senior citizen. This message described the car and license plate.
This is tobacco country-cigarettes are $3.50-4.25 instead of 7.50 as in so many states.
Passed the Quantico Marine base and the National Marine Museum. It's being added onto so they have more recent Marine history displayed.
Arrived at Jack and Sue's. Tom and Jack served together in the Security Police at three bases during their careers. We hadn't seen him for 19 years and had never met Sue. Two evenings and a day of nice visit, old storied, old pictures. I caught a cold and wasn't up to par, but we had a good time and promises to get together in far fewer years.
31 degrees when we left Albany at 7:30 a.m.. Traffic was terrible for a Sunday, or was it because of it, or is it always this way? Slow way down and even stop on the turnpike time and time again, for n apparent reason.
Drove through NY, NJ, Del., Md, and Va.
NY and NJ have large "service centers" along the highways that have a gas station separate and a building with nice restrooms, 3-4 fast food restaurants, and a convenience store. Some were named after Revolutionary era famous women.
Saw beautiful trees all day and 4 deer together. Another Six Flags park-have seen several on our trip. Old 3 story houses in NJ and nearby large loft complexes with units for sale. 2 high cranes with flags flying from them.
Drove across a tiny area of Del. into Md. Crossed a huge bridge with toll booth at the end. We asked the attendant what the names of the 2 towns on either end of the bridge were and he answered "I don't know". Hmm. Well, maybe he comes in from some other direction. We spent $22 in tolls today, mostly for interstate highways. Not that we like it, but it seems unfair that people out here pay to drive on interstates when people in most states don't. I know there are 2 highways around Denver now with tolls.
A memory of the NJ turnpike: One winter in the 1970's we drove from Washington, D.C. to Iowa and Minnesota for Christmas. We left Minneapolis and saw several accidents before we got out of town. The kids were 4,2,1. When we got near the turnpike, traffic was re-routed because it was closed because so many semis had jackknifed and they needed to be cleared. We had heavy coats, snacks and plenty of blankets, so Tom took off to find milk for Jacque's bottle. McDonald's had run out of food, but still had milk. He said he wanted to stay on the access ramp to the highway overnight instead of staying in a shelter, so that's what we did. He started the heater several times. The next year we took the train and it snowed all most all the way there and back!
Drove through a long tunnel under the Baltimore harbor.
Silver alert message flashing on elevated highway signs. I googled it and it said 36 states now have the system where they announce a missing senior citizen. This message described the car and license plate.
This is tobacco country-cigarettes are $3.50-4.25 instead of 7.50 as in so many states.
Passed the Quantico Marine base and the National Marine Museum. It's being added onto so they have more recent Marine history displayed.
Arrived at Jack and Sue's. Tom and Jack served together in the Security Police at three bases during their careers. We hadn't seen him for 19 years and had never met Sue. Two evenings and a day of nice visit, old storied, old pictures. I caught a cold and wasn't up to par, but we had a good time and promises to get together in far fewer years.
The cruise is over-thoughts
We really enjoyed all the people we met on the cruise. The first day I sat with a woman at lunch and it turned out her room was next to ours. We did things together on and off the ship, with and without Tom. We met others from Montana, WA., Idaho, AZ., Cal., Fla. and other states.
We saw many people onboard using canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. Tom and I reaffirmed to each other that we are not going to take this type of trip when we are unable to walk well, etc. And that we'll continue to take one big trip per year until our bucket list of them is exhausted, hopefully. Based on that, we booked our cruise from Copenhagen to St. Petersburg for next August. We hope to travel the British Isles again before the cruise.
We enjoyed the shore excursions and this ship.
We saw many people onboard using canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. Tom and I reaffirmed to each other that we are not going to take this type of trip when we are unable to walk well, etc. And that we'll continue to take one big trip per year until our bucket list of them is exhausted, hopefully. Based on that, we booked our cruise from Copenhagen to St. Petersburg for next August. We hope to travel the British Isles again before the cruise.
We enjoyed the shore excursions and this ship.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Oct 17 Montreal
While we were eating breakfast before we could disembark from the ship, it started to snow!
We had left our car near the Montreal airport and signed up for a bus tour through a local company, where we would ride around town and they would take us to the airport, and we'd take a shuttle to the park and fly lot. It all worked out perfectly.
We only stopped at 3 or 4 places, the first being the Basilica of Notre Dame, which seats 2500 and whose organ has 7500 pipes. It was built between 1824-29 and is so beautiful inside now. Originally it had far more stone and was uninviting. Later red pine ceilings were added. The altar is really four, with scenes from the Old Testament.
Snippets from guide:
This year is Montreal's 373rd anniversary. Mostly French is spoken here, but anything for the federal government has both English and French written on it. Until 20 years ago it was the largest populated city in Canada, but now Toronto is. 1.9 million live on Montreal Island and the total pop. is 3 million.
The Province of Quebec used Napoleonic law, while the rest of Canada uses English law.
Much cargo comes through here because of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Most is then put on trains which haul 300-400 cars. The St. Lawrence is currently down 5', which means ships can't be fully loaded. The seaway stays open until Dec.
Little French architecture is left in old town.
The US invaded from 1812-1813.
It is a city of skyscrapers, but also old churches, homes, and other buildings. The conference center holds 50,000.
No big industry remains. Car and cigarette manufacturers used to be large employers here. Now the cigarette factory is condos.
Four universities have 200,000 students-50% are foreigners. Most move away after graduating.
18th-19th century it was the largest Canadian port. The first train operated here in 1860. In 1885 it took 9 days to go to Vancouver, and it still takes 5. Chinamen came to build the railroad and there is still a small Chinatown. Many left because they didn't want to learn French to live here.
Growing season is 3 months. Watermelons and other melons are grown, but their thin skin makes them hard to transport.
300 miles of bike paths, though winter lasts 6 months. It costs $12 million for snow removal after a big storm.
Expo was held here in 1967 and the Olympics in 1976. Because of the Olympics, many name brand hotels built. Now 4-5 million tourists come annually. There are 2000 tourist buses in addition to the transit ones. Some streets have bus lanes.
In front of City Hall there was a tall vase made of flowers and several circular flower beds with designs. Small shears are used to keep them short.
The big Sun Life Ins. Co. building was pointed out to us. She said during WWII England's crown jewels were brought here for safekeeping, since this was the insurance agency.
Drove past the HUGE St. Joseph's church, but it wasn't a scheduled stop. It was so gigantic-several buildings that served as a pilgrimage church. Had 2 sets of stairs-1 where the pilgrims would climb the high hill on their knees. Most were from Mexico and Central America. The Vatican sent money to complete it. In 1984 Pope John II said mass to 1 million people there.
Passed St. Patrick's Basilica served the Irish who came over to build canals here in the 1800's.
Drove past a Catholic church, which is a copy of St. Peter's in Rome. The Catholic Irish were sent to live in areas where the French Catholics lived because the Protestants didn't want them near them. There are 450 churches on the island. We passed one which now only has 40 congregants. Concerts are held there often. A lot of very old money is still given to keep their doors open.
A large cross stands on a hill. Though there have been many different ones, one has stood on the hill since 1643.
Downtown is full of skyscrapers. Old buildings were torn down. Now there are rules to keep more of the old intact. The first one was built in 1964-48 stories with the first underground mall in Canada.
Now there are 25 miles of underground businesses.
A lot of seniors are moving here for the services, but the nursing homes cost more than their pensions, so they are kept in hospitals.
Old convents have been converted to coops and apartments. In the 1700's many orphan girls aged 10-12 were sent to Montreal by the French king to be taught reading, writing, cooking, and cleaning by the nuns so they could become farmers' wives.
The old GE stove factory is an indoor soccer field. Canadian Pacific railroad engines are repaired in yards we passed.
The city is replacing all sewer systems and water hydrants downtown The old ones were installed 4' deep and the freeze level is 6', so many are breaking.
For many years there was no French newspaper. The population was told they would hear all they needed to hear from their priests. The English Gazette started in 1787 and is still printing.
Large stone office buildings used to be homes of the very wealthy. Later we went through a subdivision called West Mount, which has houses that cost multi-millions. One was built by a man who made his fortune selling Seagrams to Americans during the Prohibition.
Quebec Province produces a lot of electricity-produced as hydro in the northern part.
16% sales tax, with half going to the Federal govt.
During cholera epidemics people were buried "way out" of the city. Now this cemetery hold 1.2 million graves!
We stopped at an overlook above the city.
This Olympics stadium was built in 1976. The roof doesn't work and the cost to repair it is $1 billion, which the city can't afford. The last team to play there were the Expos baseball team, which has left.
We had left our car near the Montreal airport and signed up for a bus tour through a local company, where we would ride around town and they would take us to the airport, and we'd take a shuttle to the park and fly lot. It all worked out perfectly.
We only stopped at 3 or 4 places, the first being the Basilica of Notre Dame, which seats 2500 and whose organ has 7500 pipes. It was built between 1824-29 and is so beautiful inside now. Originally it had far more stone and was uninviting. Later red pine ceilings were added. The altar is really four, with scenes from the Old Testament.
Snippets from guide:
This year is Montreal's 373rd anniversary. Mostly French is spoken here, but anything for the federal government has both English and French written on it. Until 20 years ago it was the largest populated city in Canada, but now Toronto is. 1.9 million live on Montreal Island and the total pop. is 3 million.
The Province of Quebec used Napoleonic law, while the rest of Canada uses English law.
Much cargo comes through here because of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Most is then put on trains which haul 300-400 cars. The St. Lawrence is currently down 5', which means ships can't be fully loaded. The seaway stays open until Dec.
Little French architecture is left in old town.
The US invaded from 1812-1813.
It is a city of skyscrapers, but also old churches, homes, and other buildings. The conference center holds 50,000.
No big industry remains. Car and cigarette manufacturers used to be large employers here. Now the cigarette factory is condos.
Four universities have 200,000 students-50% are foreigners. Most move away after graduating.
18th-19th century it was the largest Canadian port. The first train operated here in 1860. In 1885 it took 9 days to go to Vancouver, and it still takes 5. Chinamen came to build the railroad and there is still a small Chinatown. Many left because they didn't want to learn French to live here.
Growing season is 3 months. Watermelons and other melons are grown, but their thin skin makes them hard to transport.
300 miles of bike paths, though winter lasts 6 months. It costs $12 million for snow removal after a big storm.
Expo was held here in 1967 and the Olympics in 1976. Because of the Olympics, many name brand hotels built. Now 4-5 million tourists come annually. There are 2000 tourist buses in addition to the transit ones. Some streets have bus lanes.
In front of City Hall there was a tall vase made of flowers and several circular flower beds with designs. Small shears are used to keep them short.
The big Sun Life Ins. Co. building was pointed out to us. She said during WWII England's crown jewels were brought here for safekeeping, since this was the insurance agency.
Drove past the HUGE St. Joseph's church, but it wasn't a scheduled stop. It was so gigantic-several buildings that served as a pilgrimage church. Had 2 sets of stairs-1 where the pilgrims would climb the high hill on their knees. Most were from Mexico and Central America. The Vatican sent money to complete it. In 1984 Pope John II said mass to 1 million people there.
Passed St. Patrick's Basilica served the Irish who came over to build canals here in the 1800's.
Drove past a Catholic church, which is a copy of St. Peter's in Rome. The Catholic Irish were sent to live in areas where the French Catholics lived because the Protestants didn't want them near them. There are 450 churches on the island. We passed one which now only has 40 congregants. Concerts are held there often. A lot of very old money is still given to keep their doors open.
A large cross stands on a hill. Though there have been many different ones, one has stood on the hill since 1643.
Downtown is full of skyscrapers. Old buildings were torn down. Now there are rules to keep more of the old intact. The first one was built in 1964-48 stories with the first underground mall in Canada.
Now there are 25 miles of underground businesses.
A lot of seniors are moving here for the services, but the nursing homes cost more than their pensions, so they are kept in hospitals.
Old convents have been converted to coops and apartments. In the 1700's many orphan girls aged 10-12 were sent to Montreal by the French king to be taught reading, writing, cooking, and cleaning by the nuns so they could become farmers' wives.
The old GE stove factory is an indoor soccer field. Canadian Pacific railroad engines are repaired in yards we passed.
The city is replacing all sewer systems and water hydrants downtown The old ones were installed 4' deep and the freeze level is 6', so many are breaking.
For many years there was no French newspaper. The population was told they would hear all they needed to hear from their priests. The English Gazette started in 1787 and is still printing.
Large stone office buildings used to be homes of the very wealthy. Later we went through a subdivision called West Mount, which has houses that cost multi-millions. One was built by a man who made his fortune selling Seagrams to Americans during the Prohibition.
Quebec Province produces a lot of electricity-produced as hydro in the northern part.
16% sales tax, with half going to the Federal govt.
During cholera epidemics people were buried "way out" of the city. Now this cemetery hold 1.2 million graves!
This Olympics stadium was built in 1976. The roof doesn't work and the cost to repair it is $1 billion, which the city can't afford. The last team to play there were the Expos baseball team, which has left.
The bus dropped us off at the airport. I definitely am getting a cold. I was chilled in all the public areas of the ship and then was cold and had wet feet yesterday in Quebec.
Drove to Albany, NY. The trees are so pretty along the highway.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Oct. 15 Day and 2 nights on the water Oct. 16 Arrived in Quebec
Onboard: Tom's shoulders have been hurting and he was able to get into the spa for a massage. He suffered sticker shock when they presented the bill, including an automatic $23 tip, at a total of $172.
I attended a Windows 10 seminar and a cupcake tea. We both finished a book. Tom had a lobster dinner and we enjoyed a show performed by the cast.
Quebec:
40-42 degrees We pulled into port before sunrise and Tom got some good pictures.
Leaves are turning-very warm September, so it's late here, as everywhere we've been. We were so cold and wet, even with an umbrella, as it rained on us during the 2-1/2 hour walking tour we took. My shoes and socks were soaked. Several places had pumpkins and cornstalks to celebrate their Thanksgiving last week. City Hall had its huge yard decorated for Halloween, with a large bubbling cauldron, tall witch, pumpkins, and lots of other things
"Quebec" means where the river narrows. It and Montreal are the largest cities in Quebec Province.
This river isn't the border between Canada and the U.S. I think one of the guides said this is the only place in Canada like that. The three reasons the settlers came were the river, fur, and since it was a fortress-like area.
On the opposite shore is a town names Levis. The people here are called Quebecois. Two percent of the people are non-French speaking. A country in Africa now has the highest speaking French population in the world since France is so diversified.
We took the funicular from lower town to upper town. In 1804 the First Anglican Church outside of Great Britain was built here. It has 3000 organ pipes. Though the ceiling looks like it is fresco, but it is made of wood. The church guide showed us a cabinet full of beautiful tapestries that are placed on the front of the altar. One was from the 1700's.
We toured a prison and saw lots of beautiful architecture everywhere.
A fresco was painted on the side of a building 15 years ago that told the history of Quebec.
The population is only 1 million. Last winter was exceptionally cold, but not as much snow as usual.
Chateau Frontenac is the landmark of Quebec, like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. (The tall building in the background in the pre-sunrise photo.) It was built as a hotel and still is. Churchill, F. Roosevelt and Wm. King met there to discuss the Allied strategy during WWII.
This little building 0n the right hand side is the oldest house in Quebec.
This was a plaque on the front of another house that showed who owned it and when it
was built
By bedtime I felt a cold coming on. All week I've been chilled in most of the public areas on the ship, though I wore an undershirt most of the time. And now the 40 degree, wet walking tour.
I attended a Windows 10 seminar and a cupcake tea. We both finished a book. Tom had a lobster dinner and we enjoyed a show performed by the cast.
Quebec:
40-42 degrees We pulled into port before sunrise and Tom got some good pictures.
Leaves are turning-very warm September, so it's late here, as everywhere we've been. We were so cold and wet, even with an umbrella, as it rained on us during the 2-1/2 hour walking tour we took. My shoes and socks were soaked. Several places had pumpkins and cornstalks to celebrate their Thanksgiving last week. City Hall had its huge yard decorated for Halloween, with a large bubbling cauldron, tall witch, pumpkins, and lots of other things
"Quebec" means where the river narrows. It and Montreal are the largest cities in Quebec Province.
This river isn't the border between Canada and the U.S. I think one of the guides said this is the only place in Canada like that. The three reasons the settlers came were the river, fur, and since it was a fortress-like area.
On the opposite shore is a town names Levis. The people here are called Quebecois. Two percent of the people are non-French speaking. A country in Africa now has the highest speaking French population in the world since France is so diversified.
We took the funicular from lower town to upper town. In 1804 the First Anglican Church outside of Great Britain was built here. It has 3000 organ pipes. Though the ceiling looks like it is fresco, but it is made of wood. The church guide showed us a cabinet full of beautiful tapestries that are placed on the front of the altar. One was from the 1700's.
We toured a prison and saw lots of beautiful architecture everywhere.
A fresco was painted on the side of a building 15 years ago that told the history of Quebec.
The population is only 1 million. Last winter was exceptionally cold, but not as much snow as usual.
Chateau Frontenac is the landmark of Quebec, like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. (The tall building in the background in the pre-sunrise photo.) It was built as a hotel and still is. Churchill, F. Roosevelt and Wm. King met there to discuss the Allied strategy during WWII.
This little building 0n the right hand side is the oldest house in Quebec.
was built
By bedtime I felt a cold coming on. All week I've been chilled in most of the public areas on the ship, though I wore an undershirt most of the time. And now the 40 degree, wet walking tour.
Oct. 13 & 14 Sydney, Nova Scotia and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
13th:
Onboard this morning I watched a man carve heads into the insides of golf balls. He usually leaves a little of the white on the top and bottom and puts a small suction cup on the bottom. He said he's made thousands and gives them away-many to golf tournaments for fundraisers, etc. He does the same thing with baseballs.
We walked around the small town of Sydney a little bit-saw old houses and 2 old churches. One was the St. George Anglican Church, built in 1785 for the Army garrision's engineers who laid out the town. A man who was there representing the church said now they can't afford to heat it every Sunday. Tom went to a small military museum that holds a lot of military vehicles now.
The traditional music of Nova Scotia features a lot of fiddle accompaniment.
Today the Nova Scotian sisters played on one of the decks while we ate crepes and traditional Canadian breakfast foods.
Tonight we watched some of the crew perform a show and then went to one of the bars to hear a band play Motown for an hour and miscellaneous songs the next hour. Were very good and the female singer sounded like Etta James, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, etc.
14th:
This is the 250th anniversary year of Charlottetown. This is Anne of Green Gables territory. A couple of tours to the farm that influenced the books was offered at $125 each. I never read the books and Tom certainly wasn't interested, so we passed on them. (I bought 8 of the books recently to read).
This is Canada's potato country, which grow well in the reddish soil. We saw them advertised for 75 cents for 5 pounds. There is an 8 mile long Confederation bridge. Other tours were very expensive, too. You could rent a car and driver for 2 people for 4 hours for $700, or 8 hours for $1300. We walked around instead! Tom's photo club assignment for October is to photograph church doors, so it's been fun to find some. He shot the one on St. Dunstan's Basilica that was built 1897-1907 and is high Victorian Gothic architecture.
A couple and their young twin boys were in town and I asked them if them if they were from the ship because I had heard there were twin boys onboard. They said yes. I asked where they live and he said Couer D' Alene, Idaho, and were so surprised when I told them our daughter and family live in the town 3 miles away.
Saw an olive oil factory that had Tex-Mex blend, smoked jalapeno, and sells Mexican rub. At a café 4 cups of clam chowder, 2# of mussels, and a bottle of blanc was $95-no we don't like mussels. We ate in a restaurant that used to also house Reddin's pharmacy. (friends were named Reddin). Maple mustard for sale. Anne of Green Gables shop makes chocolate covered potato chips. We saw these in New Hampshire, too.
Each corner in town has a small garden which has been adopted by a business or organization. The currency in Canada is coins, like much of Europe and the British Isles.
On the side of a building was a large blackboard entitled "Before I Die". I wrote that I want to do a lot more traveling.
Last year was the worst winter here in 50 years, with 17' of snow. A shop owner told us he has a 13' sign in his yard that he didn't see for 4 months.
Back onboard ship we watched huge mansions on the shore. Thirty percent of this crew are Filipino. Tonight they performed a 30 minute show featuring their traditional dances and music and dress. It was nice.
Onboard this morning I watched a man carve heads into the insides of golf balls. He usually leaves a little of the white on the top and bottom and puts a small suction cup on the bottom. He said he's made thousands and gives them away-many to golf tournaments for fundraisers, etc. He does the same thing with baseballs.
We walked around the small town of Sydney a little bit-saw old houses and 2 old churches. One was the St. George Anglican Church, built in 1785 for the Army garrision's engineers who laid out the town. A man who was there representing the church said now they can't afford to heat it every Sunday. Tom went to a small military museum that holds a lot of military vehicles now.
The traditional music of Nova Scotia features a lot of fiddle accompaniment.
Today the Nova Scotian sisters played on one of the decks while we ate crepes and traditional Canadian breakfast foods.
Tonight we watched some of the crew perform a show and then went to one of the bars to hear a band play Motown for an hour and miscellaneous songs the next hour. Were very good and the female singer sounded like Etta James, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, etc.
14th:
This is the 250th anniversary year of Charlottetown. This is Anne of Green Gables territory. A couple of tours to the farm that influenced the books was offered at $125 each. I never read the books and Tom certainly wasn't interested, so we passed on them. (I bought 8 of the books recently to read).
This is Canada's potato country, which grow well in the reddish soil. We saw them advertised for 75 cents for 5 pounds. There is an 8 mile long Confederation bridge. Other tours were very expensive, too. You could rent a car and driver for 2 people for 4 hours for $700, or 8 hours for $1300. We walked around instead! Tom's photo club assignment for October is to photograph church doors, so it's been fun to find some. He shot the one on St. Dunstan's Basilica that was built 1897-1907 and is high Victorian Gothic architecture.
A couple and their young twin boys were in town and I asked them if them if they were from the ship because I had heard there were twin boys onboard. They said yes. I asked where they live and he said Couer D' Alene, Idaho, and were so surprised when I told them our daughter and family live in the town 3 miles away.
Saw an olive oil factory that had Tex-Mex blend, smoked jalapeno, and sells Mexican rub. At a café 4 cups of clam chowder, 2# of mussels, and a bottle of blanc was $95-no we don't like mussels. We ate in a restaurant that used to also house Reddin's pharmacy. (friends were named Reddin). Maple mustard for sale. Anne of Green Gables shop makes chocolate covered potato chips. We saw these in New Hampshire, too.
Each corner in town has a small garden which has been adopted by a business or organization. The currency in Canada is coins, like much of Europe and the British Isles.
On the side of a building was a large blackboard entitled "Before I Die". I wrote that I want to do a lot more traveling.
Last year was the worst winter here in 50 years, with 17' of snow. A shop owner told us he has a 13' sign in his yard that he didn't see for 4 months.
Back onboard ship we watched huge mansions on the shore. Thirty percent of this crew are Filipino. Tonight they performed a 30 minute show featuring their traditional dances and music and dress. It was nice.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Oct. 12 Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Citadel, WWII information, and local music
Today is America's Columbus Day and Canada's Thanksgiving. They decorate like we do and serve turkey and all the trimmings. I never knew that. Nova Scotia means New Scotland. Their flag is a version of the Scottish one. There is a population of less than 1 million. Halifax residents are called Haligonians. Temp to be 64 today, and sunny. A train ride from Halifax to Montreal takes 24 hours.
We had breakfast delivered to our room (is free onboard). When I unstacked the cereal bowls, there was a piece of black paper stuck inside the bottom one. So we used the same bowl and I put a note in the dirty one that maybe it should have been noticed. Within an hour we had a call from the head steward apologizing profusely. When we returned to the ship, this tray was in our room and that night at dinner he came to our table to apologize again. He asked us if this incident was so serious that we wouldn't consider sailing with them again and we assured him it wasn't. This is a very competitive business and they want to keep people happy.
This morning Tom went to The Citadel, a fortress built in the 1700's to protect the port of Halifax. Of course he took a lot of pictures.
This is a view looking down onto the harbor now.
He also went to a maritime museum which had a Titanic display. On that cruise where I had been sick for 4 days, Tom was sick the day we docked in Halifax. So he wasn't able to see one of the main attractions of that cruise. We saw a Titanic display in Las Vegas a few years ago. My tummy wasn't feeling great this morning, so I stayed on board.
I had a ticket for a hop on/hop off bus tour of town, too, so I left at noon. This company's busses are painted pink and a percentage of the fare goes to breast cancer causes and a children's wish foundation. We highly suggest these tours in cities, because the guides give you so much information and you can ride around and decide where you want to get off and then get back on in a half hour, or later.
Halifax is on the same latitude as southern France. We passed an Irish Catholic cemetery. This whole area was Anglican, so it was a feat to get permission to build this. They were told they could build it, if they could build a chapel onsite in 24 hours! Little did they know that 2,000 Irish men would show up and accomplish it!
I walked around the public gardens, which had beautiful flowers, statues, a pond, and a bandstand which was built to commemorate Queen Elizabeth's 50 years on the throne. Concerts are still held there every Sunday afternoon.
We passed baseball field where 7000 people once watched Babe Ruth display his batting ability. Six hospitals in town. Are building a new conference center with hotels. The Scotia Bank Center holds 10,000 people. The Nova Scotian military tattoo is held the first week of July every year, with a cast of thousands. (We attended one in Edinburgh, which was fantastic. There were 7 pipe banks from the various colonies performing separately and together.)
The Armouries, built in the 1890's, has a building large enough to allow large military vehicles inside for training.
Early German settlers were used to colorful houses at home, so they painted theirs here in bright colors and many still do. On the North End small houses sell for $300-400,000 today. All the major employers are on the peninsula, so houses on it stay up in price.
Halifax was the staging area for ships sailing during WWI and WWII. Once there were 2 ships in the harbor that held flammable materials. They collided, causing a huge explosion. 6000 homes were destroyed or damaged, 2000 died, and 6000 were injured-many from eye injuries from looking toward the harbor. It was the largest manmade explosion until the atomic bomb. The next day a blizzard hit and there were thousands of people camping out. When the governor of Massachusetts heard of the tragedy, he sent a trainload of supplies, doctors and nurses. To this day, as a thank you, a large pine tree is sent from Halifax to Boston to be used as its official Christmas tree. Today the harbor has many cargo containers filled with Christmas trees waiting to be shipped elsewhere.
Pier 2 is like America's Ellis Island. At the end of WWII, 40,000 war brides and 20,000 children came over.
From May through August, there are usually 3 cruise ships in the harbor each week, but in Sept. and Oct. there are 3,4,5, or 6 each day!
The show onboard tonight was two young (ish) sisters from Nova Scotia playing traditional music with a 6 string guitar, piano, and fiddle. They were great musicians-one played that piano like a ragtime player. They also did some of their dances, sometimes simultaneously with the playing.
We had breakfast delivered to our room (is free onboard). When I unstacked the cereal bowls, there was a piece of black paper stuck inside the bottom one. So we used the same bowl and I put a note in the dirty one that maybe it should have been noticed. Within an hour we had a call from the head steward apologizing profusely. When we returned to the ship, this tray was in our room and that night at dinner he came to our table to apologize again. He asked us if this incident was so serious that we wouldn't consider sailing with them again and we assured him it wasn't. This is a very competitive business and they want to keep people happy.
This morning Tom went to The Citadel, a fortress built in the 1700's to protect the port of Halifax. Of course he took a lot of pictures.
I had a ticket for a hop on/hop off bus tour of town, too, so I left at noon. This company's busses are painted pink and a percentage of the fare goes to breast cancer causes and a children's wish foundation. We highly suggest these tours in cities, because the guides give you so much information and you can ride around and decide where you want to get off and then get back on in a half hour, or later.
Halifax is on the same latitude as southern France. We passed an Irish Catholic cemetery. This whole area was Anglican, so it was a feat to get permission to build this. They were told they could build it, if they could build a chapel onsite in 24 hours! Little did they know that 2,000 Irish men would show up and accomplish it!
I walked around the public gardens, which had beautiful flowers, statues, a pond, and a bandstand which was built to commemorate Queen Elizabeth's 50 years on the throne. Concerts are still held there every Sunday afternoon.
We passed baseball field where 7000 people once watched Babe Ruth display his batting ability. Six hospitals in town. Are building a new conference center with hotels. The Scotia Bank Center holds 10,000 people. The Nova Scotian military tattoo is held the first week of July every year, with a cast of thousands. (We attended one in Edinburgh, which was fantastic. There were 7 pipe banks from the various colonies performing separately and together.)
The Armouries, built in the 1890's, has a building large enough to allow large military vehicles inside for training.
Early German settlers were used to colorful houses at home, so they painted theirs here in bright colors and many still do. On the North End small houses sell for $300-400,000 today. All the major employers are on the peninsula, so houses on it stay up in price.
Halifax was the staging area for ships sailing during WWI and WWII. Once there were 2 ships in the harbor that held flammable materials. They collided, causing a huge explosion. 6000 homes were destroyed or damaged, 2000 died, and 6000 were injured-many from eye injuries from looking toward the harbor. It was the largest manmade explosion until the atomic bomb. The next day a blizzard hit and there were thousands of people camping out. When the governor of Massachusetts heard of the tragedy, he sent a trainload of supplies, doctors and nurses. To this day, as a thank you, a large pine tree is sent from Halifax to Boston to be used as its official Christmas tree. Today the harbor has many cargo containers filled with Christmas trees waiting to be shipped elsewhere.
Pier 2 is like America's Ellis Island. At the end of WWII, 40,000 war brides and 20,000 children came over.
From May through August, there are usually 3 cruise ships in the harbor each week, but in Sept. and Oct. there are 3,4,5, or 6 each day!
The show onboard tonight was two young (ish) sisters from Nova Scotia playing traditional music with a 6 string guitar, piano, and fiddle. They were great musicians-one played that piano like a ragtime player. They also did some of their dances, sometimes simultaneously with the playing.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Oct. 11 Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park
This is one of the ports where we had to take the lifeboats into the harbor. We caught our bus tour that would to the park, which was the first national park east of the Mississippi. It is 108 square miles and most of the land was donated by extremely wealthy city people who wanted to keep this "backyard" to their huge summer cottages for recreation instead of development and timber industries, as was threatened. Not many leaves have changed color, as they had an unusually warm September. A marshy area had some color on the ones near it. The guide said they're usually all turned by now.
Bar Harbor is the largest town on the island. Very wealthy settlers came from the 1880's until the depression hit and built the mansions. Four steamships brought tourists. for many years
Moose swim onto the island, but can't live there because no algae grows in the swampy areas and the terrain is too rocky. Most of the coast is rocky, but we saw one sandy beach from above. This is a state whose residents are interested in hunting. Lobstering is a big industry, behind tourism. the fisherman receives $4 per pound and restaurants sell dinners for $35-40. A one pound one has been in the water 8-10 years, If they get hungry, they'll chew on each other. 7000 licenses are issued in this area and they all use different color variations on their buoys. It used to be used for fertilizer in this area and was called the "poor man's" food. Some servants wrote in their contracts that they wouldn't eat it more than 3 times a week. Some of the lobstermen are 8th generation.
There used to be large granite quarry, a leather business, and lots of paper mills. Only 3 mills remain and 2 are in bankruptcy. There is a mice research lab. 90% of America's blueberries are grown here. We passed an area where 100 sailors watched for aircraft during WWII. From 1881-1888 a cog railway ran to the top of Cadillac mountain, but it went broke. Cross country and downhill skiing are still popular here. It can reach 50 below zero, so the runs have to be closed then. The mountain road is closed from December 1-April 15th, usually. We passed a golf course and went under granite bridges. Walls around the homes' gardens were granite. There are 300 kinds of mushrooms here, some edible, some not. There are many beaver here and we saw one dam. The guide explained that their teeth grow like our nails, and if they don't chew constantly, they lock up their jaw and they die.
It was very cold and windy on top of the mountain, which is only 1300! Seemed higher, but it is measured from the ocean at the bottom, unlike mountains we're used to. Our house is at 3200', in the desert!
After we left the tour, we walked around the tourist trap shops and had some coffee and toast before going back on board ship.
Driving up the mountain we saw 4 islands called the porcupines
Bar Harbor is the largest town on the island. Very wealthy settlers came from the 1880's until the depression hit and built the mansions. Four steamships brought tourists. for many years
Moose swim onto the island, but can't live there because no algae grows in the swampy areas and the terrain is too rocky. Most of the coast is rocky, but we saw one sandy beach from above. This is a state whose residents are interested in hunting. Lobstering is a big industry, behind tourism. the fisherman receives $4 per pound and restaurants sell dinners for $35-40. A one pound one has been in the water 8-10 years, If they get hungry, they'll chew on each other. 7000 licenses are issued in this area and they all use different color variations on their buoys. It used to be used for fertilizer in this area and was called the "poor man's" food. Some servants wrote in their contracts that they wouldn't eat it more than 3 times a week. Some of the lobstermen are 8th generation.
There used to be large granite quarry, a leather business, and lots of paper mills. Only 3 mills remain and 2 are in bankruptcy. There is a mice research lab. 90% of America's blueberries are grown here. We passed an area where 100 sailors watched for aircraft during WWII. From 1881-1888 a cog railway ran to the top of Cadillac mountain, but it went broke. Cross country and downhill skiing are still popular here. It can reach 50 below zero, so the runs have to be closed then. The mountain road is closed from December 1-April 15th, usually. We passed a golf course and went under granite bridges. Walls around the homes' gardens were granite. There are 300 kinds of mushrooms here, some edible, some not. There are many beaver here and we saw one dam. The guide explained that their teeth grow like our nails, and if they don't chew constantly, they lock up their jaw and they die.
It was very cold and windy on top of the mountain, which is only 1300! Seemed higher, but it is measured from the ocean at the bottom, unlike mountains we're used to. Our house is at 3200', in the desert!
After we left the tour, we walked around the tourist trap shops and had some coffee and toast before going back on board ship.
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