OOPS!!!

OOPS!!!
Well it turned out to not be a sprain but a fracture. So I am hobbling around using a boot cast.
I am not a happy camper but Ken is quite pleased to be able to tell me what I should and should not be doing on this bad ankle.
Oh well it could have been worse. I would have hated for it to have happened at the beginning of our adventure. 

The doctor is saying 6 to 8 weeks of wearing a cast but we will see. It should mean that the cast will be history by Xmas time and it lots of time for our next cruising adventure at the end of January.

Loose Ends

Well it is time to close this Blog session by tying up a lot of loose ends.

Our sea day was fun because all we did was relax. We got our things organized for the necessary packing the next day. The weather was a bit cool but we enjoyed the balcony anyway. The first this we saw in the morning when we awoke was a flock of sparrows flying by. This is noteworthy because you seldom see small birds when you are at sea. But they were around most of the day. It was obvious that someone was feeding them because they kept scurrying across our balcony floor. One with part of a roll was being chased by others wanting in on the action. I don't envy the room stewards and their chore of washing the balcony mats.

We were told that at one point there were about 50 or more of them having a bath in the overflow area of the main pool on deck 15.

Our day in Quebec City was grand. The ship was docked right in the middle of Old Town and our view was of the Chateau. 

For our tour we had to gather in the Princess theatre at 8:15. When we got there at 8:00 we learned that there were 600 people signed up for the same tour. Since it was $149.00 per person Princess must have been smiling that day. Anyway because there would be 12 buses heading out each had a schedule of where to go and when so that we all would not be at the same place at the same time. The order posted in the previous blog was reversed completely so that we ended at the Falls instead of beginning there.

The day began cool and breezy but the bus was warm and because of my still swollen ankle I was able to sit in a front seat.

Our tour guide was wonderful. He was completely fluent in both English and French and he grew up in Quebec. He told us much about the history and the culture and what is was like for him growing up in Quebec.

I was very impressed with the city. This part called The Old Town could be anywhere in Europe with the beautiful architecture and  the cobblestone streets.

The Basilica at St Anne de Beaupre was so amazing that it defies description. It is easily more amazing that most if not all of the wonderful churches we saw in the UK. It is hard to believe that it is relatively new. It is a place you must experience to appreciate.

One of our stops was at Montmorency Falls and they were impressive as well.

PJ our guide said that yesterday it was rainy and foggy and in general the weather was not at all good for touring but we lucked out.

It was a gorgeous day, cool but sunny and bright and the fall colors were spectacular in the bright sunshine.

So it was a wonderful day and we really enjoyed it.We returned to the ship around 4:30, in time for dinner and in time to complete our packing.

 The ship was docked in Quebec overnight and many of the younger party goers took advantage of the overnight docking to enjoy the city. We did not. 

The cruising part of our wonderful travel adventure has come to the end and we are reluctant to disembark. We could easily stay on board for another couple of weeks,

But it is time to get back to the real world.

October second is the day we disembark and we get up early and have breakfast in Horizon Court. We noticed that the faces are not particularly happy. But in a few hours when the new folks arrive the dining area will be filled with smiling happy chatter.

The Elite people got to meet in Club Fusion and when there we met Michael and Jan from Seattle. Somehow we kept missing them during this cruise so it was nice to have time for a good visit.

Soon our color is called and we head out. Fortunately there were lots of luggage carts and we were soon in line for a taxi. We were impressed with how well run it was. 

The taxi ride to our digs for the night was much longer than we thought it would be.

The hotel( L'Aristocrate ) is very nice in fact it is quite top end. The staff was very friendly and efficient. Our room was not yet ready so we walked over to the near by grocery store and drugstore for cold meds and lunch food. Then it was back to wait for our room.

 Fortunately the hotel is near to the airport . In the morning we will be about 12 minutes from the airport. 

So the wake up call is for 4:00 and the flight leaves at 6:30.

, we will be home at 1:10 on October 3rd. So tomorrow it ends.

Thanks so much for following us and we will be cruising again the end of January. Mexico, here we come.

Quebec City, Quebec

To visit Québec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. The architecture, the ambience, and the animated conversation on the street confirm the impression that a bit of France has been permanently imbedded in North America. Stroll along the streets of the atmospheric Latin Quarter and explore the historic stone and brick houses of Old Québec, the only remaining walled city north of Mexico. Visit the Place Royale and Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, and marvel at the turreted Château de Frontenac.

We splurged on an all day tour of Quebec City. There is so much to see and we have not been her before and we don't expect to be here again. We needed to make the most of our day and an organized tour seemed to be the best answer.

Tour Overview

Your tour begins as you board your transportation for a scenic drive to Ile d'Orleans just opposite Montmorency Falls. You'll drive to the bottom of the falls for a photo stop and then make your way to the top of this 272-foot high waterfall. You'll marvel at the breathtaking views and witness the powerful forces of natures as the water of the Montmorency River roars down the cliff to eventually meet with the St. Lawrence River. You're free to walk the path set in the surrounding park and browse in nearby boutiques before continuing on to the village of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.

Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré is home to the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré shrine, a landmark temple that stands near the St. Lawrence River. Sailors in colonial times prayed to Sainte Anne, the patron saint of sailors, and were spared from death. Today, the basilica attracts more than half a million visitors each year. You'll stroll among the grounds and see the church, then depart for a local Baker's Inn restaurant for a French lunch, including chicken or salmon and dessert.

Next you'll continue to Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), the official name of the promontory on which the Upper Town of Québec City is located. Jacques Cartier, the French explorer who found glittering stones in on this great rock formation, thought the stones contained diamonds. After he brought samples of these stones back in France in 1542, experts concluded that these "diamonds" were actually quartz, hence the proverb, "As fake as a Canadian diamond."

En route you'll pass through Parc des Champs de Bataille, the site where the French surrendered to the British in 1759. Today, the park features 267 acres of grassy hills, sunken gardens, monuments, artillery artifacts, fountains, and trees.

Next on your itinerary is Château Frontenac, a palatial hotel built in 1893 by the Canadian Pacific Railway, and host to Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and MacKenzie King when they met to discuss strategy during World War II. Located in front of the château is Place d'Armes, one of the most important intersections in the old city, filled with café-goers, street performers and musicians. You'll walk through Artist Alley and browse in nearby boutiques before departing for Dufferin Terrace, the landscaped promenade and boardwalk facing the château. Here you'll enjoy panoramic views of the St. Lawrence River, the town of Levis on the opposite bank, Ile d'Orleans, and the Laurentian Mountains.

Your tour concludes with a drive to Place Royale, a handsomely restored square in the heart of Lower Town boasting 17th and 18th-century stone architecture. The site of Samuel de Champlain's first settlement, the square is home to Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church still standing in North America.

Charlottetown

Charlottetown, PEI

Because we were in PEI last summer we really did not feel the need to do much here.

Ken has my cold and the weather took a terrible turn for the worst. It went from 25 degrees to 12 degrees and there was a stiff wind blowing. So needless to say there was not a lot of walking happening.

I did go ashore long enough to check out the cruise terminal and to see if they had any great crafting ideas.

There terminal can’t hold a candle to the one in Sydney and there were very few crafts. Most of the sales were basically retail outlets selling souvenirs. There was one person selling metal work and I was tempted by one lighthouse item with a clock as part of it . But I resisted and came back on board empty handed.

Last evening was formal night. I wore my dress from Samoa, and it got lots of compliments. I took pictures of Rob and Joy and Jason.

The show last evening was an illusionist and as usual he left us dumbfounded. These people are amazing and try as we may we cannot figure out how they do what they do.

We had a brandy and coffee and called it a night.

Charlottetown, PEI

Charlottetown, Canada

While Prince Edward Island is Canada's smallest providence in terms of area and population, it more than makes up for this with the friendliness of its people, its natural beauty, and for being known as the birthplace of Canada.

The island's landscape is dramatic and features rolling hills, pristine forests, reddish-white sand beaches, ocean coves and the famous red soil. The capital of Charlottetown offers a small town feel and a relaxed atmosphere with a cosmopolitan flair. The town has evolved into a dynamic city without sacrificing its historic charm. One certainly cannot think about Prince Edward without mentioning the author Lucy Maud Montgomery who once lived on PEI and drew inspiration from the land during the late Victorian Era for the setting of her classic novel "Anne of Green Gables." PEI also has another claim to fame with the Confederation Bridge built in 1997. The world's longest bridge over ice-covered waters provides a connection from PEI to the mainland Canada.

Home!!

Sydney,

How strange it felt to sail into Sydney!

We arrived at 8:15 and people began to disembark right away. We had breakfast in our room and enjoyed the view from the balcony doors. There was a wind blowing and it was too cold to go outside. But the sun was shining and it was beautiful. We were anchored off of Sydport and had to be tendered in. We headed out at nine and we got a tender ride right away. The black card sure comes in handy.

When ashore we called cousin Wayne and wished him luck with his horse race this afternoon He told me about the business Wayne junior has but it is located down by the YMCA and my ankle would not have liked that so we didn’t go down to see him.

BUT we did spend time inside the cruise ship terminal. I hoped to see some of the crafters that I sold with years ago and I did meet one. Ruth filled me in on a lot of the news, especially concerning the church. I was saddened to hear that Trinity United had closed 2 years ago and the building is for sale.

Then I also ran into Laurie. She and her husband Rod used to frequent to store in Framboise and she and I had a good gabfest.

One vendor was selling exceptional Ammolite pieces and I got a very nice pendant with lovely reds and oranges in it.

It is a very special place. I can say without a doubt that it is one of the nicest if not the nicest cruise ship terminal we have visited in our 29 cruises. Sydney needs to be very proud. The quality of crafts is first rate , the exhibits are exceptional, the welcomes received were spectacular. The center has everything from food to crafts to places to eat and places to drink. There are free exhibits of the local history, free concerts, and free WiFi. I was even able to buy a Scottish Oat Cake. We took lots and lots of pictures but soon my ankle was telling me to head back on board.

We took pictures of the fiddle and I chatted with a cabbie who said he would pass a message on to Earl for me.

With that I knew I had done what I wanted to do so we got into line for a tender.

My, it was a great visit home.

Sydney, Nova Scotia/ September 28

Sydney, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton is fabled as a magical travel destination and the Port of Sydney is the gateway. Known for its beauty and unique Celtic music and culture, Sydney puts some of the Island's greatest sights and attractions at your fingertips when you disembark into the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion.

The dockside pavilion offers an array of Shopping Boutiques, a Craft Market and the World's Largest Fiddle. You will also find wireless Internet services, a Visitor Information Centre, and the Cape Breton Island Exhibition Centre featuring artifacts, images and an overview of the rich culture and heritage of this historic Island. Or you can simply sit and savour our local seafood cuisine at the Range Light Cafe, or enjoy a glass of wine on our second level balcony.

The city of Sydney has a deep history and was originally founded in 1785 by British Loyalists fleeing the perils of the American Revolution. The rich natural resources led these new settlers to establish prosperous coal and steel industries, which attracted immigrants from a myriad of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. To this day, Sydney remains a haven of multiculturalism.

The Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion is just a short drive from the community of Baddeck and the breathtaking Bras d'Or Lake where Alexander Graham Bell lived, worked and studied. On the east coast of Cape Breton lies the largest historic reconstruction in North America, the Fortress of Louisbourg. The Fortress is a Parks Canada National Historic Site and is described as a Williamsburg-style attraction that is not to be missed.