Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

October 16, 2013

I remember studying about the Gaspe Peninsula in elementary school.  Today, we visited there.  This is a very rugged part of Canada, which includes a section of the International Appalachian Trail.  Yes, that’s the same Appalachian Trail that runs through Tennessee.  The peninsula extends into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.  There are high cliffs and mountains that border the area.  This is also a prime spot to see migrating whales and beautiful landscapes.  We didn’t see any whales today because most of them have already started their migration south into warmer waters.

This area is devoted to fishing, agriculture and forestry.  However, because of the number of tourists to the area, it is moving toward the tourism and service industries. 

We chose to stay in the little city of Gaspe today, rather than take a shore excursion to Perce, about an hour across the peninsula.  All of the shore excursions were by school buses, and we just weren’t up to riding that distance on that type of bus.  Had we gone, however, we would have seen the northeast tip where Forillon National Parks, the first national park in Quebec, is located, and is home to seals and moose. 

Just strolling the main street of Gaspe was like visiting Skagway, Alaska.  Very few shops, a number of restaurants, a Tim Horton’s (Canada’s version of Starbucks), and very friendly people who wanted us to enjoy their little piece of North America.

Tomorrow and Friday are sea days before we arrive back in Bayonne, NJ, on Saturday morning and return home from a much needed vacation.

Quebec City - Day 2

Quebec City, Quebec

It’s cold and rainy today, and looks very much like autumn in Quebec City.  We will wait awhile and possibly leave the ship later in the day.  This itinerary keeps us here two full days.

Here’s some things you may not know about the city.
·         It was settled by Samuel de Champlain in 1608 at a narrow part of the majestic St. Lawrence River.
·         It was the first permanent French settlement in the New World
·         As “the” place to trade lumber and fur, it soon became a prosperous commercial port.
·         Things weren’t always settled though, and the 18^th century brought disputes between the French and the British and later the Americans

Given the province’s French heritage(which is unique among the Canadian provinces), there is an ongoing debate in Canada regarding the unique status of Quebec and its people.  Currently, the population is divided – some support the idea of full sovereignty; some with a sovereignty-association with the rest of Canada; some are satisfied with the status quo and want their province to remain within a united Canadian federation. 

This is a beautiful area of Canada.  We depart late this afternoon and will have another day at sea before arriving at Gaspe.  More then.

Quebec City, Quebec

October 13, 2013

Fall has definitely come to Quebec City!!  We arrived early this morning, and the Hotel Frontenac was lit and beautiful.  The trees are in full color, and everything in Quebec City is decorated with beautiful pumpkins and Fall decorations.

Quebec City, Quebec, is the New France.  Very European in charm and character, this was the first French city in North America, and is 400 years old. The historic town sits atop a bluff overlooking both the St. Charles and St. Lawrence rivers.  About 95% of the people of Quebec speak French as their primary language, but most speak English as well.

Our tour this morning took us to the Joan of Arc memorial, the Hotel Frontenac, Place D’Armes, and the Basilica of Notre Dame.  This Upper Town area has spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River.
We also went through the Lower Town and saw the Place Royale and the restored Quartier du Petit-Champlain.  There is a “funicular” which connects these two sections of Quebec City.  A funicular is a cable car/incline type people mover. 

We drove out to St. Anne de Beapre, a beautiful Catholic Basilica.  St. Anne has become one of the most important Catholic sites in North America, and is known as a place of miraculous healing, and there were two walls holding dozens of crutches and canes and walkers.  The cathedral is built in the Gothic style and has over 200 stained glass windows.  Mass was being held when we arrived, so we could only go into the back of the Basilica. 

We also stopped at Montmorency Falls, a beautiful waterfall that is actually higher than Niagara Falls. 

It’s been our coolest day yet, and after being out most of the day, we are now back onboard to rest for awhile.  We will be in Quebec City again tomorrow, which is Canadian Thanksgiving.  Our guide told us that all of the shops and restaurants would be open tomorrow, so we plan to go back into the Old Town for a little shopping.

Prince Edward Island and Anne of Green Gables

October 11, 2013

This morning, we arrived in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.  Charlottetown was named for King George’s wife, and Prince Edward was his son.  Again, the weather has been on our side, as we awoke to bright blue skies.  As the day progressed and we traveled to the north side of the island, it became a bit overcast, but cleared as we returned to Charlottetown.

The people here are extremely friendly.  Our guide asked if anyone was from the U.S., and then mentioned that she would be bringing a group to Nashville in November over Thanksgiving.  Of course, we had to let her know that we lived there.  She was so knowledgeable about the island and everything about Anne of Green Gables.

William and Kate honeymooned on PEI and stayed at the Lieutenant Governor’s house.  We saw Founders’ Hall, Canada’s birthplace pavilion, and travelled to the North Shore, famous for its red cliffs, PEI National Park, Cavendish Beach and the Anne of Green Gables House (the old fame site that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery’s first novel, Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908). 

Because I loved this book as a child and had just read it again before coming on this trip, it meant even more to me to see the setting that inspired the book.  The description of the house, barn, Lover’s Lane and the Haunted Woods were exactly as L.M. Montgomery had written. 

We are finally seeing some fall foliage, and today’s nip in the air let us know that we are definitely getting further and further north.  We set sail shortly for Quebec City. Tomorrow is a sea day, and after five days in port, we are looking forward to a day for relaxing, reading and enjoying the ship. 

Sydney, Nova Scotia

October 10, 2013

So, just where is the world’s largest fiddle (roughly 50 feet tall and weighing around 10 tons)
 located? It’s sitting dockside in Sydney, Nova Scotia, the quaint little port city where we are docked today.  We arrived in Sydney around 9:30 am Atlantic time.  It was cool and crisp, but again, we have bright blue skies and a little wind.  We were greeted by a Scottish piper when we left the ship.   This is a tiny little town, and we were able to walk about a half-mile from the ship into the downtown area. 

The people of Sydney hail from around the world, and are a mix of over 50 nationalities from Scotland and Africa to Eastern Europe. 
Cape Breton’s is the largest community in Sydney.  This is the general location of where our ship is docked.  Victoria Park now sits at the site of the original British garrison which was established in 1785.  We stopped in a little Irish pub for a light lunch and did a little shopping in the downtown district. 

One local boy made it big here when he invented the telephone – Alexander Graham Bell.  The city has also had famous hockey players (this is Canada, after all).  

We came back to the ship to rest and relax this afternoon before having dinner tonight in Normandie, one of the specialty restaurants on the Celebrity Summit.  Our ship sails late this afternoon, and then we set sail for Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Oh, Canada! A Day in Halifax

October 9, 2013

We crossed the U.S. border into Canada during the middle of the night.  Today we were in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Halifax is located on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia.  It is a very metropolitan city, is the capital of Nova Scotia, and is known as the “City of Trees”. 

Halifax is home to many museums, historic sights and beautiful gardens.  The Halifax Citadel, the Old Town Clock, City Hall, Province House and St. Paul’s Anglican Church are among the many sites we saw on the double decker bus that we took around the city this morning.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic features several Titantic exhibits that demonstrate the role Halifax played in the disaster.  As the closest major port to where the Titanic sank, Halifax played a significant role in the recovery and burial of its victims.  Once the magnitude of the disaster had become apparent, White Star Line dispatched three ships from Halifax to aid in the recovery operation.  There were 306 bodies recovered, 116 of these were buried at sea.  About 150 Titanic victims are laid to rest in three Halifax cemeteries, most at Fairview Lawn.  When we were here a few years ago, a hurricane had preceded us and the cemetery was closed to visitors.  Debris and trees were down and strewn everywhere. 

This afternoon, we took a tour out to Peggy’s Cove, the highlight of visiting Halifax.  The impressive rock formations are hundreds of millions of years old, left by eroding glaciers.  Their natural beauty is enhanced with a huge stone carving by William DeGarthe, which is a tribute to the people of Peggy’s Cove, a working fishing village.

It was a beautiful day in Halifax today with the temperature hovering around the 60° mark, but sunny and little wind.  We are soon to set sail to Sydney, Nova Scotia.  More tomorrow.

 

 

Bah Hahbah

October 8, 2013

It’s Day 5 of our Canada/New England cruise on the Celebrity Summit.  Today was sunny, but our first cold day.  We awoke to 41° bright blue skies. 

Bar Harbor is a very picturesque town that is tucked away along Maine’s rocky coast.  Our ship can’t dock at the port, so we must tender in.  That means that we will have small boats that will take us into the port from our very large ship.  It was very windy out, and the seas were choppy, but we made it to shore in less than 15 minutes. 

Bar Harbor’s main attraction is Acadia National Park, but unfortunately, it is now closed because of the furloughed “non-essential” governmental employees.  This was a huge disappointment that we couldn’t see this site.  According to the information from Celebrity, there are “granite cliffs side by side with sand and cobblestone beaches. Glacier-carved mountains rise from the sea, cupping deep lakes in their valleys. “  Just a bit of trivia - the Acadians of were of French descent, and they migrated to the Southern coast, specifically to Louisiana and became known as Cajuns. 

Tourmaline is a gemstone indigenous to the area, and there are numerous store that sell jewelry with these stones.

A trip to Bar Harbor is definitely not complete without having Maine lobster and New England Clam Chowder  for lunch, followed by warm blueberry pie with ice cream. 

When we returned to our ship, we attended a cocktail party sponsored by Vacation.com, the travel agency consortium to which we belong.  This particular sailing is a Distinctive Voyage, and this is one of the amenities we will receive. 

After cocktails, I headed to the AquaSpa for a Spa-Topia treatment – hot stones back massage complete with a hand and arm massage, pressure point foot massage, and a spa facial.  What a way to end a beautiful last day in Maine before heading to Canada.

A Taste of Maine - Oct. 17, 2013

We arrived in Portland, ME, this morning to a very gray, very foggy sky.  Seeing across Casco Bay was an impossibility.  The term “pea soup” came to mind when we looked out from our balcony.  Portland is a wonderful place to get a taste of New England, whether you are looking for incredible homes, architecture and history, or lobsters and chow-dah.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow referred to Portland, his boyhood home, as the “Jewel of the Sea”.

Charlie and I got off the ship and took a walk down the main street, getting caught in a rain shower.  Thank goodness, I remembered to pack the umbrellas.  We met up with our friends, Linda and Jim Tidwell and David and Linda Bohan, and boarded our motorcoach for a tour to Kennebunkport around noon.

To get to Kennebunkport, we had to go through Kennebunk.  We passed The Kennebunk Inn, one of the top ten haunted inns in New England, and where our friends, the Bohans, have stayed.  They can vouch for the Inn being haunted because they experienced it first-hand on a trip here a few years ago. 

Kennebunkport is just 45 minutes from Portland.  The leaves are not at their peak color, but it is definitely looking like fall in New England.  This is a charming coastal village which gained worldwide exposure as the summer home of former President George H.W. Bush. 

When we arrived in Kennebunkport, we stopped for a quick bowl of clam chowder and a little shopping before boarding our coach again.

Motorcoaches are not allowed to stop , but we drove slowly past Walker’s Point, the Bush Estate, and the former Summer White House, where world leaders often gathered.  We could see Barbara Bush (although at quite a distance) decked out in pink, outside working in one of the many gardens surrounding the compound.  

There is a guard house to enter the driveway which has Secret Service personnel in residence.  There is also housing for them on the estate.  The flag pole is very interesting, with the U.S. flag on top of a flag of the state of Texas and a flag of the state of Maine.

As soon as we arrived in Kennebunkport, the sun came out, the weather started to clear which made the leaves even more brilliant. 

One thing we did learn today is that there are 75 lighthouses in the state of Maine.  I’m sure we will see quite a few as we sail by the Maine coastline. 

It’s 5:00 pm, and the Celebrity Summit has begun her departure from Portland as the fog again starts to roll in.  We are now headed to Bar Harbor for a day of eating lobster and roaming around this quaint little New England town.

How to Travel Peacefully with Your Family & Friends

We usually spend time with friends and family in three or four hour blocks, going to dinner and the movies or watching a football game.  So, when friends and family decide to travel together, they’re suddenly faced with each other’s whims, needs and preferences 24/7, which sometimes causes enough friction to sabotage the vacation.  Here are some tips on how to make sure that family and friends remain friendly while traveling.

Establish Ground Rules

When my dad took our family of 13 on a cruise a number of years ago, one of the first things we discussed was that we needed to establish some ground rules.  We had ages 6 to 66 going on this trip with two of them college-age students. My dad was one to call everyone early in the morning and wake them up.  This was a big no-no.  We had some who wanted to sleep in and some who were early risers.  The first ground rule was no one was to call anyone in the mornings.  We had a place on the ship where we would meet in the mornings after you got up.  On port days, we set a time and meeting place so we would all leave the ship at the same time.  Now, we take family radios with us and the rule is to turn them on when you wake up and ask if anyone is up yet. RULE # 1:  If your traveling companions’ style differs from yours, find an amicable compromise in the planning stages in order to prevent any conflicts while on your vacation.

Separate and Share

Plan to do separate activities once or twice during the trip, promising to meet up for dinner to share your experiences.  The second ground rule on our family cruise was ALL of us would have dinner together every night.  RULE # 2:  The perfect time to play apart is during the daytime when each couple/person/family might choose a different excursion or sightseeing tour.  Come nighttime, you’ll be trading wild tales over cocktails and dinner about your divergent adventures.

Leave Emotions at Home

If you know your friends well enough to plan an international trip with them, then you should have a pretty good idea about their likes and dislikes.  We travel with two couples who are our best friends.  We have some

shoppers and some sightseers in this group.  If one couple wants to do something different than the rest, no one gets their feelings hurt. RULE # 3: Don’t feel like you have to be joined at the hip every minute of every day. A little wiggle room for everyone is good.

Agree on the Budget

RULE # 4:  Have a frank talk before you go about how much you intend to spend, how frequently you want to eat at fancy restaurants and other activities that will cost money.

Keep Talking

Always express your opinions and ask for your traveling companions opinions in return.  Only by knowing what both parties like and dislike will you be able to find a common ground.  RULE # 5:  The key to peacefully traveling with your friends and family is keeping the lines of communication open. 

By following these simple tips, you can have a stress-free, fun-filled vacation with those friends and family you cherish most. 

Five Things We Love About River Cruising

My husband, Charlie, and I have been on four river cruises – three in Europe and one in the U.S.  We’ve sailed from Burgundy to Provence in France on the Soane and Rhone Rivers, from Prague to Budapest on the Danube River, and from Amsterdam to Basel on the Rhine River.  We’ve also sailed from St. Louis to Louisville on the American Queen steamboat.  All four of these cruises have been unique.  The scenery on each was extraordinary.  The ships had their own personalities in their layout and design.  The itineraries, needless to say, cannot be compared, as each was so different.  From the vineyards, lavender and sunflower fields in France, to the castles along the Rhine, to the history of World War II along the Danube, to the flavors of the small cities of the U.S., we found that there were similarities on all of them.

River cruising is one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry.  We are booking more and more of these types of vacations weekly.  A number of the river cruises in Europe, especially, are already booking up quickly for 2013.  China, Vietnam, Egypt and the Nile and the Zambizi in Africa, as well as the Po River in Portugal are fast becoming exciting river cruise destinations.

Why is this form of cruising becoming so popular?  Here are five things we love about river cruising:

1.       All-inclusive Value – River cruises typically include shore excursions in the cost of the cruise.  This is a tremendous value.  And, most of the river cruise operators (Avalon Waterways, Viking River, Tauck River Cruising, and American Queen Steamboat Company, to name a few) include wine and beer with lunch and dinner.  Many river cruise lines even offer complimentary Internet access as well.

2.       Easy to Go on Your Own – River cruises typically dock within walking distance of a city or town along the river.  This makes it very convenient if you want to explore on your own, or enjoy a lunch or dinner in town.

3.       Smooth Sailing – There is no motion on a river cruise, and for one who has an issue with motion sickness, this is a major plus.  So, if you are sensitive to motion, a river cruise is definitely something to consider.

4.       Relaxed Liquor Policy – River cruise lines are much more accommodating when it comes to consuming alcohol that you bring onboard.  If you purchase a bottle of wine in port, you can bring it back onboard and enjoy it up on the sun deck or in your cabin.

5.       Casual Dress Code – There are typically no “formal” nights on a river cruise.  The atmosphere is classy or “Country Club Casual”.  This makes it much easier to pack for your vacation.

If you haven’t tried a river cruise, now is the time to look at 2014 and a new adventure. 

A Taste of the Good Life

Cruising grows in popularity every year, as more and more travelers discover the flexibility and value a cruise vacation provides. Once onboard, there is a wealth of intriguing activities from which to choose.

A culinary cruise is the perfect way to combine ones love for travel and fine food into one incredible cruise experience. For those with the love of cooking and dining, a big part of the cruise experience is to sample local dishes and taste local wines.  River cruising, especially in Europe, has gained in popularity in the past few years, and the culinary experience on these ships is everything one would expect in the finest restaurants across the continent.  The cuisine and wines served onboard are indigenous to the country visited, whether sailing in the south of France, on the Danube in Eastern Europe, or the Rhine in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. 

A Culinary Cruise offers both the love of cooking, fine dining and so much more. Often on a Culinary Cruise celebrity chefs demonstrate their techniques, share their menus and let you participate in the process. Imagine taking a tour of a local market with a culinary expert! Culinary cruises take immersion into a local destination to a new level.

Here are five of the best ocean-going cruise lines to cook up your culinary education:

Crystal Cruises – In addition to hands-on instruction, days at sea feature chefs’ demos, wine tastings, pairing sessions and lessons in the art of the perfect cocktail.

Holland America Line - The Culinary Arts Center, a first-class “show-kitchen at sea” presented by Food & Wine magazine, integrates your love for fine food and wine with a unique and entertaining experience.

Oceania Cruises - Aboard the fleet’s newest ships, the Marina and Riviera, you can become immersed in the joy of cooking gourmet cuisine at the Bon Appétit Culinary Center, a hands-on culinary studio featuring 24 individual cooking stations.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises - At Regent’s Le Cordon Bleu Workshops, celebrated chefs provide a hands-on introduction to the art of French cooking.

Silversea Cruises - This luxury cruise line offers a broad curriculum of tantalizing culinary events designed exclusively for the first Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs at sea.

Isn’t it time that you had a “taste” of the good life?

Top Eight Things You Must Pack When Traveling Overseas

A week before we left for Europe last fall, one of our friends called and asked me if I was packed yet.  Packed?  Of course not.  Made my list of what I was planning to take?  Definitely.  It was just a matter of collecting everything and putting it into the proper bag.  One thing we learned the hard way is to pack half of my things into one bag along with half of my husband, Charlie’s.  We can usually get by on a 10-12 day trip with two large checked bags and a carry-on each. 

When I make my packing list, here are my top ten things that I pack first before anything else:

1.    Books/magazines or any other type of reading material.  The thing about travel is that there is a lot of sitting.  And waiting. And sitting while waiting. It seems like a minor thing to pack, but trust me, when you’ve got hours to kill on a plane or train, you’re going to want that book.  Having an e-reader eliminates having to pack heavy reading material. 

2.      A universal plug adapter.  It is annoying to arrive at your destination and realize that you can’t plug in your laptop, phone or curling iron because your plugs won’t fit into the wall sockets.  Remember:  Not only are the plugs different, the power supply might be different too.  Be sure your appliance has a transformer on the power cord before you plug it in, even with the adapter.  If it doesn’t then you might be better off asking your hotel if they have a hair dryer you can borrow.

3.     Medicine.  If you’re on prescription medicine, be sure that it’s in your prescription bottles with your name on it.  This should always be packed in your carry-on bag.  You do not want this separated from you at any time.  Over-the-counter medications are sometimes just as important, although you can probably get these wherever you are going. Just be sure the dosages are the same as you are accustomed to taking.  I always take a pain reliever, an anti-diarrheal, and a small first-aid kit to be on the safe side.

4.      Camera and related accessories.  With digital cameras today, taking film is no longer necessary, but batteries for your camera are. A laptop could be classified as a “related accessory”, and I take all of the cables I need to download my pictures each day from my camera’s memory card to my laptop.  And, on the subject of memory cards, it’s a good idea to have a spare with you.

5.     Chargers.  There is nothing more disappointing than arriving at your destination, ready to get out and see the sights, and realizing that your camera battery is dead and you forgot your charger.  Moral of the story:  don’t forget any of your chargers – cell phone, laptop, camera, etc.

6.     Travel documents and photocopies of travel documents and passports.   If you’re going to travel overseas, you’re going to need a passport.  If you’ve never applied for a passport, give yourself plenty of time ahead of your trip to apply for one.  If you already have a passport, make sure that the expiration date is at least six month beyond your planned return date.  You will be denied boarding the aircraft if it isn’t.  In some countries, visas are mandatory.  Check you’re your travel agent to make sure you have all of the proper documentation.  What if you lose your passport while gone?  This is where the photocopies come in.  Make copies of your passport and put a copy in the top and bottom of each of your bags, as well as leaving a copy at home where someone can find it easily.  Make sure your travel agent has your passport number and expiration date as well.

7.     Cell phone.  Overseas, cell phone costs can be astronomical if you use data roaming.  Be sure to turn this service off before your plane leaves the U.S.  Check with your provider and ask about international data roaming fees.  You may want to disable your data roaming so you can’t receive emails or have internet access on your phone while gone, but can receive phone calls in case of emergency.

8.     An open mind.  Remember, you’re traveling abroad because you want to experience a whole new culture – and sometimes, that culture doesn’t include things like McDonalds or even Starbucks.  Relax, and soak it all in.  Plan your travel agenda with contingencies so that if things go wrong (and they just might), the result isn’t catastrophic.  And, when all else fails, just remember, you’ve made memories that will make great stories in the future.