tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55647220896765869952024-03-05T19:09:49.140-08:00New England and Canada CruiseAnne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564722089676586995.post-3284982331483010822016-11-10T07:19:00.002-08:002016-11-10T09:42:12.085-08:00Life on the Caribbean Princess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caribbean Princess</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">For those of you interested in cruising, we wanted to
provide a quick review of our cruise ship experience. This was a very port-intensive cruise, so we spent relatively little time on board, but to be honest, the
Caribbean Princess was a mixed experience.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical buffet meal</td></tr>
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<b>Pros</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Excellent customer service from the Ship's Front Desk – went above
and beyond to accommodate us<o:p></o:p></div>
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Best buffet food of any ship we have ever sailed on<o:p></o:p></div>
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Outstanding meal at the specialty restaurant called "The Crown Grill"<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "head-banger" stateroom</td></tr>
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<b>Cons</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Stateroom was horrible – we had a small stateroom with two closed-up extra beds (for children, we think) that hung on the sides of the walls and jutted 9 inches or so out into the room, making the room claustrophobic, plus those damn beds were real headbangers (just ask Frank who smacked his head on them almost
every day!). <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Will definitely AVOID rooms like this from now on! Unless you need extra beds for your kids and want to go on-the-cheap, stay away from those side beds.</span></div>
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Anytime Dining was a mess – we couldn’t get a table without
a reservation and even those with reservations were waiting long periods of time (we gave up and usually ate at
the buffet)<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Entertainment Theater was much too small – people arrived an hour before
in order to get seats, we stopped even trying. Only small saving was that there are multiple shows; but even that was hard to gauge for the least-crowded showing.<o:p></o:p><br />
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And finally, here are some stats on the cruise and the cruise ship. During our time aboard "The Caribbean Princess," it was commanded by Captain Mario Ciruzzi, an Italian-born citizen from the south of Italy. Our cruise started from the port of New York City and ended up in the port of Quebec City for a cruise distance of about 2269 statute miles, stopping at 7 ports (we had to skip Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island because of high winds). Bummer, because Frank's old work buddy (Paul Ehret) had introduced Frank to Prince Edward Island (PEI) mussels years ago, and we were both anxious to get the really good ones from PEI when we stopped there. However, the scrumptious little buggers were not to be had on PEI. We did manage to scarf down some PEI mussels on the ship that night - mmmmmmmmmm! Thank you Paul. Great experience.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cruise ship Caribbean Princess moored in Bar Harbor</td></tr>
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About the Caribbean Princess (CP): The CP is a 113,561 gross ton vessel registered in Hamilton, Bermuda. It comes in with a length of 947 feet and a breadth of 118 feet. The Princess holds a max number of 3573 passengers, and a max number of crew members at 1227. <br />
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Here's a final little ditty that may interest our travelers who don't already know this. The word Quebec is a French pronunciation when visiting Quebec City. The French there (which are the vast majority of the city) call it "ke-<b>BEK" </b>City, not kwi-<b>BEK</b> City, the way an American says it. It's the French way!! This gets even more complicated, because the British in and around Quebec City call it "Cue-<b>BEK</b>" City, and Americans say it the way Americans pronounce a word that begins with the letters "Qu". Yes, 3 totally different ways to pronounce Quebec City, depending on your nationality!<br />
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Overall, we really had a wonderful time on the cruise, but we did want to give you an honest assessment of our ship.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for traveling with us!</td></tr>
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Anne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564722089676586995.post-23272792948922400882016-11-08T04:47:00.000-08:002016-11-08T04:47:19.710-08:00Quebec City: Romance in the Rain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehG60RyG407g50BtfQ6N3CV3Z4fBTCv4_i4CmAFCpDWgM5rpQEtA__CaxTbnsIDAsx2fZoNz31lALnXkhdy3hQPZwkg4NfCmCcvyMNY8CLE763L2tKFKbBR0abJsNDd6-n5TaT-KjjCQ/s1600/IMG_6234.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehG60RyG407g50BtfQ6N3CV3Z4fBTCv4_i4CmAFCpDWgM5rpQEtA__CaxTbnsIDAsx2fZoNz31lALnXkhdy3hQPZwkg4NfCmCcvyMNY8CLE763L2tKFKbBR0abJsNDd6-n5TaT-KjjCQ/s320/IMG_6234.ed.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chateau Frontenac majestically situated above<br />
the port and the Lower Town</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">After two days at sea, our cruise ship chugged down the
Saint-Lawrence Seaway into the downtown port at Quebec City, ready for an overnight
stop there, and the end of the cruise for us. We had plans to stay an
additional couple days, as we knew so little about this city. Those of you who
know us, know that we’ve spent a lot of time in France, touring around over the
years, and studying the language. That made Quebec City an obvious place to
vacation. So let’s explore!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our weather karma finally gave out; Quebec City was cold
and raining with a bitter wind that roared down the St. Lawrence River. We saw plenty
of umbrellas flipped inside out, and tourists huddled in doorways trying to get
out of the wind. At one point, the rain even changed over to a very heavy
sleet, but it only lasted a few minutes. However none of this could detract
from the beauty of this elegant and romantic French city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflpBcbLdy9MsUFT2j0mVDml81M6R1auXSEUgILYys2r7hVlxfQt6byX4mIazVctInjPp0M7KKrCvHoe64ib9ogfmezti1Bh4ReibsXAelyHGYnLyMwrLotDIfHros550xyYuewiYNxoc/s1600/IMG_6288.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflpBcbLdy9MsUFT2j0mVDml81M6R1auXSEUgILYys2r7hVlxfQt6byX4mIazVctInjPp0M7KKrCvHoe64ib9ogfmezti1Bh4ReibsXAelyHGYnLyMwrLotDIfHros550xyYuewiYNxoc/s320/IMG_6288.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne and Serge on Place Royale <br />
in the Lower Town of Quebec City</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lower
Town<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We began our explorations with a private tour of the
Lower Town, following our tour guide Serge Perron on foot thru the wet streets around
the area near the port where our Caribbean Princess was docked. Quebec City is quite old as North America
goes; it was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, just one year after our
own 1<sup>st</sup> city of Jamestown (1607) was established. The Lower Town was
once the “Wall Street” of Quebec with many former bank buildings and the Place
Royale, a pretty little square built as a tribute to King Louis XIV. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXopZWdOzePddBDrkBhyqBAE25cUc2YyU64uVfYD4IYewPGH6C3a6c_iLWA-x097JKFdlSNjyORVMesBG8ZutpXPC_GFUo2pU0MlENSqF5o5UCIW34fDvFRgG8R1j4K637dvM8jQZ4QfY/s1600/IMG_6301.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXopZWdOzePddBDrkBhyqBAE25cUc2YyU64uVfYD4IYewPGH6C3a6c_iLWA-x097JKFdlSNjyORVMesBG8ZutpXPC_GFUo2pU0MlENSqF5o5UCIW34fDvFRgG8R1j4K637dvM8jQZ4QfY/s320/IMG_6301.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shopping street in the Lower Town</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The whole
area was filled with shops and restaurants, which like the Place Royale, had been
refurbished a few times thru the years.
So what we saw was not exactly original (although it looked terrific),
but a rendition that closely emulated the past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q8xMHNx4sD3QmYB4H31i0XjoRf3HiZ1iJ8GrbUM-A8aizu3wvwJrNdSwSIkjsVFV3snVLh77d4gYiNINYUkoyHoxzuf4yoLsS8wjAJ76pLKk-RgHhhmZPe4oPcO7WNAvCiCQNCwH7Hc/s1600/IMG_6281.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q8xMHNx4sD3QmYB4H31i0XjoRf3HiZ1iJ8GrbUM-A8aizu3wvwJrNdSwSIkjsVFV3snVLh77d4gYiNINYUkoyHoxzuf4yoLsS8wjAJ76pLKk-RgHhhmZPe4oPcO7WNAvCiCQNCwH7Hc/s320/IMG_6281.ed.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">History of Quebec mural</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We also saw an impressive, multi-story mural covering
highlights of the history of Quebec. It’s embarrassing how little we know about
Canada (they, of course, know all about us).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEpbIvvp1tNPXcUZvnphRSCWIwJxVfTOeymf68-mwmVCPC-OC4qAtrO7Y-m_SjveCBKBiVRj-ygnvhxlQGSqlzhZNnEZjuE8vLVhoQrrPZ3R9naztmZtcuZ5UIJPXnp5YtDIpbOR6bfA/s1600/IMG_1470.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEpbIvvp1tNPXcUZvnphRSCWIwJxVfTOeymf68-mwmVCPC-OC4qAtrO7Y-m_SjveCBKBiVRj-ygnvhxlQGSqlzhZNnEZjuE8vLVhoQrrPZ3R9naztmZtcuZ5UIJPXnp5YtDIpbOR6bfA/s320/IMG_1470.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chateau Frontenac</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Intro
to the Upper Town <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because of the inclement weather, Serge finished our
walking tour with a drive up to the Upper Town (aka Old Town) which sits on a
300 foot cliff. He helped us to get our bearings in this new place and drove us
past one of the main attractions here in Quebec City: the Chateau Frontenac, a
huge bastion of a hotel that sits at the highest point of the city. It can be
seen from virtually anywhere in Quebec City, as it protrudes above the cliffs
that create the “upper city.” This
behemoth has 618 hotel rooms on 18 floors, and opened its doors in 1893. It is the most photographed hotel in the
world! Our Hotel Clarendon, built in 1870, is located right in the historic Old
Town about a block from the Chateau Frontenac (a 2-minute walk) and is the
oldest continuously-operating hotel in the city. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgeX3JnClYPI9kVdY7NzKLe1FFFFXe_lEK8HH3REWD_764wvLEetK-Tk2aM93BHkJQko-9sGVH0kZEjXZj2I5XIMPUgJdK24u0GBoXq9bfIDy67gf8LbU3j7Ob6qqFN4Bgg6ktEuHfEQ/s1600/IMG_1271.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcgeX3JnClYPI9kVdY7NzKLe1FFFFXe_lEK8HH3REWD_764wvLEetK-Tk2aM93BHkJQko-9sGVH0kZEjXZj2I5XIMPUgJdK24u0GBoXq9bfIDy67gf8LbU3j7Ob6qqFN4Bgg6ktEuHfEQ/s320/IMG_1271.ed.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unique Quebecois fortified wine<br />
called Caribou</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Foodie
Tour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We always love the curious and different indigenous foods
of places we visit, so it was necessary for us to investigate the “Quebec-ie” foods
by taking a local food tour. Our foodie tour thru Quebec City was led by a spry,
mouse-like 60-year-old guide named Judith who showed us some of the hot eating
spots around town. We sampled smoked salmon topped with the ubiquitous Canadian
maple syrup, buckwheat crepes, choco (!), and some of Quebec’s white wines. We also
tasted two of Quebec’s most unusual products: caribou (a fortified wine that
used to be made with caribou blood), and poutine (a Quebecois fast food).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1blqY0y48G-pTamkr6f5rf-TxqYGrzHIVtwTcSiG7nYVYIOtzRjBC3PgYKJNi3DVwJjmhlT-88bZmb-ojFzb3MWR2op443uv3V3DEk4nd4XUcLokXMpZUUbkFKubFBiQiH76sYZvKZIU/s1600/IMG_1298.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1blqY0y48G-pTamkr6f5rf-TxqYGrzHIVtwTcSiG7nYVYIOtzRjBC3PgYKJNi3DVwJjmhlT-88bZmb-ojFzb3MWR2op443uv3V3DEk4nd4XUcLokXMpZUUbkFKubFBiQiH76sYZvKZIU/s320/IMG_1298.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maple syrup tasting</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We even had a maple syrup tasting where we sampled the
three types of maple syrup: early, middle, and late (based on the timing of the
tapping). We tasted maple sugar in a variety of formats – maple syrup mixed
with honey, maple syrup tea, locally grown cranberries (laced with maple
syrup), and maple syrup candies. Maple syrup, as you may have guessed, is quite
the big industry in Canada. In fact, Canada produces 71% of the world's pure maple syrup; 91% of which is produced in Quebec. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">All the Quebecois maple syrup we tasted was, in our opinion, a
cut above anything you can find in the USA!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x6jlX_ugfn4tl6ZVeMpRuwtIREISxoDGj6u6zpRaW2Fc7uiASMHLO3rmxd9pb9pDkBuFdQbsLLl49zL7rc5ulRUpKQeBFGxOR0jDhqcQJh0NK48u7HyRgM8eScT9RUTXxnPoT265wcY/s1600/IMG_1304.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x6jlX_ugfn4tl6ZVeMpRuwtIREISxoDGj6u6zpRaW2Fc7uiASMHLO3rmxd9pb9pDkBuFdQbsLLl49zL7rc5ulRUpKQeBFGxOR0jDhqcQJh0NK48u7HyRgM8eScT9RUTXxnPoT265wcY/s320/IMG_1304.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poutine, a favorite fast food in Quebec</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We walked outside the walled city thru the St. John Gate
where our group ducked into a snack bar. At various times, the rain was pelting
our group of about 15 people with vicious force. We often found ourselves
ducking under eaves, archways, and soffits along the way until the rain
periodically eased up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Our tour leader Judith brought us to this snack bar for
the best poutine in the city. We have never eaten this or even heard of it
before but were anxious to dig in and try some. It’s actually a simple fast food
amounting to a small paper tray of French fries, covered with fresh cheese curd
chunks, beef gravy, and a few spices (maybe some chives, salt, and pepper). A
new and delicious way to serve & enjoy fries!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the Le Moine Echanson Restaurant, Judith got the group
some white organic Canadian wine and a piece of dough that resembled a fritter;
it appeared to have been browned in hot oil. Very tasty, much like a doughnut flavor.
And at La Billig Restaurant, we tasted a buckwheat ham and cheese pancake, served
with a delicious glass of 5% alcohol cider. A perfect combination!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dAuw0LIHx9K8L6olwAqNj21s1YupgBwI1AKvKVNJ2dJw4Dc_QFZwVE9LZ9ipZvS2IaES0FL3pIam4cnsGlbd6GOGmpYpFQ8sJ_RPqi9ah-Cp84Cywv8GYsvLWyt5EK5AxRo_8hxG094/s1600/IMG_1360.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dAuw0LIHx9K8L6olwAqNj21s1YupgBwI1AKvKVNJ2dJw4Dc_QFZwVE9LZ9ipZvS2IaES0FL3pIam4cnsGlbd6GOGmpYpFQ8sJ_RPqi9ah-Cp84Cywv8GYsvLWyt5EK5AxRo_8hxG094/s320/IMG_1360.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy chocolates!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And finally, at the Enrico Chocolaterie, we sampled a
couple of their fancy chocolate niblets, several of which contained maple
sugar. Naturally, we had to buy a few expensive chocolate bars to bring home. We
always find these foodie tours fun and entertaining and replete with cultural
info that surfaces as a result of the foods we sample, the people we meet, and
questions we ask and have answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRgwo_5fBFuUj9qc5lOuC7xjQvPzwAaEjENSeEIf9ohpwyekighhv6k9xK6RdV1bpp5ee89VvzE613iM3PWeyHaEzL4_aUp7J3xEvDNFScBEOmcPqv16akNtChFRDiotjnrgAtbTJsI0/s1600/IMG_1333.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRgwo_5fBFuUj9qc5lOuC7xjQvPzwAaEjENSeEIf9ohpwyekighhv6k9xK6RdV1bpp5ee89VvzE613iM3PWeyHaEzL4_aUp7J3xEvDNFScBEOmcPqv16akNtChFRDiotjnrgAtbTJsI0/s320/IMG_1333.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Powerful Montmorency Waterfalls</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Montmorency
Falls and L’IIe D’Orleans<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The following day, we took a tour outside Quebec City
with a French guide named Gaston, who was a pleasant, prompt, proper & courteous
60-ish looking gent who spoke impeccable English, and who had lived for 18
years in Australia. Gaston and his wife
returned to Quebec City because they like the cold weather better than the heat
of Oz. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnK1wGSEohNJJHkrjyJ1KXz5ZDYDnN5lPMNr0PPa8zNV5_qq7nbnh4HBPZ3zmt0dGuwNB6FakwHmxsQv6M7QupijMmZIMl4l9LsOrR5hppz8w5Y577hW0SCkRgbL8m6sWdrrlMHWOJcxU/s1600/IMG_1352.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnK1wGSEohNJJHkrjyJ1KXz5ZDYDnN5lPMNr0PPa8zNV5_qq7nbnh4HBPZ3zmt0dGuwNB6FakwHmxsQv6M7QupijMmZIMl4l9LsOrR5hppz8w5Y577hW0SCkRgbL8m6sWdrrlMHWOJcxU/s320/IMG_1352.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braving the Montmorency Falls</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gaston loaded us into his White Honda SUV, and we made
our way outside the city to see the famous Montmorency Waterfalls in “Parc de
la Chute Montmorency.” It was raining quite hard at times, and a fine mist was
rising off the churning falls and the river below. Water particles belched
upward and swirled about, and everything for several hundred yards was
completely wetted; it was difficult to even keep our cameras dry! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We hustled along the manmade boardwalk in the front of
the falls, getting a good gander (albeit a wet one!) at the raging falls. The
falls are higher than Niagara Falls, but not as wide. Very impressive! As we
moved ever closer to the falls from the sidelines, we made the decision to
return to the welcome center to dry off and warm up a little. The falls were
very intense and quite scenic, but we were cold and wet, and we were ready to
call it a done deal!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5vrGazTjAAF0M0IH4kGV4113LGZ45U8er-kyuMLcag52f1N5lFS-iw9d0c1LvDot0RfU1HSjiL8gnDdfSl2Z7J2Q70SxyY_WjuY2vceHRHqu2jkoxUOfq9ADDjz2eFg_uY-b5hF_4hU/s1600/IMG_1371.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5vrGazTjAAF0M0IH4kGV4113LGZ45U8er-kyuMLcag52f1N5lFS-iw9d0c1LvDot0RfU1HSjiL8gnDdfSl2Z7J2Q70SxyY_WjuY2vceHRHqu2jkoxUOfq9ADDjz2eFg_uY-b5hF_4hU/s320/IMG_1371.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical French farmhouse on L'Ile D'Orleans<br />
with St. Lawrence Estuary in the background</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gaston took us over a connecting bridge to “L’Ile
D’Orleans” (The Island of Orleans) which is an unspoiled island sitting in the
middle of the Saint Lawrence River about 3 miles east of downtown Quebec City.
The little island is 21 miles long and about 5 miles wide at its widest point,
and it feels like a world apart from the rest of Quebec.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">L’Ile D’Orleans attracts tourists like us because of its
rural natural beauty and its renowned local farming produce, such as apples,
strawberries, potatoes, and maple syrup. Numerous bed-and-breakfasts and inns, regional cuisine restaurants, roadside fruit stands, art galleries and craft shops attract some 600,000 visitors every year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We found it interesting that many of the farm buildings on L'Ile D'Orleans have a round footprint. Why? Seems that the French here are a bit superstitious and believe that the devil hides in the corners. So they outsmart the devil with round buildings! Haaa! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBD19Z9bgFsowKJDkch-3DH9KQLBI_co29dBonVohhyphenhyphenulk0wzOO7vSadXivSAq0_as5Bw6h5_gTDntcZ2RjbHSucosRaSmMfp7muRN97Lf6MCVinwEbK_TNxQ9lglqXEN2bLHOBUOVD9M/s1600/IMG_1370.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBD19Z9bgFsowKJDkch-3DH9KQLBI_co29dBonVohhyphenhyphenulk0wzOO7vSadXivSAq0_as5Bw6h5_gTDntcZ2RjbHSucosRaSmMfp7muRN97Lf6MCVinwEbK_TNxQ9lglqXEN2bLHOBUOVD9M/s320/IMG_1370.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
Driving the rural Chemin Royal</div>
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(circle road around L'Ile D'Orleans)</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We drove the only main road on the island, the circle road also called the "Chemin Royal," which curves around the island for the approximate 50-mile circumference. Along the way, we stopped at a small chocolate shop, a maple syrup-producing facility, a cidery and just enjoyed the views of the fab isolated scenery. There are no stores here. No shopping facilities. No hospitals, or doctors, or schools. You are totally on your own. Quebec City seems close, but with traffic, it takes about 1 1/2 hours to reach. Many rugged people live here, relying solely on themselves and their own resources for survival.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjC7Ldwd1asj9XU_UPVp8WpNjZhZsnq8bYWYqQwk5L2w2uXHcgf9upjzmZ3PNMDvyESXWsZuWDhvnL92VV7wrUlmcxLCJbxZGdQA8PNrLvg2lECBpmlgSZmTiVhBl9Ox2RL1ne3wWagj8/s1600/IMG_1380.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjC7Ldwd1asj9XU_UPVp8WpNjZhZsnq8bYWYqQwk5L2w2uXHcgf9upjzmZ3PNMDvyESXWsZuWDhvnL92VV7wrUlmcxLCJbxZGdQA8PNrLvg2lECBpmlgSZmTiVhBl9Ox2RL1ne3wWagj8/s320/IMG_1380.ed.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tapping sugar maple for maple syrup</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We especially enjoyed the maple syrup production place, called the "Sugar Shack." We got an interesting tutorial and tour on how to make maple syrup. We learned that the sugar maple tree must be at least 50 years old to tap the sap. Lisa, our Sugar Shack guide, told us that freshly-tapped maple syrup is called "maple water" and must be heated for long periods of time to evaporate some of the water and create the syrup. After her rendition of the work needed to get a gallon of maple syrup, we concluded that obtaining maple syrup is one of the more time-intensive jobs here in Canada. No wonder maple syrup cost so darn much! But, it tasted sooooo good here in a land where it is freshly made. Wish we could get some like this back home. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3hN9GfXIdFMWWPzjQBsOVzwhK2ch_HyMvfBU4MjqOxtqEg7mVITrex0m7cM4Z7UXJsI_qcamYwmHVEQj7T-JsF9jHNNK128cp4rBAaKP0NuB09D7y_U4Y-x68lqqm64RuTHyq4_7h9o/s1600/IMG_1394.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3hN9GfXIdFMWWPzjQBsOVzwhK2ch_HyMvfBU4MjqOxtqEg7mVITrex0m7cM4Z7UXJsI_qcamYwmHVEQj7T-JsF9jHNNK128cp4rBAaKP0NuB09D7y_U4Y-x68lqqm64RuTHyq4_7h9o/s320/IMG_1394.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling maple syrup on snow</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also got to roll maple syrup on a popsicle stick after it was cooled in a tray of snow. A fun way to enjoy maple syrup!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJSJQEOZyZOY15OBYaAVouRtFfpFhsoHl35h5V_6J4t2RYxpcXu7TY5aI2wLIIIf2PDvJTSDyRaTdPwN-CV7ZQUGdU7afDJbHhk0Y6B3X4mbFWzM6aMAFFd4Ua3H0i6CoEcL7-H4xGGo/s1600/IMG_1408.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJSJQEOZyZOY15OBYaAVouRtFfpFhsoHl35h5V_6J4t2RYxpcXu7TY5aI2wLIIIf2PDvJTSDyRaTdPwN-CV7ZQUGdU7afDJbHhk0Y6B3X4mbFWzM6aMAFFd4Ua3H0i6CoEcL7-H4xGGo/s320/IMG_1408.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pouring cider at Domaine Steinbach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cidery called Domaine Steinbach was another great place to visit. They gave us several tastings of various ciders, some of which were spiked at 11% to 19% alcohol. We never knew that cider was converted to spirits anywhere! The Cidery also offered an incredible number of other products to sample: mustards, salsas, <i>confitures</i> (jams), teas, and much more were available in addition to the cider itself. We had so many tastings of all those things, we called it lunch!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank imitates Bacchus at a winery on L'Ile De Orleans</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With surrounding views of the changing St. Lawrence River Estuary, we were inundated with bucolic beauty everywhere. We thought what it might be like to live like this, close to nature, totally autonomous, and without the amenities that we find so comforting and readily accessible in our life back in Pennsylvania. No, we concluded; in the end, this life is for the young and tough. Not the old and feeble like us!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aux Anciens Canadiens</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Around Old Town</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in Old Town, we ate dinner at a restaurant recommended by Gaston called "Aux Anciens Canadiens." Great place situated in the oldest house in Quebec City and specializing in authentic Quebecois cuisine.</span><br />
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Eating like the Quebecois in Old Town at</div>
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the Aux Anciens Canadiens</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ate a marvelous multi-course meal featuring local meats like red deer and elk, swigged some local beer, and topped it all off with creamy Maple Syrup Pie which was simply out of this world. Just writing about it is making us salivate!</span><br />
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Another view of the lovely fortress-like</div>
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Chateau Frontenac</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spent our last day wandering around the charming Old Town, doing some souvenir shopping, and taking a walk on the walls that surround the city. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kangaroo stew!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were lucky enough to stumble on a quintessential French cafe called Le Petite Coin Latin. Cute French decor, a sweet little old French waiter, Edith Piaf singing in the background, and wonderful food. Anne was in heaven! She was so enamored with the place; she momentarily lost her mind and ordered a stew made with kangaroo meat (where do you get that in Canada?) These Canadians sure like unusual meats. Anyway, it tasted great and marked the first time we have ever eaten kangaroo!</span><br />
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Look at the 3-gun fire power on</div>
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this multiple camera-toting tourist</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a very unusual experience when three Asian (probably Chinese) tourists approached us on the street and began babbling something about camera. Frank thought they wanted him to take their picture, but they wanted a picture with US! Of course, we agreed, but it was so weird. The one guy had three super expensive cameras hanging around his neck, and he especially wanted a shot of Frank thoughtfully rubbing his beard. (To clarify: Frank rubbing his own beard -- not Frank rubbing the Asian guy's beard lol). Frank was happy to comply, and it turned out to be a great photo. Who knows what billboard in Beijing Frank's face may appear on?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More pics:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne sucks on maple syrup taffy rolled in snow<br />
at The Sugar Shack</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne and our tour guide Gaston at the Sugar Shack</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiring the grapes at winery on<br />
L'Ile D'Orleans (St Lawrence Estuary in backdrop)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fountain in the center of Old Town in Quebec City</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John's Gate in the ancient city walls<br />
of Quebec City</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's to another successful travel adventure!</td></tr>
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Anne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564722089676586995.post-49585900630653102362016-10-25T14:27:00.000-07:002016-10-25T14:27:48.317-07:00Halifax, Sydney, and Prince Edward Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Halifax, Nova Scotia<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnI7pb2RWVwyidpYLSCtSaPeZfZyxf1msZTA2Zmii-LeyOZuJJrnZfz0RACdWWpcLoBp9DJU_XV7vjiGrGqlotE5A20l0aThaUEzwUYOEel0_tqZonSi7xYZegnzeOawTQJierVG8SVw/s1600/IMG_0948.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnI7pb2RWVwyidpYLSCtSaPeZfZyxf1msZTA2Zmii-LeyOZuJJrnZfz0RACdWWpcLoBp9DJU_XV7vjiGrGqlotE5A20l0aThaUEzwUYOEel0_tqZonSi7xYZegnzeOawTQJierVG8SVw/s320/IMG_0948.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculpture called "The Emigrant" recognizing those<br />who came here to start a new life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We’ve been waiting patiently for this special port of call, since
we were anxious to learn more about the role Halifax played in the saga of the
sinking of the Titanic. Halifax is a
city of 400,000 people located on the eastern side of mainland Canada, in the
province of Nova Scotia. The words “Nova Scotia” mean New Scotland, and as you’d
expect, there is a major Celtic influence throughout Nova Scotia. This entire province of Canada has a mere 1
million people as its total population. The small city of Halifax faces the
Atlantic Ocean and lies about 700 nautical miles from the actual spot where the
Titanic sank back in 1912. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Many do not know that the Haligonians (what the people of
Halifax call themselves) were directly responsible for retrieving 306 bodies of
passengers immediately following the infamous Titanic catastrophe. As they said
at the time, the living went to New York City and the dead were brought to
Halifax.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEXhMKmkukygtfVgKjnE4mWqTW9wg2sbjuj9k60RFwp7XA1kxwZbu5c4ygBHpR_iRerWTcElP0V173RCNVaLhovERhjKTZpzQPbJUqEOwR6t2WiWUDKJXsTDxsBrPAq7Vg26esUTeu3s/s1600/IMG_0973.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEXhMKmkukygtfVgKjnE4mWqTW9wg2sbjuj9k60RFwp7XA1kxwZbu5c4ygBHpR_iRerWTcElP0V173RCNVaLhovERhjKTZpzQPbJUqEOwR6t2WiWUDKJXsTDxsBrPAq7Vg26esUTeu3s/s320/IMG_0973.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actual intact deck chair from The Titanic</td></tr>
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We began our search for more info on the connection between
Halifax and The Titanic at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic with its small
but illuminating Titanic exhibit. We followed the line of white stars painted
on the floor of the museum to the special Titanic exhibit where a movie explained
how the White Star Line hired Halifax’s “cable ships” to retrieve the bodies of
the victims. These cable ships were responsible for maintaining the
Transatlantic Cable, and their crews knew how to navigate the Atlantic Ocean under
any kind of conditions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACFfPvNYFbjowvxKJRRQcxxGznOm79QzhMHE2alxln_QUTTorGeNjnW9xV2KmFU0fjoF4UP-SbyY8mfI_M21d0koV5lRu5jEaPVBloSV-vWb5YYacYk2rQlSCCpo2FIB9YRjQ1-tXFKc/s1600/IMG_0977.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACFfPvNYFbjowvxKJRRQcxxGznOm79QzhMHE2alxln_QUTTorGeNjnW9xV2KmFU0fjoF4UP-SbyY8mfI_M21d0koV5lRu5jEaPVBloSV-vWb5YYacYk2rQlSCCpo2FIB9YRjQ1-tXFKc/s320/IMG_0977.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piece of the Grand Staircase retrieved by the Haligonians<br />from floating Titanic debris</td></tr>
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The cable ships set out with stacks of wooden coffins,
several undertakers, a priest, and all the embalming fluid in Halifax. When
they arrived at Titanic’s last known location, even the hardened sailors were
shaken by the sight of dead bodies bobbing in the ocean. There were so many
bodies that they ran out of embalming fluid and decided to bury 116 of the third-class
passengers at sea. </div>
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Even when the ships returned to Halifax, the class system
was still obvious as first and second class passengers arrived in coffins,
third-class passengers in cloth bags, and the crew on open stretchers. The
undertakers did an exceptional job of numbering each body, noting any
identifying marks (like scars or tattoos), and attaching any personal
belongings. Their meticulous methodology allowed many of the bodies to
eventually be identified and returned to loved ones.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ89Rp9ZP1Y1gsBLyqEB1FcJUyl_pveoE1xqA-a0jIWges8z0A87DoWb0QpQwKmYv2JWFWxrRfd501CJBdX0pUz8ZV9dEJuDkauywQykUPlVYf8iy-4ufr_lM6zPPtNkJTeCQukRxYKuM/s1600/IMG_1003.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ89Rp9ZP1Y1gsBLyqEB1FcJUyl_pveoE1xqA-a0jIWges8z0A87DoWb0QpQwKmYv2JWFWxrRfd501CJBdX0pUz8ZV9dEJuDkauywQykUPlVYf8iy-4ufr_lM6zPPtNkJTeCQukRxYKuM/s320/IMG_1003.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoes of the Unknown Child</td></tr>
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The crew of the cable ships also retrieved portions of the
wreckage of the Titanic, not as scavengers, but in the maritime tradition of
saving part of a lost ship. This small exhibit held the most remarkable actual Titanic
relics we have ever seen: a deck chair fully in tact with the White Star logo carved
on the back, and lots of beautifully carved wood including a piece of the Grand
Staircase! One of the saddest artifacts was a small pair of shoes belonging to
the body they called “the unknown child.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGUa9gn45Sx6hEztnaVxaHN3-9w7b1-cQYsWDt8dXC1t-w89v6Co6Df2UINiPdeMT7tgraZbMeVWEAF0V8DGC15NoS-GEQFHiXKztRUn1tCaGM2SvcgxMTxwZ92XriC7kSp4X4lxNDT0/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGUa9gn45Sx6hEztnaVxaHN3-9w7b1-cQYsWDt8dXC1t-w89v6Co6Df2UINiPdeMT7tgraZbMeVWEAF0V8DGC15NoS-GEQFHiXKztRUn1tCaGM2SvcgxMTxwZ92XriC7kSp4X4lxNDT0/s320/IMG_0987.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne relaxes on the deck of The Titanic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the end, 150 unclaimed souls were interred in Halifax
cemeteries. The kind people of Halifax held a series of funerals at various churches
throughout the city to honor these fallen victims.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the afternoon, we took a bus tour to visit the scenic
Peggy’s Cove and to see Fairview Cemetery where the largest number of Titanic
victims are buried.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUg7bUt5BiStmXEjOErcvCUPM1Xi6hrWtnGThxYFunihsY4TZBV6aEV1EM22Xt1Xv5P5pTzhiK7EAJQhpsnDjINzg3d0gNYKxicbOTs-CnIVfu7vF2m4hVH6uvQOrqm5rPv4XhqT0DUOk/s1600/IMG_1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUg7bUt5BiStmXEjOErcvCUPM1Xi6hrWtnGThxYFunihsY4TZBV6aEV1EM22Xt1Xv5P5pTzhiK7EAJQhpsnDjINzg3d0gNYKxicbOTs-CnIVfu7vF2m4hVH6uvQOrqm5rPv4XhqT0DUOk/s320/IMG_1073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful homes in Peggy's Cove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q3sI_awhcFuhj33lRdK-hHw_wb3se3lSvJxR-AY25vBSrLdlkhK-W1DlvQehT6F9ouigVGMBgi_JliROPrlHMKY-3q2UeEpvL_v8Y8Jo-XDZPGPyPfLsDKZ-KlVZoS8WqUWQEpzyEwY/s1600/IMG_1022.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8q3sI_awhcFuhj33lRdK-hHw_wb3se3lSvJxR-AY25vBSrLdlkhK-W1DlvQehT6F9ouigVGMBgi_JliROPrlHMKY-3q2UeEpvL_v8Y8Jo-XDZPGPyPfLsDKZ-KlVZoS8WqUWQEpzyEwY/s320/IMG_1022.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous lighthouse of Peggy's Cove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Peggy’s Cove was a scenic little coastal town, and we could
see why tourist buses such as ours would bring guests to this small town. Peggy’s Cove has a striking lighthouse at the
end of the colorful town, perched on a massive, solid-appearing rock heap that
was covered by shutter-snapping tourists that were roaming about like ants on a
honey pile. But despite the distraction
of the abundant and annoying picture seekers (BTW, we have not forgotten that
we too were part of this craziness!), Peggy’s Cove was a picturesque attraction
outside Halifax. In fact, the lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove is said to be one of
the most photographed lighthouses in the world!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3pQGcYe1WUBHXDP6AgAQ5fcrmw5PYDExEBlaF2MaSKqmpi6ZmlBCR0aZWoF6HYsfiHN_Z1xp2vb4ReicNKZamedegK1S0PgY7rlaytCDL26B4mQAxVzkb8hyphenhyphennd00pDg1qIKjDMQtU8Q/s1600/IMG_1035.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3pQGcYe1WUBHXDP6AgAQ5fcrmw5PYDExEBlaF2MaSKqmpi6ZmlBCR0aZWoF6HYsfiHN_Z1xp2vb4ReicNKZamedegK1S0PgY7rlaytCDL26B4mQAxVzkb8hyphenhyphennd00pDg1qIKjDMQtU8Q/s320/IMG_1035.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carol tells us all about lobsters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Carol, our tour guide, gave us a demo on lobsters. She used her lobster pets, named “Larry” and “Lucy,” to show us how to handle them, how to determine the sex of a
lobster, and how to cook them in a pot of boiling water.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Carol described the Maple Syrup Industry here and all the
nuances of making maple syrup. Nova Scotia only produces .5% of the maple syrup
of Canada, whereas Quebec produces 92%. Also
the primary employer here in Halifax is the military; lots of military
contracts keep the economy of Nova Scotia alive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOva-EY_1mOR_MiXF4MXkDCiXy_TmkEEl9w9jQRnVR42NTclX3H7DFbyBh3CEvmA5ogiBOidq7YI_yNVgJeV66-26sM3O_ThO_oCkj6BJoYgD4dkCID3hxYCTKsY9pnGPpB7f-g9in7h0/s1600/IMG_1046.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOva-EY_1mOR_MiXF4MXkDCiXy_TmkEEl9w9jQRnVR42NTclX3H7DFbyBh3CEvmA5ogiBOidq7YI_yNVgJeV66-26sM3O_ThO_oCkj6BJoYgD4dkCID3hxYCTKsY9pnGPpB7f-g9in7h0/s320/IMG_1046.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne fondles "Larry the Lobster"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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For whatever reason, Halifax has seen more than its share of
catastrophes. The Titanic disaster was followed by the Halifax Explosion on December
6, 1917 when the munitions ship Mont Blanc collided with a Norwegian ship
called the Imo, and the resulting explosion blew up the north end of Halifax
killing some 2,000 people. This was the largest man-made explosion prior to the
atomic bomb.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then on September 2, 1998, Swiss Air flight 111 crashed on
some rocks near the beach southwest of the airport killing all on board. The
plane had caught on fire in the air, and the pilot tried to make it to the
runway but fell short. Carol took us past a memorial to the 229 passengers who
lost their lives. </div>
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Most recently on 9/11, many flights were rerouted to Halifax
when the American airspace was shutdown. We drove past the giant hangar where the
Haligonians took great care of their unexpected guests. The people of Halifax are
still remembered by the passengers who spent several harrowing days here before
being able to return home to the U.S. Even now 15 years later, passengers still
make pilgrimages to Halifax to express their thanks.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwi8jHCvgjqbO6SEU0LDgnA8P_99b-hYbnsawiD_51wQcsqWxlWtddsoF-lq5YMdppKfLZ6HETXIdg9Woy8mooWFx8l0HSh-s1wP6MkIoHYvnXA78kHfX9_Ti_NXMboTG23I7r3BkqXqk/s1600/IMG_1125.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwi8jHCvgjqbO6SEU0LDgnA8P_99b-hYbnsawiD_51wQcsqWxlWtddsoF-lq5YMdppKfLZ6HETXIdg9Woy8mooWFx8l0HSh-s1wP6MkIoHYvnXA78kHfX9_Ti_NXMboTG23I7r3BkqXqk/s320/IMG_1125.ed.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hull-shaped row of Titanic <br />grave stones</td></tr>
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At long last, our bus reached the Fairview Lawn Cemetery
where 150 souls from the catastrophe of the Titanic were buried. Each grave
marker has a name (if known), a number associated with the body cataloging
procedure at the time, some info about the person (if known), and of course,
the same death date: 15 April 1912. Strange
to see this many graves with the same death date all grouped together, laid out
in a design that resembles the hull of the Titanic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNFGf93wYeUYA3RcecsLPmdSK9wg0c-DF1rJ4eq5WovycG4WcVk7KRAsuuFvl6R4g3aBMwFIsKGkgo2lieIpTWrsjqlVz5d8OOaRGuP58cndpKfgoRT1hbGE3Nv4E5VEzHyiH9BoAX6k/s1600/IMG_1132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNFGf93wYeUYA3RcecsLPmdSK9wg0c-DF1rJ4eq5WovycG4WcVk7KRAsuuFvl6R4g3aBMwFIsKGkgo2lieIpTWrsjqlVz5d8OOaRGuP58cndpKfgoRT1hbGE3Nv4E5VEzHyiH9BoAX6k/s320/IMG_1132.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grave of the real J. Dawson, coal shoveler on The Titanic </td></tr>
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Some visitors are intrigued to see the headstone for a J.
Dawson. But he has nothing to do with Jack Dawson, the lead character played by
Leonardo Di Caprio in James Cameron’s movie “Titanic.” He was actually Joseph Dawson, a 20-something
year old coal shoveler on board the Titanic.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig18AjHstwrci3OEZwoCQ7USLBaD8mxFRbsi_7SWKHwviMfxvFbFRnFYOPFgqDLifly1xCzhHaCSDlSr39GOQQaHLr8tfCtOMiEZ8GXvnp07aZR4brX6r0xj3QF2wuZl3kcLcSfywOA9k/s1600/IMG_3022.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig18AjHstwrci3OEZwoCQ7USLBaD8mxFRbsi_7SWKHwviMfxvFbFRnFYOPFgqDLifly1xCzhHaCSDlSr39GOQQaHLr8tfCtOMiEZ8GXvnp07aZR4brX6r0xj3QF2wuZl3kcLcSfywOA9k/s320/IMG_3022.ed.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grave of the "Unknown Child"<br />now identifed</td></tr>
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The most poignant grave was the one
for an unknown 19-month-old child. For almost 100 years, this child remained
anonymous until DNA evidence identified him as Sydney Leslie Goodwin whose
entire family perished. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Fiddle, dwarfed by our cruise ship, welcomes<br />us to Sydney</td></tr>
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<b>Sydney, Nova Scotia</b></div>
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Sydney was founded in 1785, and the first settlers were
mostly poor Englishmen and disbanded soldiers fleeing the American Revolution.
The city has a population of 102,000 people and is situated on the northeast
side of Cape Breton Island.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colonial kitchen at the restored Cossit House</td></tr>
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Sydney was a sleepy town, but we did visit the Cossit House
which is one of the oldest houses in Sydney built circa 1787. We also stopped
by a Craft Fair and chatted with some of the locals, enjoying their humor and
their pride in their city. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank enjoying a local brew called<br />Alexander Keith's IPA</td></tr>
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We ended up in a pool hall called Dooley’s where we
sampled a local beer called Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale. Fun stuff!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Some interesting facts about Nova Scotia and Canada: More Gaelic is spoken in Nova Scotia than in all of Scotland. Canadians eat more macaroni and cheese than any country on earth. Nova Scotia is made up of 3800 islands and Cape Breton is the largest. Nova Scotia is the 4th largest film production center in Canada and is home to many Canadian and Hollywood film and TV productions. Marconi, the father of telecommunications, sent the first official wireless message across the Atlantic from Nova Scotia in 1902.</div>
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<b>Prince Edward Island<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Due to high winds in the Charlottetown harbor, our landing
on Prince Edward Island was cancelled. No fresh mussels for us (sigh)! However,
at dinner that night on the ship, they served us mussels in shells about 4
inches long and actual mussels about 1 ½ inches long. Never saw them this large
– big and juicy! To cap it off with further deliciousness, the cooks had placed
a pot of melted butter alongside the mussels, and you could just add as much as
you like.<o:p></o:p></div>
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More pics:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Member of the Titanic orchestra</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoreline at Peggy's Cove</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greetings from Peggy's Cove!</td></tr>
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Anne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564722089676586995.post-2083479218278869892016-10-24T06:44:00.000-07:002016-10-24T06:44:38.964-07:00Bar Harbor, Maine and Saint John, New Brunswick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tender enters the harbor of Bar Harbor</td></tr>
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<b>Bar Harbor<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Our next port was Bar Harbor (locals pronounce it - <i>Bah Hahbah</i>!). Once again, the trusty
Princess tender carried us into port. This time we sat on the open upper level
taking in the views and the fresh sea air.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streets of Bar Harbor</td></tr>
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Once in Bar Harbor, we strolled the quaint but lovely
streets of this small town, absorbing the local flavor felt thru the
businesses, the simple home styles, and the friendly people. Of course, the town has got a giant tourist
magnet surrounding it, but somehow a bit different from other touristy towns
we’ve encountered. Maybe because of the
simple, easy-going, humorous-natured personalities embedded in the lifestyles
we observed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne finds an appropriate t-shirt for Frank</td></tr>
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The town is very small, and easily walkable in a few hours. We
sauntered along, stopping in the local shops (not a franchise store in sight)
and checking out the interesting finds in the shop windows. Lots of jewelry
stores selling semi-precious stones (like tourmaline) mined right here in
Maine. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint Saviour's Episcopal Church</td></tr>
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We made a short stop at the St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church to roam the
graveyard and view the famous stained glass, many of them created by Tiffany.
We also explored some back streets taking in the simple New England
architecture amid the dazzling autumn foliage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touring around Bar Harbor on<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> Oli's Trolley</span></td></tr>
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Anne had made a date over the internet with the highly
recommended “Oli’s Trolley” during the planning stages of this trip. So after a
cursory look-see walk around the town, we located the trolley station and
boarded for some real sightseeing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our pleasant, knowledgeable, tour guide Don, was an older
gent who talked incessantly over the trolley’s P/A system inserting his folksy
backwoods humor, spinning non-stop yarns, drawing from his hefty store of local
history, geography, and personal experience as he drove along. Yea, he was able to drive and speak very
coherently about any local topics all while safely navigating our 40-foot
trolley thru the maze of obstacles along the narrow highways.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree-lined street in Bar Harbor</td></tr>
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Don told us how little Bar Harbor became a sought after
destination when two painters came here, and everyone who saw their paintings
wanted to come up here. Including the extremely wealthy who built more “summer
cottages” up here believing Bar Harbor was the “new Newport.” Don drove out of
town and took us to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park which was first
created by some of the wealthy visitors. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cadillac Mountain with our cruise ship in the harbor below</td></tr>
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You may be impressed that we now know that
Cadillac is the highest coastal mountain north of Rio de Janeiro (thank you Don
for that piece of trivia!). BTW,
Cadillac Mt. is a mere 1,530 feet tall – not very tall at all as mountains go,
but it is ostensibly the first spot in the U.S. to see the sun rise. The top of
the mountain was very stony with gorgeous views of the Atlantic Ocean and the
harbor below us where we could see our Princess cruise ship.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-21lCTN65xMfaCQucDsdhXW9vBKymUDWVdd_YDjopLL5sBCzgfMvxO2Cjqjq8XA-TcnhnPbNqBL8qkTCYhhngrJv87l6LbiOPn8_NQZYp2_uqPsGKKPH43WXI4Mq_utsQHfYNh4Gs-lY/s1600/IMG_0826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-21lCTN65xMfaCQucDsdhXW9vBKymUDWVdd_YDjopLL5sBCzgfMvxO2Cjqjq8XA-TcnhnPbNqBL8qkTCYhhngrJv87l6LbiOPn8_NQZYp2_uqPsGKKPH43WXI4Mq_utsQHfYNh4Gs-lY/s320/IMG_0826.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crashing waves at Thunder Hole</td></tr>
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Don drove us past Sandy Beach where the water is so green,
you might think you were in the Caribbean. We continued on to “Thunder Hole,” a
rocky outcropping where the waves come crashing onto the shoreline rocks and
create a sudden clap that sounds like a wallop of thunder. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Jordan Pond</td></tr>
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Our last stop was
Acadia Park’s Jordan Pond nestled near some small mountains and surrounded by
very colorful deciduous trees in the process of changing color. A very pretty
scene that beckons the average hiker to come, take a walk around the serene
pond and absorb its natural beauty.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank tackles his lobstah!</td></tr>
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We were back in Bar Harbor by 2:00 PM, and hungry for some
indigenous foods. Well, what better choice than Maine <i>lob-stah</i> and wild blueberry pie! </div>
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We settled in at the West Street Café, anxious for a late lunch and some
local cuisine. Yep! Maine lobster,
lobster roll, clam chowder, coleslaw, and steak fries all washed down with 2
locally brewed draft beers! And of course,
specially-made wild blueberry pie for the big finish. Yummy, yummy. It doesn’t get much better!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFLKXJA7eOmbr_5M2B6oLQw8PjRJXBXGADwIonkaRp6psxIWiSSGIDFLaLqSWUmPwQBkdnaFrEIWAROQ48Hfn-NJtWyetH20lUyTl5Sp721ReJx-PoC0M2DnTjNB14fvocgciLsZpuYE/s1600/IMG_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUFLKXJA7eOmbr_5M2B6oLQw8PjRJXBXGADwIonkaRp6psxIWiSSGIDFLaLqSWUmPwQBkdnaFrEIWAROQ48Hfn-NJtWyetH20lUyTl5Sp721ReJx-PoC0M2DnTjNB14fvocgciLsZpuYE/s320/IMG_0886.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobstah fisherman unloading his daily catch</td></tr>
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<b>Saint John, New
Brunswick<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl3nv_F3wWCJeox1uh4fjzRDV03JfIxVgVN8WFx_5Lfr4Z1jdftZMs0XhkEBv6A2iVpp4tepn13PNDpXM_CBJuaqSNHTsPjP2feNMsYT4wBNzDMLEP-Mz6baJuFCvNZQi0NYYOXy3bvo/s1600/IMG_0912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl3nv_F3wWCJeox1uh4fjzRDV03JfIxVgVN8WFx_5Lfr4Z1jdftZMs0XhkEBv6A2iVpp4tepn13PNDpXM_CBJuaqSNHTsPjP2feNMsYT4wBNzDMLEP-Mz6baJuFCvNZQi0NYYOXy3bvo/s320/IMG_0912.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sidewalk vendor shows us his wares in Saint John</td></tr>
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The following day, our cruise ship arrived in Saint John, New
Brunswick, Canada. The city is situated on the Bay of Fundy – the only city on
the Bay of Fundy, and one which experiences the world’s highest tides (up to 50
feet!). Saint John has a strong American connection: it was founded primarily
by American Loyalists, colonists who remained loyal to the British crown and
fled north to Canada during the American Revolution.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn4YTNA-8-AkBDyQj_-G2bkFRAavJMqcJEAARm9E3JlnRg6ia3g12o8-f3-mwzB1P-hNa5QgI15YqVFkVA5KDjDnzDU3eoHYnBbsjODkkAaKgA0_t5ZWxkyg7HpT4fcNpuI4NQBIb6T4/s1600/IMG_0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDn4YTNA-8-AkBDyQj_-G2bkFRAavJMqcJEAARm9E3JlnRg6ia3g12o8-f3-mwzB1P-hNa5QgI15YqVFkVA5KDjDnzDU3eoHYnBbsjODkkAaKgA0_t5ZWxkyg7HpT4fcNpuI4NQBIb6T4/s320/IMG_0918.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Famous Barbour's General Store</td></tr>
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Saint John was very quiet on this Sunday morning, but we enjoyed
a nice walk around the port area and up thru the town. We stopped by Barbour’s
General Store and had fun with the wooden statues out in front of the store. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdkV6NuzDn2UkWeVXsfLizvmBoIVfYuFr56iXNcjBDq8yycOa-6oPT7QCiu53ndVibtSnR2C0Y-0vphttuSh8FPLQLErjvOsxL1vbkVlnb3U6UZpaMdcdWpyJmqPwrFtI16H1JQ6RVT0/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdkV6NuzDn2UkWeVXsfLizvmBoIVfYuFr56iXNcjBDq8yycOa-6oPT7QCiu53ndVibtSnR2C0Y-0vphttuSh8FPLQLErjvOsxL1vbkVlnb3U6UZpaMdcdWpyJmqPwrFtI16H1JQ6RVT0/s320/IMG_0919.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne blends in with the wooden statue</td></tr>
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Anne blended in so
realistically with the wooden figures that some woman passing by practically
screamed when Anne moved! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8Xq_IeBgipQaL2Fa1PbeiJTWF38otmsq60rG-7rTojHoMUEK2kDhQIEel4i-jEVYOG6Bz97eDiU5SukpCmGBUMzSQUFUPU5dX3wzRWql4EuSkEjqi2YbHxnGCfjm6RREG4iNUP8Fxds/s1600/IMG_0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8Xq_IeBgipQaL2Fa1PbeiJTWF38otmsq60rG-7rTojHoMUEK2kDhQIEel4i-jEVYOG6Bz97eDiU5SukpCmGBUMzSQUFUPU5dX3wzRWql4EuSkEjqi2YbHxnGCfjm6RREG4iNUP8Fxds/s320/IMG_0932.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint John City Market</td></tr>
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We also visited the City Market (Canada’s oldest
farmer’s market) where we wandered among the small market stalls buying some
tasty hard candy made from maple syrup and a local bottle of blueberry wine. Frank,
the winemaker, has made blueberry wine in the past, and we are both anxious to
compare this wine to his. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playful wooden statues<br /> in front of Barbour's General Store</td></tr>
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We learned that Saint John in New Brunswick, Canada has the
word “Saint” always spelled out to differentiate it from the city of St. John
in nearby Newfoundland, Canada.<o:p></o:p></div>
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More pics of Bar Harbor:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAFsw9qFByfi1O3kzotzW1VIKNqAdottr5IiC3bs8OjIfc_H76nX7BQrCSzT42xHdN7RVt3XBpcHdhCY04dqSSfvB3Ywdgztc1fR2VjAmaytWsx9WHZ_0cexfoXNnRJUbzRpNzNxx6mE/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYAFsw9qFByfi1O3kzotzW1VIKNqAdottr5IiC3bs8OjIfc_H76nX7BQrCSzT42xHdN7RVt3XBpcHdhCY04dqSSfvB3Ywdgztc1fR2VjAmaytWsx9WHZ_0cexfoXNnRJUbzRpNzNxx6mE/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cruise ship dwarfs a four-masted sailing ship<br />in Bar Harbor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobster House on stilts in the harbor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuQf2FUQPyrG_062AUukVKx6Pl4Trtpo441wgFi_vhCZLcJM-iMIxy6NwoLefFUuUlG48Ve61LwkSCqMqf8LqCPECB9Oq2TtAcELBIIS_s973l5VFBPsgT2sLvRV9yjk4vEhCbi25T4c/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuQf2FUQPyrG_062AUukVKx6Pl4Trtpo441wgFi_vhCZLcJM-iMIxy6NwoLefFUuUlG48Ve61LwkSCqMqf8LqCPECB9Oq2TtAcELBIIS_s973l5VFBPsgT2sLvRV9yjk4vEhCbi25T4c/s320/IMG_0868.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Must-have lunch in Bar Harbor!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Says who???????</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabwqK5z51jGxC-HSfh1ga93Pal1C1_eVkXNrY0YjYt0CkoMUBJgkBag52m6TZ3jZJ9bVwTHudM9wHt0C2IzRx9xgv314_W_9uVH5LUfrYh2OydHWlNV-G15Q9u3UEd-1hS2sR-ddWo_k/s1600/IMG_0796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabwqK5z51jGxC-HSfh1ga93Pal1C1_eVkXNrY0YjYt0CkoMUBJgkBag52m6TZ3jZJ9bVwTHudM9wHt0C2IzRx9xgv314_W_9uVH5LUfrYh2OydHWlNV-G15Q9u3UEd-1hS2sR-ddWo_k/s320/IMG_0796.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorful Bar Harbor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful, typical New England church<br />on the Village Green</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another local delicacy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sums up our trip so far!</td></tr>
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Anne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564722089676586995.post-89449031098881385232016-10-21T09:48:00.000-07:002016-10-21T09:48:12.091-07:00Boston and the Freedom Trail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colonials on the <br />Boston Commons</td></tr>
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Today we visited and toured Boston, Massachusetts on foot,
as much as can be seen in a single morning and afternoon from a cruise ship! Anne
had plotted out the day for us, and it turned out to be “wicked smaht!” Frank
used to do work in the Boston area at Raytheon Corp. as a young engineer for
the Navy back in the 1970’s and hadn’t returned in almost 40 years. What a treat for him to see busy Boston once
again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mix of colonial and modern<br />architecture</td></tr>
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Boston is a city of contrasts with little colonial buildings
tucked here and there among imposing skyscrapers. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boston Commons Welcome Center<br />and the start of the Freedom Trail</td></tr>
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We took a cab from the cruise
ship to Boston Commons, one of the oldest parks in the USA. It is also the start of the Freedom Trail which
begins in front of the Boston Commons Welcome Center and ends somewhere up near
the Charlestown Navy Yard. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne points to the brick-lined Freedom Trail<br />that we followed thru the city</td></tr>
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We walked part of the trail, a well-defined path easily
identified by a double-brick line in the sidewalk, that took us thru the
streets of Boston past most of the key historical sites.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massachusetts State House with gleaming<br />23-karat gold leaf dome</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former US House representative<br />Gabby Giffords</td></tr>
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We strolled along, following the red brick pathway, we
encountered a political rally right in front of the Massachusetts State House
with its gleaming 23-karat gold leaf dome. Wow, included in this rally was
Gabrielle (Gabby) Giffords, stumping for Hillary Clinton’s gun control reforms.
Gabby was an Arizona US House representative back in January of 2011 when some
22-year old nutcase walked up to her and shot her pointblank at a political
speech near Tucson, Arizona. Although Gabby was noticeably debilitated, she made
a short but poignant speech for more effective gun control and then disappeared
into the crowds. We felt so sorry for her; poor lady is only 46 years old. And that makes her tragedy even more personal,
as we have a 46-year-old daughter!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Revere's grave in the<br />Granary Burial Grounds</td></tr>
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As we strolled the Freedom Trail, we bopped into the Granary
Burial Grounds to see the burial sites of John Hancock and Paul Revere. The
trail covered many other stops as well, including other old cemeteries,
churches, and various historical buildings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam Lagrassa'a pastrami heaven</td></tr>
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Somewhere around the noon hour, we hit a famous pastrami
house here in Boston known as “Sam Lagrassa’s.”
Frank has been crying to Anne for years about finding a pastrami
sandwich as delicious as the kind he always bought for lunch when he was working
up here in Boston years ago. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastrami anyone?</td></tr>
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Well, Anne
knowing that we were scheduled to dock and tour here in Boston, did some
research and found a “Class A” pastrami place, and we went! Wowie Zowie! Sam
served up some incredible “Romanian pastrami.” There is no question in Frank’s
mind anymore; Boston does indeed have the most tasty, succulent, massive
pastrami sandwiches of anywhere on this planet!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skull and angel wings are prominent on<br /> gravestones at King's Chapel cemetery</td></tr>
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It was a bit hard to move around after downing those large and
absolutely delectable pastrami sandwiches, but somehow we managed to waddle our
way back onto the Freedom Trail. We continued on to the Old South Meeting House
(famous for a protest that started here and then moved to the harbor becoming
known as The Boston Tea Party) and to King’s Chapel Church with the oldest
cemetery in Boston. Nobody especially important in this cemetery, but there is always
an odd fascination for us in reading the old engraved tombstones. These tombstones
were particularly intriguing with a common motif of a skeleton head surrounded
by angel wings, representing the mortality of the body and the immortality of
the soul. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JliwI8u_XSu51uSus2blGSi3XWW6L4o1a5zO5YzhZyWYc_G3_UxpgnP8NblyZlgpBupHGMEwEucde0-mgsPaEu7jpm2AqbQt_A3mCBKU3qRLbR-0-qfZ9Xtt9iAoqtBrcX-9Ws0y3WE/s1600/IMG_0688.ed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5JliwI8u_XSu51uSus2blGSi3XWW6L4o1a5zO5YzhZyWYc_G3_UxpgnP8NblyZlgpBupHGMEwEucde0-mgsPaEu7jpm2AqbQt_A3mCBKU3qRLbR-0-qfZ9Xtt9iAoqtBrcX-9Ws0y3WE/s320/IMG_0688.ed1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balcony of the Old State House</td></tr>
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Then, it was on to the Old State House, which was a center
of political activity in the 1700’s and 1800’s.
The Declaration of Independence was read for the 1<sup>st</sup> time in
Boston from the balcony of this building. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMe74J0U9EqnVTBk3xi2u1rPG_RkXlJlY4nIYJ8VWDllcphEatkl2t1vDE_SBjUGj4y078y43lAH9_E74o0fM6kHYiPwj1LIEj22LeGqhqBYwjvDCnO9-4bBLBiYGU0p5zPV5kcJDiAc/s1600/IMG_0680.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMe74J0U9EqnVTBk3xi2u1rPG_RkXlJlY4nIYJ8VWDllcphEatkl2t1vDE_SBjUGj4y078y43lAH9_E74o0fM6kHYiPwj1LIEj22LeGqhqBYwjvDCnO9-4bBLBiYGU0p5zPV5kcJDiAc/s320/IMG_0680.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trump or Hillary (ha, ha)?</td></tr>
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Today, the main attraction at the
State House was a beggar with a sign that read, “Give me one dollar or I’m
voting Trump.” If that didn’t work, he turned the sign around, and it read,
“Give me one dollar or I’m voting Hillary.” Pretty clever! Frank gave him a dollar just for his
innovative thinking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpznFHmA1LTkcyDBHd-j5Rm_MunWd-zcuRzuLBy3UyOYro3t_ielKacHecYnfIJisLsVkEaPRVVd2BmGZWiUKw9yRVzLD2iVsR7R9B_B1ZGjiXedQeoSe8ZTNeb8biS_Qw74NTy6vn4ss/s1600/IMG_0692.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpznFHmA1LTkcyDBHd-j5Rm_MunWd-zcuRzuLBy3UyOYro3t_ielKacHecYnfIJisLsVkEaPRVVd2BmGZWiUKw9yRVzLD2iVsR7R9B_B1ZGjiXedQeoSe8ZTNeb8biS_Qw74NTy6vn4ss/s320/IMG_0692.ed.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faneuil Hall</td></tr>
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We ended our walk at the popular, pedestrian-only area surrounding
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Faneuil
Hall has mostly arts & crafts, while Quincy Market has exclusively foods
and food courts. Lots of fun stuff
there, and we even found some good buys including these favorite souvenirs:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkNvkYRjOwiU2-Pn34hixFoOb8z5R9BSK4FDJdLr5IhLQhLRFbB06M_91a2dNSK-qE2dSNhIqO3TcmjgLf4-R_jrOaMWRXTzch5hd5tYFxmgiIayCQ3ere35HnGo7uNhBOxiD-zUxhAA/s1600/IMG_2906.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkNvkYRjOwiU2-Pn34hixFoOb8z5R9BSK4FDJdLr5IhLQhLRFbB06M_91a2dNSK-qE2dSNhIqO3TcmjgLf4-R_jrOaMWRXTzch5hd5tYFxmgiIayCQ3ere35HnGo7uNhBOxiD-zUxhAA/s320/IMG_2906.ed.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne found the best magnet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqOf8YeshzThARFV-UPMhhBgisqb7RL0DETehfV6okEONsh0TYcI7_rBFrDxAsaE7tMATsRl_h5EgO98uJMAdbzD76ZxILZl-z_nVG9jQEw7rsZDSq0KoHQ55f3lzSL5hI2BbAka4yoY/s1600/IMG_2908.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqOf8YeshzThARFV-UPMhhBgisqb7RL0DETehfV6okEONsh0TYcI7_rBFrDxAsaE7tMATsRl_h5EgO98uJMAdbzD76ZxILZl-z_nVG9jQEw7rsZDSq0KoHQ55f3lzSL5hI2BbAka4yoY/s320/IMG_2908.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank found a worthy addition to his<br />undies collection</td></tr>
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More pics:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne photo bombs colonial couple</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIk1vH5mbCeuI36ZCVuzxZb7y8Q3P63Slx2x-VVkjoQrQPGN3gM7vkvIcO5q8hzbPgEtfUaqL8o6JlUDX2W6omoQ-W8Of4r4dmgXtWm8upL8SSfpGLwHCXG-ngLM2MUpjlHmq9dG3a_Y/s1600/IMG_0649.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFIk1vH5mbCeuI36ZCVuzxZb7y8Q3P63Slx2x-VVkjoQrQPGN3gM7vkvIcO5q8hzbPgEtfUaqL8o6JlUDX2W6omoQ-W8Of4r4dmgXtWm8upL8SSfpGLwHCXG-ngLM2MUpjlHmq9dG3a_Y/s320/IMG_0649.ed.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne's lovin' every bite of her Sam Lagrassa <br />pastrami</td></tr>
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Anne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564722089676586995.post-58355199154190014802016-10-18T12:27:00.000-07:002016-10-18T12:27:22.754-07:00Newport and the Gilded Age<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4n42N1rq077ijwy-V8oA5vNvQEDB3yvYzBD97dPcX9N9KkFfEgYRwXbF9H0ECmIbHw4TJxV08o8qwSS2rKz4kIXjXCzbu-wgrosRZ6OLzyaT8csgZWQFSzgNfCbyC8UIRZ_Tub6N8nBs/s1600/IMG_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4n42N1rq077ijwy-V8oA5vNvQEDB3yvYzBD97dPcX9N9KkFfEgYRwXbF9H0ECmIbHw4TJxV08o8qwSS2rKz4kIXjXCzbu-wgrosRZ6OLzyaT8csgZWQFSzgNfCbyC8UIRZ_Tub6N8nBs/s320/IMG_0482.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tender required to access Newport</td></tr>
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The town of Newport in Rhode Island is the turf of the "summer cottages" (actually mansions) of the extremely wealthy, and we were going to see some of these behemoth remnants of the famous gilded age! Our cruise ship's tender took us onto Aquidneck Island and into town to begin our excursion with Newport Heritage Tours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qgL2O4noR3rQEfqOF9IBvewmjnFyqofQAvU5ELIjLPYpgDQvfOLAUee17Akc6ZkbRzqCLAOuAaOh30kk1-UXk78WTzaJdRhVzjeLHECjr-pdHrNd_LMVV_Q-F_D4croMy_FbESIT8RM/s1600/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qgL2O4noR3rQEfqOF9IBvewmjnFyqofQAvU5ELIjLPYpgDQvfOLAUee17Akc6ZkbRzqCLAOuAaOh30kk1-UXk78WTzaJdRhVzjeLHECjr-pdHrNd_LMVV_Q-F_D4croMy_FbESIT8RM/s320/IMG_0503.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our trolley transportation around the island</td></tr>
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Our tour guide & driver Nate, was an affable 20-something year old, who lives in Massachusetts but commutes to work here in Rhode Island because he loves Newport. This kid could talk at the speed of lightening and was a continuous fountain of historical information. Frank was impressed, but remarked that it was difficult for us slo-mo old farts to catch every speedy word that was emanating from Nate's mouth!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBcYCZfvYaswTikxED76KkoPYImyGOkryOOVDil-yltUPQ1HD8rdP2cmgPMmRbmsniH1WyWDro1oz4dzpFq2sECdwjmVfBdvp4lOu6A3QuHCwazP6kBy2LlCRt1PMcDVIVlLTxlusPpM/s1600/IMG_2861.ed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBcYCZfvYaswTikxED76KkoPYImyGOkryOOVDil-yltUPQ1HD8rdP2cmgPMmRbmsniH1WyWDro1oz4dzpFq2sECdwjmVfBdvp4lOu6A3QuHCwazP6kBy2LlCRt1PMcDVIVlLTxlusPpM/s320/IMG_2861.ed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocean Drive along Narragansett Bay</td></tr>
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Nate informed us that there were three things that used to keep the economy thriving here in Newport: (1) fishing, (2) the America's Cup, and (3) the Navy Base. (Frank was reminded that he had been to that Navy Base several times as a young engineer while working for the Navy back in the 1970's). When these big three died out (the Navy base closed, they lost the America's Cup, and the fishing diminished), the townspeople banded together to preserve these great "mansions of the past," hoping to draw tourists and create a resurgence of their local economy. The plan worked and Newport is now a thriving tourist town with lots of refurbished mansions to visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDXPJE9bCI36ukS-PGMJhVVO5SnK563X8RC0yuwWEug-vsNGWaOIdKjf-4_3A2OuXuH-cQQ2JDfyf8jCa-wdE2itlMY_TGWyay1o_j8YXVgLm-Ntg8uaelGMsGG8N-pZbDGTlZtMqSOs/s1600/IMG_0506.ed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDXPJE9bCI36ukS-PGMJhVVO5SnK563X8RC0yuwWEug-vsNGWaOIdKjf-4_3A2OuXuH-cQQ2JDfyf8jCa-wdE2itlMY_TGWyay1o_j8YXVgLm-Ntg8uaelGMsGG8N-pZbDGTlZtMqSOs/s320/IMG_0506.ed.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of Vanderbilt's summer cottage<br /> "The Breakers"</td></tr>
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Our driver took us past the many mansions which were actually summer-only residences occupied for just a few months of each year. The main purpose of the mansions was to show off money (my mansion is bigger than your mansion) and to host extravagant parties. These rich folks held legendary parties, and each one was required to outdo the last. With so much time/money on their hands, they came up with some crazy ideas. One mansion even had a "Monkey Bell." They had a trained chimpanzee who sat over the entranceway to the mansion and rang a bell whenever a guest arrived. Now that's crazy unnecessary affluence!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVsUG79-hba-ET8KuaKbuc8T-olllKdEGf_LuS7j5e-GMV42je_l3RZvIujcW3uwKS9V_XvYE1ygYjCp8f58iryws1PmMfMNsgaPd_lbPG5Wz4SOvBxSx88b6-pn0ZSmt5zjqnAUl1lQ/s1600/IMG_0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVsUG79-hba-ET8KuaKbuc8T-olllKdEGf_LuS7j5e-GMV42je_l3RZvIujcW3uwKS9V_XvYE1ygYjCp8f58iryws1PmMfMNsgaPd_lbPG5Wz4SOvBxSx88b6-pn0ZSmt5zjqnAUl1lQ/s320/IMG_0515.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparkling chandeliers welcome us inside<br /> "The Breakers"</td></tr>
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Nate dropped us off at the most famous Newport mansion called "The Breakers," originally owned by the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt in the late 1800's. The elder Vanderbilt made his money in shipping, railroads, tobacco, and coal and was touted to make more money in 10 seconds than even reasonably wealthy men of the time made in an entire year! However, by the time his fortune passed down to the grandchildren, they were more interested in spending money rather than making it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr_vRZIQ_efne9y9dKudI2G3X2f-HMAOIem0At62FhjWXhQx_2qUD1UJ5SJyDoTWwNdoEYeJiDyiaVXASld3ppd7c0MVLaL34IhC7cHhU_O29GC9dFs3erNgt5PgEaAXv67wtdtiMgQg/s1600/IMG_0509.ed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr_vRZIQ_efne9y9dKudI2G3X2f-HMAOIem0At62FhjWXhQx_2qUD1UJ5SJyDoTWwNdoEYeJiDyiaVXASld3ppd7c0MVLaL34IhC7cHhU_O29GC9dFs3erNgt5PgEaAXv67wtdtiMgQg/s320/IMG_0509.ed.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elegant stairway to the upper floors</td></tr>
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The Breakers was opulence in the extreme. The colorful main hall sparkled with gold leaf, huge chandeliers, and a curved double stairway. Children (and even adults at some of those wild parties) used to slide down the staircase on big serving trays!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZMmA6grKCio8MVIFDT7TsnofQ9EI13pZXoNnvm1mOADTX2thMROaMfNNO4lbBK9Gf3yBRw9xr3BBnL2Mb1MMMpl5S1JoLCsW2EaMyu19h05-7s7_8XICNxk5FwBXd533ZaeWYlulWxA/s1600/IMG_0532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZMmA6grKCio8MVIFDT7TsnofQ9EI13pZXoNnvm1mOADTX2thMROaMfNNO4lbBK9Gf3yBRw9xr3BBnL2Mb1MMMpl5S1JoLCsW2EaMyu19h05-7s7_8XICNxk5FwBXd533ZaeWYlulWxA/s320/IMG_0532.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One piece marble sarcophagus bath tub </td></tr>
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The whole house was decadent with a decorated bath tub carved from a single block of marble that looked like a Roman sarcophagus (requiring multiple fillings until the marble warmed up enough for the elite asses to be totally comfy) and narrow servant corridors so the servants could do their jobs without being seen. Frank referred to this extreme spending and coddling of these rich as "useless opulence" better spent in hundreds of different, more practical ways.<br />
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Nate shared an interesting theory about these conspicuous consumers. He told us that as absurdly extravagant as these Gilded Age folks were, their spending habits actually created the middle class, which up until that time had been practically non-existent. By the end of the Gilded Age, 79% of Americans had raised themselves into the middle class. (Today, the middle class represents only about 39%.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1vHFe7flvjeBDjaql-LqrgfBEfHcAUgGg2rU2UMckguLDaLzOgPyFXcEG4belE0RXUl66OGSavtIjk2kuO-F9g7VrCmVIxqhSrEeadv6wkQfMZ-QTwb6XqOp810QyNv4bb2vlYWD3Jo/s1600/IMG_0789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1vHFe7flvjeBDjaql-LqrgfBEfHcAUgGg2rU2UMckguLDaLzOgPyFXcEG4belE0RXUl66OGSavtIjk2kuO-F9g7VrCmVIxqhSrEeadv6wkQfMZ-QTwb6XqOp810QyNv4bb2vlYWD3Jo/s320/IMG_0789.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blazing New England foliage</td></tr>
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Here's an interesting tidbit about this trip: we have met an unusual number of Californians on our cruise and on our tours. Why, we thought, would such a large group of Californians come 3000 miles to the east coast for a short, low-key cruise like this one? As we rode around Newport on the bumpy uncomfortable trolley car, we listened to the various conversations and outbursts of our West Coast co-travelers. It did not take long to realize that they were here to see the leaves in New England change color! When we asked some of them, they confirmed our suspicions, saying that the leaves never change color in California. At one point on our tour, a lady from southern California jumped out of her seat, pointed to a red maple that was partially reddened, and said to her friend, "Rachel, look at the beautiful color of those leaves!" as they both swooned heartfelt sighs of exhilaration about something most easterners take for granted.<br />
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I guess it never really occurred to us that life-long west coasters have never seen leaves change color. Our leaf changeover is a genuine anomaly to them since they don't have any real autumn. Most of us folks from the east coast never think about it too much since we've seen it happen so many times over the years. And we certainly wouldn't travel thousands of miles to see it happen. Haaa! Never realized we take this simple natural phenomenon for granted. Mostly, I just think of the work these #&$@% leaves represent when they fall and you have to get out there in the yard and rake them up!<br />
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More pics:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EpwaW5rEIph54afTFHjJvJECBnl7ejBYt0f7_8a2GNG8shuULfiUEV9BfotTj3lGKrjDhWI1zY1ngi_GvFKz1l7Qs8wkiWhjN3AvkU3PL8lPtMcSc9ewv_0OR6eD9jsMkSY_OqPc2cM/s1600/IMG_0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EpwaW5rEIph54afTFHjJvJECBnl7ejBYt0f7_8a2GNG8shuULfiUEV9BfotTj3lGKrjDhWI1zY1ngi_GvFKz1l7Qs8wkiWhjN3AvkU3PL8lPtMcSc9ewv_0OR6eD9jsMkSY_OqPc2cM/s320/IMG_0501.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocean Drive around Aquidneck Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More Breakers opulence</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gleaming copper pots in The Breakers kitchen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classic Roman cherub over a doorway in The Breakers<br />(look closely and you'll see a locomotive on the left --<br />added because Vanderbilt made his money from the railroads!)</td></tr>
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Anne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564722089676586995.post-13097181454624072792016-10-16T08:55:00.001-07:002016-10-16T08:55:58.829-07:00 Start Spreading the News: the Supsics are in New York!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTT2L_OJhhKOjes7Tzbf1cakjeEdHEzyhVlSELj7wnkMENY2KLPrE0yPBRYc9fO7EzjYFHwlLUe6Je22j3mvm2_xNQBh4ctx1Va9GHyL-i68vP31YyW4UsDtyLG4CNPI3ybevvOM5Ny8/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTT2L_OJhhKOjes7Tzbf1cakjeEdHEzyhVlSELj7wnkMENY2KLPrE0yPBRYc9fO7EzjYFHwlLUe6Je22j3mvm2_xNQBh4ctx1Va9GHyL-i68vP31YyW4UsDtyLG4CNPI3ybevvOM5Ny8/s320/IMG_0441.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manhattan from the deck of our ship</td></tr>
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Our cruise ship will be departing from the Brooklyn Terminal
in New York City, so we called upon our trusty chauffeurs, J & J
Transportation, for a driver to take us up there. We have always had good luck
with J & J, but the driver we were issued this time (Nick) was one of our
best driver yet. He was excellent behind the wheel and a very interesting guy.
Nick came from Italy to America with his family when he was 13 years old. He
could not speak any English, and he had no formal schooling. Can you imagine?
Thirteen is a tough age under the best circumstances!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nick grew up in the Piemonte region of northern Italy which
is one of our favorite areas. We had a great time reminiscing about our visit
there – the food, the wine, the people. When he dropped us off, Nick told us
how much he enjoyed our conversation and said, “I hardly ever meet anyone who
has been to Alba!” (One of our favorite towns in the Piemonte.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incredible view of the Lady with the Lamp</td></tr>
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We loved sailing out of the Brooklyn Terminal. The views
from the deck of the ship were phenomenal. Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty
were right in front of us, just a short distance across the East River. We were
thoroughly entertained watching the ferries and sightseeing boats plying the
water, and the flightseeing helicopters circling the Statue of Liberty. We
could clearly see the New World Trade Center Building, looming high above
everything around it on the southern tip of Manhattan. It was a tragic reminder
of the events of 9/11. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooklyn Bridge on far right</td></tr>
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Further down the East River, we could see the Brooklyn
Bridge, as we stood there recalling images of traumatized and soot-covered New
Yorkers pouring across the bridge on foot to escape the island. The low-lying
buildings of Ellis Island were in front of us too, and we thought about all the
immigrants who left everything they knew to come to this country to start a new
life. Much like our own families and, more recently, our driver Nick and his
family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning view of Manhattan after dark</td></tr>
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The visuals only got better when we sailed out of the
terminal on a perfectly clear night. Manhattan with all its skyscrapers lit up
was one of the most poignant and recognizable city skylines we have ever seen. The
Statue of Liberty had a soft green glow except for the torch which sparkled in
the dark. What a start to our cruise!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of Liberty from the deck of our<br />cruise ship</td></tr>
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Anne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5564722089676586995.post-11775499087157736382016-09-07T14:19:00.001-07:002016-09-26T15:12:25.723-07:00Trip Start-up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The leaves are changing and the Supsics are headed north to
check out the colorful foliage. We will be cruising on the Caribbean Princess
from New York City to Quebec City.<br />
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Here is an overview of the trip:</div>
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Newport, RI – tour Ocean
Drive and The Breakers mansion<o:p></o:p></div>
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Boston, MA – visit Faneuil Hall and walk some of the Freedom Trail<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bar Harbor, ME – tour Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saint John, New Brunswick -- roam St. John City Market<o:p></o:p></div>
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Halifax, Nova Scotia – visit Titanic graves and Peggy’s Cove<o:p></o:p></div>
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Sydney, Nova Scotia -- visit historic house museums<o:p></o:p></div>
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Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island -- eat mussels!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Quebec City – We’ll spend three days touring and soaking up
the ambiance (Anne can’t wait to get her “French Fix!”)<o:p></o:p></div>
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We thank you, as always, for your interest in our trips, and
we look forward to sharing this cruise with you!<o:p></o:p></div>
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A bientot, (see, she is in her French mode already!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Frank & Anne<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anne and Frankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00809617541631362556noreply@blogger.com0