alexandriacardinals

May 10

Sydney

[So, Sydney?  I will admit to never having heard of Sydney before this trip.  Will wonders never cease?  Sydney is a population centre (32,000) and former city in Nova Scotia. Situated on Cape Breton Island’s east coast, it belongs administratively to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Sydney was founded in 1785 by the British; it was incorporated as a city in 1904, and dissolved on 1 August 1995, when it was amalgamated into the regional municipality. It served as the Cape Breton Island colony’s capital, until 1820, when the colony merged with Nova Scotia and the capital moved to Halifax.  (Wikipedia)]

[We’re off the ship, in the information center waiting for the rain to GO AWAY.  I’m in my usual situation under such circumstances.  I look to my left, no Supervisor . . . ]

[I look to my right, no Reetz . . . ]

[I’m left minding the fort while they browse whatever shopping opportunities there are?]

[Oh, here they are!  Let’s go here!]

[It’s raining hard, but The Biddies are indefatigable.  We’re going exploring.]

[It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!]

[We ducked into this church for a little local history.]

[Once the home of a prominent merchant, Jost Heritage House (c 1787) located in Sydney on Cape Breton Island, shows the evolution of a wooden dwelling over the course of two centuries.  The museum features displays on local marine life, Cape Breton history and a reconstructed apothecary.  (novascotia.com)  I did not feel like standing outside in the elements to take a photo that I could borrow much more comfortably from the internet – so that’s what I did here.]

[And because it was a foul weather day, we tried to keep our outdoor exploring to a minimum.  We thusly spent a lot of time in this heritage house.  The Super took the next 12 photos about the life and times of the era, not unlike what one would find in Colonial Williamsburg.]

[The Biddies were particularly taken with this young man explaining the goings-on in the basement.]

[I do not believe there would have been a fire extinguisher back in the day.]

[Not exactly a Sealy Posturepedic.]

[I’d like to return this duck . . . errr, loon.]

[Drugs!]

[Somebody asked this young presenter if she sang.  I don’t know why?  But she responded, “How about Amazing Grace?”  The assembled several had no problem with that, and she gave a marvelous a cappella performance.]

[And back to me . . . ]

[Thought it cool that the museum contained a undated photo our ship Veendam.]

[Just because banks are important . . . ]

[If you read the above, no need for further explanation from me here.  But now having read it myself, I guess there is a need.]

[The “Largest Ceilidh Fiddle in the World” –  Cape Breton Island is home to the world’s largest fiddle!  Located at the Port of Sydney, the iconic fiddle and bow reach 60 feet
in height. Also home of North America’s only living Celtic culture, residents felt the fiddle was a strong symbol to represent the island.  Officially named FIDHEAL MHOR A’ CEILIDH, or the Big Fiddle of the Ceilidh, the giant fiddle plays a dedicated medley composed by local musician Kinnon Beaton and delights all who hear it with a march, a stratespey and a reel. (cbisland.com)]

[Someone left my fiddle out in the rain . . . ]

[Shipboard visibility, so . . . ]

[Let’s go eat!  Bobbie, Kathy (the HQ), and Joanne were traveling with us if not actually with us.  We dined together on occasion when our schedules meshed.  The HQ is our travel agent and advised us of this trip.  To her credit, she did not cancel her trip upon learning we would be joining them.]

[We had a table that featured a view of where we’d just been.]

[And the requisite shots for the foodies.]

[And why this day will be remembered . . . ]

[Ahhh, a bunny]

I get to go to lots of overseas places, like Canada.  ~  Britney Spears (asked the best part of being famous)

Up Next:  One more day in Canada.  BTW, I hope you noticed this is our second international Sydney within a couple months of each other.

May 9

Charlottetown

What I did not know about Charlottetown before arrival, oh let me count the ways!  (See the quote at the end of the post.)  I did not know Charlottetown was the birthplace of Canada, 150 years ago; the home of Anne of Green Gables; and the home of Cows Ice Cream?

Prior to this trip I had only been in three of Canada’s ten provinces – Manitoba, Ontario, and British Columbia; and one of its three territories – Yukon.  I would pick up Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, though still missing Newfoundland and New Brunswick in the Maritimes.

[Awakening to our towel elephant . . . ]

[And then the beautiful entry into Chartlottetown.  We would finally have a nice day!]

[And the Super chimed in here.]

[I believe bucolic applies all through here.]

[The site of the Charlottetown Conference in 1864, the first gathering of Canadian and Maritime statesmen to debate the proposed Maritime Union and the more persuasive British North American Union, now known as Canadian Conferation. From this, the city adopted as its motto “Cunabula Foederis” – “Birthplace of Confederation”.  (Wikipedia)]

[The population of Charlottetown in the 2011 census was 34,562; this forms the centre of a census agglomeration of 64,487, which is slightly less than half of the province’s population (140,204).  (Wikipedia)]

[And yes, Anne.  I wanted to bring her home with me.  The Biddies nixed the idea.]

[Cuteness cubed]

[“Free wireless internet” – the sign of the times!]

[It’s spotted, it’s a seal; ergo it’s . . . likely a harbor seal.  Spotted seals are arctic creatures.]

[It’s going to be a lovely day for a lot of walking.]

[It’s a big boat, but we were glad it was in those 4-meter swells.]

[I stood around waiting for a free hug, but nobody came?]

[SPUD radio, for all the folks in Moorhead?]

[Biddies meet a bird . . . a really big bird.]

[Now when it comes to rating signs, this one’s got to be right up there!]

[Hooked a whopper on the street . . . ]

[Appears to be a bluefin tuna . . . ]

[Reetz is excited, as thoughts of tuna noodle casserole dance in her head.]

[“Before I die” . . . I want to be dining on sour dough toast.]

[I released the fish.]

[Ahhh, my kind of street – looks like a selection of outdoor fine dining.]

[Now back to Ms. Green Gables.  It seems Reetz, with her daughter Beth as a youngster, were major afficiandos of this story.]

[I guess the musical runs here . . .  non-stop?]

[Now this was a highlight for me.  Another “I did not know” item.  According to well-placed local sources, Sir John A. Macdonald is to Canada what Abraham Lincoln is to us. He was Canada’s first prime minister, and just an all-around remarkable person and bon vivant . . . ]

[The Super found him an interesting guy to talk to, though he didn’t say much . . . ]

[So let’s see what else we can find out about this place.]

[As with so many places we visit these days, antiquity is undergoing renovation. Province House is where the PEI Legislature, known as the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island, has met since 1847.  It is Canada’s second-oldest seat of government.  (Wikipedia)]

[There must be an open door around here some place?]

[Hey, Moose!  ~  Boris Badenov]

[In the Confederation Centre of the Arts, Reetz finds cool stuff about Anne of Green Gables . . . ]

[So I tried to get some good shots she could share with Beth.]

[This Japanese fascination with Anne of Green Gables was interesting.]

[Now this looks like my Happy Place!    Cows is an ice cream manufacturer and chain of ice cream parlors based in Charlottetown. Cows was founded in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island in 1983, and has since expanded into cheddar cheese, and cow-themed merchandise. Cows was named “Canada’s best ice cream” in a survey of readers of Reader’s Digest and named the world’s top place to get ice cream by Tauck World Discovery.  (Wikipedia)]

[Cows is #1!!]

[No argument from The Biddies!]

[As I recall, a member of our companion crew was on this ride.]

[It’s a literate place . . . ]

[Kinda downtown Charlottetown.]

[The magnolias were in bloom . . . ]

[A nice walk down to Beaconsfield Historic House (more below) on the harbor . . . ]

[But first a quick visit to Government House . . . ]

[Government House serves as the home of the Lieutenant Governor and spouse and has the offices of the administrative staff required to support the official duties and activities associated with the Vice Regal function.  (gov.pe.ca)]

[Charlottetown Harbor]

[Government House]

[And back to Beaconsfield House . . . ]

[Walking around the harbor, looking back at Government House.]

[Nice to have them all in one building – saves on travel and per diem expenses.]

[Who’s Scott?]

[A nice long walk finishing back at the ship . . . ]

[OMG, a giant lutefisk washed up on shore?]

[Bidding adieu to Charlottetown.  We enjoyed our visit.]

[And a last minute check of socia media before re-boarding the ship.]

[From Veendam as we diesel away . . . ]

[And goodnight from a towel bunny.  The Super loves her critters.]

Canadians have an abiding interest in surprising those Americans who have historically made little effort to learn about their neighbour to the North.  ~  Peter Jennings

Up Next:  Canada . . .

May 8

Open “Sea”

[The St. Lawrence is enormous. The river proper, at 1,197 km in length, runs northeast from Lake Ontario towards the Atlantic, where it forms the Gulf of St. Lawrence. All in all, the whole St. Lawrence system is 3,058 km. This behemoth of a river is still fairly young, having only formed around 10,000 years or so ago when the glaciers began retreating, exposing a giant gash in the Earth’s crust (WWF-Canada Blog).  The river becomes tidal just past Quebec City and widens considerably.  It looks and feels like being at sea.  This leg of the cruise is all on the water, and on this day we were experiencing 4-meter swells. If not for the big ship, we’d be rockin’ and rollin’!]

[So, what does one do at “sea” all day.  One reads.  I put a nice dent in One Summer, by Bill Bryson, though it got a bit curdled in my backpack during the rains in Montreal.  And for bloggers it gives us an opportunity for a James Patterson chapter-post, i.e., short, if not necessarily sweet.  Reetz gets up close and personal with her reading.  She’s very nearsighted.]

[And then to bed, where nightly the staff leaves us a towel-animal.]

[In the morning, we will be in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the birthplace of Canada.]

I’m not an American!  I am a Canadian.  I come from a “nice,” thoroughly unrealistic country.  ~  Matthew Fisher

Up Next:  Even more Canada.

May 7

Quebec City

[After an overnight “sail” from Montreal, I awoke the next morning and carefully opened (The Biddies were still sleeping) the drapes  . . . et voila!  Wow!]

[We were now in Quebec City, the quintessential example of French Canadian-ness.  So mind your bonjours and mercis, s’il vous plait?]

[The Seminary of Quebec]

[The Old Post Office is the dome on the left, Notre Dame on the right, and I believe that is the Edifice Price Building in the middle.]

[Somehow a cityscape seems cooler in the fog and mist.  The funicular rises to the base of the Frontenac.]

[The buildings at river level, so to speak, is Lower Town.]

[And here we go again – off into the rain to explore another city.]

[Yup, looks wet up river too.]

[We were off for a hop on, hop off bus tour of the city. ]

[After a couple blocks walk, we caught the bus here at Musee de la Civilisation.]

[Photo ops as we roll along . . . ]

[The Super is plugged into the rolling presentation, and past her window . . . ]

[I could find nothing more about this other than it’s a leaping wolf sculpture at the Convention Centre.]

[Murals seemed ubiquitous . . . ]

[As I recall this was across the street from the Convention Center, no doubt a depiction of Canadians honoring Alexandria, Minnesota, as the birthplace of North America.]

[The Plains of Abraham Museum]

[The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the Seven Years’ War (referred to as the French and Indian War in the United States). The battle, which began on 13 September 1759, was fought by the British Army and Navy against the French Army on a plateau just outside the walls of Quebec City, on land that was originally owned by a farmer named Abraham Martin [remember this name when we get to Boston], hence the name of the battle. The battle involved fewer than 10,000 troops between both sides, but proved to be a deciding moment in the conflict between France and Britain over the fate of New France, influencing the later creation of Canada.  (Wikipedia)]

[The Plains of Abraham are preserved within one of Canada’s National Urban Parks. There is a monument on the site of the Battle of Sainte-Foy. (Wikipedia) ]

[The Plains as it appeared when I did a full vertical leap, camera in hand.  (OK, it’s on loan from the internet.)]

[The St. Lawrence River from the Plains of Abraham]

[Cette aussi]

[A cannon and a guy (or is it a guy?) overlooking the river.]

[Something that looks kinda cool.]

[Rounding back to the museum.]

[Joan of Arc Garden within the Plains of Abraham . . . ]

[I have no idea why Joan of Arc?]

[Maybe because she looked impressive on a horse sculpture?]

[The Super checked with the folks up top – the photo ops obviously would have been much better from up there.  Unfortunately, they reported they were freezing up there!]

[Adieu, Joan]

[Horse drawn buggies saunter by.]

[Le Lieu, Center for Contemporary Art]

[The Pierre Lassonde Pavilion-the National Museum of Fine Arts, as we whiz by . . . ]

[And something of great import:  the oldest grocery store in North America!]

[The Palais Montcalm is a performance hall of the city located in the borough of La Cite-Limoilou on Place d’Youville.]

[Artillery Park]

[A view of the Laurentians from the park.]

[The Château Frontenac is a grand hotel operated as Fairmont Le Château Frontenac.  It is situated at an elevation of 54 m (177 ft).  It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1980.  The hotel is generally recognized as the most photographed hotel in the world, largely for its prominence in the skyline of Quebec City.  The current hotel capacity is more than 600 rooms on 18 floors.  (Wikipedia)]

[The Biddies on the Frontenac plaza near the funicular.]

[To the best of my knowledge, the folks in the background are not related to either side of the family.]

[Our traveling hotel from Frontenac plaza.]

[And three shots from the Super’s tablet . . . ]

[The Happy Traveling Biddies!!]

[Samuel De Champlain in front of the Frontenac]

[And here we ran into an older couple (look who’s talking!) from our ship whom we hadn’t seen since the boarding tent in Montreal.  They were from upstate New York, as I recall, and their traveling thing was to ride funiculars.]

[Old Post Office et Monsieur Champlain]

[The Biddies attempt a side door entrance to the Frontenac.  I believe they were frustrated.]

[Samuel de Champlain, who as I recall at some point had a lake named after him.]

[The Cub Reporter, who as of this date has not had a lake named after him.]

[And the Super’s.  This was inside the Frontenac, and I thought they were cute.]

[Three little pea-pickers?]

[We were hoping for a nice, hot tea, but the bar wasn’t open yet.]

[Reetz does a weather check, still in the Frontenac.]

[Overlooking the grandness of it all.]

[The information office greeter . . . ]

[And me makes three!  Frosty, is it really you?]

[Recollets Statue, looking from the front steps of the visitor center and kitty corner from the Frontenac.  We had planned on riding the funicular down to Lower Town and then having a nice walk through that area back to the ship.  But it began to rain again so . . . ]

[We bused back to our starting point, Musee de la Civilisation.  Further attempts at sightseeing were lost to the weather.  We got a little moister on our return walk to the ship, but we got The Biddies with pets photo.]

[Just wandering through the dessert area after lunch on the ship . . . ]

[And now it’s time to say good-bye to Chateau Frontenac . . . ]

[We really would have liked to have a lot more time here . . . ]

[And now the city almost looks like . . . ]

[A Gingerbread village?]

[It looks like a business building, but as we were pulling away folks came out on their balconies to wave good-bye.]

[A small town (or a suburb?) along the river . . . ]

[Backed by the Laurentian Mountains.]

[And a Super shot.]

[New Englandy?  Well, yeah.]

[Major electrical power heading to . . . Hudson Bay?]

[And now, on what appears to be a lovely afternoon, a tour of the ship . . . ]

[Here we are in the Crow’s Nest, top floor bow, for happy hour . . . ]

[Outside for a quick look at the navigation system . . . ]

[While passing by the Laurentians . . . ]

[Strolling the upper promende deck (deck 8) past the music lounge/bars.  Here a piano trio who were good but whose name I’ve forgotten . . . ]

[Bar hopping?]

[Checking the buoy, the sky getting ominous again . . . ]

[The classical music lounge, a piano player occasionally joined by a violinist . . . ]

[The Biddies never met a menu they didn’t like to read, even if it’s a music menu . . . ]

[Now they’re leading me through the library . . . ]

[Hey, this looks a bit like our cruise around New Zealand.]

[And as you may recall, on that trip we were also on a Holland America ship but then on the lower promenade walk-around deck (deck 6).  This was our first and only venture around that deck on this trip . . . again for weather related reasons.]

[Are you sure we’re not in a New Zealand sound?]

[Looking backwards, instead of forward, you get to see the “bread trail” left by the ship so you can find your way back.]

[After turning the corner here, we soon repaired to the inside because . . . IT WAS REALLY COLD!]

[A little opulence every once in a while is good for the soul.]

[The most sought after chairs on the ship.  The Super has snagged one!  These are the only two of this “comfy” style, they’re in the library, with great window views. Unfortunately, the ongoing weather issues have created shower stall windows.]

[Yup, sure looks like a ski resort to me.]

[Life is a cabaret, old chum, Come to the cabaret . . .  Surprisingly good every night entertainment, assuming one didn’t rush back to “the suite” after dinner for the latest poop from Washington!]

Canada must be considered the Vichyssoise of nations – cold, half-French, and difficult to stir.  ~  Stuart Keate (BC newspaper publisher)

Up Next:  Likely Canada