WEEK 3

BAR HARBOUR / CHARLOTTETOWN / SYNDEY / HALIFAX/ SAGUENAY / QUEBEC

 

2 SEPTEMBER 2022 : BOSTON/USA

This morning the telephone woke us , hubby was called to see a patient that had chest pain so off he went and I was lazy to get up.I got off after breakfast and my first stop was just sitting at the terminal building doing the free wifi thing.Posted week 2 of my blog and then took a walk in another direction towards downtown.

A lot of building going on in the seaport area which is great to see, think it will be stunning once all the work has been done.Really makes me sad to think what we could have in Port Elizabeth with all the possibilities and don’t have.

I went to the Boston Tea Party to have tea in Abigails tea room, they have 5 different teas you can try and have a cup of the one you prefer, next time I am going to have a scone too. Bieg tyd, our teas taste a lot better rooibos , glen and five roses! Another beautiful sunny day in Boston not as hot as last week, made walking around pleasant.

One little spoil I do have while I am on board is nice nails, bought myself some nail-polish for don’t do any house cleaning washing dishes or gardening that does not last for long for after one day back home it is the end of beautiful nails and back to the real world and reality.Tried to book an excursion in Saguenay for hiking in Saguenay National Park but sold out and am on the waiting list so we shall see, was looking forward to do that but anyway will try again next week.Advised for advanced hikers with a rise of 450 feet and 500 steps to climb but am sure will manage, at the top you have remarkable views of the Fjords and magnificent views of the mountains, lakes and valleys.

We have been delayed by 2 hours for refuelling the ship taking longer than expected, would have left at 16h00 but now only leaving at 18h00, don’t know if the other mega ship next to us has anything to do with it but it is huge called Caribbean Princess maybe they took all the fuel!

 

3 SEPTEMBER 2022 – BAR HARBOUR /MAINE

Yesterday we were back in Bar Harbour it was a perfect day and calm seas, good conditions for tendering.We were lucky to catch a local tender boat to shore with a stunning view from the top deck while sailing into the dock area.Then we were off to the beach and what a surprise it was low tide and you could walk right through to the island,  there were people everywhere so was amazing to think in a few hours time everything will be covered by the sea again.There were signs up warning people about the tide.

It says high tide will leave you stranded,  can only safely cross the bar 1.5 hours before and after low tide and if you are stranded you will have to wait 9 hours for the next low tide.

A water taxi can fetch you but that will cost $150 and may take over an hour to arrive!! So think keep to the rules, also took photos of the high tide mark on the walls and poles think is a difference of about 2 to 3 meters.

Today we bought our lobster rolls and walked to tables at the water edge where we sat and enjoyed them with a stunning view over the ocean, then we spoiled ourselves with another  ice cream from a local store that has been a family business for 30 years.

Hubby returned to the ship then I went to a local flee market with lots of homemade goods , on my way back I decided to go and check out the tide and could not believe my eyes most of the area was under water again, I walked along the beach next to the most beautiful big holmes , each home has its own access to the  beach think belong to the very wealthy people of this beautiful place.Did some reading and sure enough the houses are charming Victorian mansions built by Americans rich and famous in the 20^th century.Some of the houses are summer homes and there is a place called millionaires row properties owned by the Rockefellers Vanderbilt’s Astors and Pulitzer.Had a fantastic day but had dinner on my own for hubby had an emergency so skipped dinner tonight.

 

4 SEPTERMBER 2022- HALIFAX

This morning it was time to go through immigration again and that kept us busy for a while.Once I had the clear to get off I first had a nice breakfast on the open deck and then walked all along the waterfront as far as I could then took the hill to the Halifax Citadel , that was a steep climb from the waters edge but just rested halve way up it has breath taking views over the town and ocean.

Another stop was the public gardens and while sitting overlooking the pond I had a family of ducks thinking that I might have something to eat but that did not happen so after a while they moved on.Just when I decide to start walking back to the ship I saw musicians starting to pack out there instruments and heard them telling people that there show starts shortly, so decided to stay for that, glad I did for was beautiful a stunning summer day and people all over the place enjoying the gardens and the music , lekke vibe.

 

5 SEPTEMBER 2022 – SYDNEY/CANADA

Today hubby off so I waited for him before we got off the ship and walked around.As we started walking around he also remembered being here before.I popped into the local bookshop that I discovered last week while he sat outside keeping the big fat bookshop cat company.Got my 3 books for $5 so very glad that will keep me busy until our next visit.In the craft hall at the port I watched a very talented lady doing beadwork,  amazing makes these smart little handbags that my granny use to use when going out,  smart and very expensive a sixties look, takes weeks and weeks to make one don’t think there are lots of them around.Started chatting to her husband and said they have been in South Africa twice and loved it especially the Kalahari and would love to go back.So many places in our own country we have not seen so will have to make a bucket list for one day when we are home permanently.

 

6 SEPTEMBER 2022: CHARLOTTETOWN/CANADA

Arrived here and was worried for all over the States they have been having lots of rain and there were some clouds hanging around.While I was having breakfast a man and his dog in a canoe were busy with there morning outing, he was lying over backwards and the canoe was going forward so must have had a little engine i could not see anything dit het lekker gelyk and the dog was right in front like a real captain enjoying every minute was scared he might land in the water.

On arrival in the terminal we were greeted by a beautiful young girl dressed up like Anne of Green Gables the children’s classic story and a girl doing some tap dancing.

I was brave today and decided to walk to Victoria park which is not just around the corner but enjoyed it they have this really nice wooden walk way that goes on for kilometres along the shore line my first stop was at Government House.Went for a walk in the woods on the estate just love being out in nature.Did not sit down so walked around non stop so by the time I got back to the terminal I was moeg, another ship also in the harbour for the day, so lots of people and the free wifi not great , tried to post some things and then it was time for a afternoon siesta, dit was heerlik slept like a baby tomorrow we are at sea and must say am very glad about that so hopefully I will get to the gym and relax a bit, know it sound crazy but this walking around everyday is tiring. 

 

7 September 2022 : @SEA

Woke up and decided it was a rest day today so no gym no nothing.Had breakfast on the open deck with just the open sea in all directions no land in site.Then I started walking around on deck 7 and decided to do a few rounds and while walking I discovered 2 little mossies /birds had also decided to enjoy this cruise with us, don’t think they knew what they were in for when they decided to come sit on the ship while we were docked in Charlottetown, officially going on holiday and don’t think they are returning to there home town ever! Immigrating to Saguenay,haa haaa.Worried that they are not going to make it alive.

A lady also doing her morning walk asked me how many miles I was going to walk but I said no I am just walking not measuring it. Hubby off for the day so decided to call him and let him join me on a few rounds so that was very nice just to chat and then it was time for some Starbucks coffee and a movie about a American football hero who never gave up and his dream came true ( based on a true story) This movie called American Underdog about Kurt Warner life in 1999.He played for the RAMS in the FNL. Just beautiful and so inspiring he and his wife started a place called Treasure House a place for adults with disabilities how cool is that.

Planning on going to the ABBA show tonight.Tomorrow we are in Saguenay where I wanted to go on a  hike but the tour is fully booked so am going to try again on Saturday on our way back to Boston.

 

8 SEPTERMBER 2022 : SAGUENAY / CANADA

Got hubby out of bed early this morning did moan and grown but wow what a sail-in was waiting for us it was breathtaking, got our walk in and then a cup of coffee on deck 12 with this stunning view.Looked for the birds but did not find them.

Before breakfast I did walk around the ship and thank goodness found the mossies and they picked up another friend on the ship but definitely not a mossie but some or other little bird was I glad to see they had made it , just hope they decide to get off today and make this there new home.

Our first time in this town and what a lovely welcome they gave us , had folk dancing, music, wood cutting demonstration, a fire going and free maple syrup sweets on ice, really went too a lot of trouble making us feel welcome.The announcer kept on asking the captain of the ship to please blow the ships horn to let the town know we have arrived and after a long while he did just that someone must have given him the message.

 Had a seaplane come in to land right next to the ship but saw it too late to really take a nice video here they have the seaplanes taking the people on a trips over the fjords must be stunning but am sure it is very expensive.

Got off late morning and then did a walk around town and ended up in the terminal building posting my photos and a few videos.Try and post as soon as I can otherwise you just have too many pics and videos.

 Really hope I can get to do the hike(Point de vue du Soupir trail) on our next cruise think it will be beautiful.Tomorrow we are in Quebec City and then our passengers get off and the next lot get on for our cruise back to Boston.

End of week 3 and just love the wilderness of Canada and the remoteness off these places think I am really a farm girl at heart, after all.Only thing I don’t think I would survive are there winters,I like the sun.So until end of next week ,bye.