Canada

The ship overnighted in Quebec City, plus we booked two nights hotel, so we had time to walk around and enjoy Vieux-Quebec, a city we hadn't visited since 1999. However, since it is 400+ years old and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, it hasn't changed and we still love it.

First day walk around together, including LOTS of stairs up to the Plains of Abraham site and churches, buildings and street art.

We were also lucky enough to catch several laps of the Grans Prix Cycliste de Quebec, a 14 lap (12.6km per lap; 201.6km total) race near the port and up to the Parc des Champ-de-Bataille. We saw laps both before and after our stair climb. Very exciting and a rider from France, Benoît Cosnefroy won, although I don't show him leading in my pics. He was rated the best climber and that must have been the difference. The pics are in order we took them, from the port area, then the Parc; from our vantage at the INOX bar, and then stragglers

Subsequent days we saw the Parliament, a church turned library and more city pics.


Site of talks between Roosevelt and Churchill.

Church turned into the Biblioteque Claire-Martin

Plus a cool antique car and motorcycle festival, including a vintage Hummer (which doesn't really fit here, IMHO). And one for sale - it might not be too late!

As usual, I also took longer walks - this one by the Riviere Saint-Charles, with some path views and art along the way.

Hope you enjoyed my pics from the Poland & Princess trip. Back home now and settling in again. Starting to wish for pillows like we had on the cruise; unfortunately Princess' bedding website is sold out, but we are missing those comfy feather pillows!

Not our first time in Charlottetown (we've toured all the "Anne" sites), but we enjoyed walking around town and the waterfront, including Victoria Park, St Dunstan's Basilica, and some quirky art and stores.

I like how the Basilica looks like a façade and as if you can see right through the windows.

Loved these hand towels in a store called POSH! (funky things for fussy people) - Hope you all seize the 'right' days!

In Sydney again.

Steve stayed on board and I walked around the city, detouring whenever a walking trail appeared. In the course of the day, I learned about the coal and steel industry, which essentially ceased operations in 2001 after a long history. Coal was mined for Fortress Louisbourg in the 18th century and steel production began in the early 1900's. It's all explained on a series of 20 concrete markers alongside Muggah Creek, previous location of the steelworks.





It was a beautiful day as I walked on paths and not-so paths (google maps called them "trails", when they were actually currently construction sites), but Baille Ard Nature trails were nice, as was the walk around the city streets. Housing was nice, not much different from Ottawa

Second time we’ve stopped here this cruise, so no touring plan, but friends picked us up and we had a nice day walking, having lunch & drinks and ice cream. Fun to catch-up with them.

enjoyed the beer and the quotes on the glasses at Nine Locks

And then dress for dinner and trying a couple of new cocktails in the Good Spirits at Sea bar.

Our first time in Saint John and, unfortunately, on a Sunday when many things were closed. We didn’t find much to see downtown other than the Stone Church…

…so we wondered up to Fort Howe and then walked back to the ship along the waterfront.

The waterfront area has a nice path with some new memorials and and interesting sculpture demo, but it is in the process of revitalization and so not much waterside views. The concepts look good though, so we’ll have to come back in a few years to see the difference.

And saw wind turbine blades, presumably for a new installation. Makes sense with how windy it was by the water. We didn’t realize how large the blades - somewhere between 150 and 200 feet.