Halifax, Nova Scotia

This morning after quite an interesting night of large swells, gale force winds and rain we pulled into Halifax to the accompaniment of a bagpipe and drum and an actually quite nice day although chilly. We had a late tour today so we did the laundry in the morning and frequently during breakfast I would run upstairs and check the laundry. I ordered cream of wheat, French bread and one hard boiled egg for breakfast and I ended up with cream of wheat, French bread, French toast and two boiled eggs. The eggs we get on this cruise are different that eggs I get in California. The yolk is much more yellow and tastes much more eggy. So now I have a hard boiled egg in my room refrigerator.

At noon we met with our tour group for Lobsters and Lighthouses. We toured the harbor of Halifax which is absolutely lovely – she said it was the second largest natural port in the world – today our lecturer said that’s not so. But it is certainly lovely.

While we were out boating around we found a school of about 30 Atlantic dolphins which was super fun. I’m sure we got a ton of pictures of them after they had just submerged. Such is our luck. There were also gigantic seagulls and cormorants which reminded me of Japan although these were wild and didn’t have a string around their neck. They said there were a lot of seals but we didn’t see any.

We got some lovely Fall pictures of some million dollar homes and really nice parks and recreational areas. The guide told us an interesting story about the largest explosion in the world other than Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During World War II there was a Canadian ship which was in the Halifax Harbor and there was a French munitions ship which came in too late to get into the harbor as the local custom was to raise a net so that enemy ships couldn’t approach during the night. The munitions ships were supposed to fly a red flag indicating munitions. So the French ship decided to lower the red flag because they were afraid that the locals would mistake them for an enemy ship. When they dropped the net for them to come into Halifax Harbor in the morning someone forgot to raise the red flag. The day was very foggy. The Canadian ship was behind a tug boat and became very impatient and decided to pull around the tug boat but unfortunately they did not see the French ship (the Mont Blanc) until too late and the Mont Blanc did not have its red flag. So the two ships collided and unfortunately the Canadian ship threw their ship into reverse and so that resulted in lots of scraping and sparks so the crew of the Mont Blanc abandoned ship and were running through the town of Halifax shouting for the residents to abandon the town because the French sailors knew what was on the ship but unfortunately the people in the town did not understand French, there was no red flag and there was an interesting looking ship fire in the harbor so they all went down to the coast to see – unfortunately for them the explosion leveled the entire town of Halifax and the neighboring town of Dartmouth and in fact the blast was so severe that they felt it on PEI which is a 3 hour drive from here. Or 4.5 hours if you listen to our guide from yesterday. We’re getting a lot of conflicting information.

Also, apparently Halifax was closest to the Titanic when it sank and two ships from here went to pick up bodies and there were so many of them that the ships were forever known as the Death Ships because they picked up so many bodies. Also apparently they filmed a lot of Titanic here – and they told us James Cameron picked a name at random from the graveyard of Titanic dead and he picked one man named J. Dawson (which was actually James Dawson) but Cameron named his character Jack Dawson (Leonardo di Caprio). After the movie a horde of young girls descended on Halifax leaving flowers, notes, presents, etc. on J. Dawson’s grave even though it’s not the same guy. I’m sure he didn’t mind the attention. They filmed the scene where Rose (Kate Winslet) dropped the necklace into the ocean in Halifax Harbor on a Canadian Coast Guard vessel.

So then we went to Murphy’s and had a lobster lunch which was delicious. Then we came back and won trivia again! And also last night I won $60 playing bingo which Tom says does not even cover my bingo card purchases. Boo. Anyway – tonight we go to the U.S. – tomorrow Bar Harbor, Maine and more lobster. The captain just announced rough seas tonight. Great. And also we had all aboard at 5 PM so that we could leave at 5:30 – it’s 6:15 and we’re just now pulling away from the dock. But on the bright side the clock goes back an hour tonight.

Sydney, Nova Scotia

Okay, first things first – we won trivia again last night – but lost today and I won $60 playing bingo!!

Now. Pretty much today was driving to Ingonesh which I thought was going to be something like Solvang since most of the settlers here were Scottish so I was envisioning a Scottish settlement, Scottish dancing – something. Well today was comprised mostly of driving across Nova Scotia – which is arguably Some of the loveliest leaves we’ve seen so far – on a par with Quebec – but we sat in a bus to Ingonesh which was a hotel and then ate a mass produced lunch – which was not bad – and then sat in a bus all the way back to Sydney and back on the ship. AND we were late! As we were boarding the ship they were pulling up the gangway. Tension ensued! So other than beautiful pictures I have nothing much to say about today other than giving the opportunity I would have chosen otherwise for shore excursions. Tonight we have the Seven Seas Society reception and then to dinner. Tomorrow Lighthouses and Lobsters in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Oh on a side note – today was sunny – a miracle. Now it’s raining. And windy.

Prince Edward Island

We went up to breakfast this morning and I thought we had an excellent omen with a beautiful rainbow spanning the sky. However, this morning could not be worse. We had pouring rain and “moderate gale” force winds. I’m not making that up. But I would not be deterred. I was GOING to see PEI. The people getting off the ship were literally being blown sideways by the wind. It’s not often in my life I am glad I’m a heavyweight but today I sure was. The little tiny women were literally being blown off their feet.

We board the bus and we drive out to the sand dunes at PEI National Park and they were really lovely. The soil here is a lovely rose brown. The dunes are white and they say the sea is blue but from where I sat today the sea was gray and choppy. We took a couple of pictures but Tom didn’t want to risk the camera and I don’t blame him.

Then we drove to the crown jewel – Green Gables. You start off with a short movie about LM Montgomery and she talks about her motivations to write Anne of Green Gables. I did not realize that the Japanese love this story so much that they make pilgrimages to Cavendish (the location of Green Gables) to get married. It was pouring and the ground was dirt and stone so we couldn’t go to the Haunted Wood and Lover’s Lane. But I found the gift shop okay. As you drive around you see various Anne of Green Gables references like Windy Poplars Inn and the White Sands Resort.

The people of PEI are Scottish and Irish. Our tour guide told a joke that he is Irish and Scottish and he said he wants to get drunk but he doesn’t want to pay for it.

BTW the people who do room service on this ship look JUST like the cast members on Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – except their uniforms are white. Hopefully we don’t drop dozens of floors tonight.

They have a house across the street from where LM Montgomery lived and while it is not authentic they had a bunch of artifacts from that time and when you get up to Anne’s attic bedroom they have that dress from the movie with puffed sleeves. I got all misty eyed. I made Tom take pictures of everything. Poor Tom.

So by this time I realize that my California rain coat is not covering me adequately and I’m getting wet under my coat. Lovely. And it is 50 degrees.

Next we go to the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company and it is run by a Scottish gentleman in New Glasgow and they have some wonderful preserve combinations. Tom’s favorite was blueberry (grown locally) and lemon. His joke was what is a jitterbug? A Scottish man in front of a pay toilet. LOL Then we drove around the island and saw the rest of the sights and came back to the ship. We had a lovely lunch, Tom is now taking a nap and the real knife in the back? It’s now sunny. Windy but sunny. Sometimes the fates are NOT kind.

So tonight we have tea – today is cupcake tea – YUM -- you don’t actually have to drink tea -- and trivia and bingo! So wish us luck!! Yesterday we did bingo and sucked. So we’re due, right?

Sea Day – 1

Today was a sea day and no ports of call so it was super relaxing. We started off with breakfast – who knew there was a one hour time change between Eastern Time and the Maritimes – which is apparently Atlantic Time. Thank goodness Tom knew.

Funny thing the people next to us have had the privacy sign on their door since we signed on and they got a notice from the ship that they appreciated their need for privacy but they would like to come in and clean their cabin.

I had a bit of tummy trouble this morning. The sea is rough and very windy. Tom and I tried to walk to the front of the ship and I honestly thought my glasses were going to blow off – that’s how hard the wind was blowing.

We went to a lecture in the AM about the Saint Lawrence River and it was pretty interesting. Then we went to bingo – we lost – and then we went to another lecture about the story of French Canada – I slept through most of it to be honest so if you want information ask Tom.

Then we went to tea – today was cheesecake tea – then we played team trivia. We have met some super nice people on this trip and we already knew one couple but they knew another couple and you can have 6 people on a team and we WON!! We got 2 Regent credits – what that does I have absolutely no idea.

Then at 6 PM we had a block party which Is where you go out in the corridor and meet your neighbors on the floor. I am shocked how many people on this ship are from Southern California. Covina, Sierra Madre, San Francisco, Laguna Beach, San Anselmo in Marin County – not Southern but Northern California. It’s amazing. In fact tonight we met a woman who had grown UP in Downey. Small world.

Then we went to dinner. They have a comedian tonight but Tom and I are too tired and we have to be up early for Prince Edward Island in the Maritimes. Did you know that Prince Edward Island is known as the “Birthplace of Confederation”? I know it is as the birthplace of Anne of Green Gables. So signing off until tomorrow – we have 140 nautical miles to PEI – which will be about 3:30 AM tomorrow.

On the bad side I think my left back upper molar has cracked and I’m hoping I don’t have any dental issues until I get back. BAH!

Saguenay, Quebec Province, Canada

We got up bright and early this morning and it was pouring. But we were determined to go and see what there was to see. So we sloshed out to the bus. There on the dock were a bunch of people dressed up like Indians and native settlers all in the pouring rain and all wearing ponchos. Of course they hone in on me immediately and tried to get me to try blueberry juice and blueberry pie (I'm sure that you can see blueberries must be some local produce) and once on the bus drove to a really dumb museum. On the way we passed the Ha! Ha! Pyramid which was built in response to a flood which occurred here in 1996. Since it was pouring you'll have to look it up on the internet as we could not take a picture but it is built entirely of traffic signs.

At the museum there was a tank containing some local fish -- I guess -- the fish were so accustomed to people feeding them that one of them actually swam around and swam UP the side of the tank to stick his head entirely out of water. Most of the exhibits were not even on and those that had been turned on were shall we say majorly underwhelming. For example, one of the displays was a mannequin in scuba gear. The museum was ostensibly a display of fjords -- which apparently Saguenay has one or is one -- see how informative the museum was? They also had a display where you could stand in this machine and it would simulate a 6.0 earthquake. Also underwhelming. Janet would probably have loved this museum.

So then we went across the street to a soap factory (Savonnerie) which was at least entertaining. The guy that owns the place was a (as Tom described him) snake oil salesman and his soap will cure everything. Cold sores, psoriasis, world hunger. He makes all of his soap out of natural ingredients and his store smelled marvelous. If someone got hungry enough he says you could actually eat it although I think someone who is starving might have difficulty coming up with $8 for the bar of soap. I think they would rather go to McDonalds or something if they had $8. I got some chapstick and I really like it so while the sales pitch was entertaining apparently their products are really nice. I got some soap for Tom which was for someone who is allergic to practically everything and how can you pass that up?

Then we drove all the way to Le Chevrier du Nord which is a farm which raises angora goats to create mohair. They also had some angora rabbits too -- he didn't explain why -- and some angora cats -- that was my little joke. Wonder if the cats get shaved twice a year too. :-) I was expecting everything to be super soft but it's literally hard as a rock. I can do without hard, hot clothes.

Then we drove to the Arthur Villeneuve display at another museum (yes, another one) and it was the house of a guy who went to church one Sunday and the priest read a letter from the Pope that said you need to find a talent and so he went home and started painting his house with drawings -- like house paint -- his entire house was COVERED in these paintings inside and out. And not very good ones either. Look him up on the internet because we couldn't take pictures and I refused to pay an arm and a leg for their postcards conveniently available as you came out of the house. Then we saw some more damage of the 1996 flood and went on to something they called the "White House" which was a house built on top of a river or something -- I couldn't understand the tour guide very well.

After that we came back to the ship and had lunch. I had a wonderful halibut soup and bouillabase which Tom pointed out is soup and soup. LOL The bouillabase was ALMOST as good as Fish Company. But not quite. Tom had a Tex Mex burger and it was delicious however it came in a wrap which was kinda weird for a hamburger so it was super messy. Tom is now napping -- very unusual for him -- probably tired from wrestling with his burger and I'm blogging -- not so unusual for me. And wouldn't you known that the moment we get back to the ship the rain clears up and so the afternoon tour will probably not get a drop although right now the sky is pretty threatening. At 4 we will go upstairs for tea and trivia. It's such hard work having this much fun.

Tomorrow is a sailing day which means probably nothing much will happen but when we are finished sailing we will be in the Maritimes which means the Anne of Green Gables house. Man oh man I hope it is not raining. That would be really sad. The colors were nice today but nothing like yesterday. The rain really denudes trees of their colors quickly.

Last Impressions -- Saguenay is nice and colorful and quaint but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit. Unless like Janet you enjoy boring museums.