Wednesday, 14 September 2016
Bar Harbor, Maine
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
We woke up to sunny skies, warm temperatures (it got up to 25 degrees) and the sight of trees. I had almost forgotten what they looked like! We sailed into the bay past thousands of buoys indicating lobster traps. I wouldn't want to be a lobster living in these waters. There is no chance you wouldn't be trapped. 'Bah Habah' is located on Mount Desert Island with a population of 5,300 which swells in the summer judging from the number of hotels in town. It is quite a pretty town with all the requisite tourist traps and lobster restaurants but we didn't get a chance to explore it on foot. Our hike in Acadia National Park was scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Our morning was taken up with US immigration procedures.
We had to tender in and the excursions were running behind time. There were only nine of us on the hike. We met our guide and van on shore, drove through the town and into the park. We hiked up Gorham Mountain - an easy trek compared with Nuuk. Unfortunately, one couple were badly out of shape and we had to stop constantly for them to catch up with us and then for them to catch their breath. We got to the half-way point where we were to start the ocean-side section, when the guide announced that we were running behind time and he would run to get the van while we waited in a parking lot at the trailhead. We waited there for 25 minutes. Needless to say, we were not too pleased.
We caught the last tender back to the ship just in time to attend a preview of the film made during this voyage. We both thought we wasted our time seeing it. It needs a lot more editing. We will be getting a copy at the end of the trip as a souvenir. We had a surprise visit from Edie, the CEO of Crystal Cruises. She hinted at quite a fanfare awaiting us in New York.
We dressed for dinner, headed down to see Perry, and met Jim and the boys for a delicious dinner at Tastes. We enjoyed it so much that we have made reservations to go again when we are in Newport. We dropped back in to see Perry again before heading to bed. Jim has promised to take us dancing tomorrow night.
We woke up to sunny skies, warm temperatures (it got up to 25 degrees) and the sight of trees. I had almost forgotten what they looked like! We sailed into the bay past thousands of buoys indicating lobster traps. I wouldn't want to be a lobster living in these waters. There is no chance you wouldn't be trapped. 'Bah Habah' is located on Mount Desert Island with a population of 5,300 which swells in the summer judging from the number of hotels in town. It is quite a pretty town with all the requisite tourist traps and lobster restaurants but we didn't get a chance to explore it on foot. Our hike in Acadia National Park was scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Our morning was taken up with US immigration procedures.
We had to tender in and the excursions were running behind time. There were only nine of us on the hike. We met our guide and van on shore, drove through the town and into the park. We hiked up Gorham Mountain - an easy trek compared with Nuuk. Unfortunately, one couple were badly out of shape and we had to stop constantly for them to catch up with us and then for them to catch their breath. We got to the half-way point where we were to start the ocean-side section, when the guide announced that we were running behind time and he would run to get the van while we waited in a parking lot at the trailhead. We waited there for 25 minutes. Needless to say, we were not too pleased.
We caught the last tender back to the ship just in time to attend a preview of the film made during this voyage. We both thought we wasted our time seeing it. It needs a lot more editing. We will be getting a copy at the end of the trip as a souvenir. We had a surprise visit from Edie, the CEO of Crystal Cruises. She hinted at quite a fanfare awaiting us in New York.
We dressed for dinner, headed down to see Perry, and met Jim and the boys for a delicious dinner at Tastes. We enjoyed it so much that we have made reservations to go again when we are in Newport. We dropped back in to see Perry again before heading to bed. Jim has promised to take us dancing tomorrow night.
Monday, 12 September 2016
OUR FINAL SEA DAY
OUR FINAL SEA DAY
We woke this morning to clear blue sunny skies and a temperature of 15 degrees. Summer is fast approaching. We breakfasted, puzzled, walked, and lunched. Norma is napping and I am trying to stay awake for the final art class. I have started to send pictures as the Internet is more reliable here. The ones of Ulukhaktok have gone and some from Cambridge Bay. I am editing the blog to assign each picture its proper place in the narrative.
Tonight is the final black tie evening so we plan to get all gussied up and go to the Saloon to hear Perry tell us how sophisticated we are, then dinner with "the boys', Phil and Hugh. If we're up to it might attend our very first show - an Elvis Special Event. Tomorrow, Bar Harbor, Maine, where we have a hike planned. Jim has arranged a dinner at the small plates restaurant, Tastes, for us and the boys.
We woke this morning to clear blue sunny skies and a temperature of 15 degrees. Summer is fast approaching. We breakfasted, puzzled, walked, and lunched. Norma is napping and I am trying to stay awake for the final art class. I have started to send pictures as the Internet is more reliable here. The ones of Ulukhaktok have gone and some from Cambridge Bay. I am editing the blog to assign each picture its proper place in the narrative.
Tonight is the final black tie evening so we plan to get all gussied up and go to the Saloon to hear Perry tell us how sophisticated we are, then dinner with "the boys', Phil and Hugh. If we're up to it might attend our very first show - an Elvis Special Event. Tomorrow, Bar Harbor, Maine, where we have a hike planned. Jim has arranged a dinner at the small plates restaurant, Tastes, for us and the boys.
Sunday, 11 September 2016
A CHANGE OF COURSE
A CHANGE OF COURSE
This morning we realized that the captain had changed course and instead of going down the east coast of Newfoundland, we were sailing through the Belle Isle Strait between Newfoundland and Labrador and along the north shore of Quebec to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is hard to believe that in less than a week we will be home and having to shop, cook, and clean for ourselves. All good things have to come to an end, I guess.
On our hour walk, we saw only one bird but lots of boats - this must be a popular shipping lane. There would be five or six large vessels in view each time we circled the deck.
Lunch was a buffet where we could make our own pasta sauce - lots of garlic, hot chilli peppers, olive oil, parsley, and Parmesan. A quick stop at the salad bar for some fixings including black olives which I added to my pasta and voila, a delicious lunch. Our waiter, Branislav, refers to us as "My Spice Girls" because of our fondness for sambal hot chilli sauce.
Art class led to more creations for me but Norma put hers in the circular file. Time for a nap before heading to the Saloon and another dinner at Silk Road.
And to think, we have to do this all over again tomorrow.
A word about the temperature - this morning, 9 degrees, this afternoon, 14 degrees. We are heading back to summer weather. Long underwear no longer needed.
This morning we realized that the captain had changed course and instead of going down the east coast of Newfoundland, we were sailing through the Belle Isle Strait between Newfoundland and Labrador and along the north shore of Quebec to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is hard to believe that in less than a week we will be home and having to shop, cook, and clean for ourselves. All good things have to come to an end, I guess.
On our hour walk, we saw only one bird but lots of boats - this must be a popular shipping lane. There would be five or six large vessels in view each time we circled the deck.
Lunch was a buffet where we could make our own pasta sauce - lots of garlic, hot chilli peppers, olive oil, parsley, and Parmesan. A quick stop at the salad bar for some fixings including black olives which I added to my pasta and voila, a delicious lunch. Our waiter, Branislav, refers to us as "My Spice Girls" because of our fondness for sambal hot chilli sauce.
Art class led to more creations for me but Norma put hers in the circular file. Time for a nap before heading to the Saloon and another dinner at Silk Road.
And to think, we have to do this all over again tomorrow.
A word about the temperature - this morning, 9 degrees, this afternoon, 14 degrees. We are heading back to summer weather. Long underwear no longer needed.
OH! WE LOVE SEA DAYS
OH! WE LOVE SEA DAYS
We spent the day cruising the Labrador Sea. After a leisurely breakfast, we went to the morning art class where we each made some more stunning jewelry. From there, to the Library to pick up the puzzles for the day - KenKen, Sudoku, and Play4. Worked on the puzzles then decided to dress up in our parkas and take a spin around the Promenade Deck. Once outside, we found that the weather had changed for the better so back into the room to change into more suitable clothing and stayed out for an hour.
We decided to skip lunch. Went to the afternoon art class and did some more beadwork. From there to afternoon tea as Perry was playing. On our way, saw a Peregrine Falcon. Shirley and I think it has been following the ship since we first saw it in the NW Passage. Norma thinks it has been following us since she named it Perry after our favourite entertainer. Back to the room for some much needed rest - it was a strenuous day, after all.
Now to the Saloon to hear Perry - he recognizes us as his fans now - and to Silk Road for some shrimp tempura.
Tomorrow, we get to do it all over again - and the next day too!
We spent the day cruising the Labrador Sea. After a leisurely breakfast, we went to the morning art class where we each made some more stunning jewelry. From there, to the Library to pick up the puzzles for the day - KenKen, Sudoku, and Play4. Worked on the puzzles then decided to dress up in our parkas and take a spin around the Promenade Deck. Once outside, we found that the weather had changed for the better so back into the room to change into more suitable clothing and stayed out for an hour.
We decided to skip lunch. Went to the afternoon art class and did some more beadwork. From there to afternoon tea as Perry was playing. On our way, saw a Peregrine Falcon. Shirley and I think it has been following the ship since we first saw it in the NW Passage. Norma thinks it has been following us since she named it Perry after our favourite entertainer. Back to the room for some much needed rest - it was a strenuous day, after all.
Now to the Saloon to hear Perry - he recognizes us as his fans now - and to Silk Road for some shrimp tempura.
Tomorrow, we get to do it all over again - and the next day too!
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