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Jane Kipp
Jane Kipp

Jane Kipp

I'm a retired steel worker from Canada who loves to travel in my retirement. Okumaya devam et🇨🇦Hamilton
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  • Jane KippA Whole Bunch of FirstsGezgin
    We are starting with a chocolate banana.
    Twin beds and more room.More smiles...and Ken's hat.Main pool deckLobster looks and tastes greatLemoncello cakeGabi letting Ken try her cake.Our table, with Daniel and Jen from QuebecSomehow our waiter Victor got I there as well.Ken and I with our Jack and Coke

    First Full Day On Board

    2–4 Şub 2024, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    I had a great sleep. The bed was amazingly comfortable. The darkness of the room is okay for me. I had requested that the beds get separated, but that hasn't happened yet. The bedside table is crowded with my c-pap, the phone, and the TV remote. I will have to get the beds separated. I phoned the front desk to get housekeeping, but 40 minutes later, I gave up. I need coffee!

    I grab Ken and off we go for coffee. Gabi joins a bit later, and we have breakfast up on in the buffet. It is loud and crowded. It was hard to find a table, but we managed. I was a little disappointed that there was no station to make omelets. They have plenty of food areas: hot breakfast, cereal and yogurt, fresh fruit, breads, and pastries. Something for everyone.

    Afterward, we headed back to the open deck 14. There is a smoking area here for Ken. We finally got into the hot tub. My back is still not the best, and Ken's knee is still sore.

    Soaking in the tub is nice. We sit back down for a bit. I grab a slice of pizza and salad for lunch, Gabi has some pizza, and Ken has a beer. (Still full from breakfast). The pool deck is very crowded and loud since it is a sea day. They have a lot of entertainment going on from dancing to contests. The weather has been nice, sunny, and about 22 C or 74 F.

    We headed back to the room to have a nap. My room is very cold, I think the thermostat is broken. I will have to get a hold of the cabin steward. They have split my beds now, and I have much more space.

    After a nice nap, we all headed back up to deck 14. Ken and I head to the hot tub, and Gabi enjoys the sun on the deck. We get to try different drinks this afternoon. I have a vodka and cranberry, Gabi tries a bloody Mary ( way too spicy), and Ken sticks with a Heineken. Mine is pretty good. We sit and enjoy people watching for a bit. We head back down for a shower before dinner.

    There is plenty of hot water, and the shower is big enough for me. The blow dryer works well, and pretty soon I'm ready for dinner. We all head down together.

    Gabi goes with a lobster tail, Ken has the chicken Parma, and I do the salmon. All our dinners were very good. Yes, there are the obligatory food shots down below.

    After dinner, Gabi heads back to the room. She is still bothered by the motion of the ocean and needs a Gravol. Ken and I headed back up to 14 for our now customary Jack and Coke nightcap.

    Ken heads back to the room, and I head down to the Casino. No luck at all. I leave my donations and head back for a good night's sleep.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippA Whole Bunch of FirstsGezgin
    All smiles after yesterday.
    The walkways and the architecture of South Beach1The beach is huge and vacantArt Deco at their finest.The three amigos.Love the colours!BreakfastBathrooms11Nice to see the smiles.Now there's trouble.A singer at the piano bar.

    Miami Heat... not the team

    1 Şubat 2024, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    I woke up so nice and rested. I'm glad that yesterday was over. We're here in time for the cruise, which is why I always come the day before. Ken, Gabi, and I have connecting rooms, which are convenient. I figure out what everyone wants for a drink and head downstairs. This is the first disappointment of the hotel. The 'coffee bar' is nothing more than a carafe of coffee with packaged sweeteners and Coffee mate for milk. I put milk in my coffee, Ken takes cream, and there isn't any hot water or tea for Gabi. Do better, Hyatt.

    Back in the room, I grab a shower. We all get packed up and decide to check out but leave our luggage downstairs while we go for a walk. The nice man at the front desk orders us a car for noon to take us to the port terminal.

    Off we go, down one block, and we are on Ocean Blvd. This part of Miami Beach has a large area of paths for walking, biking and whatever before the dunes that separate it from the beach. The beach is huge! Check out the pictures. It is pleasantly warm around 22 or 23. We have blue sky with little wispy clouds.

    I haven't seen any of the classic cars. They used to have cars from the 50's and 60's lined up on the road with mannequins dressed up like old-time gangsters. I found one of the beach patrol guys, and he told me that they removed them during Covid. Apparently, they were afraid that the cars would be damaged during the riots. Damn! I was hoping to take pictures of Ken with the old cars.

    We continued our walk down to the beach and along the path, looking at all the Art Decor buildings. I'm glad that they have kept this area as it is, a reminder of the past.

    We pick a spot for breakfast and dig in. The orange juice tastes so much different here. Yum. Back at the hotel we got our luggage and waited for the car. I go to the washroom, and the second disappointment occurs. The washroom is done nicely in black marble. However, there are paper towels i the holder and the air dryer is broken. I told the front desk, and they said that they knew the dryer was broken. Do better, Hyatt.

    We get to the cruise terminal, and the fun actually starts. As soon as you get out of the car, a porter grabs your bags. Off we go up to the terminal. Every 10 feet or so, there is someone smiling and welcoming you. They direct you which way to go to keep the people moving. There are no crowds, no hassles and plenty of staff to help you.

    Embarkation is a little different. They have your key at your room now. We headed onto the ship and head to our rooms. They are ready for us, but our luggage will follow later. We can drop off our hand luggage and check out the rooms.

    Ken and Gabi have a balcony, I have an interior room. This is another first for me. The rooms are nice (check out the pictures). After which we find a bar and grab a drink.

    We head back and unpack the rest of our luggage. I went for a nap. Ken and Gabi went up to the deck. We had our safety instructions.

    Afterward, we had dinner in the Black Crab. Tonight is very casual with everything from jeans and T-shirts to dresses. I had the grouper, Gabi had the chicken, and Ken went for lasagna. Dinner was very good.

    We went back up on deck to grab another couple of drinks and then sat on the balcony for a bit.

    Off to bed for us.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippA Whole Bunch of FirstsGezgin

    Up, down, up, down, up, down again

    31 Ocak 2024, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ -1 °C

    We started early today. Ken and Gabi being picked up by the limousine at 3:00 AM. Then they picked me up at 3:20 AM. We use Airport Limousine. It is just easier than us driving and parking. The drive is great at this time of the morning. There is nobody on the roads.

    It's fair to say that we are all a little tired as we didn't get a whole bunch of sleep.

    We are flying out of Terminal 3 this time. It's a newer terminal and easy to get around. We pre-checked in so we can go straight to TSA and immigration. We are through those in one-half an hour. We waited for our flight in the lounge. I grabbed us some drinks and snacks. Soon enough, we are boarding. This is a full flight, unfortunately. We start to taxi out and then stop. The captain says that we can't get take-off clearance until 6:28 AM. Why board us at 5:30 if we can't leave until 6:28?

    We finally took off! Yes! Oops, 10 minutes into the flight, our captain says that we have an instrumentation issue, and we have to go back to Toronto. REALLY? This is going to put us back even more. At 7:30 AM, they tell us that this airplane is being taken out of flight. We have no idea what is going on now.

    We got off the plane and get to the next gate. There is a lineup of 171 other people trying to get a flight. The lady at the counter told us that 'They are not staffed to handle this' and to go online to get rescheduled. I jumped at that one! The first flight I got went from Toronto to Philadelphia and then to Miami. Okay, fine, arriving 8 hours later than our original direct flight. There goes our day in South Beach.

    We went to the next gate. We met a couple there who said that Philadelphia was a large hub, and they are flying through Washington. Well, we aren't dragging luggage all over the place, so I got back on the phone to get on that flight. We have that flight now. Back upstairs (they have an elevator) to get food vouchers sin e our day is now spent on airports traveling. It's only 9:30 AM, and I'm eying the bar.

    We waited patiently for the 4 hours till our flight. We grabbed a bite to eat and then made our way to the next gate. This is a small puddle jumper. We had to walk outside on the tarmac to walk up the plane stairs to get in. This is Toronto in January, people. BRRR. We have to surrender our baggage because the overhead bins are too small to accommodate them. Spiffy! Fortunately, we have bulkhead seats where we have plenty of leg room. Off we go, a quick drink and down we go to Washington Regan Airport.

    There's not much time here as we have to board again in an hour. This looks like a bigger plane. Maybe overhead bins? I'll keep you posted.

    Okay, we made it on, and we're seated. Yes, we have overhead bins, and we didn't have to walk outside to get on the plane. They say it is a 2-hour flight but that we may not have a gate to pull up to. I don't know what that means. My back is starting to fade, Ken's knee is almost shot, Gabi has a pain in her shoulder. I don't think we are touring South Beach tonight.

    We landed just before 6:00 PM. We grabbed a taxi and fought traffic to the hotel. The weather is a mild 72 F or 22 C. The sun is gone for the day, but it will be back tomorrow. Ken and I are frothing at the mouth for alcohol. it doesn't matter what kind. We just need some.

    Check-in at the Hyatt was the easiest thing about today. Wonderful people. Our rooms are very 'Art Deco'. We will enjoy a great night's sleep. We headed across the street to a place called Sunny's at Collins & 11th Ave. The food was wonderful (check the pictures). The service was great. We all finally got to have a drink.

    Ken and I went back for a Jack and Coke at the hotel bar, while Gabi headed up to the room. It's been a long day and a long post (sorry). Tomorrow is the embarkation on the ship. That should be sooo much easier. Good night all.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao AgainGezgin
    We got a rainbow for our last day.
    Our transportation for next year.

    Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

    5 Aralık 2023, Curacao ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

    We have to go home this afternoon. We get picked up at 1:50 from the hotel for a 4:20 flight home. We were granted late checkout until 1:00 PM, yeah! That means that we have more than half a day to play in the sun. After our breakfast, Gabi heads back up to pack, I head to the beach to play with my fish. I stuff 3 bananas in my suit and off I go. The water is calm, and the temperature is perfect. Just a little below air temp so that it is slightly refreshing without being a shock to the system. Once out a little way, I peel my banana and squish the flesh. The fish love this. If you hold the peeled banana at arm’s length they will come and peck at the flesh. Once I finish my play time and get back to shore, I sigh knowing that I also have to shower and get packed.

    Once showered, dressed for the flight home, and packed, we take one more look around the room. Check all the drawers and safe twice. Make sure all our documentation is within reach for the airport. Then we head down and check out. We still have time for some lunch. I packed a couple of sandwiches and cookies to eat on the plane.

    All to soon our car for the airport arrives. Curacao has a small airport, so it is not too difficult to check in and then head to security. The security line is a mad rush of someone yelling to take off your watch, laptops in the bin, take off your shoes, etc. I hate the whole cattle herd system. Come on people, read the signs, and come prepared. Have your liquids bag at hand, have your shoes untied, whatever. I’m sure that this is not the first rodeo for 90% of the people here.

    Once through, Gabi decides to get some duty-free shopping done. Unfortunately, this means a few extra bags of stuff to carry. We headed up to the lounge for some peace and quiet and a little bit of wine and food. About ½ hour before we head down to the terminal for boarding. This is where you see the people at their finest. We have 4- and 5-year-olds running around screaming. I assume the parents think this will tucker them out. I think it winds them up. Then you have the other people thinking that the floor is their personal garbage can. Really? If you drop it, pick it up, don’t just push it under your seat and think it disappears.

    We get on board, stow our carry-on, and prepare for takeoff. We have booked aisle seats to make it easier to get up and stretch or go to the bathroom. Unfortunately, in front of Gabi is a family of 4. The little girl looks to be around 4 and the baby is maybe 7 months. As suspected the baby starts to cry from the get-go. I feel bad for the child because the pressure from the accent plays havoc with their ears. If the mother had given the child a bottle during takeoff, this would have equalized their ears. The crying did continue for a couple of hours, with the mother trying to bounce the child in the aisle and comfort the child. The 4-year-old thought that she could also play in the aisle. These people were from the Montreal area, so they must have travelled down on a plane. Didn’t learn anything? Needless to say, the flight home was not as enjoyable as the flight there. We didn’t land until about 9:30 pm and this family had to catch a connecting flight to Montreal. That would mean that these kids had another 4 hours of travel. Maybe an earlier flight where the kids’ schedules were considered would have been better?

    Once we land, we have to do the customs, immigration gauntlet that is as convoluted as trying to put together a desk from Ikea. Lots of pictures and instructions just complicate the process. Hey Customs bring back real people instead of having computers. Most people who enter an international airport either can’t read English or can’t use a computer! Okay rant done.

    Our car is ready to take us back home. It is a nice quiet ride back; the roads are not that busy this late at night and I am home by 11:00 PM. The weather was a mix of snow and rain in Toronto, but Hamilton had none. Gabi said that Grimsby had snow and rain when she was dropped off.

    The final comments are that Curacao does not disappoint. The weather is great, the resort is great, and the company was great. A nice relaxing week prior to the Christmas rush. We will indeed be back next year.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao AgainGezgin
    Two pretty ladies.
    I'm in the water.This is what it looks like when its raining. Still beautiful.1Jane, Gasi, and Gabi. They are all decorated for Christmas here.

    Last Full Day in Paradise

    4 Aralık 2023, Curacao ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    We had a good night last night. Both of us slept well. Today is our last full day here. We don't leave until 2 PM tomorrow, so we can still go for a swim, have a good breakfast and lunch before we leave. Since Rouge won't feed the peasants in economy; we plan to take some of the buffet with us to eat on the plane.

    After breakfast we head to nab a cabana by the pool. These are so comfy and provide shade from the sun. We lounge around and read, people watch and chit chat as usual. Yes Ken, we can find things to talk about every day for hours. Then something happens that we haven't seen yet. Moisture comes from the sky. I think its rain. Why yes, yes, it is. It actually lasted for about 10 minutes off and on. Then it is gone and we have blue skies and puffy white clouds.

    So, I’m lying there reading and what to my wondrous eyes happens? Gabi is in the pool! Yes, that’s right everyone: Gabi is in the pool. You see Gabi doesn't do water (other than showers). I have tried to get her in the water before but it is a no go. So, on our last day she goes in. The main pool has an entrance that is literally a walk in to the pool. I guess this made Gabi more comfortable. I quickly got some pictures and video of this rare sighting. Well, I just had to join her. I go I find someone to grab a picture of the pair of us in the water for proof that this is possible. I'm slowly corrupting Gabi. You never know what’s next.

    After our swim, we lounge a bit more enjoying the day. Then it is lunch time. After which I head back to the pool and Gabi goes up to start packing for tomorrow.

    I'm sitting by the pool and something strange starts to happen. It's raining! Yes, that's right it is raining in Curacao, quick check it out! It only lasts for maybe 5 minutes and then it stops. The funny thing is that it looks sunny while it's raining. Check out the picture.

    We enjoy our last dinner at Portofino. Gabi had the mushroom soup and the spaghetti carbonara. I went with the Caesar salad and parmesan chicken. This was by far the best meal I had this week. The chicken parmesan was beautiful. The chicken moist and tender and the sauce and vegetables the perfect combination of texture and spice. Desert was the panna cotta that was light and the perfect end to the meal.

    One thing to note today was the power failure. It started in the afternoon with the power kicking off for a few minutes here and there. Then we went down for dinner and found the restaurant in darkness. They have generators that powered most of the hotel (the air conditioners, thank goodness) but the restaurant was without lights. This was okay since there was enough ambient light coming in. Half way through dinner we got the power back on and everything was back to normal.

    We finished off the night with the casino. Gabi has managed to win or stay even every night. I however, think it is important to support the local economy and leave my donation with them.

    Good night for now, tomorrow will bring such sweet sorrow as we leave this lovely island for another year.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao AgainGezgin
    They are green parrots, but they wouldn't come any closer.

    Another Day in Paradise

    3 Aralık 2023, Curacao ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Today is another great day. We haven't seen any rain yet. Gabi thought she felt 2 drops but I don't believe her. We start off slow, Gabi had a restless night and neither of us were moving too fast. We did head down for breakfast. I'm still eating light but Gabi is having a good breakfast. I stare longingly at the bacon, ah well, that is memory from a distant past.

    After breakfast we sat out on the balcony so I could try and get some more bird pictures. I have seen these 3 green parrots but they are too far away for any good shots. I have seen pelicans and these beautiful black, orange birds with blue eye shadow. They love to steal sugar packets from the dining tables.

    We had some lunch at the Hideaway. Just nachos, burgers and fries. However, we finally spotted our iguanas. Picture time. We had two of them. Also checked out the ocean and found a ton of fish. I just had to grab a couple of bananas and go out and feed my little fishies. I had so much fun, I think I will rent that snorkel gear tomorrow.

    I have included a couple shots of the room. I finally got a picture of when the room was cleaned and the beds made before we destroy it.

    We came back up for showers and to read for a bit. We had dinner at the Oceana again. I tried the roasted eggplant with the beet and tomato salad. I wasn't really impressed with either. My fault for trying to eat something different. I'm sure that they would be good for someone who was a vegetarian. Gabi did the empanada and buffalo chicken wings. They were very good according to Gabi.

    Well, check out the pictures of my little friends and the sunset that was just beautiful. Talk to you tomorrow.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao AgainGezgin
    Morning view from our new room.
    Let's see if this is light enough.

    Spa Day Today

    2 Aralık 2023, Curacao ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    Well today started out better than yesterday. I am feeling much better, just a little queasy. Therefore, I'm thinking it was something I ate. We'll stay away from the seafood restaurant. Our new room is nice, a little more updated and we have ocean view now.

    Today we had our trip to the spa. Gabi and I loved our facials last year, so we are playing the same game today. We are both a little tired from our 2 AM moving but the facial will be relaxing. After a very light breakfast of scrambled eggs and fruit for me we head over to the spa. Our facials include a neck and shoulder message and a foot message as well. These are just so nice. I don't know what they put on my face but it feels so very refreshed and moisturized. After an hour and a half Gabi and I are ready for a nap. We have a bit to eat first and then head back to the room for our siesta.

    I didn't get in the water today but with the way I was feeling, I thought I would have a slow day.

    We went back to Portofino for dinner. We kept it light again with bean and veggie soup and a calabrese salad. We may have forced a tiramisu down for dessert.

    After dinner we went to the casino. Gabi is still working on her initial investment; I of course leave a donation to their establishment.

    We call it an early evening. Tomorrow, I see about grabbing some snorkel gear and head out to the ocean.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao AgainGezgin

    Sick as a Dog, Even in Paradise

    1 Aralık 2023, Curacao ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    Last night I started to feel unwell around 4 AM. This continued and I was wondering if I had too much sun or if it was something I ate. Well by 7 AM it was full our flu like symptoms. Fever and chills, vomiting and diarrhea. That was my day. Trying to rest in between bought of being sick. I tried to get some ginger ale but after two calls down to the front desk, I gave up.
    We were supposed to go on the sunset cruise but that was a no go. I feel bad for Gabi, since this is the second year in a row that we didn't get to go.

    Next…At 10 PM our air conditioner decided to give up the ghost. We tried to settle down with out it. Two hours later, we are both up due to the heat and stuffiness. The windows don't open and I don't want to open the door because of bugs and lizards. I tried to call down to the front desk but there was no answer. I tried room service, also no answer. So I got dressed and went down to the lobby. No one was around. I found someone who was closing up the bar. He told be to sit and be patient, maybe they went to eat. Really? Only one person for nightshift? After 10 minutes the lady came back looking like she just woke up. She called three different numbers to find someone to send up. The young man came promptly and had to leave. Now at 2:00 AM in the morning, we have to pack up and get reassigned to another room.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao AgainGezgin
    Got any sugar packets?Lobster BisqueCrab cake

    New Friends and a Relaxing Day

    30 Kasım 2023, Curacao ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

    I called down to the front desk for a kettle for Gabi's tea, they said they would have one sent up. I then had to call again half an hour later. An hour later, we are still waiting. I'm not happy with the service on this. I realize that we are on ‘Island Time' however, these kinds of requests should not take this long. Once again, we are greeted to a beautiful morning. No cruise ship yet but sunshine and 27 C (80 F) outside.

    We had another wonderful breakfast in the buffet. Some things were different but they still had all the staples. I try to eat healthy (no carbs, no sugars) in the mornings, it gets progressively worse during the day. After breakfast Gabi and I took a walk around the grounds. We found the kiddy splash pool, the entertainment stage, the dive pier and shop and the beach area. This place was once a fort protecting the island from those pesky British. It was called For Piscaderabay. They had simple batteries built with cannons in place. They were supposed to fortify the batteries with towers but that never happened. In 1804 some English guy named John Bligh landed and took over the place. In 1819 the Dutch came back and retook the island.
    I stopped by the dive shop and asked about getting some snorkel gear. It is available for rent so that might be on the books for Saturday. We then headed over to the pool area and found a sun bed. These are much more comfortable than the loungers and I can get in and out of them unassisted. Whew!

    We met a nice couple named Jason and Kendra, who are from Guelph, Ontario. Neighbours to us in the grand scheme of things. The pair of them are a hoot. Kendra loves being in Curacao and has been a repeat offender for 7 or 8 times. We start to talk about travel and well there goes two hours. We hit it off immediately. Maybe someone to start travelling with? Time will tell if they can handle my kind of crazy. I sent her a link to this blog, so hopefully we'll see them again.

    I took a swim and then Gabi headed back up to the room and I laid around reading. I went back up to the room to get Gabi for lunch and she told me she couldn't get into the safe. Yesterday we couldn't open it, so I called down to the front desk and they sent someone up. Apparently the batteries were loose. I didn't even know they were battery operated. Today, I asked if we could get the batteries changed. After a wonderful lunch, Gabi went to the pool area and I headed up to wait for the safe to be opened. It had no power again and all our stuff was inside. The person who came up had to go and get a master unit to get into the safe. He changed the batteries and everything is good so far.

    We have booked a facial for Saturday at the spa and tomorrow we are going to try to do the sunset cruise again. Last year we went but the boat broke and we couldn't leave the dock. Let’s hope this year is better!

    Gabi and I spent the afternoon by the pool, they have great music going on. Everything from the 70’s, 80’s and 90's. Gabi could name every song and artist with just a couple of bars. Gabi went back up to the room and I spent some time jumping in and out of the water, chatting with Jason and Kendra and reading. This is a very relaxing trip so far.
    After a shower, we head down for a late dinner. Let's try seafood today. Gabi is not really a seafood people but she was a trooper for me. Gabi had the crab cake and lobster bisque while I had the crab cake and the chef’s special which was fish with rice and grilled vegetables. Both were amazing. Gabi was pleasantly surprised that the seafood was something she could like. Gabi had the key lime for desert and I had the coconut layer cake.

    Last night as we were coming back from dinner, they had a parade with drums and horns and people dressed in brightly coloured Mardi Gras costumes. It was fun to watch and listen to.

    Well tomorrow is another day.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao AgainGezgin

    First full day in paradise

    29 Kasım 2023, Curacao ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    We woke early (for us) around 7 AM. The sun was hiding behind some clouds. Not real heavy cloud but enough to diffuse it. We still enjoyed the view. A little more about the room now. We are in a generous size room with two double beds. It is on the 5th floor and the balcony has an east facing view with partial ocean view. The bathroom is a good size as well with a bathtub this time. There is blessed air conditioning which also dehumidifies the room very well. It is actually very quiet here which is nice for afternoon siestas. The beds are very comfortable with 5 pillows each. I use only 1 but Gabi likes the horde of them. Mine end up on the floor. The room has everything you need from dual plugs (European and North American) and usb ports to coffee maker (but no tea). It doesn't seem fair that I can enjoy a coffee in the morning and Gabi can't have her tea. Today while out here, we spotted a cruise ship in port. Looks like a Royal Caribbean but hard to tell at this distance. There is a very nice breeze which makes the temperature bearable this early in the morning; a mere 28 Celsius or 82 F. The curtains in the room are very good at blocking out the light as well. There is plenty of closet and drawer space, safe and mini fridge filled daily. (Non-alcohol only) The bathroom is well appointed with towels, face clothes (we were missing those last year), shampoo/conditioner, soaps and toothbrushes. Hyatt has done very well here to make you comfortable.
    Once up and out of the room, we head down for breakfast. The buffet is right off the main lobby area, very convenient. They have everything you need for a healthy or less healthy breakfast. They will make omelets or fried eggs as well. They were a little shy on sweet rolls (Gabi’s favourite) but they did have everything else from fruit to meats to baked beans (for breakfast?).

    After breakfast Gabi heads upstairs and I find the nearest place for a Frappuccino. Then I find the nearest pool. I set myself up with a lounger and head into the pool. Ah yes, water. I’m home now. I think I should have been born a fish or at least a turtle. I just am more at home floating around in the water. I did manage 4 lengths of the pool in various forms of swimming which is pretty good for me. The pool has stairs going in and gradually gets deeper, I think I might get Gabi in the water this time! The loungers are comfortable but very low to the ground. There was no way I could get out of the thing without help. I am switching to the sun beds from now on.
    Gabi joins me after my swim because we have the almost obligatory sales pitch for their vacation club. We already belong to the lower level but the upsell to a higher level is obnoxious. It was very good at the first with a review of what we already have and how to use the app more. However, the upsell part is really pushy and the word no is not in their vocabulary. The answer was still no when we left.
    After a wonderful lunch at the buffet, we headed upstairs for a siesta. After which we head back to the pool. I manage another 4 laps, yay that's 8 for me today! The sunbeds are much easier to get out of. We read for a while and people watch. All of a sudden, it’s time to shower up for dinner.
    The shower has dual heads and plenty of hot water. What more could a girl want? The buffet closes after lunch around 3 pm then the specialty restaurants take over. We head to Portofino, the Italian restaurant. It is nicely tucked away in a courtyard with palm trees and twinkling lights. The food was exc ellent. I had the Caesar salad and the linguini with shrimp and salmon. Gabi had the cablese salad with the shrimp risotto. We both had the panna cotta for dessert. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised last night. I went with a glass of merlot and it was very, very nice. Last year as Sunscapes I tried several different wines and could not find one that was palatable. I guess coming from the wine region of Niagara has its drawbacks. However, way to go Dreams!

    After dinner we headed to the Casino. Yes, I try my luck. Gabi of course won, I of course lost. Back up to our room for some reading and then bed time. Tomorrow is another day and another adventure.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao AgainGezgin
    Gabi is happy with her Dirty Monkey.Hi there, my name is Dreams and I haven't eaten since the last table.

    Here we go again...

    28 Kasım 2023, Curacao ⋅ 🌬 30 °C

    We loved Curacao so much last year we are back but in a different resort.

    Our day started back on a cold November morning with Gabi getting picked up by the limo service at 5:50 am. They were at my place by 6:20 am. Our drive to the airport was slow most of the way due to accidents and volume. Surprise. The ride was very comfortable in a Toyota Highlander hybrid. It was -5 Celcius or 24 F for our friends south of the border. Of course, when we landed it was 29 C or 84 F.

    Once at the airport, we were through security in no time. We went to the Maple Leaf lounge to bide our time. However, apparently, we could not enter even if we wanted to pay. I am an Aeroplan member, but apparently, we had to pre-purchase our passes on the phone. Would have been nice to read this somewhere on the Air Canada website when I checked a few days ago. We ended up in the Priority lounge. The food was meh, there was very little service but it was quiet and comfortable for the couple of hours to wait. The flight boarded quickly and we actually left early. Gabi and I had aisle seats, which gave us marginally better leg room. The flight was smooth, the food for purchase in the economy seats was also meh. We were traveling with Rouge, which is a subsiduary of Air Canada. The seats are tight but doable.

    We landed early in Curacao, but immigration and customs took a while. I had booked private transport to our resort and they were indeed waiting for us. It was nice to have a whole van for just the two of us. We could leave immediately and not have to wait for others. We are staying at the Dreams Resort this time. A step up from last year. This resort has one main building with 5 stories. There is an elevator, so we aren't climbing the stairs. The room is nice with 2 double beds however, it is not an ocean view. The young lady that booked us in is going to change that tomorrow. We were given a welcome drink and then shown to our rooms. After we got out of our long pants, socks and shoes, we wandered around to check out the resorts. Unfortunately, we arrived when all the food places were closed so we had to wait until 6:30 to get dinner. It is just a long day without proper meals for us two old ladies.

    Our first dinner was as the Ocean Grille. Here is where our first issue with the resort starts. The lady who checked us in told us to download the app for the resort to get a map and menus for the restaurants. This is easily done. So we ask our server for our choices to find out that the menu on the app is not the correct one. We then had to download another menu. Really? Get it together Hyatt. Our meals were very good. I started with a salad and Gabi had the soup. I had the Maui Maui for dinner while Gabi chose the Surf and Turf. Both were very good. I had another pinacoloda and Gabi ordered a Dirty Monkey. Desserts were also nice and light after our meal. We did have friend drop by to join us for dinner. I'm thinking this is going to be a nightly thing. There are several other restaurants on the resort, so we will have to try them all.

    We headed back up to our rooms after the long travel day. See you tomorrow.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao - Girls Week OutGezgin
    Just hanging with the tourists
    Air Plane food has improved immensely!

    From 40 C to 4 C, The Magic Of Flying

    25 Kasım 2022, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C

    Well the day has come when we have to say good-bye to Curacao. We pack our bags and head out for breakfast. After one last omelet for me and crepe for Gabi we head back to the room to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything. We have a later flight so we don’t leave the resort until 1:30. Our luggage is whisked away and we head to the lobby to check out and wait for our bus to take us to the airport.

    We have filled out the pre-boarding on our phones so check in is even easier. The Curacao airport is small with only 8 gates. It is not crowded and is air-conditioned! A nice way to end the trip. We board on time and take off. We have a mimosa to celebrate our trip and settle in for our 5 hour flight. Dinner is good ( I think they have greatly improved air line food since Covid! ) , we both have the ginger chicken and salad. That done we settle in to read or write this blog.

    Our flight is good, some turbulence but that is to be expected. We land around 9:00 PM and debark in Toronto. I was reading an article on line while I was flying, Toronto airport has been voted as the #1 worst airport in North America for frustration level in passengers. As we head through the new security kiosks, I have a tendency to concur. It is crowed, unorganized and a pain in the ass. You still have to go through security anyway, not seeing the benefit to passengers. We get through security, I’m so glad we can skip the luggage retrieval part (yeah for carry-on luggage) and then head out to call for our limousine to take us home. This part doesn’t take to long by 10:00 PM we are in the limo and by 10:45 PM am home.

    It has been a good trip with no major hiccups. I think Gabi had a relaxing time as well.

    Since I took so many pictures yesterday, I’ll include some more in todays blog!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao - Girls Week OutGezgin
    On the swing bridge in Willemstad
    The typical shot of CuracaoBeautiful houses that were built in WillemstadCheck out the detail in the architectureA mango margarita with a shot of tequila!Swing bridge in action.Schooner from the beach at the resort.Same schooner in the harbour at Willemstad.Fort Amsterdam

    Swinging Bridges And Lots Of Humidity!

    24 Kasım 2022, Curacao ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    It is our last full day in Curacao today. We head into Willemstad for our trolley tour. First, we have breakfast at Di Marino’s and then get our stuff together to go into town. We had a thunderstorm last night and it is extremely humid today. We have had rain off and on this morning but it gave us a chance to check out our umbrellas.

    We take a taxi into town and he drops us off right at the trolley. It turns out that Victor, our VIP manager, has booked us a private tour! We have the whole trolley to ourselves with our own tour guide. Marvelous! Off we go! The lady tells us about the different houses and when they were built. Apparently, many people of the Jewish community came to Curacao to start businesses in the 1800’s, they built these beautiful houses all in the downtown area. They have been handed down to different generations or sold off over the years. Many have been converted into government offices or cultural centers.

    We stop at the Queen Of The Most Holy Rosary Cathedral. We head inside to take a look around. The church is plain but beautiful. The stations of the cross are all paintings done by a Flemish painter but the artist is unknown. The altar has beautiful stained glass but the sun is not shining on us at the moment so our imagination will have to do. Back in the trolley we head to the meeting point which is outside of Fort Amsterdam. We check out the fort where the solders were housed in barracks and protected the island from the British. There's even a cannon ball lodged in the side of the building. Now it is government offices and the residence of the Prime Minister and the Governor General of the Netherlands.

    When we finish with the tour, we head out on our own for a little walk. We check out some of the souvenir shops and back streets. They have unique street art on many of the buildings and that is as much of the culture as the food. They are also decorating for Christmas now as well. It seems out of place to see a Christmas tree in 40 degree weather. They have a street market as well where local people sell their wares along the waterfront. We make our purchases and head back to the main harbour area.

    When we were at the resort this morning, I saw a wonderful 3 mast schooner going by. It was quite hazy but I tried to get pictures the best I could. Well as we head back to the harbour, I see the same schooner parked here. You can check out the two pictures (side by side) to see it at sail and in the harbour.

    We stop at a waterfront café to rest and get something cold to drink and something to eat. The area here has a port area where the cruise ships anchor. There is currently one in port so the main area here is going to be busy. The town is split in two and connected with a swing bridge. This is an amazing engineering design where the bridge will detach from one side (with pedestrians and all) and swing open to allow smaller boats to enter the harbour. They have a warning horn that the bridge will swing and away it goes. I’m not sure of how often it does this but it is kind of unique. We have a nice lunch and some margaritas and watch the bridge swing and the boats come and go.

    After a nice lunch we are ready to head back to the resort. It has been a very hot and humid day today and we both desperately need some air conditioning. We will miss this heat in the middle of February at home!

    We have a rest and then head out for dinner. We head out to Di Marino’s for another wonderful meal. However, we are disappointed when we find it closed. The buffet is also closed. Apparently the buffet is being held on the beach tonight. It is a nice evening so this should be okay. They have tables set up on the beach, however they have crammed 10 to a table which is not doable if they are all adults. We arrive at 6:00 PM but apparently dinner was not ready yet. So, we picked a spot and waited along with everyone else. This of course created a line that wove through the tables so that you waited a good half hour in line to get your dinner. They ran out of plates half way through the line so more waiting. This was badly planned and poorly executed. If this is something they do on a regular basis it should be better planned. The other issue is trying to move your chairs in and out of the table while on sand! The chairs inevitably sank into the sand so you were off kilter. People in wheel chairs and with walkers had even more issues. This wouldn’t have been so bad if they had the other restaurants open for people to choose where to eat.

    Well tomorrow is our last day here. So, I head to the casino and Gabi heads back to the room to pack. At least one of us is responsible!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao - Girls Week OutGezgin
    Night time at the main pool.
    Caprese SaladLinguini and vegetables.OpportunistsA random sign at the restort.

    Day At The Spa And A Wonderful Dinner

    23 Kasım 2022, Curacao ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    We have breakfast at Di Marino for breakfast. You can order omelets made to order, fruit plates, sweet breads (breakfast pastries) and such. We both do omelets with a side of bacon, a fruit plate and pastries to share. It is a very nice and relaxing breakfast.

    Today we have booked facials in the spa. They lather, scrub, message and warm towel us until we are floating away in to a land of bliss. They were about 45 minutes long and we come out feeling pampered. I think we have found something that can continue on when we get back home and want to treat ourselves. We spend the rest of the day relaxing and reading.

    We head back to Di Marino’s for dinner. In the evening, when open, it is an Italian restaurant. Unlike the Blue Grille, this experience was wonderful. The service was quick and the food…marvelous. We both had the vegetable linguini with a caprese salad to start. The food was delicious and in just the right amount for portions. The linguini was done with a basil and oil base with tender vegetables mixed in. We each had the passion fruit pudding for dessert. Once again, delicious. This restaurant has redeemed the resort from the other night.

    Tomorrow, we want to go into Willemstad to see the main port area where the cruise ships dock. They have a trolley tour that takes you around the historic city center. I have tried to book this from the first day we were here. There was a tour lady named Abigail, who I think was an Air Canada tour rep. Well, this has been a ridiculous endeavor from the get go. We were going back and forth on WhatsApp planning to meet up and book this tour. Once a meeting time and place was booked, she wouldn’t show or was an hour away. This went on for three days! I finally went to the VIP manager and he graciously booked it for us. I tried to message Abigail back and she still wouldn’t answer. If this is how they operate, Air Canada tours can go fly a kite!

    The manager, Victor (I believe) has been the perfect host. Anything we need or question we ask is dealt with quickly, efficiently and pleasantly. A big thank you to Victor for making our stay here lovely.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao - Girls Week OutGezgin
    I got Gabi on the boat. We just didn't go anywhere!
    Our boat for the evening.Nice marina.Houses lining the marina.

    The Cruise That Wasn't.

    22 Kasım 2022, Curacao ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We both had a nice sleep in this morning. I had a massage at the spa this morning. I haven't had a message in years and wonder why I haven't bothered to enjoy one. The young lady was wonderful and I always end a pile of goo when done.

    I take a nice swim in the ocean and then get ready for tonight.

    We are heading out for a sunset cruise this evening. We head off in the taxi. We arrive at the boat which is a catamaran, my favourite. We all load up and get a rum punch and settle in for our cruise. They start up the engines and then they quit. Oops. Let's try again. They quit again. The crew bounce around and check this and that. They try again and again. Then they cancel the tour. They try to make it fun and offer us another drink and some cheese. After an hour we get back on shore and wait for our transport back to the hotel.

    We get back to the hotel around 6:30 and decide to try out the Blue Grill restaurant. It is like a steakhouse restaurant here at the resort. We have seen a lineup every night so we are curious. We head over and wait in a small line up. We have to put our names down on a wait list and were told to come back in 20 minutes. Off we go like good little Canadians. We come back 30 minutes later and the hostess is nowhere to be found. We wait another 20 minutes for her to show up to her station where the lineup has grown very long again. The frustrating thing here is that we can see at least 6 empty tables but here we wait. We finally get seated and wait another 15 minutes for someone to come and take our drink orders. Then we wait another 15 minutes for them to come back with our drinks and then wait again for our orders to be taken. We both order the chicken florentine with a greek salad to start. We wait another hour for the food to get there. The greek salads come and they must be the Carribean version because in Greece they did come as a lettuce salad with a few olives, onions and cheese sprinkled on top! When we did get dinner, it looked good but the chicken was dry and the three potatoes wedges and couple of flouretts of broccoli were good. So basically it took us over 2 hours to get a meal that took us 30 minutes to eat and it was terrible. Yeah, not doing that again, not even picture worthy. The best thing about the dinner was the view of the water and the nice gentle breezes that accompanied them.

    Afterwards Gabi headed back to the room and I hit the casino. I actually won tonight, enough to cover most of the losses from previous nights.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao - Girls Week OutGezgin

    Checking Out A Different Resort - Dreams

    21 Kasım 2022, Curacao ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    A change of pace for today. We are heading over to another resort in the Hyatt family of resorts called Dreams. They have a tour and we get a free breakfast over there. Might as well compare, right?

    The hotel here books us a taxi and off we go. On the way we get to see a little of the city. I love the tropical coloured houses and lots of cactus and plants.

    Dreams is a class above the one we are staying in. It recently renovated and different layout. While our resort is spread width wise and we have quite a trek to get from our room to the food and lobby areas, the Dreams resort is more centrally located with a 5 story main hotel with the lobby and main buffet right on the first floor. Easier to get coffee in the morning or a drink in the evening. They also have an elevator so you don’t need to book a ground floor room to avoid the stairs. Dreams is also set back from the main road so you don’t hear the traffic like we do here.

    The rooms we saw were the penthouse suite, with a mini bar area, sitting area, dual TV’s and a large bathroom with a walk-in closet. We also saw a standard room with 2 queen size beds a nice bathroom and still a large balcony. This is probably the room that we would book being the average Joes. The grounds are nice with all the amenities you would expect: spa, several bars, several pools, beach area, sun loungers, different restaurants for varied food options.

    The food is also a notch above where we are currently staying. They had a better variety for both breakfast and lunch. Presented better with covered dishes, properly labelled and with a better layout and flow. They also had more selections and just looked fresher. The wait staff was more attentive and we felt more valued there.

    I also liked the view a little better. It was tucked into a cove area where you could see another part of the city from the resort. I don’t know if the swimming was better because we didn’t go in the ocean there.

    We didn’t get back until after 4:00 PM and were exhausted! Nap time before we head to the casino and a bite to eat.

    Stay tuned for more adventures tomorrow.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao - Girls Week OutGezgin
    A little bit of paradise.
    11Even in paradise the rain must fall.1111We're hungry.11

    Relaxing Day Here, More About The Resort

    20 Kasım 2022, Curacao ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Today we lounge around the resort and enjoy the amenities here. So, I thought today we could show you where we are staying. Somehow, we ended up in a wheelchair accessible room. While this means that there is more open floor space for a wheelchair to move around there are also a few things different.

    We have two queen size beds, which are very comfortable. They are a little high for me but Gabi is used to the height from home. There is a wardrobe with drawers underneath and a nice dresser that has more drawers and a mini fridge stocked with water, pop and beer. This is replenished daily at no charge. Gabi and I only drink the water but for someone who does drink pop and beer this would be great! We have a nice patio area because we are ground floor. There is a drying rack for your bathing suits and a couple of chairs with a table.

    Just a few feet away is the adults only pool which is an infinity pool where you can see the ocean from. Back in our room we have a very spacious bathroom. As I mentioned above this is a wheelchair accessible room, therefore there is no bathtub but a wheel in shower. There are plenty of grab bars and a comfort height toilet. The only issue we have is that there are no counters. The sink is a ‘floating’ sink so a wheelchair can role underneath it. Since there are no counters there is nowhere to put your toiletries. This is a pain for us. I have come up with a unique solution to this problem. Take a look and let me now if you like it! Also, don’t forget this on your next trip if you need extra space. You can adjust the height to whatever you need. I actually got this hack off of a YouTube travel video.

    The grounds here are nice with all the tropical plants you can imagine. The sounds of the birds, the sounds of the ocean and the tropical music all combine for a relaxing atmosphere. There are 5 different restaurants and most are open air. There are also many pools but they all close at 6:00 PM. They also have shuffleboard, checkers and a bean bag toss game for all to use.

    I have a few more shots of the wildlife that is here on the grounds. The birds here are amazing and very colourful. They are also little bandits when it comes to the restaurants. They even steal the sugar packets off the tables!

    All in all a nice place for a relaxing stay by the ocean.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao - Girls Week OutGezgin
    View is priceless.
    Windsurfers having fun.Hey...you looking at me??Just hanging out in a tree watching the tourists.Our little sand crab.BreakfastDinnerOur drink of the week...Pina Colada

    What A Difference A Day Makes

    19 Kasım 2022, Curacao ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We woke to sunshine and whole new attitude. Nothing like what a good nights sleep will do for you. We both slept very well last night. The beds are very comfortable and the place is quiet.

    I have to hit the water this morning. So, I get changed into my bathing suit and walk outside. We are at the end of the property and there is a nice beach area 3 meters from our door. The sand is fine and very soft but hard packed enough to walk with ease. I pull up a sun lounge into the shade and head down to the ocean. There was no hesitation at all just walk right in and dive. The water is beautiful and at least 29C– 32C. They have a break wall to enclose a swimming and snorkeling area and protect it from the open ocean. This keeps large fish and predators out of the swimming area. The water is crystal clear and you can see the bottom for most of it. I haven’t been swimming since Greece so this was so nice. I get out and lay on my lounge chair and read and soak up the atmosphere.

    Gabi and I head out for breakfast at a different restaurant than last nights dinner. We both had crepes for breakfast with a selection of fruit and sweet breads. Afterwards we lounged around in the beach chairs and people watched and read for a while. We spot a couple of wind surfers out beyond the break wall having a blast in the wind and waves. I'm a little old for that myself (and way too out of shape!) but it is nice to see. The weather is beautiful. There are a few clouds and a gentle breeze, thank goodness. Gabi and I are both not sun people so we stay in the shade even with the sunscreen on.

    As we were sitting there, we found our first little friend; a sand crab. He was actually a nice size. We also spotted a nice green lizard. Check out the pictures!

    We head off for lunch and see a couple from our plane ride down. They invite us to join them for lunch so we do. This place is more of a bistro type restaurant with bar food. I grab the roast chicken and fries and Gabi has a burger with fries. This couple was from Curtis, up by Oshawa. They unfortunately had lost their luggage and it was still not here. They also liked to travel. They liked to go to Portugal and it is somewhere I would also go. It was a pleasant lunch. While there we spotted a couple iguanas. More photo ops!

    The rest of the afternoon was spent reading and relaxing. After another swim I have a shower and we checked out the casino. It is small but has a fair number of machines. Mostly 1 cent to 5 cent machines. Gabi lost her amount of money pretty quickly and I managed to play for a while and came out even.

    We then went for dinner afterwards at the buffet again. On the way in we stopped at the bar a each got a Pina Colada. They were yummy! I think we found our drink for the week!

    Afterwards we head back to our room to write this up and relax.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCuracao - Girls Week OutGezgin
    Gabi and I, through security and in the lounge.
    Air Canada loungeYes, it goes with me everywhere.1Gabi doesn't know I'm taking pictures.1

    Snow on the 🌄, sand in the evening.

    18 Kasım 2022, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C

    The trip has begun! Gabi (my travel companion for this trip) was picked up bright and early at 5:45 AM. Then they picked me up around 6:00 AM. The drive was easy (Not us driving 😁) and we arrived at Toronto Airport in good time. Through security and now relaxing at the airport lounge with some breakfast.

    Boarding is great. We are all tucked into our Business class seats. Yeah, I need extra wide seats. The flight was good, very little turbulence. The dinner was also good.

    The trouble started when we landed. Since we both had carry-on only, we left the plane and went through customs. Then proceeded to find our tour operators for a ride to the hotel. We checked in and were told to wait down the lane. We waited about 20 minutes before some showed up to take us to the bus. They stowed our luggage and we got our seats on the air conditioned bus. Then we waited and waited and waited some more. After an hour and a half, I got off and talked to the gentleman. Apparently some of our passengers luggage didn't make it on the plane. They had to wait to fill out forms for their luggage. Some inconsiderate people decided that this was a great time to hit the bar. ( Who cares about the people waiting on the bus) We finally got going after another 15 minutes. By the time we got to the resort it was dark.

    Check on at the resort was not much better. By this time I have a headache and am hangry. I had paid for an upgrade and we were to have priority check-in. We did, with 12 other people and one host!

    The room is okay and at the far end of the resort so it will be quiet.

    I'll get pictures tomorrow since it is dark now.

     Gabi and I went for something to eat and we will call it a night.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCanada East Coast Trip 2022Gezgin

    Another Successful Trip

    24 Eylül 2022, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Almost home people. I’m staying in Brockville overnight to break up the drive home from Montreal.

    I also want to visit with a couple of people while I’m here. The first is my ‘cousins’ Dan & Carol McLeod. I haven’t seen them since my dad’s funeral in 2012. We used to visit with them when we came down this way when the kids were younger. It is nice to catch up on what is happening. I showed them my Greece vacation book and they loved this idea.

    The next visit was with an old work colleague Rob Kitchen and his partner Kim. Rob and I worked together at Dofasco for 30 years. I haven’t seen him in ages either. Once again, we catch up of life since we last saw each other. Times have changed, partners have changed, and our interests have changed. We still have that connection though and it is nice to feel.

    With promises to get back together again, I head off home to sleep in my own bed. At least until the next trip!

    This trip has been busy for me, and I think the next driving trip I’ll plan some extra ‘down’ days to relax between places.

    The tally on this trip is as follows:

    Days: 48
    Kilometers: 8574
    Provinces: 5
    Oil Changes: 2
    Windshields: 1
    Back Wiper Assembly: 1
    Rear Blinker Bulb: 1
    Smiles: Unlimited    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCanada East Coast Trip 2022Gezgin
    First time on the Metro in Montreal

    Beavers, Otters, Penguins and More!

    22 Eylül 2022, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Today we are heading off to the Biodome. This is part of the old Montreal Olympic Site. To get there we need to take the Metro (subway). This is another first for me! My trusty little guide (aka Kitten) helps to get me the tickets needed and figures out which one to take and what stops to get off at. Once there we make our way past the construction and into the dome. This place is actually 5 different biospheres. Each one replicates the environment that each species is used to. They do this through planting vegetation that is native to the place where they live. They also have built in running streams and pools that are temperature controlled to make the animals feel at home. Each one is different based on the species in that area.

    First up are the otters. They are so cute playing in the water with a large water jug. They are very sleek and even pose nicely for the camera.
    Next, we see the wood ducks and beavers. They have a den camera so you can see the beavers when they are sleeping. They also have an area where you can view them underwater for a different experience. The beavers don’t pose as well as the otters, but I did my best.
    The next area belongs to the lynx. This is part of the Laurentian Maple Forest exhibit. I have never seen one of these up close before. He/she is quite agitated when we are there. It keeps pacing in front of the screened area. Maybe it can sense or smell something coming. I’m thinking it may be dinner time.

    Then we move onto the aquarium where there are different kinds of fish. There is also a shallow are where you can see different species of starfish and anemones. There are also some lobsters and crabs. Dinner anyone? This area represents the Animals of the Gulf of the St. Lawrence in Eastern Canada. Hey! That’s where I just came from!
    After this we move onto the puffin and waterfowl area of the Labrador Coast. These little guys are flapping their wings and swimming around in their large area. They like their rocky cliffs with the sparse vegetation.
    Of course, we have saved the best for last. Let’s get a lot more southern with the Antarctic region. Yes! We have happy feet penguins here. They have all dressed formally today with little tuxedos for everyone. Some seem to have issues with their hair sticking out everywhere, but most seem to have their plumage under control. It is fun just to watch them waddle around and squawk at each other. Some go for a swim, and it seems like there is a meeting of some sort going on in the corner.

    After we finish here, we hope back on the Metro and head to St. Denis Street for some dinner. Laura’s friend Kate joins us at a taco place. Kate leaves on her trip next month. We have a pleasant time catching up and having dinner.

    Tomorrow, I leave for home. I have one night in Brockville and then I get to sleep in my own bed.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCanada East Coast Trip 2022Gezgin
    Oriental gardens in Montreal
    1

    We Do Oriental in Montreal

    20 Eylül 2022, Kanada ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    I head out from Quebec City in the morning heading towards Montreal. I stop at a nice place for some breakfast (croissant with ham, tomato, lettuce and cheese) and then I’m off. The day is a misty rain and I’m am very thankful that Gary fixed my back wiper! It is not very far from Quebec City to Montreal, about 3 hours. I get there in 4 (thank you road construction). I find my place for the next 3 days and Laura brings me over the parking passes for my car. Parking in Montreal is a nightmare. You can park on the street if you have the parking passes but check the signs (all in French) because they do street cleaning every week and, in the winter, you have snow removal. Your car will be ticketed or towed (or both) if you are in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

    After we unload, we head down to the Botanical Gardens. This place is massive and really deserves a full day, not the couple of hours that we had. They have a beautiful Oriental Garden there with waterfalls, ponds, bonsai trees and so much more. Laura and I had a nice walk until it started spitting on us.

    Next up is dinner. We head to a favourite place called Le Mekong. They have a nice (but spicy) white fish soup. I also had the beef with broccoli dish. There was so much that I have leftovers for tomorrow. After dinner I head back to get some laundry done and crash for the night. Tomorrow is another day!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCanada East Coast Trip 2022Gezgin

    Lower Old Town

    19 Eylül 2022, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Before I head to the lower town, I have breakfast at a little café and head over to The Notre Dame Cathedral. I can’t get a picture outside for you since there is some massive construction going on in front of the church. I do head inside though to get some pictures. It was built in 1674. I take a few minutes to sit in prayer and light a couple of candles for my loved ones all ready gone from us.

    As I have mentioned before Quebec’s Old Town has two levels. The upper level that was reserved for the rich with it’s wide boardwalk and many parks and the lower level where the trade and commerce from the river took place. The streets are narrower and there is not much green space. The buildings down here reflect that as well. They have warehouses on the ground level and residence on the upper levels. This has now changed to restaurants and shops on the ground level and residence on the top floors. This is mostly the way it works. There are some streets where it is all residential though.

    There are two ways to get down to the lower city; a funicular is available near The Chateau Frontenac and a set of stairs over by where I’m staying. I actually took the stairs (to work off breakfast at the bistro). When you decend the stairs you come across a little square where there is a wall that has been painted with all that Quebec holds near and dear to their hearts. Take a moment to check it out! They hold little mini concerts here on some of the days and the sound drifts to the upper city. Cool! The lower section has a little square called Place Royal where there is an old church. This is where Samuel de Champlain first founded Quebec City in 1609. There sits the oldest stone church in North America called: Notre-Dame-des-Victoires. It is a non descript church (unlike the Notre Dame Cathedral in the upper town) that was built in 1688 but had extensive damage during the war with the British and had to be rebuilt in 1763 to it’s original specifications. The church still holds service every Sunday and is open from May to November for tourists to visit. The rest of the square, which used to be a market place, has a nice café and tables where you can sit and enjoy a rest. There is a naval museum down here and a small theatre as well. There are many shops and restaurants all over the place where you can meander around the cobblestone streets and take in the views of the river. There are little alley-ways that lead to inner courtyards that you can check out as well, just mind your head if you are tall! This is also where the cruise ships come in as well.

    It is a good work out for the legs and butt because everything is uphill or downhill! After walking around for a couple of hours and picking up a bucket of popcorn for the drive tomorrow, I head back up the stairs (glutton for punishment!) to head back to my place for a rest. I head out later for some dinner at the same terrace place from the first night. Their yellow pea soup is marvelous but their meat pie is a little too salty for my tastes.

    Tomorrow, I pack up and head to Montreal. Laura lives their so I get to visit.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCanada East Coast Trip 2022Gezgin

    Monuments and Food

    18 Eylül 2022, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    It is raining when I get up today, just a light rain but still icky. I head to a pastry shop for breakfast. I’m back in croissant territory! One almond croissant with a cappuccino and away I go. Today I set off to check out the upper portion of Old Quebec town. The old town is a Unesco site and is the only place in North America that has it’s original stone wall protecting the old town. There are many things to see here from the armories to the many old buildings and parks that dot the town. There are of course many statues to the founders of this city such as Samuel Champlain and Francois de Laval.

    I check out some of the shops. Normally I’m not a shopper but it is never to early for Christmas shopping, right? I wander the streets and come across the Chapel of Marie De L’Incarnation. It is a monastery of the nuns of Ursulines order. They came over here in the 1700’s to administer to the people of Quebec. The chapel is beautiful and peaceful. All of the gold leaf was done by the Sisters themselves.

    I spend some time down by the Frontenac and walk the boardwalk. Before I know it, it’s time for an early dinner. I have booked a spot at the Frontenac’s Sam Restaurant. I’m glad I made a reservation since it seems that people are being turned away! This restaurant is a bistro that has a wonderful view of the river. Their main restaurant is much swankier and has no view. This one is expensive enough for me! I have never afforded myself the luxury of staying at the Frontenac, so this is my way to indulge in some history and enjoy the ambience of the hotel. I start with a vegetable soup and then move on to the main course of beef shanks slow cooked with potatoes and salad. Paired with a nice rose the meal is wonderful! Finished with a piece of chocolate cake and coffee and I’m ready for a nap. The views don’t disappoint as I’m having my meal, I can view the promenade and the river from where I sit. The service is professional without being stuffy. All in all a wonderful experience that I would suggest for everyone at least once.

    After dinner I head back to my hotel for the evening. Tomorrow I will explore the lower part of the Old Town.    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCanada East Coast Trip 2022Gezgin

    Quebec, Old Town and History!

    17 Eylül 2022, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    I’m off to see what just might be my favourite city in Canada. (Don’t tell Laura, Montreal is second best!) Quebec City is just one of those places that resonates with me. I stay in the old town because the feel and architecture are amazing. Yes, there is a lot of touristy stores but look beyond that to see the real Quebec City.

    As I leave Karen’s I weave my way up New Brunswick. Once again, the views don’t disappoint. The trees are starting to turn now and you can see some red and yellow mixed in with the green. My mind drifts to thoughts of how the seasons in Mother Nature seem to reflect the seasons of our lives. Being with Karen and reminiscing about “the old days” may also have contributed. As I’m driving, I start to think that I may now be in the autumn of my life. Slowly things are changing both physically and mentally for me as well. I don’t move as easily as I used to and I have more mature wants and needs. I don’t need the hustle and bustle of youth but a slower more relaxed ebb and flow of life. I don’t think this is a bad thing, just an evolution of time. Similar to the seasons that are changing before me. Oh, and I plan to have an ‘autumn’ of my life with all the colours blazing just like Mother Nature! Okay, enough of the sappy stuff.

    I stop for a night in a small place called: St. Louis du Ha! Ha!. Yes, that is the name, check the map. I’m off the next morning and get to Quebec around 2:00 PM. I am staying in a hotel that I got off of Booking.com. It is nothing special, just a room with a view of the river (St. Lawrence River, for those of you who don’t know where Quebec City is). It is in the old town and I can see the Chateau Frontenac from the street outside my hotel. I don’t have parking here and I have to schlep my luggage from the public parking to my hotel. (I’ll have to do better next time, and there will be a next time!) I get settled in and then head out for a walk. I love walking the old city. I stay on the upper section today. Tomorrow I may head down to the lower section. There is music coming from the lower city that lends to the atmosphere of the evening. I find a marvelous little restaurant with an open terrace that is heated! The place is called: Café Terrasse La Nouvell (https://m.facebook.com/cafelanouvellefrance). This place is marvelous. They offer a prix fixed meal with an appetizer, main and dessert. All for $31.00. Quebec is expensive but not as bad as some people think. I head back home for the night because there are more adventures to be had!    Okumaya devam et

    Çeviriyi gör
  • Jane KippCanada East Coast Trip 2022Gezgin

    What Really Matters In Life

    15 Eylül 2022, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    St. John was a fog and rain out but the place I stayed in was nice.

    My next place is a special one. I’m staying with my cousin Karen and her husband Gary for the night. I make it to their place in Whites Cove, New Brunswick. They have a wonderful place with tons of land by the water. I am warmly welcomed by both of them and we quickly catch up on family stuff. We talk about my trip and what I have seen and where I’ve been. I show them the book from my Greece blog and they love the idea of turning these blogs into books. The memories last forever and are easily read and re-read. Gary BBQ’s up some steaks and we sit down for a great dinner.

    After dinner Karen asks if I want to go to the club. Club? Out here in the middle of nowhere? Sure! We hop in her car and off we go. It seems that Gary has a MC club that he belongs to and they have a club house nearby. I am graciously welcomed by Tony (the barkeep for the night) when I walk in. I’m introduced around and we settle in for a night of socializing. Karen’s daughter Tara joins us, along with Gary and a few others. (Names escape me as I write this.) We enjoy a few drinks, chit chat and great company.

    There is a warm feeling that envelops you (no, not from the whiskey!) when you are made to feel like you belong in the group, even though you just arrived. That is the power of family. You don’t have to see them everyday but when you do time just evaporates and your one unit again. We head back to the house and finish the evening with some pie and wine. I head up to bed and sleep like a baby.

    The next morning I get up and Gary makes me a coffee. He has to set out early to pick up some parts in another town. Gary owns an auto shop. Karen gets up and we just sit talking away while having our coffee and me doing my knitting. I head up to get dressed and I come down to find breakfast waiting for me. I could get used to being treated like royalty.

    We have a bite to eat and then head off to see Steven’s house. (I’m getting a whirl wind visit cause I only have one day). Steven moved down here a little while ago and has bought a house with his partner. They are in the middle of renovating it. It sits on about 20 acres of bush. Once again, beautiful. The work they are doing is marvelous. It is great to see young people putting their stamp on where they live. The care and hard work show in the finished results. The gardens and the front deck look very nice and Steven fills us in on what they plan to do next. After coffee we head down to The Boot in Gagetown for some lunch. Karen, Steven and I enjoy a nice lunch while catching up and just visiting in general.

    We get back to the house and Gary has a surprise for me. He fixed my back windshield wiper. The spring was lose and would not clean the whole window. So while he was in town getting the other parts he bought me a new assembly and installed it while I was out and about this morning. Isn’t he just the best???!!!

    I get packed up and am ready to head out. Karen has stocked me up with one box of wine and one box of wine coolers all made by herself! Well, don’t I just feel special. These two have a way of making you feel like you really are special. They are just hard working, real people who don’t put on airs and don’t care what you have or don’t have. They look at who you are and whether you have a good heart.

    Well, I’m going to miss all of them! I’ll have to come back next year for a week. Who knows, maybe I’ll move down here in the future.    Okumaya devam et

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