Christmas 2011

Janice and I have been to the Miami - Fort Lauderdale area before, on our way to previous cruises ... this trip we had an opportunity to spend a little more time in Florida, getting to know more about the area ...

Saturday, December 24th

We caught a 9 am direct flight to Ft. Lauderdale, picked up our rental car and checked in at our hotel - The Sheraton Plantation. By mid afternoon we were exploring East Las Olas Boulevard ... Trendy shops, restaurants and bars populate this part of town, and there was even an outdoor skating rink with Christmas music playing (not real ice - a nylon floor that kids could enjoy).

Not far from East Las Olas Boulevard is the River Walk ... a nice place for a stroll, so Janice and I went for a walk. Along the way we saw a park with a Christmas tree and a fountain ... there was also an outdoor stage ... looked like a nice place for some concerts.

The weather was a little iffy this afternoon ... and during a light rain shower we took shelter in a funky bar along the pathway. This bar was packed with boating articles everywhere you

looked ... decorated with buoys, rowboats, oars and hundreds of other sailing articles hanging from the ceiling and mounted to the wall.

The rain didn't last long, and by the time we walked back to East Las Olas Boulevard it was dinner time. Janice and I decided to eat at an outdoor Cafe ... Europa Trattoria.

The ceasar salad was exceptional, the Free Range chicken Marsala was nice and the Whole Wheat Penne with meat balls was good as well.

After dinner we headed back to the hotel ... it was going to be nice to enjoy a relaxing evening and settle in after a day of travel and exploration. We were both asleep before midnight ... nodding off as The Sound of Music played on TV.

Sunday, December 25th

After breakfast Janice and I had coffee at The Deck in the Sea Club Resort. This place looks like it would be stepping back in time to stay here. Retro ... early 60's ish ... I could envision this place back in it's hay day being a very happening place (actually it still was - I bet the bar and restaurant here do quite well) ... we had a view of the ocean across the street. After the coffees, we enjoyed a nice walk along the beach.

Dinner today was going to be pretty cool. We were going to enjoy a Christmas dinner cruise around the bays and inlets of Miami, aboard a 111 foot, 380 passenger luxury yacht - The Biscayne Lady. This yacht was docked behind a mall - the Bayside Marketplace ... a busy place today - many people here to shop, party and enjoy a free outdoor concert near the water.

The twin hulled catamaran took us around Biscayne Bay, and the city lights of Miami looked beautiful from the ship this evening.There was a lovely buffet on board to enjoy, as Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble and Vince Guaraldi played in the background. We met Marlene ... a visitor from London who enjoyed coming to Florida often. It was a lovely evening for a cruise, and dinner was quite nice ... a beautiful way to spend Christmas.

Monday, December 26th

It's boxing day and we were going to leave dry land behind to board the Majesty of The Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship that sports a climbing wall, 9 bars & lounges, glass elevators and much more ...

By mid afternoon we had checked out of the hotel, snagged some lunch, dropped off the rental car, hopped a shuttle bus to the Port of Miami and were exploring the ship. The Majesty has a capacity of 2744, with a crew of 820, a length of 880 ft. (268 m) and a weight of 73,937 gross tonnes ... it's not their newest or biggest ship, but they've taken pretty good care of her.

It was warm and sunny as we headed out to sea later in the afternoon. The itinerary included a little cruise through the Bahamas, and we were looking forward to the next few days. At dinner in the dining room we had the pleasure of meeting Sarise and her daughter Shirelle, and Scott and his wife Francis. They would be our dinner companions throughout the cruise ... every day we'd share our adventures and get to know each other a little more. Nice people ...

Tuesday, December 27th

This morning we were docked at Key West. We had an early start to the day today ... we were to tour the town on bikes and had to meet on the dock at 9 am. It was another warm & sunny day - 26 degrees, so we applied our sunscreen and headed out.

The Key lime Parrothead Bike Tour took us around the town, highlighting historical locations, interesting landmarks and popular attractions. It was a nice outing ... the one-speed bikes took some getting used to ... you had to pedal backwards to break. There seems to be a few roosters here on the island ... you can even hear them from the ship.

We visited the Southernmost Point of the U.S., paused in front of Earnest Hemmingway's House, stopped at the cemetery, and peddled from The Atlantic Ocean to The Gulf of Mexico ... we were even treated to a slice of Key Lime Pie at the end ...

Before heading back to the ship, Janice & I walked down and looked around the Straw Market ... the streets were busy with 3 cruise ships docked in port today.

After dinner we went to the Corus Line Theatre to see some singing and dancing in a production called "Signed, Sealed Delivered".

Wednesday, December 28th

This morning it was nice to sleep in. We had breakfast in the dining room, and by lunch time we were docked in Nassau. Our itinerary today was a Sightseeing tour of the city, including a visit to Ardastra Gardens.

This is a very lush, fertile tropical part of the world, and the vegetation here was amazing. Unfortunately much of the city struggles with crime and poverty, so we didn't see too many luxury cars or fancy homes here. We had also been warned not to wander out in the evening alone by a crew member.

We stopped at Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle and the Queens Staircase. The Ardastra Gardens were nice ... flamingos, parrots, and various other examples of plants & animals of the area.

After dinner, Janice and I burned off a few calories with a walk around the ship. Tomorrow morning was going to be another early start, so we called it a night not long after our stroll.

Thursday, December 29th

This morning we are anchored near the little island of CocoCay. This is Royal Caribbean's private island, and after our room service breakfast, we will be tendered over to the island, as it is too shallow for the ship to dock here.

We will be taking a guided nature walk this morning ... a nice way to get some exercise and get motivated first thing in the morning. Our tour guide was quite knowledgable about the medicinal benefits of various plants here on the island, and showed us a plant that was known to help with stress ... Janice stepped forward and was hoping to take a few samples back home :P

After the nature walk, we relaxed on the beach for a while. It was warm and sunny again today (lucky us), and the reclining beach furniture was calling our name. Also anchored near our ship was it's sister ship - The Monarch of The Seas. The Monarch's passengers were also enjoying the island.

By 11:30 we were ready for lunch. The RC staff did a nice little buffet on the island ... we feasted on salad, burgers and ribs, with fruit for desert.

Around 2pm it was time for some beach volleyball ... sweet! Sun, sand and volleyball - awesome : )

Late afternoon ... time to head back to the ship. We snagged a couple of slices of pizza back on The Majesty ... Sorrento's serves up 'zah until late in the night ... decent pie, too.

After dinner, we took in "Boogie Wonderland", a 70's review at the Chorus Line Theatre. Following the show, Janice and I wandered around the ship, stopping by for a little Latin music at Bolero's, where Janice enjoyed a Lava Flow. We strolled through Schooner's, where a crooner was entertaining at the piano bar, then we walked through the atrium, where a band was playing a little rock and country. It had been a nice little cruise, and tomorrow we'd be returning to Florida.

Friday, December 30th

This morning we stopped by The Windjammer for breakfast. This is the ship's buffet style restaurant, and it was packed this morning ... very busy. We got our food and sat with a nice older couple from St. Thomas Ontario. After breakfast, we packed and disembarked the ship.

The beautiful Miami morning sunshine was a nice welcome back to dry land. By mid morning we were on a shuttle bus to pick up our rental car at Ft. Lauderdale airport.

After securing our chariot, we stopped by a Foot Locker Outlet store, where I bought some runners.

Lunch at Ft. Lauderdale beach, then a stroll along the sand. Another beautiful warm day : )

After the beach, we checked into our room at the hotel again.

That evening we enjoyed some sweet jazz at the Museum of Contemporary Art ... Ira Sullivan was playing at the outdoor stage. Nice!

Saturday, December 31st

This morning we visited Sawgrass Mills Mall - Florida's largest shopping centre. This place had some huge outlet stores, so Janice wanted to look for a few bargains.

After the shopping, we ate lunch at Whole Foods Market ... a grocery store that specializes in healthy foods. What a wonderful selection of goodies ... I hope we see one of these in Ottawa soon!

By mid afternoon, we were at South Beach in Miami. Parking was a challenge, but eventually we found a spot on a side street.

This part of Miami was alive with a buzz. People were out and about, ready to to celebrate New Years. Janice and I walked for several blocks to Ocean Drive tonight, it's closed to cars for one big New Year's Eve Block Party. The bars and restaurants down here were humming with music, and the crowded street was filled with folks ready to ring in the New Year. The colors, lights, balloons and sounds truly made this a funky festive place tonight. When all was said and done, we had walked for three hours through all the revelry. What a wonderful way to end our visit here : )

Sunday, January 1st

Happy new year! It was the last few hours of our trip ... after checking out of the hotel, we couldn't help but pause for a few moments in the Florida sun, knowing that soon we'd be headed back to Canada.

Today was a travel day ... a day of airports, lines, checking bags, changing planes in Toronto, and landing back in our snow covered home of Ottawa.

It was wonderful getting to know a little more of Miami & Ft. Lauderdale this trip. Lots to do and see down there, and the cruise through the Bahamas was awesome : )

more pictures from this trip

Mont Tremblant in the summertime

Have you ever discovered something wonderful ... something awesome right in your own back yard? It seems that as time goes on, we keep finding more and more wonderful treasures so close to Ottawa ...

When most people think about Mont Tremblant, they likely know of it's reputation for great skiing. Last week, we enjoyed 5 wonderful days

at this surprising superb summer destination.

Only two hours North East of Ottawa, this wonderful resort area reminded me of Monte - Carlo meets Disneyland ... clean, family oriented and offering a wide variety of activities for all ages.

Janice and I enjoyed cycling through some of the nearby scenic countryside ... An old abandoned train line has been converted to a pathway for cyclists & pedestrians, and they have made several trails & paths through forests and along streams, rivers and lakes.

We also enjoyed a couple of the beaches and a few of the restaurants in the area. Pretty much everything was within walking or cycling distance, so the car was parked during our stay there.

What's there to do? Golf, visit the Casino, Rock Climbing, Zip-lining, Hiking, Boating, take the

gondola up the mountain & enjoy the views, Cycling, Fishing, Sailing, Tennis, Horseback Riding, visit the spa, Canoeing, Paint Ball, Concerts, Dining, and more ...

There is a vast variety of edible options- Asian, Continental, French, Italian, Cafes, Bakeries, Pubs, Bistros & more ...

We stopped by the nearby town of Mont Tremblant on the last day, and found several charming shops and restaurants. There seems to be much more in the surrounding area to enjoy as well as the resort.

It was a wonderful visit ... Janice & I look forward to returning to explore more of the area ...

Getting to Know A Little More of Ottawa

Since moving here, it's been a pretty fun adventure getting aquatinted with O Town. I have made an effort to get out and get familiar with the city, and can say that I know the city pretty well by now.

One of the nicest parts of the city is Byward Market. The many vendors, shops, restaurants and bars here make this area a highlight of Ottawa well worth visiting.

Today, Janice and I spent a couple of hours at The Market wandering around the shops and exploring. We've done this before a couple of times ... today we wandered down a little farther than before. As we walked down Dalhousie Street, Janice and I decided to stop in for lunch at a little restaurant that looked interesting.

Mello's has been here since 1942. This little cramped cafe has character by the bucket loads. The staff here work hard, and are friendly. If you're looking for health food, look elsewhere, but if you want a down to earth diner style meal served by caring, down to earth folks, come here.

The cook was singing, the busboy was hustling to clear tables, the waitresses were making sure the customers were being taken care of ... this place has an energy, a vibe ... an aura that really is worth experiencing.

Janice had a burger, I had a grilled cheese on brown and coffee ... but we both knew even before we came in that we were not coming for the food.

This little place is simple and charming, and I'd go back again just for another warm helping of Mello's character and warmth.

Ten Days In The Caribbean

Christmas 2010 for Janice and I was spent aboard The Emerald Princess ...

Launched: Spring 2007 / Decks: 19 / Tonnage: 113,000 / Passengers: 3,300 / Crew: 1,200

This is a mega-ship designed to pamper and spoil it's guests, first class style.

There's the Italian-styled piazza, around which are centered the International Cafe (excellent coffees and scrumptious pastries, quiche and chocolate fondue); across the way is Vines, the ship's wine and sushi bar (with a really good wine list).There's the occasional "street theater" in the three-deck high piazza. Offerings range from stilt walkers to comedians, and from chef and bartender demos to a pianist singing Broadway tunes. People flock to this part of the ship, day and night. Another nice option is The Sanctuary, the top deck's adult-only outdoor spa area. And Skywalkers Nightclub, Princess' distinctive top-ship disco, with a pool below at the aft of the ship.

This huge floating mega-hotel would be our home for ten days, as we toured islands in The Caribbean.

Friday, December 17th-

We flew down to Ft. Lauderdale a day ahead of our scheduled embarkation, just in case of possible travel hiccups such as winter storms, cancelled flights. Last year, this strategy saved our bacon, as a storm on the Easter coast paralyzed several flights. We had enough "wiggle room" to make alternate arrangements to make it to the ship before it sailed ... (just barely).

This trip - no missed or cancelled flights ... All our luggage arrived, and we were ready to board the ship and begin our ten day journey tomorrow.

Saturday, December 18th-

By mid afternoon we were checked in and aboard the Emerald Princess. Janice and I wandered the ship, exploring a bit. We had been on it's sister ship, the Crown Princess, two years ago, so much of the ship's layout was the same. Still, on a vessel this large, it's easy to get turned around. As we strolled around we stopped for a little Pizza & ice cream on the Lido Deck, one of the upper decks at the top of the ship.

There are many different places to find food on The Emerald ... The Cafe Caribe, Horizon Court, Horizon Terrace, Botticelli dining room ...various other spots where one can find burgers, pizza, ice cream, desserts...

Sunday, December 19th-

We were originally scheduled to visit our first port today ... Princess Cayes. High winds and dangerous conditions have forced us to cancel our visit here, so we sail on toward our next port - St. Thomas.

I invest in a specialty coffee punch card ... Cappuccinos, Espressos and special coffees are not included in our regular cruise fees, and we like to start the morning with a special coffee treat -Cappuccinos.

Even if we are not in a port, there are always lots of activities aboard the ship to choose from. We played a couple of rounds of mini golf , then Janice enjoyed a book by the pool while I went for a walk around the ship. Later ,we dressed up for dinner, as it was the first of 2 formal nights on board. I chose the escargot, ceasar salad, and lobster for supper tonight in the Da Vinci Dining Room. After dinner Janice and I headed down to the Piazza ... the ship's crew had been doing a meet and greet. Janice asked Captain Georgiio for directions, then Janice & I saw the live show at The Princess Theatre- "Boogie Shoes".

Monday, December 20th-

Another day at sea. Janice spent some time in the gym, while I lazed about.

Letters To Juliet played on the big screen on the Lido Deck on this sunny day ... Janice & I watched it poolside. This section of the ship is called "Movies Under The Stars", and boasts a mammoth drive in like movie screen. Later, I did a couple of laps around the ship and Janice went for a dip in one of the 5 or 6 pools. For dinner tonight -Empinadas, Split Pea soup, fettucini Alfredo, Key Lime Pie ... yum!

After dinner I had an early night, Janice enjoyed more movies under the stars ... With cookies & milk

"Lovely Still" was the film.

Tuesday, December 21st-

This morning we have docked at St. Thomas.

Started the day with a Cappuccino, then enjoyed oatmeal, fruit, eggs, bacon and toast for breakfast. By 10:50 we were on the dock, ready for our first excursion.

As we were ferried to our scheduled Eco Hike aboard the "Island Girl". The ferry took us to nearby St John for our hike. We were lucky to be joined by dolphins along side the boat.

During the hike we saw deer, a tarantula, centipedes (or millipedes?) crabs, iguanas, cactus ...

We ended our hike at beautiful Honeymoon Beach. At this remote destination, there were no vendors trying to sell their wares ... a very quiet, intimate stretch of sand.

On our way back we saw ruins of an old Dutch sugar plantation

It was an excellent way to spend the day.

For dinner tonight - Calamari, Veal, Chocolate cake.

Later, we went to see 'What A Swell Party" at the theatre ... various show tunes.

The talent involved in these productions is first rate - the choreography, sets and music were all excellent.

The full moon on the ocean looked surreal as we enjoyed a stroll on deck before retiring for the night.

Wednesday, December 22nd-

Today, we are in Antigua ... Janice and we have signed up for a Beach Escape, with lunch included in this excursion. The weather is perfect for a beautiful day in the Caribbean sun. Janice played in the waves while I enjoyed a walk down the beach. Free rum punches and the buffet lunch were nice additions to our time spent here. Later, as our ship left port, the sunset was lovely...

We took in the comedy act in the theatre after dinner. The comedian wrangled a few of the audience members up on to the stage, and got them to perform Old McDonald. One of the guys onstage just couldn't get the hang of it, though ... Instead of singing the words of the song, he kept making the sounds of the animal ... Since he was the donkey, he kept saying "Hee haw" (instead of "and on that farm he had a donkey").

After the comedy show, Janice and I went to the Lido Deck for Movies Under the Stars ... we watched "The Other Guys"... Michael Keaton, Mark Walberg, Wil Farrell.

Thursday, December 23rd-

Today's port of call is St. Kitts. No organized excursions planned - we are just going to wander in and explore.

This morning, we start the day with carmel cappuccinos.

Throughout the voyage we used the stairs instead of the elevator most of the time ... Our cabin was on deck 8, and our breakfast was usually on deck 15.

Rice pudding, baked apples, raisins, cottage cheese, oatmeal, fruits, hash browns, bacon and eggs are fuel for the engine this morning.

Janice & I browsed through the shops in St. Kitts ... I ended up with a new hat & shirt.

After our on-shore activities, I played a little volleyball in the pool.

Our dinners in the dining room were shared with a small group of regulars at our table ... an opportunity to get to know fellow travellers and hear of their adventures and experiences. Dinner conversation with this particular group was often interesting and fun ... this was a wonderful collection of folks to break bread with.

After dinner, Janice and I enjoyed some classical music performed by a lovely quartet in the piazza.

Friday. December 24th-

We are in Barbados today, and have an excursion scheduled ... a walk through The Welchman Hall Gully & Flower Forest . It's a little moist and muggy today, as we walk through this lovely rainforest. We got a little wet as light showers cooled us a couple of times.

On the way back we stopped to use a washroom on the dock ... I found myself locked in ... The door knob was loose and broken - I had to call for assistance ... Luckily A family passing by heard my pleas, and managed to fanegle the door knob and release me.

After lunch was nap time.

At dinner time, we went to the Michelangelo dining room to join our regular dining friends.

Later, we enjoyed classical music & sang Christmas Carols with the crew and fellow passengers in the Piazza.

We wander the ship after that - stopping in to play some Christmas trivia for a bit, then listening to some jazz at the Adagio lounge. The Christmas dance party on Lido deck rounded off the day for us, as we danced under the Caribbean moon.

Saturday, December 25th-

We are docked at St. Lucia today, with no excursions booked.

This is a chance to sleep later and take things at our own pace. It's an opportunity to eat when we want,

wander and explore freely.

Vanilla cappuccinos start our day. The weather here today is waffling between bright hot sunshine & and showers

By 10:45 we had finished our leisurely breakfast. We went for a walk around the bay, through town ... browsing the shops around the harbour front.

By mid afternoon, Janice and I had returned to the Emerald for a light lunch.

The afternoon was relaxed and laid back, as we lounged in our stateroom.

Tonight's dinner was the second of the two Formal nights - Christmas dinner ... We had the traditional turkey dinner and then called it a night. All in all, a pretty low keyed, relaxing day.

Sunday, December 26th-

This day at sea we are on our way back to Florida. It's a two day trip from where we are, but it's all good ... we love being waited on and attended to. The Caribbean and Florida is a wonderful place to escape to this time of year, and we are soaking it all in.

We enjoy a late breakfast this morning, then walk around the ship 3 or 4 times for a little exercise.

A game of mini golf, then a light lunch.

Janice did a little laundry, then we strolled around the ship a little more.

We passed on the magic act in the theatre the previous night, but tonight's show is "I've Got The Music". The production was top - notch.

Monday, December 27th-

On some mornings when I was up before Janice, I'd enjoy coffee by The Terrace Pool - an intimate section at the aft (back) of the ship ... It's starting off a little cooler and cloudy this morning , but if you wait 5 minutes, it can change to warm and sunny.

The Christmas music is gone now and that's ok ... Light jazz guitar plays over the speakers.

I bring 2 white chocolate cappuccinos to the stateroom this morning for Janice and I.

After breakfast we played trivia in one of the lounges with fellow passengers.

CNN & BBC are reporting travel problems due to winter storms on the east coast of North America ... I am glad we have a direct flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Ottawa.

Janice and I entered the Golf putting challenge - I won a Gold medal.

After lunch we attended a "Secrets To A Flatter Stomach" seminar ... A mini workshop that talked about detoxification, body chemistry, water retention, food acidity and alkalinity. The gent who did the seminar, Alan, said some interesting things ... at the end, he offered passengers an opportunity to be tested, and for anyone interested, he sold a set of pills for detoxification.

Throughout our voyage, I noticed that the crew is always repairing, restoring and maintaing the ship ... Sanding painting, cleaning ... always happening somewhere on board. On a vessel this size, it's not surprising that it takes a vast amount of upkeep to maintain it's good looks and functionality.

Janice was sad to see the luggage mat on our bed upon returning to our stateroom late that afternoon.

We packed, then enjoyed dinner ... The black cherry sorbet was outstanding.

In the theatre after supper, we saw a performance of "Motor City" ... Motown tunes. We capped off the night with a little dancing at Skywalkers.

Tuesday, December 28th-

One of the great things about cruising is meeting new people. Fellow travelers are often very interesting. This morning we had breakfast with an American gent and a couple from Germany (Bavaria).

After disembarkation we took a cab to the airport and checked our bags. We had a few hours before our flight home, so after lunch (Chilies - terminal 3), we headed off to visit Flamingo Gardens ... a nearby attraction in Ft. lauderdale.

The Flamingo Gardens is an Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary ... 60 acres of lush gardens, rare, exotic and native plants. It was a nice experience to see the aviary, alligators, turtles and various other wildlife.

We will miss the stain glass and the marble, the cappuccinos and the Caribbean sunshine ... but all good things must come to an end. It was time to fly home.

Ten day cruises are nice ... The previous three cruises I have done were 7 day cruises- and were wonderful as well, but could have been a little longer.

Coming home went smoothly ... our flight arrived a few minutes early, and we were home, safe and sound, a little tired ... with happy memories of wonderful trip.

a lucky man

I am very fortunate. Life is good these days ...

I live in a lovely house, in a wonderful neighbourhood, in an excellent city, in the best country in the world. Our standard of living gives us cleanliness, safety, healthcare, resources and support systems ... we've got it pretty good.

Being born in North America and living here, it can become very easy to forget how lucky we are and take life for granted. It's often immigrants that truly have a real appreciation for what we have here. I was reminded of this at the barber's during my last visit.

Imagine escaping from a country where struggle, poverty and war are constant challenges; and landing in Canada, where freedom allows us to enjoy all that we have.

I am lucky to live the life I am living ... a life that includes travel, creature comforts, a wonderful home, the opportunity to earn a living doing work I enjoy ...

I am grateful for caring people in my life ... friends, family, co-workers and of course Janice. To have a caring, supportive, intelligent partner who enjoys the same the same things is the greatest gift of all.

I am not wealthy in terms of money. I do alright - the bills are paid and I have more than enough toys around me to play with,however I am no Donald Trump, but in some other respects I am very wealthy ... I am healthy, happy and in a wonderful loving relationship ...

life is wonderful - and I am very thankful for all I have.