negativity

mindful presence

time

Next Summer ...?

After a couple of little road trips this summer,
I am thinking that maybe SWEETBEE (my Camaro)
and I might take to the open road next summer
and perhaps head out to visit family and friends
in Saskatoon & Winnipeg. 

[If I can resist the temptation of escaping
somewhere warm this winter ;-) ]

I am jonesing for a cruise :-p

words to live by

Christmas 2013 - Aboard the World's Largest Cruise Ship

Thursday, December 19th
Travel day

We flew to Montreal, then rushed to catch our connection to our flight headed for Florida. Aboard the plane I watched a Ryan Reynolds action comedy ... "R I P D".

After landing in Fort Lauderdale, we boarded a taxi to our hotel - The Bahia Mar ... close to beach. It was nice to escape Cold Canada and be in a warmer part of the world. We arrived one day ahead of any cruise ... this gives us a 24 hr buffer in case of travel delays en-route.

Despite being located outside of the Tropics, Fort Lauderdale features a tropical rainforest climate, with little seasonal variation in temperature. Average monthly temperatures are always above 66 °F (18.9 °C). This qualifies the city's climate as a tropical climate. ~Wikipedia 

Friday,  December 20th

A day in Fort Lauderdale

Right across from our hotel is a restaurant called "All About Food" - They have a decent selection of healthy food options to choose from, so for breakfast today, I had an omelet and some fruit. Back in Canada, ice and snow storms are making the news ... we are glad that we came came down before the bad weather arrived!

We went for a walk down Seabreeze Boulevard and bought some sunglasses ... the warm Florida sunshine is nice, but we need to be careful about too much sun - nothing like a bad sunburn to ruin a vacation ...

Saturday, December 21st

Embarkation aboard the world's largest cruise ship

Today was the day we would make our way to the dock at Port Everglades.

After getting our SeaPass cards, we boarded our ship - The Oasis of The Seas. This Royal Caribbean behemoth holds over 6000 passengers and over 2000 crew members. It is 5 times larger than the Titanic ... 208 feet wide - wider than the wingspan of a Boeing 747.

Once aboard, we explored some of the neighborhoods  on board ... including The Royal Promenade, Central Park and The Boardwalk. 

The carousel on the Boardwalk (the first Carousel at sea) is handmade. It took 6 weeks to carve the 18 wooden animals on the Carousel, including lions, zebras and giraffes.
Above us on The Boardwalk, we could see people Zip-lining on the ship. On a few of the ships I've been on previously, I've seen a rock climbing wall available for passengers ... this ship has two.

Later that day, we went to The Opus dining room for dinner. We were seated with some lovely folks - Denise and Jeff, and Reno and Sandy who we would get to know over the next week. Our waiter Kevin was helpful with his suggestions concerning appetizers, main courses and desserts. It can be hit and miss with who we might be seated with for cruise dinners ... this time we were fortunate to dine with friendly, intelligent, fun people. The Opus Dining Room has a capacity of 3,056.

After dinner, we went to the Opal Theatre to see "Hairspray". This huge state of the art theatre has a capacity of 1,380.

Sunday, December 22nd
At sea

This morning we headed for breakfast to the Windjammer - one of more than twenty places to eat aboard The Oasis. I enjoy some coffee, fruit and gluten free toast before heading down for some free mimosas at the ship's Aqua Theatre ... a huge, unique diving, swimming, acrobatic theatre where Previous Royal Caribbean passengers have been invited for a little "welcome back" party.

The next things on my to do list include a whirlpool, some music and sunshine on one of the upper decks, where the temperature is in the upper 70's.

For lunch today, I decided to try The Solarium.  Veggies, fruit and crepes make a good mid day meal ... I think I may have found the healthiest place to eat on the ship.

On this cruise we only have three ports of call on the itinerary, and that's ok. There's lots to explore aboard the ship on sea days ... much to see and do.

Keeping in shape on a cruise like this is no problem ... time for a walk through The Promenade and Central Park.  There is an entire deck devoted to sports ... with a court, mini-golf, surfing (FlowRider), rock climbing walls, zip-lining ... not to mention the running track, the gym, the spa and the ice skating rink. I check out the volleyball at the sports court ... not only did I have fun and get some exercise, our team also won medals!

Using the stairs can be a great way to work off some of the wonderful dessert from the night before ...but if you don't have the energy - the Oasis has 24 passenger elevators.

Dinner in The Opus Dining room is formal this evening ... one of two formal nights on this cruise. Most everyone tonight looks extra spiffy!

Monday, December 23rd 
Labadee Haiti

This morning we decided to order room service for our breakfast (mainly fruit, toast  and coffee). We are docked at Royal Caribbean's own little private resort at Haiti ... they have developed this area to be a well groomed, safe and a clean Caribbean paradise. 

Most of the day wasspent on the beach ... enjoying some of the North Atlantic Ocean, the tropical breeze and the Caribbean sunshine.  

They set up a BBQ lunch for us ... I had some Greek salad, rice, a turkey burger and some fruit.

At the center of the ship, the innovative design of Central Park opens to the sky and features lush tropical grounds spanning more than the length of a football field. Just off Central Park is The Park Cafe ... salads, sandwiches, soups, pastries and desserts. 

This Park is the first ever living park at sea, with 12,175 plants, 62 vine plants, 56 trees and bamboo, some over 24 feet (7.3 meters) in length.

Making healthy food choices during the day can be relatively easy. The Windjammer Buffet, The Opus Dining Room, The Park Cafe, The Solarium Bistro Restaurant all have many healthy options to choose from ... but tonight I find myself sleepless and hungry ... it's later in the evening and those restaurants are closed. My options seem to be limited to pizza, burgers and a few other less healthy choices. I could order room service, but Janice is sleeping and I'd like to let her sleep ... so - I will allow myself to sample a slice of pizza from Sorrento's on The Promenade. They had 4 or 5 different kinds to choose from ... I ask for a slice of a combination. The server behind the counter gives me two slices. I remind him that I only wanted one slice (they are huge slices). He takes one 
back.

It can be easy to overeat on the ship ... free - all you can eat pizza (or pretty much anything else). Do you like cupcakes? There's a shop for that ...you can create your own if you like. Shrimp cocktail? Order two or three as appetizers before dinner if you want.
I choose to have some self control ... I will enjoy many things on this voyage, but hope to stay true to myself and the person I want to be.   

Tuesday,  December 24th
Falmouth Jamaica

My morning choices at the dinning room breakfast buffet included figs, melons, peaches, pears, grapes, walnuts, pecans, gluten free toast, gluten free pancakes and coffee.

After meeting our excursion group at the end of the pier, we boarded a bus for a tour of the Jamaican area. Along the way, we stopped for some free coffee and banana bread at Montego Bay. Our group then could went shopping in the downtown area or visited the beach ... we elected to enjoy some beach time at Montego Bay.

Tonight in the dining room was our second formal night ... I chose Lobster for my main course.

After dinner we enjoyed some free Champagne on the Grand Promenade, then made our way to The Opal Theater for "Beetle Mania".

Wednesday, December 25th
Christmas day at sea

After breakfast we saw Santa zip line above the Boardwalk ... then it was off to the Opal Theatre to watch him giving gifts to kids aboard the ship.

Another beautiful sunny warm day in the Caribbean ... So I thought I'd enjoy it on deck 15. The sunshine and  whirlpool were enhanced by summery party music playing in the background.

At the solarium; Cous cous, beets, shrimp,  chick peas, lentils,  fruit, nuts, and seeds made a good lunch.

Aboard most large popular cruise ships, there is often a charity walk to raise money for a worthy cause.  This cruise it was The Make A Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. I joined today's Walk for Wishes and did a few laps around the jogging track on deck 5. To walk once around the outside of the ship took about 8 minutes ... It takes about two and a half times around to equal a mile (One and a half laps equals one kilometer).

After the walk we went to see "Oasis of Dreams" ... a Cirque-esqe performance by world class athletes in the Aqua theater. Just before the show, they displayed the biographies of the performers on the two big screens - these performers were accomplished, experienced divers, gymnasts and acrobats with amazing talents. 

The Aqua Theater diving pool deepest portion is a total of 21 feet in depth(the largest pool at sea), but this theater is much more than a big swimming pool ... the water fountains create amazing dancing water effects and it has sections that transform the pool into a stage ... amazing innovations for cruisers to enjoy some pretty fantastic athletic performances.

For dinner in the Opus dining room ... I chose turkey - it was Christmas, after all.

After dinner we played some Mini golf at The Oasis Dunes on Deck 15.

At a height of 18 decks, a weight of 225 gross tons, and a width of 208 feet, the Oasis is longer than 3 football fields end to end. Standing upright at 1,187 feet tall, the ship is 124 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower ... Over 5 times longer than a Boeing 747 Jetliner.

Thursday, December 26th

Cozumel, Mexico
The excursion we signed up for today is called "Highlights and Shopping" ... there were several tours to choose from at this Mexican port, but this one sounded like the best fit for us ... not too early in the day, not too high energy and a nice way to sample some local tequila.
We started with a visit to The Discover Mexico Park where, after a video presentation highlighting Mexico's rich cultural heritage, we walked through a garden with many scale reproductions of important Mexican buildings. Then we had an opportunity to sample some Mexican food and we were treated to an amazing performance, the likes of which I have never seen anywhere else. 
The Papantla Flyers ... Five men in traditional outfits made their way up a very tall wooden pole that had four long ropes attached at the top of the pole. At the top of the pole was a small wooden square attached by rope where four of the performers sat balanced, as the fifth man made his way to the very top of the pole. The four sitting on the outside began drumming as the fifth man began a dance at the top of the pole. 
I could see that four men drumming were each attached by a rope to the pole, but the man at the top of the very tall pole was dancing freely.

After the first song, the fifth performer sang atop the tall pole, while the other men on the square platform began spinning around the pole counter clockwise ... as they did, their ropes began to unwind and they began to drop down to towards the ground. As they all spun around, the ropes unwound and they all kept spinning until they landed on the ground below. It was a pretty amazing performance...
We boarded the bus again and headed through the Mexican countryside. Our tour guide, Barbara, was very knowledgable and told us much about Mexican history, culture, traditions, her Mayan roots and Mexico's political leaders. Our bus driver Tony, then took us a beach, where we could purchase souvenirs and snacks. Janice sampled some coconut water and tested a hammock... 

After stopping at the beach for a while, we continued on to a distillery that specialized in producing various kinds of tequila. We were welcomed in, given plastic shot glasses and shown the distilling process. Who knew there were so many different types of tequila? We were given samples, as we learned about how they were made and what properties they each had. After the little tour, they gave us time to browse through the isles of different products ... each shelf had it's own open dispensing bottle that was available for additional taste tests. We ended up bringing home a couple of bottles (purely for medicinal uses). 

After returning to the ship, we had a light lunch in Central Park, then it was time for some more volleyball on the sports deck.

After the volleyball, I wasn't feeling at my best, so I spent the rest of the night taking it easy in bed. One of the great things about cruising on a large ship is that you can be as active or inactive as you choose ... and you will still be pampered. This is like a large floating luxury hotel, where the room service is included for free and if you just want to chill in bed, you can. I watched TV (there are more than a dozen channels to choose from, including 3 or 4 movie channels, news, sports, excursions, daily activities on the ship, various different languages for international travellers). 

Friday, December 27th

At sea ... headed back to Port Everglades Florida

We enjoyed another breakfast in the Opus Dining Room ... then Janice went up to the Solarium to find a quiet place to read. I went back to the cabin for more rest ... I was feeling a little weak and had the chills ... since yesterday I have not been myself.
For most of the day, I took it easy in our cabin, but I dragged myself to one thing at noon that I didn't want to miss ... a backstage tour of The Opal Theatre.
This state of the art theatre was incredible, and at this tour we met the lead actors and many of the key people who were responsible for the operation of current production playing - Tony award winning "Hairspray". After a question and answer session, we were brought up on stage, where we could explore the sets, props and backstage of this amazing venue. 

This facility was the best of the best according to the actors and technicians ... better than the playhouses on Broadway and after seeing what was involved behind the scenes, I believed it. This state of the art theatre was one of the best in the world, with some of the newest innovative technologies and some of the most talented people producing top notch productions ... here - at sea.

After the tour I went back to the room ... chills, weakness and no appetite -seems like food borne illness has me out of action for a spell. Luckily, it was at the end of our Oasis adventure and with the help of some rest and a little medication, I would be ok.

Early tomorrow morning, we return to Florida and will disembark ... so tonight we packed our suitcases and prepared for a few final hours of warmth before returning to Canada late tomorrow.
The Oasis Of the Seas is so large and carries so many passengers that it required construction of the largest cruise ship terminal in the world, located in Port Everglades / Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

  

Saturday, December 28th 
Goodbye Oasis of The Seas ... time to disembark

We have been very lucky with weather on this trip ... every day has been warm and sunny ... just perfect ... but all good things must come to an end, and today we head back to cold Canada.

By mid morning we had left the ship behind, collected our bags, gone through customs, rented a car and were off ... (our flight was later in the evening, so this was a nice way to  enjoy just a few final hours in southern Florida). We drove down and stopped in Coconut Grove to have lunch at a trendy sidewalk cafe - Lulu in the Grove. After lunch, we wandered the neighbourhood, browsing the shops. A little later, we drove over and spent some time at Las Olas Boulevard to do some more window shopping.

On the flight home, I watched "Red 6" ... an adventure comedy with Bruce Willis and John Malkovich. Our plane touched down around midnight ... we collected our bags, went through customs, jumped on a taxi and headed home. Despite the snow and the cold, it would be nice to sleep in my own bed again : )

The world's largest cruise ship was pretty cool. 

Europe 2013

Tuesday, July 16

Flying from Montreal

We drove to Montreal from Ottawa and used the Park and Fly near the airport. 
Talk about small world ...  I bumped into a teacher I worked with at my school ... Holly Taylor, who was heading off to Cuba.

On the plane, I noticed that there were a few empty seats around. I asked the flight attendant if we might be able to sit upstairs if there was room. She took a look and next thing you know, we were seated on the upper level of the plane (hello- more leg room).

The six hour time difference between Montreal and Paris can throw you for a loop ... it's a good thing we have taken this into account and scheduled some adjustment time into our travel schedule.

On the overseas flight I watched the movie "Life of Pi" .

Wednesday, July 17

Arriving in Venice, Italy

Our flight arrived this morning, landing at Marco Polo Airport after switching planes in Paris.

We ate breakfast at an outdoor cafe near the hotel, then checked in at home while in Venice - The Hotel Arlecchino. After unpacking, we explored a bit of the neighbourhood around us.

Dinner was pizza at a nearby sidewalk pizzeria.

Venice, Italy (Pop.: 270,000)Venice is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world for its celebrated art and architecture. Once you enter this enchanting city, your options for getting around become walking or boating ... the same as Venetians have done for centuries. The city is Europe's largest urban car-free area and boasts some 400 bridges connecting the 118 small islands on which it is built.

Thursday, July 18

Day two in Venice, Italy

Spent much of the day in bed napping on and off, still trying to adjust to the time change after arriving from our overseas flight yesterday.

Our dinner was Spaghetti ... just a few steps away from the hotel at a very old restaurant nearby. After dinner, Janice and I enjoyed a leisurely walk exploring a little more of the nearby area.

Friday, July 19

Sailing From Venice Aboard Royal Caribbean's The Splendour of The Seas

After a nice breakfast at our hotel, Janice and I walked to the university.
Today was cruise day ... we packed and headed for the port to find our ship. While in line to embark, we met another Canadian couple -David and Karen from Halifax.

In port near us today are other cruise ships ... The Celebrity Silhouette, The MSC Armada and the ship we were on for our last Mediterranean trip three years ago- The Norwegian Jade.

That evening we enjoyed dinner at the "King and I" dining room. This elegant dining room is decorated with art and sculptures with Asian accents.

The Splendour of The Seas
Tonnage 69,130 GT
Length: 264 metres (866 ft) length overall
Beam: 32 metres (105 ft)
Height: 50 metres (160 ft) air draft
Decks: 11
Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Capacity: 2,076 passengers in 902 staterooms
Crew: 720-750 crew
     

Some of the features of this Royal Caribbean ship include: 2 pools - one enclosed in the  solarium (an adults-only retreat) and one with an outdoor movie screen, a spa, fitness center,  4 whirlpools, a rock-climbing wall, a jogging track, an 18-hole miniature golf course, 10 bars, a video game arcade, 8 different places to eat, a theatre, a casino, a huge atrium called The Centrum, shops where passengers can buy jewelry, perfumes, clothes, souvenirs and more.

Saturday, July 20

Port of Call: Dubrovnik Croatia

One of the crew in The Windjammer restaurant aboard the ship helped track down some gluten free toast for my breakfast this morning ... the cruise line does it's best to try to accommodate passengers requests. 

I enjoyed starting the day in a hot tub, and then caught some sun poolside before we arrived in port this morning.

We docked by another cruise ship - The MSC Fantasia.

Our first excursion took us on a tour of this beautiful 14 th century city. The Croatian museum was a wonderful place to see amazing art and relics and centuries old sculptures. Old Dubrovnik is filled with amazing architecture that reflects a rich history.

It was wonderful to see this very old place and all it had to offer.

Later in the evening back aboard the Splendour, I watched "Jack The Giant Killer" before going to sleep.

Sunday, July 21

Port of Call: Corfu, Greece

It's wonderful to explore places in the world you have never seen before and a good way to do this on a cruise is to sign up for the excursions offered in the various ports visited throughout the cruise. Often these tours may require passengers to meet early in the morning, but today we opted to skip organized excursions and sleep in.

After a leisurely breakfast, we took a shuttle to wander around town and just browse the shops. It was nice to be able to take our time and enjoy a relaxed pace to the day.
After exploring a bit of the town we returned to the ship.
Today was a good day to check out the ship's 18 hole mini golf course. We have played aboard other ships and had some time to kill before supper.

We also found Abundance today. She is a cruise consultant aboard The Splendour. We put a deposit down for a future cruise ... looks like we may be boarding the Oasis of the Seas in a few months.

Monday, July 22

Port of Call: Santorini, Greece

Today we went on an excursion that included a visit to a winery on the Greek island of Santorini. After sampling wine and olives, the tour took us to Oia. It is built on the steep slope of the caldera and the houses and restaurants are built in to niches carved in to the caldera on the seaward side. There are narrow passageways and a central square. We bought some art here at a small shop we came upon.

Then it was off to the capital Fira, a vision of dramatic cliffs and pristine whitewashed buildings. To return to our ship, we could take the winding donkey trail down the hill or take the gondola. We chose the scenic views of the gondola. Santorini was truly beautiful.

The Aegean Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, located between the Greek peninsula on the west and Asia Minor on the east.

Tuesday, July 23

Port of Call: Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey 

We ordered room service for breakfast, as we had to get going for a 9:15 am excursion. 

In port today we are docked by other cruise ship - The Louis Olympia and The Celebrity Reflection.

Our tour today took us through the country side of Turkey to visit the House of The Virgin Mary where she may have spent her last days and The Ancient City of Ephesus {c.550 B.C.}.

Before returning to The Splendour, we explored some of the Turkish bazaars. Many of the shops here sell world class rugs, leather and jewelry.

After dinner we walked a few laps around deck 4 and caught a little entertainment in the Theatre before turning in for the night.

Wednesday, July 24

Port of Call: Piraeus (Athens), Greece

It's another early excursion today, so once again room service delivers our breakfast to us  this morning. This is a huge port ... busy and active with a variety of ships.

Our tour today is truly amazing, with incredible sights to be seen... the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Greece including the Acropolis.   Virtual Tour
The Panathenaic Stadium was pretty cool, but the Parthenon was probably the highlight of the day.

Of the 2000 Greek islands, 300 are inhabited. Greece is currently (2013) going through some hard times -with 29% unemployment. Greek shipping prospers to the extent that Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world.

Thursday, July 25

Port of Call: Katakolon, Greece

For today's excursion our guide Oteris is taking us to see Ancient Olympia.
As the bus takes us from the port to Olympia, we see olive trees throughout the countryside. The land here is quite fertile. We passed by a small group of gypsies that wave as we drive by. 

Ancient Olympia was the site of the first Olympics 28 centuries ago. The remnants of the bases of statues are scattered through out the area here.

Our guide Oteris lead us to some pretty amazing sites such as the Temple of Zeus, ,
the Ruins of the Philippeion and the Stadium at Olympia.

Corruption and bribery were problems even in early Olympics, and cheaters who were caught had there names recorded here for infamy.

After seeing Ancient Olympia, our tour headed to the Archaeological Museum nearby, where artifacts and statues from the grounds could be seen. The more valuable statues sit on special pedestals with dampers to help protect them in the event of earthquakes, which are not uncommon in this part of the world.

Later in the evening, back aboard The Splendour of The Seas, Janice and I headed to the theatre to see a 70s Motown show called "Soul satisfaction".

In Greek Mythology, Zeus was Chief of the Olympian gods. Roman Mythology gave us some of the names of our planets such as Venus and Mars. Most of the Greek deities were adopted by the Romans, although in many cases there was a change of name.

Friday, July 26

Cruising at sea back to Venice

Our only full day on the ship cruising ... no port or excursion today!

After a lovely breakfast in the dining room, I spent some relaxing time in one of the whirlpools. Today was an easy paced day and after the last several days of tours and activities, it was nice to slow down a bit.

Late in the morning, I participated in a charity walk to raise money for the Children's Wish foundation. By afternoon it was time for a little nap.

After dinner, Janice and I watch aerialists perform in the Centrum ... then it was back to the room and time to pack. This was truly a memorable, wonderful cruise ... now we were going back to Venice to enjoy a few more days there.

Saturday, July 27

Good by cruise, hello Venice

After another lovely breakfast in the dining room, Janice and I disembarked at 8:30 and checked in again at The Hotel Arlecchino.

Around midday we walked to St. Marks Square (Piazza San Marco). The beauty here rivals that of the Vatican ... so much history, grand architecture and stunning visuals ... too much for only one visit ... we will have to return for a closer look. 

Along the way there, I sampled some real black licorice.

We returned from The Piazza by water bus.

In the evening, we enjoyed a leisurely dinner at outdoor cafe (with complimentary strawberry wine). After dinner, Janice and I walked to a grocery store for some fruit and rice milk.

Venice was founded around 450 B.C. by populations escaping the mainland because of Attila's barbaric invasions ... built on more than 100,000 piles embedded in mud to lay the solid foundations on which the magnificent buildings are constructed. Venice has still survived intact for centuries...
So, built of stone and water, Venice has been called "the most prodigious urbanistic event in the history of a man". 

Some of our Venice Pictures

Sunday, July 28

A visit to Murano

This morning we are off to visit a place world famous for it's glass creations. After breakfast, we took a water taxi to Murano - a series of islands linked by bridges in the Venetian Lagoon, about 1.5 km north of Venice.

We watched a glass blower create a glass horse, then toured the galleries to view the various glass items artisans have created here. There were many amazing sculptures, mirrors, vases and chandeliers. I have to admit, I wasn't so hot to come to Murano originally, but after seeing the artistry here, I am very glad I did. There are many beautiful glass creations to be seen here.

We returned to Venice by water bus and had a little late afternoon rest.
That evening, we enjoyed dinner canal side, then strolled back soaking in the magic of the evening along the way. Venice during the day is a wonder, but as the evening grows and one sees it lit up, it truly transforms into something extra special.

In 1291, all the glassmakers in Venice were forced to move to Murano due to the risk of fires. In the following century, exports began, and the island became famous, initially for glass beads and mirrors. Aventurine glass was invented on the island, and for a while Murano was the main producer of glass in Europe. The island later became known for chandeliers. Although decline set in during the eighteenth century, glassmaking is still the island's main industry.   wikipedia 

Monday, July 29

A closer look at Piazza San Marco

We got an early start today ... breakfast by 8 am and we were off by water bus to see one of the busy's areas in Venice.

The Basilica of San Marco overlooks one of the most beautiful squares in the world, a real marble salon, the city center for centuries. Next to both the Basilica and the Doge's Palace, all the most important religious and civil ceremonies have always been held there and now the Piazza San Marco is considered the city's main symbol and tourist attraction.

Among the amazing sights to be seen today: The Bell Tower (St Mark's Campanile), The Doge's Palace, The Golden Staircase, The Bridge of Sighs and The Marciana Library. The gold and marble, the carvings and architecture - all incredibly amazing. At times I feel overwhelmed by all there is to see here.

We have learned to drink LOTS of water while here in Venice, as most days we are on the move in very hot weather.

After enjoying St. Mark's Square, Janice and I took the water bus back to our hotel.

Every day throughout this vacation we have had wonderful warm sunny weather, but today as we were walking back to the hotel, we got a little rain. It was actually refreshing after a hot day of sight seeing.

Once again, we enjoyed dinner at a nearby sidewalk cafe by the canal ... nice!

Tuesday, July 30

In search of a Venice momento

After breakfast, we checked in for our flight tomorrow, went out to explore more of Venice and searched for some art to take home with us. We browsed the shops and wandered through some neighbourhoods we hadn't seen yet. At one store, we found a painting we could take home, that would remind of us this beautiful trip.

After another lovely canal side supper, Janice and I packed our suitcases in preparation for tomorrows departure.

Wednesday, July 31

Flying home

We have an early flight this morning, so Janice and I were up in the middle of the night to catch the bus for the airport.

The trip back to Canada was trouble free. On the flight, I watched "Oz The Great And Powerful" ... We landed in Montreal, got our luggage and drove back home to Ottawa.
This trip to the Mediterranean has left us with many wonderful memories of some pretty impressive places. Janice and I love travelling and we know it won't be long before we'll be off again, somewhere to see more of the world real soon.

Europe 2013 slideshow