How I Spent My Winter Vacation

Saturday, December 22nd

Goodbye cold snowy Ottawa!

Janice and I are headed south to escape the Canadian winter for two weeks : )

We changed planes in Chicago and enjoyed the first class flight to Ft. Lauderdale Florida.

We have enjoyed a few cruises to the Caribbean before, but currently we have a few health issues we are battling, so I am off of all foods with yeast, cheese or sugar,   Janice is going to minimize gluten and dairy ... No bread, no deserts, no pizza ... Challenging - but not impossible : )


Sunday, December 23rd


Our hotel - The Bahia Mar on Seabreeze Boulevard had a nice ocean view.

We walked down the street to find breakfast, then took the hop on hop off trolly to get a few groceries. Across from the hotel was a little delicatessen, so we had a big salad for lunch.

After lunch, we took a shuttle to the port. Boarding our ship was fast and easy, as it was later in the afternoon. We've done most of the other cruise lines- this would be our first Holland America cruise.The largest ship I've been on was The Liberty Of The Seas ... this ship - The Neiew Amsterdam, while not as large, still has many nice features to help passengers enjoy their cruise and feel pampered.

Not long after boarding, everyone did the mandatory muster drill before the ship left port.

We had dinner in The Manhattan Room - one of seven eating establishments aboard ... Jan had chicken, I had steak. One if the impressive features of this newer (2010) ship includes a retractable roof over the Lido pool on the 9th deck. The Amsterdam is well appointed, with many New York Art Deco style design elements throughout. We unpacked our luggage in our cabin on deck 1 ... This was to be our home for the next two weeks.


Monday, December 24th

Little San Salvador Island

Breakfast - tomato, onion, shrimp, omelet; bacon, ham, and sausage at the Lido restaurant ... This relaxed dining area is open most of the day and offers a wide variety of edible choices. Spoke with Reba and her husband at the table near by ... an Atlanta couple.

Our port of call today is Half Moon Cay (Little San Salvador Island) ... Holland Americas private little piece of The Caribbean.


Travel Tip: Aim to arrive the day before your scheduled departure for a cruise ...  this allows for  flight problems or weather complications during travel.

On the island I played beach volleyball. Later in the day there was a BBQ lunch ... Burger and steak for me please : ) After lunch, a dip in the Bahamas salt waters was just what the doctor ordered. Later, we dined with Homer and Claire in the elegant Manhattan Dining  Room. It was nice sharing a table with this friendly older couple from New Hampshire. Prime Rib was my choice for supper tonight.


Tuesday, December 25th

Today is a day at sea. The ship will not be in a port today as we travel on the ocean to our next destination.

We went to see Santa at the theater at 9 am in the Showroom at sea. After, we had breakfast in the Manhattan dining room, where we chatted with a mother and her grandson from Australia sitting nearby. Eggs, bacon, sausage, corned beef hash and hash browns was my morning meal today.

We enjoyed some more Caribbean sun poolside on the Lido Deck in the morning, then enjoyed a walk around deck 3 at noon. For Lunch - baked tomatoes, roasted potato, turkey, pastrami, meat balls and string beans. In the afternoon I played Music Trivia, while Janice found a quiet spot out on deck to read.

Dinner was turkey for Janice, beef for me ... Then it was off to the Showroom At Sea theater for The Captains toast (hello free champagne) and Piano Follies with Leonardo.


Wednesday, December 26th

Jamaica - Ocho Rios

We ate breakfast in the Manhattan dining room and talked with two men at the table near us- Alan and Andy, from Miami.

Our excursion today - Climbing Dunns River Falls ... a nice workout. We'd done this before on a previous cruise - it's a fun way to get wet and burn up a few calories. I was Called Mr Clean by one of the vendors as we were on our way to the bus that was to return us to the ship.

Back aboard the Amsterdam we had Lunch - consomme, salad, turkey, chicken, green beans mashed potatoes. Walking during the cruise is a nice way to get some exercise ... on the beach, using the stairs or around one of the outer decks of the ship.


Travel Tip: Try to stay active while on holidays. Aim for a nice balance of relaxation and activity ... this can help you stay healthy and energetic.

In the afternoon, I phoned to talk with the head of food services for the ship, to ask him about some of the foods I'd seen on board labelled "no sugar added". During dinner later that day, he came over and introduced himself ... the crew of these ships work very hard and do all they can to help passengers have an enjoyable time while on the cruise.


Thursday December 27th

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

The alarm woke us up bright and early, at 6 AM this morning. We were heading to Seven Mile Beach today, and the bus was leaving at 8AM.

This is a busy place, with 6 ships (Some of the largest passenger ships in the world) in port this morning.

• Royal Caribbean's Mariner and Freedom of the Seas
• The Carnival Magic and Conquest
• Celebrity Constellation (the smallest)
• and us The Niew Amsterdam (the second smallest)

It was a nice warm day ... 27 degrees C ... A beautiful day to spend on a Caribbean beach.

Rack of Lamb, asparagus and squash was dinner tonight in The Lido ... Followed by sugar free Black Forest cake and sugar free chocolate ice cream. The ice cream wasn't great, but the cake was very good. I'm not crazy about artificial sweeteners, but for this brief period I will try these Splenda sweetened treats.

Janice and I played some table tennis after dinner.


Friday December 28th

Honduras - Roatan

Today we got to sleep in a bit and start the day at a slower pace. After Breakfast, we met our group for a Hiking and Archeology excursion . It was hot and humid, but well worth the trip.

After lunch the ship departed and despite very strong winds, we walked around outside deck 10 for some sun and exercise.

Travel Tip: Be sun smart! Don't let a bad sunburn ruin your vacation. Use sunscreen, cover up and limit your time in the sum where possible.
Dinner in The Manhattan room this evening was formal. Shrimp cocktail, consomme, Steak and lobster, and sugar free chocolate cake was for supper tonight.


Saturday December 29th

At sea

I have decided to try to eat less red meat. I will try to choose more turkey and less beef during this cruise.

After watching the sun come up at the aft of the ship, I brought some coffee back to our cabin. By 9:30 we had eaten breakfast and were lying in the sun, poolside.

Cruising is nice, but there are compromises ... The cabins can be small, the music poolside may not be to your liking, prices for some services not included can be high and vibration throughout the ship can take some getting used to. That being said, this is like a very nice floating luxury hotel, with nice artwork, pools, entertainment, and more ... I am quite happy to be somewhere warm and sunny where people are serving me, and not to be at home- shoveling snow.

After lunch today Janice and I participated in "On Deck For The Cure" ... A charity fund raising activity to raise funds for Breast Cancer research. Participants pay $15 each, then walk around the ship on deck 3 - 12 times (3 km). A nice way to get some exercise.

The rest of the afternoon for me was spent laying around being completely lazy. Janice visited the library, read out on deck and had her nails done at the spa. One of the great things about cruises is that everything is optional ... You can be as active, or as inactive as you want.

Spring rolls, vegetable soup, lamb, sugar free chocolate cake and ice cream were served to us at the Manhattan dining room tonight... Then Janice and I went for a walk around the ship. Somehow, we ended up at the Lido restaurant indulging in sugar free cherry crumble pie and ice cream... Hmmm - It can be tough at times to be good when on vacation : )


Sunday, December 30th

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

After breakfast, we went shopping at the Sawgrass Mills outlet mall. This is a large shopping center with many stores to choose from.

After lunch, everyone did the mandatory muster drill before the ship left port.

We were in the Crows Nest Bar on deck 11 forward ... watching the wonderful view as we set out to sea. We were forth in a line of six or seven ships. The Celebrity Silhouette (the 18th largest cruise ship in the world) was just ahead of us, and The Allure of the Seas (the worlds largest cruise ship) was behind us. Today was very choppy out at sea ... large waves rocked the ship back and forth.

We were seated with Jay and Meryl from Boca Rotan at dinner this evening.


Monday December 31

Bahamas - Nassau

I have decided to avoid ALL deserts from here on in ... I can do without the Splenda sweetened temptations ... Also - no more French fries for this cowboy.

Water, black coffee, eggs, turkey sausages, potatoes, baked tomatoes, Oatmeal and tomato juice were for breakfast.

Beside us in port today were docked the Costa Mediterrenea, The Disney dream, and the Carnival glory.

Our excursion in a Glass Bottom Boat took us out to a reef, where we could see coral and marine life beneath us in the clear Mediterranean Sea. We browsed through the local markets and shops before returning to the ship.

The customs official at the dock referred to me as "Young Man" as he checked my I D when we were returning to the ship.

After lunch I got a little exercise and sun on deck 10 - the Panorama  Deck... then, the rest of the afternoon Janice and I indulged in some more rest and relaxation.

Dinner this evening was at one of the ships specialty restaurants - The Canaletto. Then, it was off to the Theater for the Captain's toast and some singing and dancing ... A show called "NYC".

This state of the art theater can do many things, with the stage having multiple pop up and drop down sections, a built in turntable and various other features that can enhance any production lucky enough to be staged there.


Tuesday January 1, 2013

At sea

Today was going to be another day of enjoying sunshine at the poolside. At 9:15 AM, the retractable glass roof opened a segment. At 10:30 AM, an ice carving demonstration took place near one end of the pool. At 11AM, a musician played steel drum music on the little stage between the pool and one of the three hot tubs. At 11:30 AM the retractable roof above the Lido Pool opened more.

During lunch at The Lido Restaurant , I discovered something called Papadam at the "Tastes from around the world" section. In Addition to the regular buffet, salad, beverage and desert stations, there is an Italian and Mexican section (hello corn chips and refried beans) and a Flavors of The World section (hello sushi).

Travel Tip: Even though you are on vacation, try to make healthy choices when eating wherever possible ... you deserve to stay healthy and energetic to truly enjoy your travel experience. 

At 4:30 PM Janice and I played Yahtzee. The ship has a Library up on Deck 11 Forward, where you can borrow books and games. The library is attached to The Explorations Cafe and The Crow's Nest Bar.

After dinner we went for a little walk and played some table tennis.This ship is fairly new ... but even with all of it's wonderful features you might find some vibration at certain times and places aboard.

Wednesday January 2

Puerto Rico- San Juan

I had crepes for breakfast ... no filling - just a little butter and powdered cinnamon.

I spent another morning laying around by the pool ... we have been very lucky with the weather on this trip. Every day has been sunny and warm ... not a drop of rain!

Today we are docked docked by The Seaborne Quest ... a smaller ship, but it looks well equipped. Also in port - The Disney Dream ... I can see a water slide near the top of this ship.

Our excursion today takes us to the El Yunque Rain Forest for a hike. There are many beautiful things to see in The Caribbean and rain forests should definitely be on a traveler's to do list.


Thursday, January 3

St. Maarten (Phillipsburg)

My alarm went off at 6:15 this morning ... Up and at 'em : )

For breakfast- water, coffee, tomato juice, a crepe, grits, eggs, turkey sausage and baked tomatoes.

Today we are along side Royal Caribbean's Freedom Of The Seas, The Independence of the Seas and The Celebrity summit.

Today's excursion - a mountain top downhill trek. This was to be one of the most challenging excursions I've been on. Slippery roots, leaves and loose rocks made for a challenging journey down the St Maarten mountain side. The views were terrific from way up there. Our excursion guide nick named me "Bigfoot" after I volunteered to take up the end position in our group. Janice and I wandered around the shops before taking a water taxi back to our ship.

After lunch it was time to rest ... between the downhill trek and walking around the shops, we were pretty tired.

Our next two days had no scheduled excursions ... it would be nice to slow down a bit and take things at a slower pace.


Friday , January 4

At sea

I woke up at 5 am this morning ... a little stiff and sore ... Battered and bruised, but yesterday was still worth it. I had breakfast with the sunrise by the Seaview pool, at the aft of the ship.

Most of the day was spent in the sunshine, near the Lido pool, and in the hot tubs (there are about 8 or 9 on this ship). The hot tubs felt wonderful ... like a warm water massage...

Tonight was another formal night in the dining room ... it was always a very elegant site to see everyone all dressed up for formal dinners.

We enjoyed the company of Len and Lois with us at dinner tonight in The Manhatten Room. After dinner, we stopped in at the theatre and caught a bit of the show (Cantare) ...



Saturday, January 5

Little San Salvador Island

This is our second visit here in this two week trip ... and that's OK. It's a beautiful little island and a great place to enjoy a Caribbean beach. We were anchored at Half Moon Cay along side another Holland America ship - The Zuiderdam ... I enjoyed watching the sunrise over breakfast.

Janice and I had a couple of beach chairs near the "I Wish I Could Stay Here Forever Bar" on the beach. The morning was spent enjoying the sand and surf ... another spectacular sunny Caribbean day. I had a BBQ lunch on the island before we went back to the ship.

Jay and Meryl joined us again for dinner ... it was nice chatting about our travel experiences.

After supper we packed ... all good things must come to an end - nothing lasts forever and it was time to get ready to return to our snowy Canadian home in Ottawa.

Travel Tip: flashy luggage is easier to see at a busy airport luggage carousel


Sunday, January 6

On our way home 

Today in Port Everglades here in Fort Lauderdale Florida, we are docked near the Ruby Princess. After breakfast we disembarked and went to the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood  airport.

We boarded our plane and were ready to fly home ... unfortunately, the plane had a technical problem and all passengers were asked to leave the plane and return to the terminal while they tried to fix the problem..

2 hours later we were finally on our way. We would have to catch a later connecting flight in Chicago.

The Christmas music was still playing at O'hare airport in Chicago, even though  Christmas was two weeks ago.

We were finally on a flight to Ottawa by around 9:20 (Chicago time). The 90 minute flight took us home and we landed at about quarter past midnight  ... It would be nice to sleep in our own beds tonight.

At the Ottawa airport we picked up our luggage, went through customs and went outside to get a taxi... it was cold, snowy and there were many people in line to catch taxis ... I was only in my hoodie, so it was a bit chilly. Next time, I'll have to remember my jacket. Finally, we were at home in bed by 2 AM. (my alarm would be going off in 3 1/2 hours to wake me up to go to work).

It had been a wonderful trip. Two weeks of sunshine, beaches, hot tubs and pampering ... We will carry these memories with us long after this wonderful vacation..

The Summer of 2012

It's September ... the last two weeks I've been adjusting to early mornings and full days - back to work.

I've been coming home exhausted ... currently working at two schools- one in the morning & another in the afternoon ... at home, upstairs was being renovated (new flooring), so - a lot of cleaning, a lot of stuff moved to & from other places ... I was so wiped, I just had enough energy for the basics - forget about anything else other than supper and getting to bed early. I hope my stamina returns soon ... a new season of indoor volleyball starts next week : )

The climate in many Ontario schools right now is a little tense and stressful, with recent Provincial Government shenanigans, union activity and more pressure on educators ... returning to school this fall is a little less joyful. I am doing my best to focus on the positives ... lucky to be working with some wonderful, talented people ~ it's great to be with children again ~ I am grateful to be employed.

Last week I also applied for a position that would take me to full time ... I am climbing that ladder, rung by rung, upward toward my goal ... wish me luck!

The past summer was outstanding ... beach volleyball, a trip out west to Saskatoon & Winnipeg, volunteering at four music festivals, volleyball in the park, bike rides. It's nice to be back at work ... been going through kid withdrawal for the last two months ... and with the chance to go from half days to full time on the horizon, life is good : )

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.