Dave’s Live from Veendam 14-day Canada-New England, October 3-17, 2015

[RetiredMustang]

Sunday, October 11, Quebec (Cont.)

 

After taking photos inside, I wandered the grounds a bit to get some outside shots. I noticed that the trees in this section of the province had turned more than in Quebec City:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the way back to the ship, we stopped for about 20 minutes at the Montmorency Falls park, where I was able to get a photo of the falls:

 

 

 

 

Once back aboard, I took the opportunity before we wailed from Quebec to go to the Retreat area of the ship to get a photo of the Café Du Monde restaurant at the end of the cruise terminal:

 

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

Edited October 11, 2015 by RetiredMustang

[Copper10-8]

Great pics Dave! Quebec is always nice; have a great trip!

[RetiredMustang]

Great pics Dave! Quebec is always nice; have a great trip!

 

Great to hear from you! I presume that I should welcome you back ashore for a while.

 

Dave

[Copper10-8]

Great to hear from you! I presume that I should welcome you back ashore for a while.

 

Dave

 

For a while ;) Hope VEDM and her crew is/are showing you a good time!

[Cruising-along]

Again, I'm enjoying your blog and fantastic photos. Thanks again!

You did the same excursions in Quebec City that we did a few years ago. Can't wait to board the Veendam for our Tampa-Montreal cruise next spring!

[Krazy Kruizers]

Wonderful to see the fall foliage in Quebec City.

We enjoyed the time we went out to the falls.

[holacanada]

Saturday, October 10, Quebec (Cont.)

 

Very warm welcome in Quebec City !

Sorry for the rainy day we all had today ! Tomorrow will be a warmer day, as we expect a kind of Indian summer this week !

 

Holacanada

[RetiredMustang]

Sunday, October 11, Quebec (Cont.)

 

We waited in our room while the boat safety drill was going, since we were not expected to attend. Then we went for drinks at the Ocean Bar prior to dinner. We were to have sailed at 4, but a container ship went ahead of us and we were delayed until about 4:45.

 

For dinner, we both had the turkey noddle soup. For entrée, DW had the chicken Marsala, while I had a nice dish of rockfish, which was flaky and tender. We both passed on dessert. Here are the dinner and dessert menus:

 

 

 

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Monday, October 12, at sea

 

Today is our second/last day at sea, as we sail back to Charlottetown. There are lots of activities scheduled today, including a CC meet and greet at 11.

 

Here are today’s On Location pages:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[Krazy Kruizers]

Enjoy your sea day.

[Winters in NZ]

Wow !

 

An absolutely superb review and presentation. Thanks for sharing this.

[cruz chic]

Enjoy your day!

[Cruise_More_Often]

Dave, it's a real kick following along with you on your Veendam adventures. One thing I'm missing from your photos is pumpkins/jack-o'lanterns. Back in 2009 we left NYC on a 10-day round-trip, which would have put us in Quebec City on October 15 and in Charlottetown on October 17. There were pumpkins everywhere. We rented a car and drove to the North Shore on PEI, and most homes we passed had tons of pumpkins as yard decorations. In Quebec City, especially in Lower Town, all the stores had them on their steps or beside their doors. I wonder if your cruise was a bit early for them to be out.

 

 

 

 

Have fun on the rest of your cruise!

[RetiredMustang]

Monday, October 12, at sea (Cont.)

 

We’ve been sailing the St. Lawrence all day. The weather started out overcast and gray, but it has cleared and the sun has come out. The water is very smooth. Earlier today, DW and I saw what we thought were seals, and the Captain and CD reported that we have been sailing past pilot whales and dolphins.

 

We had the CC meet at greet at 11, and we could see some of the marine mammals off the port side of the Crows Nest. Afterwards, DW and I saw several more whales and dolphins.

 

We have had a relaxing day, otherwise. I also took a set of shots of the new wine menu, which I will show in this and the next post. My camera may do OK on landscapes, but I’ve not mastered files of texts in the mostly artificial light on board. These are not great, but are passably readable. And, hey, at least they aren’t blue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Monday, October 12, at sea (Cont.)

 

Second of two posts with the new wine menu:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[Sparkles@sea]

Dave, it's a real kick following along with you on your Veendam adventures. One thing I'm missing from your photos is pumpkins/jack-o'lanterns. Back in 2009 we left NYC on a 10-day round-trip, which would have put us in Quebec City on October 15 and in Charlottetown on October 17. There were pumpkins everywhere. We rented a car and drove to the North Shore on PEI, and most homes we passed had tons of pumpkins as yard decorations. In Quebec City, especially in Lower Town, all the stores had them on their steps or beside their doors. I wonder if your cruise was a bit early for them to be out.

 

 

 

 

Have fun on the rest of your cruise!

 

I was in PEI and Quebec City a few weeks ago and the pumpkins were out even then. I am sure they are everywhere now! Great pictures

[RetiredMustang]

Dave, it's a real kick following along with you on your Veendam adventures. One thing I'm missing from your photos is pumpkins/jack-o'lanterns. Back in 2009 we left NYC on a 10-day round-trip, which would have put us in Quebec City on October 15 and in Charlottetown on October 17. There were pumpkins everywhere. We rented a car and drove to the North Shore on PEI, and most homes we passed had tons of pumpkins as yard decorations. In Quebec City, especially in Lower Town, all the stores had them on their steps or beside their doors. I wonder if your cruise was a bit early for them to be out.

 

...

 

Have fun on the rest of your cruise!

 

We did not see many in Nova Scotia or PEI on the way up from Boston, but there were a fair number out in Quebec, including an exuberant display at City Hall. I just did not capture any photos of them. I will look more closely in the ports on the return trip.

 

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Monday, October 12, at sea (Cont.)

 

We had a pretty quiet afternoon. At one point, we separated to do different things, as we sometimes do, but this time forgot to arrange a meeting place.

 

DW finished what she was doing and went looking for me. I was not in the stateroom, nor was I in our usual haunt, the Ocean Bar. So, she went to another bar and asked if the staff had seen her husband. As she related it later, the conversation went something like this:

 

DW: Have you seen my husband around here lately?

Staff Member: I don’t know - what does he look like?

 

DW: Kind of fat, old, bald white guy.

Staff: Uh, that’s about 90% of them. Anything else?

 

DW: What hair is left is gray, and he wears glasses and hearing aids.

Staff: OK, now we’re down to about 60%.

 

DW: Walks kind of funny, but no cane?

Staff: Ummm ….

 

DW: Takes lots of photos of weird stuff like bar menus.

Staff: Oh, that guy! He’s at a table around the corner having a beer.

 

 

We had a great afternoon, and then dressed for dinner for what CD Jeremy called the first of our two Goller Nights this cruise. Having lived for a few years in England, home of Aston Viller football club, we understood and put on Gala clothing. (OK, cheap rim shot). After Happy Hour at the Ocean Bar, we went into dinner.

 

Today is Canada’s Thanksgiving -- happy holiday, Canada! -- and the dining room had a cake at the entrance in celebration:

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed our starters (chicken soup for DW, shrimp cocktail for me), and we both had the Thanksgiving turkey dinner, and followed with pumpkin pie. Here is the dinner/dessert menu:

 

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[cruz chic]

You're an honorary Canadian now :D. Enjoy the evening.

[PSR]

Monday, October 12, at sea (Cont.)

 

We have had a relaxing day, otherwise. I also took a set of shots of the new wine menu, which I will show in this and the next post. My camera may do OK on landscapes, but I’ve not mastered files of texts in the mostly artificial light on board. These are not great, but are passably readable. And, hey, at least they aren’t blue

 

Dave

 

Thank you so much for the new wine list. They have added some wines we haven't seen on the list before. Looking forward to having them and trying some new ones on the Veendam next month!

 

Penny:)

[hpf]

I'm enjoying your writings and pictures a great deal. The fall one at the Falls of the colors is beautiful. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Helen

[Krazy Kruizers]

Love the story of your DW and a staff member when you got separated.

[RetiredMustang]

Tuesday, October 13, Charlottetown

 

We had a much clearer approach to Charlottetown this morning as there were only some clouds instead of the heavy fog of last week. The pier and waterfront were easier to see:

 

 

 

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[RetiredMustang]

Tuesday, October 13, Charlottetown (Cont.)

 

We enjoyed our PEI Top 10 tour last week, but decided today to walk ashore and explore the town a bit more in depth. It is aabout 60 F/15C and a bit of breeze, but not heavy wind, so we figure a jacket is all we will need. We will take a backpack with umbrellas and ponchos, because you never know, but we hope not to need them.

 

Here are today’s On Location pages:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More later,

Dave

[cruz chic]

Enjoy your day!