We are going on a New Adventure

with only 2 more sleeps, we are really excited to be flying to Venice to explore and then get on our cruise on Holland America Veendam for a 12 night cruise to Dubrovnik, Albania, Greece, Naples, Rome, Florence, Monte Carlo, Toulon France then to 5 exciting days in Barcelona.

Am I packed?  No but April is!  Must go and pack now.

CRUISING.....the Eastern Meditteranean

On April 10th, April saw an ad in one of our local newspapers for a Europe Cruise Sell Off!  It was a small ad and it could be easily missed but this ad had some key words that just drew her eyes to it......Turkey, Italy, Greece ... just the places that were on our bucket list ! and it included air to Rome and home again. And it was going to a lot of places we wanted to go to.  And it was all in one cruise.  Who could pass this one up???  And with the option of extra days in Rome after the cruise.....And we were cruise virgins!!!!

So we booked on April 14th to leave on May 26th....  But I must add here that I had already had a trip planned and booked to Italy with my high school friend - Terry Finch to begin on June 14th.  This cruise would fit perfectly into my plans...

So, we are off on another Quipay Adventure.  I should also say this is our Anniversary cruise....

May 26th, 2012
Patiently waiting for KLM flight to arrive and board.  April wants this holiday to begin....

May 28th, 2012
Nancy and April - our 16th Anniversary cruise
Finally boarded the Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas in Rome. 

July 6th 2012 at the Calgary Stampede Parade

Today we got up early (5 am) so we could get a place to sit to view the parade.  Hurried to get breakfast and drive to the rapid transit station...free parking is available for users of this wonderful train...got to the Heritage station, parked, got on the train an got ito Calgary and found a place to sit.

Guess what??  The chairs were still in the back of the vehicle, not with us!  No seats available to purchase because every one had been bought weeks ago.  What to do....

A wonderful woman, Scouter Liz of the 13th St Cyprians scout troop, who was looking after the bleachers where we inquired about seats offered the three of us chairs.  We took her up on her offer and sat in the perfect spot to see the 100th Anniversary Stampede parade.

CHANIA, Tuesday, June 6th, 2012

Our cruise got turned around and what we were supposed to do at the beginning of our adventure is nnow happening at the end.  We should have visited Crete on May 31 but instead we visited the Port of Call June 6th.

We had booked an excursion to tour the island but we slept in and missed the tour....so we had a leisurely breakfast and took ourselves on our own trip...The city bus was waiting right outside the security gate and for 3 eruos we bought a return trip into Chania then ffound a Hop on Hop off tour and took it instead.

The  views from the top of the mountain are incredible.  Many apologies for no pics but I cannot upload my camera pics to mycomputer...Justax osnefrick that I have not learned yet. Will postmore later.

Rome airport adventure, Sunday May 29th 2012

What an amazing holiday so far!!!  We arrived in Rome and went right to the hotel because we were very tired.  Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn.  Let me tell you about our misadventure to get to the hotel.

On our itinery, we were told to call the Hilton on a courtesy phone in the airport.  Guess what...?  There is no courtesy phone in the airport and any vendor I asked told me their phones were just for show and did not work.  OK.  Let's go and find the courtesy shuttle ourselves.  No where, when coming out of the International part of the Rome airport is there a sign of any sort to tell people where to get the shuttle.  So we asked.  One person sent us up a ramp..imagine two old farts pushing heavy luggage on a cart UP THE RAMP!!!!  We made it to the top but no sign again, for any shuttle.  So we asked again.  This time the young man sent us back down the ramp and across the road (taking our lives in our hands as we tried to cross to the other side on a crosswalk!!).  Asked a taxi driver who did not speak any English and who asked some one else and they asked someone else.  Finally someone told us to keep walking, that we could not miss the shuttle.  By this time we wanted to take the taxi but they would not drive us to the hotel.  The distance was not long enough and they may miss an expensive fare....  So much for that idea.

We kept walking and walking and finally found the sign for the shuttle to the Hilton.  By this time we had been cruising around the airport inside and out for TWO hours.  So, yes, by time we arrived to our room. it was definitely nap time!!!

The Hilton was a pleasant hotel, no frills but certainly clean and well cared for.  I would recommend this hotel.

cruise

a quick note to let everyone know we are in Athens and will catch up soon.....

DON'T WE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO NOW???

Puerto Vallarta was a nice, relaxing and comfortable adventure.  We enjoyed our time there in March but now we are off into the wild blue yonder again.  I have been going over my check list and have everything ready for the house sitter, dog is taken care of, wished Denise a happy birthday when we were passing each other in the Calgary airport (she was on her way to a business meeting and I was on my way back home from a school reunion.), packing almost done.  Think we are almost there.

So, where to this time you may ask.  Long story...... In early January, my girlfriend from Florida and I planned a land trip to Italy taking in Rome, Florence and Venice and a few other places in between.  April was reading the local paper and showed me a great deal on a cruise to the eastern mediterrean and it had 5 of our bucket list.  How could we pass this up???

Long story short, I figured that if I could fit this cruise into the beginning of my land cruising with my friend Terry, then is as a go.  Guess what??  I could be done with a 5 day touring time at the end of the cruise before Terry arrives..  And we are off............

And we are off

and we have landed....in Rome that is.  This time we are going on a cruise (we are cruise virgins!!!!) and rather than gradually get into cruising, we have jumped in with both feet and are on our way to see the eastern Mediterranean.

We got on our KJM flight to Amsterdam on May 27th at 4 pm PDT at YVR, changed planes and here we are on Sunday in Rome Italy!!!  WOW.  The first time I came to Rome, commercial flight was not avaiable.  My Mom, sister and I had to cross the north Atlantic by ship and it took over two weeks.  I love this much better!!!!

Let me warn anyone who is flying into Roma airport.  There is no customer service, no courtey telephones and certainly no manners!!  I asked 5 different people where to get the shuttle bus to our hotel and no one knew except one tourist.  So, get yourself a reservation for a driver and you will be all set...

on the other hand, the HILTON Garden Inn at the airport is a wonderful oasis in a sea of rude....Everyone is so polite and they seem to understand that almost everyone who walks through the door has just arrived from some far off place and everyone is tired and just want a bed and lots of sleep.....which is where we are headed.

Tomorrow, Monday May 28th we go from winging our way bouncing along the clouds to floating on top of the history of the world and we are taking all of you with us.  Pictures will be included in all other blog posts.

 Sicily, here we come!!!!

PUERYTO VALLARTA again

We made it here in one piece but it was touch and go for a while.  April and I did not get out of the house when we had planned so we arrived late at the airport.  This could have meant the loss of our seats due to lateness!!  We managed to get through the ticketing part ok and the person on that desk said we would make it to the flight.

GREAT!!!

But wait.... after we removed our shoes and our luggage went through the xray, my luggage was searched.  It looked like a knife they said...  but it was only my spoon that has been on my travels since I started to travel.  Whew!!!  dodged that bullet.  Next to the customs lineup.  This is so long we are hanging out in the lobby until more people are put through.  How to you say BAAAAA!  Felt like sheep.

Finally got throught there and it was time for the plane to take off but our gate was at the FAR end of the row.  I ran ahead to let them know we were coming and one of the guys got a wheelchair to go and get April.  By then she had caught up with me and we were told to just run for the plane and get into our seats.

The flight down to LAX was from hell!!!!  There was a two year old who screamed constantly all the way.  he did not want to be strapped into his seat, he wanted to run the aisles, and whenever he was told NO! he screamed that awful, high pitched scream that just shatters your being to the core...I hate LAX but this time it was wonderful to see the back of that family.  They went to Cabo and we continued to PV.   YEA!!!

A wonderful friend

Before we left the house, Terry made me my own box lunch.  There was smoked salmon, capers, cheese, a variety of crackers, all wrapped in their own plastic wrap.  When I got into Pearson Airport in Toronto, I was hungry so this was my dinner.  Every morsel was so good and the love packed into each bite was beautiful.  Thank you, my life-long friend.  What a wonderful way to end a fabulous vacation.  Till we meet again, soon!!!!  HUGS and lots of Love, Lee

One last walk on the Beach

One last walk on the beach on the way to the Tampa Airport.  Terry and I walked for a fair bit on the beach, close to the water, examining the sand and shells as we went.  These birds greeted us as we walked, keeping us company, guiding our way.  It was wonderful to watch and to hear them chattering away, bobbing up and down as they did. 

In the background is the bridge to go to Sarasota.

Just a few more steps and I will have to get back into the car and leave this piece of paradise behind.  The sand was so hot that we had to run from the beach to the car and jump in.  Our feet were burning by time we got there.  Of course, we were carrying our sandals and we could have put them on but the challenge of hot-footing it across the burning sand was too great.  We made it but our feet were covered with fine white sand.  Oh well, a quick wipe off and we are good to go..

This picture is looking out over the bay towards the bridge.

And we are off to the airport and our bye-for-now hugs...................

Meanderings of the last week

Now this is a rain barrel.  It is in the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.  I think all rain barrels should be as colourful!!!

What a tranquil place to sit and just let the busy day fall off of you.  This is in one corner of Terry's yard.  I am standing on the patio she built with a simple but pleasing border around it.....

I love the added touch of pebbles in between the stones...  Ahhh, just the place to enjoy...


Temperature:  98 F  Clear


Today we went to a flea market (but did not buy any fleas!!!) and just browsed around the stalls.  It was fun, hot and tiring all at once.  Found some little sun dresses for around the house that I have been looking for.  Cotton, light and cool.


Mostly it was a day of just doing little things and then relaxing before driving into St. Petersburg for dinner and a play - Frankie and Johnnie at the Clare de Lune .  Dinner was sushi.  Dernell, Terry's boyfriend, ordered us a boat of sushi for two and the three of us almost could not finish the last piece of tuna.  Sure was good.  The play hit so many spots of a relationship with lows and the highs and the intense feelings of the two people involved.  And, no one got killed....


Quiet day mostly.  I wonder what will happen tomorrow (my last full day in Clearwater Florida).

ORCHIDS and much more

Isn't this just a beautiful orchid???  Today Terry and I went on a road trip to Sarasota to the beautiful Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.  I cannot believe all the gorgeous orchids I saw today.  Every size and colour imaginable...The gardens were donated to the City of Sarasota by Marie Selby.

"The Gardens currently is home to approximately 20,000 colorful and exotic plants in over 9 acres and seven greenhouses, many of these collected from the field on more than 150 worldwide scientific expeditions to tropical rain forests by Selby Gardens research staff."

What a wonderful way to spend a day, with a great friend in a beautiful setting...  I wonder what will happen tomorrow?

This WAS a hot tub??

Can you believe this was a hot tub in its former life?  Today it is a fish pond and fountain in the middle of Terry & Dernell's back yard.  So cute.....

Not a large yard but just perfect.  Notice the beautiful Dalia standing under the triangular shade sails, a rescue who is quite at home with me.  She is my girl for at least part of the day...

And here she is again...  Such a beauty....

Kiss a Frog

Today Terry and I went shopping for shorts for me.  Not very successful but we did have fun and then went for lunch at Jack Willies - great nachos and the best margaritas !!!!!  I WANT MORE!

We abandoned shopping after lunch (I wonder why?) and went back to Terry's place and she decided that it was time to do something with her poor, bedraggled, sun-faded frogs.  Our afternoon was spent creating new paint jobs for these fun pottery critters.  I will post the finished results later.  They still need a coat of paint and some sealer and then they will be done....

Not much else today - a bit cooler than yesterday.  Relaxing.....

CALADESI ISLAND (Clearwater Florida)

 Slow to rise, had a leisurely breakfast and then my girlfriend, Terry, and I decided it looked like a great day for a walk on the beach.  The sun was shining through filtering clouds.  The temperature was 94 F with a breeze.

Terry drove us to Honeymoon State Park where we took a little walk-on ferry to Caladesi Island State Park.  This is one of the little barrier islands along the west coast.  Undisturbed pine flatwoods such as the one on Caladesi are rare on Florida's barrier islands.  On the eastern shore of the island, red, black and white mangroves, along with buttonwood, comprise the mangrove forest.  These trees provide shoreline protection and nursery habitat for many fish and invertebrates. 

The beach here has been named the number one beach in America twice, a record!  It has nearly four miles of beach of the finest white sand I have ever walked on.  It is on the Great Florida Birding Trail and one is likely to see shorebirds, loggerhead and green sea turtles, egrets and porpoise swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.

Today we saw two adults and a baby porpoise swimming in the shallow waters between Caladesi Island and the mainland, while we were on the ferry.  Cute little porpoise.  Later,  as Terry and I were sitting on the beach, just looking out and chatting away, we saw another porpoise breaching and playing in the waves.

Pic above is of Terry walking along the beach, before she got a sunburn!!!   She is a little pink this evening.  I am dark but not burned...

I wonder what will happen tomorrow!!!!

Where have I been for the last six months????

Well, right now I am in Clearwater Florida visiting a good friend whom I went to high school with and we have remained good friends since.  Now, how many years ago was that??  Too many to mention.

The flight was a long journey but it was fabulous.  I stopped in Calgary for about 7 hours and rented a car and had brunch with my son, Tony.  It was just so wonderful to see him.  He does come home every other weekend but he is there to see the kids and his wife.  Great brunch at a little place along 12th Avenue called Lumiere (I think) - absolutely delicious.

Next leg was to get to Toronto and I stayed the night in Delta Airport Hotel - NOT!!! This is the only hotel in the whole airport row that does not send a regular bus to pick up customers.  We found out after standing at C22 pole for over 30 minutes that we had to phone to get a ride back to the hotel.  Not impressed.  There were 6 people waiting and none of us knew this.  Hmm.....Guess the hotel will not get my vote.

Next stop Tampa Florida and then over to Clearwater, where my girl friend lives.  After getting refreshed, my girlfriend, her boyfriend and I went to a great little place on the water for appies and a drink (2 for 1).  Margaritas!!!!  Ya! Ya!

Today Terry and I went to the Chilhuly Collection and then to the Chilhuly Hot Shop.  Beautiful work and learned at the Hot Shop.  More tomorrow.

In the meantime, I am off to bed - it is 12:30 am here and tomorrow we are off to hike around a little Island not too far from here.  I will have my trusty camera along for the ride and send some pics in the next blog....

April, I miss you

On our way to another ADVENTURE!!!

Mexico, here we come!  Looking forward to the sun and fun and beach and the pool and just relaxing.   I will be taking lots of pictures and not thinking of you!!!

Happy December everyone.  I know I will be enjoying it...

Our furkid is two years old

We took a walk through Green Timbers Park (Surrey BC), saw bunnies, ducks, people.  He was so good, no barking and just kept his nose to the ground, sniffing new smells.  I think GypsyBlu is finally becoming an adult!

What is so interesting??

On a recent walk around Crescent Beach (White Rock) BC I came upon this group of five trying to see through the cracks in the fence.

I wonder what was so interesting???