Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas 2009

Another wonderful Christmas with our family!!! Christmas Eve at Erika and Rogers’ (sorry, no pictures), then dinner on Christmas Day with Meredith and Mike, and then all the kids and Margaret-Ann’s brother at our place for dinner on December 27th. Merry Christmas everyone!

 Christmas 2009 -- Margaret-Ann, Meredith, Michael and John -- at Meredith and Michael's condo.Margaret-Ann and John at Meredith & Mike’s condo on Christmas Day, 2009.

 Christmas 2009 -- Meredith, Michael, Margaret-Ann and John -- at Meredith and Michael's condo.Margaret-Ann and John at Meredith & Mike’s condo on Christmas Day, 2009.

 IMG_1682Meredith & Mike; Margaret-Ann & John; Jennifer, Will (in his new Montreal Canadiens hockey sweater) & Jeremy; and Jimmy (Margaret-Ann’s brother) on December 27th, 2009.

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Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Will Meets Santa 2009

Our grandson Will sits down with his new best friend to discuss getting something other than “a lump of coal” in his stocking on Christmas morning. The meeting seemed to go very well.

Will with Santa 2009 cropped 3

From Will, and all of us, have a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year!

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Will’s Second Birthday

On Sunday, November 15th, 2009, Will celebrated his second birthday (Will’s actual birthday was on November 18th). Will had a great time with the balloons, a robot cake, and just a few presents.

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 Will likes the balloons as much as the presents. It's almost time for the birthday cake! Will blows out the two candles on his robot birthday cake. Will likes the way this robot tastes. Will forgets he's not supposed to eat his fingers as well. Will learns that perhaps too much of a good thing is really not so good after all! At the end of the party, only one small candy cane is all that is left of the robot birthday cake.

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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Mediterranean Cruise 2009

On September 23rd, together with John’s sister Erika and her husband Roger, we started the second leg of our excellent adventure (see the previous post for the German portion of the trip), flying from Stuttgart to Barcelona, via Berlin. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

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Wednesday, September 23rd – Barcelona 25C Sunny

We landed in Barcelona around 11:30 a.m. and took a cab to the port where we boarded Holland America’s MS Oosterdam, a mid-size cruise ship holding 1800 passengers and 900 staff.

Thursday, September 24th – Barcelona 25C Sunny

We left the Oosterdam at 8:00 a.m. to tour Barcelona on the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus. We walked up and down a very crowded La Rambla, Barcelona's 1.2 kilometre-long tree-lined pedestrian mall; it was the beginning of Barcelona’s  La Merce Festival (a program of special activities to observe the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy).

The Oosterdam left port at 4:00 p.m. and cruised 522 km to Monaco overnight.

Barcelona's Mirador de Colom, Christopher Columbus monument, at the south end of La Rambla. One of Barcelona's many buildings designed by the famous architect, Antoni Gaudi. Antoni Gaudi's Segrada Familia church has been under construction for over 100 years in Barcelona. La Rambla is Barcelona's 1.2 kilometre-long tree-lined pedestrian mall. At the south end is the Mirador de Colom, Christopher Columbus monument.A statue near the site of Barcelona's 1992 Olympic Games.

Friday, September 25th – Monaco 34C Sunny

Cruising along the Cote d’Azur, Blue Coast, into the Port of Monaco was pretty spectacular… lots of very large yachts!

After docking, Roger and Erika walked around Monte Carlo and other areas of Monaco, while we took the tour bus to Nice and Eze, France. At Eze we walked up the hill to the old village where the very posh Château de la Chèvre d'Or is located. Half way up the hill we came to the valet parking lot for the Chateau. The only cars parked there were Rolls Royces, Bentleys, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, etc. After retuning to Monaco, we walked up to the Cathedral in Monaco-Ville near the Prince’s Palace.

The Oosterdam left port at 10:00 p.m. and cruised 222 km to Livorno, Italy overnight.

Cruising into Monaco. Cruising into Monaco. The Oceanographic Museum is on the left. Cruising into Monaco. The famed copper roofed Monte Carlo Casino is in the centre. Just a few of the large pleasure craft moored outside the Port of Monaco. Statue in front of the Hotel Negresco, one of the most exclusive deluxe hotels in the world, situated on Nice's famous Promenade des Anglais. Fountain in Nice, France. Pebbled beach at Nice, France. Palais de Justice in Nice, France. Valet parking lot for Eze's very posh Château de la Chèvre d'Or. Margaret-Ann listens to the tour guide talking about the old village of Eze. Margaret-Ann beside the fountain that first brought water to the old hilltop village of Eze. Margaret-Ann at the old hilltop village of Eze, France. Margaret-Ann at the old hilltop village of Eze, France. Driving back from Eze, we see our cruise ship, the Oosterdam, docked at the Port of Monaco. Some very large yachts docked at the Port of Monaco. Monaco's Cathedral. The Palais de Justice in Monaco-Ville. Margaret-Ann, in a park off Monaco's Avenue de la Porte Neuve. John, looking over the Port of Monaco where the Oosterdam is docked.

Saturday, September 26th – Florence 25C Sunny

We took the transfer bus at 7:45 a.m. from Livorno, the port city closest to Florence, and were dropped off in Florence’s Campo Santa Maria about 9:30 a.m.

We walked to Piazza De La Republica and had gelato at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city and Duomo, then had an excellent guided tour of the Galleria Dell’Accademia (Academy of Fine Art) and viewed Michelangelo’s magnificent statue of David. We finished another walking tour of old Firenza and were back on board the Oosterdam in plenty of time for its 8:00 p.m. departure.

We cruised 209 km to Civitavecchia, Italy overnight.

Florence's Santa Maria del Fiore, Il Duomo, is the 4th longest cathedral in the world and holds 20,000 people.Florence's arched gateway from the Piazza della Republica to the Via degli Strozzi. Florence's huge brick palace, Palazzo Strozzi, was finished in 1536. It's now used for special exhibitions.  Erika and Roger listen as the tour guide talks about Florence's Palazzo Strozzi. Entering the Piazza della Republica from the Via degli Strozzi.  Florence's Duomo with the Baptistry of San Giovanni in the left foreground.Incredible detail above the main entrance of Florence's Duomo.The bronze doors of Florence's Baptistry of San Giovanni.A close-up of one of the panels of the bronze doors of Florence's Baptistry of San Giovanni. Bartolomeo Ammanati 's Fountain of Neptune in Florence's Piazza della Signoria and in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The copy of Michelangelo's David in Florence's Piazza della Signoria and in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The statue of Perseus slaying Medusa by Cellini is located in front of the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence's Piazza della Signoria.Florence's Piazza delle Uffizi.Statues of famous Florentines adorn Piazza delle Uffizi.Statues of famous Florentines adorn Piazza delle Uffizi. Florence's oldest bridge across the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio, is lined with jewelery shops.

Sunday, September 27th – Rome 34C Sunny

We took the transfer bus at 8:30 a.m. from Civitavecchia, the port city closest to Rome, and were dropped off in Rome’s Piazza Barberini about 10:00 a.m.

We had excellent guided tours of the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill and the Forum. We later walked to the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, climbed the 163 Spanish Steps and returned to the ship by 6:30 p.m.

The Oosterdam left Civitavecchia at 8:00 p.m. and cruised 546 km to Messina, Sicily overnight.

The Roman Colosseum was begun by Vespasian in 72 A.D. and completed by his son Titus in 80 A.D. Inside the Roman Colosseum. Ruins of the stadium of Domitian's Palace on Rome's Palatine Hill. Ruins of Domitian's Palace on Rome's Palatine Hill. Ruins of Domitian's Palace on Rome's Palatine Hill. A view of the Roman Forum from the Palatine Hill. The Roman Colosseum in the background and the Arch of Constantine in the right foreground. Ruins of the Roman Forum with the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum at top right. A view of the Roman Forum from the Palatine Hill. Margaret-Ann and Roger to the right of the Arch of Titus, at the highest point of the Forum's Via Sacra, with the Colosseum in the distance. The Arch of Titus, at the highest point of the Forum's Via Sacra. Ruins on the Palatine Hill viewed from the Forum. The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, built in 141 A.D., in the Forum. Looking west along the Forum of Rome. The Arch of Septimius Severus, built in 203 A.D., is at the western end of the Forum. Rome's Victor Emmanuel II Monument in the Piazza Venezia is dedicated to the first king of Italy.Interior of Rome's Pantheon.   Interior of Rome's Pantheon. Interior of arched dome of Rome's Pantheon. The 23 foot oculus, opening, is the only source of light. The front portico of Rome's Pantheon, originally built as a temple to all pagan gods. Margaret-Ann and John at the fountain in front of Rome's Pantheon.The statue of Neptune riding a shell-shaped chariot dominates Rome's Trevi Fountain.The statue of Neptune riding a shell-shaped chariot dominates Rome's Trevi Fountain. Margaret-Ann tosses her coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain. Rome's Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti, or Spanish Steps; 137 steps over 12 flights leading up to a French church (Trinità dei Monti).

Monday, September 28th – Messina 15C Cloudy

We took a tour bus to the Silvestri Crater, about two thirds of the way up Sicily’s Mt. Etna volcano. We stopped at a Sicilian jewellery factory on our way back to the Oosterdam.

The Oosterdam left Messina at 8:00 p.m. and headed for Navplion, Greece, 876 km away.

People on the bow of the Oosterdam get a good look at Stromboli, a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily. One of three active volcanoes in Italy. Stromboli, a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, contains one of three active volcanoes in Italy. Cruising into Messina, a port city on Sicily's northeastern coast opposite the Italian mainland. Margaret-Ann at the Silvestri Crater of Sicily's Mt. Etna. John at the Silvestri Crater of Sicily's Mt. Etna. The Silvestri Crater of Sicily's Mt. Etna.Erika and Roger at the Silvestri Crater of Sicily's Mt. Etna.

Tuesday, September 29th – Day At Sea 24C Sunny

Wednesday, September 30th – Navplion 32C Sunny

We tendered to shore from the anchored Oosterdam at 8:00 a.m. and took the tour bus to the Corinth Canal, a 6.3 km canal joining the Ionian and Agean Seas and separating the Peloponnesian peninsula from the rest of the Greek mainland. We then went to ancient Corinth and viewed the ruins; tendering back to the Oosterdam well before the 4:00 p.m. departure for Katakolon, Greece, 415 km away.

The 6.3 km Corinth Canal joins the Ionian and Agean Seas, separating the Peloponnesian peninsula from the rest of the Greek mainland. Erika and Margaret-Ann in front of ruins in ancient Corinth, Greece. Ruins of the Temple of Hera in ancient Corinth, Greece. A walled mountain-top fortress is in the distance. Ruins of the Temple of Hera in ancient Corinth, Greece. Margaret-Ann beside a statue in ancient Corinth, Greece. Margaret-Ann beside a doric column in ancient Corinth, Greece. Ruins of the Temple of Octavia in ancient Corinth, Greece. Egyptian sphinx from ancient Corinth, Greece. Margaret-Ann checking out the shops in Navplion, Greece. The Venetian castle of Bourtzi, completed in 1473, guards the harbor of Navplion, Greece.The Palamadi Fortress looms over the harbour area of Navplion, Greece.

Thursday, October 1st – Katakolon 28C Sunny

We boarded the tour bus at 8:15 a.m. and had a wonderful tour of ancient Olympia, sight of the first Olympic Games in 776 BC. Before returning to the Oosterdam, we did some shopping in Katakolon… Ouzo for the kids.

The Oosterdam left Katakolon at 4:00 p.m. and cruised overnight 287 km to Corfu Town on the Island of Corfu, Greece.

Erika and Roger listen to the tour guide at ancient Olympia, Greece. The embankments of the Stadium of Greece's ancient Olympia could seat 45,000 spectators. Erika, Roger and Margaret-Ann listen to the tour guide at ancient Olympia, Greece. Ruins of ancient Olympia's Krypte Esodos, Stadium Tunnel, leads to the Stadium. Magaret-Ann at ancient Olympia, Greece. Ruin's of the Temple of Zeus at ancient Olympia, Greece. Ruins of ancient Olympia's Palaestra, where athletes trained for wrestling, boxing and jumping. Ruins of the Temple of Hera at ancient Olympia, Greece. Holland America's Oosterdam docked in Katakolon, Greece.Holland America's Oosterdam docked in Katakolon, Greece.

Friday, October 2nd – Corfu Town 23C Cloudy

We left the Oosterdam at 8:30 a.m. Erika and Roger meandered around Corfu Town, while we walked down by the Paleo Frourio, the Ancient Citadel, then continued down and around the Kanoni Peninsula, and back up through the Palea Poli , Old Town, of Corfu Town where we did some more shopping… olive oil for the kids. We ended up walking about 22 km in just under 5 hours, before returning to the Oosterdam.

The Oosterdam left Corfu Town at 4:00 p.m. and cruised overnight 369 km to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

The Paleo Frourio, Ancient Citadel, in Corfu Town, Greece. St. George's Church at the Paleo Frourio, Ancient Citadel, in Corfu Town, Greece. Ruins of a monastery on Corfu's Kanoni Peninsula, Greece. Narrow streets of Corfu Town's Palea Poli, Old Town.Margaret-Ann does some shopping in the narrow streets of Corfu Town's Palea Poli, Old Town.

Saturday, October 3rd – Dubrovnik 20C Cloudy

We Docked at the Gruz Harbour just outside of Dubrovnik at 7:00 a.m., swamping a couple of small boats docked nearby in the very windy and choppy conditions. Later we took a taxi into Dubrovnik, founded in the 7th century in what is now Croatia on the Dalmatian Coast of the Adriatic Sea. Dubrovnik’s Stari Grad, Old Town, faces the sea at the foot of rugged limestone mountains and is notable for its medieval double walls and fortifications. The Old Town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. We walked the full 6,350 feet around the top of the wall encircling the Old Town, before wandering around the pedestrian area of narrow lanes and shops.

The Oosterdam left Dubrovnik at 4:00 p.m. and cruised overnight 559 km to Venice, Italy.

Entering the double walled Pile Gate of Dubrovnik's Stari Grad, Old Town. The Bokar Fortress, part of the wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. From the wall, looking east down the Placa Stradun of the Stari Grad, Old Town, in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Across the harbour from the Bokar Fortress, Dubrovnik's Lovrijenac Fortress dates back to the 16th century. Erika, Roger and Margaret-Ann on top of the 80 foot high wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Margaret-Ann and John on top of the 80 foot high wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The small harbour between the Bokar and Lovrijenac Fortress of Dubrovnik, Croatia. St. Margarita Tower, part of the wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. St. Stijepan Tower, part of the wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. St. Ivan Fortress, part of the wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Erika looks over the Gradska Luka, Old Harbour, and the Ploce Gate of the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Margaret-Ann, Erika and Roger on a windy day atop the wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Margaret-Ann, Roger and Erika walking on the wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. View of the Pile Gate from the wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The 16-sided Onofrio Fountain inside the walled Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The clock tower at the east end of the Placa Stradun inside the walled Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. One of several Stepped Streets, running off the Placa Stradun in the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. St. Blaise Church in the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Onofrio Fountain and Church of St. Saviour in the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Entrance to the University of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Bokar Fortress, part of the wall encircling the Stari Grad, Old Town, of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Margaret-Ann and Erika relax on a limestone wall in Dubrovnik, Croatia.The Dr. Franjo Tudjman Suspension Bridge by the Gruz Harbour of Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Sunday, October 4th – Venice 25C Sunny

By 9:00 a.m. we were cruising up the Giudecca Canal past St. Mark’s Square on our way to dock at the Port of Venice. Venice is situated on 120 islands formed by 177 canals in the lagoon between the mouths of the Po and Piave Rivers, at the northern extremity of the Adriatic Sea.  Because of its historic role as a naval power and a commercial centre, Venice is known as the Queen Of The Adriatic.

After docking, we walked to the Piazzale Roma and boarded a vaporetto, a water bus, and travelled down the full length of the Grand Canal back to the Piazza San Marco, St. Mark’s Square. We decided to walk back to the Oosterdam and in so doing crossed over the Grand Canal via the famed Rialto Bridge.

Following dinner on board the Oosterdam, we returned to St. Mark’s Square and took an evening gondola ride on the Grand Canal, complete with a guitarist and singer… a very romantic ending to our Mediterranean cruise!

We returned to the Oosterdam to pack for our departure the next day and our flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Shortly after sunrise off the stern of the Oosterdam as we approach Venice, Italy.Sunrise on the aft deck behind the pool on the Lido Level of the Oosterdam.Saint Mark's Square, Venice, as the Oosterdam cruises into the Giudecca Canal.Buildings and boats along the Giudecca Canal in Venice, Italy.Large yacht docked in the Giudecca Canal of Venice, Italy.Buildings and boats along the Grand Canal of Venice, Italy. A gondola on the Grand Canal of Venice, Italy. Santa Maria della Salute, the 17th century church on the Grand Canal of Venice, Italy. A gondola on Venice's Grand Canal; Isola Di San Giorgio Maggiore is on the far side. The Torre dell'Orologio in the Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Square, of Venice, Italy. The Basillica di San Marco, St. Mark's Basillica, in Venice, Italy. The Procuratie Vecchie in the Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Square, of Venice, Italy. A gondolier takes a break on one of many small canals in Venice, Italy. Shops line the Ponte Di Rialto, Rialto Bridge, across the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. The Grand Canal viewed from the Ponte Di Rialto, Rialto Bridge, in Venice, Italy.The Gran Teatro La Fenice, opera house, on the left and the Church of San Fantin on the right in Venice, Italy. A gondolier on his gondola on the Grand Canal at night in Venice, Italy. Night view of Venice's Grand Canal from a gondola. Night view of Venice's Grand Canal from a gondola.Night view of the Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Square, in Venice, Italy. 

Monday, October 5th – Frankfurt 24C Light Rain

We flew out of Venice’s Marco Polo Airport at 2:00 p.m., and after a short layover in London’s Heathrow Airport, we arrived in Frankfurt around 8:00 p.m.

We had dinner at the hotel, then off to bed to get a good night’s sleep before flying back home on Tuesday.

Tuesday, October 6th – Toronto 15C Sunny

We left Frankfurt on a 10:45 a.m. flight and, 8 hours later, landed at Toronto’s Pearson Airport just after 1:00 p.m., and we were back home by 2:30 p.m.

 

All and all, a very excellent adventure!!!

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