Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Rudi & Barbara’s Trip


Rudi, John’s cousin, and his wife Barbara, from Idar-Oberstein in Germany, had last been to Canada 15 years ago and travelled through southern Alberta, British Columbia and spent a short time in Toronto and Brampton. This time around, John and Margaret-Ann agreed to show them a little more of eastern Canada driving to Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal after spending a day sightseeing in Toronto.
Roll the cursor over the pictures to read the captions. Click on a picture to enlarge it, then click on the back arrow button in the top left to return to the blog. Enjoy the pictures!

Friday, July 1st
John drove to Pearson International Airport and picked up Rudi and Barbara, around 5:00 p.m. The luggage was loaded into the trunk and they headed directly to Georgetown.  Margaret-Ann was already in Georgetown helping prepare for the July 1st Canada Day party at Meredith and Michael’s house. When John arrived with Rudi and Barbara, the party was in full swing in the backyard on the deck. Also at the party were Erika and Roger and Erika’s daughter, Jessica; Michael’s parents, Keith and Eileen, and his sister, Kate, and her boyfriend, Steve; Jeremy and Jennifer with sons Will and Ben; Margaret-Ann’s younger brother, Jimmy; and of course Meredith and Michael’s daughter, Jaye.

Everyone had a great time at the party, and after a delicious buffet dinner John, Margaret-Ann, Rudi and Barbara headed back to Brampton for a good night’s sleep.

Jaye, Michael and Barbara on Meredith and Michael's deck in Georgetown, July 1, 2011Rudi and Roger on Meredith and Michael's deck in Georgetown, July 1, 2011Margaret-Ann, Barbara and Erika on Meredith and Michael's deck in Georgetown, July 1, 2011
Saturday, July 2nd
Early Saturday morning John, Margaret-Ann, Rudi and Barbara drove into Toronto and boarded the Hippo amphibious tour bus. They spent the next 2-3 hours seeing the sites of downtown including a cruise in the waters of Lake Ontario around Ontario Place. After the tour, they walked down to Harbourfront Centre and watched a very inventive busker (see picture below) before going for lunch on the patio of Il Fornello’s at the Queen’s Quay Terminal.

Back in Brampton, Margaret-Ann prepared dinner while John took Rudi and Barbara on a quick tour of old Brampton. Erika and Roger joined the group for dinner and great conversation through the evening.

Barbara on the "Hippo" tour bus cruising by Toronto's Ontario Place park. July 2, 2011Another "Hippo" tour bus sails by us at Toronto's Ontario Place park. July 2, 2011A cormorant on the breakwater at Toronto's Ontario Place park. July 2, 2011One of the buildings at Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. July 2, 2011Rudi, John, Margaret-Ann and Barbara on the "Hippo" tour bus in Toronto. July 2, 2011Toronto's Ontario Place viewed from the "Hippo" tour bus. July 2, 2011Toronto's skyline viewed from Ontario Place park. July 2, 2011One of Toronto's "Hippo" tour buses. July 2, 2011Margaret-Ann, Rudi and Barbara in front of the Toronto "Hippo" tour bus, July 2, 2011A "busker" at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre. July 2, 2011Toronto's CN Tower viewed from Harbourfront Centre. July 2, 2011Barbara, Margaret-Ann and Rudi sample some food at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre. July 2, 2011Margaret-Ann, Rudi and Barbara at Toronto's Harbourfront Centre. July 2, 2011Erika, Rudi, Barbara, Roger and Margaret-Ann in John and Margaret-Ann's Brampton backyard. July 2, 2011Rudi, Erika, John, Barbara and Roger in John and Margaret-Ann's Brampton backyard. July 2, 2011
Sunday, July 3
John, Margaret-Ann, Rudi and Barbara loaded up the car early Sunday and headed out toward Ottawa. They took a leisurely scenic route: stopping in Port Hope for coffee/tea at that Canadian icon – Tim Hortons, driving through Cobourg's marina and the wineries of Prince Edward County before stopping for lunch at the Waring House in Picton. After lunch they continued driving around Prince Edward County: stopping at the Black River Cheese factory and buying some maple cheddar cheese to enjoy later at the hotel in Ottawa. They ended up at Lake On The Mountain before boarding the Glenora ferry to cross the Adolphus Reach of Lake Ontario’s Bay of Quinte into Lennox and Addington County.

Once on dry land again, they continued their drive through Kingston, Gananoque and along the Thousand Islands Parkway to Brockville. From Brockville it was back onto Highway 401 then on to Highway 416 all the way to Ottawa.

Looking from Lake On The Mountain in Prince Edward County across the Adolphus Reach to the ferry dock. July 3, 2011Rudi, Barbara and Margaret-Ann at Lake On The Mountain in Prince Edward County. July 3, 2011The Glenora Ferry at the Prince Edward County dock. July 3, 2011
Monday, July 4th
Early Monday morning, they met Craig, the tour guide, and spent the next three hours learning all sorts of interesting facts about the Parliament Buildings and other major sites in downtown Ottawa. After the tour, they lunched on the patio of the Empire Grill in the Byward Market. After lunch it was a short stroll to the National Gallery of Canada were they spent the rest of the afternoon.

Following a light dinner back at the hotel, the group went on a relaxing boat cruise on the Rideau Canal, from Sapper’s Bridge to Dow’s Lake and back.

Barbara, Rudi and Margaret-Ann beside the Terry Fox statue at Wellington and Metcalfe in Ottawa, across from the Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011Centre Block and the Peace Tower of Ottawa's Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011The Changing Of The Guard ceremony in front of Ottawa's Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011Ottawa's Chateau Laurier, just east of the Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011Soldiers coming from the darkness into the light at Ottawa's War Memorial in Confederation Square. July 4, 2011Ottawa's War Memorial in Confederation Square. July 4, 2011Looking north on Ottawa's Elgin Street toward the Chateau Laurier. July 4, 2011Rudi, Barbara and Margaret-Ann listen to tour guide Craig in The Winter Garden atrium of Ottawa's Bank of Canada Building. July 4, 2011The Winter Garden atrium of Ottawa's Bank of Canada Building. July 4, 2011The Supreme Court of Canada reflected in the glass of Ottawa's Bank of Canada Building. July 4, 2011The east half of Parliament's Centre Block and Peace Tower. July 4, 2011The Library of Parliament - Ottawa. July 4, 2011Ottawa's National Gallery of Canada and the Notre Dame Basilica viewed from behind the Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2001Looking north over the Ottawa River from behind the Parliament Buildings to the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec. July 4, 2011Margaret-Ann and Barbara with one of "The Famous Five" women on Ottawa's Parliament Hill. July 4, 2011John and Rudi with two of "The Famous Five" women on Ottawa's Parliament Hill. July 4, 2011Locks of the Rideau Canal at the Ottawa River, viewed from Sapper's Bridge. The Chateau Laurier is on the right. July 4, 2011John, Barbara, Margaret-Ann and Rudi at the Empire Grill in Ottawa's Byward Market. July 4, 2011Ottawa's National Gallery of Canada. July 4, 2011Barbara walking up the ramp of Ottawa's National Gallery of Canada, July 4, 2011The Peace Tower, Centre Block and Library of Parliament viewed from the National Gallery of Canada. July 4, 2011The flags of Canada's provinces and territories viewed from Ottawa's Rideau Canal. July 4, 2011Barbara, Rudi and Margaret-Ann under Ottawa's Sapper's Bridge on the Rideau Canal. July 4, 2011Ottawa's Rideau Canal looking north from under Sapper's Bridge. July 4, 2011Sailing past Ottawa's Frank Claire Stadium on the Rideau Canal, July 4, 2011
Tuesday, July 5th
Before checking out of the hotel, there was enough time for the group to take a tour of Parliament’s Centre Block and go up to the observation level of the Peace Tower for some spectacular views of Ottawa. On the way out of Ottawa, they drove down Sussex Drive past the Prime Minister’s home and Rideau Hall, one of the official residences of the Governor General (the other official residence in is Quebec City’s Citadelle).

After a five hour drive from Ottawa through Montreal and along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, the group arrived in Quebec City and checked into their hotel, Le Clos Saint Louis, inside the wall. They just had enough time for a quick dinner at Au Petit Coin Breton where the onion soup was delicious but Barbara’s soggy salad left something to be desired. From dinner it was a short walk to a field beneath an overpass of the Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency, the major highway linking Quebec City and the Montmorency Falls in Beauport, to watch Cirque de Soleil's amazing show: Les Chemins Invisibles: le Royaume de Tôle (The Invisible Paths: The Tin Kingdom).

Hall of Honour leading to the Library of Parliament in Centre Block of Ottawa's Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011The Senate in Centre Block of Ottawa's Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011Hall of Honour leading to the Library of Parliament in Centre Block of Ottawa's Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011The rotunda of Centre Block in Ottawa's Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011Barbara, Rudi and Margaret-Ann standing at the entrance to Centre Block of Ottawa's Parliament Buildings. July 4, 2011Rudi, Barbara and Margaret-Ann in front of our hotel, Le Clos Saint-Louis, in Quebec City. July 7, 2011Outdoor stage under Quebec City's Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency for Cirque de Soleil's Les Chemins Invisibles: le Royaume de tôle. July 5, 2011A tightrope walker and "wall acrobats" perform under Quebec City's Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency for Cirque de Soleil's Les Chemins Invisibles: le Royaume de tôle. July 5, 2011
The Emperor and his followers perform under Quebec City's Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency for Cirque de Soleil's Les Chemins Invisibles: le Royaume de tôle. July 5, 2011The Emperor performs under Quebec City's Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency for Cirque de Soleil's Les Chemins Invisibles: le Royaume de tôle. July 5, 2011

Wednesday, July 6th
After breakfast, the group met Mike, the tour guide, and spent the next three hours discovering many interesting buildings and sites in Old Quebec City.

After lunch at Lapin Saute on Le Petite Champlain in Lower Town and riding up to the Dufferin Terasse on the Funiculaire, the group got caught in a major rain storm (the only rain they had during the entire trip). They quickly made their way to the Bar St-Laurent in the Chateau Frontenac Hotel to dry out and replace essential bodily fluids. When the rain had basically stopped, the group walked to the Plains of Abraham and spent the rest of the afternoon in the Discovery Pavilion. For dinner they had wine, cheese, crackers and fruit in John and Margaret-Ann’s cozy hotel room.

Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac. July 6, 2011Rudi, Barbara and Margaret-Ann listen to Mike the tour guide on Quebec City's Dufferin Terrace. July 6, 2011Margaret-Ann, Barbara and Rudi listen to the tour guide talk about the Wolfe-Montcalm Monument, an obelisk in memory of the generals died during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. July 6, 2011Mike, the tour guide, tells Margaret-Ann, Barbara and Rudi about Quebec City's Ursuline Convent. July 6, 2011Barbara, Margaret-Ann and Rudi listen to the tour guide inside the chapel of the Ursuline Convent of Quebec City. July 6, 2011The Price building. Quebec City's oldest skyscraper built in 1930. July 6, 2011Margaret-Ann, Rudi and Barbara listen to the tour guide talk about the original site of Quebec City's Laval University. July 6, 2011Quebec City. July 6, 2011Looking down into Quebec City's Lower Town. July 6, 2011John, Barbara, Margaret-Ann and Rudi with Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac in the background. July 6, 2011John, Barbara, Margaret-Ann and Rudi in Quebec City. July 6, 2011Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac. July 6, 2011Cote de la Montagne leading down into Quebec City's Lower Town. July 6, 2011Quebec City's "breakneck stairs" leading down to Lower Town's le Petite Champlain. July 6, 2011Margaret-Ann, Rudi and Barbara at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in Place Royale of Quebec City. Construction was started in 1687 on site of Champlain's habitation. July 6, 2011Le Petite Champlain, with the Funiculaire in the background, Quebec City's Lower Town. July 6, 2011Rudi, Barbara and Margaret-Ann with the tour guide on le Petite Champlain in Quebec City's Lower Town. July 6, 2011Quebec City's "breakneck stairs" leading down to le Petite Champlain in Lower Town. July 6, 2011Rudi on le Petite Champlain in Quebec City's Lower Town. July 6, 2011Rudi checking the map on le Petite Champlain in Quebec City's Lower Town. July 6, 2011Margaret-Ann and Barbara seek refuge from a thunderstorm in the St. Laurent Bar of Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac. July 6, 2011Rudi and John seek refuge from a thunderstorm in the St. Laurent Bar of Quebec City's Chateau Frontenac. July 6, 2011Barbara, Margaret-Ann and Rudi on Quebec City's Rue Saint Louis. July 6, 2011The provincial Ministry of Finance on Rue Saint Louis in Quebec City. July 6, 2011
Thursday, July 7th
Before leaving there was time to take a few more pictures of Old Quebec City from just outside the dry-moated walls of La Citadelle. Then it was off to the Montmorency Falls (taller than Niagara Falls) in Beauport where the group viewed the Falls from below and from the suspension bridge above. From the Falls the group crossed the bridge over the St. Lawrence River and drove around Ile d’Orleans, picking up some wonderful just-picked strawberries, then headed back through Quebec City and on to Montreal via Drummondville.

After a hectic drive in Montreal during rush hour, the group checked into their hotel in Old Montreal and just had time to freshen up before heading out for a short walk to Gibby’s for a farewell dinner.

The Price building viewed from Quebec City's Citadelle. July 6, 2011Rudi just outside Quebec City's Citadelle. July 7, 2011Old Quebec City and the St. Lawrence River viewed from the Citadelle. July 7, 2011Rudi and John just outside the Citadelle with Old Quebec City and the Chateau Frontenac in the background. July 7, 2011Old Quebec City viewed from the Citadelle. July 7, 2011Looking south down Quebec City's Rue Saint Louis. July 7, 2011Montmorency Falls in Beauport, Quebec. July 7, 2011Rudi, Barbara, Margaret-Ann and John at Montmorency Falls in Beauport, Quebec. July 7, 2011The bridge from Beauport to Ile d'Orleans viewed from the top of the Montmorency Falls. July 7, 2011Rudi, Margaret-Ann and Barbara at Manoir Montmorency at the Montmorency Falls in Beauport, Quebec. July 7, 2011Rudi on the suspension bridge above the Montmorency Falls in Beauport, Quebec. July 7, 2011View from the suspension bridge above the Montmorency Falls in Beauport, Quebec. July 7, 2011Barbara on the suspension bridge above the Montmorency Falls in Beauport, Quebec. July 7, 2011Barbara on the suspension bridge above the Montmorency Falls in Beauport, Quebec. July 7, 2011Horse-drawn caleche in Old Montreal. July 7, 2011Margaret-Ann, Rudi and Barbara at Gibbys restaurant in Old Montreal. July 7, 2011Margaret-Ann, Barbara, Rudi and John at Gibbys restaurant in Old Montreal. July 7, 2001
Friday, July 8th
After breakfast, John and Margaret-Ann drove back to Brampton. Rudi and Barbara stayed in Montreal for the next two days before flying back to Frankfurt on Sunday evening.

Epilogue
After such an excellent trip, it was difficult for John and Margaret-Ann to say goodbye to Rudi and Barbara –– yes relatives, but friends for life. But don’t feel too sorry for them, they will be meeting for another excellent adventure in Paris in six short weeks on August 20th! Stay tuned for more pictures and the full story.
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