Less than a Year!

So now it’s November 2024 and we’re finally at a point where there is LESS THAN a year to go. 🙂 Yeah I know…realistically it’s still a long way off. The weather is going to get miserable before it gets better again. Another full growing season (for our garden) will come and go. And who knows what will happen down south with the election looming. Be that as it may, the cruise is on the horizon and we’re not going to let anything dampen the spirits.

It’s a bit embarrassing to admit that we’ve overlooked our own country for so long. Having never been past Ottawa, this will be as new to us as has been all the other parts of the world we’ve travelled. North America may not have the decades of centuries of history that the rest of the world has but there is still much to take in. Plus, going in the fall as we are, the autumn colors are almost worth the trip regardless of anything else.

Our ‘plan’ is to arrive in Quebec a day early, giving us two and a half days to soak it all in before we set sail. We’ll spend one night in a hotel and then one night onboard, as the ship will be staying overnight in Quebec and leaving later the next day. While a day or two in any port rarely allows for a deep dive into the local culture, it’s still a significant improvement given the fact we’ve Never been here. This extra time will give us a chance to explore, enjoy the sights, and create some lasting memories! And there will likely be some food and wine tasting as well (cuz…that’s what we do best!). A thorough investigation really should take place. 😉

With the above in mind, we have now booked our room in Quebec City. Best Western has always been a reliable choice for us and we’ve managed to obtain BW travel cards which go a long way in reducing our hotel costs. (Thank you Aeroplan and Air Miles!) Besides which, given that Lotto Max is still refusing to grant me winner status, a suite at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac isn’t quite within the budget.

Before any cruise, checking out what places others have been to and their experiences is always a must-do. Not that we would necessarily follow in their footsteps but a little knowledge can go a long way in avoiding possible pitfalls. As we are not the rock-climbing, mushroom-foraging, hang-gliding enthusiasts that some folks are (and more power to them!) our own adventures are somewhat more … sedate. Visiting historical monuments, gazing in wonder at architectural creations that seem to have gone the way of the dodo bird, wandering through side streets and market squares…a lot more our style. (The Ripper Walk we did in London…at night…was Great!)

If any of you reading this have tips or insights about the places we’ll be visiting (you can check the map on our home page), we’d love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave your comments and recommendations. 😊 Your experiences could really help us make the most of our journey!