Tombstone, Arizona - September 2010

In September 2010, our son Michael was home from Iraq and temporarily staying in Yuma, learning the ins and outs of sky patrolling blimps. These blimps patrol our borders, and our overseas bases. It was a short, temporary stint before he started a one-year private contractor position in Afghanistan. At the last minute, his location changed to a base near Sierra Vista. We didn't want to miss seeing him. We drove south from Phoenix, through Tuscan, to a part of Arizona we'd never been before, just so we could spend a few precious hours with our son. Michael suggested a visit to Tombstone and we agreed.

Michael and John outside a watering hole

Tombstone is a wild, wild west town that sure looks like it could have been created by Disney.  As soon as we arrived, a stagecoach pulled up and offered us a ride.  We figured we could see the town better by foot and hoofed it instead.

One of several stagecoaches in Tombstone

Horses actually tie-up to rails along the sidewalks

All the sidewalks are wooden

Michael and John in Tombstone

We witnessed a gun fight, visited the courthouse, the cemetery, and a saloon where we enjoyed an adult beverage. There was even time for ice cream and a few souvenir shops. Tombstone is a great place for families and people who would like a trip back in time...to the days of Gunsmoke.

Downtown Tombstone

Tombstone Courthouse

But best of all, we treasured the time with Michael. He's grown into a fine young man who likes adventure even more than his mother and who tans darker than his dad!

New England and Canada Cruise September 2010 Part II

Halifax, Nova Scotia



Life-size artwork in St. John's

Saint John, New Brunswick. Canada. 
     This was my least favorite port. The city has charm and the people were kind. But we picked the Pink Bus Tours and I'll never do that again. It was a hop-on, hop-off style ride with three different runs in three different directions. We did all the runs which included the Reversing Falls http://www.new-brunswick.net/Saint_John/reversingfalls/reversing.html (not a big deal in my mind), a park on the edge of town (where my husband and I hopped off the bus and walked a couple miles around a man-made lake before we hopped back on to continue with our tour) and the downtown St. John's. What irritated the bejeebers out of me was that in between runs, you had to stand in line in the port parking lot. First it misted, then started raining. A bus returned, but even though there were seats, the attendant wouldn't let us board.
      "We need to have room for people wanting to hop back on and return to the port," the lady said. But that didn't make sense. It was before noon and most people were not ready to return to the ship. The bus had only returned half-full.  To make matters worse, when we finally were able to board a bus--one that was supposed to arrive in 3 minutes but instead took 30 minutes--(I'm not sure whether the attendant was misinformed or thought spouting a shorter time period would keep us happy) we were soaking wet. Once we completed that run, we realized, since we are able-bodied, that we could have walked the route faster. Live and learn.

So now that I've gotten my complaint out of the way, this town still had charm. There were these unique, life-size characters planted throughout the city blocks creating perfect-picture moments. There was a fish market, a mime, a cemetery park, sculptures, and clocks and more lobster. Would I go back? Well, only to walk around the town. The rest of the Pink Bus Tour was a bust and I wouldn't do it again.

John and the Mime

Fountain in city park

Before the fog lifted

Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada. As irritated as I was in Saint John's, I was absolutely giddy over Halifax. We started the day with a ship tour to Peggy's Cove. All the magazine pictures, calendar pictures, postcards of this place depict it accurately. The weather in the morning cooperated with fog. By the time we left, the fog lifted and we saw Peggy's Cove warmed in sunshine. This tour did not disappoint. There was a young woman playing the bagpipes near the lighthouse. Colorful boats were tied to the small working docks and the waves crashed angrily against the rocks. Peggy's Cove is a photographer's dream come true.


Lighthouse at Peggy's Cove



Bagpiper at Peggy's Cove

Bagpiper's loot

After the fog lifted

Colorful shop in Peggy's Cove

In the afternoon, we wandered the streets of Halifax by bus for awhile, then disembarked and finished on foot. The town is close enough to the port for people who like to walk (like us) to explore on foot. There are gardens and churches and fountains and trails and The Citadel and more.

Huge Public Gardens in town center

Paths throughout Public Gardens

One of the many fountains in the Public Gardens

Sailboat in Halifax

We were in no hurry to return to the ship, so we explored every nook and cranny we could find.  We discovered a wooden boardwalk and strolled along the ocean front. John pointed out to sea. A sailboat whipped across the water, a white lighthouse with a red top sat in the background. I snapped a couple shots and they quickly became two of my favorites from this trip. (the one at the top of the blog and the one to the right.) The boat and the lighthouse combination just seemed so New England-y to me.

Docked back in New York City, we had several hours before our flight departed JFK. We hired a shuttle to give us a quick glimpse of the city.  It was the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  The first sight we came upon were firemen remembering/honoring that horrifc day.  I was all choked up when I saw them.

NYFD

Thanks for your sacrifice.  We will never forget.

With minimal time in the city, we could only visit Times Square and John Lennon's Memorial in Central Park.

The Empire State Building

Fountain in Central Park



John Lennon's Memorial - Central Park

  

Times Square



Carriage ride in Central Park

The New England/Canada cruise was well worth it in our book. We hope to go again as there is more to see. Besides, I need to enjoy another lobster roll before I die.  For a full album of pictures of this cruise visit:
https://picasaweb.google.com/111690110195132086556/NewEnglandCruiseSeptember2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCKHhpeDJ5_rntAE#

New England and Canada Cruise September 2010 Part I

We love to cruise, but we hadn't been cruising in awhile.  When Princess Cruises offered a great price on a New England/Canada Cruise, we jumped on it.  Itinerary:  New York; Newport, Rhode Island; Bar Harbor, Maine; St. John's, Newfoundland; and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In September 2010, we--along with several friends--boarded the Caribbean Princess in New York City to set sail out of Brooklyn, past the Statue of Liberty, past the sky scrappers, past boat sightseeing tours in the waters near our ship. 

What a sight!  We would have to wait to explore New York until the ship returned in seven days.

                                                                                    

Side streets in Newport, Rhode Island

 Our first stop: Newport, Rhode Island. 

We've never spent much time on the east side of our country, let alone in the upper eastern region and we were looking forward to seeing the New England states.  As we pulled into port, the first thing we noticed were the boats.  Sailboats, yachts, lobster, and crab boats filled the harbour.

With limited time in port, we found the city bus and headed for the Cliff Walk.  For us, this was an easy, leisurely, free, stroll along the ocean in front of mansions and statues and college buildings and second homes to the rich and famous.  We wanted to do more exploring than just the Cliff Walk, so we didn't go into the mansions. 

Cliff Walk

More Cliff Walk

Marble House

Yet many of them, such as the Marble House, are open to the public for a fee. 

Tennis Hall of Fame

We stopped at the Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum http://www.tennisfame.com/museum-grounds on the way back for some clam chowder before meandering side streets back to the dock.  We loitered on the working side of the docks and found wire cages stacked neatly in rows and a place where, if we were staying in the area, could purchase fresh lobster and crab. 

Boston, Massachusetts. 

Port of Boston

There is where you can follow the Freedom Trail http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visitor/visitor.html, visit
The Old North Church, and the cemetery where Paul Revere is buried.  There is Boston Creme Pie (not what we expected, but delicious nonetheless) and then there is Cheers! And we saw them all.  But boy were we tired at the end of the day.  Partially because we decided to walk from the pier.  It was several miles, from the pier, over bridges, past the sky scrappers, into the downtown mall, all before we reached the Boston Common.  Then add the Freedom Trail onto that and you have one long, long walk on a hot, hot afternoon.  The Freedom Trail (at least at the start) is a red brick road.  Most of our time in port was spent following the trail to its end.  We took the ten block deviation to Cheers--but we thought it was worth it.

Boston is filled with history and architecture and charm and shopping and dining.  At the end of the trail, we caught one of the taxi-like water ferries back to the city.  It was a wonderful, put-your-feet-up-and-quit-walking way to end the day.  Go to Boston. Enjoy it. We only had a glimpse of this city and we definitely plan to go back.

Graveyard where Paul Revere is buried

Boston Creme Pie

Old North Church

 

Bar Harbor, Maine. Lobster is what this quaint little community is known for.  And it is delicious.  I tried the lobster roll and it was not what I expected.  It was better.  I would have loved a couple of these and wish the ship would have served them for dinner that evening.

Lobster Roll

 During the morning, we explored Bar Harbor on foot.  There is a peaceful walking trail along the water called Shore Path. Since it is along the water, we could see the ship (we had to be tendered into this port) anchored nearby. We enjoyed late summer flowers and the lovely, large homes, bed and breakfasts, and hotels along the path.

Shore Path

The trail ends up in the downtown area so a person could shop their way back to the boat.  Neither my husband or I are shoppers, but we did a bit of window-looking as we trekked back toward the pier for our afternoon tour.  We decided to see Acadia National Park http://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/index.htm. 

The tours are on school-like buses painted green.  Our driver and guide was an older gentleman with a penchant for educating us on the merits of the park.  There are several ways to see this park.  I enjoyed the tour, the guide was tolerable, but I wish there had been more time to walk some of the trails.  That is the sad part about cruising.  There is not enough time to fully explore the area.  I always tell new cruisers that cruising is like an appetizer plate, a sampling of different ports.  My explanation proved true in this instance.  I would have loved an entree'.  Oh, well, there is always next time.  The park is green and lush and the ocean bangs against the rocks.  If you like the outdoors, I'm sure you'd like to see Acadia National Park.

Inside Arcadia National Park

Arcadia National Park



Arcadia National Park


Please see remainder of New England and Canada Cruise September 2010, in Part II.