First email Canada private re-union 31 May 2010

Hi Everyone,
I'm excited to tell you that exactly 30 minutes ago, on Montreal Gare, I was introduced to the new love of my life. Not a ‘who’ but a ‘what’- Via Rail Canada. Canadians know how to do everything in style - except make tea.

My seat is as comfortable as any lounge chair, my legs will never stretch as far as the seat in front of me and I am connected to complementary WI-FI allowing me to keep in touch with you poor people in rainy Sydney and elsewhere in Australia. To top it off, a hunky guy who is extremely easy on the eye, is pushing a trolley laden with snacks and drinks of choice down the aisle.  All complimentary.

As I sip my iced & spiced clamarto juice and gaze out the window on the farmlands, I am pondering on where to start and how to tell you about the wonderful time and experiences we have already enjoyed in this beautiful country since arriving on 13 May. OK, I know many of you will now be thinking briefly I hope so that is what I will try and do. However it is over a 3 hr train ride so I have time to fill! Uh-Oh handsome hunk, who also comes with the delightful inherent Canadian humour, has just handed me a tempting menu to choose my lunch, plus a hot towel so more later. This sure isn't the Spirit of Progress!

Yummie, - Mesclun salad and walnut-crusted goat cheese followed by sauteed shrimps and scallops served in a ginger garlic sauce and jasmine rice with stir fried veggies. All delicious.

Briefly, this visit was originally planned by John and three chaps he worked closely with when Savage Communications represented Canadian Tourism Commission in Australia. All four have now retired so this is a reunion or catch up and surprise surprise, the better-halves were invited!! So in the mix we have Richard & Valerie Pennick from NZ, Derek and Margaret Hood (western Canada) and John and Karen Burchell (east Canada).

John Burchell, John Savage & Richard Pennick

I am using the trip to reconnoiter for Interlude Tours trip to Canada in Sept 2011 and the Savages are also taking the opportunity to re-connect with many friends who live in Canada.
So to continue in brief mode -
After two nights staying with friends, Rod and Silvia Tindall in Whistler (John was best man at their wedding on top of Whistler mountain about 6 years ago), John and I embarked on the 82,305 ton ms. Zuiderham (Holland America Line) along with the Pennicks, the Tindalls and approx 1900 other passengers, many of them loud Aussies and 794 crew!

The Pennicks & Savages with our Captain QM2

Our cabin on QM2

Top deck QM2

Enjoying life!

Spacious cabin with balcony and full bathroom, really good meals and service but most of all fantastic scenery guaranteed an enjoyable and relaxing 7 day cruise from Vancouver to Juneau Alaska return. Cruise highlights- definitely cruising Glacier Bay National Park and the shore excursion -White Pass Summit Scenic Railway from Skagway and finding and savoring the world's best clam chowder in Ketchikan.

Rod, Silvia, Jeanette, Valerie, John & Richard

Glacier Bay

Best Clam Chowder in the world I say!

The Whitepass rail train & QM2

American Bald eagle in Alaska

Next, Savages and Pennicks set off in a hired SUV and took the car ferry to Vancouver Island and then another car ferry to Denman Isle north of Nainamo where we were the guests of Derek and Margaret Hood and treated like royalty for 3 nights. This island is remote, rural and beautiful. It is from here the majority of oysters are grown and exported from Canada.

The weather was not so kind during our stay on Denman Isle however it did not stop us from taking another car ferry to explore Hornby Island or hiking the long pebble beach to picnic on tiny Sandy island on the tip of Denman and accessible only boat or by foot at low tide as we did. John collected a backpack of oysters from the beach. Derek BBQ and shucked them. Nothing quite like a freshly shucked oyster complete with its little pool of delicious sea-juice, a squeeze of lemon and freshly ground pepper! Yummie. They were massive, succulent and free!

Picnic on the beach - Denman Island

In beautiful Vitoria, John and I said goodbye to the Pennicks until we rendezvous again on June 1. We took the scenic float plane flight back to Vancouver for two nights where the temperature was 15 degrees with light rain. During our stay, we enjoyed the energetic Stanley theatre musical production of the Buddy Holly story. Ticked another box and dinedat John’s favourite Italian restaurant Cin Cin with Canadian friends who travelled to Turkeywith us a few years ago. Always top food and service at this restaurant.

Feeding the seals on Fisherman's wharf, Victoria

Oh thank you!

 

Float plane

We flew out of rainy Vancouver to sunny and warm Montreal (26 degrees) just in time to bookinto our hotel in historic Old Montreal, shower and change ready to see Totem the latest production at cc. Totally magnificent. Montreal is the home of CDS.
I quickly realized how little time we had to explore this lovely city which is more French than Paris with wonderful fine dining and elegant boutiques.

                              Cirque Du Soleil, Montreal

John has been here many times, however our guided tour around the various & exciting neighbourhoods gave me a feel for the city, enough to know I want to revisit. Mount Royal where Montreal got its name, is a great parkland in the heart of the city. The Plateau Mont-Royal is the bohemian chic of the city while old world Little Italy is full of many cultures and restaurants. Bagels are big here. Gracious Old Montreal where we stayed has cobblestones rues and carriages mingled with boutique hotels and restaurants. A 'must have' is a freshly smoked meat (marinated for days in secret spices) served on rye bread with fries, pickle peppers and slaw at the legendary Schwartz’s no thrills Deli. Be prepared to line up outside and wait your turn. Turnover is brisk.

Schwartz’s deli

Smoked meat sandwich being prepared.
Caption on chef hat at back say - 'I am single'

Montreal is also where BIXI was conceived. BIXI allows cyclists to borrow and return a bike at one of the 300 stations across the city for a small fee. The concept has been sold to other cities across the world including Melbourne.

Presently the rail track is running beside the mighty Lawrence river. Certainly looks like no shortage of water here however handsome hunk has just told us that this area of Quebec is very dry and fighting fires.
We will be arriving in John's favourite city in the world - Quebec City in the next hour, so I'll sign off now and enjoy the view.

As usual, John is not in his booked seat; those of you who have travelled with him will understand this. He took no time at all to find and settle himself into the extra roomy exit aisle row on the train carriage and ordered his first for the day. The handsome hunk isnow his new best friend.

Au revoir

Jeanette 31.5.2010