WEEK 11

 

04 OCTOBER 2024: QUEBEC CITY

So, the last week of this contract had arrived (I laugh at the crew when they ask me when I leave for home, hubby says my sign off date is 11 October) we will be sailing from Quebec City in Canada to New York City.

 Today has been another perfect sunny day in the city, it was overcast this morning, so I had my doubts, but the sun did come out after 12.

I had to get off early and sit and wait for hubby who could only get off a lot later, so used the time to catch up with some free Wi-Fi in the terminal building. Our first stop was at the chocolate shop where I had the delicious hot chocolate yesterday so wanted hubby to taste it, while I went to get us a cup, I left him sitting on a bench in the old town area, watching the tourists go by.

We decided that we were going to try some Asian food and that was the best decision for the food was excellent, so tasty, we really enjoyed it. He had some seafood noodles soup, and I tried some marinated chicken with ginger and veggies. The Thai chicken soup was also good. Glad we tried something different for a change, got out of our comfort zone.

After yesterday’s walking I did not really feel like going too far today so after lunch we returned to the ship and hubby had his afternoon sleep after getting up very early this morning to see another patient. Sent three people to hospital yesterday so was a very busy day.

At least the rest of the night was quiet and no call outs. The captain informed us that there was another tropical storm coming up towards Nova Scotia and we will be in its path but said was keeping an eye on it and might turn and go out towards the deep ocean but only time will tell.

7 October 2023: Corner Brook Newfoundland Canada

Smooth sailing so far which has been great, and we arrived in Corner Brook with not a breath of air. I decided to get off and try and walk to places I have not been to before. My first stop was a secondhand shop with lots and lots of stuff all over the place think it has been there for many years, when I got there, I met Maggie a Newfoundland dog, a special breed that you get in this part of the world.

She was huge and made a beeline for the door when I got there and had her owner running after her and in the street her poor owner fell over the dog that left her with bruise marks on her face! Told her that the same thing had happened to me before. So, Maggie was then tired up in the shop and had to be happy just lying on the floor watching us, she was not impressed.

On my way into town i passed a guy in a truck selling all sorts of things and poles with a boot at the bottom of the pole and bottle tops and round metal spaces attached to the sides. Stopped and asked what it was and was told they are made here in Newfoundland and are used for dancing. So jy dans met so n stok of paal en hy  maak n geluid/ beat terwyl jy dans,jy kap om so op die vloer neem aan dis vir die wat nie n maat het nie, moes eintlik meer uitgevra het oor die geskiedenis van die stok.

Loved my walk along the river with the tree colors that are looking stunning at the moments, took another video to try and show people what it looks like. Stopped at the hotel to ask if they had any outside area to have a cup of tea and a scone but no luck and did not want to sit inside on such a beautiful morning. In town there were lot of stalls all over the place, so Saturday Street Market was in full swing with a band playing nice music.

I stopped at the church again and today we had someone playing hymns, so it was so special to just sit and listen, took me back to my childhood, made a video so will share it. Then it was time for my walk back to the ship and after a quick bite in the garden café I went to deck 17 to spend some time on a lounger soaking up the sun while drinking my coffee.

Had plans to go back to deck 17 late afternoon but the wind came up and think the storm is going to come rolling in soon. The captain has not said anything again but might inform us later today. We are supposed to be in Sydney tomorrow and then Halifax before we return to New York on Wednesday. Can’t the storms just go away!!In our 11 years of sailing the seas we only got caught in one storm on our way back to New York from Quebec and in this contract, this will be number three!

I have booked my seat on the ships bus to JFK, am so relieved about that for if it rains when we have to get off the ship we will be underroof all the way to the bus area, if you take a taxi you need to cross the street and trying to cross the very busy street with 2 heavy suitcases and no hand for an umbrella!! sal n groot gedoente wees!! Jy sal pap sop nat reen en moet dan nog in die reen staan en jou beurt afwag vir die taxi, so ek betaal eerder die 37$ is in elkgeval ook baie goedkoper as die taxi.So tot more,bye.

8 October 2023: SYDNEY

In Sydney we went for a short walk in very windy and miserable conditions just so that hubby could get some fresh air and get his feet on dryland. We ended up at a little café in the terminal building called Flavor on the water and had the most delicious meal, he had seafood, and I had a beetroot, goat cheese, nuts and scallop salad that was very very good. Had to have a Jamerson’s Irish Whiskey, ons is mos nou in Irish wereld!!!

In the end the rain came down and is poured, so we had to make a run for the ship and those that did not have umbrellas got soaking wet. We left 30 min late due to very strong winds but did eventually get going.

 

9 October 2023: HALIFAX Canada

The sea was rough all night long and had us rocking and rolling again, so the storm did get to us but was not as bad as expected, so I was very thankful for that. Arrived in Halifax and the sun was out, my first stop was the local grocery store only to discover it was not opening today because it was Thanksgiving today and a public holiday.

On my way to the public gardens, I passed lot of tents in a public area with homeless people all over. Don’t know how they survive in the winter, it must be so cold and not good for them, this seems to be happening all over the world. In the public garden you could see that autumn is here for lots of leaves lying around, bare trees and empty flower beds. The only things flowering were the dahlias, and some were beautiful.

I wanted to walk to Sullivans Pond for a crew member told me about very nice pastries that were sold there but would have had to cross a bridge or take the ferry to get there so decided against it, I am always scared if something goes wrong, and I can’t make it back to the ship in time then I will miss the boat! So maybe next time.

Most of the shops were closed all along the waterfront due to the public holiday so felt sorry for the passengers for when all the little shops and restaurant are open you get a hole other feeling of this place. Never thought of all the different things you need to take into consideration when planning a trip. So, this is the end for now, we back at sea and is rough again. Xxx

11 October 2023: NEW YORK

I woke up and we were already docked in Manhattan Terminal, went up for my last breakfast and glad said all my goodbyes last night after supper. Hubby has a very good medical team and they worked and got on very well, think they are going to miss him when he gets off in 5 days’ time.

The trip to JFK went smoothly but we did hit the early morning traffic that is really crazy in this city, people all over the place and coming up from the subways like ants just like in the movies! Once I was on the plane a guy asked me if we could swop seats and thank goodness, I said yes for I landed up against the emergency exit with lots of space so my trip to Atlanta was good.

In Atlanta I did not go through the normal passport control, they used facial recognition before you board the plane, so that was a first for me when leaving the country. I was asked why I entered and left the country so many times in New York. Some weeks they had officials that we had to see and other days the machines I prefer the machines for it is so much quicker wonder what will be next!

Was pleasantly surprised when I asked if I could change to an aisle seat and wraggies eers gese daar is niks beskikbaar nie en toe later vir my geroep en gese daar is nou een beskikbaar.Ek kry toe een reg langs die nood uitgang met baie been spasie en waar hulle jou TV skerm onder jou arm lening inskuif.

Dit het so n groot verskil gemaak met my lang vlug huis toe,was heerlik om so baie van jou eie mense te sien op die vlug en Afrikaans en Xhosa te hoor. Jou mense , net weer besef hoe groot n impak dit het om te behoort aan iets, jou taal, jou land, jou mense, jou grappe, noem maar op seker die bekende!

Was baie bly om my tasse te sien wat ook weer n hele rukkie gevat het om hulle verskyning te maak,een arme passasier het n tas terug gekry wat total verwoes was en n band om hom gehad het om hom toe te hou,dit was n eerste om te sien ,hy se toe dis nie die tas wat hy ingegee het nie maar as jy sien hoe hulle party tasse gooi is dit seker moontlik.

Min het ek geweet my tas kom ook met beserings aan , die band waarmee jy hom optel was afgebreek en met geen identification nie ,dit het ook in die slag gebly besef toe dit moes hierso gebeur het want anders sou my tas nie dit tot hier gemaak het nie , so volgende week is ek terug by die winkel waar ek die duur tasse gekoop het want die groot tas se band het op n vorige keer ook gebreek en hulle het toe net die band vervang.

Ek wil ander tasse he of my geld terug want ys as ek dink wat sou gebeur het as dit aan die begin van my reis gebeur het.Nou is dit weer die body clock in sinc kry met Africa tyd! Ek wawyd wakker en dit is een uur in die middel van die nag! Arme manlief is alweer besig met side stepping hurricanes op sy laaste week na Bermuda hulle moet nou weer 2 dae op see spandeer want kan nie in Bermuda dok nie,se toe vir hom nee , is nou tyd vir huis.

Tot volgende keer mooi loop , die einde!