Skagway!

Bridge where we could see bears in the distance

Bear cub

Bear cub

Mama Speedy and cub

Chilkoot Lake

Davidson Glacier

Meg and Dave at Chilkoot Lake

Friday, August 12: Skagway!

We got up early because our excursion was early.  It was drizzling out, so we suited up in our layers and packed up our binoculars and cameras in our backpack.  We were supposed to meet at the Walt Disney Theatre at 7 am.  Fortunately, Goofy’s Galley was open for breakfast so we headed up to get some pastries and some much needed coffee. 

After our breakfast, we headed down to the theatre.  We were given Mickey Mouse stickers and soon we disembarking the ship.  We got on a bus, driven by Susan, and she took us to a different dock so that we could board our high speed catamaran ferry to Haines. Susan told us that bears had been spotted in the area where we were going, so we might be able to see some.  The trip was very pleasant, with a local naturalist pointing out sights and wildlife to us on the way.  We saw a few eagles and some harbor seals.

When we got to Haines a light rain was still coming down, but Dave and I were properly dressed and so did not mind it (and we did not get wet, either!).  We were met by Don and Judy who would be our guides for this trip.  Don was the former Head Ranger of Glacier Bay National Park and Judy literally wrote the book on the plants of Southeast Alaska (she is a published botanist).  We used the bathrooms at the dock, since we were warned that we would only have access to a portapotty once we got to Chilkoot Lake and then we boarded the bus.  Don was narrating and Judy was driving.  Don was fascinating and he know a lot about the area, as did Judy.  He talked about John Muir, the Tlingit native people of the area and the animals.  Don and Judy also told us about the behavior they expected from us if we saw a bear and we all agreed to follow the rules.  (Like if they told us to get back on the bus, we should get back on the bus, not take a few pictures and then get back on the bus!)

We pulled over to a bakery, which Don called a low-calorie bakery, because it was closed.  But Judy knew the owner and it was right on the river near where eagles could be spotted and an eagle’s nest.  We got out and looked at the gorgeous scenery and saw an eagle in a tree.  As we were looking at the eagles and the river, someone spotted a mama bear and two bear cubs in the distance!  I grabbed my binoculars and I was able to see them.  We were all so thrilled that we had gotten to see bears, even in the distance.  Bust our day was about the get better!

We got back in the bus and followed the road by the river upstream.  As we got to the salmon weir that crossed the river, we saw, not 40 feet away from us, the mama bear (nicknamed Speedy) and her cubs fishing in the river.  One of the cubs had a fishing lure stuck in his lip, but Don said that the cub would most likely pull it out on his own and it did not seem to be bothering him or keeping him from eating.  Although Judy was not really supposed to stop there, there was no traffic and she did, allowing us to get great video and photos of the bears.  Seriously, I could have watched them for hours!  We finally moved on when the bear family crossed the road and disappeared into the woods. 

After that magical encounter, we continued up the road until we got to Chilkoot Lake, where there is a park.  The lake is surrounded by the Takshanuk Mountains and you could even see Davidson Glacier, although there were clouds hanging on the higher peaks.

We got out and used the portapotty and then Judy led us on a fascinating nature walk up into the rain forest.  We went through 5 different ecosystems and Judy explained each one, pointing out the flora.  She also pointed out bear scat so that we could avoid stepping in it! 

After the walk, we got back in the bus and headed off to get lunch.  On the way back to Haines we were lucky enough to see *another* mama bear (this one nicknamed BMJ for Big Mama Jamba) and her three cubs on the other side of the river!  They did not get as close as Speedy and her cubs did, but BMJ is about 30 years old and a very wise and cautious bear!  Still, we could see them clearly and loved watching them fish and eat salmon. 

We went back to Haines and had our lunch at a local restaurant.  It was a bag lunch with a chicken caesar wrap, grapes, chips, a cookie and a bottle of water.  It was very good!  (We were supposed to eat in a Tlingit tribal house, but for it was too wet to do that, for some reason). 

After lunch we went back to the dock, said goodbye and thank you to Don and Judy and took the ferry back to Skagway, bubbling with excitement about the bear watching we had done.  Once in Skagway we did some shopping and enjoyed wandering around the little town, which we loved.  It had a charming rustic ambiance to it, and it really felt like Alaska to us.

Then we returned to the ship in time for dinner, although we changed first.  That night was the Taste of Alaska menu.  Dave had the elk and I had the salmon.  We thought the food was good, but we have actually had better salmon when my dad makes it.  Go figure!  We had a good time talking with our tablemates about the excursions that we had been on.  They we all envious of  our good luck with the bear sightings.

Then it was back to the room and out on the balcony for more scenic viewing.  (I was really glad that I had booked a room with a verandah.  We used it a lot!)  Then it was lights out, because we had another early excursion booked for Juneau!

(In hindsight, Dave and I both agree that Skagway and Haines were our favorite towns and that the Alaska Nature and Wildlife Expedition was our favorite excursion!)

Sawyer Glacier

Check out the color of the water!  It's because of glacial minerals.

Mickey Head on prow of the ship, pointing to the glacier.

Thursday, August 11, 2011--Tracy Arm Fjord

We got up around 7:30 and had room service for breakfast.  We had hung the tag out the night before and we got coffee, muffins and fruit to enjoy while watching the scenery. 
After that, we strolled down to the shops.  Dave usually gets me a present during our vacations and he wanted to get me the DCL Chamilia charm for my bracelet.  Well, they had the charm, but they could not use a credit card because we were at sea, so we just charged it to the room and Dave said he would get me something else when we went to one of our ports of call.  (Which he did, in Skagway).

After that, we watched the scenery from our verandah for a while and then headed up to  Beach Blanket Buffet for lunch.  Finding seating was very difficult, but we managed to find a place eventually.  We got the food from the buffet and then I went back in line to grab some food from the BBQ on deck.  The only thing ready was the salmon (which was what we wanted) so I loaded up the plate and went back to where Dave was seated.  (It’s usually easier for me to get stuff).  We had a great lunch, and then, because we were really hungry and the food was good, we went back through the line and got some more.  Dave particularly enjoyed the venison sausage!

The day was a bit foggy and drizzly, but we did not mind that.  It was also cold, but we had prepared for that was well, wearing layers of clothing to keep us warm.  Even though we had a verandah, I wanted to get to the top of the ship for full on views of the glacier, so we braved the elements with many other hardy souls and I snapped pictures almost constantly.  The water was a beautiful green color and we were told that it was from the minerals in the glacier.  There were also harbor seals swimming around and hauled out and the pack ice near the glacier. (They were too fast for me to get a picture of, unfortunately).

We watched the glacier (we even got to see it calving!) and the spectacular scenery until we we too cold, so we relinquished our spot on the rail and went back to our stateroom to warm up and view the scenery from our stateroom.  I had gotten windburned out on deck, so I stopped in the shop to purchase some aloe with lidocaine and that immediately made me feel better. 

We decided to skip our dining seating that night and just go up to the Beach Blanket Buffet a little later.  For one thing, Dave was not that hungry after the double lunch he had eaten and secondly, we just did not feel “presentable” enough.  We went up to deck 9 and the Beach Blanket Buffet again and both had turkey dinners.  Then back to the room for more scenery as we sailed out of Tracy Arm and headed north toward Skagway.

Wednesday, August 10: Day at Sea

The scenery from the bow of the ship.

Trust me, all those little splashes are Pacific white-sided dolphins.

I woke a few times during the night, but managed to get right back to sleep.  I got up at about 6:45 and took my meds, then went out on the balcony.  While I was using my binoculars, glassing an area near a small island, I saw a spout and then the flukes of a whale tail as he dove.  He spouted and dove again and then was gone.  Just a little bit later, I saw a seal pop his head up out of the water.  The day was off to a promising start. 

We went up to deck 9 for breakfast at Beach Blanket Buffet and had a delicious but light breakfast.  They had everything from fresh fruit to hot and cold cereals, eggs, breakfast meat, bagels and more. 

I headed off to find the laundry.  It’s not exciting, but it had to be done.  There are three self serve laundries on the ship.  I went to the sixth floor laundry first, but all the machines were in use.  So I headed to the 7th floor, and found two empty washers.  I figured out how to use all the machines (it was harder than you might imagine!) and did two loads of laundry.  Then it was time for showers and getting ready for brunch at Palo.

We went up to brunch and enjoyed it thoroughly!  Palo is the adult only restaurant located in the aft of the ship.  It has huge floor to ceiling windows so we could watch as we sailed the Inside Passage.  The brunch was amazing.  There was a huge selection of cold appetizers such at cheeses, seafood and salads, plus you could order hot foods like pizzas, breakfast specialties, tilapia, chicken parmesan, and veal.  Then there were desserts like tiramisu and chocolate panna cotta.  We had a server named Mariana from Argentina and she was wonderful.

After brunch, we walked out to see a large pod of Pacific white sided dolphins playing alongside the ship.  Dave estimated that there must have been 150 of them riding the waves.  I saw a mother and baby swimming right next to each other.  We watched them for a while, explored the ship for a little bit and then headed back to the balcony where we enjoyed the beautiful scenery.  Honesty forces me to admit that the scenery looks a lot like the Porcupine Islands up in Bar Harbor.  By that time, Dave was getting sleepy, so he laid down for a nap and I went to the gift shop!  I got a long sleeve tee shirt that I wanted and spotted a charm for my bracelet that Dave is going to get for me.  As I was walking along the port side, a pod of orcas was spotted.  They were too far away to get a good picture of, but at least I can say that I saw them!  I hope to get a closer look at orcas in the next few days.  Then I went back to the room and sat on the balcony for a while.

At about 3:30, Dave got up and we got ready to go to another meet and greet, this time with some Passporters who were on the cruise.  We met Holly and Michelle at the Outlook Cafe and they were both delightful.  While talking, we saw another whale surface, spout and dive showing his/her flukes.  Holly spotted it first.

By that time, it was time to get ready for dinner, so we got dressed and headed down. Tonight was “formal night” but Dave did not was to lug a jacket across country for one meal (and I don’t blame him) so he wore a nice button down shirt and chinos and I wore a nice (but by no means fancy) dress.  At dinner people were wearing everything from gowns and tuxes to what we were wearing, so we never felt underdressed or uncomfortable.  Two of our tablemates did not go to dinner, as they felt uncomfortable with formal night, so it was only 4 of us at our table.  Dave had prosciutto ham and melon, broccoli and cheese soup and then a smoked duck breast salad and I had carmelized scallops and then steak and baked potato.  For dessert, I had the vanilla bean creme brulee and Dave had the raspberry cheesecake.  We both really enjoyed our meals. 

There was a show after dinner, but we did not really come to Alaska for the shows, we came for the scenery.  So we headed back to our room and sat on the balcony again.  When it got too cold, we went inside and watched from the couch until it was too dark to really see anything.  Then we got ready and went to bed.  It had been a wonderful first day!

PS: Dave and I are really enjoying cruising!  We will definitely be cruising again in the future!

Day 1--Disney Wonder Embarkation

August 9, 2011

Sunset from our verandah on the Disney Wonder

I got up early and headed out for my usual routine of going to get a cup of coffee and a scone while using the internet at Blenz.  This would be the last time that I would be able to get online for a while, since I did not want to pay the exorbitant fees to connect while at sea.

After that, I headed back to the room and Dave and I packed everything up.  We both packed a day bag with our pajamas, a change of shirt and our medications.  I packed all the dirty laundry in one bag and the clean laundry in another bag.  We killed some time looking at information about the ship and then headed down to the port.  We had to go through customs at the port and then checking in for the cruise.  Check in was fairly easy, and we waited around for our boarding number to be called.  The people watching was very entertaining.

Finally, our boarding number (11) was called and we were walking on to the ship!  Disney welcomes each family on by name (The Disney Wonder welcomes The Jones Family!) but you can ask to be introduced by any name. I asked that we be introduced as “Belle and the Beast!”  We got a round of applause and some laughter.

Once onboard, it was 12:30 and we were able to try to get reservations for Palo, the adults only restaurant on the ship.  We really wanted to try to score a brunch reservation, but Palo only has a limited number of spots since they only serve brunch on sea days. 

The line was very long and we waited without moving for quite some time.  It turns out that we later found out that the computers were down and that is why the line was immobile. 

While in line, I saw Belle come out in her yellow dress.  Dave, who was waiting right in back of her, motioned to me that I should wave to Belle.  It took a while, but she finally looked my way.  I waved and signed “I love you” to her.  She gave me a hug smile and put her hands over her heart.  Later, when she had finished greeting the kids, she walked over to ME and said, “I had to come give you a hug!”  So we hugged and then I told her she was my favorite princess because she liked to read.  She got excited and said “Do you like to read too?” and then we had a lovely conversation about books and reading and teaching.

Right after my conversation with Belle, the line started moving and I was able to secure one of the last brunch openings for our first sea day!  I was very excited and walked over to tell Dave.  I pretended that there wasn’t any availability left and he believed me for a few minutes until I started jumping up and down and told him that we had gotten brunch for the next day.

After that, we got a light lunch, since we were going to be eating relatively early at 5:45 and it was already almost 2.  As we were finishing lunch, an announcement told us that the staterooms were ready, so we went down and checked out our stateroom and met Aristo, our cabin steward.  Our bags had not yet arrived, so we headed off the the DisBoards meet.  I had “met” lots of them while online planning this trip, so it was nice to put names to faces and we had a very nice conversation.  Then we went to the mandatory lifeboat drill and got instructions on what to do in case of an emergency.

We headed back to our cabin and sat on our balcony as we slowly pulled out of Vancouver and headed out to sea.  I changed for dinner and then we went down to Triton’s, the first restaurant on our rotation.  We met our tablemates, and all of them had Maine or Massachusetts connections and we were all DVC members, so we had lots to talk about.  Dave tried the escargot and said it wasn’t bad, while I had the shrimp cocktail.  Then Dave had an avocado citrus salad while I had the French onion soup and for our entrees I had the lobster macaroni and cheese and Dave had the sea bass, which he pronounced “excellent.”  I had a taste and it was very good.  For dessert, Dave had the chocolate mousse and I had a combo of the mousse and creme brulee.  The chocolate mouse was “grown-up” chocolate...rich, dark and slightly bitter.  It was gooooooood.

After dinner, we skipped the show and went to our verandah and watched the coast go by and the sun go down.  I also unpacked our bag of “clean clothes.”    At around 9:30, we came in, got ready for bed and we rocked to sleep by the gentle motion of the ship.

Day 5--Vancouver Aquarium

Beluga whale at the Vancouver Aquarium

Pacific white sided dolphins at the Vancouver Aquarium

Bald eagle at the Vancouver Aquarium

Day 5: Vancouver Aquarium

We decided that going to the aquarium would be an excellent transition to the “sea” portion of our vacation, which starts August 9.  I got up and got ready, then took my computer over to Blenz to use the internet while I had breakfast.  I had a blueberry scone and a cup of coffee and enjoyed feeling like J.K. Rowling, writing in a coffee shop.  (If only I had her talent!)

When I returned to the room, Dave was waking up and we got ready to go out for the day to the aquarium.  We took a cab over to Stanley Park (where the aquarium is housed) and then, after a little wait, we got our tickets and headed inside to see the exhibits. 

We started by looking at the sea otters, which were bigger than I had pictured them from seeing them on television.  They were just as adorable, though, and seemed to be having a good time grooming themselves and floating in the water.  They were moving too fast to get good pictures of though, even with my camera on sports setting.

Then we went to see the beluga whales!  These were very small whales and so cute!  There was even a relative youngster, only three years old, who was born at the aquarium.  She was in the exhibit with her mother and her grandmother.  We walked over to see the Pacific white-sided dolphin training session and then back to see the beluga whale show.  Then we decided to have lunch.  I had a hot dog and fries and Dave had a Thai chicken salad.  He said it was very good. 

We then tried to see the dolphin show but it was too crowded.  We watched part of it from the underground viewing area.  We got in line for the Birds of Prey show and stuck around for the next dolphin show.  All the shows were quite good, but only about 15 minutes long.  That seemed to be the standard training time. 

After that, we walked through the Amazon rainforest exhibit.  By this time, it was getting quite crowded.  Dave even made a joke that it was an aquarium AND a zoo!  It was so crowded that I could not even enjoy shopping in the gift store (now *that* is crowded!). 

We left the aquarium and got a bottle of water, then walked to the information booth to find out where to catch the bus.  Wouldn’t you know it, we had to walk back to where we had just come from!  However, on our way back, we stopped and looked at the rose gardens and enjoyed walking through the park on our last day in Vancouver.  We caught the bus back to Burrard Street and then walked to our hotel from there.

We had a light snack in our room, and then I set about charging all the electronics and getting everything ready for our transition to the Disney Wonder cruise ship!  We would be heading down to Canada Place to embark the ship in the morning.

Meg and Dave at the Vancouver Lookout

View from the downtown harbor area

Day 4--Vancouver Lookout

Today, we decided to sleep in a little bit, since we were pretty tired from our two previous days.  After we both got up, we walked over to Blenz Coffee to get breakfast and use the WiFi internet access there.  I got online, updated the blog, checked Facebook and email and looked up the weather for our upcoming cruise.  I also checked my credit card and bank accounts.

We walked back over to the hotel and put the computer back in the room and then we walked downtown to the Vancouver Lookout.  The Lookout is 450 feet high and circular, so it gives you a 360 degree view of Vancouver.  (It’s very much like the Prudential Center in Boston, if you’ve ever been up in that). 

The views were just spectacular and we spent almost 2 hours up in the Lookout.  After that, we descended and walked to The Elephant and Castle Pub, one of the places that I had really wanted to eat while in Vancouver.  We had an excellent meal of authentic British pub grub (fish and chips for me and steak and kidney pie for Dave) and then headed back out to walk off our lunch.

We strolled down to the harbor to see the Olympic cauldron and a statue called Digital Orca.  We also were able to walk up onto the Living Roof of the convention center.  It is a roof with grass, strawberries and native plants growing on it.  It acts as an insulator in the winter and reduces the need for cooling in the summer.  They even have a full-time bee-keeper there!

Then we walked back to the hotel, stopping in several little shops.  We also went to the drug store to get some more water and some snacks.  On our way, we passed a female contortionist busking in the street, so we stopped to look at her act which was very cool.

Then we walked back to the hotel and relaxed a bit, looking over the photos from the day.  I took a shower and wrote up this entry, while Dave went to sleep.  We are up early tomorrow for our last full day in Vancouver.  We are heading to the Aquarium to see Beluga whales!

PS: Notice the amount of walking!  Vancouver is a very walkable city and we are doing a lot of it!

Day 3--Blue Loop

Meg at the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Gardens

Day 3--Blue Trolley Loop

Again we got up and dressed and headed out, walking down to Canada Place and getting some breakfast.  We got a big breakfast today.  Dave got a ham and cheese omelet and I got scrambled eggs and bacon.  Then we walked out, and with perfect timing, caught the trolley for the Blue Loop.  The red loop takes you around the western part of the city.  The blue loop took us out to the eastern part of the city.  The two stops that we wanted to do on this were the Granville Island Market and the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden.  We rode past Granville Island and got off at the Chinese Garden, which, as you might expect is in Chinatown (the second largest Chinatown in North America...the first is in San Francisco). 

The Dr. Sun-Yat Sen garden is the first of it’s kind built outside of China, and it is beautiful.  Peaceful, tranquil and tucked in amongst bustling Chinatown with the very modern city of Vancouver as it’s backdrop.  We spent about an hour there, looking at the enormous koi in the pond, wandering the paths and taking lots of pictures. 

When we had entered the garden, we were told about a festival taking place in Chinatown that day, so we checked that out for a bit, and got to see some dragon dancers.  Then we got back on the trolley and rode around to the Granville Island Public Market. 

After the tranquility of the garden, this place was a sensory overload!  It was bustling with people and full of fantastic looking fruits, veggies, fish,  meats, cheeses and baked goods.  Dave mentioned that it was what the Portland Public Market aspired to be.  After being overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, we decided to get a bit of a picnic lunch, so we got some fruit, bread. baked goods and water and grabbed a table.  Our pick up meal was delicious and the cherries that I got were some of the best that I had ever tasted.  For dessert, Dave had a blueberry tart and I had a mini Black forest cake.  I wish I could have bought another one to bring back to the hotel with me...it was that good.  Granville Island is also has lots of little shops, so while we there there, I bought a new hat, which I really needed.  I had not expected Vancouver to be so sunny, but it was!

As we were walking out of the market, we heard bagpipes, so we went and watched the bagpiper for a bit and then caught the trolley.  We got off at Gastown to see the stream clock and look in the trinket shops and then we walked to Canada Place where we caught the red trolley back to our hotel! 

Dave was done by then, but I was getting hungry, so I walked across the street to Subway (I know, but I wanted something quick, simple and cheap...it’s better than McDonald’s, right?) and I brought that back to the room.  Then I took a shower and it was lights out, end to another busy day in Vancouver.

Day 2--Stanley Park

Dave and Meg at the Totem Poles in Stanley Park

Day 2--Will our luggage ever arrive?

Dave and I woke up several times during the night, but finally woke up for good around 6:45.  We got up, and I went downstairs to check on the status of our luggage while Dave showered.  I talked to Jeff, the concierge, and was dismayed when he said that our luggage still had not arrived.  He said, “Don’t worry, it will be here before you get on your ship!”  I said, “Yes, but I’d like to be able to change clothes while I am in Vancouver!”  He laughed at that, but said he would contact the airline and find out where our bags were.

We decided to go out and explore, so after my shower, we walked down to Canada Place, getting a bite to eat at Tim Horton’s along the way.  (Side note, this Tim Horton’s did not take Visa!  Only Mastercard or debit cards.  They did take American money though.)  We continued on to Canada Place, the port from which all the cruise ships leave.  It was gorgeous down there, right on the harbor with views of the mountains on the other side. 

We had purchased tickets for the Vancouver trolley online (you could get two days for the price of one), so we traded in our vouchers and got our tickets and then we hopped on the first trolley which left at 9am.  We rode the whole loop to get our bearings and then got off at the third stop, the Westin Bayshore.  We chose that stop because there was a White Spot restaurant about a block away and we had been told by locals that the White Spot was a great place to eat.  Plus, there was also a Chevron gas station nearby.  We had also been told that Chevron stations had a free coupon booklet with buy one admission, get one free coupons for several of the places that we wanted to visit.  So we stopped at the station, got the coupons and then went in to have lunch.  We both had the special, a smoky BBQ burger with a fresh blueberry pie for dessert.  And when they say fresh, they aren’t kidding!  This was more of a fruit tart than a pie.  Both burger and pie were delicious.

We then decided to walk the Seawall (which runs around Stanley Park) to go see the Totem Poles in the park.  It was a beautiful walk, perhaps a little over a mile and right along the Burrard Inlet, with fabulous views of the city.  I took lots of pictures along the way and we saw three or four seaplanes come in for a landing just while we were walking.  Many of the locals use seaplanes to get around up here. 

We got to the Totem Poles and I took more pictures there.  I took a couple of pictures for people so that they could be in the photos with their families and they returned the favor for Dave and me.  I wandered around the gift shop for a bit and then we caught the trolley back to our hotel (they stop right across the street!).

Now was the moment of truth...would our luggage have arrived?  We walked in, checked with the concierge and were told that yes, our luggage was there and they had brought it up to our room for us!  Hooray!  When we got to the room, we also found that the maid had been by to clean.  We got a drink of water, reveled in the joy of having our luggage, and then decided to head back out.  I wanted to stop on another one of the Red Trolley Loop stops, Prospect Point.  So we waited and waited for a trolley to come.  (Really, morning is a better time to ride these than afternoon.  In the afternoon, delays build up and they run off schedule.)  Finally one came and we hopped on. We rode to Prospect Point, and hopped off.  We got some water (the day had turned quite warm and I was very thirsty) and then we walked over and took some pictures of the Lion’s Gate Bridge, North Vancouver and the mountains.  Then more gift shop browsing for me and we headed back to the room. 

Once we got back to our hotel, we got off and walked to a local Rexall drugstore that we had seen when we had gotten our breakfast that morning.  We picked up some more water and a few other toiletries.  We went back to our room, and I uploaded the pictures from the day.  Then I went across the street to get a snack and snag some free internet so I could update my blog and check email and Facebook.  Then I went back to the room, took a shower and fell into bed.  It had been a long day!

August 4-Travel Day to Vancouver

Photo from our first flight

Shot of the plane from my seat in the back

The controls.  No joke, we could see them!

Our room at the Sutton Place

Day One: Travel Day
Portland Maine to Vancouver BC

Our day began early.  How early, you ask?  3:15 am.  Yeah, that’s early!  But we had a flight to catch in Portland, which is an hour drive from our house and our flight was at 6:35.  In order to get there, check in, go through security and get to our gate we needed to be there about an hour and a half before our flight, so we had to leave the house at 3:40.

Three different alarms went off, to wake us up.  The week before our trip, I had experienced an anxiety dream about our alarm not going off and missing our flight, so we wanted to be extra sure that the dream did not come true!  So we set both alarms on my clock radio AND my alarm on my phone.  All went off, we washed up, got dressed and hopped in the car, which I had packed up the previous evening. 

There is very little traffic on the roads at 3:40 in the morning, so we made great time getting to Portland.  Our niece Jess met us at my parent’s house and drove with us to the airport.  We unloaded the bags and then she drove our car back to my parent’s house so that we would not have to pay parking fees.  (Thank you, Jess!)

We did not realize it, but our bags would not be traveling on the plane with us to Toronto and Vancouver.  It had to do with a weight and balance issue in the plane.  However, we had packed smart, and we were carrying a change of clothing and our pajamas in our backpacks, so we weren’t too worried about that.  Check in and security all went without a hitch and we waited in the airport for a bit.  While there, I saw a former student of mine and the school secretary!  Who knew I would run into people I know at 5:30 am in the Portland Jetport?

We got on our plane...and it was small.  How small?  18 seats small.  I was sitting in the next to last seat...and I could see the instruments in the cockpit.  However, I did enjoy having a window seat.  Normally, I give Dave the window seat, but the plane was so small that everyone had a window seat this time!  We had some beautiful views as we flew over the lakes, rivers and forests of the Northeast and the Adirondacks.

We landed in Toronto and walked, and walked and walked to get to customs.  We must have hit it just at the right time, because there was no one in the very large customs room.We went in, filled out our form, had our passports checked and stamped and then were on our way to security.  We quickly went through security and were at our gate before 10 am.  We got a breakfast sandwich and some water and ate that while we waited,  Our plane was delayed a little and we boarded about 20 minutes late.  This plane had TVs in the back of the seats, so I amused myself by watching a movie and some TV shows.  Dave got my attention when we started flying over the Rocky Mountains and the Cascades.  It was breathtaking!  The mountain peaks were still covered with snow, even on the fourth of August.

We landed in Vancouver a little after 1 pm (Vancouver time) and went to the Air Canada office to check on our bags.  They said they were on their way and they would deliver them to our hotel.  We then got a taxi and rode to The Sutton Place.

The city of Vancouver is beautiful, but it is most definitely a city.  Lots of traffic and some not great areas.  Our hotel is in a very nice area, but there were still some panhandlers that we saw on the streets.  We checked in, and our first impression was “elegant but not snooty.”  We headed up to our room, got settled in as much as we could and then decided we were starving and needed supper.

The concierge recommended Joey Burrard cafe, right across the street.  Dave had something called the Beach Salad  (with chicken, fruit and goat cheese) which he loved and I had a delicious maple glazed salmon with crispy mashed potatoes (mashed potatoes inside a spring roll wrapper, then topped with sour cream, cheese and bacon bits).  If it sounds amazing, that’s because it was! 

Afterward, I tried to go to the store to get some water and breakfast foods, while Dave went back to the room.  The problem was that the store was having a labor dispute and was in the middle of a lockout.  So I walked around the block and got a couple of waters from a little Asian market.  Then I went back to the room.  Dave and I were exhausted by this point.  Jest lag had really hit us, so we decided to go to sleep. (We had tried to stay up until 7 pm Vancouver time.  It wasn’t working.)  We gave one last call to see if our bags had arrived (they hadn’t) and then we got into our pajamas and went to sleep in the exceptionally comfy bed.

In Vancouver!

Safe and sound....and hoping our baggage catches up to us!

In the Mystical Land

of Canada!  We are in Toronto, waiting for our connecting flight.  All is going well so far (knock on wood).

In the Portland Jetport!

Waiting for our flight to Toronto...

Thanks again, Jess!

SO Excited!

We leave on Thursday...in two days!  Excited but nervous!

Our Intinerary

Our Itinerary for Vancouver/Alaska

August 4: Travel from Portland Maine to Vancouver, BC.  Check into our hotel ( The Sutton Place) and have dinner.  We are planning on an early night after a long day of traveling.



August 5, 6, 7 & 8: Explore Vancouver.  We are taking the hop on/hop off trolley around town and will visit places like Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium and the Dr. Sun-Yet Sen Chinese Garden. 

August 9: Board ship around 11 and then have lunch.  Get to know our ship (the Disney Wonder) and then sail away around 4 pm

August 10: At sea.  Who knows what we will do?

August 11: Cruise Tracy Arm Fjord

August 12: Skagway, AK.  We are scheduled for the Alaska Nature and Wildlife Expedition.
From the Disney Cruise Line website:
On this tour you will:
*Cruise approximately 45 minutes down the glacial fjord between Skagway and Haines on a catamaran, enjoying a narration and close-to-the-water views of scenic waterfalls and marine wildlife.
*Arrive in Haines and travel by expedition bus to a location where seasonal wildlife viewing is the best. Explore 6 wildlife habitats including: ocean, estuary, river, lake, old growth forest and muskeg.
*Use binoculars and powerful spotting scopes (photos can be taken through the scopes), as guides search for and identify: mountain goats in alpine meadows, bears along the river, bald eagles, colorful song birds, shore birds and waterfowl. This is a great opportunity to photograph the stunning scenery and wildlife in their natural habitat. Historic photos of Tlingit villages are available to compare the current landscape to how it appeared 100 years ago.
*Watch a fish technician count and sample the run as they net, measure and weigh one in ten salmon crossing the weir. On the shore of a picturesque lake, experience the living tapestry beneath towering hemlock and spruce trees on a nature walk through an ancient muskeg. Learn the relationships between species, their edible or medicinal uses and identify the carnivorous plants along the trail. Check off the day's discoveries with complimentary checklists for the wildlife and birds of Haines.
*Enjoy a leisurely pace where enough time is taken for exploration, photography, observation of animal behavior and lots of questions.
*Relax during a picnic-style lunch with your experienced naturalist/guide who might be a biologist, a forester, a published botanist, a science teacher, an environmental educator or the former head ranger for Glacier Bay National Park.
*Learn about the small Alaskan town of Haines and the National Historic Landmark Ft. Seward during the drive back to the Haines dock.
*Return to Skagway on a 45-minute, scenic catamaran cruise.

August 13: Juneau, AK
We are doing the Whale Watching, Mendenhall Glacier and Salmon Bake Excursion!
From the DCL website:
On this tour you will:
*Journey to the spectacular ice wall of the Mendenhall Glacier and its adjacent Visitors Center. Roam the grounds, take in the interactive exhibits, and ask questions to a ranger who can satisfy your curiosity about the natural wonders of the Mendenhall during the approximate 1-hour visit.
*Board your vessel in Auke Bay Harbor and set out on a search for humpback whales, Orcas, porpoises, sea lions, eagles and other wildlife during an approximate 2-hour expedition. In the comfortable heated cabin, surrounded by huge view windows, a naturalist will explain wildlife behavior and point out the sights. Grab a pair of complimentary binoculars (for onboard use only) and venture on deck for a closer view and amazing photo opportunities. Your captain knows these waters, and where to find whales  a sighting's guaranteed or you receive a $100 refund ($50 for a child)!
*Next, a short transfer ride takes you to the Gold Creek Salmon Bake, set in a beautiful lush rain forest alongside a creek, under translucent domes that protect you from the elements, rain or shine. Savor the aroma of wild salmon, grilling slowly over fires of fragrant alder wood. And settle in for a feast for all your senses!
*Choose from Grilled Salmon, Cheechako Chicken, Chilkoot Baked Beans, Tongass Wild-Rice Pilaf, White Pass Pasta and a robust selection of other sides. Come back for seconds, or thirds, while a local musician sets a festive mood. And, just when you think you've had enough  bring on the blueberry cake for dessert!
*After your meal, stroll through forest to lovely Salmon Creek waterfall. Explore the remains of the Wagner Mine, learn about the natural history of the area, and try your hand at panning for gold (souvenir gold panning kits are available for purchase at the Salmon Creek Trading Post). Have your picture taken with our resident Alaskan malamute, Mac.

August 14: Ketchikan, AK
We are going to do the Saxman Native Village excursion! 
From the DCL website:
On this tour you will:
*Board a motor coach for an approximate 15-minute scenic drive to Saxman Native Village.
*Get an exclusive look at the fascinating culture of South East Alaska's original inhabitants. The Tlingits welcome Guests in the traditional style that defines the culture of Southeast Alaska. Children will be able to collect exclusive stickers throughout the different exhibits.
*Be invited into the Community Center for a welcoming video and presentation. Visit with elders as they create their native crafts or enjoy a gentle stroll through Ketchikan's exquisite rainforest and learn about the region's flora.
*Become entranced by the Cape Fox Dancers as they perform traditional dances in their clan house. *Your guide will make the Totem Pole stories come alive as you listen to the legends of each pole.
*Visit the carving shed to learn about the art of totem pole carving.
*Enjoy some free time (within your approximate 2-hour visit) in the Native Faces gift shop before returning to your cruise ship pier.

August 15: At sea.  We hope to be able to do a special brunch this day, but if we can’t we won’t be too upset about it.  We are going to relax and enjoy the scenery.

August 16: Return to Vancouver and disembark our ship.  Head to the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, where we will relax some more...we’ll need it! 

August 17: Leave Vancouver at 6 am!  Fly back to Maine.  Arrive in Portland approximately 5 pm.  (Can anyone pick us up?)

Making More Plans

Since getting back from Disney World, I have been immersed in planning for Alaska and Vancouver.  We've looked at places to visit, places to eat, places to stay, places to buy souvenirs.  It's been fun for me, but I am an OCD planner anyway.

In addition, I booked Columbus Day weekend at the Bar Harbor Inn for us.  The Seacroft had no vacancy, and I've always wanted to try to Bar Harbor Inn, so it seemed like a good fit.  My school has a furlough day on that Friday, so Dave and I can drive up, spend a couple of days in Bar Harbor and then drive home.  We'll be celebrating the 14th anniversary of our first date!

 Meg in the gardens of the Bar Harbor Inn

We also have looked at dates for our Disney World/Wizarding World of Harry Potter trip with Jess next summer.  Right now, we are planning on about 8 days with Jess, and then 3 or 4 days of just Meg and Dave time.  It will be a Meg and Jess only day at Harry Potter, and I am SO excited to experience that with her!  Plus, she will be my thrill ride partner!  Yay!

Finally, we started looking at plans for the great 2013 road trip.  We are going to stop in Oneonta (and get Brooks BBQ!!!) and we are going to try to visit in Rochester for a few days to see Susan and Alan Butenhof.  I'm really excited about both of those opportunities.

Oh!  And I may get an Apple iPhone today so I can keep people in the loop during our Alaska trip!

Until then, happy travels!

Our Last Day

July 5

We are all starting to transition to “going home” mode today.  In the morning we separated, with Kim and Gary going into Epcot to get another ride on Soarin’  and Dave and I going to Hollywood Studios to ride on Toy Story and Star Tours again. 

I tried to print the boarding passes, but I had neglected to bring photo ID, so I could not do that.  This incident made me want to get an iPhone so that I could have gone online and checked in on my own from anywhere.  As it was, we got B boarding passes, but Kim and Gary sat together and Dave and I were able to sit together, so it was all good.

After that, we met at Beaches and Cream for lunch.  Kim and Gary just had ice cream for lunch.  Gary had a banana split and Kim had the No Way, Jose (a peanut butter and hot fudge sundae).  I had a hot dog and onion rings and Dave and I both had a chocolate ice cream soda.

Then Dave took a nap while Kim, Gary and I went back to Stormalong Bay.  We spent a few hours there, and then went back to our rooms for a little rest and a shower.  That night we had dinner at Teppan Edo in Japan.  It was good, but Dave and I both felt that the Clambake was a better meal and better value for the money.

On our way out, we looked in a few shops and stopped at the bakery in France for a chocolate mousse (which was light, fluffy and very chocolate-y).  Kim and Gary stayed to watch the British Revolution again, while Dave and I headed back to our room.  I did some packing, and then it was lights out.

Happy Birthday, America!

 July 4

Magic Kingdom was opening at 8 am, so we got up and got going early. It was well worth it to get to the parks early on one of the busiest days of the year. (In fact, we found out that the Magic Kingdom closed due to maximum capacity on July 3rd). 

We had several things we wanted to do today.  Kim wanted to get one last ride on Splash Mountain, and we all wanted to see the Hall of Presidents, since that seemed to be a patriotic thing to do on July 4.  We were able to walk right on to both Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain, which we thought was fantastic on July 4.  Kim and Gary wanted to do Country Bears, but Dave and I had no interest in that, so we said that we would meet them at the front of the park.  As we were leaving, masses of humanity were streaming in!

After that, we hopped on the monorail for a quick trip over to Epcot.  Epcot is the largest park, so it seemed less crowded, but it got more and more congested as the day went on.  In Epcot, we went to the America Garden Theatre to hear the Voices of Liberty sing a Fourth of July concert.  They did Proud to be an American, Battle Hymn of the Republic, the National Anthem and several other patriotic songs.  They were an a cappella group and they were just incredible!  (You can see some video of them on my Facebook page).  They were followed by the Fife and Drum corps, led in by Mickey, Donald and Goofy.  It was a really great concert.

We went back to the Beach Club for a swim, rest and shower and headed back out to Epcot.  We got supper at the Mexican pavilion and then Kim and Gary went to listen to the British Revolution (a band in the UK pavilion) while Dave and I went to ride on Spaceship Earth (the “giant golf ball”) and Living with the Land.  After our ride, we got something to drink and a little dessert (Dave had carrot cake and I had pineapple upside-down cake).  Then we went to stake out a spot for the fireworks.  All the benches were taken, but we found spots on the steps near the Italy pavilion.  We waited two and a half hours for the show, but the people watching was great and the time passed fairly quickly.  (An example of great people watching?  A conservative Muslim woman, her headscarf topped with black sequined Mickey Mouse ears!) 

The fireworks show was absolutely stunning.  The special salute at the end was spectacular.  There were so many shells going off you could feel the pressure wave!

After that, we walked home.  It was so nice to just have a few minutes walk to our hotel and not have to fight to get on busses!

Moving Day!

July 3

Today was moving day!  We said goodbye to our animals and took our luggage to bell services to be transferred to the Beach Club.  We packed up a few things that we might need in our carry-ons (like swimsuits, PJs and a change of clothing) and went to catch a bus.

We had to take a bus to a park and then get a bus to our new resort.  This was a fine idea in theory, but for some reason, the Animal Kingdom bus took 35 minutes to arrive!  In that time, we saw three Magic Kingdom buses, two Downtown Disney buses and a bus each to Epcot and Disney Hollywood Studios!  We had chosen to go to Animal Kingdom because it was the closest park to Animal Kingdom Lodge, and we thought it would be a quick trip.  We were wrong!  But the bus eventually came and we successfully made it to Beach Club where we were pleased to find that our room was ready.  We requested a room near the lobby for ease of walking and we had a prime location in room 206.  It was close to everything and only about a 5 minute walk to Epcot!

We decided to try out the pool complex (Stormalong Bay) at Beach Club that afternoon and we had a grand time exploring.  They have a lazy river section which we floated in for a while and a sandy bottom section, with little coves and waterfalls.  We even had some ducks swimming with us, which I thought was adorable (but Kim did not enjoy too much). 

After that, we had reservations at the Cape May Clambake for dinner.  We had a great server named Genesis from the Philippines and we stuffed ourselves silly.  I know that we are from Maine and it seems a bit odd to go to Florida to go to a “clambake” but this meal is really worth it!  There were crab legs, PEI mussels, clams, a fantastic mahi-mahi, and lots of other delicious foods.  And then there is the dessert bar!  The Oreo bonbons are to die for!

After we rolled out of the restaurant, we decided to walk around the World Showcase in Epcot in order to let our meal settle.  We ended up staying and watching Illuminations that evening.  We got a nice spot on a bench near Germany and watched the show.  I even was able to get some good fireworks pictures by using the advanced sports setting on my camera.  Then it was a quick walk home and off to bed...we were getting up early to go the the Magic Kingdom in the morning. 

Animal Kingdom Villas vs. Beach Club Villas

We have points at two different Disney Vacation Club properties, and they are very different but both wonderful in their own unique ways.

Animal Kingdom Villas are exotic, full of dark woods and prints of deep reds, yellows and browns.  The rooms are reminiscent of something you would see at a safari lodge in Africa, and you can stand on your balcony and watch animals such as giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and ostrich.  It is beautiful, peaceful and far away from almost everything.  It is also a huge property with 458 villas. 

Beach Club is light and airy, with blond woods and shades of light blue and seafoam green.  The rooms are comfy, with the air of a beachfront cottage.  Beach Club has the best pool of any Disney resort (a mini water park called Stormalong Bay) and it is only steps away from one of our favorite parks, Epcot.

We love them both for different reasons.  We loved being at Animal Kingdom Villas earlier in our stay just as much as we are loving being at Beach Club now. 

Yes, life is good. :-)

July 2

This morning we went to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  We really aren't big fans of DHS, but there were several rides we just had to get on.  First off was Toy Story Midway Mania.  It was insane, proving it's nickname for Disney insiders of "Toy Story Insania"!  Gary and I got Fastpasses, then jumped in line with Kim and Dave.  We rode once and then headed to Tower of Terror so that Kim and I could ride that.  Kim went on once, but since it was only a 10 minute wait time, I hopped on and rode again. Love that ride!

By that time, our Fastpass time was up, so we hoofed it back to Toy Story and rode again.  By 9:15 in the morning, the Fastpass return time was 1:45 to 2:45 that afternoon!  Good thing we got there early!

Then Dave and I went to the new (and vastly improved) Star Tours.  For Star Wars geeks, IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!  Our tour took us to Hoth (and we sped through and around Imperial Walkers (AT-ATs) and then to Coruscant.  Really, if you know and love the Star Wars universe this ride is amazing!!!

On our way out of the park, we were able to score dinner reservations that night for the Yak & Yeti at Animal Kingdom.   We then headed back to the Lodge and took showers and naps.

We got up and headed to Animal Kingdom where we ate.  Our meal was fantastic.  I had the crispy mahi-mahi and Dave had the duck.  It was delicious!  Then Gary and I went to ride Expedition Everest.  It was only a 5 minute wait, so we hopped on.  Gary was scared, but he did it!  I love that ride, so I went on again. 

Then we all rode Kali River Rapids and got SOAKED, but it felt good.  Then back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.  We are moving to Beach Club tomorrow!

Epcot and Animal Kingdom

Today, we hit Epcot at opening for a chance to get on one of our favorite rides, Soarin'.  We headed over to the ride, got right in line, and were on in about 5 minutes.  Then we picked up FastPasses for a ride later in the morning and went to Test Track.  We rode Test Track after about a 20 minute wait (not bad for Disney in July) and then went shopping in one of our favorite stores, Mouse Gear.  Then we headed back to Soarin' for another ride, just as delightful as the first.

After that, we were getting hungry, so we walked to Beach Club and ate at Beaches and Cream, an old fashioned 50's style malt shop.  We all had burgers and fries and various different ice cream drinks.  Delish!  We then showed them around Beach Club a little, giving them a preview of the resort before our move on Sunday.

Kim and Gary headed off to Downtown Disney to meet up with friends of theirs, while Dave and I headed back to our villa for showers and a nap.  When we woke up, we got ready and went to Animal Kingdom.  I rode Expedition Everest twice and then we had a nice supper at Anandapur Local Foods.  It serves Chinese style food that is really good.  Dave had the Orange Beef and I had egg rolls and chicken fried rice.  Yumm!

We walked out of the park slowly and went back to the villa for another shower.  Tomorrow is another early morning...we head to Hollywood Studios to try to get a couple of rides on Toy Story Mania and Tower of Terror!

Until then....

Tonga Toast!

Today we had brunch reservations at the Kona Cafe, so we got up early and headed out to Magic Kingdom.  Kim and I rode on Dumbo and then we all went on Peter Pan's Flight, the Winnie the Pooh ride and then we went to see Mickey's Philharmagic.  Then we headed to Haunted Mansion for another ride on that and rode the train around the Magic Kingdom.

We hopped on the monorail and headed out to the Polynesian for our meal.  Kim, Dave and I had the Tonga Toast (thick sourdough bread, stuffed with bananas, then turned into french toast).  It was soooo good.  Gary had the Big Kahuna (eggs, pancakes, homefries, etc) and he loved that too.  We all said we would return to eat there.

From there we split up.  Dave went back to the room to rest (he was pretty tired) and Kim and Gary headed to Epcot.  I went to Animal Kingdom to ride on Expedition Everest and shop.  Since Dave has no interest in doing either of those things, it worked out rather well.

Then we all got supper at the Mara and after supper, Kim and I did laundry.  Not very exciting, but it needed to be done.  Tomorrow is Epcot in the morning, then Kim and Gary are meeting up with friends of theirs and Dave and I are on our own.  I'm not sure what we will be doing yet.

Until then....

Freakishly cool!

We left to go the the Magic Kingdom in the pouring rain.  By time we got there it had slowed to sprinkles and by time we finished eating, it had stopped.  The weather after that was oddly cool and comfortable.  70 degree weather in Florida at the end of June?  Who would have thought that was possible?!

We rode Buzz Lightyear, Carousel of Progress and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.  Then we headed over to Fantasyland and we rode the Carousel and, for the first time in my life, It's a Small World. 

We then got anought Dole Whip float (pineapple soft serve ice cream in pineapple juice), and then Dave and I headed home, while Kim and Gary stayed for the parade and fireworks.

Tomorrow, we go back to finish up the Magic Kingdom in the morning and then go to the Kona Cafe for breakfast.

Yeah, life is rough. :-)

No updates?

Having too much fun to update regularly!  Sorry!

The internet connect here is slow, so photos do not upload quickly.  Expect more when I get home. 

Yesterday was Magic Kingdom in the evening where we rode Pirates, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain.  This morning it was off to Animal Kingdom where we rode the safari, did both walking trails and went to Flights of Wonder.  Now we are waiting for a fairly substantial thunderstorm to pass before heading back out to Magic Kingdom.  Kim wants to see Wishes (the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom) tonight.

Radisson Manchester

So I got a really great deal on Hotwire for the Radisson...$78.00 a night, taxes and fees included.  The hotel is VERY nice and the rooms are large and comfortable.  The beds are sleep number beds and we've adjusted ours.  Oh and free WiFi!  So far we are very pleased.

Tonight we are going to dinner at the Portland Pie Company which is just around the corner.

Tomorrow we leave at 5 am to get to the airport for our 6:40 am flight.  We should be in Orlando by 9:45 and in Disney hopefully by 11 am.

Until then...Happy Travels!

Welcome!

I've started this blog so that you could follow along on our travels (if you are interested in doing so).  I'll try to update it every day while traveling...we'll see how that goes.

Right now, we are getting ready to head off to Manchester where we will stay overnight before flying out to Orlando on Tuesday morning, at 6:40 am! 

I'll update when we get in and settled at Manchester. At that time,  I will post a short review of the hotel that we got on Hotwire.

That's it for now...Happy Travels!