In February 2011, we decided to see the northeastern part of United States and Canada. So, we planned to take a cruise. The ship this time was the MS Maasdam, from Holland America. The dates were from May 14 to 21 and from Boston, Massachusetts, to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. We had a missionary friend who was Canadian and had retired at Westport, Ontario, Canada. We planned to rent a car and drive to see her after the cruise at least for two days before returning home.

The scripture I had selected for the cruise was based on the kind hospitality Shirley Howard, my friend in Canada, had offered. Romans 12: 10-13 “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”  (“Bible Gateway Passage: Romans 12:10-13 – New King James Version” 2019)

We flew with Delta to Atlanta and then to Boston. We embarked on the same day. We had a nice cabin and a good reception after the safety drill.

Next day we stopped at Bar Harbor, Maine. We toured Bar Harbor, and then our bus took us to the Acadia National Park. The Park was established in 1916 and is the first national park east of the Mississippi River. It encompasses 49,075 acres of diverse landscapes, including mountains, lakes, and coastlines. It was originally inhabited by the Wabanaki people, who lived from the products of the land and sea for thousands of years. They utilized natural resources for fishing, hunting, and gathering. Then in the early 17th century, European explorers, including Samuel de Champlain, arrived in the region. The French and later the British established settlements, and displaced the native populations.

Next port was Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. There we went to Peggy’s Cove Fishing Village, a picturesque fishing village located about an hour’s drive from Halifax. It has an iconic lighthouse. Then we took a Hop-On Hop-Off Double Decker bus. We saw the Halifax Citadel. It is a star-shaped fort that has stood since 1749.

At Sydney, we were greeted by the “World’s Largest Fiddle,” a 60-foot-tall steel structure. It was built as a tribute to the region’s Celtic music traditions. In Sydney we visited the Cossit House Museum in the Colonial Town of Old Sydney. Built in 1787, is a significant historical site that offered us a glimpse into the life and culture of early colonial Cape Breton. We also learned and saw Rita’s Retreat which was the house of Rita MacNeil, known as Cape Breton’s First Lady of Song. We also had tea at Rita’s Tea Room. The Mi’kmaq people originally inhabited Sydney. The port was founded in 1785 as a British colonial settlement.

We were excited when we arrive in Charlottetown, Prince Edward. We went on an excursion to see Anne of Green Gables Island. The house of Green Gables is in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and is the setting for the beloved novel “Anne of Green Gables” by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I was happy to visit this place together with “my kindred spirit”, Karelin.

The site is now a heritage site and part of the L.M. Montgomery’s Cavendish National Historic Site. When we returned to Charlottetown, we went to see the Catholic St. Dunstan’s Basilica and toured the area. That evening the light was perfect to take pictures of The Confederation Bridge, which is a remarkable engineering achievement that connects Prince Edward Island to the mainland of New Brunswick. Spanning eight miles, it is the longest bridge in the world that crosses ice-covered waters. Opened on May 31, 1997, the bridge serves as a vital transportation link.

On May 19, we cruised the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is the largest estuary in North America and serves as the outlet of the St. Lawrence River, which flows from the Great Lakes into the Atlantic Ocean. Several Canadian provinces, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia border it.

Our ship entered the St. Lawrence River and navigated southwest to Quebec. The city was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain and is one of the oldest cities in North America. The city is a unique blend of French colonial styles. We walked through narrow, winding streets and buildings that reflected the history of this fortified city. The mix of 17th- and 18th-century designs with modern influence made us remember cities in Europe.

We went for tea at the famous Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. This is a historic hotel opened in 1893 and designed in the Châteauesque style. The Canadian Pacific Railway built it to promote luxury train travel. It is a National Historic Site of Canada. The important Quebec Conference, held in this Hotel in August 1943, was a significant meeting between key Allied leaders during World War II. It aimed to discuss military strategy and post-war planning.

At this point, the captain of our ship informed us that the water level of the St. Lawrence River was so high that the ship would not be able to pass under the Pont Pierre-Laporte Bridge. This bridge is the longest main span suspension bridge in Canada. It crosses the St. Lawrence River approximately six hundred feet west of Quebec Bridge between Quebec City and Lévis.

So, Holland America took all the passengers by bus to Montreal.

In Montreal, without having much time to see the city, we picked up our rental car and drove to my friend Shirley at Westport. The drive was delightful because that area in Canada in that time of the year was green and colorful and gloriously beautiful. We praised the Lord for this gift.

It was a treat to visit with Shirley. Westport is situated on the shores between the Upper Rideau Lake and Westport Sand Lake. It is a charming village, known for its scenic views and community spirit. With Shirley, we visited the Artemisia Art Gallery, we drove around the region, we visited her daughter, husband and grandchildren and we went to a nice restaurant, the Fall River. We talked about our past experiences and adventures at our work in Dallas when Shirley was serving there. I kept corresponding with Shirley until she went to see the Lord in May 2020.

We drove back to Montreal and back home to Dallas on May 23, 2011.

The Canadian Rockies

It was October 2013 when we did our first bus tour to Canada. We had just returned from our cruise on the Volga in Russia. We had booked this tour in Canada, and it sounded exciting. The tour was called “Heart of the Canadian Rockies 2013”, and it was by bus with Cosmos from October 17 to 26. It only covered Alberta and British Columbus, the two western most provinces.

My Scripture for this trip was Luke 21:19 “By your [patient] endurance [empowered by the Holy Spirit] you will gain your souls.” (“Bible Gateway Passage: Luke 21:19 – Amplified Bible” 2019)

We flew to Calgary in Alberta, and we stayed at the Sandman Hotel Downtown Calgary. I have been there before and made a brief visit to Banff for a swim in the springs, but it was during my working days, and I had little opportunity to see more.

Our Cosmos tour guide started by telling us that the discovery of oil converted Calgary, a ranching town, into a sophisticated city with skyscrapers and elegant shopping centers. It is quite famous for the Calgary Stampede. We toured many of the city attractions, including the Canada Olympic Park, the Saddledome, and Fort Calgary.

Next day the bus took us west through the foothills and into Banff National Park, which is practically the gateway to the majestic Canadian Rockies. We visited the Fairmont Banff Springs luxury hotel. It was opened in 1888, and has steep pitched roofs, ornate dormers, and gables. It was influenced by Scottish baronial architecture, and it looks like a Chateau. We stayed two days at the park.

Next, we continued to the famous Lake Louise. The turquoise waters of this lake create a perfect natural mirror that reflects the surroundings and has an incredible effect on the peace of your spirit.

Then we journeyed north into Jasper National Park, where gorges, snowcapped summits, and lakes of exquisite blues and greens came into view as the motorcoach climbed through two mountain passes. Another highlight was a stop at Columbia Icefield. We experienced the Ice Explorer, an all-terrain vehicle that travels on ice that is 365 meters (1,200 feet) thick. On the road we saw goats and beautiful birds. Here we stayed at the Jasper National Park Marmot Lodge.

Next day we took an excursion to Maligne Lake. This is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies. It measures fourteen miles in length, and it is up to about 1.2-mile width. It has an average depth of 115 feet and a surface area of 7.61 square miles.

Then we departed Jasper and followed the Fraser River to the base of Mount Robson, British Columbia, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. We continued on the Yellowhead Highway south along the Thompson River, with spectacular views of the Monashee Mountains. We overnighted in Kamloops, a city in south-central British Columbia, Canada, known for its location at the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers.

Next day we continued through British Columbia’s Coast Mountain Range toward the Pacific coastline. We noticed that the vegetation changed from desert landscape to lush alpine forests.

We boarded a ferry to cross into Vancouver Island. We went sightseeing in Victoria. It included the Inner Harbour, Bastion Square, Thunderbird Park, and the world-famous Butchart Gardens. That evening we walked a little along the Waterfront Promenade.

Our next adventure was a ride for whale watching. We departed near the Inner Harbour. We discovered that it was not a day to see whales, but we saw hundreds and hundreds of California and Steller sea lions having animated conversations around Race Rocks Marine Protected area. We went for dinner at China Town in Victoria.

The next morning, we sailed on a ferry across the Strait of Georgia and through the Gulf Islands, an archipelago, to visit Vancouver. There we visited Stanley Park where we saw a Chinese couple taking pictures for their wedding. We were surprised to see the bride dressed in red (but learned that is their traditional). We also visited Gastown, Chinatown, and the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

During this trip we had the opportunity to testify about our faith in Christ to several of our travel companions but especially to the guide and the driver of the bus. They were nice and open. They gave us a limousine ride in Vancouver.

The tour ended the next day. We were taken to the airport and flew from Vancouver to Dallas.

Oh Canada, beautiful cold country!