Category Archives: travel

We Began It All in Montreal


Montreal

Montreal

We were back in the U.S following our transpacific cruise (subject of a later series) for a grand total of some three weeks before we were boarding yet another flight headed out of the country.  This time we were traveling to Montreal where, after two nights, we would board Holland America’s MS Maasdam for a cruise down the St. Lawrence River; around Canada’s Maritime Provinces; and a turn south for Bar Harbor, Maine; with a final destination of Boston, Massachusetts.

Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places

Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places

I’m rather glad that Ursula insisted we arrive in Montreal early, for there is much to see and do.  Even with a full day at our disposal, all we managed was Old Montreal, China Town, and Notre-Dame Basilica.  As it was we just happened to hit Montreal for the annual Tour la Nuit (which you’ll see on Fun Photo Friday).

I’ll have a lot more on most of these Montreal topics, including several blogs on the Notre-Dame Basilica, over the next several weeks.  After that we’ll hit the cruise ship and begin our journey in earnest.  Until then here’s a little to tide you over.  As always, click on any image below to bring up today’s slide show.

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Fun Photo Friday — Shanghai River Cruise Favorites


Today’s post brings to a conclusion our visit to Beijing and Shanghai.  It’s hard to believe that anyone could get nearly four months’ worth of blog posts out of just one eight-day journey.  But that’s what happens when you book with a quality tour group such as China Spree — enough material for 29 blog posts on Shanghai and another 20 on Beijing and nearby attractions such as the Great Wall.   I would also like to take thank once again our wonderful guide on this journey, Mr. Chen “Jim” Mao.  He made this adventure an absolute delight, and I hope to one day travel with him again.

Chen “Jim” Mao of China Spree posing with a toasty-warm Ursula on Tienanmen Square just outside the Forbidden City

I leave you now with one last look at the nighttime light show that awaits you on your own Huangpu River cruise through the Pudong and The Bund areas of Shanghai, China:

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River Cruise — Shanghai by Night Part 2


Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise

Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise

Our Huangpu River cruise was for me one of the highlights of this trip.  I exhausted one battery on my Canon G1 X, but fortunately had two more fully charged and ready.  You can see why spare batteries are a must on this tour.

Reflections of Pudong

Reflections of Pudong

Remember that color-changing building from Monday’s blog?  Here’s another example:

Another Changling going from Blue . . .

Another Changling going from Blue . . .

. . . to red

. . . to red

Even the waterside restaurants change color in this photographer’s wonderland:

A Chameleon Restaurant

A Chameleon Restaurant

The Chameleon Changes

The Chameleon Changes

Once again don’t forget to turn your back on Pudong for the occasional glance at The Bund.  You’ll be glad you did.

The Bund

The Bund

The Bund

The Bund

Now for today’s photo gallery:

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel