NEW YORK * BOSTON * PORTLAND * ST JOHN * HALIFAX * NEW YORK
SEPTEMBER 26 - OCTOBER 3, 2009
SEPTEMBER 26
NEW YORK, NY
Boarded the Carnival Triumph cruise ship docked at Pier 92 in New York City with Rene and Imelda, from California, and met the rest of the group: Linda & Bart from Minnessota; Ben & Veekee from California; Tony & Gay from Louisiana; Hidel from Illinois; Noemi, Luz & Bob, their son Kevin, from New Jersey; Gene & Violly from W. Virginia; Chito & Nelia from Texas; Luchi, Elvie & Caloy from Ontario; and me from New York.
The ship sailed at 4:00 pm and the skyline of New York City was just great. Passed by the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
More picture taking on deck then the group's singers entertained at karaoke after dinner.
SEPTEMBER 27
BOSTON, MA
First stop: Boston. Got off the boat and took a cab to Faneuil Hall, also called Quincy Market, and from there people went in groups to various sights. I decided to take the Freedom Trail with Kevin and Bart. We saw the Paul Revere House, the statue of his Midnight Ride which reminded me of Longfellow's poem, and the Old North Church where he used lanterns in the steeple to signal the coming of the British troops.
Next we visited the nearby Copp's Hill Burying Ground where the British troops manned a battery during the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775.
The weather being sort of inclement, we decided it was best to cut short our sightseeing and stop at the oldest Boston restaurant, Union Oyster House. I had Sam Adams beer and a bowl of their classic Clam Chowder which was delicious!
SEPTEMBER 28
PORTLAND, ME
Seeing the first lighthouse this morning from my cabin's window was proof that we have arrived in Maine. The ship docked in Portland at about 8 am and after a hefty breakfast Noemi, Luz, Bob and I disembarked and went downtown on a city bus. After taking pictures of the Lobsterman statue by Victor Kahill, made for the 1939 New York World's Fair, we walked to the center of town.
Luz and Noemi decided to go shopping so Bob and I explored the city. We stopped by the John Ford memorial, the Italianate-style Victoria Mansion, and the statue of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Maine's most famous poet.
Time for our first lobsterfest on this trip! Noemi, Luz and I went to the Porthole Restaurant and I ordered two lobsters and corn-on-the-cob while Luz and Noemi only had just one each.
Back at the ship, we all got dressed up for Formal Dinner. Everybody came for drinks in my cabin first before dinner.
Souvenir Picture on the Grand Staircase of the Carnival Triumph:Kevin
Bob, Luz, Linda, Bart
Chito, Jun, Elvie, Caloy
Nelia, Luchi, Rene
Ben, Gene, Noemi, Tony Imelda
Veekee, Violly, Hidel, Gay
SEPTEMBER 29
ST JOHN, NB
We docked in St John this morning and we went to town on foot.
Lobster dinner on board!
SEPTEMBER 30
AT SEA
Spent the day celebrating Gene's birthday, lounging, sun bathing, playing games, watching a movie; that evening was spent watching the show, karaoke, dancing, drinking, a little gambling.
OCTOBER 1
HALIFAX, NS
This morning's tour was to Peggy's Cove. A group of us hired a cab to take us there and back. Peggy's Cove is a very picturesque place with its beautiful lighthouse.
Next our cab driver took us to the Whalesback promontory just outside Peggy's Cove, the memorial site of Swissair Flight 111 which crashed in the Atlantic Ocean on September 2, 1998.
Back at the ship, we had lunch and then I ventured into town. Passed St Matthew's United Church, St Mary's Cathedral Basilica, St Paul's Anglican Church, the Old Burying Ground, the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, and browsed at the different shops, buying a T-shirt with graphics that are sensitive to sunlight.
Another formal dinner tonight and entertainment by the crew.
OCTOBER 2
AT SEA
Spent the morning at the Piano Bar where Hidel played the piano and everyone sang along; that afternoon we joined the Walk for Breast Cancer; and that evening we went to the ship's cocktail party, watched a show, danced and imbibed, then had a little late night snack before turning in.
OCTOBER 3
NEW YORK, NY
Docked at about 7 am. Disembarked and said goodbye to some who were going home right away. Some of us went to lunch at a Filipino restaurant (Ihawan) in Queens then went to my apartment afterwards for a final gathering. Great trip with great friends!
