A cruise - part 2

 The first port stop on my cruise was Boston. It's an industrial port as well.

I had a bus tour lined up to see the city, including the historic areas and to go to the Prudential Building, where they have an observation floor.

When you go in, there is a dedicated elevator that takes you straight up to the 52nd floor!

There are glass walls on all sides for remarkable views of the city.

Then you can take a different elevator up one more floor where there is another level with glass walls...this time open at the top! It circled the building too.

Sort of a scary feeling for me! 

Fun though. It was the best part of the tour.  The tour guide had to deal with a non-working microphone on the bus and had to shout all her information...competing with the roar of the air conditioner fans.

But still a good tour and I saw lots of changes since I visited Boston about 28 years ago.

Back on the ship is was a "dress your best" night. It seems that many people are getting away from packing formal wear, including me...so it was fine just to wear black pants and a nice top.

Entertainment was a former Olympic gymnast. He not only did a pretty amazing routine...

He also had some hilarious comedy skits...like this one where he flipped up into a handstand, revealing a pharaoh head under his robe...then waved his legs back and forth to the song "Walk Like an Egyptian".

Later in the cruise he also gave a talk on improving your memory. I guess I needed it because I forgot and left my hearing aids in the cabin...so I couldn't hear much of what was said.

This was a nice area of the ship called the Solarium. Covered but with slide open windows. A quieter area so a good place to read or take a little snooze in the lounge chairs.

There is a pool in there and hot tubs (I never get in either) and in the back is a small restaurant counter where you can get sandwiches, snacks, fruit, desserts and coffee.

That's where I went for breakfast most mornings.  Better just to order one thing than to go up to the buffet and try to eat a bit of everything!

Our next port was Saint John.  It was a bit chilly this morning. Pulling into port...scenic on this side...

Industrial on this side. There's a container ship being loaded (or unloaded).

Before the cruise I thought the port was St John's in Newfoundland...but I was mistaken. It is Saint John in New Brunswick.

I only realized it when the tour guide was saying that many people make this same mistake.

Oh well, I haven't been to either place before.

I chose a bus tour for the day. The guide was great with lots of info and facts to share about the area. 

The first stop was at the Bay of Fundy, which is known for having the world's highest rising tides. This spot is where the St John River flows into the bay in the morning.

We came back to this area late in the day and the high tides cause the water in the bay to reverse and flow back into the river.  It's called the Reversing Falls.

Unfortunately not so scenic because of the paper mill built here.

Lots of other stops during this day long tour. An Irish Pub where we had a Canadian beer, Moosehead, and were entertained by a singer.

Also this market with handcrafted items, groceries and snacks.

Another area with shops and a little lighthouse.

I saw lots of these shrubs but the guide wasn't sure what they are called.

Covered bridges.

A lunch was included with the tour...seafood chowder (it was good, and filling) with a biscuit and a cookie.

We stopped at a rocky beach with some caves in the cliff. Anyone who wanted to walk over to them had to hurry because the tide was rising. I just looked for a couple of souvenir rocks (which we are not supposed to take on the ship, shhh!).

Then a long drive back to the ship. A good tour, a good day.

Dinner at the buffet then an audience participation show sort of like the Newlywed Game, funny.  Then afterwards a comedian, not very funny.

Well, this is getting long too, so I'll have to add Part Three.

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