Leaving Toronto today for New Zealand

Leaving today for New Zealand - Sunday, 4 October 2014 

Up early to catch bus at 7. 30 a.m. for Toronto Airport.     Many other people from our Hotel were catching the same Bus, also had the same Bus Driver that we had when we arrived.   Extremely helpful.

Arrived at Toronto Airport and proceeded to queue up to arrange for our suitcases to be sent directly to New Zealand and to get our boarding passes.

Toronto Airport

Toronto Airport

Toronto Airport

Toronto Airport

We were there in plenty of time before the queues got too long.      It seemed a long wait and then boarded the plane for our flight to Los Angeles.    Just when we were ready to leave Toronto Airport  there was an announcement about a dent on the plane by maintenance crew, and advising us that we may not be going on this plane.     Then finally announcement that we were ready to leave Toronto Airport for Los Angeles, knowing that we had 6 - 7 hours wait in Los Angeles before our flight to Auckland, New Zealand.

Arrived safely in Los Angeles then we were preparing for our long wait in the Airport.    Los Angeles Airport extremely busy and they were doing building alterations as well.    I went and had something to eat as we did not have anything from Toronto to Los Angeles, also we did quite a lot of walking.

We were quite excited when our Flight was announced for boarding as we had had a very long wait.    Got on the plane and were preparing for our long flight home.      We had taxied out to the runway already to leave when there was an announcement that we had a flat tyre and we had to come back in and get it repaired.     Nobody left the plane.     After about an hour they advised that they were going to repair or replace the tyre.    It ended that they replaced two tyres and also topped up with fuel.      By this time we were 2 1/2 hours late in leaving Los Angeles which would make us later arriving in Auckland and probably going to miss our flight to Palmerston North.   

The Hostesses were quite busy in the night arranging alternative flights for some people but not us.   It was a good flight I slept some of the time and Bill did a little and watched movies and listen to music.

At last we arrived in Auckland and were advised that only the people that were going to Brisbane to leave the plane first, as there plane was there waiting for them.     Our bags were quite long in coming off the plane and were pleased to see both of them, and then Bill said could I walk around to the Domestic Airport and I said no that we would wait for the bus, which we did.

As we were arriving in the Domestic Airport Terminal I was busy looking for the information desk when Bill heard an announcement that it was the last call for people travelling to Palmerston North.     Bill took off an advised them that we had our suitcases with us,  they telephone the Plane which was ready to leave that we were coming with our bags and we were now on our way to Palmerston North.

Good flight home but extremely windy when we arrived, nearly got blown off the stairs from the plane.   Olive was there waiting for us.  Nice to be home.    Later in the day heard that they had shut Palmerston North Airport for a while because of the wind.   

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Travel on an air-conditioned motor coach for a breathtaking full day tour through the orchard laden Niagara Peninsula to Niagara Falls, one of the great wonders of the world.

Tour includes Maid of the Mist or Journey Behind the Falls, buffet lunch overlooking Niagara Falls, free time in Niagara on the Lake.
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Bill on the look out near Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

This is a photo of the boat that we went in at the bottom of the Niagara Falls

We were on the same boat with red capes.  

These are USA Falls they have big rocks at the bottom

 

[Friday 3 October] We were picked up by a small bus around 15 people from different hotels.    We were picked up at 8.40 a.m. and then continued to pick others up from other Hotels.

Very experienced Tour Director had been doing this for many years.

We continued on a 4 lane highway, we travelled around Lake Ontaria Lake and went passed the large Ford Factory which employs over 4,000 people.    Travelled passed the Wharf which freezes during the winter.   

There was a Peanut Farm and many orchards.     There were lots of glass houses which were used for flowers, vegetables.    

We stopped at the Whirlpools before going to the Falls to take photos.

Whirlpools

Margaret at the Whirlpools

Whirlpools Cars that take you across

We then continued to the falls, fine day.

Margaret at Niagara Falls

Bill at Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

We went to the falls look outs and took photos before boarding the bus to go to lunch.    They say that you need to spend at least 3 days in Niagara Falls area to see everything.

We had a buffet lunch near the falls.

Visitors Centre

Visitors Centre

Restaurant

Restaurant

Continued through the Niagara township to where the bus would stop and we walked to the edge and went down to our boat to a lift which took us to the water.

Niagara Town Centre from the Falls Edge

Niagara Town

Niagara Town

We were all given plastic ponchos to put on before boarding the Hornblower Boat.    Our ponchos were red.     

Margaret on the Boat

Margaret at Niagara Falls

We all boarded the boat, Bill and myself were up the top in the front.     With the wind blowing you get a lot of mist from the falls and very wetting.

The first falls we went passed were the USA falls which people board a boat for a cruise (Boat called Maid of the Mist. 

USA falls have rocks at the bottom.

The boat went very close to the face of the falls.    The conditions were very severe with wind and heavy mist.

Looking at the USA Falls

Bill on the Boat after we had been down to the Niagara Falls (Bridge in the back ground to USA Falls

The boat finally turned and we went back to the wharf.      It took about 30 minutes.

Went back to the Bus and drove passed very up market homes next to the River.    Which are Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

Houses at Niagara for Accommodation (Bed and Breakfast

Floral Clock on the way in to Niagara Falls

Went to the place where the River joins the Lake.

As we are leaving Niagara Falls from Look Out

We went into Niagara on the Lake town.    A little tourist town which is visited by 3 million people a year.

Margaret at Niagara on the Lake Shops

Niagara on the Lake Town

We went for a walk down the main street until it started to rain.

As there is no Buses allowed in the Town, A free shuttle operates between the park and the centre of the town.

Very pretty streets and lots of nice shops and theatres and lots of Flowers in the Main Street.   Could have spent more time looking at the shops but it started to rain and there were no verandas out in front of the shops.

We then continued our way back towards Toronto.    We went passed many Wineries and grapes and stopped at a very up market Winery for tasting.       There were lots of people there tasting and buying wine.

Wine Shop

We tasted  a red and a white wine.     A special wine produced  in the area is a Iced Wine which has to have three nights in a row below minus 8 degrees, before they can produce it.    We sampled it very sweet and pleasant.

We all got back on to the Bus and continued our slow journey back to Toronto.    Returning about 7. 15 p.m. Highway extremely busy.

It was a very enjoyable day and something we will never forget at the Niagara Falls, and our boat trip at the bottom of the falls.

Our Holiday is coming to an end and we will be leaving tomorrow for our long trip home after a very enjoyable holiday.

Toronto

 

Toronto

Eaton Chelsea Hotel

[Thursday, 2 October] We had a lovely friendly Bus Driver from Toronto Airport, talking most of the way to our Hotel.    Lots of people on the bus all going to different Hotels.   We were one of the last off the Bus.

Airport waiting for a bus

Bedroom in Toronto

Bathroom Toronto

After we had signed in at the Hotel we went for a walk around our Hotel and went into some shopping centres and had tea there.

Street by our Hotel

Out on the Streets by our Hotel

Street in Toronto

In side a shopping Centre




The top lights up as to the temperature




 

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Quebec City

 

To visit Québec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. The architecture, the ambience, and the animated conversation on the street confirm the impression that a bit of France has been permanently imbedded in North America. Stroll along the streets of the atmospheric Latin Quarter and explore the historic stone and brick houses of Old Québec, the only remaining walled city north of Mexico. Visit the Place Royale and Notre Dame des Victoires, the oldest stone church in North America, and marvel at the turreted Château de Frontenac.
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[Wednesday, 1 October]  Weather good again, but with a very cold wind.


Funiculaire

Map of Area

Funiculaire Up on Top of Hill

 Left the ship at 9.30 a.m. went for a walk around the restored wharf area below the stone wall.

All these plastic toys were different up on the Walls

 

Bill in the Street

St Lawrence River through the Gap

Crowds of people in Tour Groups in this area.

Crowds of people looking at Painting on the Wall

Entertainment on the Streets

Entertainment

 Walked down narrow cobbled streets very busy as there were several cruise ships on the River.

 

Restored shops and buildings

 
Returned at 11. 30 a.m. for our Bus Tour.



St Lawrence River with Princess Ruby Ship in background

 

Chateau Frontenac

Quebec from the Boat

Margaret on Streets in Quebec

Bill in Quebec

 It took us to the old city above the wall, Chateau Frontenac which is the most photographed Hotel in the world.   We drove in the newer area that dated back to the early 1900.   Lovely parks and houses and autumn trees.   As everything is named in French it is very hard to understand where you are or what you are seeing.    The French spent many years building the wall as they feared the attack from the USA.     The British arrived and they surrendered in 25 minutes.



St. Lawrence River

The St Lawrence River is very deep at the port as Quebec means narrowing of the River.   It is also
another tidal river.

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Fountain

 

Wall

Quebec is now a very poplar tourist resort with many Cruise Ships arriving each year.   

 It is a port where they store huge quantities of grain.    There were lots of silos fill of grain ready for the ships to take to the rest of the world.

Silos full of  Grain

Returned to the Hotel to have a shower and pack and put our suitcases out for collection.    After we had completed putting out our suitcases we went for another walk in Quebec, extremely steep streets in some parts.    There is a lot to see in Quebec, we could have probably had another day there.

We are to meet tomorrow morning at 6.a.m. for Toronto.