Our Last Full Day in Vancouver - and Real Life Traveling

I don't talk about it too much - or write about it much on this blog but when my family 'hits the road' we do it despite some real challenges. 

Some when I write them don't sound like much at all. And no one will ever really know that it is like for Scott and I - but we feel so strongly in giving our family these experiences that we do it anyway - even though it is hard. 

Only one issue we have to navigate through on trips are Abigail's allergies. She is amazing, courageous, positive. She never complains. - never has. 

When we are at a restaurant she can't pick anything off the menu. She hands the staff a personal business card with her picture on it and a list of her allergies - and a thank you for helping me. 

And she literally says when it's time to order, as she hands the staff her allergy card,  "anything you can make me would be great, thank you so much." 

Sometimes there is an amazing chief who will work hard to make something special for her. 

Sometimes there is just boiled chicken on a plate. 

It's not easy for her. But she does better than Scott and I who crumble at the 'boiled chicken' type of restaurant food. 

Well this was one day that was spectacular for our little girl -- a totally vegan donut shop. {Abigail is not vegan - but a restaurant that is vegan will be dairy free, and since that is one of her severe allergies is it one place we can take her} 

Just take a look at these donuts. 

And know...

This is the FIRST EVER donut Abigail has ever had that was not made my me at home. {and homemade donuts are not the same!} 

Yup, these were all safe for her to eat. We wanted to buy her all of them! 

She chose a chocolate one with chocolate frosting. 

And a sprinkles one for later that day. 

Best morning ever! 

Then we went to Mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral. HERE is the website. 

It was stunning and was the most lovely homily. We talked about it throughout the rest of our day. 

I love going to church in different places -- I love that feeling of connectedness with the larger Church. 

We spent the rest of the day in Stanley Park. And even took a private carriage ride through the park. HERE you can read more about that beautiful park. 

 

We meandered along the water and just enjoyed our last full day in Vancouver. 

The next day we would check out and move on to our second destination! 

Surprises --

Where in the world did this video come from?  It was over a year ago!  And it was surprising them for THIS TRIP last year!  Wow... how did I ever forget to post it. 

I love when I find little gems like this! {even if it was over a year ago for a vacation that has long past}

Cruise to Canada ~ REALLY the end

I love when I find a gem on on phone or Scott's. I usually don't take pictures on my phone. I like the big camera and the control I have over the pictures I take. But those little moments are gems too. And I just can't leave them out of the posts.

Holding a lobster.



Bar Harbor.



Dinners.



Cozy cabin



A huge viola on Cape Bretton



The ship



Evenings on the deck



Shows at night



Prince Edward Island



Thanking God for good good people and for this chief that cooked safe food for Abigail round the clock.



Swimming



Us together



Sunsets



Montreal





Back together.

Cruise to Canada ~ part 10 The End

In as little words as I can. Montreal



Sunday Mass in the most beautiful church St. Patrick's Basilica



Home to the United States (it felt so good) and a stop in the sweetest town in Vermont.



Woodstock, Vermont

Where shopping is done in baskets.





The trees, the streets, the shops.



That old sign... a pharmacy that has been open since 1853. Why those kind of things make my heart pitter patter, I don't know, but they do.











I know they are blurry in this one but gosh I still love it.













We had lunch here (The Woodstock Inn)



You know I was thinking "oh wouldn't this be a perfect spot for a Christmas Getaway Weekend one day" (ummm yes please)



and then drove home.



We had a rough couple of days after we were home. Anna's face had a reaction to a medication and it was really scary for a week. Looking through all of the photos I can see it start to happen as the trip progressed and she was in the doctors office the morning after these photos were taken with a swollen face, eyes she could barely open, mouth she didn't open because it hurt so much, and oozing skin. She is completely fine now and we are grateful.

Just a few more pictures from our phones on my next post and then I can move on to fall!!!

Cruise to Canada ~ part 9

Soooo school started. Can you tell? I lost about a week here on this blog but it's all worth it. 24 precious students in my class this year and every ounce of energy was zapped from me this past week. I am more tired than I was as a mama with a newborn. It's all adjusting to talking so much, directing so much, and being "on" so much. I'll adjust, that first week is just so tiring (and wonderful). 

Day 7 ~ Quebec, stepping into a story book 

We love Quebec. More that Montreal. Just loved. We got off the ship just as soon as we could that day and stayed in Quebec as long as we could.

I have to say that there are so many more memories than photos {that happens to me on vacation, I start off with a bang and then sink into vacation and just slow down with my camera}











We thought it was magnificently beautiful every which way we turned...







It was almost like stepping into a story book. Like being inside Beauty and the Beast. In that little town.





Cobblestone streets and the most interesting shoppes, music playing.

















See that (almost looks like an elevator) in the background?  It's called the funicular and it takes you to the upper level of old Quebec.



and this is at the top! It's the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac And it's amazing!



We meandered around the gift shops and even bought a few things.









It was lovely, lovely, lovely.



We visited more stores and stopped for crepes.



I want to always remember when Scott said to me... hold on a sec... come over here for a minute. I found something special for Abigail.

It was really cool STREET CANDY ... and she could eat it! (traveling with allergies can be so so sad for us as parents so when this comes along we are so so grateful)



Frozen on a sick, pure frozen maple syrup!





As we meandered our way back through the old city and toward our ship I just knew I wanted to come back.



Do you see the hotel in background?



All dressed and ready for our last dinner and evening on the ship.



It was such a lovely day together and we will for sure visit Quebec City again.