Vic's Pics

[Vic Balshaw]

Nice pictures Vic. Did you get to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport? It's even better than the Air Space museum on the Mall

To be honest Glenn, I didn't know it was there so sadly it looks like I missed out.

If you do come out this way just drop a post and we'll try to get Muddpuppy, VikingBerserker, and some of the others together.

Aaron that's a very kind thought and my thanks. I'll keep it in mind should we visit your side of the country again.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks for looking in guys.

We couldn't leave New York without taking a food tour and where else to go but Greenwich Village. I'm not going to boar you with pictures of food but more the pictures of how I saw Greenwich.

What a way to advertise your delicious cheeses. Believe me they were yum.

These next five shots are ones that took my fancy.

From New York we moved onto Boston and a quick look at some of the founding history of America. Mention the "Boston Tea Party" to most Brits and they will frown at you..............just kidding guys.

Can't visit Boston without taking a pic of the statue of Paul Revere.

This dower faced lady was playing the Benjamin Franklin glass harmonica and actually played our National Anthem while I held open the music sheet.

These next two shots show the church where I believe the initial warning that the British were coming was given and it is from here that Paul Revere and others road out to warn the nearby towns.

We then spent time strolling the streets of Boston before heading of towards Canada the following morning.

 

[Crimea_River]

Nicely captured Vic!

 

[Gnomey]

Good stuff Vic!

 

[Airframes]

Nice shots Vic.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Excellent shots Vic! I bet the glass harmonica sounded neat.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Very cool!

 

[Wayne Little]

I bet the glass harmonica sounded neat.

I've never even heard of it!

Nice shots Vic.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks for looking in guys and Wayne, I'd never heard of one of them thing either and to be honest it was a bit cumbersome.

Anyway folks we are now off to Canada, heading for the grand old city of Quebec.

This first batch show just the beginning of last year's fall and as we moved further north so the colour of the trees changed more.

Quebec is a lovely city and even though late in September, the weather could not have been better. Here you see the Parliament building in the city of Quebec.

Some early morning canoeists on the St Lawrence river and if memory serves me right we were about 1,000 miles inland. The next shot shows where the canoeists were, right beside the cruise liner Crystal Symphony which I have to say is half the size of the one we saw the evening before.

Quebec boasts some lovely picturesque meandering old streets.

I was somewhat impressed with this view of the Château Frontenc which is obviously undergoing some renovation. The safety cloth was quite amazing.

This wall mural was also quite something. The wall is not completely flat but quite uneven so that it creates some natural shadow.

To round off this little session, this beautifully cobbled square is made from imported Scottish granite which was brought over to Canada as ballast in the almost empty sailing cutters that filled up with supplies heading back to England.

 

[Crimea_River]

Nice ones Vic and glad the weather held for your walk through old Quebec. I visited the city about 6 years ago and loved it.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Excellent shots Vic, it's always nice being able to see the world from my computer cause I can't afford to get out and travel like that. Excellent material sir. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Gnomey]

Good shots Vic!

 

[Airframes]

Very nice selection there Vic.

 

[GrauGeist]

Sure have enjoyed your photo trek across the States, Vic!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks again guys.

We continue the tour of Canada heading from Quebec to Montreal and as all 22 of us cruised down the highway in our 54 seater coach, we passed by this little show. I know on first look not a lot to see but on closer inspection.......................

Montreal, again a lovely city which in effect is located on an island. We were taken to see the lovely parks, shown the breathtaking gardens which I must say seem to thrive in the Canadian summer and of course were shown the old and new city.

Needless to say it was the end of summer which was still proving to be glorious and pumpkin season was upon us with Halloween just around the corner.

After an overnight stop we moved onto Ottawa and while looking for our guide we initially thought we were going to get Mary Poppins. This was not the case.

Again another city with grandeur the buildings reflecting its European heritage. Here we have the parliament buildings as we pass.

The Parliament clock tower and cathedral looking from the museum.

The grand Chateau Laurier again viewed from the museum.

No visit to Canada would be complete without seeing a totem pole or a bevy of wellingtons.

Here we have the grandeur of the cathedral.

We also called into Toronto for a nights stop. This is very much the more modern city with its business district and huge shopping complexes. We did the tourist thing and walked the streets underground ogling at shops and we had a quick visit to the city hall which has this amazing copper mural on one wall. Looking closely at it side on, you can see it is made up from millions of copper nails hammered in to make contours and shadows.

As a footnote: Our faith in human kind was also bolstered by an event while in this city. One of our tour members discovered the loss of his camera as we were on our way out of Toronto on the way to Niagara. It had all his holiday snaps on it as well as some important material which he had taken back at home and was needed. It was suspected he may have left it on a tables where they had lunch. So we returned to the mall in the vain hope of a recovery. Well folks I have to say 'well done the good people of Canada' as to the delight of us all the camera was handed into security.

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely shots Vic!

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Excellent shots Vic, those are some spectacular sights and you did a fine job of capturing them. And the story about the camera was cool. You won't see that happen to often down here.

 

[Crimea_River]

You've done my country proud Vic - great pics mate. I was born and raised in Toronto (pronounced "Trawna") and am glad to hear that your colleague's camera wasn't personalized by the finder. Shame you only spent a night there as you could have taken a walk inside the Rogers Center and marvel at the world's first modern retractable roof stadium. I was a project engineer during the roof's construction and spent many memorable (and long) hours working on it.

And, no we don't all hunt moose!

 

[Airframes]

Good stuff Vic, I'm enjoying this tour!

 

[Capt. Vick]

I never meet a mean Canadian so I'm not surprised that the camera was returned. Love that country!