New England/Canada Cruise. Day 5. Erev July 4th.

We woke up this morning in New Brunswick, Canada, which right off the bat was nicer than New Brunswick, New Jersey, just by virtue of the fact that it’s not in New Jersey.

We had a quick buffet breakfast and then got off the ship around 11 am for our trolley tour of Saint John.  The tour lasted about an hour and took us around downtown Saint John and out to the Bay of Fundy to see the reversing rapids.  We heard about the history of Saint John, and then saw where the rapids reverse, whatever that means.  As Pop Pop said, the tour was very good for what it was.

let me know if you can figure out where the reversing is happening

Hallie discovered that it's fun to play with rocks... and get dirty

We got off the trolley and then separated from my parents, who went to get back on the ship.  Me, Tzvi, Hallie and Austin set off walking into downtown where Tzvi had seen a coffee shop.  Me and Austin got iced coffees and Tzvi got a hot latte, which he then burnt his tongue on.  Hallie was chalishing so we started looking for food for her but couldn’t really find much.  Eventually we stumbled upon an indoor marketplace that had a lot of different vendors.  We found a stall selling sliced cheese and got four slices of orange cheese.  We told Hallie it was American cheese.

we blend in

We walked back to the ship and went straight for lunch at Johnny Rockets.  As usual, we ordered everything.  French fries, onion rings, a vanilla malt, a chocolate shake, grilled cheese for Hallie (she didn’t eat it), tuna melt without cheese for me (I like the buttered, toasted bread), tuna melt for Tzvi, and veggie burger for Tzvi.  All was delicious. We saw a bunch of crew hanging around eating there.

After lunch we walked around and tried to teach Hallie how to mini-golf, but she mostly ended up kicking and throwing the ball up in the air. She had a great time, and people liked watching her. The ship pulled out of port around 3, and we walked Hallie in the stroller until she fell asleep.  We left a sleeping Hallie in the room (my mother was in her room) and went to the solarium (adult) pool where we got a cocktail, sat in the hot tub and then swam in the pool.  The pool is salt water and really warm.

Hallie woke up just as we walked in the room, so we all changed and headed up to the top deck where I went rock climbing.  I made it all the way to the top and Hallie cried the whole time I climbed.  I don’t know where she thought I was going.  Austin tried to do it too but only made it about half way.  After that Tzvi took Hallie for a walk around the ship while I went to the gym for a solid twenty minutes.

is this not how you play shuffleboard?

free soda anyone?

Around 6 we changed and went to dinner in the dining room.  My parents were having an anniversary dinner alone at Chops Grill so it was just me, Tzvi, Hal and Austin.  Before my parents got to dinner we dropped off a bottle of kosher champagne for them to have for their anniversary. When they got to the table they were told that they had champagne. My parents thought they were giving them champagne so they kept saying thank you but they can’t drink it. Finally the waiter convinced them that the “son-in-law” came and my mom agreed to see the bottle. Then they realized.  Happy Anniversary.

Anyway, the four of us went to dinner in the dining room. I think I had pasta. I don’t even remember. The food just blends together now. We’re so fat.  Dinner took a while.  So long in fact that Hallie and I left for about 20 minutes in the middle to go to the Crown and Anchor reception, where Hallie got to meet the captain.  Before leaving dinner we stopped on deck 5 to say hi to Richè, who it turns out is the dining room manager, which I guess is pretty senior.  Richè asked if Hallie likes strawberries.  After dinner we walked around and ended up at the theater for the Elton John show that featured an Elton John imposter.  As soon as the music started, Hallie started crying, but then she started clapping and said she liked the music.  Then she got upset again and we left. 

When we got back to the room we found a plate of chocolate covered strawberries with Richè’s card taped to it.  Thanks Richè!  Hallie took her time with one strawberry and then got ready for bed.

We put Hallie to bed and then went into my parents room.  Then we heard Hallie yelling “Tzviiii.”  Tzvi had to go in five or six times to cuddle with Hallie, which is a lot easier to do when she’s laying in a bed instead of a crib.  Good day.