A correction to yesterday's post: poutin does not have any mashed potato, instead it combines white cheese with French Fries and gravy! Even less appetizing than what I originally thought!
While wandering the ship this morning, I found a painting in the art gallery that captures the essence of the kind of life I would have like to live:
The carefree, joi de vivre of this scene appeals to me immensely! Plus the hats are just fabulous!
The carefree, joi de vivre of this scene appeals to me immensely! Plus the hats are just fabulous!Sharon, today's tour guide was good, but lacked Danielle's enthusiasm for the job. Efficient but seemed to reciting a script. Perhaps that's a difference between a walking tour guide and bus tour one? Walking puts you closer together with the clients.
Our first stop was Montmorency Falls, higher than Niagara but not nearly as wide. 
I love a good waterfall, but, realio-trulio, after exploring Iguazu for hours, it's all just water over a dam! Sharon seemed to believe the catwalk over the falls was something great, and, I guess, for most it would be but...I was more taken by the rivulet falls off to the side of the spillway.
I love a good waterfall, but, realio-trulio, after exploring Iguazu for hours, it's all just water over a dam! Sharon seemed to believe the catwalk over the falls was something great, and, I guess, for most it would be but...I was more taken by the rivulet falls off to the side of the spillway. I did enjoy the walk along the river edge, spotting a great birch tree, a few formal garden areas and a whimsical paean to Halloween and Autumn.
From Montmorency Falls, we went to Sainte Anne de Beaupre basilica. 
The current bullding is the replacement for the one that burned in the early 1920's. An Italian artist asked to be allowed to decorate the interior and spent the ensuing 54 years doing so. I wish I could have met this man who must have had a truly gilded tongue as he talked the Catholic priesthood into accepting so many untraditional images: a complete Zodiac on the ceiling of the foyer, a mosaic encouraging penitents to "Dance together. Life is too short to sit by the wall." and a series murals portraying saints with Native American faces! He adorned each pew row with mosaics of North American birds and plants, not one was repeated in the entire basilica.
Ste. Anne was Mary's mother. Until today, I never though of Christ having grandparents. I just can not wrap my head around a young Jesus crying, "Grammy Anne, help me." This church has a reputation for miracle cures, as evidenced by the myriad crutches, canes, splints, wraps and other things displayed because they are no longer needed.
Today, your word is not enough to proclaim you cured, you have to submit a licensed physician's affidavit attesting to your pre and post basilica visit's difference before you can claim a cure. Even so, the priests acknowledge several miracles each year! 
Ste. Anne's is so much about hope and power of prayer that if you buy anything at the gift shop, a priest will bless it for you. Since I have an elderly friend in Astoria who actually visited Ste. Anne's when she was a girl, I had the priest bless the token I bought her. Then took a selfie, my first ever photo with a Catholic priest! 
Today, your word is not enough to proclaim you cured, you have to submit a licensed physician's affidavit attesting to your pre and post basilica visit's difference before you can claim a cure. Even so, the priests acknowledge several miracles each year! Ste. Anne's is so much about hope and power of prayer that if you buy anything at the gift shop, a priest will bless it for you. Since I have an elderly friend in Astoria who actually visited Ste. Anne's when she was a girl, I had the priest bless the token I bought her. Then took a selfie, my first ever photo with a Catholic priest! I thoroughly enjoyed the serenity of this place. Its aura is one of quiet contemplation of Nature's wonders and diversity, helped I am certain by the glorious foliage outside!
I am not alone in my adoration for this House of God. Pope Paul II knelt here to pray, after walking through the great brass doors. 
An excellent day!
Tonight at dinner, I had a wafer thin crisp that grabbed my attention, so I asked the waiter what it was and if it was purchasable in a grocery store. He assured me it was common in the Foreign Foods section of his store in NYC, then appeared at the table with a package so I could get details. Also he gave me cooking directions. Soon Middleburg will be offering pappadoms often! I wish I could have shared these little delights with Mom.
One final pondersble for today: I realized this evening that though more than 2000 passengers are on this liner with me, I have yet to see two women wearing the same thing! What does that suggest about the fashion industry? Human individuality?? Too deep for me tonight!
One final pondersble for today: I realized this evening that though more than 2000 passengers are on this liner with me, I have yet to see two women wearing the same thing! What does that suggest about the fashion industry? Human individuality?? Too deep for me tonight! 
No comments:
Post a Comment