Here we are gazing up at the Chateau, which can almost be the symbol of Quebec City. We arrived here prior to embarking on a cruise to Ireland. The Chateau sits in the heart of the old walled Quebec City on the bluff over looking the St. Lawerence River. It appears more castle-like than a hotel with its copper turrets and stone towers. It's doors were opened in 1893 with 116 rooms. It has grown to 613 rooms, the last wing of 66 rooms was added in 1993 to celebrate the hotel's 100th birthday. Queens, movie stars, and just plain folk have stayed here, and when you tour the hotel, as we did, with costumed guides; you might just hear a ghost or two whispering!

The Seabourn Sun

Launched in 1988 the Sun is 5 star, and carries only 758 passengers. She's sailed the world. May 6, '01 we embarked the Sun after our two full days in Quebec. I remembered a little of the ship after being on her in '90. There were flowers and a bottle of champagne in our cabin when we arrived. At dinner, the first night, we met our other table mates-a couple from San Francisco, and the other from South Carolina. We had several days to wander the ship, see the shows, and of course EAT, before our first port. The weather was nice, but chilly as we cruised the St. Lawrence River and Sagnuenay River, which has one of the longest fjord in North America. Ah, this was the life!

St. Pierre et Mlquelon

Never heard of these islands? Neither had we! These islands at the tip of Newfoundland, are the only remaining foothold of France in North America. Usually shrouded in fog, the islanders have many words for fog and mist. ( I wonder what the words for "cloudless skies" are?) If you ever stop by these islands, check out the Hotel Robert. This was the "home away from home" of Al Capone during the era of US prohibition.