On to Ottawa

Another long day on the bus.  Most of us played the "napping game" very well.  We were running behind our time line and so the tour guide called ahead to the "Freight House" restaurant and inquired about menu selections so that we could decide and order ahead to
save time.  She dutifully offered each member of the tour the choices and took all our orders.  She then phoned the restaurant and informed them of our choices so they would be prepared and we could be "in and out" with sufficient speed.

As we arrived in Syracuse and found what we thought was the freight house, it looked from the street as though it had been deserted for a Loooooong time.  The tour director jumped out of the bus and went pounding on the door with no answer.  "What is this, I just talked to them on the phone?"  Are we at the right address?  All backseat drivers agreed that it was the correct address, "but let's just have a look around, maybe they moved".  So we took this very large bus through very narrow streets of small town America and found a gas station.  There were two nefarious charactors on the sidewalk and we suggested that the tour director ask them where the restaurant was.  "No, she said, I am going into the station".  As she stepped off the bus a very loud miniature Cujo dog, jumped out from behind the bushes barking viciously at her and "scared the crap" out of her.  Well, she was informed that we were at the correct place and we found a different door open and gracious waitstaff anticipating our arrival.  We had a great and speedy lunch and headed on to Ottawa.

We arrived at the Notre Dame Cathedral about 4:00pm with a wonderful
docent there to give us a tour.  This man offered us a unique look at the
magnificence of this place of worship.  We were there for about an hour and could have
stayed all day listening to the history and being awed by it's beauty.

OH Canada, OH You BEAUTIFUL Falls!!

Nothing can outshine the beauty/power/magnificence of the Niagara Falls.  Riding on the Maid of the Mist was absolutely breathtaking.  It was as if the falls were coming down to nuzzle you on the cheek.  The mist wasn't always gentle, but definitely enfolding one in the embrace of the Church's most significant symbol,

water. 

Many miles spent overland on the bus bringing us all closer to each other as a choir and as a community.

We sang for mass at St. John's Cathedral in Cleveland Sunday Morning.  At that time many of our Choir Director's family were there to share the music as we sang, Sing Joyfully.  It is a magnificently beautiful Cathedral and it was a beautiful expression of our music.

Gotta go, the bus is humming..........
Quote of the day.........."what is the tour director doing in the back of the bus with Him for so long?
                                    She is debriefing him!!!"

Going into Amish Country on a big, did I say BIG BUS?

Our bus was late, cause our tour director lost her wallet.......was frazzled, but regained her authority and was after us for the rest of the day if WE were late.  Arrived at the Blue Gate Restaurant for lunch at 1:00pm.
Had a large lunch, but I skipped out on desert (no, had Liz bring it in a carryout) and took some photos of the area.  Hit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and arrived in Cleveland in time for a fine Italian restaurant. 

Quote of the day:  "We're a perfect couple she gets the cucumber and I get the tomato."
                            
well, I left my external hardware on the bus-so no pics until tomorrow.........
I brushed my teeth with body lotion
and lost and found my passport.

Had a great day!

Program Information