A vacation is like love - anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia.

"A vacation is like love - anticipated with pleasure, experienced with discomfort, and remembered with nostalgia. "

-- Author Unknown

 

Traveling with a group is an exercise in the fine art of negotiation skills. My first experience was in 1972 with a group from Canevin High School to Austria and Germany for two weeks.  In 2006 I traveled with college students and Professors to Slovakia and Poland for an Artist workshop.

 

Booking a trip with a group of totally unknown individuals can be an adventure in itself.   Last Sunday, Kara and I boarded a bus bound for Quebec City at 7:30 am with a group of strangers.   By the end of the adventure it was like leaving a group of old friends.

 

Thankfully, the bus was less than half full so we had plenty of space to move around until I found the perfect place to set up  my nest.

Kara my faithful travel companion set up her nest too ;~)

 

First stop,  across from Bolt Castle @ 1000 Islands, NY for a lovely lunch by the St.Lawrence River.

http://www.1000islands.com/alexbay/

We've been here before in 2004 when we toured Bolt Castle, Singer Castle and a weavers museum in Clayton, NY.  We also had lunch during that visit at the Thousand Island Inn where the famous dressing was first served. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_Island_dressing

 1000 Islands, the playground for the wealthy families of Manhattan to escape the heat of the city in the summer is still a lovely, relaxing place to visit.

Kara getting back on the bus.  Here are Dan our tour guide and Lee the best bus driver in the whole world. 

We traveled for hours over many bridges past Montreal until we arrived in Quebec City sometime after 6 pm

Here is a pic of our room before we started nesting in here too.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g155033-d185639-Reviews-Hotel_Chateau_Laurier-Quebec_City_Quebec.html

Set up our room quickly, then out on the streets of Old Quebec City for dinner with the group.

I have to stop here for now as I need to attend the Opening of the Fiber Art Show @ Impact Women's Gallery tonight     

stop by if you read this blog in time   then on to a Three Dog Night concert @ Lockport Canal Fest ;~)