Port of Saint John – Charles E. Frees-Melvin

Day 3 – Paris (a.k.a. the last day I enjoyed wine)

Travel

20 May 2023

Contiki, Europe 2013, European Experiance, Food, France, Paris, Theatre
This tale begins about a month ago. I received a marketing email from my favourite travel company Maritime Travel. It offered a talk about the offerings by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, lunch, and a tour of the Anthem of the Seas when it was in port on September 13th. I had never received one of these invitations before but was in envy of those who did. I was kind of in an when I showed it to a colleague, her eyes lit up and said: “I’m your plus one right?”

So, I replied back that I was interested and quickly go a reply back that I was on the list.

About a week before the trip, I received an email with the details that basically confirmed the times.

Meet at the “Port of Saint John” by 9:30 am. There were no specifics. Let’s face it, if I can find a ship in San Juan, Saint John would be a walk in the park. I mean how could you miss it on a beautiful sunny day.

When we got to the terminal the commissioner let us into the terminal and gave us directions to go to the furthest door. We passed through the “Fundy Cruise Market”, which carried all the typical local wares. (Including Maple Syrup). Once in the terminal, it was a flutter of activity with people being directed to their excursions or tours to see the city. Once at the far gate as directed we were then pointed to the group of people sitting at the nearby door. I then proceeded to the guy checking off names from the list.

We waited there for about a half-hour before proceeding up to the ship. This was an incredible people-watching opportunity to see the different types of tourists from the ship and to judge them. Especially the “I’m wearing the T-shirt from my last port” guy.

We were then led up in the group to the security gate, checking ID they gave us a ship pass and then we were directed to the security gate. The first sign this was not an NCL ship was the lack of “Washie Washie Happy Happy” although there were hand sanitizer stations everywhere. The metal detector part went really fast. I am really good at that even at airports.

The ship itself is like I giant beautiful mall and hotel at sea. There are so many things to do and things to see. It is also well suited for winter in New York(ish) as most of the pools have the ability to be glassed in and there are incredible pools on the front solarium where you can get incredible views.

There are also tons of exercise options from basketball, running, soccer, free falling, wall climbing, roller skating dance hall, and gym.

There are also enough bars that you probably never have to use the same one twice. Although there is even a self-serve bar that has a robot make the drinks for you.

After the tour, we were seated for dinner and there was a mini menu of some of the best dishes on the ship. I ordered the Swordfish which I never knew I would love.

The main discount was pretty much just access to the on-ship Next Cruise desk what had some deals. After we wandered the ship a bit more and took some more photos.

If the economics worked out I would like to travel on this ship or another RCL ship sometime. This ship is incredible. The elevators even have a floor pattern that tells you what day of the week it is. The ship speaker music in common areas was really pleasant and diverse.
Taking a tour in #saintawesome
I’m on a boat #saintawesome
This week I learned: Some Filipino actually has a job changing the day of the week floor tile on every elevator.
Roadtrip to Halifax

SnapShots

7 April 2023

Halifax, Halifax Thunderbirds, NLL, Nova Scotia
Photos from road trip.
My Top 2022 Photos per Month

SnapShots

6 January 2023

Photography

July-December

January – June
Day 2 – To Paris

Travel

16 November 2022

Contiki, Dover, Eiffel Tower, Europe 2013, European Experiance, France, Paris

Continuation of a series from a Travel Log I found from my 2013 Contiki trip

Got up early and started the bus journey. Met the ferry and had breakfast.

Finally made it to Paris. We did a city tour by bus, had some snails then spent the night going up the Eiffel Tower. I took the stairs. It was difficult, but easier than the 1st time.

I did not want to go to the very top but like what the hell and did it anyways.

Then it was 12:30am by the time we got down and took a taxi home.
Europe Trip Travel Log 2013

Travel

13 November 2022

Contiki, Europe 2013, European Experiance, London

This morning I was cleaning out some old notebooks and I found a travel journal I started during my 2013 Contiki trip to Europe. This was the trip that I added Monaco and Liechtenstein to my list of travelled countries.

Day 1 – London

Great flight. Heathrow went quite quickly. I thought that I had food poisoning on the flight as I was very gassy.

Then I went to the Royal National dropped off my bags and then explored the city walked across Westminster Bridge seen the London Eye and Parliament. Then went to Canada Water to pick up a few items at the mall.

Went back to the hotel & checked into my room. Then I met my roommate Probin from Regina, SK. Went to see Westminster and Buckingham Palace. Then back to the Royal National for the meetup and drinks at London Pub.
Mosaiq Parade

SnapShots

25 July 2022

Moncton, Multicultural, Parade, Vimeo, Westmoreland County
Deaf Difficulties (one of two: General Difficulties)

General

12 January 2021

Deaf, Disabilities, Journalistic Writings, News, Rogers TV

This was written in the early 2000’s this segment was recorded over and I no longer have the video. It originally aired on Rogers Television on a news program called Focus NB.

Lead: There are many disabilities faced by New Brunswickers. One of the most noticeable is cultural deafness. Our Reporter Charles Frees-Melvin brings us the difficulties faced by the Deaf in day-to-day life.

Stand-up: Deafness is a condition faced by several hundred residents in this province. Many people are unaware of some of the difficulties faced by these people. Gerald Frazee stressed that the biggest concern is the need of interpreters to be present.

Gerald: (48:47-48:59) 12 sec

“Culturally I am deaf and a lot of what goes on in the world I perceive with my eyes, so probably the biggest concern for me would to make sure interpreters are present”

VO: Mr. Frazee can’t stress enough the troubles he would faces trying to cope with day-to-day life without an interpreter.

Gerald: (49:08-49:21) 13 sec

“Oh, Gosh it’s chaos, the communication breaks down, writing back and forth isn’t adequate enough only having an interpreter there are we able to interpret adequately.”

VO: Joanne Burke also agrees with the need for interpreters.

Joanne: (49:24-49:55) 31 sec

“Without the interpreter present I have to rely fully on my Children, and it’s not their responsibility they’re not professionally trained so we have to hire a professionally trained interpreter. and then we can communicate and make designs that we need. For us English is our second language, and not necessarily do we know it so by having the interpreter present, being able to communicate in our language of American sign language we have the confidence to make the decision we need to make.”

VO: Another difficulty is the lack of Public Tele-Type devices so the deaf can make phone calls. Mike Clark definitely thinks that stores and malls should be equipped with these devices for their deaf patrons.

Mike: (59:15-59:41) 26 sec

“A lot of deaf people go into stores or into companies and they have absolutely no devices for us to make phone calls. We must have a teletypewriter. It is a device that deaf people use to make phone calls we need to make in public.”

VO: (Insert Name) and (Insert Name) say they want to see devices installed so that they can become more independent. And that New Brunswick is far behind other provinces in meeting their needs.

Group 3: (04:29-05:21) 52 sec.

“In Ontario they have a lot of services for deaf individuals, flashing alarms for fire in public places, TTY to make calls. When they are in the public however in Saint John there is nothing isn’t anything like that for deaf people, no fire alarms, TTY, every time I have to go to the mall, I have to get a hearing person to make a call for me, but I want to be independent. I don’t want to have to rely on someone else.”

Stand up: A special thanks to Interpreter Shelly Williams for assisting us with the interpretations. In Saint John, I’m Charles Frees-Melvin, for Focus NB.
Hartley Steeves Covered Bridge

Covered Bridges 2020

1 November 2020

Albert County, All the Covered Bridges, Covered Bridge, Road Trip

Hartley Steeves Covered Bridge – Built 1923

Weldon Creek #3 Bridge, built in 1923, is 18.3 metres long.