January 25, 2015 · 8:36 pm

Sydney McCullough Ward

My maternal grandfather.   Born Oct 24, 1885 Montreal.  (St. Martin’s Church of England Montreal records). Parents Samuel Henderson Ward (died Sept 22, 1938 at age 92) and Jane Frances Hawkins Maxwell from Armagh, Northern Ireland.  Sydney had five brothers Sam, Charles, Frank, Gordon and Eddie.  He had one sister Ann Edith Ward who never married.

I guess the photos above were taken in about 1920 when Syd was 35 or so.

He worked for the Canada Paint Co. for many years.  I understand that he met his bride Mary Finnie there who was a secretary perhaps his, starting around 1917-18.  They were married shortly after, he being 13 years her senior did very well!  He and Mary had three children Mary (1921-2011 my mother), Charles Kenneth (C.K. 1923-1969) and Sydney Harold (Bud 1926-2008??).

They lived at 57 King Edward Ave in Montreal for a number of years.  He purchased 3429 (formerly 315) Beaconsfield Avenue in Montreal on April 29, 1929 from a Owen Roberts taking out a mortgage of $6000.  Dame Mary Finnie eventually sells the 3429 Beaconsfield property for $15,500 to Miss Agnes Stock on March 23, 1955.

He was a shrewd investor.  I found shares of a dozen penny mining companies and a chemical company in the files which I will check with my stockbroker about. (Subsequently these have all been deemed worthless lol.)  In 1923 he also lists owning 3 vacant lots in Laurentide Park fully paid for.  His estate was complicated with several life insurance policies and other blue chip stocks valued at $29k.

From Claudia:

Circa 1930

He was honoured for 25 years service with Canada Paint  with a luncheon at Queen’s Hotel Nov 5, 1927.  On Oct 14, 1952 he was again honoured with a dinner for 50 years service at the Windsor Hotel.  Here is the program inscription:

“Sydney M. Ward joined the Canada Paint Company in October 1902 as office boy.  In 1903 he was promoted to Invoice Clerk.  Then in 1904 he was made Pricing Clerk. His advancement to the position of Chief Clerk followed in 1905. Then in 1910 a new department was created, the Sales Promotion and Advertising Department, and he was transferred to it.  Later in 1912 he was assigned a Sales Territory.  Promotion followed quickly and in 1914 Mr. Ward was appointed Trade Sales Manager of the District of Fort William east to Nova Scotia.  In 1917, following the death of the General Manager, Mr H.W. Aird, Mr. Ward was requested to take over temporarily until a new appointment was made.  in 1918 when the company decided to enter the export field, Mr. Ward was given the assignment of opening up a new territory which included Bermuda, West Indies, British and Dutch Guiana, which he handled very successfully.  He continued as Sales Manager to District Manager and on the death of our late general manager Mr. J. H. Hawkins, August 1952, Mr Ward was requested to take over temporarily as Acting General Manager.”  A bit bizarre because his mom was Jane Frances Hawkins Maxwell Ward.

At age 52 he was declared a Life Member of Westmount Masonic Lodge No. 76 on Feb 14, 1938.  Hence he must have been a member for at least 30 years prior.

Dies at age 69 in September 1954.  “A funeral service was held this afternoon in the chapel of Jos. C. Wray and Bro. Mountain Street, for Sydney M. Ward, former district manager of the Canada Paint Compnay Limited, who died at the Montreal General Hospital.  He was 69.  Mr. Ward served 52 years with the company, where he started as office boy in 1902.  He advanced through the order department, sales territory and sales management to the post of district manager he held at the time of his death.  He is survived by his widow, the former Mary Finnie, a daughter Mary, and two sons Charles and Sydney, a sister and five brothers.  Burial will be in Mount Royal Cemetery.

There are several letters of tribute from Canada Paint on hand.  In one a D.A. Whittaker thanks his widow Mary Ward for all Syd’s dedicated service.  He explains that $4,500 in owed salary and commission as well as an additional sympathetic allowance of $3,500 will be paid to the estate shortly.  Apparently, as he explains there was no ongoing survivor pension benefit paid in those days.
The letter mentions discussing this with C.K. and that C.K. is heading off to Central America.

I likely met him when I was 3 years old in 1953.  Mom shipped me off to stay with them when Kim was born in 1953.  I cannot recall anything other than one standing joke mom would tell.  Everyone was heading out the door for an event and no Pop.  Mary called out “Pop what are you doing?”  A grunt like voice emerged from the bathroom “Oh nothing.”  Mom also mentioned that she had been selected to go to London for the Royal Jubilee celebration in the 1930s sometime.  Syd overruled and decided to send C.K. her younger brother.  Not sure why but Mom was not pleased at the time.

Sydney was obviously a very successful man with lot’s of friends, family and business connections.  Makes me think we are blessed to be descended from him.  His spirit lives on in us for sure.

Some pics:

Sydney in 1952
Syd and at least one brother and friends at the lake, note the ties!
Same gathering.  Perhaps they were all Masons? Flower pot on centre persons head!
Sydney and daughter Mary (my mom circa 1921)
Syd at beach with mom wearing coat and tie
Sydney, Mary, Mary and Charlie circa 1925-26
With Mary and Charlie circa 1927

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January 23, 2015 · 4:35 pm

Alexander Bell Finnieo

Mary Finnie’s older brother.  My mom’s uncle.  We called him Uncle Alex too.  What a character!

Born July 7, 1894 in Broxburn, Uphall, Scotland.  Died Nov 23, 1975, Victoria, B.C., age 81.  He did not marry until later in life and had no children we know of.

Alex Finnie circa 1936

My earliest recollection of him was his gnarled hands making it difficult and perhaps painful for him to shake your hand.  He also coughed a lot.  Once he stayed over at our house in a spare bed in my bedroom, probably 1961-62.  I was kept awake all night by his coughing. He also had a rather loud, raspy and commanding voice.  He was very interesting nevertheless and lived in that far off city Halifax.

He had difficult times in his life it seems.  Starting with his dad William dieing when Alex was 14 or 15 and continuing with bouts of unemployment.  Mom told me how Uncle Alex was forced to move in with his sister Mary and brother-in-law Sydney during the depression years.  He would head out and pound the payment looking for work every day and return in the evening empty handed – for several years it seems.  This must have been very humbling and demoralizing.

There are also some comments on file in a letter from his brother Bill to Mom saying how Alex used to ‘browbeat’ Grandma Finnie (Elizabeth, his mother), his sister Mary, Helen (wife), Elizabeth (sister), Pauline (not sure who this is?) and eventually Mom.  ‘Browbeat’ to me means ‘to seek to get his own way.’  He was a forceful yet gentle character.

Balancing this trait is a letter from his boss at Gilmore, German and Milne (see below) saying what a great employee he had been and that he would be greatly missed after retiring.

I have a copy his Second Class Engineer of a Motor-Driven Ship Certificate No. 521 dated  March 29, 1939. (Canada Minister of Transport).  I also have his Continuous Certificate of Discharge for Seamen No. 13138 issued by the Canadian Dept. of  Marine and Fisheries.  In there it says he was born in 1899 (not correct) in Broxburn, Scotland.  As a Junior Engineer on the International Petroleum Company’s Calgaroble and Trontolite ships between Montreal, Columbia and Peru starting in Sept 1936.  In May 1939 he was promoted to 3rd Engineer and then to 2nd Engineer in July 1940.

Other ships listed are the Canadolite and the Petrolite.  Note these ships were owned by Imperial Oil.  The Canadolite was captured by the Germans in 1941 (1 year after Alex was aboard), taken to Bordeaux, FR, converted to a blockade runner called the Sudenteland and eventually sunk by the RAF.  The Trontolite survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1946.  Presumably these ships were transporting crude oil or fuels from South America to Canada.  Each trip to S.A. and back lasted about a month. Staring in 1941 the voyage would be described as “Foreign” or “Home Trade” presumably for security reasons.  This booklet lists a total of 33 separate voyages ending Jan 1, 1943.  All reports of character were stamped “Very Good”.

Photo of the Trontolite:Photobucket:

After the war years he worked until 1961 for Gilmore, German and Milne, Naval Architects and Marine Surveyors in Halifax, NS.  A letter on file says they appreciated all his services and he responded that he had really enjoyed working for them.

After returning to Montreal to live, he married Helen Gleason Ward in 1962.  Helen had married John Howard Deuel in 1930.  Then in 1954 she married Frank Ward, a brother of Sydney Ward, husband of Alex’s sister Mary. Frank unfortunately passed away in 1958 leaving Helen a widow.  She was strongly advised not to tie the knot with life-long bachelor Alex, by the family according to my Mom. They went on a honeymoon to Los Angeles while younger brother Bill was living there.

They moved to Victoria B.C, in 1964. They rented (or owned) a superb apartment on Dallas Road overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca with the Olympic Mountains in the distance.  He became a member of the James Bay United Church, Victoria, B.C., on Sept 26, 1965.  Seems they were very happy.  Unfortunately, Helen had a massive stroke and passed away suddenly in 1973.  It must have been devastating for him. In a wonderful gentle letter he wrote to Mom in 1974 he thanks her for her letter and gives her some news.  He even included a few poems he found in a magazine he liked which are reproduced below.  All this was typed up nice and neat.

Obituary: Finnie on Nov 23, 1975 at the Victoria General Hospital, Alexander Bell Finnie, a resident of Victoria for 11 years.  Predeceased by his wife Helen in 1973, he is survived by one sister, Mary Ward of Montreal; one brother Bill of Nelson, B.C. and several nieces and nephews.  He was a member of the Masonic Order.  Funeral service in McCall Bros. Chapel, Johnson and Vancouver Streets on Tuesday Nov 25 at 1:30 p.m. with the Rev. R. H. Dobson and the Rev. H. T. Allen officiating.

In the lead up to his passing, he asked Mom to come out and help him move into a retirement or nursing home.  I was living in Vancouver at the time and came over with my van.  We managed to move his things and get him settled but it was a difficult transition for him.  He was OK for awhile and would call me up wanting to chat.  He soon wanted me (and Mom in Ottawa) to come back and visit him as he was ill.  We were not able to come on short notice and he was upset.  We learned later that he rewrote his will writing Mom out of it!  She did manage to come out before he died and they reconciled.  Eventually things were settled and Mom was written back in posthumously.  I felt bad about my shortcomings in this, but such is life.

I am sure you have some Uncle Alex stories to share.  To his credit, most of us remember him well and will never forget him.

Uncle Alex outside his Victoria, BC apartment

Top: Alex and Helen in their Montreal apartment I think
Middle: Helen on the balcony of their Montreal apartment circa 1963
Bottom: Alex gazing at the Empress Hotel in Victoria

Alex and Helen in their Victoria apartment circa 1970

The monument to the end of the Trans Canada Highway is in the park right across the street.

At airport when you could smoke! (I have the bag he is carrying.)
With Helen
With Laurie Plaunt Morgan, me and Mom, Victoria 1974
Passport Photo 1969
 
Mystery Photo marked 1935 on back

Could be Finnies or Wards.  If it’s Finnies might be Alex with brothers George and Bill and someone else.  If it’s Wards it looks like Sydney, Sam or Charles but who is that old guy in the middle and the guy with the pipe?

The 1974 poems Alex sent to my mom:

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January 16, 2015 · 9:04 pm

Great Grandparents – Finnies

My mother (Mary Ward Morgan Darling)’s maternal grandparents, (my great grandparents) are:

Elizabeth Bell Finnie (1868-1942) and William Walker Finnie (1864-1909) (oil worker on ships). They were married June 4, 1886 in the Parish of Uphall in Scotland just west of Edinburg.  (George McKenzie and Annie Bell witnesses). Siblings: George (oldest), Elizabeth, Alex (see separate posting to come), Mary (see separate posting to come) and Bill (youngest).  Elizabeth was married to Jim and attended Mary Ward’s wedding to Alfred in 1949.

Elizabeth Bell born Jan 4, 1868. Died July 1942.  Daughter of Alexander Bell, Retortman (operated a large oven in which coal was baked to produce coal gas) and Elizabeth Thomson at Hall Bathgate in the District of Bathgate, County Linlithgow, Scotland, just a little west of Uphall.  Owns Mount Royal Cemetery plot 55F since June 10, 1909. 

Here is a history of the MacMillan (Bell) Tartan someone wrote out with no date given:

William Walker Finnie born June 8, 1864 at Carnwath, Parish of Carnwath, County Lunwith Scotland, about 20 km south of Uphall.  Son of George Finnie, Carter (worked with horse and cart on farms or in towns) and Elizabeth Walker.

William came to Canada in 1905/06 by himself.  Mom said he got a job at Vickers (but Vickers did not come to Canada until 1911?) and sent money back to the family in Scotland.  When George and Alex arrived in Montreal, William was not there to meet them.  They had the day mixed up.  They took the streetcar to the west end of the line (wrong way) and William was not there.  Then they went to the east end of the line.  There William was at 2 pm sound asleep on a bench.  George and Alex found work for $1/day but had to pay car fair of 10 cents.  The three of them saved so that Elizabeth and the three remaining children could come over.  When they did, they all moved to Verdun. Sadly, William died one year later of typhoid fever in 1909.  The church gave them half a ton of coal to get through that first winter.

On file is Certificate no. 4901 from Mount Royal Cemetery Company issued to Elizabeth Finnie nee Bell, stating she had purchased grave No. 55f in Section N.  The date is June 10, 1909 and the fee was $17.50.  She paid $4.00 as a digging fee for William’s burial.  On July 10, 1942, daughter Mary Ward paid $25.00 in burial fees in plot 55-f for her mother Elizabeth.

George Finnie apparently married a Roman Catholic woman according to Aunt Joan Ward.  One day the Priest came over for a visit and George kicked him down the stairs! He became a builder (we think) and lived out on the lakeshore west of Montreal. The Finnies were a little mysterious and we only saw them rarely according to Aunt Joan Ward.  In a 1974 letter I found to mom from Uncle Alex Finnie, he mentions a Willie Finnie that lived in St. Lambert, QC.  This must be a son of George unless another Finnie man also emigrated from Scotland.  Willie and his unnamed wife had a son named Gary who in turn had a son born May 2, 1974.  Gary was manager of Xerox in Montreal according to Uncle Alex.

Nana’s address book has a W. J. Finnie (Bill?) living at 8 Roanoke Road, Don Mills, ON, and at 4 Wonderland Dr, Scarborough, ON (crossed out); A. B Finnie (Alex) living at first 72 Seymour, Halifax (crossed out) and then 636 Dallas Rd. Victoria, B.C.; Bill Finnie living at 5343 Vincent Ave, then 5433 Mt Helena Ave, LA, CA and finally 711 Elwyn Street, Nelson, B.C.; and a Jean Finnie at 18 Bell St, Renfrew, Scotland (crossed out).  Strange that there is no mention of George.  I wonder if they had a falling out??

I don’t have many pics yet but here are some:

I believe this is Elizabeth Bell Finnie (Granda Finnie) circa 1900, she would have been 32 then
Else it could be Aunt Lizzie the lady below around 1920 when she was 25??

I believe this is Elizabeth Finnie (Aunt Lizzie, Grandma Finnie’s daughter, Nana’s sister) about 1950 judging by the late 1940s style of the cars.  She would have been about 55 then.

Bill Finnie with Douglas, Helen and Edwin

Looks like Alex, George, Bill Finnie and ? (1935 marked on back)

Bill and Edna Finnie

Helen Finnie 1947

If you have additional photos or can fill in some of the information gaps, let me know.

Here is a mystery photo of a school boy that is old.  He looks more Finnie than Ward.  Hence I am thinking it could be George, Alex or Bill as a boy.  Or, it could be William Finnie as a boy?

No inscription but a very old photograph with a pin hole at top, so someone had it on the wall.  Could it be Charles (C.K.) Ward with his school scroll circa 1928-29?

Finally we have an image of the beautiful Clan MacMillan Tartan that Claudia was able to find.  Thanks Claudia.

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January 16, 2015 · 7:08 pm

Great Grandparents – Wards

My mother (Mary Ward Morgan Darling)’s paternal grandparents, (my great grandparents) are:

Samuel Henderson Ward

and

Jane Frances Hawkins Ward (nee Maxwell)

Samuel Henderson Ward (1846-1938) (Grandpa Ward) and Jane Frances Hawkins Maxwell (Grandma Ward) (1857-1938) were originally from Armagh, Northern Ireland.  They had six sons and one daughter Ann Edythe Ward (1900 – 1970) who never married.  Sons: Sydney (see separate posting to come), Sam, Charles, Frank, Gordon and Edward. All children were apparently born in Montreal.

At the time of his death, Sam Henderson Ward lived at 3421 Grand Boulevard, Montreal and is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery plot B590.  He died Sept 23, 1938 of bronchial pneumonia, at age 92 years.

Jane Frances Hawkins Ward nee Maxwell died on Nov 4, 1938 at age 81 of bronchial pneumonia and is buried at MRC in plot B590.

I don’t recall Mom telling me much about her Ward grandparents. It is not clear why they came to Canada or exactly when.  Samuel must have found good employment in order to have 7 children.  Jane must have been a strong lady for similar reasons. She did talk about her Great Aunt Dora Ward who lived in Chicago. She was Samuel’s youngest brother Edward James Ward’s daughter.  Apparently she did not marry and used to motor to Montreal for visits. (Aunt Joan Ward’s recollection.)

Son Sam was married to Ethel.  Frank was married 3 times.  First to Ellen Fabian Kearley who passed away in 1944 at age 60.  She and Frank had two sons Gilbert and Sydney.  Frank remarried Florence Elene Thom in 1945 but the marriage did not last.  He then married Helen Mary Hebert in 1954.  Frank passed in 1958 and Helen remarried Alex Finnie in 1962 who was my mom’s uncle on her mother’s side. At Mary Ward’s 1949 wedding, great aunt Dora (visiting from Chicago) is listed as providing a gift with no one accompanying her. Frank also attended and listing Florence as his guest.

Charles was married to Jessie Pope and died in 1965, she having predeceased him. They had no children it seems. He was the black sheep of the family according to Aunt Joan Ward. (John) Edward Ward (Eddie) was married to Harriet Stewart and had 3 daughters Margaret, Catherine and Sheila (who died in 1971).  Eddie died in 1982.

Uncle Gordon Ward (b. Feb 7, 1898) lived at 4725 Borden Avenue, Montreal, then 4315 Melrose Ave, Apt. 2 and later at 6220 Sherbrooke Street W..  He had his own company (R. G. K. Ward, Manufacturers Agents, 6100 Monkland Ave.).  He served in the 1st World War. I have his two medals and a letter from his widow Anne.  He was a Mason member of Waverly Lodge No. 82.  I have his Mason ring and a Golden Jubilee pin 1908-1958.  Anne Ward seemed to be called Dolly. They had a daughter named Heather and a disabled son named Henderson who was a ‘ward’ of my Mom’s.  I called him ward Henderson Ward.

Robert Gordon King Ward was a gunner in WW1

Nana’s address book has Frank Ward living at 30 Irene au Claire, Chambly, PQ, (but then crossed out); Syd Ward living at 2 Langevin St. Chambly (Frank’s son), Sam Ward living at 1401 Sherwood Cr, Mt. Royal; Ed Ward living at 7490 Glenwood, Mt. Royal; Henderson Ward (had a mental disability and was the son of Gordon and Anne) P.O. Box 6034, Montreal (but then crossed out); J.E Ward (Eddie) at 26 Heilwood, Clearwater Beach, FL and Edythe Ward at 17 Grenville, Westmount (but then crossed out).  Also a George Bell living in Dundas, ON, who would have been a cousin or Uncle.

Annie Edith Ward: born March 7, 1900.  Died Ste Anne’s Hospital, St Anne de Bellevue, Nov 19, 1970.  Aged 70 years. B590 plot.  But Edith soon spells her name Edythe and was called Aunt Edythe.  On Oct 17, 1923 Annie Edythe Ward graduated from the Montreal General Hospital 3 yr School of Nursing Program.  Her certificate is signed by Herbert Molson a famous Montreal name.  In May 1925, she graduated from McGill University’s School for Graduate Nurses with a Certificate in Supervision in Schools of Nursing.  She must have had a very purposeful career. She was engaged to a doctor for a few years but kept too busy with trips and projects to marry.  Apparently he married her best friend.  She never married and the sisters-in-law never quite approved of her.  Mysterious indeed (Aunt Joan Ward’s recollections.)

I have a Merry Christmas card from Eddie and Harriet Ward sent to Sydney and Mary dated 1915.  I also have a 1968 photo album Eddie took of “Man and His World” in 1968. Eddie must have lived to a ripe old age.

Below is the famous Ward family photo on which this research is based.  I would say it was taken in 1924 or so.  Just about everyone is in it.  However two of Sam`s sons are not married yet: Frank and Gordon (or at least their spouses were not present).  Grandpa Ward (Samuel) likely took the picture as he is not in it. I am hoping Aunt Joan can help confirm all this.

My best guesses left to right: Eddie, Gordon, Harriet, Mary, young Mary (my mom), Edythe, Jessie, young Charles (CK), Gilbert (or young Sydney)?, Charles, Grandma Ward (Jane), Dora, Ethel, Sam Sr (or Jr)?, Frank and Sydney.
Jane Francis Hawkins Ward with son Sydney.  What a beautiful smile.
Edythe Ward
Edythe and Aunt Dora Ward (Frank Ward’s wife)
Signed Aunt Edythe 1943 on back
 From Claudia:

Edythe circa 1923

Now to really go back in time.  This is a photo of Jane Maxwell’s (Grandma Ward) mother, hence my Great, Great Grandmother in Ireland circa 1866-67 but it could have been earlier.

Labelled Grandma Maxwell (Pop’s Grandmother)

And here is a photo of Jane Frances Hawkins Maxwell as a girl in Ireland.  She looks about 9 or 10 so this would be about 1866-67.

Labelled Grandma Ward (Pop’s mother)

And another mystery photo with no inscription.  I think it is Jane Frances Hawkins Ward about 1900.  She would have been 43 then.  Photo taken at a Montreal Studio.

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January 15, 2015 · 3:03 pm

Family Sketches

 Hello Ward/Finnie family member.

In going through my mother’s treasure trove of old files, I have come across some interesting documents, letters and photos.  Rather than throw these things out, it occurred to me that I might capture some sketches of some of our deceased family members based on the documents on hand.  There are photos (lots), wills, birth certificates, letters, cards, school records etc., etc.

Hopefully this will be interesting and of more value than simply creating a family tree.  I suppose I will eventually get around to creating a family tree for the Wards and Finnies unless someone has already done it??

Who knows, this information may inspire a present or future family member to continue to add to our story in future?  The permanency of the web seems the perfect place of repose for these writings.  Of course access to this information will be by invitation only.

I encourage your participation and comments.  Please feel free to comment or correct anything written here.  My hope is not to offend anyone and if so, would you please let me know so I can retract.  I plan to publish these sketches sporadically over the next few months.  You can subscribe to new postings by email at the bottom.  (I hope this works, there may be other ways.)  I will be updating each sketch as I go you you can expect updates for something already written.

If you want any of the documents mentioned or some of the original photos, please do let me know.  Would be joyed to find a good home for some of this valuable family material however keeping it all together is also a good option

Best,

David

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December 4, 2014 · 1:10 am

Southern Exposures by the Numbers

Here is our trip by the numbers;
– 32 nights (3 land, 2 air, 27 ship)
– 28,000 km (12,500 sea, 15,500 air)
– 4 continents (NA, EU, AF, SA)
– 8 countries (P, S, M, CV, BR, UR, AR, CH)
– 15 ports of call (did not get into Porto Bello)
– 3 cabins (Inside F cat., B1 veranda, B3 veranda)
– 20 bottles of wine brought on board
– 2 bottles of liquor brought on board
– 3 bottles of wine drunk during 4 open bar events
– gained 5-6 pounds
– 20 lobster tails, 10 lbs of prawns, 10 lbs of fish, 6 steaks eaten
– 8 bowls of ice cream, 5 smoothies, 20 cookies
– 200 laps swum in ship’s pool
– 20 km walked on board ship
– 50 people met
– 200 hrs slept on board
– 23 deg C ave temp whole trip
– 4 rainy days
– 2 equator crossings (1 ship, 1 air)
– 1092 photos
– 2 very satisfied people

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December 1, 2014 · 6:32 pm

Adios Buenos Aires

We arrived on a very wet and windy Sunday in BA. Temp was 16 deg, not a nice day. Took the free shuttle to the Plaza Hotel. From there we took a cab for our private tango lesson in Avenida Cordoba.

Well, private instructor Nora greeted us in her dance studio apartment. There was another couple there to help demonstrate and teach. We learned to caress the floor with our feet and to do the basic tango steps. However, Dave was clutsy and Marie couldn’t follow him. After 90 minutes we were sweating and happy to finish. Nora conceded that the Tango is difficult to learn and it takes several lessons. We thanked them and promised to continue lessons once we got back home.

Web went back to Florida Ave and tried to do some shopping but it was to cool and windy. After hanging out in an upscale mall, we headed back for our last evening on board. We enjoyed a flamengo guitar concert. Eating in the main dining room, we said our goodbyes to Ravi and Gilbert. Also gave tips to Guandoly and Ernie. Could not find Sageer sadly enough.

Hanging out in Horizons before disembarking, a Tim walked up and asked if we would like to join them for a half day tour with airport drop. Well this was greatly appreciated.

We toured the city in a minie bus with two other couples (Niagara on the Lake, Oregon). Jorge was our excellent driver. We saw the La Recoleta Cemetery where Eva Peron is buried. Drove down the broad streets past the pink palace. Stopped for some shopping in La Boca. Saw many other neighborhoods and buildings driving by.

Went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. Very reasonable price, good food and service. Back on the mini bus to Ezeira airport we arrived right on time. Check in with Air Canada went smoothly and now we await departure: Santiago Chile, Toronto and then on to Ottawa.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord for a fabulous holiday!!!

 La Recoleta Cemetery

 Busy city.

 The Pink Palace

 Shopping in La Boca

 He’s everywhere!
Says it all about the culture.

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November 30, 2014 · 5:16 pm

Buenos dias de Buenos Aires

We are currently cruising into the pier at Buenos Aires. Many people we have met told us this is the most interesting and fun port of the whole cruise.

Yesterday in Montevideo, it was 31 deg C and sunny. We walked up the pedestrian streets all the way to Independence Square. There were shops and lots of artisans stalls. It was clean and felt safe.

We bought a few souvenirs including some matte (matay) which all the locals drink out of a special cup with a silver spoon/straw. It is a loose tea that you pour hot water into from a thermos. It foams up and you slurp away.

We wisely had decided to have lunch on shore as we heard Uruguayan beef is very good. Well we found this huge grill building. People were eating inside on two levels and outside. There must have been a thousand diners. There were numerous wood/charcoal stoked grills with cooks working hard to keep up. We saw acres of beef, lamb, chicken and pork being cooked to perfection.

Most people ordered a platter of different meats that they all shared. We had some cheese stuffed filet and skewered beef that melted in your mouth. Yum! A bottle of superb local rose topped things off nicely. This place was as big as a small Costco store. The washrooms were way in the back, just like Costco! What a great lunch we had over a 90 minute period.

Back on board we had Polo Grill booked for a late feed of even more beef. Marie enjoyed the excellent Norwiegan salmon.

Well, clocks back an hour before bed so we are now only 2 hrs ahead of Ottawa time.

We feel so relaxed, wined and dined and happy to be coming home soon to see our friends and family. We give thanks to God for all his gifts.

Adios para agora.

Coming into Montevideo.
The gun sighting tower from the Adm Graf Spee.
Wine bottle service.

Yep, that’s it’s name.
Uh huh.
Tourist wares for sale.

Independence Square.

At the huge grill.

Polo Grill.

                                                                Nora’s tango lessons.

Buenos Aires skyline.
In the main dining room on the last night.

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November 29, 2014 · 1:45 pm

Rio Grande do Sol

We had a very relaxing stop in this relatively prosperous yet modest city. The port is medium sized dotted with cement plants and an oil refinery. But the air is clean and humidity lower here. There are some large farms inland and a lot of gauchos (gowchos) cowboys. However we saw no evidence of this.

We were greeted by local dancers and then bussed in to the town centre. A labour demonstration was underway in the central park. But there were very few police in sight. Everything was respectful, passing cars honked their horns in support of the workers.

We found a pedestrian only street full of shops. A nice church and a gothic like cathedral. Dave found a nice Our Lady of Aparecida icon for a bargain. She, a black madonna, is the patron saint of Brazil.

We found a Hotel de Paris with free weefee and caught up our emails. We had our lunch on a nice shady bench. Marie continued browsing the shops while Dave strolled through a large park with some monkeys in cages and large eucalyptus trees.

People here are less coloured than up north. There was apparently a lot of German settlers. No one payed any attention to us tourists. People seemed very calm and happy. We bought some local wine and then headed back to the ship after a relaxing time.

This cruise is much more relaxed. We are no longer doing excursions other than getting off and walking around. The average age must be closer to 50 instead of 70. A lot fewer Americans, and more South Americans (Argentinians I think). Even the staff seem more relaxed as there are fewer on board than the previous cruise.

We have become quite close to Ravi, a waiter supervisor (main dining room and tea time) from India. He tips us off about the best foods and teas to choose. Very helpful, professional and friendly.

Looking forward to Uruguay but apparently there will be a 2 hour time change back tonight. Weather is superb, sun, sun, sun.

Marie says this is the best trip ever.

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November 29, 2014 · 1:45 pm

Punta del Este

In the evening after our Rio Grande visit, the Captain’s Party was held in Horizons for previous O cruisers.

Well we sat at the bar this time. After a couple of caiparinhas and good conversation with Guendoly from Guetamala, Captain Strescovic came out. He gave a short speech thanking clients for their support. Some O pins were given out for gold and platinum clients (more than 10 and 20 previous O cruises respectively.)

Afterwards, they drifted over to the bar. I chatted with the Captain who confided it was tricky getting out of Parati after the Pulmantor Princess parked behind us. He said he really had to watch the harbour depth as we pulled around and out (remember he missed the opening party because he was busy). After wards he posed with Marie for a picture.

Didn’t they all come over. We chatted with the General Manager from France. Also with Claudia the social hostess from Rio. And finally briefly with Terry Bishop who had given a great talk on the Falklands War of the early 80s. Got some pics to prove it!

Next day we finally left Brazil and put into Punta (Poonta) del Este. This is where rich South Americans come to play. Endless expanses of beaches, swank condo highrises and up scale shopping. We walk around for several hours finally finding an ATM that would work for us. Strangely enough, even the Scotiabank ATM would not work for either our Scotibank debit card or Visa!

We settled on the beach and enjoyed the dry heat and warms waters. The town was not crowded as this is just the threshold of their summer season. There were maintenance repairs to buildings going on everwhere and a lot of painting. Nevertheless we saw the odd Porsche and plates from Argentina and Chile.

Another nice relaxing day was had by all.

Caiparinhas on-board.

With Captain Leo Strazicic.
General Manager Dominique Nicolle.
Social director Claudia from Rio.
Enrichment speaker Terry Bishop.
Heading into Punta del Este.

Sea lion I think.

Fun in P del E
This ATM worked.
This one did not.

Beach time.
The famous fingers monument.
Porsche.

Another beach.

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