New Orleans Visit, Part III--Riverboat Tour

While we were in New Orleans last month, we took a Mississippi River tour on a stern-wheel driven steamboat (one of the last authentic steamboats on the Mississippi River). The informative commentary brought the busy harbor, various city parishes, and a stretch of the mighty river alive for us. Except for the photo of the paddle boat itself, you are seeing views from the boat.

You can see Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral again (see recent post for more information) as we pull away from the French Quarter. The USS Cape Kennedy is a large naval cargo ship; one photo shows the stern hatch of its sister ship open with its ramp out for loading or unloading tanks and other heavy equipment. We also got a sense of what a busy shipping port New Orleans is, with commercial cargo ships from all over the world coming, going, docked, loading, and unloading. Returning from a fascinating 2-hour cruise, we enjoyed stunning views of the city.

Question of the day: Do you also gravitate to bodies of water, water tours, and water recreation when you travel or relax near home? We enjoy cities, mountains, desert vistas, and more--but have to admit that nothing beats rivers, oceans, lakes, etc. for beauty and enjoyment for us.

Exploring--Cleveland, Ohio, Blossom Center, and Lake Erie Islands

I apologize for being gone for a couple of weeks, both from posting and from visiting your blogs. Nothing is wrong here--just have been swept away by happy life events. I will try to be a more active blogger in October.

Since I have not yet tormented y'all with any posts about "What I did on my summer vacation", here it comes :>). This past summer, we enjoyed a wonderful road trip to visit my sister in Salisbury, MD and my brother in Cleveland, OH. Of course, time with family is priceless, but I also enjoyed exploring both these interesting locations.

The first photo above shows a view of the Cleveland skyline as seen approaching the dock after a river boat tour on the Goodtime III. Fond memories of the interesting sights on the Goodtime II umpty years ago put this Cleveland attraction at the top of my list of things to see and do during our visit. The glut of photos from this ride in my IPhoto album indicate the many interesting sights, including Cleveland's iconic Terminal Tower, seen from every side as we followed the winding course of the Cuyahoga River. It is the distant, pointy-topped building on the right here. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the modern building on the left, designed by world-famous architect, I. M. Pei.

The second photo shows a quiet beach on one of the Lake Erie Islands. We explored Put-in-Bay, a touristy town on one island as well as lovely natural areas, all by golf cart (the line for bringing cars onto the ferry didn't seem worth the wait that day).

Finally, another nostalgic event--we attended a stunning performance of some of our classical music favorites at Blossom Center, summer home of the world-class Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. I think the last time we were at Blossom Center was in the 1960's. It is as breath-taking as ever, with the gorgeous wood of the stage area, the acres of wooded grounds, and the amazing acoustics that allow all listeners, even those on lawn chairs or blankets on the edges of this natural "bowl" to hear every lovely note.

Question of the day: Do you know a city or town like Cleveland, which is much more attractive and interesting to visit than many realize?