Cruise Report

2020/6/26

Something limited to a particular area on the earth, and only for a small period of time. Even if you look around the world, there are not many places where you can enjoy the autumn colors. Among those few places, the maple road in eastern Canada is widely known as the Mecca for this phenomenon. The biggest feature of this area is its scale. Maple trees that turn red fill the mountain surface along the highway for 800 km. On a Peace Boat Cruise, you can spend a lot of time watching the beautiful scenery of reds and yellows from the boat, while we sail down the St. Lawrence River, which connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes of North America. Along with Montreal and Quebec City, you will travel through the autumn colors of eastern Canada.

Autumnal Canada seen from the St. Lawrence River

Going from the North Atlantic into St. Lawrence Bay, the ship arrived at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River in no time. The rising sun just started to illuminate the surface of the water. On the deck, people dressed in jackets and coats, as the outside is completely wrapped in a dignified air with a hint of winter. Our expectations start to heighten as we imagine what kind of wonderful scenery we will be able to see from the St. Lawrence River. After a while, the width of the river gradually narrows, and the mountains rising from the shore start to approach. The trees, with their colorful leaves, fill the mountain’s surface. I can’t help but sigh in front of such splendid scenery. While sailing on this gentle river, you can enjoy the ever-changing scenery for about half a day.

The St. Lawrence River, which pours its water into the Atlantic Ocean from Lake Ontario, has supported the development of eastern Canada.

The Maple Road runs from Niagara in the south to Quebec City in the north. With its great length, it blooms in order from the north to the south.

Fragrance of France in a city of old and new

The day after the tour, we called at Montreal, a city where the influence of France is so strong that it is known as the “Paris of North America”. After disembarking, you only need to walk 10 minutes to see the “Notre Dame Cathedral”, a monumental structure. At first glance, it feels like an ordinary building, but the highlight is inside. A golden altar illuminated in cobalt blue light, stained glass showing the history of the city, and the contrast between gold and blue surrounding the church. Its beauty made me forget about time, gazing at it for a long while. After that, I decided to move to the old town and downtown, and take a walk around this port where modern buildings and an old European atmosphere coexist.

This city is also known for the Montreal International Jazz Festival and birthplace of the world-famous “Cirque du Soleil”.

The “Montreal Underground City” is famous as the largest underground city in the world. You can enjoy shopping including the most popular souvenirs such as maple syrup.

We had poutine, a Canadian dish, for lunch. This version is with Bolognese sauce, on top of hot potatoes and cheese, and is fantastic.