Trois Pistoles, Quebec

Judging here was such fun. The judges were housed in a gorgeous B&B where we enjoyed the hospitality of Pascale, an amazing chef and a fellow artist. Some of her pieces hang on the walls and she brought up a piece she is just finishing from her studio. 

The yard view the first day

Pascale with her painting of Ali and Sonny L. 

Rosario Dog Show

Lovely lounge area for the judges

Amazing building that used to be a train station and has been converted into a multi use facility that houses not just the dog show but music events, including a Ricky martin concert.

What a great place to judge

(L-r) Hans, Olga, Francesco and Gunnar. After the Show on Saturday, the Club Members took us to the Rosario Opera Restaurant, which is part of the Opera House! Fabulous food and a special treat...we got to sneak in and enjoy part of the production of Don Giovanni which was playing at the time!!

Our last night in Rosario we went to a restaurant and ate a'familia of a great number of traditional dishes...delicious!

Marcella and Daniel...our beautiful hosts! Francesco is sitting beside Daniel. 

Rosario - about 3 hours out of Buenos Aires

The second largest city in Argentina. The dog show is being held here and all the fun begins tomorrow. 

But first a little shopping!

Again the buildings and the decorative flourishes make me smile. 

Heading to the walking street where you can find anything and everything!

The entrance to the big store that is lots of smaller venders all under one roof

A textile and fabric shop

Such a cool entrance

Let's go shopping - this so reminds me of Paris 

Love this street

Buenos Aires

A beautiful city, steeped in history that is a mingle of several origins, but at the same time all its own. Spanish, Italian and French influences can be seen in the architecture and building and decorative design everywhere. 

The facade of a beautiful restaurant just down the street from our hotel

The old basilica that is beside the famous Cementerio de la Recoleta

The cemetery is row upon row of truly amazing crypts

From ornate sculptures to rough styled monuments...

Crypto familia Duarte - Evita Peron's family and her final resting place

Then it was on to the National Art Gallery where they have a wonderful Impressionist collection with works by Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, Gaugin, Manet and Monet. There are also several Rodin sculptures housed there, including the bust of Balzac.

A mechanical sculpture. The flower closes when the light fades and opens when the morning sun hits it!

The huge old soccer stadium!

Messi statue, one of argentina's footballer heroes. 

Soccer souvenirs anyone?

Heading to Florida

Thanksgiving weekend in the US, so the weekend should be lots of fun! Getting into TO airport; however, was another thing. At first the Captain told us we would be about 20 minutes late, arrive at about 1:10pm, our actual touch down was almost 1:40, needless to say, people were frantic. Ah Pearson...that is why I will not leave myself with less an 2 full hours for a TO connection...and in this case I had 3 hours, thank goodness!

So a wee sit in the lounge and I will be ready to board in a couple of hours...next stop...Florida sunshine!

On to Niagara Falls

After another truly fun Show in Welland, it was a quick zip to THE Falls for supper the last night there. Before getting to The Falls; however, we drove over The Welland Canal...a marvel itself.

And what a great tour Barb took us on! We got to drive past the amazing Oak Hall, the 37-room mansion built by mining millionaire Harry Oakes, which houses the offices of the Niagara Parks Commission. 

We then drove by the old and abandoned Toronto Power Generating Station, designed by E.J. Lennox, built in 1906, closed in 1974. The building was designated a national historic site in Canada in 1983...and it is truly a beautiful architectural delight, from the outside it appears as a grand mansion and there is no exterior evidence that it was a power station...all the 'works' are in the several stories behind and below the grand main floor, which sported mosaic tile floors and copper railings throughout. A shame that it cannot be toured, but just sits empty.

Ah well...off to supper and the glorious view of the Falls

The night lights shining on the Falls...not a lot of light for a photo, but that glimmer is spectacular in person!

Wednesday, last day on the Islands

And since it's Wednesday, it's off to the Aloha market...a tradition that is just fun to keep!

If you plan your trip right, you can go to the market on one of your first days...towels, t-shirts, all the stuff you need at market prices! The Aloha Market is on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. 

And then it was check out time, but I still have seven hours to breathe the island air, so I offered my lei to the sea and promised to return!

Lunch at Bubba Gumps...another island must.

This location (Ala Moana Mall) even has Jenny's wedding dress under glass!

The view from the deck tables

For those who want a Forrest pix while they wait.

Until my next visit to these beautiful islands...Much Aloha!!!