Montreal

Day 41

On our way to Orlando we had a three hour stop at St Augustine, a beautiful  historic seaside village which boasts the oldest house and motel in America due to the fact that it was originally established by the Spanish.  We had a tour of the Fort Castillo De San Marco which had a name change to St Marks when the British occupied it.     After lunch we headed off to Orlando – another home to Mickey Mouse, Universal  Studios and Sea World.

Next day we took a full day tour (12 hours) to NASA – Kennedy Space Station.  We visited the Rocket Garden, many exhibits, 2 very good IMAX shows,  a talk by astronaut  J.O  Creighton who had three flights; one as a pilot and 2 as a commander.  We had a photo taken with him and he signed a cap Ian had bought there.  Ian lay in one of the early modules and couldn’t believe how small and cramped they were for them to spend such a length of time. 

We had a simulated blast off where you are strapped in, tilted to vertical, listened to the countdown then you are shaken violently and then felt the speed.

We also took a bus tour out to the launch pads. 

It was really interesting and I hadn’t realized how many things we use every day that are a result of the invention  and development at NASA such as the developemnt of kidney dialysis machines and medical CAT scanner, athletic shoe design and manufacture, freeze dried food, insulation barriers, water purification technology, cordless power tools and appliances and many, many more. 

This was the last day of our tour with this group. 

Today we flew to Montreal. When we arrived at The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth we found we had been given an upgrade to the Gold Experience. The room is huge with a deparate sitting area and entry.  It will be a nice place to relax for the next few days.