Compass

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/09/2002 (8613 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Acadian Railway Company is starting up its fall foliage rail excursions between Auburn, Maine, and Montreal. Foliage fans get plenty of time for admiring the autumn colours on the ride. The trip takes 12 hours each way.

Riders can opt for a three-day round-trip that includes hotel stays in Portland or Montreal or a one-way without accommodations. The Acadian consists of 10 rebuilt, stainless steel, streamlined cars from the 1940s and 1950s. They include parlour cars, observation cars, dome cars and dining cars, all finished with wood and brass interiors.

The train departs from Danville Junction every Tuesday and Friday, and from Montreal every Thursday and Sunday. The Acadian Railway Company will operate the service until Oct. 18. Call 1-866-91-TRAIN

www.acadianrailway.com

WAG mounts New York tour

The Winnipeg Art Gallery is organizing a three-day tour to take in the sights, sounds, art and culture of New York this November.

At $1,695 per person, double occupancy, the Nov. 14 to 17 tour includes return airfare from Winnipeg, accommodations at the Salisbury Hotel on West 57th Street, ground transportation, sightseeing, all breakfasts, a visit to the Whitney Museum of American Art, a Sunday Gospel tour in Harlem and lunch at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Each fare includes a $150 donation to the WAG.

Time is available for optional theatre, opera, restaurant and museum visits.

Contact Bill Owen at Continent Travel at 989-8597 or Jose Koes at the WAG at 661-0763.

Adria Travel tours Sicily, Malta

A few seats remain for Adria Travel’s upcoming 14-day tour to Sicily and Malta. The $3,749 escorted tour, Nov. 1 to 14, includes return airfare from Winnipeg, breakfast and dinner daily, two lunches, accommodations in superior tourist-class hotels, air conditioned motor coach touring, ferry transfers, hotel taxes, entrance fees and baggage handling.

The itinerary includes stops in Catania, Taorima, Marsala, Palermo and Mount Etna in Sicily. In Malta, the tour will visit the island of Gozo, the ancient citadel at Rabat, Fungus Rock, Mosta Dome, San Anton Palace and the quaint fishing village of Maraxlokk.

For information and reservations, contact Adria Travel at 982-1200 or toll-free 1-888-72-ADRIA or visit www.adruatravel.mb.ca

Presentation promotes Guadaloupe pilgrimage

An information evening and video presentation on the January Marian Pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadaloupe in Mexico will be held on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, 365 Burnell St. The pilgrimage departs Winnipeg Jan. 21 under the direction of Father Paul Hancko.

For information and reservations, contact Adriana Lombardini at Falir Travel, 284-9682 or toll-free at 1-888-883-5247.

Floating condo heads for Canada

The giant ocean liner docked at Pier 88 looked like any other cruise ship. And indeed, it had all the trimmings: Swimming pools indoor and out, putting green, spa and full tennis court.

The big difference, some say, is Freddy’s Deli and grocery store. This ship was the World of ResidenSea, a floating condominium, laid out for everyday living. It has two- and three-bedroom apartments with full kitchens where you can cook your own pot roast. Cost to buy in to this floating marvel ranges from $2.25 million to $7.5 million US.

For those wanting only a taste of the high-seas life, there also are 86 studio cabins that can be rented for $800 US per day, double occupancy.

After leaving New York recently, the ship was headed for Newport, R.I., then Portland, Maine. After that there were to be stops in Charlottetown, Quebec City, Montreal, Corner Brook, Sydney and Halifax before heading back south for another several days in New York in early October.

Other ports will include Philadelphia, Baltimore and Savannah, Ga., before docking in Miami Oct. 15-17. From there it will cruise the Caribbean and hit several Mexico ports before making its way to Hawaii. It will dock at a number of the Hawaiian Islands during the Christmas-New Year’s holidays. Then on around the globe for 2003. Call 1-800-970-660.

See www.residensea.com

Rochester-to-Toronto ferry link planned

New York state is putting up $14 million US to help establish a high-speed, Lake Ontario ferry service between Rochester and Toronto.

“The new Fast Ferry will have a tremendous impact on the Greater Rochester area — boosting tourism, creating new jobs and establishing a quick and convenient transportation link with Canada,” says Gov. George Pataki.

With capacity for some 800 passengers and 200 cars, the ferry, operated by Rochester-based Canadian American Transportation Systems, would cut travel time roughly in half to about two hours and initially run three daily round trips, according to state officials. The service could start next year.

— Compass is compiled by Paul Pihichyn from press releases, wire service reports and personal contacts. Fax 697-7412; e-mail paul.pihichyn@freepress.mb.ca