The Daily Programme from the Cunard Queen Mary 2

Here are copies the Daily Programme from the Cunard Queen Mary 2 transatlantic eastbound crossing on June 21, 2015.  Click to Enlarge:

QM2 Daily Programme from Sunday, June 21, 2015:

QM2 Daily Programme from Monday, June 22, 2015:

QM2 Daily Programme from Tuesday, June 23, 2015:

QM2 Daily Programme from Wednesday, June 24, 2015:

QM2 Daily Programme from Thursday, June 25, 2015:

QM2 Daily Programme from Friday, June 26, 2015

QM2 Daily Programme from Saturday, June 27, 2015

MASP - São Paulo Museum of Art

São Paulo Museum of Art or Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand - MASP

By Mark Fitzgerald

Sao Paulo Museum of Art

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand or MASP for short is conveniently located on Avenida Paulista in São Paulo, the financial and cultural center of the city.  The museum is a main bus stop as well as a stop for the subway.  The museum is two stories above ground and two stories below with the ground level being an open air plaza.  It gives the effect of the building looking like it is suspended above ground.

The first level up is dedicated to Brazilian modern art.  While

Works in the museum including Monet's Japanese Garden Bridge 

there is a great deal of interesting pieces there I found the stories about the artists and how they were tied to Brazil equally interesting.  It shows the melting pot heritage of Brazil and the cultural growth of Sao Paulo.

Chinese Terracotta warrior

The top level was a collection masters throughout the world.  At the time of our visit it was designed to show portraits through the ages and how they have changed.  Starting with the realism of Rembrandt to progressed through the ages to the abstract of Van Gogh.  Mixed throughout are statues such a Rodin and 2 terracotta warriors.   Clearly enough variety to attract and educate all types of families.

The underground floors contain additional Brazilian art, a library, gift shop, classroom, snack bar and a restaurant.  The restaurant is a buffet which is worth fighting the crowds.  A wide variety of salad, Brazilian main courses and about 10 different desserts to choose from.  The bathrooms are located next to the elevators adjacent to the information desk.

Entrance to the museum is free on Tuesdays and Friday nights after 5.  Children are half price.

Take a look at the following video to get a good idea of what the museum has to offer.  It is in Portuguese but it will give you a sense of the museum even if you don't speak the language.  

The Floor Plan of the MASP:

A map of the Sao Paulo Museum of Art:

MASP's webite is:

http://masp.art.br/

Going on a family vacation builds memories, provides life changing experiences and helps teach about the world we live in. Take time to explore, enjoy and have fun. If the Museum of Art sounded interesting, you may also like the Iguazu Falls. You can also look at our entire list of Brazilian Attractions.

#SaoPaulo
#MASP

Iguazu Falls

Hiking the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls with Kids

By Mark Fitzgerald

In the remote state of Paraná, Foz do Iguaçu is the city right next to Iguazu National Park in Brazil.  Iguazu Falls is not necessarily on the beaten path but it is certainly a destination on its own. The falls divide Brazil and Argentina along the Iguazu river.  It is an impressive site.

Iguazu Falls from the Path to the Falls in  Brazil

The Foz do Iguaçu airport was easy to navigate and the starting place for most journeys.  You can take the city bus from the airport to the visitor center for R$3.  Route 120 departs about every 20 minutes, depending on the time of the day and you can take it towards the "Parque Nacional" or towards the hotels "Downtown".  When you get on the bus pay the person called the cobrador, who will be sitting at table and then pass through the turnstile.  The visitor center is only 2 miles from the airport.  It is walkable but uphill and no sidewalks.  

Bus from the visitors center

When you arrive at the visitor's center you purchase an entrance ticket and work your way to a double decker bus that will bring you into the park.  The bus has recordings in Portuguese and English telling you about each stop.  The first two stops are for kayak, rafting and motor boats that will bring you up-close to the falls and through the jungle.  These adventures cost extra beyond the park entrance fees.

Get off the bus at the "Path to the Falls".  This is the start of a 1.5 kilometer hike that goes up and down giving dramatic views of all of the falls.  You see the Argentine falls as a distance and then end up on a path that brings you over the river into the "Devil's Throat" falls in Brazil.  The path isn't steep and your kids should be able to navigate it just fine.  There are stairs, which would make a stroller very challenging.

Devil's Throat in Iguazu Falls, Brazil

About half way there is a concession shop that has bathrooms and then again when you get towards the end.  When you are done watching the falls from the walkway you can enter the observation tower.  It has 3 decks with concessions, gift shops and wonderful views.  From there you take a glass elevator to the top of the precipice and you are in the area known as Porto Canoas.  

In Porto Canoas you can enjoy a traditional Brazilian buffet, costing R$45 while continuing to watch the river above the falls.  Rather than hit the bus immediately, consider walking the path of the falls again the opposite direction.  It may give you a different feel and time to contemplate.  You can pick the bus up at either stop.

To give you an idea of what it is like see this video:

A map of the Iguazu National Park, Brazil:

The official national park website is:
http://www.cataratasdoiguacu.com.br/

#IguasuFalls
#IguazuFalls

Family Outing to the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House

Tips for Visiting the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House

By Mark Fitzgerald

The National Maritime Museum is sandwiched conveniently between the Old Royal Naval College to the north and the Royal Observatory to the south in Greenwich England.  The museum is collection of maritime artifacts, artwork and the world's largest maritime historical library,

We would start our tour in the Queen's House.  This palace from the 1600's holds the National Maritime Museum's art collection on 3 floors.  The house itself, with its painted ceilings, is worth seeing in addition to the art on the walls.  A neat architectural feature is the Tulip Stairs.  When there see if your family can spot resident ghosts.

Right next door to the Queen's House is the National Maritime Museum.

The Great Map at the
National Maritime Museum

Beyond the art in the Queen's house the museum holds a number of exhibits ranging from flags, photos, models, full sized ships and weapons.  One of the exhibits I believe the family will be interested in is the Great Map.  For the young ones it is matted area where they can play, run and move ships around.  For the older youth there are tablets that will tell about naval events and even use real time ship data of vessels around the world.

Royal Barge at the Maritime Museum

There are other interactive exhibits in the museum as well.  Kids can operate cranes or send telegrams.  There is a ship simulator that allows you to be on the bridge of a modern day ship or in the Children's Gallery you can fire cannons at pirate ships.

There are bathrooms on the ground floor of the Queen's House and each floor of the National Maritime Museum.  WiFi is available in the Compass Lounge, located on the ground floor of the main museum.  While in the Compass Lounge pick up a Compass Card.  This barcoded card allows you to find hidden stories and features throughout the museum.  Entrance to the Queen's House and National Maritime Museum is free but may have temporary exhibits that require tickets.

There are several options in getting your family to Greenwich. The first option is to talk a boat and arrive at the Greenwich Pier. This will take you about an hour from Embankment. Another option is to take the Dockland Light Rail from Tower Hill to Cutty Sark or bus route 188. If you are feeling adventurous you can ride a bike to Cubitt Town and walk under the river through the Greenwich foot tunnel.

A brief overview by Kevin Kilpatrick about the National Maritime Museum:

The Floor Plan of the National Maritime Museum:

A map of the National Maritime Museum:

Going on a family vacation builds memories, provides life changing experiences and helps teach about the world we live in. Take time to explore, enjoy and have fun. If the National Maritime Museum sounded interesting, you may also like the Discover Greenwich Visitor Center. You can also look at our entire list of London Attractions.

Taking to the water with your family visiting the Old Royal Naval College

Tips for visiting the Discover Greenwich Visitor Center and ORNC

By Mark Fitzgerald

Discover Greenwich Visitor Center

My original thought in visiting Greenwich was solely thinking about the Prime Meridian.  Greenwich is a London Borough and has a collection of wonderful places to visit including the National Maritime Museum, the Greenwich Market and the Old Royal Naval College.

The Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) looks and feels like a college campus with old buildings and grassy quads.  It was built originally as a royal residence, but never used as one.  These facilities were transformed to house Naval Pensioners or retirees, similar to Chelsea for the army.  The remodel was done by Christopher Wren and in my opinion looks very similar to St. Pauls Cathedral.

Though its main attractions are the Painted Hall and the Chapel, start in the Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre.  There are hands on activities for all agents and exhibits to help situation where you are at.  The visitors center is on the west end of the campus and closest to most transportation stops.  From the Discovery Center head east along the water front.

Old Royal Naval College (ORNC)

Of the four buildings on the quad the Painted Hall is the one on the south west.  It was originally the dining room and is a sight to impress visitors.  The ceiling is painted to tell the story of how King William III had liberated Europe from King Louis XIV.  The chapel is across the way in the south east building and depicts the Biblical story of Paul shipwrecked on the Isle of Malta.

Your family can find bathrooms in the Discover Greenwich visitor's center.  As these facilities are also used by the University of Greenwich you may also find bathrooms in other locations, such as the Queen Mary undercroft.  There is no wifi in the public areas.

There are several options in getting your family to Greenwich.  The first option is to talk a boat and arrive at the Greenwich Pier.  This will take you about an hour from Embankment.  Another option is to take the Dockland Light Rail from Tower Hill to Cutty Sark or bus route 188. If you are feeling adventurous you can ride a bike to Cubitt Town and walk under the river through the Greenwich foot tunnel.

A quick overview of the Old Royal Naval College can be seen on YouTube by Greenwich in London:

Map of ORNC and Discover Greenwich

Floor Plan of Old Royal Naval College

Going on a family vacation builds memories, provides life changing experiences and helps teach about the world we live in. Take time to explore, enjoy and have fun. If the Discover Greenwich Visitor Center and ORNC sounded interesting, you may also like the Banqueting House. You can also look at our entire list of London Attractions.

London Transport Museum is one of the most family friendly sites in London

Tips for Visiting the London Transport Museum
By Mark Fitzgerald
The London Transport Museum has to be one of the most family friendly museums in all of London. The museum has hands on activities and exhibits for all ages.

Entrance to the London Transport Museum

Start your visit by entering the museum through the Covent Garden Piazza. After you purchase tickets the museum will guide you to start at the top on level 2 (the 3rd floor) and work back down to the ground floor. Not only does this help with the flow of the museum it keeps you in order chronologically. The top floor exhibits start in the 19th century and then works you towards the present day.

Level 1 (2nd Floor) has a children’s interactive area with the one of the highlights is being able to board and drive a London Optare bus. Younger kids can try on replica costumes and discover mystery objects. They even have a play section to move buses and trains around a model version of London. Even your teens will enjoy the chance get some hands on activities or simply exploring one of the 20 large trains, taxis and buses.

Buses at the London Transport Museum

The museum closes at 6 every day and opens late on Fridays.  The prices of admission is a little steep for adults at £15, but children under 17 are free.  The larger your family the better the deal.  This is a London Attraction in which you can get in free if your purchase the London Pass.  Either way tickets are good for a year, so you can come back another day.  All toilets, including accessible toilets, and baby changing facilities are on the ground floor.

The museum has a cafe, known as the Upper Deck, above the gift shop.  You can pick up a burger, chips and a drink for about £10.  Note that a 12% tip will be added to your bill.   Open on weekends is the Lower Desk Cafe, which is more of a self service vending operation.  You can also take a lunch to the museum and use their picnic area.  Wifi is available for you to use in the museum, make sure that your phone is set correctly.

For the real train enthusiast family, consider the Acton Museum Depot.  The warehouse for the museum is open on select weekends throughout the year.   Located 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) away, or 30 minutes on the Picadilly line, the Depot is where they keep the bulk of the 400,000 items the museum has in its collection and most of its rolling stock.  Entrance will cost you £10.

The main London Transport Museum most accessible Tube Station is Covent Garden on the Picadilly Line.  There is also Embankment Station which uses the Circle and District lines.  You can always use the London Transport option of riding a bike or one of the many buses in the area. The bike dock on the back side of the building on Wellington and Tavistock.

Map of the London Transport Museum:

Overview of London Transport Museum

Floor Plan of the London Transport Museum:

Floor Plan of the London Transport Museum (Click to Enlarge)

A preview of the museum can be seen on this video from http://anglotopia.net - The Website for People Who Love Britain:

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Going on a family vacation builds memories, provides life changing experiences and helps teach about the world we live in. Take time to explore, enjoy and have fun. If the London Transport Museum sounded interesting, you may also like the London Science Museum.  You can also look at our entire list of London Attractions.

#London
#LondonTransportMuseum

A little bit of Egypt in London - Cleopatra's Needle

Cleopatra's Needle

Visiting Cleopatra's Needle

By Mark Fitzgerald

London and New York share a pair of Egyptian obelisks from Alexandria.  At 69 feet tall (21 meters), this red granite tower or needle is a site to take in.  It sits on the banks of the river Thames and is flanked by two bronze sphinxes.  The need itself is right on the banks of the river on a pedestrian plaza and you may find it hard to get far enough back to get a full picture of the Needle.

When you go to see the Needle you will notice scaring and cracks.  These came from a German air raid during World War I.  Londoners choice not to repair the damage, but rather keep it as a memorial to the event.

Finding stories that your family is interested in and then visiting locations of those stories can really help with the imagination and excitement of the trip.  To bring this monument to life consider reading with your family the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan.  Obelisks, including this one, play an important part of that book series.  You could also look at the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes or Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher.

If the weather is nice spend a few minutes in the Victoria Embankment Gardens before crossing the street see the obelisk.  Afterwards sit down and watch the boats come in and out of the three piers that are near this part of the Thames.

#London
#CleopatrasNeedle