Nort A look at rural England from a leisurely perspective THERE IS nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.. — Kenneth Grahame, 1859-1932 LONDON — I could add that one of the best possible places to get afloat is the River Thames, which in- spired Grahame’s book Wind in the Willows, but to forgo the messing about. TRAVEL TIPS Instead, proceed directly from Heathrow Airport to nearby Windsor or Oxford, and board the good barge Actief, which takes a week to amble the 50 miles in the middle. This is ingland from a leisurely perspective, away from traffic and noise, with no cares about finding rooms and restaurants. For travellers from Vancouver, who carry the baggage of cight hours’ jetlag, it is a restful start to a vacation in Europe. ; The Actief is the largest hotel barge on the Thames, 100 fect jong, with comfortable accom- modation for !2 passengers. Of the crew of four, three are cooks. Needless to say, meals were en- thusiastically received, to the point that had the weather nat co- operated most of us would have been happy to sicep, read the papers (delivered with breabfast every morning) and wait for the elegantly presented lunches and dinners, But the sun did shine, and the cruise began on a perfect Sunday at Shillingford, near Oxford, where Actief was moored by an old stone bridge and a magnificent avenue of Lombardy poplars. . We went to Oxford the next day, visited Christ Church, then Cruise from the Caribbean to Spain’s Costa looked out over the meadows at rural scenes unchanged since monks founded the university a thousand years ago. Then tea at the Randolph, which is as much Oxford as Blackwell’s or the Bodleian, Actief took us to Pangbourne, through the first locks with their trim cottages and pretty gardens, and we tied up at the Swan, a river pub dating from 1642, Everyone agreed the captain's navigation was worth a drink. Along the way we passed Lilly Langtry’s riverside home, then Mapledurham House, the model for Toad Hall in The Wind in the Willows. The river here was quiet and leafy, and Actief glided at four knots. A book from the well-stocked library revealed a quote from Dickens which had passed the test of time: ‘The rowing down from Oxford to Reading is more char- ming than one can describe in words ... water lilies lie like a fairy pavement.’’ Some passengers walked from Caversham to Sonning, and at Henley we tied up near the * Leander Club. The annual regatta, held since 1839, had just ended and there CRUISE NIGHT Featuring, on the Classic “Royal Odyssey” Ti Fine oe . fee GREECE NaplesPampoit 8 vagy aw + Athens” a MERE ABIES shh _o Matiliai |” a DPNAEY pa elihadex OC TEKS ricafeais . a . “ SKE aan Cain’! was room at the Angel’s bar. We woke to the sound of See Even page 3 “Fly & Drive Plus” 13 nights trom con *1594 Inclusive of: * Airfare from Vancouver ° San Jose airport trans- fot night hotel in San Jose upon arrival ° 3 night “Ecolodge” pack- age to La Isla — located near Quepos, on the mar- § gin of a river, facing Palo ; Verde Beach and border- ing a primary forest. * 1 night hotel in San Jose on your return from La’ Isla. -.. Del Sol aboard the elegant CROWN ODYSSEY April 4, 1994 - 12 days __ From USD ‘2799” per person including airfare Cruise Night St Thomas i fatga Hues. Oct. 5, 7:30 pm ‘ . ™~ ur itle) — Ladle (Seville) > Malaga we N Ganary islands SEL CHCA WSL TE NCEE Cruise Connections, Canada’s leading cruise CCC CC specialists is proud to Hotel Vancouver Tickets - $2.00 RSVP by Sept 27 proceeds to Variety Club che, Sailing from Rome, April 19 From $3508 CDN, inc. air, bar & boutique credit, plus other great amenities. Also - Two D-Day Cruises Join us on TUESDAY, SEPT. 28, 7:30 PM INTERNATIONAL PLAZA 1999 Marine Drive (at Capilano Rd.) North Vancouver 926-4344 please RSVP Check out these Incredible Deals! 7 Night Mexican Riviera with air..4849.00 iN Panama Canal Cruise..........47599.00 7 Night E. Caribbean with air. p Name i—Atiss, First offer the Guaranteed Best Prices in Canada on all Cruise Vacations. Open 7 Days A Week! CALL NOW! 684-WAVE Form must be complete to be eligible, 1, Have you cruised before? __ Yes __No. If yes, where? tf yes, which cruise line? 2. Are you interested in taking a cruise this year? next year! other? 3, What is your destination of interest? 4, Whvua was your last holiday? Month Year Where? 5. Can you travel on a manib’s notice? Yes No Nm se me te ee ae ee a te a ae oe nee ee ee et et ie ae ee ne eed ~~ 3999.00 Va, RF ee ee mm een a G Bus. Corolla inclusive of A/C, § Unlimited Mileage and — § CDW insurance. | * 3 nights hotel at Playa Juanquillal Beachin = & Guanacaste — a preferred § beach area. _ § © 1 night hotel in San Jose § prior to your flight home. & Simply complete the form, clip it out, and mail it in a self-addressed envelope to: CRUISE CONNECTIONS #208 - 1090 West Pender St.