Ask a celeb: Joannie Rochette, John Waters recall their best summer vacation

TORONTO – For many, summertime is synonymous with vacation, and that’s no different for celebrities.

But it’s not always about rest and relaxation — these famous folks say their most memorable summer getaways have been transformative, inspiring and character-building.

The Canadian Press asked several stars about their most memorable summer getaways and this is what they had to say:

Figure skater Joannie Rochette says she’ll never forget spotting giraffes and zebras while visiting east-central Africa.

“(I) did a small safari in Rwanda two summers ago with my boyfriend and that was so cool to discover a new culture and to see all the animals free,” said the Olympic bronze medallist.

Rochette was scheduled to be in Rwanda for five days with the global organization Right To Play but decided to double the length of her stay.

“I like to discover parts of the world that I don’t know. With skating, I’ve travelled a lot to the same places, the same hotels, but usually I just see the rink and the hotel, so it’s kind of a cool to get out and see a little bit more.”

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Cult filmmaker John Waters says he’s spent every summer in Provincetown, Mass., for the past 51 years. He swims and goes to the beach every day and has “a very nice tan.”

“Even if I die from it, it’s worth it. I look better,” says the Baltimore-based Waters.

“Sometimes you’re lucky, you get to see a shark eat a seal in front of your eyes. There are so many shark warnings. I love nature when it’s not killing me.”

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Curly-haired Toronto musician Francesco Yates, 19, was six the first time he journeyed to Jamaica — and he never forgot it.

“I was singing dancehall with the (locals) and I was having a grand ol’ time,” said Yates, whose upcoming debut EP was co-produced by Pharrell Williams.

“I remember Shaggy was popping like crazy at the time. I just remember having lots of fun. Every time I go, I get a great vibe there.”

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Mac DeMarco, the Juno-nominated Edmonton rock maestro, has an anecdote best avoided while eating lunch.

“We were pretty poor growing up, we never went on vacation, but my parents would take us to B.C. sometimes and we’d camp along the way or stop at rest stops,” DeMarco recalled.

“My grandpa would have these pre-made egg-salad sandwiches, and they were gross. Rest my grandpa’s soul — I miss the man — but these sandwiches were putrid. He loved them. He would eat so many of them.”

Later, the family would share a hotel room, and DeMarco and his little brother would inevitably find it hard to sleep. The sound of their grandpa in the bathroom was overwhelming.

“Every night. We knew it was coming. It was a terrible thing.”