To be honest, the reason we went to Ottawa was that we were in the vicinity and it was the capital so it was almost obligatory to pay a quick visit. And I’m so thankful that we did as it turned out to be my favourite of the 3 Canadian cities we visited this holiday. It was just lovely.
We started our trip by visiting an axe throwing place – something my BF set up. The man who runs this was really lovely, and had a genuine love for his sport Continue reading
Thousand Islands are literally a thousand islands at the top of Lake Ontario at the start of the St Lawrence River. It is meant to be a pretty part of the world, and also the place where Thousand Island salad dressing was invented! Unfortunately we had a dressing-down of another variety, but more of that later.
Our trip started off promisingly, as we caught the sunset from a beautiful sandy beach Presquile Provincial Park, accompanied only by a few Canada Geese (are they just called “Geese” there? 🙂 ) Continue reading
The best thing about Toronto, or should I say “Toronno” for me was the people. The Torontians (is that a word?) we met were very friendly – one lady even re-opened up her shop after closing so we could look at some high-tec ski boots.
For days we wandered around Toronto checking out the various neighbourhoods – Chinatown, the CBD, the harbourside, and beaches. Continue reading
Leaving Niagara Falls, we followed the river north towards Niagara on the Lake. There were some lovely viewpoints which we stopped off at- and as a bonus, the weather was gorgeous so I was able to hop in and out of the car in flip flops without having to bundle up like an arctic explorer.
We happened to stop at the Whirlpool view at the same time as a tour group, so we heard the tour guide’s talk – and it was very powerful Continue reading
No matter how many times you have been to Niagara Falls, it still takes your breath away. As we walked towards the falls, I caught a glimpse of the falls and gasped at its majesty – then I realised that I was looking at the smaller falls – let alone the bigger falls upstream!
I could stand there for hours and watch the thunderous power of the water and the beautiful rainbows that form in the mist. Continue reading
After our last disastrous holiday, I wanted something relatively safe, easy, and relaxing. We decided that a good old road trip would be just what the doctor ordered – we love road tripping in the US, and we loved Vancouver so we decided to explore more of Canada on the “near” coast and also fit in a return trip to Niagara Falls, which I loved last time.
This was my first trip to Quebec – ie. french-speaking Canada. It was fascinating and the french influence was palpable in the architecture and food. Continue reading
My overall impression of Vancouver is that of tranquillity. Which is surprising considering it is a bustling metropolis. Maybe it’s the fact that it is surrounded by still water, followed by pine forests. Maybe it’s the mountains in the distance. Or the fact that even in the centre of this city, it still feels calm.
My BF kept happily saying “crime doesn’t happen in Canada!”, and I had to keep reminding him not to be complacent, and that nowhere is a utopia. But it didn’t help my case when we went to a restaurant and the locals went up to the bar to collect their order, leaving their wallets and phones on the table! Continue reading
The Whale Watching expedition from Vancouver turned out to be one of the most magical and breathtaking experiences of my life. But we woke up on the morning of our whale watching expedition feeling very nervous.
Me and my BF have had such bad experiences with travel sickness generally (ahem – Nazca bus -ahem) that it has become a paranoia and we both get really anxious. Continue reading
We wanted to do a day-trip from Vancouver. We read about Capilano, the longest rope suspension bridge in the world. There is a free bus from Canada Place in Vancouver, which takes you right to Capilano suspension bridge, and there are tree-top boardwalks as well. However, it costs $39.85 each. I’m sure it would be a lovely day out, but I thought $40 was unacceptably expensive for a rope bridge. So, we found an alternative; Lynn Canyon.
Lynn Canyon also boasts a rope suspension bridge, which is slightly smaller in height and length than Capilano suspension bridge. However, don’t underestimate it – it is fun and thrilling in equal measure, and perhaps more importantly, it is FREE!! Continue reading
We arrived in Vancouver late at night, dishevelled and fed up after a over 24 hours of travelling. When we left the hotel bright and early the next morning, it was like a new dawn. We had a brunch of Eggs Benedict, and then wandered into the centre of Vancouver.
The centre of Vancouver hinges on Granville Street and Robson Street which both had a mixture of chain shops, independent shops, and department stores. We enjoyed watching a street performer Jackie Chan Chan, who was pretty funny and chose my BF to join in with his act as the “strong man”. Continue reading
Big Fat Tourist 