I couldn't quite make up my mind about Toronto. I couldn't figure out if I liked the place or not, somehow I found myself comparing it to some of the other amazing places I have been like New York; , Boston; and of course Montreal. Now I know the folly of comparing one city to another as each is different and has its own particular vibe but I just couldn't help myself. In a way it’s like Montreal but bigger, without the soul and without the French. I could read the signs on the walls and understand people’s conversations in the street; I think maybe I missed feeling like I was somewhere far away and exotic. It felt like a tourist city, once we had done the touristy things there was nothing left to do really, ... read more

So after spending all night on the bus from New York, , I had a couple hours sleep before getting picked up to go road trippin', my partners in crime, Nick, Eliza and Ryan. Our first stop was a place that has since become one of my favourite places in the world, Mont Sutton. Ryan knew a family that rents a cottage about 10 mins from the mountain, the Yeldon's, officially the nicest family in the world. The picturesque yellow cottage sat among pleasant green fields off a quiet country road in a charming bit of rural Quebec. The only downside was the pleasant green fields which normally would have been covered in a thick layer of perfectly white snow; alas it was not to be. The purpose of this little stop was quite simply for ... read more

After arriving in Boston from Nova Scotia we dumped our bags at our crumby hostel and set off to explore. Our intended route took us up through the main area of Boston following the path of the river. It was immediately obvious that Boston is a city of many different contrasts and has, over the course of its long and interesting history, been subjected to many varied influences and cultures the result of which is a city where a 10min walk can have you in a completely new and interesting neighbourhood. Boston and Sports It is also immediately obvious that Boston is a city that lives and breathes sport. We had no sooner left our hostel than we bumped into the TD Banknorth Garden, home of the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins. To show just ... read more

Lured by the promise of deep snow and wintry conditions I had decided to go hiking at Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak at 1,339 m (4,393 ft) with a group from the McGill Outdoor Club (MOC). We left at the ungodly hour of 6.30am for the 2 hour drive to the Mountain. On the way we stopped at one of the girl's parent’s house for bagels and tea, which at that time was a godsend. Then it was on to the mountain. We were met with unseasonable warmth, one of the group later described it as freakishly warm. Having been told that I had needed snow shoes and crampons it was a bit of a change of plan but I didn't mind too much as I could still feel my face:) We set off up the ... read more

On July 9 1960, Roger Woodward inadvertently became the first person to go over the falls unaided and survive; he was protected only by a lifejacket and an embarrassingly large amount of luck. He had been upstream in a small boat with his sister Deanne and his uncle Jim when their vessel had developed engine trouble. Though he rowed frantically Jim was no match for the current and they were soon rushing towards the falls at a trouser-staining pace. Fate and Lady Luck must have had a soft spot for children that day as Deanne was rescued a mere six metres from the edge of the Horseshoe Falls. Both Roger and Jim however went over the edge where Fate delivered the ultimate kick in the teeth to Jim by robbing him of this process of existence ... read more