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Blogs from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, North America - page 9
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August 28th 2011
Two international flights and 30 hours later, we landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport at about 17h00 local time on August 28th, 2011. Following disembarkation, we went through the customs formalities and passed through round one of Canadian Immigration, we then collected our bags and passed through the second immigration check where we handed in our “white slip” and had that moment of uncertainty as to whether today was going to be the day that we were pulled over to have our bags checked. Luckily today was not that day and we passed through the first set of doors, where we were to put our baggage back on the belt so it can be loaded onto our final Montreal bound flight. As we walked through the first set of doors, we were welcomed into Canada by ... read more
August 25th 2011
Well gang I am on the way. Left Halifax this morning at 8am after I dropped Erica off at another gate in the departure area. She is off to her new life in Grand Prairie Alberta. She was of mixed emotions but is looking forward to her new position as an OT. Erica and I met Robert Chisholm NDP MP for (Cole Harbour) and his wife, we had met him on the night of his election win and he remembered us . He is a real gentleman and his wife was really friendly as well. She soent a lot of time talking with Erica about University and careers. They had a rememberance book for Jack Layton which we signed. They were on the way to the funeral. My flight was on time, we had a great ... read more
August 25th 2011
Hi All! Our last update seems like it was ages ago and we’re now in a different country! Welcome to Canada!! We’ll kick things off from where we left you last…. We still had a couple more days in New York City and still a hell of a lot to do! On the first of those days we caught the subway out to Coney Island where we got to hang out in the sun, play arcade games and ride the Cyclone Rollercoaster. The Cyclone Rollercoaster is really old, built in the early 1900’s and throws you around A LOT, but was awesomely fun (besides the slight sore neck)! Also at Coney Island we took a ride on a Ferris Wheel where the cabin we rode was free swinging! It made a fun ride slightly scary, BONUS! ... read more
August 24th 2011
The city of Toronto seems a city of many small areas. I failed in my period here to find what can be categorised as an actual downtown. Instead, I spent my time discovering several individual villages within the central Toronto area, as well as beyond. Amongst these were yet another Chinatown. I seem to have become quite used to the idea of Chinatowns by now, and I must admit that it no longer excited me. I quickly continued onwards to hippie commercial Kensington Market which though pleasant didn't catch my fascination for long. It seems filled with the same India inspired hippie stores as you find anywhere in the Western World. However, it should only be fair to mention that these were mixed with a few second hand and vintage stores and some trendy and not ... read more
August 21st 2011
Hello everyone! So I left Minneapolis this morning with everything packed and ready to go, except for maybe myself. I haven't even really thought about the fact that I'll be in Paris tomorrow and that I'll be in Rennes, France for four months. I'm sure it'll finally hit me once I'm there, but for now I'm exhausted from a crazy weekend of seeing friends and family and saying my "See you laters." I know that this semester will fly by, but right now Day 1 is going by quite slowly since the difficultly of leaving everyone I love behind is still fresh. However, I shan't dwell on the sadness, but instead get ready for my journey ahead. I'm currently in the Toronto airport and very grateful for the free Wi-Fi. Right now there is a beautiful ... read more
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August 20th 2011
So here we sit in Pearson Airport waiting for the first leg of our trip to start. Heading to Victoria to celebrate a very special anniversary, 60 years married. I can't believe my parents have been together and happy for the time. I can only hope that I am as lucky and fortunate as they have been to still love and care about each other after that many years together. We will be landing in Victoria at 11am this morning. Only Donna knows the kids are joining us on this leg of the trip. Should be a great surprise for everyone. Tomorrow it is off to Vancouver, on a float plane, never been on one before, not sure how I feel about it, but what the hell. Life is about trying new things and having fun. ... read more
August 20th 2011
Hi All, sorry for delay, but it has been a busy week. We arrived on Sunday at 1.30pm and half an hour later our dear friends from SA Pete and Lil Manser, whom we have known for 32 years arrived. We spent the afternoon catching up on family news. On Monday Dave & Pete attended a workshop while Lil and I walked around Toronto. There is a great water front area which is always busy with various activities from markets to water taxis, day trip cruises and small ferries. It has been very hot here with temperatures from 27 to 31 degrees so I am struggling with the heat, but Lil says Italy is much hotter so not sure how I will cope. Toronto is full of sky scraper apartment blocks which seems to be the ... read more
August 18th 2011
So my journey begins in exactly 10 days. Tomorrow is my last day at work which hasn't come soon enough. I have spent my last week celebrating my birthday and scrambling to see friends and family before I leave on this adventure. To tell you the truth it hasn't quite hit me yet that I will be leaving all that is known to me for 113 days. I think about what I will miss but also what exciting things I have to come! I have decided to compile a list of things I will miss from home and things to look forward to... THINGS I WILL MISS - My lovely boyfriend Devon -My Family/ Friends - Peanut Butter (why it is so difficult to find anywhere in Europe I will never understand- its good stuff people!) ... read more
August 15th 2011
I woke up to get a drink around 3:30 in the morning. A few seconds after returning to my bed the whole trailer shook like crazy and there was a loud thud. I thought it was a bear so instinctively I jumped up to Shaley’s bed to be away from the back door and tried to force her to sleep in my bed - after all she was the one telling Shawn a bear was going to come and get him during the night. Dad woke up too, except he thought it was a creep trying to get into the trailer. Noticing the trailer was rocking from my jumping about he got up, and after finding out everything was alright he went outside only to find out that everything happened because it had rained so hard ... read more
August 15th 2011
We spent our last day in the area walking Yonge Street, the busiest street in Toronto. Shae and I got Starbucks coffees and Mom, Dad and Shawn got some McDonald’s Cafe thingers. Then we went shopping, we spotted some cute dresses, saw some crazy looking people, and eventually bought some sneakers for Dad, Shae and me. Then we left Mom to do some shopping of her own and continued on to the Hockey Hall of Fame. In the hall we saw amazing exhibits including some on Roger Neilson, Marice ( The Rocket) Richard, Sidney Crosby featuring the net and gloves from the Olympic Gold Metal Goal, and one one the 2010-2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Finals. After looking at everything and playing some games, and watching a video about Ryan Kesler we headed upstairs to see 2 ... read more
