AlanHamish

Geo: 43.6485, -79.3854Thursday 24th Back in Toronto and felt a bit warmer. After Montréal, Toronto seems so much more familiar. We're staying at the University Club of Toronto, which is very welcoming and comfortable. We didn't do a lot this afternoon; we walked around, ate cheesecake and rested before dinner. We were a bit tired. Who knew sitting on the train for 5 hours could be soooo tiring.We had Korean food for dinner, at the same place Alan went to last time. It's still here 5 years on, so it must be doing something right. Friday 25thThe weather forecast for today was rain, rain, rain. But luckily we didn't feel a drop. After a wonderful breakfast in the Club we walked up University Avenue to the Legislature of the Province of Ontario, a very imposing edifice ... read more

Geo: 45.5088, -73.5878Since we couldn't get in Château Ramezay yesterday, we went straight there this morning after breakfast. It's a smallish manor house of significant historic interest to the city. It was built by Claude de Ramezay, Governor of Montréal, in 1705. After his death, it became the headquarters of the West India Company (Compagnie des Indes) which dealt mainly in the fur trade with Ameri-Indians. Later the house was used by the Governor of British Canada, occupied by Benjamin Franklin in 1776. It was subsequently turned into a school, left derelict and finally opened as a museum in1895. The inside of the house was elegant, especially the formal drawing rooms. The wood panelling was made in Nantes and shipped over for the 1967 Expo and later bought by the Museum. Montréal, and Québec for that ... read more

Geo: 45.5088, -73.5878Start of the holiday proper for Hamish. It takes five hours to go from Toronto to Montréal by train. We thought VIA trains were pretty comfortable though the views along the way, apart from glimpses of Lake Ontario, weren't so exciting. We stopped at places with names such as Kingston and Cornwall. Alas, they looked nothing like their namesakes back in Blighty. The further away we got from Toronto, the thicker the snow covering was, which made it all look prettier.Once we'd arrived and schlepped our cases to the hotel, had a quick walk around before meeting up with some friends. The pavements were mostly cleared of snow, unlike in London, but we passed gardens and parks where the snow laid in pristine conditions. It's been days since the snow fall and obviously the ... read more

Geo: 49.2605, -123.114It's sad that our Pacific Northwest adventures are coming to an end. But not before my niece drove me round and visited some sites out of town. We had coffee and a Nanaimo Bar in West Vancouver, a very well heeled district with great views.Then we drove to Deep Cove, which was a gorgeous place, especially in the sunshine. The lunch at Arms Reach Bistro was very pleasant, but I did get an oily salad leave on my shirt. Then again, I'm sitting at the back of the plane, so nobody will care.The next port of call was Commercial Drive, a slightly more down to earth area of town with independent shops and cafés. It's more like a normal suburban high street. I'd like to come back next time and get to know the ... read more

Geo: 49.2605, -123.114Had to be in work mode this afternoon when I paid a visit to the President's Office at the University of British Columbia.Bur first a bit of culture. I have chosen a significant day to visit the University because in the morning, they held a dedication ceremony of a House Post of the Musqueam people, whose land (unceded) the University is built on. This was not the raising of a totem pole, but a dedication of a House Post. They were most insistent that this was what it was. The post was carved by a student of the Musqueam heritage and comes from a long line of talented artists. The actual dedication act was very low key and personal. Of course, there were speeches, from representatives of the University as well as from elders ... read more