Blogs from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, North America - page 4

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto May 28th 2018

It finally appears that I am taking a long awaited trans Canadian rail trip. The rail portion of this trip begins in Toronto, and ends three nights later in Vancouver, BC. I flew yesterday to Toronto from home to start the trip slightly late. Sixteen hours, to be accurate. Yes, originally 10 pm last night, but now 230pm Wednesday. On the back end in Vancouver, I will get there at 2am, stay the night, then fly back home on Sunday. VIA Rail Canada was established in 1977. The basic route we are taking is Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, Kamloops, and finally, Vancouver. The distance is 4466 kilometers (2775 miles), 4 nights, and 3 days. I shall be housed in a "Sleeper Plus" berth for one person. Meals are included. There is a bon voyage champagne ... read more

VIA Rail Canada

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto May 23rd 2018

Two engines pulled us across Canada

golfkat

Just about every blog I have read about this trip says that VIA is NOT Amtrak. Thank goodness. I took my last long distance Amtrak journey last January, the Coast Starlight, from San Diego to Seattle. Why is VIA different? Most bloggers say that the staff is happy to be there, or at least, really good at faking it, right Elaine? They are friendly, just as if you are in Canada! But on the downside, the Canadian share track with freight and guess who gets priority? Just like Amtrak, freight comes first, after all, it pays the baggage, so to speak. Some delays have been up to ten hours, which I find difficult to believe or endure. But it is reasonable to gain a little time back, since some VIA Canadian stops are rather long. If ... read more

It’s happening!!

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto March 2nd 2018

41D342D6-B1B1-4C5A-900B-DEB79A9A1F16.

Veronique Boucher

Wahoo!! Ça y est enfin!! 13:45h de vol pour l’Inde et un autre court vol pour le Nepal (Kathmandu)!! Jamais sans mes Skittles ?... read more

The Familiar and the Special

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto February 18th 2018

Johnny, Jasmine and Sophie the Beanie Boo

JandMOBrien

Mmmm, TravelPod is defunct and I’ve overtly said I’m not blogging this trip. Instead, I’m choosing to on-line diary despite that being a subtle differentiation. Our preparations for departure were unusually calm. Starting early with visits to those we want to see beforehand, finding some warm and leaveable winter coats at Value Village, ordering tech bits early and getting a grip on next-year apartment rentals started a steady, manageable pace on the track to finally exiting unit 1106’s door. Mom and Dad are wintering in Halifax for the first time, Emma and Hannah are taking up skiing, Kelly and Marty are in high gear on their careers, we have friends and family whose circumstances are on our minds, and we leave in good health and spirits. And our suitcase holds three characters chosen by our granddaughters ... read more

Oct 23, 2017

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto October 23rd 2017

PaulandSharon

Geo: 43.6485, -79.3854... read more

Toronto by bus, then waiting for the train

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto September 28th 2017

VIA porters hauling away our bags

RTsue

A busy day before boarding the train to Jasper. Checked bags out by 7:00 a.m., carry on bags to the bus at 8:00, all bags dropped off at the VIA Station by 8:30. At least that was the plan but today was WE day where motivational speakers, famous singers, even Prince Harry dropped by the Plaza by the train station to encourage and motivate hundreds of teens to be themselves. So it took a while for our bags to be collected by VIA porters. Then we were off for a two-hour tour of Toronto - neighborhoods, parks, architecture, history, even the original Canadian whiskey brewery where the buildings have been converted into condos and an entertainment center. Lunch was at the Royal Canadian Museum, followed by a guided tour with our guide highlighting one major piece ... read more

Canada: Early History, the Railroad, Artistic Expression

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto September 27th 2017

Easton Centre - huge shopping area

RTsue

The talk this morning gave us an overview of the common history of the American and the Canadian colonies. However, during the American Revolution (called the first American Civil War by Canadians), American Loyalists supported the king and many fled to Canada. The War of 1812 caused further friction and eventually caused the Canadian colonies to consider working together in a confederation for protection from the new U.S. Montreal merchants looking to expand their trade encouraged the Vancouver area and British Columbia to join the confederation. They promised that a transcontinental railroad would be built to connect the western population with the eastern provinces within ten years. It actually took 15 years, completed in 1885. Historians believe that this railroad, connecting the two population centers through the mountains and almost empty plains, was what finally made ... read more

Railroading: Past and Present

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto September 26th 2017

RTsue

Checking out of our Montreal hotel after breakfast, we had a bus ride across one of the bridges to the suburbs and the Exporail Canadian Railroad Museum. Our guide, a retired signal maintanance worker, showed us a replica of the first Canadian locomotive, a wood-burner steam engine imported from England and capable of traveling 25 miles in two hours. We also learned all about steam engines and diesel engines and had the opportunity to walk through engines, passenger cars, caboose (no longer in service). Heading back into Montreal, we had lunch at Creperie Chez Suzette in Old Town - I had crepes filled with sliced apples and brie, salad, and dessert. We are definitely well-fed. The afternoon bus ride took us through much of the rest of Montreal including Mont Royal (the mountain park) and St. ... read more

Fish is Fish

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto July 27th 2017

I did nothing to alter this original photo of jellyfish

Will Abney

Just as I'm finally getting accustomed to being caffeine-free, I get a call that says dad is in the hospital. Man, there's nothing quite as helpless as being in a foreign country when a family member is in crisis. That’s an inauspicious way to start a travel blog post, but there you have it. Of course that spectre weights over the trip for the time being, but dad’s condition isn’t serious enough (I’m being told) to warrant completely cancelling the trip. For those curious, I have checked airfare from Toronto to Atlanta, and it’s $514 for any of the days that I’ll be on this trip. That’ll be a different story when I leave for Ottawa on Saturday. My flight back does leave from Ottawa, so if nothing major happens between now and Wednesday morning, there ... read more

Seahorses are probably my favorite sea creatures

T(w)O days in TorontO

North America » Canada » Ontario » Toronto July 26th 2017

Check out that Toronto cityscape!

Will Abney

Normally I try to do one post per day on these trips, but it has been basically non-stop since Tuesday morning. Alas, I'll combine two days for everyone! I’ve seen several museums in these two days, and that’s not typically my style. I may have already mentioned in a previous post about the Toronto Pass – it cost $60 (US) and it includes passes to several high-demand tourist sites in town. It also allows you to skip the lines. My first usage was at Casa Loma, and the pass proved its worth there immediately. I was told to get there before 11:00 to beat the crowds. After an obligatory stop at Canada’s own version of Dunkin Donuts – Tim Horton’s – for a smoothie and a red velvet muffin, I was on my way to be ... read more

The Thomas Fisher Rare Books Library on the U of T campus

Brief history of Canada

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the sou...more history

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