Michey_b’s travelling around

Arrived here on monday from Toronto and luckily the HI hostel is right around the corner from the train station which is always a great bonus. Couldnt check in til 4pm so dumped my bags and went for a late breakfast at the diner next door. This part of town is away from the craziness of the tourist hype so a good old fashioned diner for the locals was a great place to see.

The weather is not so great however and its been raining on and off for a while and getting decidedly colder. Decided to go for a walk down to the Falls and its a nice 30 min stroll from the hostel along the river road. Checked out the Falls which are great but not really as great as what i had expected – i really should learn that major touristy sites usually arent. Walked around the town which is very quiet – gotta love coming this time of year when its quieter. Headed back to the hostel and checked in and hung around the hostel in the evening.

I ended up staying here three extra days – the staff here make it hard to leave – they just get me drunk and sign me in for more nights – but its totally cool as i love it here. Met up with some cool people and on tuesday Jane and I headed down to the main street for food, internet and general mooching around. Its so cold out at the moment that the heating of the hostel was calling us.

Jane and I headed out to the falls when it got dark so we could see all the winter lights and see the falls by night which was cool and they were all lit up by different colored strobes. Walked up Clifton Hill which is like a mini Vegas and went into Timmy H’s for hot chocolate and they make a good one. Timmy H for those not in the know is Tim Hortons a cafe which is legendary – there are usually several in any one place and Tim H himself is something of a god over here – I had to get the full story from a Canadian!!

On wednesday we decided that some of us wanted to head up to Niagara on the Lake and try to get to the wineries for some wine tasting – well when in Rome and all that jazz right!!! Met up with Angela and we caught the shuttle up there and Angela and I followed a walking tour which was cool. This little town is great and so worth seeing and in my opinion more interesting than the Falls. We found a store that had a sign advertising the fact that they now had Marks and Spencers xmas cakes and puddings for sale and sure enough they were selling all sorts of random products from M&S – wondering just how legal that is….

After traipsing around for almost two hours in the bitter cold we headed to the Angel Inn a traditional english pub for some warmth and food. They had the atmosphere down to a T and it was a cool little place.

Having eaten we walked to the Pellar estates winery where we were served with a complimentary sparkling wine and spoke to our ‘wineman’ who was from Switzerland aout tasting some wine. I decided to try the flight of white and tried their Sauv Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Gris which were all superb and it cost me $5. The Pinot was my favourite by far. Angela had decided to try the Chardonnays but they were a little strong and oaky for me. Then we got to try the infamous ice wines which they harvest here in late dec/jan in the early hours of the morning when temps have frozen the grapes. The result is a sweet dessert wine – now im normally not a sweet wine kinda girl but i was blown away with these three we got to try a riesling, the famous Vidal and a Cabernet Franc (a rose/red colour). The nice ‘wineman’ gave these to us for free which was awesome. I so have got to stop using that word!!

We got back to the hostel about 5 and found that i had been signed up for the pub crawl! Managed to get a quick nap and then off to a great little spot that is 5 mins from the hostel and no tourists yay!! It was an absolutely brilliant night and poor Jane managed to get a new title of ‘tequila girl’ I also remembered why I hate the stuff but at least got to make it up to Jack who was feeling disowned that i hadnt drank him for a while.

Thursday was kind of a blur and was a chill out day watching movies and vegging out. Decided to stay on an extra day and go to the pub crawl kareoke night on friday and convinced Jane to stay also.

If anyone reads this and you come to Niagara Falls – stay at the HI Niagara for sure – it is such a great place and i dont think i want to leave. And now its friday night and jack time. Man it was a great great night and i drank way too much. Introduced Bin to the joys of Jaeger and Jack – separately of course!

Finally staggered to bed at 5am knowing that i am supposed to be leaving this morning and also knowing that i was probably going to stay here longer. Mark and they rest of the staff know it and i guess thats what happened as i pulled myself out of bed this morning to change my train ticket and cancel hostel in Toronto.

There are some parts of travelling that are annoying and having to get up at 4.30am to catch a train is one of them.  Struggled out of bed and trying to do everything possible not to make too much noise so I didnt wake up the rest of the guys in my dorm.  Its like coming home drunk and trying not to wake up the parents – everything you try to do quietly just seems to make so much more noise!!

There was no way i was gonna walk to the train station at 5 in the morning so called a taxi and sped towards a very quiet train station that had only just opened.  Had to change trains in Montreal but luckily didnt have to wait for longer than half hour before boarding and then made my way to the capital city Ottawa.

I had previously decided that i didnt want to stay in an HI hostel as it for some reson didnt appeal – so booked in at one slightly further out and im so glad i did as it ended up being one of the best places i have stayed on my trip.

The hostel itself is a converted house and has a huge porch with comfy sofas – so north american.  The hostel was having a halloween party tonight and had a chest full of fancy dress so there was no reason for anyone to not dress up.  Pumpkins filled the porch and people wandered past all dressed up. No one seems to bat an eyelid here – we walked to the beer store and all the place was filled with a mix of weird and wonderful costumes.  They dont just dress up here in halloween scary costumes – oh no anything is the norm, i couldnt even tell you what some people were meant to be as their costumes made no sense.  It was an awesome night and we all got a little merry and watched a ‘scary’ – now i put emphasis on this – movie.  Dark Water was not scary in the slighest and was one of the worst films i have ever seen – however it was addictive and none of us could seem to stop watching and change the channel.

On thursday i received an email from my uncle who had come to Ottawa and was staying in a hotel about 10 mins from me.  He had managed to get tickets for the hockey tonight the Ottawa Senators v Atlanta Thrashers so i walked to his hotel to meet him.  Now as i came across the Chateau Laurier hotel i felt a little conspicuous walking in.  Its like a fairy tale castle and must be one of the plushest hotels i have ever seen.  Now imagine me – lowly backpacker wearing scruffy clothes – the people in the lobby all stopped and stared wondering what on earth i was doing in a place like this.  I mean this place is the creme de la creme, a 7* place and my how the other half do live. 

i have become totally addicted to hockey – i thing its gonna be up there on the same level as soccer – yes my god i have started to call it that – it just gets confusing over here otherwise.  I love the passion of this game and the over the top way the crowd are kept entertained.  The best thing is you can have beer at your seat and you dont have to move to buy it – its great stuff is brought to you!!  Thanks to my uncle i am now the proud owner of a Sens shirt – go Sens go – and they are my new team.  Now i just need to study their history – well that i can do at the Hockey hall of fame in Toronto.  The best part – the Sens won 6 – 4.  It got nailbiting in the third period when the Thrashers scored 4 times to come behind from 5 – 0.

Having been partying and been to a hockey game – it was really time to do some sightseeing in Ottawa.  Now unless you are a museum buff there isnt too much to do here so mostly i just wandered around taking pictures.  I did stop at the Parliament to take a free tour which was cool.  Very much like the one at home, it has the most gorgeous library which is massive and contains a statue of Queen Victoria – who is loved here although im not completely sure why.  The best thing about this was that it was totally free and i got to listen to some interesting info about the building which i wont bore you with.  I did go up in the elevator for some fantastic views over Ottawa though.

Back at the hostel that night a group of us decided to have a few games of poker – uh oh.  Luckily decided to not play for money – well we are all poor backpackers.  Had to teach the game to three people who had never played before – but i think we got jinxed on that otherwise they had beginners luck.  After 4 hours of playing and having great conversation only the ladies remained and we had knocked the guys out – go girl power!!  I myself at 2.30am got bored and decided to go all in on a two pair and not surprisinly lost.

I have totally loved my time in Ottawa – the hostel was awesome and just felt so homely which was clearly evidenced by the fact that previous people who had stayed there and now lived in Ottawa all came by to hang out there in the evenings.  I almost wish i could have stayed there a bit longer but i must move on as there are more places to see.

When i eventually find a place where i can upload photos i will post them from Quebec and Ottawa – but at the moment i havent found anywhere but hopefully soon.  Now im off to Toronto and then Niagara Falls.

So arriving in Quebec City was cool – the train ride again was comfy and seemed to fly by.  Sat next to a lovely lady who lived in Quebec who spent the trip telling me about her family and helping me to remember some important french words that my brain had conveniently stuck somewhere labelled ‘will not need’ 

I cheated at the station having heard that the walk to the hostel was a 15min hike up some pretty evil hills, barely done on their own – and with a 20kg backpack seemed like the easiest way to a heart attack, and got a taxi.

The hostel seems ok – but very regimented but i guess thats the standard of HI hostels in general.  At least the dorm is better – the room is huge and the lockers are great – oh how the small things seem important.

I have spent four very cool days in Quebec which i prefer to Montreal – it seems friendlier somehow and very much reminds me of Paris.  I am struggling to understand Quebec french though – its so different from French in France – but its good herethat most people are bilingual so at least they can speak to me in English!

The weather here is temperamental at best and it has dropped dramatically over the last couple of days and there is even the chance it may snow – which is cool i cant wait to see proper snow – at least that will make up for the fact that i am wearing about 6 layers!

I have done quite a bit of the touristy stuff here and walked about 5 miles today up to the Citadel and along through the the parc de bateilles (may need to check my spelling there) I would have liked to have been here earlier this month when the leaves had changed colour but i can imagine just how beautiful it is here when that happens – now 90% of the leaves are on the ground a sure sign that winter is in fact here. 

One thing that i love about Canada is the deal they make out of Halloween.  Walking through the park i stumbled across a small playground that was decorated completely for Halloween, with adults in costumes handing out candy to the kids and pumpkins everywhere.  It was good to see families out together enjoying the sunshine and preparing for Halloween.

I found the Wolfe monument – General Wolfe was english and died fighting for Quebec – well at least im pretty sure he did – but at least now i have heard of him and seen his monument (see Dad i now know who he is!!)

The Musee de Quebec is here also and decided that i would pay the $15 to see the Picasso exhibition which was im sorry to say so not worth it.  It was his modern absract stuff that i just dont call art.  I know right here’s me slagging off one of the greatest artists of all time but i just didnt think it was good.  However i did happen upon the Rosa Luxembourg by Riopelle which was fascinating.  It consists of 30 paintings that together tell a story – now im not completely sure about what the story is – but the art is good – looks like batik and then acrylic paint over the top.  Im not very good at describing obviously but it was good and by far the best thing in the museum.

I met back up with Elizabeth here in Quebec and together we sampled the delights of a great pub called St Patricks – bet you cant possibly guess where it is from!!  Food was good there and fairly reasonable – restaurants here are not cheap by any means but i guess thats what happens in a majorly tourist city.

I love walking around this place its just so beautiful and fairly quiet – i cant imagine what its like in summer – but it seems to exhude a calmness and tranquility.  It may just be all the history here.  The way the city is set up is weird.  I wondered why there was a funiculor here but then realised that it is set upon a hill and streets go off a different split levels which is very cool and a pain to climb.  Unfortunately the Notre Dame was closed for refurb and photos not that cool as roadworks going on all around.

I am looking forward to getting to Ottawa.  French Canada is cool but i want to see something different now and im looking forward to spending Halloween here.  All i have to do now is get up at 4.30am to catch a train – nice 😉

So I have been to a hockey game and on a pub crawl through the lively student area so thought its high time i saw some more touristy sights here in Montreal.  Well i guess it would be rude to not.

Headed down to the metro station to Place D’Armes and wandered down the cobblestone street to Montreals Notre Dame Basilica – thinking to myself would it be on  a par with the one in Paris and oh boy was it ever.  Now im not a very religious person but having paid my $4 to go in i was blown away.  The altar glows eerily in colours of blues and purples and just oozes this spiritual pull that washes over you.   Few churches and cathedrals have had the same power one being St Peters in Vatican.  It helped coming at this time of year when crowds are minimal but i sat for awhile in awe.  My pictures just dont do it justice.   At the back is the Sacred Heart chapel which in a distinct contrast is yellows and golds and has a two year waiting list for weddings.  I can totally see why and felt respect for a place that holds power over the people of Montreal. 

Having had enough spiritual enlightenment i headed back out of the Basilica and down more cobbled streets towards the Hotel De Ville and to the Nelson monument in Place Jacques Cartier.  I can totally see this place rammed with tourists in the summer. 

Slightly bored with culture for the day i headed down to the riverfront which was rammed with workmen completing a refurb and people out for a stroll.  My first draft of this post was a lot more interesting it has to be said but the stupid computer decided to crash on me as i hit publish grrr and i cannot for the life of me remember what i wrote.

I headed (got to think of a new word) back to the downtown area and on to Rue St Cathrine which kind of reminds me of OXford Street aka a shoppers heaven.  It was here that i set myself the task of finding the Amex building to change my travellers cheques commission free, but have started to think there is a conspiracy at work here.  As in Halifax the Amex building was not where LP said it would be and asking around as in Halifax also people looked at me blankly saying that it had moved but no one seemed to know where.  Sigh.  So as if the rapid strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the Pound wasnt enough i had to pay commission as well.  More sighs.  I hope to god the American dollar doesn’t decide to go the say way.

Back at the hostel i contemplated why i just wasnt sure about this city.   There is just a certain je ne sais pas feeling that i have.  Old Montreal is cool, the Habs hockey team awesome and the bars awesome so why do i feel weird?  Who knows maybe because i absolutely loved Halifax that no where was going to seem as great. 

Having changed my train ticket for a more reasonable time – i mean who wants to get up for a 5am train anyway i settled in with a book and wondered what Quebec was going to be like……………….

So after a killer 20 hour train ride across eastern Canada which commenced at 12.30 AST on sun  – i finally arrived in Montreal at 8am on the monday morning – despite sitting in one place for too long, the Via Rail is a great way to travel, saw an amazing sunset, watched a movie and chatted with my new travel buddies Pattie, Helen and Jane.  It certainly helped having people to chat to – otherwise think i would have started talking to myself.

Wow so Montreal – what a city – after Halifax its huge and french and well very french.  My school french was not going to help me too much i dont think – but i seem to have a sign above my head which scream English person English person and consequently everyone speaks to me in English!

Managed to find the hostel with the least amount of effort which is always good but then had to wait around for couple of hours before i could check in – man i need sleep didnt at all travelling so plonked my arse down in reception and waited it out.

Found out that they still had tickets to hockey game tonight and decided that at $30 i really had no excuse.  This was going to be my first ever hockey game and i was very excited.  I chilled out in the afternoon and then headed down to the Bell Centre – home of the Montreal Canadiens – otherwise known as the Habs.  Luckily the Bell is just around the corner from the hostel but it wasn’t difficult to find – the streets were amass with the red jerseys of the Habs.  I could feel the atmosphere which i guess is very similar to a football match.

Headed down to my seat – well up really i was in the top section but still had a great view of the pitch or rink or well im not really sure what its called but you get my drift.  The crowd were excited and on form booing the Boston Bruins at every opportunity – sensing they arent liked up here!??!

The game was totally awesome – The Habs were well in control and thrashed the Bruins 6 – 1.  I get the idea that Christopher Huet is the fans favourite as his name was chanted a lot.  Might need to check the spelling of his name but im pretty sure that was right.  Man i love this game i think i could get totally addicted to it – gonna definately try to get to some more games.  Am gutted in some ways as The Habs are playing the Atlanta Thrashers next week and i wont be here – boo.

Had a fairly chilled day on tuesday and Elizabeth my dorm buddy and I decided that we were gonna go on the Montreal pub crawl and go for a couple of beers – yeah well since when have i just gone out for a couple – we started out at 8.30 and went to two bars first there was a distinct divide between the english speaking and the french speaking so myself, Elizabeth, Rodger and Ashley (Canadians), Mick ( Aussie) were on the english side.  Our guide was Julian – he was cool – i think its awesome here how they just switch flawlessly between English and French without seeming to blink. 

We ended up in a student club which was packed and on a tues night too – the music 80’s – urgh but actually it was pretty cool we had a boogie and then staggered back to the hostel around 3am so a good night out – cant do that too often though as my budget went out the window with jack and coke at $5 bucks a piece plus tip!

So getting up at 6.30 in not fun even on holiday especially when you have crazy people sitting outside your dorm window until the early hours drinking and singing – urghh wish i had been able to join them its no fun when you are the sucker trying to get some much needed sleep.

Its either the fresh air out here or the fact that i have walked more this week than well i dont care to remember when, but i am totally knackered by 10pm and ready for my bed – yeah i know i such a crazy hard arsed traveller right – who knows things may well change.

Anyhow back to the point instead of ramble – met up with Simon and Katrin and we headed out of Halifax and down the coastal road – shouting stop to Simon and getting him to pull over everytime there was a kodak moment – and let me tell you there were a lot – kudos to Simon for getting to grips with driving not only on the wrong side but in a powerless automatic. I just dont see the point in them takes the fun out of driving – is it just me who likes to ram through the gears like a racecar driver – yeah thought so!!

This crazy country and their obsession with Halloween – i tell you its still two weeks away and the Canucks have gone crazy with th decorating of their homes. To give thm credit some of the ones we saw were awesome and looked really cool – we ended up pulling up in people’s driveways to take pictures – a little rude i grant you but just paying our respects to their artisticness.

Stopped in at Peggys Cove which is a major tourist highlight – but really its just a lighthouse on some rocks and a few shops – but hey at least i went there right – although i saw some better views on the way there – especially at Goat Lake – love their names of places here. Carrying on driving we came to Mahone Bay – which has three chuches almost in a line with each other – had to go round other side of bay to capture this as the sun was in the wrong place but i was cool. We were having a blast in the car listening to Candian radio – cool song out here by a group called State of Shock and he song If i give you my money honey or something like that – well it was a cool song. Simon also decided to introduce Katrin to The Wurzels and unfortunately meant i was randomly singing ‘i’ve got a brand new combine harvester’ most of the day – argghh

We stopped for lunch in Lunenburg which is a cool little town and then headed out back down the coast to Coves Park and Rissers Beach – and after some lucky navigating eventually made our way back to Halifax as it started to rain. Got back into the hostel at around 7 – a totally awesome day and remade the point that having a car over here is the way to go.

Hit upon the idea to stay in Halifax for an extra night so i could watch the rugby and then catch the train with Pattie on sunday – the twenty hour train ride was beginning to loom. Very surprised with Via Rail – they were extremely helpful and the changing of my ticket took a whole 30 seconds amazing – i love this country.

Saturday loomed with driving wind and rain – great so treated myself to a lie in – i know my life is so exciting right!! and then headed to the Irish bar the Old Triangle to get my seat ready for the rubgy. As it turned out this was the only pub in Halifax showing the game and so 2 hours before it was jam packed with Brits, couple of Springboks and a few randoms who were all cheering on South Africa – everyone just loves England – yeah right. Met some very lovely ex pats who had taken over the pub and continued to watch a very nervewracking game – and then it was all over England had lost and the Springboks were champions – fair play to them they were awesome.

And that ended my time in Halifax which was a truly awesome place and a great city to start my trip. Montreal here i come!!

Well thats it the trip started and i find myself a transatlantic flight later in Nova Scotia.  Flight was good if uneventful – well thats what you want really but aint much to write about.  I recommend flying with Zoom if you get the chance, they were great, nice comfy seat with plenty of leg room, good food, good movies the time just flew (ahem sorry) by.

So got to Halifax around 4pm local time – the thing i noticed from the air was the colours.  Man i know i had been told that autumn is great here but that as a slight understatement the colours are reds. orange, yellows and greens and a variety of shades in between. 

So enough about trees – i can sense you are losing interest already – got into Halifax proper and the thing i noticed straight away was just how nice the people are here  – i mean even the passport control man was giving me tips on Halifax and sending me on my way with a smile – usually they just wave you through – i even had the greeters in the airport dressed in their tarten colours welcoming me to Nova Scotia.  So i think maybe this is just a one off – but no the airport shuttle driver goes out of his way on his route to drop me outise the hostel instead of the hotel down the road – and considering my pack weighs a ton and it had started to rain i was mega happy.

This happy friendly vibe continues through the hostel with the staff and the other guys staying at the hostel.  This hostel shoots staright into the top 5 of the best hostel i have stayed in – the one downside is no alcohol allowed – i can hear the shocks of horror from here – no alcohol you say – well its not so bad there are two pubs within a 20 sec stagger so i can forgive it on this one occasion.  But ok off the subject of alcohol and lack of – the hotel is clean, the rooms are spacious and the bunk beds dont creak and groan result.

So as its the first stop on the trip i have taken it pretty easy first couple of days – didnt see the point in getting burn out from museums in the first week – but in last couple of days i have walked all around Halifax from the harbour walk which is fantastic and considering they are having a freak summer here – its been really nice blue skies, not a cloud in the sky.  I also didnt fully research the fact that this is one very hilly city – think San Francisco and so huffed and puffed my way to the top to see the Citadel and almost fell back down when the cannon was set off at 12 noon – so wasnt expecting that.

Back to the freakishly happy and friendly Halogonians – they even stop their cars to let you cross the road – sometimes whilst in the middle of a very busy intersection and just wave you across.  Man i love this place – maybe i will just stay here??  hmmm

So its been gorgeous weather – sorry think its raining back in England right!!! and today (thats thurs) caught the bus out to York Redoubt which was part of the city’s defence system – and is totally dead and no one else around except for me and my new friend Pattie – you gotta love coming at the end of the season we had this entire historic park to ourselves so just kicked back and checked out the views which i have to say were awesome – pics to follow when i find a place to upload them.

Its such a small world – sat in the kitchen at the hostel eating my spag bowl – i know you were so totally interested in knowing that – but anyways the guy sat opposite me is from Poole that was scary enough – here i am in Nova Scotia chatting to Simon from Poole.  He has come with a car from Boston and so we are headed to Peggys Cove tomorrow and then further along the coast so should be a good day will let you know.

The setting: A social club in Bournemouth, a fancy dress theme and cheap beer. The outcome: an absolutely fantastic night to which i had the monster of all hangovers and a permanent smile on my face when i think about how wonderful my friends are!

More info you ask?! well as i leave in two weeks and two of my bestest friends left today we decided to have a joint party and get everyone together. We had it a my old workplace which has a great hall, very cheap beer, hired ourselves a disco and invited families, friends and work colleagues.

We decided on fancy dress so that it would be a memorable night and oh boy was it ever that. Thank you to all who attended and made the effort – the costumes were inspired the memories of that night will keep me smiling when i get homesick.

Enough talk the pictures do that better:

I got so overwhelmed about all that i needed to do before i left i ended up writing myself a list and slowly working through it – my brain was going into meltdown trying to remember it all.

I have three weeks until i leave and still some stuff to get sorted – including travel insurance eek – cant decide who to go with so more research needed there. Also must get passport photos, photo driving license and store list of important info with the folks.

In my infinite wisdom i decided to finish work 10 days before i go partly to be able to sort out rest of stuff and partly because i have had enough of working now – somehow just gotta get through these last two weeks – i seem to do less and less each day now which is kind of go – hopefully the bosses havent competely cottoned on to that.

What else – ahh yes can see this turning into an incomprehensible post that just rambles on and on. Luckily all my gear is sorted thank ye parents and family – they have bought most of the stuff as part of christmas and birthday presents – i think i have everything i need now just got to work out how much of it will fit in my new shiny backpack complete with shiny Boots Travel Patch freshly sewn on – thanks Mum. – NOTE must learn to sew again!!

The dreaded word – the amount of times i have gone round and round in my head and on paper trying to know if the amount of money i have saved is going to be enough.  I have recently stopped worrying about it as much – i can get any more money together now so will just have to cope on what i have.  I managed to survive as a very poor student in England – how hard can it be compared to holding down a very active social student life.

In the end my budget for Canada and the US is £4500 for 4 and half months – i worked out  what accommodation was for each place and transport costs between each place were and then divided totals into amount per day which comes to £15 for sightseeing, food and misc.  A small budget but think i should be able to stay within that.

I have left £2000 as proof of funds to get me in to New Zealand and then the plan is to work and live off what i earn in New Zealand and try to save some more over the year for Australia and Asia.