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Hello!
So, since the last blog we have done a lot so I will try to keep this as brief as possible otherwise it might be extremely long!
The last entry I wrote whilst James watched Chelsea in the pub in Toronto. After that we took the ferry over to Toronto Islands which was really nice. There is an amusement park thats mainly for kids but there is also loads of park areas and beaches. Unfortunately the weather wasnt too great so no swimming or sunbathing. We walked around for ages though and the weather really picked up, just in time as we wondered on to the beach for a paddle. We got the ferry back early evening and as the weather was so nice we decided it would be a good time for me to go up the CN tower, so I did. View was amazing, especially from the glass floor which loads of people were jumping on - good job James stayed on the ground.
Next day we took the greyhound bus to Niagara Falls. Met a really nice english couple on the bus and spent the day with them. The falls were really impressive and we went on the Maid of the Mist boat which takes you right into them - very wet! But they provide you with bright blue plastic ponchos which kept us nice and dry and looking good! After lunch and lots of walking around and LOTS of pictures we decided to get the bus back to Toronto but we just missed one so had to stay in a pub for three hours until the next one! Back in Toronto we went for dinner and a drink with Kim and Si.
The next day we had to check out of the hostel and as our bus wasnt until midnight we decided to go to the cinema to fill some time. We saw 'Dinner for Schmucks' - really funny. Then we wondered into the Steam Whistle Brewery for a free pint and a look at the steam trains before wondering down to the waterfront. We had lunch right on the waterfront which was really nice and we chilled out here for ages then we watched the sunset on the Urban Beach. We then wondered to the bus station for another night journey...
Next morning arrived in Montreal and checked into our hostel which was really nice and had really good facilities. We spent the afternoon walking round the old town including a massive cathedral which was really impressive. The old town is so similar to france, its easy to forget youre in Canada, its really really nice just to wander around. We had a nice, but expensive beer and then some lunch near the waterfront. As the hostel had such a good kitchen we could finally cook our own food! Hooray. So we just spent the evening cooking and drinking the local beer in the hostel chatting to people.
The next day we walked up to the top of Mont Royal which is a huge hill and had an amazing view of the city. Its a huge place so we walked all around it and saw this big metal crucific they have put up at the top, then we walked to the lake and had a picnic. The weather was so nice we chilled out by the lake all afternoon then hired a pedalo which was fun. Had dinner again at the hostel and played pool.
Friday morning we had to take the train to the bus station where we were going to get the bus to Quebec City, however when we arived we were told Greyhound dont go there! Nightmare. Didnt know what to do but as we had seen pretty much everything in Montreal and had already booked our Quebec accomodation, we decided to go for it and pay for the bus. Day continued to be a bit of a pain as we couldnt check in to our hostel until 4pm and couldnt even leave our luggage anywhere so we found a park and just chilled out there. When we finally got into the hostel it was really nice and even better when our friends we had met in Niagara arrived too! After dinner and beer on the terrace of the hostel we all went to a free Cirque du Soleil event which was just down the round under a bypass! Really random and we didnt know what to expect but it was amazinggggg! About 50-60 performers, all in full makeup, full costume and did a 45 minute performance with the most amazing acrobatics ever! We had an amazing view right at the front, the whole night was just brilliant!
Next morning we all headed to the old town for a wander round. Quite similar to Montreal but even more French! It definately is the major language there whereas Montreal was more of a mixture. We took a cable car thing up to the top of the town where was saw a really famous hotel called Chateau Frontenac, where Churchill, Roosevelt and someone else planned D-Day! After lunch and lots of wondering round and an ice cream we came back to the hostel via the market and had some pre dinner drinks on the terrace again. Then we headed to the harbour for the evening entertainment of a light show called 'Moulin des images' projected onto this huge building which was really impressive and once again completely free! We then had a little midnight paddle in a big fountain on our way home which was fun.
Sunday morning we all took the local bus to Montmorency Falls which are 30m higher than Niagara but not as wide and not as much water but really spectacular. We walked all along the top of the falls across the suspension bridge then walked the 476 steps down to the bottom. We had lunch down the bottom here then mustered up the energy to walked back up to the top. We then walked to the other side of the river and had an ice lolly sitting by the water which was really nice. We then got the bus back to town but as me and James had already checked out the hostel we couldnt go back so we all went into town for some dinner and a look at the Parliament building and a final walk around and watched some street performers before saying goodbye to Kim and Si at the bus station and gettting on another overnight bus to Ottowa ....
Arrived in Ottowa at 8am and made our way to the hostel which was really nice. We then got up to Parliament Hill in time to watch the changing of the guard ceremony which is a huge ceremony with about 100 soldiers including a huge band which lasts 30 minutes and they do it every morning from June til August. It was really impressive and also quite funny when a little white fluffly dog escaped into the middle of the ceremony and was running everywhere!
After this we went to see the soldiers who constantly guard a monument of the unknown soldier and then went for a general walk around the town and had a wander round the market. We stocked up on some food from the supermarket then went back to the hostel for a nap as we hadnt slept very well on the bus. After a shower and dinner we walked back up to Parliament Hill to watch the light show they project on it (similar to the Quebec one) but quite a lot better as it was in English and was all about the history of Canada so it was quite interesting. We also sampled a local favourite dessert called a Beavertail which is like a big flat doughnut which have toppings, I had chocolate spread and James had a cheesecake topping which was ridiculously sweet but still good :)
The next morning we spent some time sorting out our train tickets then we walked to the Notre-Dame Cathedral which was really impressive, it has over 200 statues inside! Then we walked through the park up to Parliament again and had our picture taken with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police followed by a really really good hot dog on the lawn outside Parliament. We then went on a free tour of Parliament which was really interesting and I went up the clock tower afterwards which had a great view of the city. We then had a milkshake and a lounge in the park then headed back to get our bags then got the bus to the bus station and waited for our mega long journey to Winnipeg.
The bus took a total of 32 hours but it wasnt too bad, we both managed to sleep quite a lot of the way. Once in Winnipeg we made our way to the train station and waited for the train which is where I am writing this now! The train is called 'The Canadian' and is huge! Were only in economy but the seats recline and have lots of leg room, better than the greyhound! Also there is a glass domed area upstairs that you can go and sit in which is really cool :)
So, we are on our way to Jasper and once there we will hopefully be seeing all sorts of amazing sights and animals then we will prob make our way to Banff via Lake Louise and then over to Vancouver.
Dont think internet is going to be too available in the rockies so the next blog wont be for a while!
Hope you are all well and not missing us too much
Sorry again that this is so long but we have done a lot of stuff!
Love Sarah and James xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- comments
Doris Sounds fantastic and really interesting to read. Take care. M+D