Montreal

I was back in Montreal for my last few days in Canada and for the cities and towns I’ve seen, it’s my favourite. Maybe it’s the European vibe or just that it’s a big city with lots to do in it..

On my first night I had to brave both the subway and bus to go out to Lachine and meet with a friend who I’ve known for 10 years but never met and it was great to finally meet her and see some of the sites of Lachine.

Quebec City

OK, confession: my camera battery sort of died (I’m sure I can sort it, but…) so I just had to go and buy myself a new camera, I mean my old one was years old (and took very good photos still) and the zoom wasn’t amazing, so I just had to get a new one, right?! Now, I have a shiny new camera, with an amazing zoom and lots of functions that I have no idea how to work or what they do and probably won’t work out until I get back next year. Though I do have the manual on my netbook, it’s just a bit, well boring to read…

Ottawa

The first places I seem to be visiting is bars, not sure why, maybe the coaches here are driving me to drink. But I headed to a bar in the Byward Market for something to eat and a Canadian beer. And I got a bargain too, free beer apparently I’d been ignored for so long that they decided to not charge me - result!

Kingston, Canada

Kingston was the first capital of Canada, until the capital was moved because it was felt that being so close to America wasn’t safe. Which means that it has some very important buildings and military bases for a town of its size.


My first stop in Kingston was food - my guide book recommended the Kingston Brewing Company, which brews its own beers, so off I headed to try the famous Dragon’s Breath Pale Ale and the Whitetail Cream Ale.

Toronto

I arrived in Toronto and checked into the hostel, which wasn’t a 5 minute walk from the bus terminal as it said in the blurb, but it is fairly central. Though in a not so nice area of Toronto, in fact it’s one of the places ‘that should be avoided at night’ and ‘isn’t so great during the day’ according to the Lonely Planet. And they’re right. This is due to the Social Services having closed a number of centres in the city and the help isn’t here for people, so they congregate in this area where there are some shelters and centres left. It doesn’t feel unsafe so much as being just full of homeless people, a lot who are mentally ill. It didn’t help reading an article that the area is where there is gun violence, crack dealers etc, not that I’ve seen any of that and a local told me not to believe everything I read!

Niagara Falls

Yesterday I went to Niagara Falls - having seen the cost of the tours, which take you to places you probably don’t want to go to and just want your money - I used my Canada Coaches Route Pass and made my own way there. My Route Pass allows me to go virtually anywhere in Southern Canada, as long as it’s within the 15 day and 19 journey limit, which should get me to everywhere I’m planning on going and I can make some extra side trips if I wish.

Let the adventure begin

Yesterday I flew from London Heathrow to Montreal Trudeau, for the start of my year of adventures. Luckily I was flying from Terminal 5 which is still shiny and new, so has the better shops and facilities. The shops were useful as I’d left my sunglasses case in the car and the facilities were good, so I could sup a glass or two of Champagne before the flight - well the luxury of the trip began and ended there!