Canada – The Whirlwind Tour- Part 1

Having arrived back in Madinat Zayed after a cram packed holiday in the land of Canuckistan, we began our first few days by swapping out the previous tenant’s furniture (stove, fridge and bed being the most important), and have spent the last week shopping, and installing, repairing and reinstalling. I think we have settled in enough to begin the Canada trip blog in earnest (though we still don’t have a proper bed yet, but are sleeping on a lovely fold down couch that we bought for the spare room for when you all come to visit).

There is a whole lot to write about and it’s going to have to be done in stages.

For all those who have not been there, Canada is a fantastically scenic country, full of character, a distinct culture that is most definitely very Canadian (the stereotypes are more or less true… in that you see them everywhere, if not in each individual Canadian), and cities, towns and hamlets, each boasting a different personality.

I’ll start with the whirlwind tour giving an overall of people and places, and we can make a few specific stops along the way in the next couple days/blogs.  You realise that for each day I could write an entire long entry, including historical facts, scenery, personalities etc… But that might take a year or more so to write. Here is a photo a day(ish)  glance  through the last month and a bit… with some random expanded descriptions here and there.

July 14

We arrived at Toronto airport after a 14 hour flight, and were greeted by the smiling family, Mum Virginia and Al, Virginia’s (Ruth’s) brother. Mum Virginia had donned an African shirt and was waving both South African and Canadian flags. 

We met up at Mum Virginia’s place (after the drive from Toronto to St. Catharine’s during which I discovered the Great Lakes, or one of, skyways – amazing bridges soaring over the lakes – and what Toronto looks like from across the lake… and what Toronto looks like from across the lake where :D ). I tried pierogies for the first time, met V’s sister Ann and her kids (waving from the balcony, “hello uncle Ty”), and this was where we slept for the next 4 nights. Oh and Kelly, one of Virginia’s best friends stopped by for a bit too.

To me Virginia’s family was actually one of the highlights of the trip. The family is a lot of fun to be around… really a great bunch and a laugh a minute if not more… And Mum Virginia is the sweetest person ever.

July 15

I had a happy morning of bacon and egg breakfast. Visited and met more of the family. The plan for the day was to recover from jetlag and eat Macaroni and Cheese, so…

We went to Al’s house where I met Sheila, and three of their four kids.

From there it was on to meet V’s uncle Andy and his wife Dominica at their grand house which overlooks some of the loveliest vineyards in the region.

This was followed by a visit to Ann’s house where I met her husband Dave and learned all about micro-brewed beers and wines in Canada. We also grabbed bikes for the following day.

Of course everyone wanted to feed us at each stop, so we obliged…and then collapsed into bed at Mum Virginia’s that evening.

July 16

We woke early and took a long bicycle ride along the Welland Canal which joins Lake Eerie and Lake Ontario. To understate the size of the great lakes, would be, I believe, to understate Canada (as it would to understate the amount of fresh water everywhere, the sheer size of the country, and the people’s undying love for anything maple, anything beer and anything well remotely Canadian… any shape, size or form… Canadians love being Canadian). The lakes are massive, and a visit to their shores feels like a visit to a rather quiet oceanic beach. But I digress.

The Canal was built as a shipping lane between the lakes as it was felt that the trip down the Niagara river – which also  runs betweens the lakes – and ultimately over the top of Niagara falls was counterproductive to say the least.

We spent the entire day whizzing along on the bikes, stopping to pick raspberries as we went, or to watch as massive cargo ships sank or rose, as they moved through a series of locks (there are eight… we saw three) which cover the 10o or so metre difference in heights between the two lakes. Oh to be cool enough to be outside for hours on end… it was heavenly.

Later that evening we went through to the Strega Cafe (the restaurant that Kelly owns) to enjoy an open mic night and meet up with some of Virginia’s friends from way back when she used to work there.

July 17

This was a day I’d been nervous about and looking forward to as well. Virginia left me with her mum so she could catch up/drink Mojitos with Kelly for the day and so I could really get to know Mum Virginia, and she could get to know me a bit better. A fearsome thing when 3 days into meeting one’s in laws. I think Mum Virginia was as nervous as I was though.

So having rid myself of V (;-p) , we went for a gorgeous drive where I got to see just how beautiful the neighbourhoods in Canada can be, and also just how green (which we found almost overwhelming, but most welcome after so much brown and sand in the UAE). First we headed out to a lovely marina, then to a tree lined 9/11 memorial, which had been supported by one of Mum Virginia’s friends.

This was on the way to Happy Rolph’s which is a petting zoo. Calling it a petting zoo underplays the place quite a bit. The walk there is a walk through thick forest with birds flying everywhere(of course including the famed Canada Geese), with a bright wide open vast lake - Lake Ontario - on one side, and earthy, tree crowded, dark little ponds teeming with life just a little way to the left. The petting zoo is just the full-stop before leaving. They did have llamas which made me very happy.

 

Mum Virginia then drove us through Niagara on the Lake which is probably the prettiest residential area in the world… really. I found the style the houses are built in all over Canada to be lovely. We stopped at one point where a couple were getting married at the Niagara River, to check out Fort Niagara on the American side (which is a massive stone fortress), and Fort George on the Canadian side (which never got much bigger than a courtyard surrounded by sharpened sticks).

We then headed out towards Andy’s house again and stopped to look at the Brock Monument on the way. Again, a lot of history here but I’ll leave you to look that up if you want.

Having lunched at Andy and Dominica’s for a while, I was dropped back in St. Catharines at Kelly’s place with V, where we visited a bit longer and then headed home for the night…

I loved the post boxes in Canada… One of many “as seen on TV” moments for me".

… to be continued.