Holidays are booked.

Will · 06-07-07 15:09:34

That's right. After making it to Australia last year this year I'm heading in the opposite direction and visiting somewhere else on my list of must see places. I'm off to Canada at the end of September. Due to work though I only have myself a fortnight (as opposed to last year's 6 weeks) and so my traveling shall be limited. I fly into Toronto where I plan to spend a few days, then my plans are to travel via train to Quebec City and Montreal, then it's back to Toronto and then home.

Now I'm traveling on my own again (doesn't worry me at all) and so I'm free to any and all ideas out there that people might want to throw my way. I know there's a fair few Canadian members of this website, and if any of them who live in these areas (or anyone else who has visited) has any suggestions for me then I'm all ears.

And on a side note. Have you any travel plans of your own for the rest of the year?

padraic · 06-07-07 19:39:47

Hello Will,
I absolutely love Canada and I think you will, too. Montreal is delightful and a very bilingual city, but Quebec City is much more francophone; if you speak any French it will really come in handy in Quebec City. Q.C. is filled with historical sites of interest. The tour guides for the larger museums, etc. are bilingual, but in smaller venues some guides might be French-speaking only. Quebec City can be expensive for tourists. We stayed in Bed & Breakfasts because the hotels (i.e. the famous Chateau Frontenac) were way off limits for our budget. Vieux Quebec is well worth a visit for its old stone buildings and cobbled streets that are like a piece of Europe transported to the New World. There are so many historical sites and museums that you should find plenty to interest you. Have fun!

aven frey · 08-07-07 05:33:41

I love how you up and go travelling all the time Will! I've only been to the Vancover airport but I have relatives who live on some Islands somewhere to the left of the mainland (I'm so helpful I know) and they send photos of some stunning sceenery. I'll find out more for you if noone else know's what I'm on about.
Also I'm off to the Czech Republic soon! I'm really going to see the Sedlec Ossuary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec) and Kafka's house! It's so exciting going to other countries!!

kirejos · 08-07-07 16:55:28

Will, great trip it sounds. Perfect for a couple of weeks. I live in Rochester, NY (right on the opposite side of Lake Ontario) and have had many wonderful experiences there. Toronto is truly world class, The Toronto International Film Festival is considered to be on par with Cannes and Sundance, and begins the first Monday in September. I totally-ultra-super-duper highly recommend it, you'll be there to experience Toronto at its finest. Chinatown is also not to be missed, if you've seen the Chinatowns of New York and San Francisco in the movies it'll give you some idea, but what most people don't realize is that Toronto's Chinatown is the largest in North America. Toronto is also legendary for its comedy clubs, The list of famous comedians who cut their teeth in Toronto is endless.

If you can, rent a car and drive to Quebec. I have friends who honeymooned at Sandbanks Provincial Park on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, and came home raving about it. Also, the 1000 Islands area at the inlet of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (where it meets Lake Ontario) is absolutely beautiful.

There are a lot of cross-cultural connections between southern Quebec, and northern New England. The Green Mtns. of Vermont and the White Mtns. of New Hampshire are right there, if you want experience some of the most beautiful fall foliage you'll ever see, take a drive. I lived in Portland, Maine for two years and remember my trips to northern New Hampshire vividly. The autumn colors are so intense it feels like you'd be able to rub a leaf and have the color come off on your hands. The yellows especially, like they've been "powdered" with color. An indian summer day on a mountain hike in northern New England is just wonderfully serene.

God, I'm jealous Have fun!

bobby wrote:

Also I'm off to the Czech Republic soon! I'm really going to see the Sedlec Ossuary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec) and Kafka's house! It's so exciting going to other countries!!

Sing it sister! How jealous am I. If you can, bounce over to Krakow, Poland. I hear it's "the new Prague" of eastern Europe.

P.S.- I didn't know they had super glue in 1870

blissed · 08-07-07 23:19:20

bobby wrote:

Also I'm off to the Czech Republic soon! I'm really going to see the Sedlec Ossuary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec) and Kafka's house! It's so exciting going to other countries!!

Thats amazing! what a different attitude they had to death than we have. If you find enough bones you could decorate your flat like this, give Henry a bit of company :)

.

blissed · 08-07-07 23:35:25

Will wrote:

I know there's a fair few Canadian members of this website, and if any of them who live in these areas (or anyone else who has visited) has any suggestions for me then I'm all ears.

I had a thing about moving there a little while ago and found out a fair bit about living there, most of which I've forgot. but it looks really nice. I'm sure you've emailed Dachande by now and found out tons of stuff, have yourself a good time :)

.

momentextase · 14-07-07 18:27:45

bobby wrote:

I love how you up and go travelling all the time Will! I've only been to the Vancover airport but I have relatives who live on some Islands somewhere to the left of the mainland (I'm so helpful I know) and they send photos of some stunning sceenery. I'll find out more for you if noone else know's what I'm on about.

Bobby, that would probably be Vancouver Island or the Southern Gulf Islands. Victoria, BC is on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, and Vancouver, BC is on the mainland (and not on Vancouver Island-a fact I find odd and confusing! )

The Southern Gulf Islands are a group of small islands between Vancouver Island (which is rather large) and the mainland.

Salt Spring Island is the main Southern Gulf Island, and is a favorite place of mine, it is not far and I love to go there to get away, or to get wild. Both are possable! It is beautiful, small (6000-10000 people max) and charming, lots of artists live there, Orcas swim around the island in the summer. Lots of wildlife, I am including the people there when I say that!:)

laktor · 16-07-07 06:35:17

Hey Will, I live in Toronto so let me give you an early "welcome". As kirejos said, Toronto is a world class city and I think you're gonna love it! Anything you want to know, just ask, my friend. Where do you plan to stay....downtown? One of the best things about Toronto is the food, so I hope you like to eat! Lots of outdoor markets and restaurants for every taste and budget. We are a mulit-cultural city and we also have some great looking girls, too! Toronto is a great city to just walk around in the various neighborhoods and take in the culture. So enjoy. By the way, I've been to Australia too, 7 times to be exact!

Will · 18-07-07 13:24:43

bobby wrote:

I love how you up and go travelling all the time Will!

It's quite a recent development really. I regret not going away and doing a lot of travelling when I was younger. I'm now only 27 and so I'm hardly past it, but I do find that it's a little more difficult now. What with the fact that I now have a house to pay for and a job which takes up a hell of a lot of my time and can be hard to get time away from. However, since making that trip to Australia last year I do feel very unsettled. I have no intention of settling down and living my life away in my wee house. I still have plans of either emigrating or taking 12 months off to travel. Maybe both if I can. It's difficult though as feeling so unsettled is quite a, well.... unsettling feeling. It affects everything from my job to relationships, and so is pretty weird.

I certainly don't intend for my job to mean that my life must end completely though.

And thank you laktor (and everyone else) for your replies. As for where I'm looking at staying in Toronto, well I'm looking at hosteling it whilst I'm over in that part of the world. It's easy, cheap, and meet like-minded people so it's all good.

One question though. Would the hockey season have started by the time I'm there??? I'd love to catch a game.

Last edited by Will (18-07-07 13:26:58)

pcobb4759 · 18-07-07 20:25:46

Late Sept. is preseason--you should be able to see a preseason game. Toronto is quite a good team.

Will · 20-07-07 06:52:20

I'm in Canada until the 11th of October. Will the season have started proper by then per chance?

pcobb4759 · 20-07-07 07:52:49

Yes. Buffalo and Ottawa are also good teams and not far away.

laktor · 23-07-07 06:02:54

Yes, I think the first real league games will have started 3 or 4 days before you leave. Actually 2 teams are going to be playing games that count in London, England at the end of Sept. And hostelling it should be fine. My first time in Australia, I spent a week in Sydney and stayed in a hostel...very inexpensive and it was fine for just sleeping.

Will · 23-07-07 17:00:03

Well looking at the fixtures it would appear that the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing the Montreal Canadiens on the 6th of October. I'm going to try and keep my eyes out for tickets to that one. I imagine it'll be quite a fierce rivalry, for obvious reasons.

Hell, I might even see a hockey game break out!

kirejos · 23-07-07 22:27:11

I can't think of a better matchup for someone with an interest in going to an NHL game in Canada. Any time you can catch two of the "original six" teams playing against each other it's special.

When I was living in Boston, the hardest tickets to get were against other original six teams, especially Montreal.

#1 06-07-07 15:09:34

Holidays are booked.

#2 06-07-07 19:39:47

Re: Holidays are booked.

#3 08-07-07 05:33:41

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#4 08-07-07 16:55:28

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#5 08-07-07 23:19:20

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#6 08-07-07 23:35:25

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#7 14-07-07 18:27:45

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#8 16-07-07 06:35:17

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#9 18-07-07 13:24:43

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#10 18-07-07 20:25:46

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#11 20-07-07 06:52:20

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#12 20-07-07 07:52:49

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#13 23-07-07 06:02:54

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#14 23-07-07 17:00:03

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#15 23-07-07 22:27:11

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