So what about Canada?

I am back home for some weeks now and all of my trip seems so distant and long ago somehow. But there's so much left to tell. Anywhay, no way just walking away leaving this blog unfinished. So i start with a swift report on my visit to Canada.

I spent some days together with Kathi in Ottawa, so glad to be reunited once again. We went around this not that well known capital and i liked all the garish neo-medieval architecture. As there's not enough space for two in the student's dormitory single room, and i hoped to see somewhat of the country after all, we soon hit the road!

Besides the somewhat calmer mood of Canadians over their southern neighbours, they prove to be real revolutioners concerning speed limits, which are as low as in the US, just that nobody cares.

Moreover if you leave the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal axis, you quickly get to know the ambiguity of the term highway, which may not imply more than a paved strip through endless woods, one typical thing for Ontario.

As i recently had my temple-and-any-other-traditionall-stuff-hangover from Japan and still remember the corn-one along our way west in the US, it's the forest-and-lakes hangover you get up in the borealm. Nonetheless the mostly slight hilled landscape can be very impressive and we did some hiking tours in the provincial parks; at least as far as we got without snowhoes (we tried them only once at Mt.Tremblant).

Mid march in Ontario still proved to be mid winter, but temperatures weren't that bad anymore (people wearing t-shirts above 0°C). Nonetheless winter tourism isn't that develloped, and the "closed for season"-sign got our companion everywhere we went. The farther north you get, the less dense population gets and the heavier industries. Final leader was Timmins, a 50.000 soul logging town, stretching out 40km in every direction (The "Welcome to"-sign inmidst the taiga really was fun). All in all, from a visitor point of view, Canada turned out not to be that different from the States after all, an impression rehabilitated only by what we saw from Quebec and its own culutral touch, and me being so glad getting my hands on real food again, after having had to drop low from japanese delicacies to ever recurring burger or steak menus *puke*
Montreal with its multicultural flair and cool places to hang out, became our welcome back to civilication after having left behind 3000km of boreal forest.

And once again the day to say good bye came far to early. But from now it's only one more month until my love will come back too. Let's see about what adventures settling down rather than travelling foreign lands will bring along. Here the map of places we went:

Back from our tour

3000km through Ontarion and Quebec. Now we're back but no time so far for a recount, but there are plenty of fotos:

Ottawa and Ontario photos

Oh Canada....

I slept well in my in the basement room i got, spent my last money to get to Westminster, Elephant&Castle and for a steak pie with a half stout. I realize it has really been a long time since i have been the last time to London, and after so long a time in Tokyo this metropolis rather looks small as for the buildings as well as the dimension.
I am experiencing reverse culture shock, which isn't too surprising, but funny anyway to be enstranged by something you have known for your whole life. Here is a list:

• People are open and emotional.
• People are loud and noisy.
• People are dressed casually.
• Blond women catch my eye (especially my very own one...)
  
• There is so much more space, people blocking entrance/exit areas anywhay (just an international phenomenon)
  
• Eating with knife and spoon at every meal.
• Meals are large, and there is so much meat and no rice and I am having a hard time.
  
• Everyone speaks english.
• I have to think about how to do and say when I want to pay in a restaurant.
• You better tip.
• Waiters putting the change on the table rather carelessly. (Probably because off having forgot above)
• No shoes off/slippers on inside living spaces.
• So many really old houses..

The flight from London to Ottawa was very relaxed. Rather spacious seats, good meals, only no window at my seat, so i head to look out of the one to the front seat, and i could as there was now stupid shutting policy. More frozen landscapes. I saw the southern tip of Greenland, attached to an iceberg stiched polar sea, then the vast lands of New Foundland, patterned by frozen lakes, great, but couldnt take any pictures.

Now in Ottawa together with Kathi again. -4 degrees and lots of snow, and that where I just had welcomed spring temperatures.

Lift Off

Ok just a little update as i am now in London for some 24 hours, enough to make it to the center village and have some fish and chips and of course beer with nothing else going with it.
The flight would have been ok, but somehow, lights were turned out and everyone had to pull down the shutters, on a day flight, so to rather watch the stupid TV program than the vast landscapes of the frozen sea north of russia. Of course i couldnt stand such ignorance for too long, and took some time to stare out anyway.
And as always Heathrow offered its regular troubles, this time it was delayed baggage, so basicely all people from all planes arriving waited in the small baggage hall (really small in comaprison) 90min for their luggage.

But Baywaters is a cool place, rather touristy though, but with a good spirit, am getting somewhat of the expected reverse culture shock, amazing to be in an really international city again. But its strange, i really have to change habits again, I nearly forgot to tipp at the cafe tonight.
Futhermore English isn't the signmark of foreigners anymore, but of course in London people are from anywhere. And it wasn't so easy to find soe non-asian food for me.
And yes, Jetlag has its impact too, awake now for 24hours something.....