Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Canada
We landed in Toronto in sunshine and almost snow-free sidewalks so walking around to sightsee was chilly but bearable. It snowed during the first night, the best part on Wednesday, was finding the Conservatory of the Ontario Horticultural Society in the middle of an icy white park. I have never seen such lush plants and varieties from every climate in such a small area. There were benches at suitable intervals tucked away among the ivy and pointsettias where folks were sitting reading novels or poetry or communing with nature while the first black squirrel I have ever seen, gamboled around hoping for a handout.
Hockey Hall of Fame
On the train
We caught the Canadian train and set off for almost 3,000 miles across Canada with beautiful vistas of snow and being fed at hourly intervals. Being winter there were some major delays - mainly caused by freight trains which have the right of way - so unfortunately we had to go through the Rockies in the dark.
Jasper
We stopped off in Jasper for two days and saw wonderful mountains there. A former grade school teacher and current history and ecology buff gave us a personalized tour for four hours along the Icefield Parkway where we saw frozen waterfalls, deep canyons and even a coyote and a couple of elk.
Frozen waterfall
Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum chose the confluence of two rivers in the area for a movie location but I am sure it must have been in summer. It was -24* C so fortunately the walks were short and we were plied with hot herbal tea in the van before the next stop. Our guide could point out and recognize tracks in the snow, bear claw marks up trees and knew every type of tree and bush and what use it was to the natives and early trappers.
Vancouver is beautiful and the old area - Gastown - fascinating. Gassy Jack Deighton, well known for his long-winded stories and inability to stop talking had the first pub in the area. It consisted of two barrels of beer and a whiskey jug. Now the streets are lined with pubs and eateries. At this time of the year we are getting almost exclusive service in the restaurants and cafes from an immensely cosmopolitan population. They all know Nashville and Country Music however. The public library is built to resemble the Coliseum in Rome on the outside and has internet access for visitors but the queues for computer use can make the internet cafes more desirable. We spent an interesting hour in the Storyeum, which is a live performance of the history of British Columbia spread undergound below two buildings. The performers lead you from set to set and while you are sitting on benches history is enacted around you.
Tomorrow we leave for Quito, Ecuador and farewell to warm clothes.
LS
Hockey Hall of Fame
On the train
We caught the Canadian train and set off for almost 3,000 miles across Canada with beautiful vistas of snow and being fed at hourly intervals. Being winter there were some major delays - mainly caused by freight trains which have the right of way - so unfortunately we had to go through the Rockies in the dark.
Jasper
We stopped off in Jasper for two days and saw wonderful mountains there. A former grade school teacher and current history and ecology buff gave us a personalized tour for four hours along the Icefield Parkway where we saw frozen waterfalls, deep canyons and even a coyote and a couple of elk.
Frozen waterfall
Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum chose the confluence of two rivers in the area for a movie location but I am sure it must have been in summer. It was -24* C so fortunately the walks were short and we were plied with hot herbal tea in the van before the next stop. Our guide could point out and recognize tracks in the snow, bear claw marks up trees and knew every type of tree and bush and what use it was to the natives and early trappers.
Vancouver is beautiful and the old area - Gastown - fascinating. Gassy Jack Deighton, well known for his long-winded stories and inability to stop talking had the first pub in the area. It consisted of two barrels of beer and a whiskey jug. Now the streets are lined with pubs and eateries. At this time of the year we are getting almost exclusive service in the restaurants and cafes from an immensely cosmopolitan population. They all know Nashville and Country Music however. The public library is built to resemble the Coliseum in Rome on the outside and has internet access for visitors but the queues for computer use can make the internet cafes more desirable. We spent an interesting hour in the Storyeum, which is a live performance of the history of British Columbia spread undergound below two buildings. The performers lead you from set to set and while you are sitting on benches history is enacted around you.
Tomorrow we leave for Quito, Ecuador and farewell to warm clothes.
LS
# posted by Bill and Lynne @ 4:09 PM 
