Crossing into a new province and the first noticeable change is that french is now the predominant language; written and spoken, although many people are bilingual and once they realise you would prefer to converse in English, they simply switch. I did attempt to dredge up some high school francais, although would get caught out once a conversation got too complicated! Little did I realise that a week later when I travelled to Montreal that I would be reading in french to a group of children! More on that in a later blog post.
Back to Quebec City and after arriving at the beautiful, old train station it was a climb up the hill to find my hostel. Everyone had told me that I would love Quebec City, but they didn’t tell me how hilly it was! At points around the city and also from down by the river up to the Plains of Abraham there are super, long staircases. I often discovered them by accident and funnily enough always seemed to be at the bottom rather than the top when I did find them! Lots of locals use them for stair runs (great for the thighs and a good cardio workout I’m sure) but I stuck to walking!
The photos I took in Quebec (all 120 of them) are all on my camera rather than my phone, so I can’t share any on here. I can only say that with Chateau Frontenac (apparently the most photographed hotel in the world,) the old town, the Citadelle, Petit Champlain and the Dufferin Terraces, it is a very photogenic and beautiful city. My highlights were watching the dusky pink of the sunsets, soaking up the history on the Plains of Abraham as well as learning more about the inspiring work of the Ursuline nuns. I think most of all I shall remember Quebec’s laidback, European charm. Although I walked miles everyday exploring the city, I also found myself slipping into waking up late, enjoying lazy breakfasts, a late morning coffee whilst sitting in one of the sunny squares and spending time chatting with fellow travellers. I was fortunate to cross paths with some great ladies, who quickly became great roommates during the week and we enjoyed visiting the Montmorency waterfalls and a drink on the 28th floor of a hotel’s rotating bar and restaurant.
Another week which just flew by! Onto Montreal...
Tuesday, 5 June 2018
Saturday, 2 June 2018
Inspired by stories and spaces
Ottawa has such a wealth of museums that I had to be selective and with a museum pass you can visit three for a great price. I chose the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian War Museum and the Natational Gallery of Canada. I spent around four hours in each - there was so much to see, read, watch, interact with! The history museum was my favourite, although all three were so impressive. The histories of the First People was particularly poignant and what stood out to me was their understanding, appreciation, respect and relationship with the land (linking back to Forest School ethos again!) The artifacts were incredibly intricate and so diverse.
Museums are of course a place for stories to be told, whether it is through a painting, photograph or atifact. Two stories that particularly pulled me in were of two men; Terry Cook and his inspirational marathon effort and Mark Isfeld, who was killed by a land mine whilst serving in Croatia. Read more here: http://www.hpicanada.ca/izzy-dolls/mark-isfeld/
That’s what travelling is about; collecting and telling stories and on this trip alone I have gathered so many to retell about people, sights, moments to remember and moments perhaps to forget!
Lastly, I want to add that the space these stories are told are just as important - again a link for me to education and the spaces we create for the children to listen, tell and share stories. The three museums I visited all had a very different feel to them, created by the different architecture and design of the buildings. Enjoy the pictures...
Museums are of course a place for stories to be told, whether it is through a painting, photograph or atifact. Two stories that particularly pulled me in were of two men; Terry Cook and his inspirational marathon effort and Mark Isfeld, who was killed by a land mine whilst serving in Croatia. Read more here: http://www.hpicanada.ca/izzy-dolls/mark-isfeld/
That’s what travelling is about; collecting and telling stories and on this trip alone I have gathered so many to retell about people, sights, moments to remember and moments perhaps to forget!
Lastly, I want to add that the space these stories are told are just as important - again a link for me to education and the spaces we create for the children to listen, tell and share stories. The three museums I visited all had a very different feel to them, created by the different architecture and design of the buildings. Enjoy the pictures...
Cycling in the capital
There are a few cities I have visited and thought to myself I could happily live there and Ottawa was definitely one of them. With the Rideau Canal winding through it, fantastic museums and markets with delicious food, it is a city I didn’t want to leave. I was blessed with spring sunshine on all but one day and also visited during the annual tulip festival, which was such an explosion of colour in the parks around the city. I was also lucky enough to be treated to home cooking as I stayed with my gorgeous friend Delnaz, who I last saw in 2012 and who I first met in 2004 when we were room mates whilst studying at the State University of New York.
Borrowing Del’s bike I cycled into the city most days - Ottawa is certainly a city set up for cycling. The pathways are just brilliant, although I kept making photo stops as the scenery was too good! I mentioned my one cloudy day and on my journey home I smiled and cycled in the rain watching the lightening and listening to the thunder. That’s part of the joy of travel for me I think, the things that might usually annoy you at home just become part of your day. I think it’s also to do with being completely in the ‘present’ and not having to think/worry about what’s happening tomorrow.
I will write a separate post about the museums as they really were great, but if anyone is planning a trip to Canada, definitely make Ottawa part of your trip! Next time I visit, I would like to come in winter - I’ll swap the bike for ice skates!
Borrowing Del’s bike I cycled into the city most days - Ottawa is certainly a city set up for cycling. The pathways are just brilliant, although I kept making photo stops as the scenery was too good! I mentioned my one cloudy day and on my journey home I smiled and cycled in the rain watching the lightening and listening to the thunder. That’s part of the joy of travel for me I think, the things that might usually annoy you at home just become part of your day. I think it’s also to do with being completely in the ‘present’ and not having to think/worry about what’s happening tomorrow.
I will write a separate post about the museums as they really were great, but if anyone is planning a trip to Canada, definitely make Ottawa part of your trip! Next time I visit, I would like to come in winter - I’ll swap the bike for ice skates!
Friday, 25 May 2018
Inspired by Portillo
One of my guilty pleasures is to get home from work, make a cuppa & enjoy a half hour episode of Michael Portillo’s train journey series! He first went roaming around the UK but once he’d exhausted our tracks, he took his pastel coloured blazers, his guidebook and his eccentricities across the Atlantic to North America.
So, inspired by one of his routes, I took the journey to Kingston where I enjoyed boats, history and more blue skies (with the exception of my final day when the heavens opened on my trek to the train station!) I went across to visit Fort Henry (although wasn’t expecting to be able to fire a canon as Michael had done!) However, I did wander into the graduation ceremony of the Royal Military College. No idea if I was supposed to be there or not, but was quite the spectacle!
So, inspired by one of his routes, I took the journey to Kingston where I enjoyed boats, history and more blue skies (with the exception of my final day when the heavens opened on my trek to the train station!) I went across to visit Fort Henry (although wasn’t expecting to be able to fire a canon as Michael had done!) However, I did wander into the graduation ceremony of the Royal Military College. No idea if I was supposed to be there or not, but was quite the spectacle!
Return to the falls
The first time I saw Niagara Falls was back in 2004 when I was studying in upstate New York and then I only saw it from the US side. My hostel where I was staying this time was around a half hour walk to the falls, so after my bus from Toronto arrived around lunchtime, I dropped my bag off and ventured down, three times being asked for directions by other tourists! I would’ve thought it was obvious - follow the river!?
I reached the friendship bridge first, then the American falls, but the real ‘wow’ moment was standing at the top of the Canadian Horseshoe falls where the water cascades down - it’s mesmerising and a true display of the power and beauty of nature. I stood in the sun with a coffee watching all the people board boats to sail into the mist of the falls (something I had done in 2004.) This time I opted for the ‘journey behind the falls’ and sporting a yellow poncho (reckon the colour suits me,) you descend down in a lift and then walk along tunnels to get soaked by the power of the water - it’s brilliant!
I had three days in Niagara and as well as seeing the falls, I cycled to Niagara on the Lake; a charming town with the most stunning houses, quaint shops and cherry blossom filled parks, and also visited the botanical gardens and walked in Niagara glen. On my final evening as I walked down to the falls to see it lit up at night and to get something for dinner, the town had appeared to have been taken over by thousands of people visiting from Korea for a conference. All in matching coats and with matching backpacks, it was quite a sight! However it did mean that a special fireworks display was put on over the falls - love when unexpected things happen when you’re travelling!
I reached the friendship bridge first, then the American falls, but the real ‘wow’ moment was standing at the top of the Canadian Horseshoe falls where the water cascades down - it’s mesmerising and a true display of the power and beauty of nature. I stood in the sun with a coffee watching all the people board boats to sail into the mist of the falls (something I had done in 2004.) This time I opted for the ‘journey behind the falls’ and sporting a yellow poncho (reckon the colour suits me,) you descend down in a lift and then walk along tunnels to get soaked by the power of the water - it’s brilliant!
I had three days in Niagara and as well as seeing the falls, I cycled to Niagara on the Lake; a charming town with the most stunning houses, quaint shops and cherry blossom filled parks, and also visited the botanical gardens and walked in Niagara glen. On my final evening as I walked down to the falls to see it lit up at night and to get something for dinner, the town had appeared to have been taken over by thousands of people visiting from Korea for a conference. All in matching coats and with matching backpacks, it was quite a sight! However it did mean that a special fireworks display was put on over the falls - love when unexpected things happen when you’re travelling!
Taking in Toronto
After an interesting night flight from Bogota to Toronto (on which I sat next to a dog, yes a dog,) I refuelled with coffee and refreshed at Mairy’s apartment - my lovely room mate from Colombia. With the help of Trip Advisor, I quickly found a walking tour in downtown and off I went in an attempt to stay awake and soak up the sunshine. The tour was fabulously led by Adam, a chap from the north of England who married a Canadian and has made Toronto his home. I would highly recommend it - here is a link: http://torontofreewalkingtours.com/
As well as my days spent sightseeing in the city, including going to see a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, I also volunteered with the P.I.N.E Project. They are an inspiring group of people working with children and families on outdoor education. Read more about them here: https://www.pineproject.org/
As well as exploring wild, edible plants, there were lots of games, songs and a full day Masterchef style cook off competition in the forest. I was invited to be a guest judge, who had come all the way from England to try the appetisers, which the children thought was great! Pictured are the mini burrito bites which won the round - mmmm, delicious! The project’s motto ‘be more, need less’ certainly rings true with me and these children were learning resilience, independence, confidence and a respect and understanding of our natural world. It was a pleasure to be able to spend time with them and also reflect on my own educational practice.
As well as my days spent sightseeing in the city, including going to see a baseball game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, I also volunteered with the P.I.N.E Project. They are an inspiring group of people working with children and families on outdoor education. Read more about them here: https://www.pineproject.org/
As well as exploring wild, edible plants, there were lots of games, songs and a full day Masterchef style cook off competition in the forest. I was invited to be a guest judge, who had come all the way from England to try the appetisers, which the children thought was great! Pictured are the mini burrito bites which won the round - mmmm, delicious! The project’s motto ‘be more, need less’ certainly rings true with me and these children were learning resilience, independence, confidence and a respect and understanding of our natural world. It was a pleasure to be able to spend time with them and also reflect on my own educational practice.
Train travel
After beautiful, sunny days exploring Ottawa, the rain clouds make an appearance and it’s perfect as I have a day of train travel to get to Quebec City. So time to sit back, relax and update you on my Canadian journey so far...
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