Across Canada

Finally came back from Toronto. It was kind of last minute that I decided to do this trip but it was not too bad. As usual, I didn't do much planning before my trip. I don't have much time to do any preparation. Only thing I could do is to pick up a Lonely Planet from the library the day I am flying out and read it on the plane. It was not a bad trip. Despite a lot of people expect me and my friend kill off each other on the trip, we both survive :P I went to Quebec city, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. As expected, Toronto bored me to death. I ended up going shopping and did a lot of reading. Montreal, I found it okay, as another friend said, it is a French version of Toronto. I liked Quebec city and Ottawa the best. Here are some highlight of the trip:

1. Since I didn't travel with my usual disastrous friend (hehehe), no usual chasing a train or plane....though we did try to chase the bus once and I end up landing on my face and hurt my ankle. I was totally in shock when that happen. It was 5 days into the trip and I lost my mobility!!! Good that I could still walk around...though I wouldn't run for next while.

2. The screw on my glass somehow lost the first day I arrived. I have to wear my glasses with only one handle for 4 days before I could find some store in Montreal to fix it.

3. I didn't expect Niagara Fall area is sooooo boring. The only exciting part is the ferry ride. Other than that, there is nothing. It is like a cheap version of Vegas. A lot of cheesy tour attractions. I was so bored at one point that I was seriously thinking should I go into casino and play slot machine. I also thought about walking to the train station from the tour attraction area, which is a good 3-4km walk. A bus came back and the driver said he would be going to the train station after he finished going up town and I could tag along the ride if I want. So I end up doing a bus tour around the area :P

4. Even though a lot of people told me Ottawa is very boring, I kind of like the museum there. I should have spend more time there. I went to the Royal Canadian Mint which I really like the tour. There are lots of stuff about coin making that I didn't know. I didn't join the tour in Parliament Hill cause there is a session in progress. So I end up watching that instead. I can't believe people can make such long boring speech. I had to run after pretending to listen for 5 minute. I also really like the Canadian Museum of Civilization. It was very nicely done.

5. Quebec city remind me more of the small town in France, though I can't find any cheese store or pastry store in Old Quebec. And the coffee wasn't as good as France. I was a bit disappointed at that. I was looking forward that I could walk into any cafe and their coffee would be extraordinary.

6. Almost lost my wallet in Toronto and freak the hell out of me. When I went to the guesthouse that I was staying in Toronto, there is another guy looking for a place to stay. So while I talked to the host on the phone, I was clumsily flip thru my paper and stuff. She said she doesn't have another place for that guy to stay. I brought out my tour book and gave him a list that he could try around here. When I brought my backpack upstairs and settled down, I found my wallet was missing!!! I was sooo pissed. I suspect that guy I just nicely helped stole it. How dare him! I knew I could call my parents or my friend and ask them to pay first. But...but...errrr.....soooo annoying. Then I thought may be I should walk back to subway and see if I drop it somewhere. It is right outside the guest house. I probably dropped it when I grabbed the code to open the door. Ghew!