Travel Diary

The Train Ride

I managed to somehow get up to leave the hostel at 7:30am, then trudged down to the train station with my bags. Got checked in fine, then noticed that the queue wasn't that large, perhaps economy would be the way to go I thought. I was right the carriage was empty, in fact I'm sure the majority were in Silver and Blue Class (i.e. they get a bed and free meals). So I got two seats to myself for the whole journey although I still didn't get a decent nights sleep, why do they make the armrests so hard?

I guess you need a brief overview of the journey, headed up out of Toronto and across Ontario, not the greatest of scenery but still very pleasant. Then came the delay, we stopped at this little town after Sudbury for 40 minutes, there really was nothing to see there except water, trees and dust tracks. Everyone gets back on the train and it moves forward a few yards, then stops for about 30 minutes. Eventually they announce that a freight train has de-railed on the track ahead, so what we're going to have to do is go back and try and get on another companies rails (CP as opposed to CN). I swear this train was being driven by Mussolini as it spent more time going backwards than forwards (actually that's not such a good gag as he did manage to get Italies trains to run on time, which is more than can be said for CN).

So I went to bed about 11pm as the train was going so slow and there was nothing to see, they did at least give us free juice and cookies as way of apology (I didn't really worry, as I wouldn't have been able to check into the hostel in Vancouver at 8am anyway). I should also say that it was around this point that the two old ladies at the front of my carriage started their repeated bickering which at times were completely contradictory. Examples:

Ooh, I don't like the bus trip, this train is so much more comfortable and you get to see so much more.
I don't like the train, I much prefer the bus, you see so much more.

I've just been up in the skycar, but I don't like it you can't see anything more up there compared to down here (hmm let me see now, the skycar is atop a train carriage and is all glass, you can therefore see all around and up into the sky, in the carriage you can see out the sides)

And quite frankly the best one:
Well I don't know why they just can't move the other train (because a derailed freight train in the middle of nowhere is probably real easy to get to and move isn't it now)

There were many other classics but I couldn't be bothered to keep track of them.

Continued:

The friday really didn't provide much else in the way of scenery bar more trees and water. However I did decide to go for a proper meal that night and got talking to a few English people (one old lady who now lives in Seattle and a young couple from somewhere down south). It was actually really good value and we got free wine due to the delays. Then before bed I decided to head up and watch the sunset from the skycar but we approached Winnipeg and all the lights came up so it was a little spoiled. Still after the hour or so stop in Winnipeg I headed back up to look up at an unspoilt night sky.

The saturday started off quite dull in scenery terms but picked up after Edmonton which we got to at 3pm (still way behind schedule). From then on we went into the Rockies which were absolutely spectacular. The big stop of the day was in Jasper at around 8pm, which meant I couldn't get a decent dinner like the night before (for some very boring details I won't go into). We picked up a few more passengers from Jasper and this meant some more great moaning (I should mention the old ladies got off on the Friday evening). I spent most of Saturday in the skycar, and we got all the way through to Mount Robson whilst it was still somewhat light. There was some other entertainment in the form of what can best be described as an Arthur Ridley-esque person with a Camcorder recording the entry into the Rockies with possibly the dullest voice over in history. The funniest moment came when he wasn't filming and quite authoratively told a couple of Americans that they used Kilometres in the US.

Night shot of the Rockies

The train finally pulled into Vancouver around 1pm on the Sunday afternoon, but there was still some wonderful scenery in the morning to be enjoyed from the skycar and they gave us free tea for the last three hours.

Bit More of Toronto

So after getting back to the hostel after visiting Toronto Islands I bumped into the other two English lads who I'd been out drinking with the night before, Keith and Tom in the lounge, we also met some lass from Portsmouth or Southampton who's a doctor over visiting friends. We ended up going to the Peel Pub (aka the drinking basement from Saturday night), alongwith my new room mate, Matt from North Yorkshire (the two canadians left today). There was a comedy night on, or rather an attempt at one, of the 10 or so stand ups we watched, 3 were funny and the rest just died. Again I wondered at the size of the 140oz (4 litre) beer pitcher for $26! and I also discovered the wonders of Poutine, chips, gravy and cheese, apparently a Canadian dish.

Wednesday morning, got up a little late, picked up my voucher to get on the train the next day and then ended up going out with everyone from Tuesday night to the Royal Ontario Museum, which was a pleasant use of the day, even if half of it is closed at the moment. Stayed there until about 5:30 and then headed down to the Skydome, well Matt and I did to get some tickets, the other boys already had theirs. What a bargain $2 plus tax each! Admittedly we were up in the heavens of the Skydome, but we met up with Tom outside and seeing as the place was so empty we just went down the very front of our section. Guess they made their money back on beer, as it was $8.25 a pint! The Blue Jays (Toronto) were playing the Philly Pirates and to be honest I still don't get the game of baseball whatsoever, it's so so so dull. No one hits the ball, 3 men get out, they change teams and so forth. A home run gets fireworks, and music and adverts appear at random to get the crowds interest, still not complaining for $2.75

Dullest Game in the World? Look at the busy, busy stands!

After that just went back to the hostel and packed for the train the next day, which left at 9 and required me to get there 1 hour earlier to get my ticket and check baggage, but more of that later.

More of Toronto

Didn't really do too much on Monday, got my train across to Vancouver booked up and the hostel there for a couple of nights and the West Pass Moose Tour, so I'm sorted for things to do for the next two weeks or so. After I got that all sorted I headed out into town and decided to go to the cinema and against better judgement saw 2 Fast 2 Furious, which is quite frankly a very very dire film. Still might go back there, they're showing the Matrix Reloaded on an Imax screen, apparently 4 times bigger and 10 times clearer than usual, very tempting, even if the first hour of the film is dull as anything.

Then last night went out with the two lads from my dorm and a load of other people to watch the hockey at an English pub. Quite a pleasant little pub and some entertainment provided by the most drunk woman I've ever seen who was sitting at the bar next to our couches.

Today I decided to head over to Torontos Islands, and had a long walk around all three of them (they're connected), very pleasant place. Thats about it, may well visit the Skydome tomorrow and possibly try to catch a baseball game as well.

More Of Toronto

Well it's been a couple of days since my last entry, done a few things since then. Firstly on Friday night I ended up going to the CN Tower again with Evan to see how it looks at night, then up early on Saturday for a walking tour which wasn't that bad but the guide really wasn't very good. Ended up having an alright lunch in chinatown which was tasty enough. Pretty much just sat around on Saturday afternoon before going out with a few people firstly to another hostel with a bar (Global Village), then onto a bar and another, which sold wonderful 4 litre pitchers of beer. This place also had a little dance floor and it was just like Pop Tarts (music wise), although apparently Rhythm is a Dancer by Snap is a B-Side over here, fancy that. After driving round in a taxi looking for a bar that was open even later than 2 we decided not to bother and just went home.

The best picture of a moose all trip, from the evening visit to the CN Tower

Then up even earlier on Sunday morning to get on the Magic Bus to Niagara Falls. Quite a funky bus, painted up all psychedaelic and a great driver telling stories etc about where we were going. First stop was a vineyard for a bit of wine tasting (well fruit wine, wasn't that bad but not really my cup of tea). Then we headed down to the falls and took the Maid of the Mist boat ride into the Canadian Falls and I don't think I've ever been in a downpour quite like it, it's just incredibly wet when you get close to it, so the pictures really don't do it justice. After the boat ride we had a little stroll round to get some more pictures, before meeting up with the rest of the bus in the Wild Mushroom, which if you're in Niagara is the best bar to go to (unless you like Blackpool type amusements!) After the bar we headed down to view the whirlpool and over the Canadian Dam, and finally saw the monument to the Canadians beating the Americans.

Inside the Canadian Falls (I'm behind the blob of water)

The Canadian Falls

Got back around 7:45 just in time for the hostel organised pub crawl, except the leader wasn't turning up, so me and 2 other lads (one from Sheffield, the other Irish) just decided to make our own little pub crawl. We ended up in some awful, awful club called Joes which looked just a little trendy, and was playing retro-80's, this should be translated as eighties music that you've never heard of and when you have heard of it, it was plain wrong because they'd stuck an awful beat over the top. Still there was a stage and some amusement in the form of this japanese lad who appeared to think he was teaching a tai chi class, rather than being in a club.

Not sure what I'm going to do today yet, may head down for a tour of the Skydome or take a ferry out to Central Island, both are supposed to be quite good.

Toronto

Well I've been here a day now and it's a great place. I forgot to mention that the flight was definitely the least busy I've ever been on, which did mean I managed to stretch out a bit. Unfortunately as it was a short haul AA flight there were only 'soft' beverages offered for free and no food whatsoever bar one mini bag of pretzels.

But I digress, I got into Toronto airport a little later than scheduled, baggage came out very quickly, just they haven't thought that some people don't have Canadian coinage (and neither provide exchange facilities nor accept notes) so you can't get a trolley to put your luggage on. Whilst waiting for my mobile to start working again, I noticed there was a free phone to my hostel, so I rung them up as foolishly I'd forgotten to make a note of directions from the airport. So I got a nice bus ride which was a lot cheaper than a miami taxi over a much further distance. The bus didn't itself stop outside the hostel, just a little more complicated. At the same time an Australian, Evan, got off the bus and we'd both been told different ways by the hostel to get from this drop off to it. Seeing as he had a map, we took his route, which involved the subway for all of one stop. We really shouldn't have taken this route as they had those massive barred exit turnstiles (like revolving doors) and my backpack got stuck. After about 2 minutes of contorting I managed to free everything and get out. Then it turns out there was more walking to be done and no street signs whatsoever, fortunately a local came to our assistance (Canadians now overtake American Waiting staff as my favourite people - as they're not being nice just to get a tip, they're just genuinely nice), and we eventually found the place. And given recent events it would appear they have special offers in the month of June, so my accomodation is even cheaper, and I now get into loads of places cheaper as they made me an HI member before I had to pay, bonza.

Didn't really do much last night except for checking out a pub with Evan, not sure how good $6 a pint is, but the place had no cover so it wasn't all bad. Then played a bit of pool in the hostel and talked to some of the other residents before getting a bit of kip.

Today I went to the CN tower which is well worth a visit, I decided to go for the ticket with extras, which really were a little naff (I forgotten how bad simulators were), but the first lift up to the first viewing area was amazing, you go up a glass sided lift which lets you see out as you're ascending. Then if you've paid the extra you can also go even further up to a much smaller viewing platform (still a way below the top) and an even better view, but no signs up there to tell you what anything equates to. You don't get to go in the rotating restaurant unless you're eating so I didn't. Also in my ticket was an extra to watch a film on the construction of the tower, however for some reason they sell this option but don't open the cinema until 3 in the afternoon. So I had a little wander around Downtown Toronto, and let me tell you, with a few other tall buildings about, it's very easy to lose sight of where the CN Tower is. I eventually went back about 4 to watch the film and was the only person in there, what made this even more amusing is before it starts a steward goes through this little speech with someone on the video.

Me in the skypod of the CN Tower

The CN Tower

Tomorrow I'm off on a walking tour of Toronto, then off to Niagara Falls on Sunday and a hostel organised Pub Crawl on Sunday night.

Orlando

Well I'm now in the hostel in Toronto, more on that later though. Headed off last thursday 29th I think by train (Amtrak) to Orlando. The train was ridiculously huge and comfortable and cheap, but just like British Rail was late, it left on time and you could check your baggage in advance but it still got to Orlando almost two hours late!

So got to the Hotel OK (Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista, nice enough for the money - and before you say anything Alex, I had to get a hotel as there's no hostel in Orlando, and transport costs there are ridiculous). Sarah came by about 10 (she'd just got back from Chicago) with her friend Ashley (who had a car with a personalised licence plate - I believe Sarah refers to her as a princess). We then headed back to where Sarah and Disney employees live before heading onto Pleasure Island which is a sort of multi club place with eight clubs in total, quite pricy and all the music played was accompanied with a video. Left at two, Sarahs other friend Alex who'd driven us there had cleared off so she tried to get us a lift with a Puerto Rican, but we decided not to as he was very drunk (despite insisting he was a racing driver so that made it OK). So we walked back to my hotel, which is something Americans just plain don't do whatsoever. About 3:20 we got to my room.

Up at ten the next morning we got a bus to MGM and did a few attractions: Indiana Jones live show, Muppets 3D, Terror Tower (superb), Rock and Roll rollercoaster, I did the Star Wars ride (which was enjoyable if riddled with inaccuracies - spod mode on 1. Star Wars doesn't have Warp drives, 2. How can you have R2D2 as a navigator on a tour ship when you're following Lukes X-Wing blowing up the first death star???? and there were some other problems there as well). We also took part in the Who wants to be a millionaire game, which is a replica of the TV show where anyone in the audience can end up in the hotseat. Now how to make a fool of yourself, play such a game with a friend who has an English Lit Degree, forget this fact, when a question about alliteration comes up, try and act smug and whisper to them what it means.

After MGM we headed over to Epcot where Sarah works, went on what purports to be a ride and got a free ecard with our photo on it, went round a few other bits before going round the World Showcase (sarah works on the English bit). Watched the Beatles tribute act, and a french mime artist/balloon blower who was very very funny. Then went round a few other bits before watching the fireworks at the end of the night (with an old American behind us who kept hollering, oh yeah, thats it, thats what I'm talking about).

I spent the next day by the pool at the hotel and in the evening headed out with Sarah, Ashley and some South American who was a bit of a ropey driver to downtown Orlando, where we all got in free to a club called Tabu (except Sarah as she'd forgotten her ID, so had to pay). This really was a great club except for the fact that it lived up to every stereotype of an American club I've seen in a film (I think it may have been that every song was a rip off of some European Trance and there was some fool with a Mike walking round, shouting Ooh yeah, everybody in the house make some noise - repeatedly - and yeah lets all get drunk).

Sunday went to Kennedy Space Center which was a whole day of interest, definitely worth going to for the 3D imax film on the International Space Station and some other nice little touches here and there (although the rockets with the exception of the Moon ones are smaller than I imagined). Went out Sunday night to a house party where Sarah lives, and had a nice conversation about the royal family on the way home with the taxi driver.

Saturn V Rocket Hall

Space Shuttle

Lots of Rockets

Monday I went to International Drive which is basically a collection of malls, attractions and hotels, all joined by a bus called the trolley which is a hop on/off affair that costs 75cents a ride. Visited Ripleys Believe or Not, (an odditorium) which was a very amusing museum. I've subsequently discovered there was also a shooting range (the sort that lets you shoot big guns) just close to where the shuttle from the hotel dropped/picked me up, but I still had a good day.

Tuesday I went out to Downtown Disney, which is lots of shops and restaurants (and also where Pleasure Island is), there wasn't that much to see/do so I decided to watch a film (XMen 2). I then spent the rest of my afternoon looking round all the disney shops parents wish didn't exist (like the all year round christmas shop). Then in the evening went over to the Disney boardwalk, which is a hotel resort, where I met Sarah in Jellyrolls, which is quite a funky little bar, even if there is a $7 cover (for non-disney employees I might add!). Basically cheap large cocktails and two pianists playing some great songs: Sweet Home Alabama, American Pie, Summer of 69 to name a few, as well as Don't Stop Believin' by Journey and a nice take on Livin' on A Prayer by Bon Jovi.

Caught the train back to Miami on Wednesday, only 15 minutes late this time. Then caught the plane up today to Toronto, for those who haven't been to the States since Richard Reid was arrested, I kid you not, you now have to remove the shoes you are wearing at the x-ray machine and put them through.

And I should also add the greatest reason for going to Miami International Airport: the Glockenspiel walkway. After you've arrived at Miami or are going out you have to pass through a walkway, where each pane of glass has a number of differently coloured perspex pieces attached to it so the incoming light is all nicely coloured. But then between each pane (of glass) is a motion sensor that triggers sounds when someone passes through it. So when you have a load of people coming back and forth across the tramalators it's great, it's also quite spooky when there's very few people about. And according to the placard it was created by a man who likes Jazz (which probably explains why I've felt the need to tell you all about it). I'm going to have to hit the hay now, but I'll keep you all up to date on what's going on in Toronto (pub crawl on Sunday or Wednesday for sure).