5,500 kms later...

We're back to where we started from.. TO!

Well, our three week road trip was cut down by 5 days, partly because it was too expensive and near impossible to make it out to the Magdalen Islands (owned by the province of Quebec and very french influenced)... it was a shame, but we were a little bit sick of the scenic drives, especially after we saw the best scenery in Novia Scotia, Canada's most eastern province). A good thing we left early too, since Cyclone Charley caused some areas of New Brunswick to flood after we drove through it on the way home.

Some of the highlights of the trip was:
- Quebec City - this has got to be the quaintest town outside of Europe
- Fundy Bay, New Brunswick... home to the world's highest tides. I even got to walk on the ocean floor at low tide, which was nothing more than slippery red rocks... but hey, when the tide is low, is at least 1km off the coast!
- Our expensive lobster dinner in Halifax, complimentry of Gord who gave us money for food incase we starved ourselves to meet budget.
- The Lighthouse Trail on the eastern-most coast of Nove Scotia, Ontario. On the drive we saw the most amazing coves, lighthouses and small fishing towns... some which are very European influences, others that are just colourful and quaint.
- The Calbot Trail which the famous coastal drive around Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Here we had fantastic views of the the Ocean and great cliffs, took us two days to do it since we stopped so often for photos. The small town we stayed in overnight had the best sticky buns... hmmm...
- Being able to drive after nearly 10 months. Even if it meant constantly on the road for 16 days driving nearly 5,500km... we did well in navigating through the mishmash of highways.. driving on the otherside of the road and proving our talent in guessing what french road signs said.

So these are the highlights, but there was so much more. On the way home from the roadtrip, we stopped in Montreal (my third visit!) for a few days. Funny, everytime I go, this city offers me something different. The first time I went with the boys, we saw all the flashy cars in town for the Grand Prix, the second time I went with the girls it was all shopping, drinking and partying, and this time with Christina, there was a lot of chilling out. We discovered new areas.. our fav being the Latin Quartier, where there was a lot of funky cafes and stores... although we did miss out on eating frogs legs... its always there when you don't want it, but never available when you do!

We also stumbled on this annual festival for graffiti art and breakdancing, and it was a total eye opener to mingle with the "street" community and see all talent there is out there. Doesn't make me like hip hop any more, but I do have more an appreciation of breakdancing and graffiti walls.

Our trip also introduced Christina to the North American diet of fast foods.. being a health freak, this was all new to her. But we made our rounds, and she was quite impressed. This meant, for Christina's sake our, diet for the 16 days mainly consisted of fast food and soft serves. My body was less impressed.

The less exciting aspects of the trip has got to be some of the small towns we crashed in after a long day's drive. Some of them were so dull we just stayed home and read. But I must say, the rule of thumb in Canada is, the more east you go, the nicer the people. Cars will stop without doubt for you to cross, even on a major road... I've often been surprised to see a build-up of cars waiting for me when I was merely standing there pondering where to go next.

Anyways, I could go on forever, but I'll refrain. I have the rest of the week of before I return to my old job. I do have a few friends in town besides Christina, so there will be a lot of food and a lot of catching up no doubt.

Will keep you posted and will post photos sooner or later.

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

I've gone through the 3rd province now, and is now onto the 4th Province.. Halfiax, Nova Scotia.
WIll be heading up north to do the Cabot Trail tomorrow. Will write more when I get a chance!!

Roadtrip Days 1 - 3

Yep, one day after getting back from Baby's First Steps, I left for my roadtrip with Christina. It's amazing, give 2 girls a car and they can fill it up with junk, no probs! Our new home for the next 3 weeks is in the form of an aubergine Chrysler Sebring... only 3 days into the trip and it's already like a jinkyard! This is definately backpacking in luxury!

Our first stop on the radotrip was none other than the nations capital - Ottawa. The city was easy going and friendly with a twon-like feel. The architecture was very European and Christina was surprised at how sexy the Canadian-French tongue was (the sound, not the feel).

Whatever culture and European novelty offered by Ottawa was magnified by Quebec City. Part of the UN's World Heritage list, every street in Quebec City held charm and history. It felt everything European from the street entertainment and music, the arrists, to the bistros, eateries and guesthouses. Our timing was immpeccable as we arrived the weekt hey had their Fete de la Nouvelle-France where they celebrate french settlement by dressing in period costumes, and re-enacting a lot of the lifestyle and providing typical stalls and performances on the cobblestone streets. This was all jolly and fine, but street closures and tight maze-like layout of the city meant 1.5hrs of circulating with absolutely no idea how to get to the hostel. It was frustrating, but when we finally dumped the car, it was wel worth it!!!

Baby's First Birthday

The reason why Sigma Callou decided to grace the city of Montreal with our presence. For those who are confused, Sigma Callou are my girlfriends from TO... they call themselves that coz they have a mock sorority thing going which is a barrel of laughs. Everyone has their role, and I have been taken under their wing as "The Recruit" (with the intention of converting me from my innocent self before I leave the shores of Canada).

Anyways, it was one of the younger girl's birthday birthday, so we decided to let the baby take her first steps in Montreal with a lot of drinking, eating, partying and shopping... a typical girly adventure. We drove up in a van "The Pussy Wagon" we even had the keychain to go with the theme... on the car ride up, we accidently came across the bday girl's tape recording from when she was a kid... of her pretending to be an MC and then a 20 minute medley of singing. It had the whole Pussy Wagon in stitches and muscle spasms from laughing!

The first night, we drank so much before clubbing, we were too wasted to club. The next night was better though, and we checked out the party scene... and the cute french canadian boys.. hmm... and ofcourse, we ate ourselves silly. I tried Beef Tata... basically raw beef mince marinated in alcohol and juices. Hrmm... I think I had an overdose of raw meat though!

So much fun, since the girls back at home never get together and do these trips. One of the girls was even a newly wed, and she made the effort to take time out to come!!