TRAVEL TIPS FOR MID & EAST CANADA

1. Toronto, Ontario - I once spent three months in Canada during the summer and got to see quite a bit. The flight from Europe to Toronto is not long and the city itself is interesting. The landmark to me apart from the lake and tower, is the gold shiny mirrored conglomerate of  commercial property on view as you come in on the freeway. It's an admirable centre piece of modern real estate. A day trip to the capital Ottawa, is worth it just to admire the buildings and take a walk along the river . Toronto is obviously the place to be though and also hosts some nice clubs, which closed quite early.

Canadian countryside is beautiful and it takes hours to drive everywhere. It's green and luscious with forests and forests of Conifer and Pine trees. It must be gorgeous in winter snow.  Houses are large with huge gardens to practice your golf drive. There are fun garage sales, great golfing courses and drive-ins for food and drink along the way. If you mix with locals you'll get to play the Horse-shoe game and fish. You can get your fishing license at the local superstore.  Beware, when fishing in canoes around lakes, there are literally thousands of flies and bugs and I had to wear a hat with a veil cover so as not to get bitten as they seemed to like me. Funny as in Africa and Asia I have never had the same issue.

BEAUTIFUL LARGE PROPERTIES

2.  Algonquin Park - About five hours north of Toronto is Algonquin National Park and this is a must do for any tourist. We stayed there for five days and didn't see a soul. After checking in for camping permits, we canoed 2.5 hours to a remote campsite place and here we fished, walked, canoed and lived primitively, really enjoying the outdoor peace that Canada has to offer. There were loads of chipmunks but fortunately, no bears. We did see moose whilst canoeing and that was scary! Well camouflaged by the flora and fauna at the water's edge, a male had his huge antlers underwater searching for fish perhaps. When he rose and all that water splashed around, with us close by in the canoe we were all shocked :).  The female was close by and we watched them for a good hour. Also during one of our walks, past running brooks and dense forest, we came across a beautiful butterfly nest.

BUTTERFLY NEST IN ALGONQUIN PARK

NOT A SOUL DID WE SEE FOR FIVE DAYS

 

3. MONTREAL I went to Montreal by train and I must say it's one of the most impressive entrances to any city I know. You come in over the bridge and water and it's a royal entree. The city is also nice with a mix of modern and old architecture and has a special ambience. I was there for the Jazz Festival which was lively, well supported and great to spend two days seeing one performance after another with a lot going on in the streets and squares as well. 

THE MODERN AGAINST THE OLD - MONTREAL

4. QUEBEC - BEAUTIFUL FRENCH STYLE TOWN

From Montreal you can train it to Quebec which really was my favourite place. It has a European aura, with quaint architecture and hilly streets with magnificent shops and just a super vibe to the whole place. Charming walks around the city are easy as its centre is quite small and there are lovely gardens.  Nightlife too was fantastic. Great clubs, nice people and cosmopolitan. 

 QUEBEC TRAIN STATION 

5. NIAGARA FALLS - US BORDER

Right. Niagara is something you have to see but it's surrounding city and atmosphere was disappointing.  It really is a beautiful natural wonder but within a rather inauthentic, commercial ambience which seems an entire misfit. This is of course many years ago in early 2000's which is why the photos aren't digital. Hopefully they have improved the aura of the place because it was not what I had hoped it would be, or maybe the weather didn't help. From here, you can walk across the bridge tot the USA. 

 

6. McKinaw Island USA

Picked up by a dear friend with whom I'd shared great times together with in Asia and Europe, I left Canada and via Lake Huron, we traveled to Michigan and then did a day trip to McKinaw island by boat. This is a lovely pedestrian only island with delightful old village architecture of the old west, Native American curios, wonderful walks through nature, delicious fudge and the atmosphere is like being back in history. Definitely worth a visit? 

 MCKINAW ISLAND, USA
With thanks to Grand Hotel McKinack Island for the pic

7. Cultural Tips

Canadians don't see themselves as American at all, even though for Europeans, Asians and African's they seem similar. National Canada day is 1 July so if you're there, enjoy air displays, celebrations and fireworks at night.  The Toronto Zoo is also fun if you haven't seen bears and it's a great day entertainment with fun fair rides too.