Toronto

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Last Day at Home and Off to London

My last day at home wasn’t the flurry of activity one would think. I’m absurdly organised and good at managing my time. I methodically ploughed through my to-do list, including getting three loads of laundry done by noon. I was so on top of things that when Charles came to ask me to run an errand with him in the late afternoon, it didn’t throw a wrench in my plans at all.

When we came home from that, with me taking a good long last view of my beloved valley as we came down the hill into the hamlet, it was time to shut down the internet and power and do one final sweep. I almost forgot my toothbrush and… computer charger!

I trundled down the street with my two travel bags as well as a bag filled with what I needed to get me through the night at C&C’s. I’d brought a few things over earlier in the day, including a tote of things I didn’t want to freeze, and would stow the bag in that tote.

Caroline made me an extra special going away dinner. We started with Greek salad, then had roast pork tenderloin, beets, yellow beans, and rice. They bought a whole live pig last year and butchered it themselves, and boy was it delicious! There was a maple syrup glaze on it that was succulent! The beans were home grown, of course, as were the beets that Caroline canned last year. So good! The extra special part of dinner was that she’d made dessert, a strawberry rhubarb pie (with vanilla ice cream). I’m so spoiled!

Needless to say, the food and wine put me into a coma and I slept pretty well from 10:30 to 3, then, thankfully, I managed to fall asleep for nearly another three hours.

It was pouring rain when I stumbled downstairs, enjoying coffee on the porch with Caroline as we looked at our damp green hills. I forced myself to have a bit of breakfast, just some toast with peanut butter and honey, and then got ready, changing into my airplane outfit, closing up my bags, and stowing what wasn’t coming with me.

The plan had been to leave at 7:00 and we pulled out at 7:15. The drive to the airport in Regina took almost 2.5 hours, but they flew by! As we approached the exit for the airport, I once again expressed how grateful I was for the lift and Caroline replied, “We just wanted to get rid of you and the surest way to do that was to make sure you got to the airport all right!” Bwa ha ha ha. I love her and Charles so much.

We only had a few minutes at the unloading point at the airport to say goodbye and then off I went. I’d checked in the day before and had my boarding passes on my phone, so I went straight to security. There was a bit of a lineup, but it went quickly. It was rather a pain to get my electronics out of my computer bag since it was packed so tightly, but I got it done by the time it was my turn to put stuff in bins.

I got through the scanner without it beeping and then came what felt like an interminable wait for my stuff to get through the X-ray machine. But everything scanned okay and they didn’t make me open my bags or take off my shoes.

Then, came a wait. There’s not much at the Regina airport terminal. I got a second breakfast and a really good coffee and spent some time doing online stuff before calling SaskTel to cancel my service. That was painless and the reps I spoke to were very excited about my trip.

We boarded on time. It was very quick flight to Toronto and I bought a sandwich on board to eat. The airplane sandwiches are always good and fresh and no more expensive than what you get on the ground, so I don’t see the point of trying to juggle a bag of food onto the plane with my gear. Speaking of which, my gear was perfectly sized. My computer bag was really at the limit for under the seat stowage, but I could actually have expanded my suitcase if I wanted to.

My layover in Toronto was really short. We landed at about 5:10 and my next flight was departing at 6:00, which meant I really only had at most 40 minutes to get to the gate. It took forever to deplane and no one else appeared to be in a hurry. I was way at the back of the plane and pleaded to folks to let me through, but no one cared. By the time I got into the terminal, it was 5:30. There was no signage, no departures board, no one to give directions, nothing. I had no idea where I was supposed to catch my flight to St. John’s and didn’t want to risk going too far in the wrong direction looking for assistance. I finally spotted a WestJet agent who was in no hurry to help me. She was chatting with someone else about her plans for the weekend and gave me a dirty look when I said, “Excuse me…”  If there was a time for rudeness, this was it and I firmly said that I needed my gate info. She finally brought it up and the gate was pretty much clear across the terminal. OMG. I raced off and with Pearson being under renovations, there were detours. It took forever to reach the gate, where they were at final boarding call! According to the agent who checked me in, I was literally two minutes from missing my connection. PHEW.

Having made my flight to St. John’s, I could finally relax since I had a longer layover there and now knew that I would very likely get to London on schedule.

There was frost on the window near the end of that leg of my journey:

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Here’s how my two bags stack for easy transport through the airport. I do have to say that this got really heavy by the the time I got through Gatwick and I was happy to have a backpack.

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My layover in St. John’s felt like it took no time at all. I was disappointed that there was no food to be bought that late at the terminal. I knew I could get a sandwich on the plane, but had hoped for a “real” meal.

I was a little freaked out when I got paged, but it was because they wanted to make sure I was there since I hadn’t checked any luggage!

Before I knew it, it was time to board for the last leg of my journey. I’d hoped to sleep, but the 5-hour flight wasn’t conducive to that. There was a lot of turbulence, so there were constant announcements, plus I was famished and it took almost two hours to get our first beverage service, when I could get a sandwich. But like with my previous two flights, I did nothing on the plane, but close my eyes and at least attempt to doze.

The clouds were thick like snow as we pushed east:

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For the second time in my life, I watched the sun rise over the Atlantic.

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Sometimes, there was enough break in the clouds to see the ocean:

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Ireland!

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We flew over what felt like the whole of the south of England, coming up the North Sea coast. I was struck by how rural the country appeared, with so much farmland and only small clusters of cities. Gatwick Airport is well outside of London, so I didn’t get a first glimpse of the city from the air. We landed right on schedule at 8:20am local time.

All I wanted after we landed was to wash my face and brush  my teeth. The first bathroom I encountered was over crowded, but the second was empty. Feeling a little more human, I was ready to face passport control. The long lineup moved quickly. I’d already filled in my tourist card on the plane, so there wasn’t much to do when I got to an agent. I just confirmed how long I was staying and why and that was it, and got my first stamp in a passport since the last time I got to the UK!

Next was customs, but I had nothing to declare, so I just breezed through that. And then, I was in the main part of Gatwick airport and it was time to figure out how to get to London, then across London! Yes, I’d done my research, but it was contradictory and I’d made the decision to figure it out on the spot. To be continued!

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Tight Connection

Whew! I made it to Vancouver! There was only forty-five minutes between my inbound Montreal flight and my outbound Vancouver flight at Toronto… and we ended up circling the airport for nearly a half hour! I had only enough time to bolt to my gate and grab a quick bathroom break while the priority customers boarded. I have some checked luggage for this return trip and I will be very surprised if it is waiting for me in Penticton.

Security screening in Montreal was a piece of cake. I didn’t have to take off my shoes and I didn’t even beep when I went through the metal detector so I was saved an invasive groping by the staff. I paid for that dearly on the flight to Vancouver, however, since, despite my checking several times that I would have a window seat, I was seated in a middle one! YUCK! At least, we were in the emergency row, so the leg room was luxurious. My neighbour to the left was very cold and sighed each time I moved around well within my designated buffer zone. The neighbour to the right, however, was quite friendly (and generous with his cashews) and we shared a few laughs as my, thankfully empty, beverage glass kept on leaping off my tray! I was glad I’d brought a snack of dried fruit flat bread, cheese, and clementines since the options for food in Montreal were dismal and I didn’t have time to grab anything in Toronto.

YVR has a burger jointed called Vera’s where I caught a very late dinner. I’d been looking forward to udon at one of the Japanese kiosks, but that restaurant was clear across the airport. The veggie burger piled high with fresh veggies and the fresh-cut fries we’re a very yummy, and inexpensive, surprise, though, so I’m not disappointed.

I only have about a half hour left in Vancouver before we start boarding for Penticton. If everything goes well, I’ll be there in two hours and home in three. I miss my cats and my bed!

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Leaving on a Small Plane

I can’t believe that I’m flying east a week from tomorrow! I got an awesome deal on my tickets to Montreal from Penticton, but it’s going to be a bit of a circuitous route. To get there, I’ll be doing Penticton–>Vancouver–>Calgary–>Montreal. To get back, I’m doing Montreal–>Toronto–>Vancouver–>Penticton.

Flying directly from Vancouver to Montreal was several hundred dollars more and would have required very early morning flights. Funny how the longer route is cheaper and more convenient! I’m happy that I fly out of Penticton at 10AM (meaning I leave Osoyoos at a reasonable 8:30) and out of Montreal at 4:30PM. I’ll arrive at 11:30PM local time both ways. Long days, and jet lag’s a bitch, but this is the best flight itinerary I’ve ever put together.

Thankfully, I’ve been through all those airports except Penticton (which is tiny), so the trip should be easy. My layovers are all only just long enough to ensure that I’ll make my connection barring a huge delay, so I won’t have too much time to kill. I’ll have the iPod on me for entertainment.

I’m getting pretty excited about this trip and it will be very nice to see my family again after more than two years away!

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Glasgow to Montreal

6:51 AM

What a morning! I’ve been tossing and turning since a little past 5! At 6, I said enough! and I got up, showered, packed, etc. Although I’m not hungry, I figure it would be smart to get a bowl of cereal in me. Then, I’ll have to zoom downtown. So far, it looks like I might make the airport for 8:30. I could be there for 8, but I think it would be silly throwing away a free breakfast. Besides, I’m in no real rush, I don’t have to check in until 9. It feels weird to think that ‘tonight’, I’ll be sleeping in my own bed! I’ve put tonight in quote marks because it’ll be tonight in Canada, but very early morning here! The jet lag coming wasn’t too bad, but I hear that going west is worse. It’s like living the same day twice. Anyhoo, tomorrow should be interesting! When I get ‘home’ I want to soak, and wear something I haven’t worn in a month (I had the same three tee-shirts, one sweater, and one everyday pair of pants !).

9:01

I’m all checked in and ready to board at 10:15! It’s incredible: the subway arrived at the same time I did, then I got to the bus stance just as they were getting ready to go. Check in was a breeze, but it would appear that I have to get my luggage in Toronto to clear customs and then get it back on the plane. I’ll figure it out when I get there ! I bought (my uncle) a full litre of ‘Highland Park’ (no smaller size). I figure I might as well get him one I like rather than pick and choose at random. Edradour was more expensive (and not as good!) Turns out ‘Wallace’ is a liqueur made from single malt whiskey. Thanks for nothing, lady!

I just set my watch back to hometime. It’s 4AM there!!! I’ll be in Toronto at 13:15 EST. That’s 9 hours from now ! I have to catch my connecting flight at 15:00. It’s going to be tight!

12:08 EST (from now on, EST)

Despite some minor turbulence, the flight has been smooth. We’re flying over Quebec now. The in-flight movie was ‘Titanic’! Can you believe that the return flight is a whole two hours longer?! Due to winds we’re going to be delayed. Oh well, just so long as I’m on the plane for Montreal at 3!

I am amazed by the quality of the vegetarian (actually vegan) meals offered. Lunch was TOFU served with peppers and rice with bread and fruit salad and crackers for dessert. Our snack (well mine!) was a whole wheat bun with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber with orange juice and a tangerine on the side. Of course, I’ve had tea.

 

It was cool flying over the north(ish) Atlantic while the boat (‘Titanic’) sank (yes, I am morbid!). I can’t believe that movie still makes me cry. The worst/best part is at the end where the photographs are revealed and one sees that Rose has fulfilled all her dreams. Now, my dream has come true. This time around, I shed tears of understanding of the miracle incurred by the realisation of dreams, while the previous two times I wept out of petty jealously. Oh, I am no longer the same person anymore! I’m not even the least bit worried about clearing customs, etc. and making my 3:00 flight! Whatever happens, will happen. I can’t advert my fate. It’s fate, a fate I created that has brought me here. Jack Dawson’s right: ‘Make it count’, live each day. I realise now that each new dawn is full of opportunity and each new day full of adventure. Life can’t be perfect, but this is close!

4:20 pm

I made it!!! We arrived over a half hour late in Toronto, but I had no trouble clearing customs. My handbag had to be opened and rifled through, though, since the x-ray machine picked up something ‘weird’. (I had all my ‘hardware’ in there: clothes pins, miniature grappling hooks, and a pocket knife, among other things. The ‘searcher’ started laughing, she couldn’t believe how prepared I was for any situation!)

Leaving Toronto took forever. We taxied for over 15 minutes, then we had to queue (very Brit. word!) to take off. Now, we’ve landed, but our gate is currently occupied by another aircraft so we’ll have about 8 minutes to wait. (L. Pearson airport, Toronto, was undergoing major renovation, so planes were delayed leaving. The plane at our gate in Montreal was one such plane that had been delayed like ours.) This is the worse thing that’s happened to me since I left a month ago. Poor me!

Right now, it’s supposed to be 9:23 Glasgow time, but I feel on Montreal time. I’ll get back to you in a few hours! The snack this flight was ice cream on a stick. It was funny looking at the business travellers in ties and suits dealing with it!

It’s good, but weird, to be ‘home’. What is the definition of home ? I guess it’s where you understand what makes people tick (in both good and bad sense). It’s where the rhythm of life is so engrained in you as to be unnoticeable to you. It’s where you can ‘go with the flow’ and not have to think about it. I dinna ken, really. But when you’re home, you feel it. And this is home. Not Montreal as such, but Canada, in general. I understand Canadians. I can guess what motivates Scots, but only guess. I don’t know what motivates Canadians, but I do know how they think. I really am a Canadian above all else. These people, a veritable crazy quilt of cultures, are my people. I’m starting to get a sense of identity that I couldn’t see until I left the country and saw other cultures.

That’s it! I went to Scotland in search of myself, and succeeded. I am astounded by that last entry. I had to leave Canada in order to understand what makes me Canadian. I learned valuable lessons on this journey, lessons that will stick with me for ever, and through all my travels.

I know the journal is not always eloquent, but it was jotted down on trains, planes, and buses, while standing in line, or eating dinner. Sometimes, I’d just lean against the corner of a building or plop down on a bench somewhere. It was written during stolen moments of time. I cannot imagine travelling without it.

Thank you for sharing the most incredible adventure of my life with me.

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Traveling to and Arrival in Scotland

Wednesday June 10th, 1998 6:52 pm

I’m on flight 425 to Toronto, waiting for takeoff. I’m so nervous! Everything’s gone well so far, though. (My mother) and Grand-maman (who insisted on coming) took me out for supper. I tried a ‘Rickard Red’ beer. It’s… red! And delicious. Both agreed it would loosen me up but wear off by the time I got on the plane. They were right! I suppose that my nervousness comes from the fact that this is my first major trip where I’ll have only myself to rely on. I guess I’d feel better if I hadn’t listened to (my mother) and booked my bed at the Glasgow youth hostel. Anyhoo, I’m getting there early. If worse comes to worse I’ll have time to go to Paisley (!) Or Milgavie (pronounced ‘Mullguy’) and sleep there.

It’s so… peaceful here. Soothing music is playing. The setting sun comes through my window in golden rays. I feel that my whole life has come together, it’s all existed to reach this point in time. Yes, it’s like everything I’ve done in my life has lead up to this moment. It’s my hour, my month, and my dream. It’s up to me whether or not it becomes a nightmare. Think good thoughts! If this is a dream, it’ll be the best dream of my life, so there!

8:41

Waiting patiently for my 9:30 connection. [Everything’s going off without a hitch! It was funny, landing in Toronto, the new developments look like models of houses!]

The flight to Toronto was wonderful. The pressure I felt was minimal thanks to a bit of gum and some ginger ale! We even got free cheese flavoured ‘Sun Chips’.  At one point, we were flying between two levels of clouds. Our optimum altitude was about 35,000 feet. (My mother) bought me 3 magazines and I read one, as well as a terrific short story by (my best friend at the time).  So far so good.

9:17

I’m nestled quite comfortably in my seat for the flight to Glasgow. This time I knew how the seat belt worked! Why I don’t remember from last time is beyond me! Later.

July 11th, 1998 6:25 Glasgow time

The sun is rising over the Atlantic in golden pink magnificence.

8:16 GT

The food (I got my vegetarian option) has been delicious! I got an hour snoozet after seeing ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’. Now, the clouds have cleared. ‘The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls’.

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12:36 GT

[I am so discouraged!!!] Nothing is going as I ‘planned’. Haggis (the operator of the jump on/jump off tour I followed the first half plus a bit of my journey) is picking me up at 4:30 tomorrow. I’ll be sleeping in Edinburgh tomorrow night. I guess I’ll be doing my circuit backwards, backtracking to Edinburgh for the 27th. I’ll do Ben Nevis later rather than earlier. Now that I’m putting this down on paper, I’m getting more relaxed. I mean I’m here aren’t I? (The Glasgow youth hostel that is?) Unfortunately, I won’t have access to my bed until 2:00. Since I’ll be ‘stuck here’ till tomorrow, I think I’ll just stay in this afternoon (maybe I’ll feel different once I’m clean and changed) and get an early night! I’ve already spent the £20 allocated to today on bus to the city, bus to the hostel, bed (£11.50) and £5 phone card. I’ll pull out £5 and try to get some dinner. I did say £25 a day. It’s understandable that the first day is a little more expensive.

I must say that my first view of Scotland was breathtakingly beautiful. It’s so lush and green and hilly! I saw Loch Lomond from above. Unfortunately, fatigue and stress are masking any joy I should be feeling. To be honest, I’d give my right arm to be in my bed right now! But this is only the first day. It’ll most likely get better once I’m out in the country.

I sat next to a really nice woman on the plane. She’s from Calgary, but she’s lived in Scotland. She told me lots of great stories. She also gave me a card so that I can contact her if I have any questions.

Actually, I think that once I get access to my room, I’ll go straight to bed! I’m not in a mood to go anywhere. I’d better perk up soon, I have ‘I’m-so-enthusiastic-I-never-want-to-leave’ postcards to send! Yes, I’m sure that the picture will be brighter in the morning.

I’m in Scotland. It looks a lot like home (one part on the way from the airport looked like the 10 near St. Lambert!), but it feels different. Glasgow has yet to impress me. What I’ve seen is dirty. I said the same thing about New York, and you know how I loved N.Y.C.!

I’m enjoying using £’s and p’s, etc. ‘They’ have half-pound coins. Their shape is funny! I have no change left for tomorrow. I’m going to get more cash tomorrow afternoon since I don’t know how the banks and ATMs are on the weekend. (You can use the ATM’s seven days a week, but not every bank will accept a withdrawl from an overseas account. I had the best luck with the Clydesdale bank. By taking out money once a week, I only used cash for my trip and I had very little on me at all times, most of which I kept in a secret pouch next to my skin. The exchange rate was actually better than what was offered in ‘bureau de change’ and the exchange from dollars to pounds was made automatically and immediately.)

I’m going to be okay. I know I am. But right now I’m tired, dirty, and probably hungry, only I’m to tired to go in search of food. Maybe a short nap!

3:06 GT

Everything’s going to be okay. This is a very nice hostel. My £11.50 includes sleepsack and pillowcase as well as breakfast. We have a private shower and toilet. I just took a shower. Unfortunately, it was ice cold! I do feel much better now! Totally excited and ready to do some serious sight seeing! Amazing what a change of clothes can do!

There are white clouds, but boy is it sunny! (It was so sunny my first week I actually got a minor sunburn!)

7:02 pm (from now on, unless otherwise mentioned, G.T.)

I did about 3 hours worth of walking this afternoon. I made it to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and had one hour to wander around the unimpressive exhibits. Oh, there was interesting stuff, but nothing new except for a painting of Burns. Unfortunately, ‘Massacre at Glencoe’ was no longer on exhibit. Figures.

I then got myself purposely lost searching for food without a map. I eventually ended up buying a cheap (but delicious and filling) veggie burger at the European (or at least Scottish) equivalent of a fast food joint. But here there’s little fast but rather lots of courtesy and edible food.   ‘When in doubt, do as the locals do’ and it was obvious that the owner had ‘regulars’. Sure, the place was kind of seedy. Who cares? When I got out of there, nibbling on my very yummy potato/cheese/chive burger, I was caught by an unexpected spill of rain (ain’t that poetic?) The rain came down really weirdly, it looked and felt like long filaments of water rather than individual droplets.

Some observations:

  • the toilets flush on the other side
  • the toilets only eat half the amount of t.p. the North American toilets eat
  • there are no stop signs! (I saw perhaps a half dozen during my whole stay!)
  • driving on the left makes for confusing street corners and circulation patterns
  • although I don’t eat many at home, the ‘Snickers’ bar tastes a little different here. I could pinpoint it only if I had a blind taste test or something
  • Glasgow’s layout is confusing, you think you’re going straight, but you’re actually going around in circles!

Glasgow’s endearing, it’s actually growing on me! It’s sort of a cross between Montreal (cosmopolitan, architecture), Quebec City (hills, architecture), Ottawa (feeling of intimacy, architecture)!

I figured out why most of Scotland’s cities appear to be built on hills. Coming from a new country it is easy to forget that her towns have been around for millennia, and were originally built on top of hills for defence purposes. Eventually, the towns spilled down the hillside.

I’ll see more of it tomorrow as I’ll explore (drumroll please) the City Centre! It’s kind of silly, in a way, that I’ll have to lug my butt down there with all my luggage and then have to lug it all the way back here to catch Haggis. I think I’ll take a bus back, though. This way, I’ll have more time. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the Museum of Transportation, but it’ll be way out of my way tomorrow, it seems. I’ll recheck the map, though.

Did I mention I made my first telephone call today, to Edinburgh? It wasn’t nearly as expensive nor as complicated as I would have thought. Besides, my £5 phone card is somehow worth £6! I have Bank of Clydesdale notes. They aren’t very attractive (except for the twenties, which have a lovely likeness of Robert the Bruce on them !) I think I’ll go to bed now. The water here is really quite good. My only complaint is that I’m either too hot or too cold. (note to self: bring long sleeved tee-shirts next time! (little did I know I would head this advice during my 2016 trip to London!))