Happy 145th Birthday Canada! :)

I'm not sure where I left my last blog, probably would have been a good ideal to read over it before I start a new one...but I didn't....
NOTE: due to lack of organisation, I may repeat myself somewhat during this blog.


If anyone ever wants to go to a non English speaking part of Germany, Hanover is the place to go. My great Uncle fort in WWII as an RAF pilot and was shot down on one of his last missions, and so, my uncle thought it appropriate (considering he was the same age as myself when he was killed) to visit his war grave in Hanover. This place was unbelievably tranquil, and so very lovely. Although, if you want to go to a touristy town, this is not for you. The only things to see in Hanover are possibly the war graves and a half blown up church, other than this, it's a fairly boring, ordinary town. 
From Germany we traveled to Ireland, Dublin. We had booked day tours around the ring of Kerri and the Blarney Stone, not realising that these places were a 3hr train ride away from our hotel in Dublin. Whilst fighting the weather (which poured the whole time we were there) we pushed on and kissed the stone, saw the sights and fell asleep on the trains. 
God seemed to be very persistent on keeping us in Dublin as when it came time to catch our ferry to England,  it had been cancelled and the next one was 6hrs later. My patience was definitely challenged as we sat in an empty ferry terminal waiting till 2:30pm to board our ferry.
York proved to be a bit of an adventure. After visiting Hanover days earlier, we stayed on the theme of my Great Uncle, and so, we visited Brighton airbase where he would have flown off from. 
This airbase is now, quite literally, a manure field. hmmm...not exactly a well kept and preserved part of our history...Saying this, Uncle David did not give up on finding the runway and hanger areas of the old base. (We even drove through black, stinking manure water to get there)  
From York we traveled to London where I said goodbye to my uncle. It was so sad to say goodbye. I just want to take some time in thanking him. Although many of the people reading this don't know him, and will probably never meet my uncle, he is one of the kindest and generous people I have had the pleasure of having in my life. It is so wonderful to travel with family, and truly get to know them on their good and bad days. Although by the end of our trip i'm sure Uncle David was glad to be rid of my impatience, complaining and random 2hr naps in the middle of the day. I still enjoyed every minute and wish I could go back!

1 day after fare welling him, I flew to Canada. I traveled on Air Transat...and I sweat they are archaic. Having an 8hr plane trip ahead of me, I was ready to sit down and watch some movies, only to walk into the plane and find that there were no T.V's on the back of the seats, instead they had 1 small t.v above every 10th seat in the middle row. Lets just say that I was less than impressed. (and less looking forward to my flight home tomorrow night)

At the Airport I was greeted by Emily Dubis, a friend I met on Exchange. It was so great to be reunited with her, and it's always so welcoming having someone waiting for you at the arrivals gate.
My jet lag seemed to be the end of me, and at 9pm I crashed so bad. 
The next day was Emily's 21st birthday and so I stayed home (whilst she had work) and made a chocolate mouse cake for her. That night she had many people come over to celebrate, and after being asked to 'speak Australian' multiple times during the night, I went to bed an early 12am. (mainly knowing that I had to get up to catch a 8:50am bus to Montreal)
My hate for public transport continues as my 5hr bus ride turned into a 6.5hr one due to a crash on the freeway. Arriving in Montreal was easy, having only have to make a 5min walk to my hotel I had no problem....except for the part where I tried to check into the wrong hotel, but a part from that, nothing went wrong. 
Whilst walking around in the morning, I soon realised that Cirque Du Soliel was in town (obviously, as Montreal is their home town...) and on the spur of the moment bought ticket (how lonely does that sound) to go see it that night. I had already booked in for a bike tour that day, and so after riding around Montreal in 32 degree heat, I had to run to the show so I didn't miss anything. 
From Montreal I took the bus into Toronto where I met up with Laura, my flat mate from Scotland. I still feels surreal being able to spend time with her and Emily, having met them in Scotland, now meeting up again in Canada. 
I am now an expert in travelling around on the public transport system in Toronto and although the Canadian's my complain about it, I much prefer it to England's!! I have traveled to the Beaches districts, down town Toronto, the Island, went to see a Blue Jays game (Base ball) and have gone to Niagara falls. Each place is so unique and interesting, it seems sad that I only have 1 week here to see things, it's just not enough time! 
Niagara is such an interesting place! the falls are AMAZING! SOOOO beautiful! Laura and I went on the maid of the mist and got soaked as we were awed by the wonder of Niagara falls. But alternatively, the streets leading up to the falls are trashy and somewhat reminded me of Las Vegas in the US, because there was little to no class associated with the blingy, in your face buildings. From Niagara we visited Niagara on the lake. A quaint little town that juxtaposed Niagara to the extreme! It was a much more enjoyable place to eat dinner.
Today is Canada day and whilst happily sitting here watching Spain beat Italy in the Euro (is it a bad thing that I'm Italian and going for the opposing team), it saddens me to know that tonight is my last proper night in Canada as I leave at 9:50pm tomorrow. 


Highlights of Canada: 
.THE SUN (over 30 degrees every day)
.Reuniting with firends
.Poutine
.Tim Hortons
.Bagels
.Bike riding
.Niagara


Lowlights of Canada:
.Heat rash from the sun :( (see what you've done to my Scotland)
.Montreal buses
.Knowing that after tomorrow, I wont see my Canadian friends again for a very long time


Both Laura's and Emily's families have been so wonderful allowing me to stay with them, and putting up with me. I am so blessed to have these wonderful people in my life, and to be able to experience all these wonderful new places. 


Today also celebrates my last month away. In exactly one month I will have arrived back in Australia, back to family, back to friends, and back to normality.