Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 11 - freezing in montreal

Montrea - lots of churches, lots of smokers and very cold! The maximum temperature today was 5c, so it was very chilly. My chin went numb and my nose turned red.



We walked around Montreal all day - we went to lots of shops and visited the Basilica of Notre Dame which was amazing. It cost $5 to get in and inside was lit amazingly. It was tricky to get a good photo, but hopefully some of them worked.

We walked around Old Montreal, and then headed back towards the hotel. It actually started raining ice. brrrrrrr. We had a bargain dinner for under $10 for both of us - 2 huge slices of Pizza and a can of coke each for $4.39. Bargain!!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure Day 10 - training day!

Yes, time to catch the VIA train to Montreal!! We caught a taxi down the hill to the station and waited a couple of hours for our train. When we got on it was great! Very roomy & comfy.

It was amazing to see all the snow surrounded houses, icy rivers & frozen swimming pools from the window. A few hours later and we were in Montreal. Following our Google directions, we made it to our hotel on foot. We are on the 11th floor and have a King bed. First room we've had with a view of anything other than a wall - so I tried out the cameras night time setting. We headed to Nickels Restaurant for Dinner (Celine's Restaurant). Janet had Lasagne & I had Pasta Primavera. We shared a piece of Celine CHocolate Cake, which was the biggest piece of cake I ever saw. Far out. We couldn't finish it. I photographed the whole event, then home to bed.

There was a big hockey game on and everyone out was dressed in the red & blue shirts. The right team must have won, because we heard lots of horn tooting outside.

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 9 - Quebec!

How else to start the day, but with warm croissants? Yum! We had a big hotel brekky to help us avoid buying lunch. Brilliant plan!



We spent the day walking around Quebec....it was easy to find our way around, and a good city for walking.



We visited Parliament House, the Museaum of Civillisation, went to the waterfront where we were amazed at the ice floating down the river. THere is snow everywhere, so the streets were a bit soggy. Its a really old city, with lots of lovely old buildings, surrounded by a great big wall. A lot different to anywhere else we have been. The coolest thing about the museum (once we found it - we kind of walked right past it the first time)...was that we saw a video of an igloo being built. Amazing! There was also an exhibit about leisure, and they had cool places to lie and view videos on the ceiling. We almost fell asleep!



We shares McDonalds fries for lunch - dipped in ketchup. (did I mention how cool it is that everywhere has free sauce??)

So tomorrow we brave the train and head back to Montreal...

HCB's on Good Friday!!

Good Friday is time for our traditional family gathering to eat Hot Cross Buns.....

and chocolate easter egg brownies (by Mum)

and a spectacular carrot cake......(by Kristy)

and red velvet cupcakes (which looked slightly wrong from above...)....



and generally too much food!

Pizza Picnic from Hell!

We stopped off at Hell Pizza at Darra to pick up some dinner the other week when we were in the area....



Janet chose "lust" - bacon, cabanossi, ham, pepperoni, salami, with bbq sauce. (snack size $9.50).

I chose "damned" - avocado, camembert, cashews, spinach, sundried tomatoes, black pepper, mushrooms, onions, pineapple. (minus the mushrooms!) (snack size $11.00)

These were good pizzas. They had a nice range of vegetarian pizzas to choose from, and even a vegan pizza. SO I would predict we shall be back there again in the not too distant future.

We stopped off by Forest Lake and had a Pizza Picnic as the sun set.

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 8 - to Quebec!

A day of travelling. We flew from Vancouver to Montreal & then onto a 37 seat plane to Quebec. Montral & Quebec are both covered in snow Amazing!!

Our hotel is very nice - large room. We had a bit of an issue with getting the shower working, but 2 staff members lately and we have learnt how to turn the tap on. We went out for dinner - we tried to do it cheaply by going to McDonalds, but had a language problem and couldn't understand the menu oops. So we ended up in an Italian restaurant - our italian is better than our french :-) Tomorrow should be an interestin day!!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure Day 7 - Time to do the Laundry.

Yes, it was time to find the laundromat. We walked up here and spent an hour or so doing the washing. Then we walked back to the hotel in the cold, pouring rain. Then it was back out in the rain to do some shopping. We bought a warm jacket for me, which has successfully kept me warm and dry for the rest of today. We basically spent the rest of the day wandering around Vancouver and trying to stay out of the rain. An early start tomorrow as we head to Quebec.



Oh, and i had my first ever hot chocolate today - so I got to walk down the street drinking from a Starbucks cup, just like everyone else around here!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure Day 6 - SNOW!!

We got back on the trolley bus today and stayed on for almost a full circuit. It was the drivers first day, so he kind of went a different way to the others we had yesterday. We got off at the Seabus terminal and caught the boat across to north Vancouver where we caught the 236 bus to Grouse Mountain. (we just followed the snowboard & ski carrying people). We rode in a crowded gondola up to the mountain top. As we went up, the pouring rain became falling snow and the green trees became white and snow covered.




At the top, we stepped out into a winter wonderland! Snow everywhere and I got to stand in falling snow, pick up freshly fallen snow and walk through it!!! Amazing!!!! It was much softer and lighter than I had imagined.

We had lunch up here and also watched a couple of Imax films before spending a little more time standing out in the snow. Then it was back on the gondola and back down to the rain. It really is amazing how close to the city the snowy mountain is - so quick and easy to get to.

We caught the Seabus back to downtown and then the trolley bus to Robson St to check out the giant HMV, then we walked back to our hotel for a rest before heading out in search of Pizza-free dinner :-) We ended up at a thai place for a delicious vegtabley meal in a warm, fire side spot.

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure Day 5 - Vancouver on the Trolley

Breakfast is in the Irish pub under our hotel - they have waffle irons and you can make your own waffle!!! So I did. Yummo!!

We bought tickets & caught the "bus" around to various atractions..

First stop, Stanley Park - very green. We walked around and saw some squirrels who didn't want to pose for a photo. We did manage to decipher the map and made it to the totem poles. Then back on the bus to Prospect Point, after a quick photo stop at the Lions Gate Bridge, which was designed by the same guy who did the Golden Gate.

Next stop was Granville Island. It was crowded in the market, but fun to wander around all the fruit, vegie, flower and fish stalls. We had lunch here too (inside in the warm)

Next stop China Town - we got a couple of cheap t shorts and checked out the garden.

It was great to have the on-off bus as it meant we got around to a lot of places. We ended up in Davies St and walked around the gay area before making our way back to the hotel for a relax before heading out for dinner of....................Pizza!!! I tried the ranch sauce on mine this time. Yum!!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 4 - off to vancouver -

We had to get up early to catch the scarily driven shuttle bus to the airport. An uneventful flight - it went quickly - we had a healthy inflight breakfast of Cadbury Dairy Milk (you had to buy food, so it was chips, chocolate or a beef sandwich).


We arrived in Vancouver to a grey rainy day. We got directions at the airport and caught 2 busses downtown to our hotel - The Comfort Inn. We had to walk a few blocks in the rain. (We love this hotel, it has alovely shower!). We left our bags at the fron desk and wandered around for about 4 hours till our room was ready - we found an underground shopping mall, which kept us out of the rain for a while. We also discovered that every second store seemed to be selling pizza by the slice. So this was lunch. $1.43 a slice. And DELICIOUS!


When our room was ready we went to it and had a warm dry rest. We headed off to the foodcourt in the underground mall for some chinese food for dinner. I am impressed witrh the number of vegetarian options at all the food places - I have a fantastic range of choices!!.

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 3 - a good day for a stroll up a hill -

Yes, we've got the busses sorted. We caught the Bus to Lombard St to check out the Crookedest St in the world. We would like to add steepest street in the world to that title. To get to the crooked part, you have to walk up the steepest part of street you can imagine. Wow.

After that, we walked down to the water and headed towards the Golden Gate Bridge, which we admired from a distance before heading back to Fisherman's Warf.

We basically spent the rest of the day walking around here...very touristy...we bought a few bargains (and more mini donuts (donut count #3) and were harassed to eat in various restaurants, we opted for Burger King however.(vegie burger yum!)

We were booked on the 5.25pm "night" tour of Alcatraz, so we hopped on the boat, which goes around the island, then did the walking tour, which is really cool - guards and prisoners take you on a tour through your headphones.

After this, we decided that rather than freeze to death, we'd get the first boat back and hopefully see the sunset behind the bridge, which we did, although freezing was still an option and almost occured. Farout it was cold.

We went in search of dinner and ended up back at Burger King, since it was WARM and we could find it quickly!. Then onto the 49 bus and back to the hotel. Off to the Airport at 5.15am tomorrow and heading for Vancouver!!!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure - April 2008 - Day 2 - where's that bus???

I think we have conquered the public transport system here.....as long as we don't have to catch bus#2, 3 or 4, because we can't seem to find that one. We ended up on the 37 thanks to the nice policeman. And the 37 took us right where we wanted to be. We started off downtown & checked out some shops like Old Navy (where we could have bought up big, but didn't), GAP and a giant Virgin Mega Store. All the escalators seem to go up about 3 times the distance we are used to, LOTS of room between floors.

After a long wander around in some stores we caught the F-line down to the Cazstro and wandered around there. (oooh first we had a donut (donut count #1) from a shop on the way.

We explored the Castro ands took lots of photos of the rainbow flags. We went in search of a toilet and found a self cleaning talking loo, which was bizzarre and scary.

Lunch was Subway. Subway stores smell exactle the same. yum. Then it was back on the F-line to FIsherman's Warf and Pier 39 where we picked up some souveniers (2 T-shorts for $15) and photographed the seals. And ate some fresh cooked mini donuts (donut count#2) Far out they were good.

We then had to get back on the F-line before our transfers ran out ($1.50 buys you 90 minutes in any direction). We had to get to the BART so we could catch it over to Easy Bay to visit Monti. She picked us up at El Cerito Plaxa and we went back to her place for a home cooked meal. Delicious! It was great to catch up with Monti again and to meet her partner & the kids. Then it was back to the BART into Civic, then 2 blocks west to Van Ness to catch the 49 bus back to Sutter St, just like the first day, only easier because we had no luggage. Now its almost 11pm...we've done well, but definitely time for sleep!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure - April 2008 - Day 1 - the longest day.

Ok so we stayed awake for over 24 hours. And this was the day AFTER the Celine concert, so we had only 3 hours of snooze the night before. This explains why I am all showered and snuggly in bed at 6pm.

We arrived in San Francisco at about 11 am (half an hour befor we left Brisbane). We braved the Hotel's public transport instructions and caiught the BART (train) from the airport to downtown. From here we had to work out wich way was west and walk a few blocks to the bus. (fortunately for us directionally challenged, the roads all had south, west etc. signs). So we caught the correct bus and then hiked up one of the many hills around here to our hotel (wouldn't have been so bad without luggage!).

They let us check in early, so we popped our bags inthe room and headed out to explore a little and to find some food.

We walked through Japan Town with its lovely cherry blossums snowing down around us. Then we saw a Denny's restaurant so in we went. once inside we realised we would have to work out how to tip on our own. Our meals were served with the best chips we ever tasted. Yummmmm. (So much for eating healthily!!)

now for a step back in time.....

yes, a year has passed and it is now possible to tell the tale of Janet & Ali's Big Adventure.



You have to imagine that tinkling sounding music playing and a bit of fading in and out going on now.....

25 Things About Me

1. I have been vegetarian since Jan 1 2000. But I have occasionally tasted meat since then. To see if I like it. I don't
2. I collect things. lots of things. Like Snowdomes and caps, and magazines, and M&M's stuff and postcards and ummmm. thats enough.
3. I don't like to throw anything away, it might be useful sometime!!
4. I can't watch movies or tv shows with animals in them. I have to change the channel when there are adds for Animal Rescue or Bondi Vet.
5. I have a list of movies I never want to see again. Most of the movies on it are ones that Janet loves.
6. I like to sleep with a doona over my ear.
7. I have saved every birthday card I have ever received
8. I love to watch cooking shows on tv
9. Sometimes (or maybe often) I pretend I am ON a cooking show.
10. I borrow recipe books from the library, buy and read lots of cooking magazines, but rarely cook anything using an actual recipe.
11. In 2008 I shook hands with Celine Dion, went to her concert in Brisbane, went to one of her restaurants in Montreal and shared a piece of Celine cake. And I'm not even a fan.
12. I first saw snow falling in 2008. and it was magical and wonderful and amazing
13. I don't drink anything hot. Not tea, or coffee. Or cuppa soup (I eat this with a spoon)
14. I love to drink out of cups with lids and straws (like McDonalds cups)
15. Straight people way out numbered gay people at our wedding.
16. When I was in primary school, my Mum made me go to handwritting lessons with a lady at the "Pen Shoppe" in the city. I still have messy writing.
17. I have lived in Brisbane, Glenden, Longreach and Logan.
18. I once went to Chicago to meet up with a group of people I met on an internet message board. And I survived :-)
19. I think you have to decide to be happy. It doesn't just happen.
20. I have a tattoo of the Southern Cross on my arm. With 5-pointed stars. Because I like 5-pointed stars.
21. When I watch "So You Think You Can Dance", I think I can dance. But I can't.
22. I love Bonds undies. Especially green.
23. I had tennis lessons for ever when I was young. And went to tennis camp things during the holidays. Lots and lots of tennis. I haven't played in many many years.
24. I have very strict rules regarding milk. It has to be icy cold. It cannot sit on the bench. It should be almost the last thing to go in the shopping trolley, and it needs to be driven straight home. And my cup of milk needs to go in the freezer for a few minutes before I will drink it.
25. I found it very difficult to think of 25 things for this list!!

Earth Hour

Saturday night after dinner and cake, it was time to turn off the lights for Earth Hour. So we sat around a candle. And laughed. Mum & Dad had found the book where we used to write the agendas of our Family Meetings. Oh dear. It seems we used to have to discuss the "3 C's" at every meeting. Which I think were consideration, cooperation & compromise. We mustn't have been very good at that, because it waws mentioned on just about every page. Along with things like Alison's Temper Tantrums, Alisons Floor and the mysterious Alison - barking. (which we later deciphered to be Alison - banking). Oh what fun a trip down memory lane is. hmmmm.