Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 19 - Saturday

We were kept busy putting together a fire pit and a swinging chair. The fire was easy, the chair a bit more challenging. But we got it together eventually. And it actually stayed together when people sat on it.



We went to Subway and got about a million subs which I cut up and labelled when we got back. A bunch of Rondas friends came round and it was really great! We had a fantastic time!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 18 - to Ronda's House

Off we went to Ronda's House. We stopped at Burger King for lunch, and checked out a supermarket next door. Then it was over the bridge and across the border back into the USA.



And we had Mexican for dinner....

Janet & Ali;s Big Adventure April 2008 Day 17 - Niagara Falls

We set off in the afternoon for Niagara Falls (some people wanted to have a nap in the morning).



The falls are amazing. So much water!

We did the walk behind the falls where you go down below the falls and also behind them in a tunnel for a different perspective. Then we walked along the top and took lots of pictures. We were waiting for it to get dark when we had a slight drama when Janet thought she had lost her wallet. Turns out it was in the car.

Anyway, we waited in the warm car for darkness to fall so we could see ths falls all lit up. Very cool!! Many more photos later we headed back to Toronto and into bed.

Happy Easter!!

Home made Pizza!!

Home made pizza is as good as the bought ones.... We have a vegie & a meaty version below...


here they are ready to go in the oven. On the vegie - zucchinni, pumpkin, tomato and roasted capsicum with homemade pizza sauce. On the meaty - Bacon, mince and bbq sauce.

cooked vegie

cooked meaty

mmmmm ready to eat!!!!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 16 - toronto zoo!!

We travelled with the aid of computer navigation in Ronda's Jeep to the Toronto Zoo. It is a really big zoo. Even though some of the animals weren't out because its too cold for them still (I never even considered this). We still got to see heaps of really cool and different animals. I only got to see the Giraffe from a long distance because it was behind a fence. The Gorillas and the Orangutangs were probably my favourite, plus we got to see a beaver.

After the zoo it was back to the hotel for a rest before Stacey & Angele picked us up for dinner. We got to meet the adorable Miss Riley. We ate at Zeldas on Church St (vegie burger yum) It was great to catch up with Stacey & Angele again. We then went to find Babylon for Janet - we had walked past it yesterday - Angele was able to find it for Janet. Also Woodys.

After we got back, Ronda & I wen t to find a pharmacy to get some drugs for Janet who thinks she is getting sick. Hope its not too bad - it sucks to get sick on holiday.

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 15 - walking in toronto

Our first day in Toronto and we coveredf a fair bit of ground. We walked to the subway and caught it to the Museum, which we covered top to bottom - very big and a bit tricky to follow the map!.

Next it was back on the subway and a short walk to Casa Loma, which is a castle where we did an audio tour and even climbed up lots of very narrow winding stairs into a turret, it also had tunnels and secret passages!!

Then it was back on the subway and more walking to find Church st where we looked for places that Queer as Folk was filmed, but we couldn't find them. More walking abd back on the subway to get us a bit closer to the hotel. Then a relax in the hotel before dinner.

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure Day 14 - to toronto!

We caught the train from Ottawa to Toronto. It took about 4 1/2 hours. Then we walked a really long way to our hotel where we found Ronda sitting in the lobby. Then it was out for some dinner & then back to the hotel to do some laundry before bed.

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure Day 13 - Ottawa

A big walking day. After our hotel brekky (they have toast, muffins, fruit & oatmeal), we headed out.

We first walked to Parliament Hill - on the way walking past some amazing buildings. The Parliament House is surrounded by lots of different statues. We walked right around and then went inside, where we were pleased to discover we could go on a free guided tour! We got taken through the various rooms as well as the library. All very grand. Then we were able to go up the clock tower for a great view!

Next we made our way over the Alexandra Bridge (very cold & windy)to the Museum of Civillisation. This is a BIG museum. Very well done and only $10 to get in. We spent a long time going through the various exhibits. (this was after we found the cafe for an early lunch as we were starving! I had the most delicious vegie burger yet!!)

We then walked back to the Byward Market area and on the way saw this strange creature, which we were later told was a woodchuck.

We saw yesterday a stall selling Beavertails and wanted to try one, so we got one to share - with cinnamon sugar. Its a big flat oval shaped pastry - delicious and warm!!]

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 day 12 - off to ottawa

We caught the train from Montreal to Ottawa. The station at Montreal is HUGE. Our train left from track 17. It was a different carriage set up - 2 seats on each side of the aisle. We had trouble trying to order a Coke. The guy couldn't ubderstand us, so we had to point on the menu.



We arrived in Ottawa at about 3 and caught a taxi to the hotel (since it was a bit too far to walk). After the traditional bag unl;oading, we headed out to the Byward Market. We found a big shopping centre & Tim Hortons (donut count #4) and we had a food court dinner.

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!