Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 - the end!!

We had a long trip home. We flew from Detroit to Toronto, Toronto to Vancouver, where we stayed overnight and flew out to LA the next afternoon, to Auckland, then to Brisbane.



On the way, we left our luggage in Toronto and had a last minute wait for it before we left Vancouver.



Whilst in Vancouver we savoured our last taste of Tim Hortons, and our last slices of Vancouver Pizza.

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 21 - a drive in the country

Yes, thats me driving.....




We went for an interesting day in the country with Ronda and her Grandma. We stopped by Grandma's house and saw some turkey buzzards on the barn roof. Then we visited Ronda's cousin's cows. There was an unidentified tail on the ground when we got out of the car. oh dear. Anyway, we got to see the baby calves and one of them sucked on our fingers!! Very slimy, very cool though!!


We went to Dairy Queen for lunch, and then went to Ronda's sisters place and fed the baby goats - so cute!!!!!

Janet & Ali's Big Adventure April 2008 Day 20 - bike ride & pie day!!

We went to Kensington Park for a bike ride with a big bike riding group. It was an 8 mile path around a lake - not too hilly and heaps of fun!!!

Unfortunately Janet got dizzy, so we had to stop for a while. But she was ok, so we could finish the route. Then we ate left over subway in a leaf filled park. Once we had gotten all the bikes back into the car (much better than on the way there - we all had a seat in the car this time even!) We headed back.

Then it was time for pie. We went to Bakers Square to try some pie. Janet chose Oreo, I got Cherry. Ronda's Grandma got Strawberry Rhubarb, Ronda's Aunt got Bread pudding, and Ronda got tasting slices of a million different pies for us to try. We were well and truely pied out! YUMMMMM!!!!

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.

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!!