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All posts for the month May, 2018

About Canada

Posted by golfkat on May 26, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Travel. Leave a comment

Some random information and thoughts about Canada.

High taxes here to support universal health care, but Canadians hate waiting for elective surgery.

Voltaire called Canada a land inhabited by barbarians, bears and beavers. It will remain forever an unproductive wasteland. I guess he was wrong about many things!

Lots of Aussies on tour here. Also, everybody is old on the train. Including me, though it appears they are about 10 to 15 years older. They are headed to Jasper National Park for a few days off of the train.

Toronto has a Sake Institute and festival, with more than 150 varieties of sake from 50 breweries.

Famous Canadian sports stars: Wayne Gretzky. George Chuvalo, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Crazy Ken Read, Lennox Lewis, Mike Weir, Ron Turcotte, Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Steve Nash, Ferguson Jenkins, Northern Dancer, Reuben Mayes, and the Royal Montreal Golf Club, the oldest golf club in North America, founded in 1873.

Other Canadians: Alexander Graham Bell, Nellie McClung, David Suzuki, Roberta Bondair, Michael J. Fox, Raymond Massey, the Molsons, the Bronfmans, Lorne Greene, Bill Shatner, Christopher Plummer, Mary Pickford, Jim Carrey, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, the Guess Who, Anne Murray, Shania Twain, Paul Anka, Odcar Peterson, Celine, Dan Akroyd, Saul Bellow, Donald and Kiefer Sutherland.

I talked to an old coot who has been across Canada 7 times, on a motor cycle, by car, and now on the train.

Canada lost over 60,000 men in the Great War, buried in France. And another 50,000 to a flu epidemic at war’s end.

Pretty desolate here in western Ontario. Mostly timber and mining. Lots of lakes. But still too cold for much wildlife.

This fleet of rail cars were built in 1953 by the Budd Company of Philadelphia. In 1978, VIA took over both CPR and Canadian National passenger rail services, inheriting these cars. VIA refurbished them in the 90s and again in 2010. Peak season in summer can have almost 30 cars. Three locomotives are used to pull us through the Rockies.

Yesterday, I met an older couple from Ontario, traveling with their adult daughter to a family reunion in Calgary. They are 4th generation Irish dairy farmers. The kicker is the dairy and their little town of 400 is located on Amherst Island in the middle of Lake Ontario. She is an artist, and he misses farming quite badly. The Prairie here in Manitoba is making him jumpy!

At this point not quite to Saskatoon, we are merely 18 hours behind schedule.

Showering and shaving on the train requires the skill of a brain surgeon, combined with the skills of high wire trapeze performers in circus.

So far, I give the food a score of C plus or at best B minus. But the beer is cold!

Propane tanks by the side of the tracks are for service vehicles? Not!! They are used to heat the track switches to enable them to work in extremely cold conditions.

The capital of Saskatchewan rhymes with a female body part.

Interestingly, you must be bilingual to work as a conductor or passenger attendant on the VIA Canadian. That would be English and French! Sorry, Igor and Katerina, you must stay on the Trans Siberian Railway.

The minor league hockey team here is called the Melville Millionaires!

I have officially declared this train, the Groundhog Day Special. The terrain, the train, the food, the nice people, every day seems the same!! Thank you, Bill Murray for the inspiration.

¥*¥₩#%€£¥!!! At Edmonton we are now over 28 hours late, with another day to go until Vancouver.

The US Canadian border is the longest undefended national border in the world, nearly 9000km, longer than the Great Wall. And it did not take nearly as long to build!

BTW, glad to be back in the great USA!!!jasper4kamloopskamloops1

If It Is Saturday, It Must be Vancouver!

Posted by golfkat on May 25, 2018
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Shopping, Travel. Leave a comment

 

Most of you who have been to Vancouver know that they started the farm the table restaurant movement.  And yes, the food up here is great.  I particularly enjoy the seafood, fresh greens, and their best kept secret, ice cream.

But what do you really know about this great west coast Canadian city?

One of the most clever names for this city is Vansterdam.  I wonder why!  Are they trying to emulate one of the most interesting cities in the world?  Experts say they have a notorious love affair with marijuana.  You can find an Herb Museum, as well as a New Amsterdam Cafe.

I never knew there was a Forbidden Amsterdam, a walking tour of “off the beaten track” attractions.  One of Vancouver’s most infamous strip clubs was The Penthouse, known to have been visited by Sinatra.  Might you learn some secrets of the penthouse?

Wreck Beach is the area’s only clothing optional beach.  Perhaps it is just too cold here for a nude beach?  But along with some nudity you will find a definite hippie vibe form the 60s.

Who would expect this buttoned up city to have a geeky burlesque show?  It is called Geekenders, who often poke fun with shows like “A Burlesque Tribute to Nicholas Cage”, and “Star Wars, A Nude Hope.”

If you have been here, I am sure you have been to Granville Island, the best foodie place in the city.  Besides being a great place to buy ingredients for cooking, the area also has some good places to eat.

Then again, street food has come to Vancouver, as it has most big cities in North America.  There are more food tours in this city than tourist bus companies.  My closest friends of Chinese descent all claim Chinese food in Vancouver as the world’s best.  Quite a statement!

Along with great ice cream, I have always been told this city is known for their chocolate.  Since I am not a chocoholic, or even much of a taster, I will take their word for it.  Check out Best Vancouver Chocolatiers for more information.

Did you ever play Button, Button?  There’s no need to collect buttons anymore because this quirky store does it for you. With buttons from all over the world, their collection is constantly growing. Of course, it’s not just a button store, but a magical experience of colors and tastes of the world’s different cultures.

Vancouver may have better donuts than anywhere else, including Portland or New York.  Why?  They call them deliciously non-artisanal.  Yet, Vancouver is considered the third best city in the world to live in.

Did you know there is a website for “9 Touristy Things to Do in Vancouver If You’re Broke”?  One is to explore the bars in Gastown.  Another is to rent a Mobi bicycle.  Obviously, walking everywhere instead of suing public transport is a good money saver.

Since I recently finished my Anthropology class, I should go to the Museum of Anthropology.  FYI, I got to skip the final, since we had to compete against other teams in our class.  We had to create a new religion!  It was so off color and so funny, we got the most votes.  So, our team, myself and three 19 or 20 year olds, got to skip the final and received “A”s for the class.

Greenpeace was born here in 1971.  Have you seen Russell Dalrymple?  On the other hand, or face, that is, Botox cosmetic treatments began here.

Real estate is expensive here.  A single, detached home in the city costs, on average $1.2 million CD.  Yet, there are no freeways in the downtown area!  And over 40% of the residents are immigrants.  So, yes, it can be done!

Sadly, I cannot buy beer or alcohol in a grocery store, it must be a liquor store.

Did you know Perry Mason is from Vancouver?  Yes, Raymond Burr was a lifelong Vancouverite, along with Lonnie Anderson, Jason Preistly, Margaret Trudeau, Michael Buble’, and one of my favorite singers, Sarah McLachlan.

Tax on everything except food is a whopping 12%.  Manitoba and Ontario are 13%, Quebec is 14.975%, and the four easternmost provinces are a whopping 15%!!!!  I guess I will not buy much here.

Stanley Park is 10% larger than New York’s Central Park!

Sushi experts say the famous California Roll was invented here.

What else would you like to know?

We did not arrive in Vancouver until Sunday afternoon.  Scheduled time was 9am YESTERDAY!

I have changedl my flight home 3 times, and my hotel twice…..so far.  I hope to get home Monday for our usual Monday dinner with dear friends.

Even Amtrak never gets this far off schedule.  It has cost many of my fellow travelers big money, with change fees, non refundable fares, lost hotel rooms, and most importantly, some quality time in Vancouver.  Perhaps VIA Canadian will reimburse some of it.

The poor crew must turn around this evening at 7am, Monday, for the return train to Toronto!!!

It is now Sunday eve.  I am off the train, staying in my favorite Vancouver hotel, The Listel, on the best street, Robson.  Yes.  I am so happy to be off of the train.  I am even happier knowing I get to go home to my two best girls.

I had a great happy hour dinner at Coast, on nearby Alberni Street.  The manger, Alex, waited on me at the bar.   Ihad my half dozen oysters, followed by calamari and Brussels sprouts.  I washed it down with a few glasses of Prosecco.

I bought some clothes for another day’s stay, and head for home tomorrow.  I have a four hour layover in Seattle, so, I may head downtown for a few hours.

Jumpin’ Jasper

Posted by golfkat on May 24, 2018
Posted in: Action, Cultures, National Parks, Travel. Leave a comment

Jasper National Park, established in 1907, is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies.  It is located north of Banff, and west of Edmonton.  It contains glaciers, the Columbia Icefield, numerous hotsprings and lakes, waterfalls, and mountains.

It was named for Jasper Hawes, who operated a trading post for the North West Company.  In 1984, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  As we ride the rails across Jasper, we should see a veritable zoo of animals. I expect mostly elk and caribou, along with a stray grizzly, wolf, or cougar (four legged).   It was granted national park status in 1930, and regularly gets over 2 million visitors annually.  Jasper National Park, established in 1907,  is 4200 square miles.

Travel Alberta says:  The Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies, covering some 230 sq km (89 sq mi) to a depth of 365 m (1,200 ft) and some 28 km (17 mi) long. Draped over the continental divide on a high alpine plateau along the Alberta-BC border, it receives an average of 7 m (23 ft) of new snowfall per year. Not all of that snow can melt in the short summers so it accumulates, turning to ice which flows outward through the surrounding passes, creating fingers of ice known as glaciers, the Athabasca Glacier being the most well-known.

Let’s just see what we are able to see from the train.  Jasper is known for its timeless appeal, with less than 5,000 residents.  I hope the scenery makes up for the lack of information about this area.  Most of their tourism related websites all proclaim “getting away from the bustle of the city”,  just what I am looking for on this trip.

It looks like a great place to visit.  And we even saw elk, one of which was ready to give birth to an elkette.

FYI:  My cousins named their second son, Jasper.  Maybe I will get them Jasper T shirts?  I did!20180519_20570520180519_21322120180518_205218

High Tea

Posted by golfkat on May 23, 2018
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. 4 Comments

How many of you have been to high tea? With the royal wedding coming up, many traditions, including high tea are becoming popular. I have attended only a few, the best of which was at the Rasa Sayang* in Batu Ferringhi, Penang, Malaysia. But I have observed the importance of high tea at Wimbledon. Even when the tennis match is exciting and important, patrons of the All England Club leave their seats for high tea in their special, member’s only clubhouse.

First, let me say, it is not what you expect it to be. And second, it is even better than I ever expected!

Per Stacy Leaska: Now that Meghan Markle, an American, is set to walk down the aisle with Prince Harry, an arguably extra-British Brit, it’s perhaps time to start blending just a little bit of both cultures into our daily lives. The best place for Americans to start might be joining the well-known U.K. tradition of high tea. “The drinking of tea not only became a social event for the upper classes, it altered the time and manner in which they took tea,” U.K. site Afternoon Tea explains. “Afternoon Tea became the bridge between meals because many wouldn’t eat their evening meal until maybe 8pm. As such, Afternoon Tea became a ‘mini meal’ in itself.”

The site further explained that the tradition of drinking tea in the afternoon soon trickled down to the working masses, only on a slightly different schedule.

 

What is High Tea?
The drinking of tea not only became a social event for the upper classes, it altered the time and manner in which they took tea. Afternoon Tea became the bridge between meals because many wouldn’t eat their evening meal until maybe 8pm. As such, Afternoon Tea became a ‘mini meal’ in itself.
This was all well and good for the upper classes, but the working classes ran to a different schedule and a different budget. Tea was still quite expensive at the time and the working classes could not afford to waste it on anything other than necessities. A wearied factory worker wouldn’t arrive home until six in the evening, and when he did, he was famished! Thus, in the industrial areas of the UK (northern England and southern Scotland), the working classes evening meal evolved: high tea. (from the afternoontea.co.uk website)

 

Here is a list of places closer to home:

 

Davis, CA: Tea List
San Francisco, CA: The Rotunda (the best locally)
Atlanta, GA: Tipple & Rose Tea Parlor and Apothecary
Stony Brook, NY: Robinson’s Tea Room
Las Vegas, NV: Tea Lounge
Plymouth, MI: Sweet Afton Tea Room
Gold Hill, OR: The Teapot on Wheels
Chicago, IL: Palm Court
Miami FL: Cauley Square Tea Room
Granite, MD: The Granite Rose Tea Parlour
San Antonio, TX: Madhatters Tea House & Cafe
Oviedo, FL: The Lemon Lily Tea Room & Bakery
Georgetown, CO: Dusty Rose Tea Room
Denver, CO: House of Commons
Phoenix, AZ: Tipsy Tea Party
Rockville Centre, NY: Chat Noir
Richardson, TX: Bangkok At Beltline
Salem, MA: Jolie Tea Company
Toms River, NJ: 600 Main Bed & Breakfast and Victorian Tea Room
Oak Park, IL: Serenitea Cafe and Boutique
Scottsdale, AZ: Lobby Tea Court at the Phoenician
Annapolis, MD: Reynolds Tavern
Anoka, MN: The Mad Hatter
24 Ann Arbor, MI: TeaHaus
Philadelphia, PA: Mary Cassatt Tea Room

The Rotunda, a “remnant” of the old City of Paris department store, now the home of Nieman Marcus, is the closest place to me. Or Davis, CA. Take my word for it, go to the Rotunda, it will take you back to the old days of San Francisco, a place we call, “The City”.

# = The Rasa is the best hotel we have ever stayed at, and we were fortunate to do it twice! My personal preference is for champagne with sushi, and hot appetizers.high teahigh tea1high tea2comtes

Edward or Edmonton?

Posted by golfkat on May 22, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Shopping, Travel. Leave a comment

One of the few reasons Edmonton is even a thought is their famous hockey superstar hero, Wayne Gretzky.  And yes, it is the capital city of Alberta province.  Edmonton is known in Canada for its theater, year around festivals, national sports teams, and year around outdoor recreation.

The town developed by Hudson’s Bay Company because of the fur trade, much like other towns in the region.  When wealthy families arrived in the late 1800s, the town was officially founded.  Oil was discovered in 1947, forever changing life here.  The VIA train station is a short distance to downtown.  Jasper Avenue is the heart of the downtown area, and the area is known for its great biking routes (over 274 km of trails).

The Edmonton Oilers (NHL hockey) are one of the most recognizable sports teams in the area.  They also have a Canadian Football League team, the Eskimos.  The city sits on the Saskatchewan River, which splits the city in two.

The biggest event of the year here is the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, the largest in North America.  Attended by over 500,000, it boasts over 1000 performances!  Over 30 festivals are held here each year.

For those getting hungry, Edmonton is the birthplace to two Canadian chains, Boston Pizza, and earl’s (small e).

Famous people:  Michael J. Fox (Alex Keaton), Tommy Chong, k.d. lang, W.P. Kinsella (Field of Dreams),  Robert Goulet, Leslie Nielsen, Mark Messier, Marshall McLuhan, and Nickelback.

Edmonton is the northernmost North American city with over a million population.  It also has the largest mall in North America, the West Edmonton Mall, the equivalent of 48 city blocks.  It was the world’s largest until 2004.  It is so large it has a gun range!  It still contains the world’s largest indoor lake.  And it has parking space for 20,000 vehicles.

There are no rats in Edmonton, or in Alberta!  Two legged or four legged?  The University of Alberta has produced 67 Rhodes Scholars.  Jasper National Park is a 4 hour drive from Edmonton.  It is also a gateway to the Aurora borealis.

Green onion cakes from Tsingtao, China, are one of Edmonton’s favorite dishes.  It may soon become the official dish of Edmonton.

That is probably more than you ever wanted to know about Edmonton.edmontonedmonton1edmonton2edmonton3edmonton4

Saskatoon Cartoon

Posted by golfkat on May 20, 2018
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Just the name, Saskatoon sounds interesting, perhaps a great place to spend a weekend?  It also rhymes with spittoon. I like their tourist website, which proclaims, “Where else can you paddleboard through the heart of the city?”  The city is divided by the South Saskatchewan River.  The province’s largest city offers a good deal of adventure and outdoor activities, including jogging, hiking, and biking, along with the traditional hunting and fishing.

Saskatoon is barely a quarter of a million people.  It is named after the berry (sweet, violet, wild) of the same name. and is Cree in origin.  As you can guess, the economy is primarily agricultural, with mining second.  Surprisingly, Saskatoon does not have an NHL team, but a Western Hockey League team, the Saskatoon Blades.

What to do here, other than say Saskatoon or Saskatchewan repeatedly?  My choice would be the Saskatoon Farmer’s Market, followed by lunch at the Berry Barn, known not only for warm berry pie, but the best cabbage rolls in all of Canada.  Had it been winter, a drive through Enchanted Park might have been fun, with 75 animated light displays.  Or the rather unique Ukrainian Museum here, as the Ukrainians brought their agricultural expertise to the area.

It is the wrong time of year to go dog sledding.  And I feel like it constitutes animal cruelty.  But with over a thousand lakes and rivers, perhaps fishing would be a better option?  On the other hand, it is nicknamed the “Paris of the Prairie.”  Don’t ask me why. (Because of all the bridges).

I plan to look for Sailor Dan, really Dan Hicks, without the hot licks.  He traverses 8th Street to Broadway and back, trying to sell his original Sailor Dan paintings.  And when I get hungry?  There are more Tim Horton’s here per capita than anywhere in Canada.  Or I may opt for a pierogi, since Baba’s Homestyle Pierogis is the only drive through pierogi joint in Canada.

Only in Saskatoon would you find a distillery named Lucky Bastard.  They offer free tours and tastings, including whiskey, Knock on Wood Amber Rum, gin, and Saskatoon Liqueur.

Anyone famous from Saskatoon?  How about hockey player Gordie Howe, NBC’s Keith Morrison, SJ Sharks color commentator Drew Remenda, the rest are hockey players nobody in California would ever know.

I am not sure I will be back!

Winnipeg and Other Girls

Posted by golfkat on May 19, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, National Parks, Travel. Leave a comment

This is my first time in Winnipeg.  It is located in the province of Manitoba, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.  It is named after Lake Winnipeg, which is Western Cree for muddy waters.  Often called the gateway to the west, it is also a rail and transportation hub.  It is both the capitol and largest city of Manitoba.

Once the third largest city in Canada, the city faced financial difficulty when the Panama Canal opened.  Why?  The Canal reduced reliance of Canada’s rail system for international trade.  Vancouver became more important, for shipping population, and prosperity.  Winnipeg is barely over 700,000 in population.

Winnipeg has a broad economic base, with trade, manufacturing, education, and health care.  The Royal Canadian Mint here produces all circulating coinage since 1976.  A number of Hollywood movies were made here, The Winnipeg Jets are the NHL hockey team here.

Famous people, from Manitoba, might be difficult to find.  Samuel Bronfman, Keanu Reeves, Monty Hall, Paula Abdul, S. I. Hayakawa, David Steinberg, like I said, not many.

But what am I going to do here during this brief stop?  Did you know that Hudson Bay in Manitoba has the largest population of beluga whales?  During the winter, Winnipeg has a pop-up restaurant, RAW-Almond on the frozen river.  Winnipeg is also home to the world’s second largest Icelandic population, and hosts the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba every August.

Manitoba is known for bison safaris, but selfies must be taken at your own risk!  Perhaps second are the bugling elks, found at Riding Mountain National Park.  That said, one often quoted tourist in Winnipeg says, “When you arrive in Winnipeg, you have four directions to choose from.  Three of those suck.”

But it appears Winnipeg is overlooked by tourists and Canadians alike.  Sort of like Toledo, Omaha, or Pittsburgh in the U.S.  I found this, however:  “If you are coming to Winnipeg, try to come during one of our many festivals. In February you can marvel at ice sculptures, eat fresh maple toffee, and dance to the fiddle at Festival Du Voyageur. In June don’t forget to check out the Jazz fest, held at local venues around town. July is always a busy month with the Winnipeg Folk Festival – five days of folk music and general craziness – and the Winnipeg Fringe Festival – Canada’s longest running fringe. In August you can journey around the world with Folklorama. During Folklorama the many ethnic communities of the city rejoice in their own unique culture and put on cultural performances and feasts of local cuisine at various pavilions around the city.”

Most obvious is the outdoor nature of this area, with summers bringing long sunny days for camping, fishing, and festivals.  Summer also means about 3000 beluga whales make their way here!

If I ever come back, I would head up to Churchill to see the Northern Lights again.  You?

 

Mealtime on the VIA Canadian

Posted by golfkat on May 18, 2018
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment

 

Meal time on the train has never been more than mostly average.  After all, the food is basically loaded onto the train already cooked, and heated prior to serving.  Usually, the best meal is a steak or a hamburger.  It was even worse on the Trans Siberian Railway, where the meals are simply awful, and food has not been refrigerated!!!!

So, this trip on the VIA Canadian is, by all indications, a step up.  A BIG step up, according to these food bloggers.  I will wait and give you a better report when I get to Vancouver.  Here goes on the bloggers:

From Food Guy Montreal:  In short: the food was excellent. I don’t know many trains, buses, boats, or airplanes where you can get duck confit eggs benedict for brunch, shrimps and scallops with a local (yes, I said local) Saskatoon berry chutney for lunch, or Canadian lake trout in horseradish and panko breading with ravigote sauce (vinaigrette with onions, capers, and herbs). Every dish for lunch and dinner has a recommended wine to pair with it, where each selection is Canadian. The service was fast, friendly, comfortable, and of course incredibly scenic. There aren’t many opportunities to dine with the Rockies, the prairies, or the forests and lakes. Every meal I ate was just as good, if not better than the next. My favorites included the AAA Canadian prime rib of beef, served with a rich rosemary demi-glaze and stuffed potatoes, cheesecake-stuffed French toast with a wild berry compote and whipped cream, and the slowly braised beef short rib with pearl onions and bacon in a thick stout beer sauce. I didn’t expect this level of cuisine on a train, but boy did they deliver.

Well, I can only pray he is correct, as Amtrak and Trans Siberian food was wither marginal (Amtrak), and inedible (Trans Siberian).
From Martine Page’, another food blogger: After the beauty of the landscapes, the meals are the second biggest attraction on The Canadian of Via Rail. The food offered to passengers on this legendary route between Toronto and Vancouver was already good reputation, but the menu had not changed for a long time. Give a youth card, it was the responsibility of Martin gem. With a record of the varied experiences in kitchens of Montreal, and the far North, Martin is in charge of planning for the services (food, drink, entertainment, interaction with staff) on trains long course of Via Rail.
The dining car can accommodate 40 guests at a time, into a table of four. The atmosphere is laid-back and the service is equally. Depending on the number of passengers, there are two or three services for lunch and dinner. Assigned you a service the day before with a reservation ticket. For lunch, it’s first come, first served. Traveling solo? No way to eat alone. It will assign you a table you will have to share with other passengers.   I like this concept, as more places should do this!

More info from Will Travel for Food:  Being in a sleeper car means that your meals are included and that you can reserve a table during one of the 3 dinner services. Dinner also comes in 4 delicious choices and although not everything is always local, there’s an effort made to use of some of the specialties of the provinces we were in, like Saskatoon berries in the prairies. The wines are also local, from B.C. and Ontario, and a colour-coded pairing suggestion is done on the menu to make things easier for the diner. Included in your meal for no charge at all are the gorgeous views that surround you and will make you gasp at every twist and turn of the tracks, especially in Jasper National Park.


Being on a train for four days, you can’t help but make a few observations:

  • In the prairies, there’s a pond for every duck, seriously!
  • Taking a shower on a moving train is actually not that bad
  • On the other hand, taking a photo on a moving train is actually very difficult (sorry about the blurry photos!)
  • There’s a car attendant in every wagon. They will make your bed, leave a chocolate on your pillow and reconfigure your room the way you want it every morning!
  • It’s amazing how little space you actually need to be comfortable (albeit for only 4 nights)
  • Ontario is a really wide province and it seemed to take forever to cross it
  • Yes, you can take 150 pictures of fields of colza out in the prairies (I couldn’t get enough of that view!)
  • When you’re heading west, the train moves forward while time moves backwards, which can be somewhat disconcerting
  • It is often hard to keep track of what time it really is. You will find yourself asking questions similar to these: have we changed the time? is it really 7pm or is it only 6 still? Is dinner at 7:30 old time or new time?
  • The variety of wild flowers growing by the train tracks is absolutely stunning
  • The shaking and feeling of motion does not stop once you get off the train. I’m still feeling it more than a week later!
  • It takes about 24 hours to detox from an overload of electronic sensory stimulation. There’s no WiFi or 3G for a big part of the ride and unplugging is part of the charm of being on the train (you’ll be ok, trust me!)
So, the remainder of this trip will have to come in a future email.  It shapes up to be a great trip.  Perhaps a prelude to the Orient Express, if I win the lottery?via3via4winnipeg3poutinemolson

VIA Rail Canada

Posted by golfkat on May 17, 2018
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment

Just about every blog I have read about this trip says that VIA is NOT Amtrak.  Thank goodness.  I took my last long distance Amtrak journey last January, the Coast Starlight, from San Diego to Seattle.  Why is VIA different?  Most bloggers say that the staff is happy to be there, or at least, really good at faking it, right Elaine?  They are friendly, just as if you are in Canada!

But on the downside, the Canadian share track with freight and guess who gets priority?  Just like Amtrak, freight comes first, after all, it pays the baggage, so to speak.  Some delays have been up to ten hours, which I find difficult to believe or endure.  But it is reasonable to gain a little time back, since some VIA Canadian stops are rather long.  If the delays are at night, I would welcome the sleep, with no rocking to and fro, back and forth, up and down.

Update as of Monday, May 14, I was notified by VIA that my train will not leave on Tuesday at 10pm as scheduled.  At least they told me ahead of time.  I land at Pearson International Airport in Toronto at 8pm.  So, VIA is putting me up in a downtown hotel.  My train leaves, hopefully on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30pm.  I may have time to look up an old friend!  (I did, and it was a great visit)

Unlike Amtrak trains, most people on the Canadian are not headed from Point A to Point B.  Most everyone is there for the experience.  Most are retirees, but some are younger, and everyone on board is up for an adventure, world travel, and outdoor activities.  We had a big group of Aussies.

Activities help pass the time, most revolving around alcohol.  No need for a designated driver, though it may be difficult to find my sleeper after too many craft beers.  They have, in addition to beer tasting, wine tasting and champagne, along with, now get this, LIVE music!!!!  What a great idea!

Most bloggers recommend getting off the train whenever possible.  I learned this when I took the Trans Siberian Railway across Russia.  The only downside, of course, are the smokers and complainers.  But I would always walk from the front to the back of the train when possible.  NEVER, I repeat, never, walk around the train, as another train could arrive on the opposite track and prevent you from getting back to the other side!

Wi-Fi20180518_203317viaa seatsdome carairport train is an issue on the train, so station stops are vital for bloggers, and people trying to communicate to their friends back home.  Hey, as long as my phone works, I am fine.  For $10 a day, I get unlimited talk, text, and a ton of data.  But then another problem rears its ugly head.  Not all sleepers have electrical outlets.  Coach seats have outlets, as do regular rooms.  This means having to hang out in the Cafe or Activity car.

Much like Amtrak, it pays to book a lower berth.  Why?  You must be a Romanian gymnast to reach the upper berth.  When sleeping, they say earplugs are a must.  How about my wireless music headphones?

Meal time is always a big deal, and quite social, I might add.  Bloggers recommend always taking an early shift, for fear of running out of some meals.  Eating first gets first pick of meals, just like First or Business Class on the airlines.  Bloggers say the food is quite good.  We shall see, as Amtrak is basically reheated food, like the airlines.

But meal time is the most social period.  Amtrak forces people to fill in booths of four people, no solo or couples dining.  It works well for me, since I am traveling solo.  I have met the most interesting people on these rail journeys.  This should be no different!

Bathrooms and showers are clean, car attendants provide a shower kit.  The only annoyance is that the shower faucet only stays on for about 30 seconds each time you push the button.  Annoying for the price we paid!  But it beats the bucket shower in the Serengeti, and the cold showers in southern Chile.

But all bloggers recommend getting the Sleeper Plus ticket, which I did.  Coach can be annoying, uncomfortable, and noisy.  I like to doze off during the day, read in quiet surroundings, and talk only when I want to.

Another key bit of information:  “Note that the much spoken-of Panorama Dome Car does not join the train until Edmonton so don’t wander up and down the train endlessly wondering if there is a secret entrance like, *ahem* some people did!  I actually wasn’t the only one and finally we asked our “Activity Manager” who informed us that we were not going crazy, but that the car wasn’t on the train just yet.  I am fairly certain that this piece of information was not included in any of the VIA literature I read before the trip.  In Edmonton you get to watch them add the car to the middle of the train which was a lot of fun! (if you have kids who are interested in trains, make sure you find out which cars the Panorama will be going in between and park yourself on the platform so you can watch the process. It’s quite fascinating).”

So, the trip is about scenery, meeting people, and relaxing.  For me, it is also a time to catch up on some reading, thinking, and talking to people of varied backgrounds.  Maybe it can be called some nourishment for the soul.  Maybe it is just another trip.  Time will tell!

 

VIA Rail Canada Itinerary

Posted by golfkat on May 17, 2018
Posted in: Action, Travel. Leave a comment

It finally appears that I am taking a long awaited trans Canadian rail trip.  The rail portion of this trip begins in Toronto, and ends three nights later in Vancouver, BC.  I flew yesterday to Toronto from home to start the trip slightly late.  Sixteen hours, to be accurate.  Yes, originally 10 pm last night, but now 230pm Wednesday. On the back end in Vancouver, I will get there at 2am, stay the night, then fly back home on Sunday.

VIA Rail Canada was established in 1977.  The basic route we are taking is Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, Kamloops, and finally, Vancouver.  The distance is 4466 kilometers (2775 miles), 4 nights, and 3 days.  I shall be housed in a “Sleeper Plus” berth for one person.  Meals are included.  There is a bon voyage champagne toast in the domed Park Car, at the back of the train.

We will leave Toronto’s Union Station at 230pm this afternoon.  It is Canada’s busiest train station.  This train has some pretty long stops.  For instance:  40 minutes in Hornpayne, 30 minutes at Sioux Lookout, 3 hours and 45 minutes in Winnipeg, 25 minutes in Saskvia1via2winnipeg1atoon, an hour and 15 minutes in Edmonton, an hour and 30 minutes in Jasper, 35 minutes in Kamloops, arriving in Vancouver at 2am Sunday morning.

There are other stops, mostly unfamiliar names to me.  Some are:  Capreol (Ontario), Hornepayne (Ontario), and Sioux Lookout (Ontario).  Each has a stop of 30 minutes.  After these, the stops are the “BIG” ones like Winnipeg (Manitoba), Saskatoon (Saskatchewan), Edmonton (Alberta), Jasper (Alberta), and Kamloops (British Columbia).

The VIA brochure calls it “Canada’s Best Window, Discover the people and places that make this country unique.”   The opening page says:

Imagine an adventure that begins the moment you board the train. Leave the city centre behind and glide past gentle prairie fields, rugged lake country and picturesque towns  to the snowy peaks of the majestic Rockies. The Canadian® brings you the landscapes  as you’d never see any other way—with ease, comfort and exceptional service.  A feeling that remains long after the journey’s end.
Needless to say, I am not as familiar with Canada or the Canadian Rockies.  I have been to Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver (many times), Lake Okanagan, and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta.  Originally, I had planned to cycle some of the route, but the expense did not justify the cycle/rail journey.  So, we will just take this trip as it comes, and I will let you know what I see, and what I like.
One way to save money on travel just happened on this trip.  VIA had a good offer for a trip from Toronto to Vancouver.  I used United mileage for a “free” flight from Fresno to Toronto, and another on Alaska Air for the Vancouver to Fresno return flight.  I will have lots of time on board to rest and nap.  I figured the savings on flights and hotels on both ends totaled about $1000.  Another benefit of graduating with honors from the Samurai School of Discount Travel!!!!
Some websites inform VIA Canadian travelers on how to pack for this trip.  The list includes:  your favorite Perry Como cardigan sweater, slip on shoes (I bring beach slippers), a camera, books, earplugs for sleep, comfy pants (I bring yoga pants), antacids, hand lotion (and hand cleaner), small bag (for valuables), and sunglasses.

Truth be known, I have added a hotel in Vancouver, once I learned that the VIA Canadian often arrives up to 9 hours late, at least 16 for us  So, rather than stress about getting to the airport for my flight home, I will stay the night, enjoy Vancouver, have some great seafood, walk around, and relax!!!