Time: July 3rd – 6th 2009
Place: Montreal, Ottawa, 1000 Islands, Toronto, Niagara Falls
Company: Wife
Occasion: First Wedding Anniversary!
Highlights:
Day 1:
Finally, after much deliberation and struggle and indecisions and discussions, this trip became a possibility. With US Visa extension around the corner, was not sure if I should plan this trip or not. Stop over in Europe which I had planned on my way to US was ditched considering making this trip a possibility. Obtaining the visa was a big thing after delaying for so long and the last minute rush, esp the photo specs. But this trip was still significant as it marked our first year anniversary.
Booked the sunshine travels from Boston to Canada 4 day package tour. Arrived just in time at 7 am at Chinatown. Was expecting a bus but instead it was a mini van of 1+14. We had 2 seats for ourselves and it was very comfortable.
Breakfasted at Burger King. Lunch at McDonalds. Heavy clouds. Entered Canada. Immigration questions were not difficult. Heavy rains. Reached Montreal. Went to Olympic tower, Biodome, Andre’s Church, International Jazz festival, etc. Could not go to old Montreal waterfront as it was raining. Had dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Slept at Governor or something like that.
Nice European touch to the city. Lots of French speaking people. Canada has both English and French as its national languages. Its European, so we see Kms instead of miles.
Day 2:
Left Montreal to Ottawa. Spent some time at Ottawa City Hall. Saw the guards resembling those in Buckingham palace. Had French fries for lunch. Next destination was thousand islands. It was my second time here. It comprises a number of small islands numbering about 1800 and each owned by private millionaires. Electricity is connected through underwater. It also has the shortest international bridge (between Canada and US).
Reached Toronto at about 6 pm. Spent about an hour and half at Pacific mall where a number of Chinese and other Asian people have shops. Stayed at Novotel hotel in Toronto. Enjoyed a nice time at swimming pool. Had a nice Indian dinner near the hotel at a place called Bombay Bhel. Yes, nice chaat!
Day 3:
Toronto day tour. Started our day with visit to CN (Canada National) tower. This tower was originally built for antenna and navigation but engineers made it into a tourist spot too. One of the floors is full of glass and hence bottom of building can be seen from that floor. However because it was too scary, they had to cover up some of the glass sections. Apart from that, it has a nice view of Toronto and Lake Ontario.
Later, we went on an hour’s cruise on Lake Ontario. Cruise just goes past the Toronto airport runway and also through historic spots. After cruise, went to Eaton center mall and had lunch. Spent some time near Toronto Eye (2 buildings in the shape of an eye) and then went to Casaloma Castle – a castle built in the medieval style. Gouri had a nice time dancing with folks there! After that, went to Chinatown where we shopped for about 2 hours. Spent a nice time watching Toronto view as dusk fell from our hotel room.
Day 4:
Skylon tower at Niagara was the first stop. It’s a tower built on similar lines as CN Tower but more so to provide a view of the Niagara Falls. Then we went to IMAX which showed the history of Niagara Falls and the grand story of Lelawala which is now famously called Maid of the Mist. It also shows the miraculous escape of a young kid who fell over the falls when the boat in which he was traveling stopped working. IMAX also shows how people challenged Niagara and won.
Crossed the border to US and went in Maid of the Mist. Also went near the American falls climbing all those steps to get splashed big time! Also wanted to show Cave of the Winds to Gouri but couldn’t although we ran all the way. Still, saw Niagara falls view from American side.
Left Niagara at 1 pm and reached Boston at 9 pm and home at 11 pm.
Per head overall cost was about $500. A very special trip to mark our first wedding anniversary. This was my third country visited in as many years excluding US and India (2007 Singapore; 2008 Mauritius; 2009 Canada)!
Place: Montreal, Ottawa, 1000 Islands, Toronto, Niagara Falls
Company: Wife
Occasion: First Wedding Anniversary!
Highlights:
Day 1:
Finally, after much deliberation and struggle and indecisions and discussions, this trip became a possibility. With US Visa extension around the corner, was not sure if I should plan this trip or not. Stop over in Europe which I had planned on my way to US was ditched considering making this trip a possibility. Obtaining the visa was a big thing after delaying for so long and the last minute rush, esp the photo specs. But this trip was still significant as it marked our first year anniversary.
Booked the sunshine travels from Boston to Canada 4 day package tour. Arrived just in time at 7 am at Chinatown. Was expecting a bus but instead it was a mini van of 1+14. We had 2 seats for ourselves and it was very comfortable.
Breakfasted at Burger King. Lunch at McDonalds. Heavy clouds. Entered Canada. Immigration questions were not difficult. Heavy rains. Reached Montreal. Went to Olympic tower, Biodome, Andre’s Church, International Jazz festival, etc. Could not go to old Montreal waterfront as it was raining. Had dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Slept at Governor or something like that.
Nice European touch to the city. Lots of French speaking people. Canada has both English and French as its national languages. Its European, so we see Kms instead of miles.
Day 2:
Left Montreal to Ottawa. Spent some time at Ottawa City Hall. Saw the guards resembling those in Buckingham palace. Had French fries for lunch. Next destination was thousand islands. It was my second time here. It comprises a number of small islands numbering about 1800 and each owned by private millionaires. Electricity is connected through underwater. It also has the shortest international bridge (between Canada and US).
Reached Toronto at about 6 pm. Spent about an hour and half at Pacific mall where a number of Chinese and other Asian people have shops. Stayed at Novotel hotel in Toronto. Enjoyed a nice time at swimming pool. Had a nice Indian dinner near the hotel at a place called Bombay Bhel. Yes, nice chaat!
Day 3:
Toronto day tour. Started our day with visit to CN (Canada National) tower. This tower was originally built for antenna and navigation but engineers made it into a tourist spot too. One of the floors is full of glass and hence bottom of building can be seen from that floor. However because it was too scary, they had to cover up some of the glass sections. Apart from that, it has a nice view of Toronto and Lake Ontario.
Later, we went on an hour’s cruise on Lake Ontario. Cruise just goes past the Toronto airport runway and also through historic spots. After cruise, went to Eaton center mall and had lunch. Spent some time near Toronto Eye (2 buildings in the shape of an eye) and then went to Casaloma Castle – a castle built in the medieval style. Gouri had a nice time dancing with folks there! After that, went to Chinatown where we shopped for about 2 hours. Spent a nice time watching Toronto view as dusk fell from our hotel room.
Day 4:
Skylon tower at Niagara was the first stop. It’s a tower built on similar lines as CN Tower but more so to provide a view of the Niagara Falls. Then we went to IMAX which showed the history of Niagara Falls and the grand story of Lelawala which is now famously called Maid of the Mist. It also shows the miraculous escape of a young kid who fell over the falls when the boat in which he was traveling stopped working. IMAX also shows how people challenged Niagara and won.
Crossed the border to US and went in Maid of the Mist. Also went near the American falls climbing all those steps to get splashed big time! Also wanted to show Cave of the Winds to Gouri but couldn’t although we ran all the way. Still, saw Niagara falls view from American side.
Left Niagara at 1 pm and reached Boston at 9 pm and home at 11 pm.
Per head overall cost was about $500. A very special trip to mark our first wedding anniversary. This was my third country visited in as many years excluding US and India (2007 Singapore; 2008 Mauritius; 2009 Canada)!
