Canada ay?

ay ay ay

i haven't heard anyone say that yet... maybe that's because i say it myself...

so, I am currently in Toronto, Canada's capital. I haven't been able to get much access to the Internet for extended periods (more than 20mins) so I haven't written any blogs since Boston. AND I still can't upload any photos - the lady at this Internet cafe doesn't know her computers very well, they are slow as hell, worse than the ones at the hotels. But I'm goin to use this time (and $3) to write a blog and attempt to upload maybe 15 more pics (woo...).

So Canada - let me catch you up.

First we went to Quebec. Quebec City is really a few cities - the old city is still walled (I think the only walled city in North America) and is so quaint with it's stone roads and little cafes. It oozes history. Oh, and it's French-speaking! I managed to learn a couple of phrases on the bus, but (like everywhere) unless you have a camera slung around your neck, are travelling in a tour group, look lost or ask heaps of questions of passers-by, they presumed I was local (which I love/prefer). Quebec holds a Summer Festival each year at this time - the tix cost $45 for 10 days. KISS was playing the night we were in Quebec! Do you think I even got close? Well, Nat and I climbed the wall, but we could still only hear it (it sounded good...). That was after the dinner outing and tour of Chateau de Fontenac.

After two nights in Quebec (the first being after a full days drive and involving Maccas and sleep), we travelled to Montreal - also French-speaking. I found a fruit market not far from out hotel and went grocery-crazy! My stomach is getting very confused... Montreal is a bit of a nothing city - there's a great couple of up-market suburbs (that are actually nicer than Bel Air in LA, I'd go so far to say), but our tour guide preferred to point out the cemetries... weirdo.

Then we headed to Ottawa, where we could once again embrace the English language... almost. Ottawa is actually right on the border and you can cross a bridge and be back in the province of Quebec. However, Ottawa is a historic gemstone. I wandered through the streets after taking a tour of Parliment house (oh yeah, Ottawa is the capital... not Toronot, Toronto is the largest city... oops) and going up the Peace Tower, which has a great view of the CBD and out over the river and loches (is that how you spell it?). At 9.30pm I watched the laser show that plays ON Parliment House - got some great photos!

And yesterday we spent pretty well all day travelling. We had a cruise in the mid-morning on the St Lawrence River through the 1000 Island region (yes, where 1000 Island Dressing was invented) - there's actually something like 1600 islands, all natural except for one. We stopped for lunch in the cute little sea port town of Kingston. Then, last night, we headed up the CN Tower in Toronto for dinner in the revolving restaurant - great views of course! Actually, Nat and I have great views of the city from our hotel room (for once!). And today I wandered the streets after our morning tour. It's coming up 2.30pm so I'm heading out to lunch/dinner on Yonge St (the longest street in North America, and it starts in Toronto).

Oh, and Toronto is the sickest city I've visited. It combines the best parts of LA, NYC and a dash of Melbourne. Found the best street - Queen St - but have zero money... just enough for lunch/dinner today and maybe lunch tomorrow!

Love you all
xx