Go!Go! Rockie Mountains!!! 2

The travel to Rockie Mountains was dreamingly great but there were huge troubles happened to us too...

The morning of the first day, our flight to Calgary was scheduled to take off at 7. We got on the airplane 5 minutes before it took off...
We were nearly late for the flight!!!!
We were supposed to get to the airport one hour earlier because we had already checked in on the Internet. I think we were a bit too loose because we didn't have to bother checking in on site. We headed to this airport parking which was located near the airport and run privately. ... The roads around there were very complicated that you can easily get lost. WE WERE LOST... I was sitting next to Yoshi, who was driving. I am sorry.. I am very very bad at reading maps...

On the same day, we landed on Calgary. We rented a car at the airport and drove to downtown. We went to Calgary Zoo, park the car there, open the trunk and put things in. I asked Yoshi if everything was ready and I could close the trunk. Yoshi said "OK," so I did.
"........ Where is the car key?" .......... Yes. As you may have guessed, we were locked out... I called emergency number of the rent-a-car office for a help. I was so embarrassed. What kind of person could be locked out three hours after renting a car?

And the last day, we drove back to Calgary airport from Canmore, the village that is 100 km away. I opened the trunk to get our luggage when we returned the car. ".....Huh? Where is your bag, Yoshi?" " .......Oh, no! I left it in the hotel!" "WHAT?!?!"
I can't believe it. After checking out the hotel, he went to the wash room with his big travel bag left in front. It felt like he flushed everything including some of his memories. The bag completely slipped his mind and he came back to the car with his hands free. As for me, I had already put my luggage in the trunk in advance and was waiting for him in the car. We forgot about it until we got to the airport.
We were dying for retrieving it but the flight time is approaching. It was impossible to get all the way back to somewhere 100 km away. There were keys to our house, buttery of the laptop computer, etc.etc. in the bag.
Depressed, we returned home. We don't have keys, what should we do? After all, we called a lock smith. It costed us C$130-...

Quite funny, uh? A friend of mine said that it sounded like cartoon or something. Oh, yeah.....

Go! Go! Rocky Mountains!!

May 22 – June 1, 2005
!!!

Yoshi and I went on a 10-day trip to Rocky Mountains! Oh, my goodness… I really believe that good heavens blessed us. It was sunny throughout the ten days. Mountains, forests, lakes and water falls looked heavenly with the sunshine. I was so moved nearly in tears.
I felt like it was the very first time I ever saw “Canadian”-Canadian sceneries in the past two years in Canada.
It was the last trip for us before returning to Japan. I was very happy that I got exquisite memories of Canada at last.

Our itinerary is like this below.
May 22: From Toronto to Calgary by airplane. Rent a car (which was compatible!)
May 23: From Calgary to Banff
May 24 – 26: Banff
May 27: From Banff to Lake Louise
May 28: Lake Louise
May 29: From Lake Louise through Ice Field Parkway to Jasper
May 30: Jasper
May 31: From Jasper all the way back to Canmore
June 1: From Canmore to Calgary and back to Toronto

What we did was mostly to enjoy the great nature of Rockies. We just walked in trails and drove to sights that spectacle scenes were seen. Yoshi wanted to go river-rafting and I horse-back riding but we ended up not doing any. We were so busy with being impressed by the beauty of nature!

We looked around three of the national parks; Banff, Yoho and Jasper.
One morning in Banff, we took a walk in Fenland trail, which was located out side of the town. I was excited because they say wildlife is likely seen there. In fact, we ran into a female Elk! … We were so thrilled but it was not until the Elk slowly came closer that we got scared. She seemed mad and started to attack us! We found the notice later that said Non predators are more dangerous than predators. It means, elks and deer are more dangerous in calving season. Once they feel they are in danger, they will attack! … Oh, no. It was close. We could have been badly wounded.

So I became timid after that. When we walk on a trail to Mirror Lake, where one of the most beautiful lake in Rocky Mountains, Lake Louise, is near by, I was so scared worrying if a bear came out of woods. It turned out the trail was popular that many people were walking up and down. No need to worry about the attack by wildlife! Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes were half frozen because of the altitude. Especially to Lake Agnes, we walked, nearly climbed the steep way deeply covered with snow. However, it was worth climbing. The view was just breathtaking.

Speaking of breathtaking, I think the most breathtaking view was Ten Peaks from Moraine Lake. I sat on a rock near the lake looking up the mountains. I felt like my spirit poped out of my body, fly high up in the sky and gaze closely around the mountains. Was that how it feels like to be dead? Heh, heh!
The gorge called Johnston Canyon was also spectacular. Its trail with partly catwalks was well kept so people in every age bracket can walk. 20 minutes drive from Banff will take you there.

While we were staying in Lake Louise village, which is 10 km away from the lake, we drove to Yoho National Park. It was a shame that the way to Takakau Falls was still closed but I liked biscuits we ate in the peaceful atmosphere of Field, a small village in Yoho. We saw Emerald Lake and Natural Bridge there.

On the way to Jasper, there was a highway called Ice Field Parkway. There are a lot that you must see! Because the road is located in high altitude, you can see the forest line and glaciers. There is a famous glacier called Colombia Ice Field but what I liked most was Baw Lake and Pate Lake. You should go in the morning so the surface of those lakes was as calm as a mirror. You can see identical mountains both in the air and water.
And if you are lucky, you could see wildlife beside the road. In fact, we saw a black bear, mountain goat and big horn sheep.

In Jasper, we went to Maligne Lake and Medicine Lake. It sounds too far fetched but I heard the water of Medicine Lake is completely gone away in winters. It has something to do with underground water veins but I am not sure. I liked the latter lake better because Maligne Lake is quite touristy. We enjoyed canoeing there though, I prefer Medicine Lake with no artificial stuff in sight.

Again, I was happy to be in Rocky-Mountain area. I really want to thank Yoshi. He was reluctant to go in the first place because he already went there 5 years ago. I was going to give it up when hearing about it but Yoshi kindly accepted to go again.
I think I am starting to understand his way of kindness. We have had fights many times because of character differences. Now I am starting to accept him as a true family. Don’t you think it is wonderful? I less fantasize him as an ideal husband. Heh, heh.

Anyway, it was an unforgettable trip. I am grateful of someone in the heaven that Yoshi is there sharing what I like.

ロッキーマウンテン１０日間の旅に行ってきましたょｖ
…はっきり言っちゃいますと…すごい×１００００００良かった！！！
お天気に激恵まれ、一番美しく見えると思われる瞬間の山々、湖、滝、森を見て回ってきました。ほんと、生きてて良かったって思える風景にばしばし出会いまくりました。
やっぱり、長野の山を見て育ったせいかな？海とか街とかを旅行するより落ち着くって言うか、…気持ちいいと思いました。とっても。

画像upしたいのですが、ただいまちょっといつものラップトップが使えなくて（そのトラブルについては後ほど追加しますが（笑））、画像も取り出せないので、復活し次第追加したいと思います。
でも多分、帰国後になると思います；；

Go!Go! Ottawa and Kingston

May 14 -16, 2005


Yoshi and I went to Ottawa, Canada.
Do you know what is Ottawa like? It is the capital of Canada where the sophisticatedly made parliament building and many interesting museums are. I found the city more neatly organized than Toronto. It is no doubt, it was quickly developed after Queen Elizabeth designated it as the capital city tens of years ago. (No idea how long ago... heh, heh.) In fact, the city is quite small comparing to Toronto.

check it out!
City of Ottawa

We were supposed to meet Mika, a friend of mine who had visited me here in Canada. She had been travelling in Montreal and Quebec by train and was hooking up with us.
It was my idea to get together in Ottawa, by the way. I thought it would help her with saving money because she said she was on a tight budget travel. Yoshi and I visited Ottawa last year but, to make her travel financially easier, we visited again to pick her up. Well, we should have gone to Montreal and Quebec with her too but... It would take too long and tiring drive hours ( 6-8 hrs to Quebec!!! )... Sorry.

There is a town called Kingston near by. The town is much smaller than Ottawa but it has a good sightseeing spot called Thousand Islands. Literally, there are many small islands on St. Lawrence Liver, which lies on the border of Canada and the U.S. Some riches buy one of those islands and build a cottage on it. The scenery is peaceful and breathtaking. We have been longing to visit there too. This town seemed too small to squeeze into Mika's short trip in Eastern Canada but we asked her to give us her one day. She eventually said OK and we were going to see Kingston on the way back to Toronto.

Check it out!
City of Kingston
Thousand Islands - 1000islands.com - The Internet Bridge to the Thousand Islands Region

Actually, Yoshi wanted to take one of our friends with us. He wasn't natural with Mika. I agreed with him because I didn't like things being awkward, too. So we asked Nuk-Nuk out. It was very last minute notice for Mika. She might be surprised finding Nuk-Nuk in the car.

The Tulip Festival was going in Ottawa. Ottawa turns into a tulip garden everywhere in this period of season. You can enjoy beauty of tulips, fun live concerts and events at several sights in Ottawa and Gatineau, a city next to Ottawa. I wanted to show Mika thousands of beautiful tulips. Luckily, it was lovelily sunny and a good day for taking pictures with the flowers.

check it out!
Canadian Tulip Festival

We stayed in Ottawa for 2 nights.
Don't be surprised, OK? We, four adults, stayed in the same hotel room!! This was one of the tricks to save Mika's money. The room had a bed room and a living room. We kept a bit of private so it was no problem.
... Mika's first plan was to stay in Ottawa for a night. She wanted to pinch pennies so she had stayed one night each in Montreal and Quebec, too. ( I, as an easygoing traveler, can't believe taking such a rush trip... she was even on her own, not in a organized tour!! )We asked her to stay one more night because otherwise we wouldn't see Kingston on the way home. She arrived at Ottawa train station at 15:30. How could anyone see around two cities in only an evening and a half day?

The last day, we took a boat cruise for thousand Islands. There are several courses for the cruise. The one we took was Nuk-Nuk's recommend. She is quite a researcher and her information is always reliable. This cruise departing from Gananoque was one of the best. You will see beautiful Boldt Castle, a huge villa on Heart Island. Regrettably you can't land on it. The island is in America. You need a visa if you go from Canada.

I like small cities better than famous touristy cities. The latter ones are usually packed with tourists.. which is very tiring for me. If you prefer nature and peace to urban atmosphere, you should go to Thousand Islands. You will meet a kind of true form of Eastern Canada!

Road trips are nice to have a chitchat. Even to Ottawa, 4-hour drive to get to, we have plenty of time. ... It is fun as long as passengers are awake... Yoshi and I were driving in turns. Most of the time, others were taking a nap.. It happens when people go skiing, right? The driver is the unluckiest one, heh, heh.


カナダの首都オタワに行って来ました。
メンバーは、よしと私、それと日本から来てる友達のミカちゃんとぬくぬく。
ミカちゃんはケベック・モントリオールと１泊ずつして、オタワでの合流でした。
ぬくぬくは直前に参加が決まったのでした。（というか、むりやり誘っちゃった）
よしと私はオタワ２度目。でも、ミカちゃんをピックアップしがてら、オタワの隣のキングストンという街を見たかったのもあって、もう一度行くことにしたのです。
キングストンにあるサウザンドアイランドは、トロントニアンには結構有名＆人気な観光スポット。割と近いし、みんなからのオススメだったのに、結局帰国間際まで行く機会が無かったので、ちょうど良かったー！

オタワではチューリップフェスティバル開催中でした。（去年もこの為にオタワに行ったの。）ぬくぬくは「高崎祭りの方が盛大」とか行ってたけど（笑　私はこの程度で丁度いいと思いました。何と言っても、５月のリドー運河のほとりは、芝生と並木の新緑が目に眩しくて、運河沿いのジョギングコースを走る人に思わず交じりたくなるんですよね。（インドア派のくせに！）そこにたくさんのチューリップが彩りを添えると、天気がよかったりなんかすると、もう最高v　脳内にα波が溢れかえります。

キングストンはね、街は小さいんです。でも雰囲気あって、好き
サウザンアイランドはキングストンのはずれ。アメリカとの国境を流れるセントローレンス川に無数に浮かぶ小さな島々のことなんですょ。お金持ちが島に別荘を建てていて、いっこの島にいっこの家、なんて言う子供のお絵描きみたいな風景が点々と見えるのです。
そこを、ボートクルーズ。（ぬくぬくオススメコース。←ほんと最高なコースでしたよー。きれいー！！ありがとうぬくぬくー！！）島の別荘群の親玉見たいのが、ハート島に建つボルト城。かわいいー。でもこの島はアメリカ領なので、ビザなしでは降り立てなかった。。残念。

のんびり自然を楽しむみたいな旅行が好みの私としては、ほどよく小さく整備の行き届いたオタワと、美しいキングストンは、めちゃツボでした。。また行きたいですなー。

画像はまだ無いのです。。ごめんなさい。。
データは引っ越し荷物の中で、まだ海の上航行中と思われます。。

curious seekers

Apr 13, 2005

Do you drive?
If you do, and of course if you have a Japanese driver's license, you can get a Canadian one without a driving school to be trained or any tests to have to pass.

And if you are planning to drive in Toronto, you have to be very very careful. Torontonian people drive like crazy!! Especially on highways, they are always speeding as if a break pedal meant nothing to them. They drive tail to head at 120 km/h. Doesn't it even cross their mind that if the car in front suddenly make a slow-down or stop? Collision!!! I can't help but think that they driver to die ...
In fact, the rate of the traffic accidents is high here. The police, firefighters and emergency medics seem always busy rushing to the site of an accident. Weekends are like nightmares. I have seen nearly ten accidents within a day before. Five out of the ten happened along the same street!

I am convinced that, behind those traffic accidents, there is a problem of the public transportation. The city of Toronto has the population of about 5 million but it has only one subway line that runs very limited areas in the city. Buses and street cars are networking everywhere but they don't come punctually. It is not reliable when you commute. People prefer a car to those transportation to take. Roads are jammed with cars to commute. Buses are stuck so that people have to wait for a long time. More people choose to commute by car. It is a vicious circle.

What is funny about drivers in Toronto is ... that traffic jam occurs not only because there is an accident that the police blocks the road. On big highways, there are three to four lanes. If an accident blocks one lane, there still be other three. Logically, no traffic jam occurs, right? But it happens! Wanna know why? Because the following drivers slow down to see what is happening!! Many many curious George-s there!

In conclusion, Torontonians are so hasty that they want to get to their destination as fast as possible, kinda risking their own life. But their curiosity beats the hastiness. Heh, heh.

トロントで運転する時は、十分注意してくださいね！
乱暴ドライバーが結構多いです。そして事故も結構多いし。。
（ある天気の良い週末に、たった１日で１０件近くの衝突事故を目撃したことありますょ）
個人の車所有率が高いみたいで、人口５００万人もいるトロントは車だらけ。。通勤時間は毎日x２うんざりする渋滞が起こります。みんな、ぐいぐい我が道を往きます。
もちろん事故が起こるたびにも渋滞。…基本的に、道自体は広いし、高速道路は３～４車線あるので、フツーに考えたら事故渋滞ってあまり起こらないはずなんだけど、やっぱり起こります。
なんでかなーってずっと不思議だったのだけど、気付きましたょ。。
後続車がみんな野次馬だったのです！！
わざわざ事故現場をゆっくり見てから通過するなょ～ぅ；；それも全員。。

人気blogランキング
↑↑↑私の日記がお気に召したらクリック

canadian thermal body

Apr 10, 2005

I got an errand to run in downtown this afternoon.

I went to a sales office of the pre-construction condominium that Yoshi and I get. The construction is going to be completed in September 2006 and we are going to make a full purchase by then. What we have to do for now is to make down payment. In fact, Yoshi did 2 weeks ago but the name of its receiver on the checks was wrong. Thus I went there to pass the right ones on behalf of him.

It was a beautiful day.
When it is sunny, the air gets as warm as over 15℃ these days.
The sales office is located some blocks away from Bloor × Yonge subway station, where trendy Bloor street stretches to the West. The street is always packed with people come and go every weekend.
I saw bunches of young people wearing no sleeve shirt, tank top, bare top (!) and short pants. I was surprised because they seems to be too early to be worn yet. The air temperature still drops down to near 0 degree at night.
I guess people in Canada have a functional thermal body or something!

I was strolling on Bloor street having a smell of spring. It was a mistake to wear boots not because it is too warm but it hurt me a lot. I am normally a sport-shoe person. Shoes with high heels are not my things.

春の陽気です。
今日は、トロントのアッパーダウンタウンと呼ばれる界隈を歩きました。
気温は最高で１８℃。あったか～ぃ。。ほわ～ぁ。。。
ブランド店が軒を連ねる人気スポット・ブロアストリートは、週末とあってたくさんの人が歩いていましたょ。
…ぅおっ
タンクトップ！すすすストラッピータンクトップ！！べべべ・ベアトップ？！！
ほっとぱんつぅ～～～～！！！！
みんな、真夏の格好じゃないですか。。
ビーチサンダルでぺたぺた歩く人もざらに居たし。。
いくら春の陽気とは言え、風の強いトロントでは体感気温が意外に低かったりするのに。
今からこんなだと、３０℃を越える真夏には一体何を着るのでしょうかあの人たちは。。すっぽんぽんなのでしょうか。。（いやまだその前にビキニという手もあるダロ　←てかビキニ限定なのか。。）

カナダの人の体は耐寒性に優れている（アザラシと同じ原理。皮下脂肪。）といううわさが、とてもまことしやかなのです。

人気blogランキング
↑↑↑私の日記をおもしろく読んでしまった人はクリック