In Toronto

OK - just a real quick post as we are in an Internet Cafe.

We arrived in Toronto Monday night - the big move. Due to me not reading the instructions, Craig and I walked with most of our luggage on our (well Craig's) back for about an hour! It helped if we caught the train - not walked to the hostel from the train station - duh! It was humid - but thankfully a fine night and arrived at the hostel at 11.30pm. The owner of the hostel was still up and about and reversed in to the 24 hour food store where we were picking up the keys. He said he had seen us struggling down the road but he didn't pick us up because we were laughing. At least we had a good attitude he said!

Our hostel is in the middle of Chinatown (great for our bellies) and in the middle of Kensington Markets. This place has a lot of colour and character and a lot of strange smells. You will find all sorts of things here - a Jamaican fish hut, Ethiopian spices, cheese shops, Chilean restaurants etc etc. Fortunately, the place is not as seedy as it could be - in fact, we feel very safe.

Well we have spent the last three days looking for accommodation mostly. We finally found an apartment today. We swapped space and comfort (something we would have wanted back home) for a small basement apartment right in the middle of the city. Think of our apartment in Birdwood Crescent and that is about how big it is. Everything is at our doorstep- shops, subway, and most importantly, restaurants. We just have to try and keep healthy. We may in fact hate the apartment, but as I said to Craig, we came here for a different kind of life than one we would have at home.

Work opportunities are already coming our way. My resume posted publicly on a website seems to be working nicely. I already have two approaches from companies after being here for four days (one less than 24 hours after I touched down) and another approach from a company I was working with in Calgary.

You wouldn't believe it but Craig had two phone calls from agencies in Calgary the first day we were here - after having two months of no phone calls. Go figure!!

Toronto is currently very hot - 31 degrees and very sticky. It is much better to be inside in air conditioning.

Anyway, more to come shortly once we have an internet connection.

Week 8 - Calgary Stampede

Well we are still here in Calgary - but not for long.

This week was the beginning of Stampede Week - something that makes the folks in Calgary go crazy. There are lots of free things to do around town as well as the Stampede show itself.

I personally have semi-boycotted the stampede, as the main shows are the rodeos and the chuckwagon races each night. Because 7 animals died at the Stampede two years ago, I have decided not to support that aspect of it.

And the rest of the show, Craig thinks is just like a giant Easter Show (although a little nicer) but nothing spectacular. But in all fairness, because we live out in the deep south, we don't really get to experience what is happening in full. Neh mind!!

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the parts we have seen. Thursday night offered a sneak-peek to those interested. We were lucky and got in for free before 5pm! Not bad for the frugal folks like ourselves. However, cost of food and other stuff at the Stampede can be a bit extravagant.

The reason that I went was to see some of the horsey events - of course!!

Musical Ride - the camera didn't particularly like the lighting in the Saddledome so this is the best we can do

Awesome mountain bikers doing stunts on the narrowest and highest of platforms - Ayee!

We had to get up early to watch the parade the next morning. Once again free, but I think that Craig thinks that this is for a reason. I enjoyed all two hours of it though. I have never seen so many horses in one place in all my life and that is saying something. This is sure cowboy country..

We also went to Spruce Meadows again on Sunday and this time I dragged Craig along. He just had fun taking photos and trying to get artistic

Well sadly folks, things have not worked out so well here in Cowboy Land so it looks as though we will be moving on. My one and only job opportunity has not seemed to eventuate before we ran out of time in our accommodation. There is no such thing as cheap short-term accommodation in this town either while we wait it out. (There are only two hostels). So it looks as though we will be booking our tickets to Toronto in the next couple of days. At least you can pretty much do the same stuff there as in Calgary except downhill skiing/snowboarding as there are no hills. And it will be loads colder as it is very humid. But we may actually have a chance of getting paid. So watch this space - it might be a while before the blog is updated again because we are only taking the laptop with us and not our computers.

Week 7 - Canada Day

Bonjour,

Thought I would do a wee post about what has happened last week.

Unfortunately, I have no photos - damn camera must have crawled out of my bag again.

Last Tuesday, it was a nice day and Steven was home from work. Something about his Project's Budget not yet being approved even though he was hired. Anyway, we went to Glenmore?? Lake which is another lake in the middle of a regional park in the middle of Calgary. Yep - there is plenty of space around here with lots of parks and lots of things to do. After our initial attempt to hire a boat failed because of lack of wind, we came back a couple of hours later to try our hand at sailing. However, City of Sails we may come from but City of Sails is not in Craig or I's nature. Fortunately, we had an experienced sailor with us (Steven) who we sort of managed to rig our little yacht together and get going. It ended up being a nice afternoon out.

Thursday July 1st was Canada Day. Don't ask me what it means but I think to the Canadians it means a day off and waving lots of flags and other maple leaf paraphernalia around the place. Because the weather was iffy, and our car ride had gone camping, we decided to take in dinner and a movie (Dodgeball) at the local shops. When we got out at 9.30 we discovered the weather didn't look altogether that bad and headed by train and a bus to the Olympic Park for celebrations. Olympic Park was set up for the Winter Olympics in the 1980s sometime and houses luges, giant ski jumps and the like. It is open all year round with mountain biking in the summer and skiing in the winter. So you don't have to go too far to get a bit of skiing in - although I would have at a guess this is where you go if you are learning or just want a quick ski after work.

Anyway, once again, still no photos but here is a picture of some fireworks so you can get the gist.

And here is my favourite Fireworks Game on the web :)

Rocket Mania

Unfortunately. the buses and train ran late for those that lived close to the park but not for those who live in completely the opposite direction. So it was a taxi ride for the last part (delayed again by it being such a new neighborhood that the taxi company did not even have where we were on the map!). But that's OK we are not working and can sleep in!!

Anyway, apart from all that - things are still quiet. I will find out if I have a job tomorrow - otherwise we are heading to the big smoke of Toronto next week to try our luck with work there.

Au Revoir!