Country Inn By Carlson Oakville

My dear friends: It's getting colder in Canada and my thoughts are wandering to warmer climes. On January 12/2010, I fly to Managua, Nicaragua and then work my way north ending up in Cancun, Mexico. From there, I fly to join many members of the Gaudun family in Daytona Beach. If you would rather not get notifications of my travel blogs just send a brief "no thank you" to this travelpod . No problem. Hasta la vista baby. Steve

We set off from our motel near Ottawa at 8am, aiming to have some time to spend in Algonquin National Park on our way west to stay with Frankie's cousins near Toronto. I had my first ever taste of a McDonalds breakfast just before we left, and I can safely say never, ever again. How they call that bacon I do not know! The drive to Algonquin was, to be honest, extremely dull. The road was long and pretty straight and, only occasionally ...

... and went to the supermarket to get food for the next few days. I was exhausted by the time I got back to the hostel so made tea, got a shower, packed for the train journey on tue and got into bed. I read for a while and went to sleep only to be woken by a mouse eating some food I had stupidly left in a bag on the floor!! I took the food to the kitchen and sorted it out then went eventually went back to sleep even though I could still hear the mouse under my bed!!

... the best way to begin - and only begin - to explain  is to tell you all about what I am packing in my backpack. Just as sun-screen and bikinis can tell you all about a beach holiday in Hawaii, so can the objects going (or not going, as the case may be) into my backpack this time!     To begin with, I am bringing a headscarf - actually, four headscarves. Islamic law in Iran dictates that all women - whether Iranian or foreign - must wear good hijab . Now through my ...

... middle of Toronto. We shared the room with this Scottish girl called Paula, she was great. The Hostelbar was fun too, we met more Scottish people there. On 11th April we had a personal tour with bob, Arlene's brother. It's a shame it poured with rain, but Bobs enthusiasm couldn't be stopped. We ran or marched through the whole city. We saw Eaton Center, the townhall, the different faculties of the university, an artgallery ...

... for it to remain in my heart while I'm gone - to think back to the spring of 2002, when my mom took me here from Tulsa, Oklahoma on my first trip back to the capital in maybe a decade? That trip was for us to find a home in the city, in Ottawa, and back then I had so much animosity towards this 'Ottawa' for taking me away from my home. It feels so distant to me now. Five years (give or take a summer in Halifax and a lonnnnnnnnnng school year spent in ...

... Unfortunately the Embassy forgot to inform me that the next 4 days were a national holiday and Canada Post ended up sending the return package in regular mail, taking 3 days instead of one. We had to cancel the first booking, but luckily we got insurance which could cover the cancellation. Frustrating, yes, but at least now we were ready to depart. Asia, here we come.

... There you can see the big mapple leaf made in grass.<br><br>This is also the territory of gooses, ducks and squirrels. <br><br>I feel very peacefull and confortable all the parks I have visited in Toronto. I really enjoyed these places with are fully part of the city.<br>

... makeup. The lights were stellar and the set up was fantastic...who knew they had this kind of thing in my HOME country! All this time, I thought the party was everywhere else but here it is, it is here. One of the best I have ever been to and in my very own backyard...who knew? I danced all over the place until I had explored every nook and cranny and every secret room. We gave out glowing stars and tried to use up the last of my Canada stickers. I ...

Well, it's a little more than three weeks before my trip officially begins, but the planning has already begun!! I've signed up for the Contiki European Highlights tour, and I've received final confirmation and package today. It's not easy handing over more than $2000 at once, but I'm sure I'll appreciate it once I'm having a blast. I can't wait to meet at the people on the tour and experience some crazy things (not too crazy, Mom, don't worry). I'm also going to spend a week in ...