Fairfield Inn By Marriott Toronto Airport Mississauga

Today basically, I just worked and then we met up with Laine in the afternoon. We picked Bangkok Garden, a restaurant just around the corner because it had mediocre reviews on TripAdvisor. It turned out to be really great (if expensive).

We went to bed really early zzzz.

By the way, we got a great deal from Hotels.com for our hotel, BTW. Props to my employee discount once again!

Finding nice, but affordable accommodation has been a lot of work.

www.booking.com
www.safarino w.com

and others have been very useful.

Cape Town (Hout Bay) was more reasonable than expected, but Plettenberg Bay and Addo Elephant Park (over Christmas day) were more expensive.

Hope to have all accommodation wrapped up by tomorrow.

... myself with the Canadian citizenship card. Do you see where this is going? So what did I do? Nothing - When would I need to leave the country anyway? --Fast forward-- I sent in my application for proof of citizenship last week. It takes approximately 8 months to process!!! Luckily, after many hours of sitting on hold and playing ultimate phone tag, good news finally made an appearance ...

I'm off and rsunning to make up the last part of last years trip around the world that got cut short in Shanghai due to a typhoon that made me miss my trip to Vancouver and the Rockies. My trip will include a connection in Winnipeg and return from Calgary. The forecast looks great.

... chocolate crepe for dessert, so it was crepe overload. After that, we went for a walk down Yonge St. (a very slow walk). Mike had been telling me that Toronto is just like a bland New York, and I disagreed, until last night. Kit and Robert both remarked on the resemblance Yonge and Dundas has to Times Square. It's really remarkable how much it has changed in the last few years, for sure. So yes, I concede, Toronto has no vibe of its own I guess. It's just a clean New York ...

... for 20 years as a driver for the Red Cross. Bert was known and highly regarded for his integrity and sense of humour. He was a staunch supporter of any activity his children and grandchildren participated in, and was always so proud of their accomplishments. We are grateful that he was able to witness Jeffrey's World Championship Gold Medal this weekend. The family plans to hold a Memorial Mass at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church (2300 Burnhamthorpe Rd ...

... and arriving at midnight. We have a second flight booked from Lima to Cuzco at 5:45am. The area around Cuzco is called the Sacred Valley and it's where Machu Picchu is. We're gonna lay low for a couple days and get used to the altitude and then visit Muchu Picchu. We will write again from the Sacret Valley. Bye for now. Jeff and Caroline

... the attention of Choir, Orchestra, and audience and was a highlight for all. Standing ovation followed and some Choir members wondered whether Ms. Gartner could join them for the rest of the tour! What a heartwarming ending to such a wonderful experience. Hearts were touched, lifted, and filled with hope and love as the Choir and Orchestra concluded their performances in the first stop on the 2007 Midwest Tour. And on to Chautauqua, New York . . .

China. I am certainly not an expert on the country after one month, but I can offer my observations and thoughts. Big and loud and polluted and pushy ...... with stunning scenery, incredible history and artifacts, and such disparity between rural and urban that it is intriguing to ponder how they might steer their way through the challenges ahead. There is something about China. As a westerner it can be a very frustrating place to travel - but in the blink of an eye ...

... course I have to see Stonehedge! That's pretty much all I have really decided on so far. I know that when i get back to London im heading for Paris, then to Switzerland. Switzerland is where i'll be doing most of my crazy adventure stuff like rappelling down cliffs, jumping off waterfalls, swimming through hidden caverns, white water rafting, and hopefully skydiving out of a helicopter at 12,000 feet in the alps! Make sure you tune ...