Vancouver or Bust!

English Bay, Vancouver, May 2014

Last year I went to Vancouver and ever since that I was itching to get back. I loved that you could both have culture and nature in one city. In one day you can go to the art museum in the morning and lay out on the beach in the afternoon. 

Upon my plane's arrival in Vancouver on Friday I headed to the the hostel, dropped of my bags, and headed straight to yoga at YYoga in Yaletown for their YHot with Music. Total cost for class, towel, and mat rental: $0. At YYoga you get free rentals and a class for your birthday. The studio itself was clean and bright, the locker room was a bit small with just hooks for your belongings, purses and bags can be left up front. The class itself was decent, but it wasn't amazing. You could smell the sweat before you entered and the class was a tie bit overly hot. I understand it was hot yoga, but in my previous class in Montreal the heat seemed to help assist flexibility in positions, while the heat at YYoga seemed just there to produce mass amounts of sweat to give the appearance of working out. 

What the Yaletown location lacked, the YYoga Downtown Flow location made up for. The space is much larger, the locker room actually has lockers, and upon walking into the hot yoga room I smelled...nothing. I took a class Monday before I left Vancouver, a class which was once again free because of my birthday, and had I not had a ferry to catch I would have spent more time to use their facilities. At both locations the locker rooms have shampoo, conditioner, lotion, hair dryers, deodorant, and hair spray for your convinence. The downtown location also has a sauna for your use. The class was better than the one at the other location I had attended and the lounge was a nice peaceful place to grab a cup of tea and relax after the class. 

Tea Lounge at YYoga Downtown Flow

In my 3 days in Vancouver I made sandwiches and binged on the hostel breakfast, which at the Samesun consists of warm and delicious bagels and muffins and a variety of beverages. One thing I've learned about traveling alone though is that if you want to eat well, you can't fear sitting at a table for one. My lunch date I took myself on was to The Flying Pig in Gastown. I read mixed reviews about it online, mostly about the service, and although I was seated at the bar right away, it did take a moment for someone to come and take my order. The food though was amazing. I indulged in the Braised Beef Short Rib Jumbo Macaroni which was absolutely delicious. The beef was tender and succulent and the creamy mushroom sauce was the lovely.

The Flying Pig

The Samesun does have a very active social atmosphere which I chose not to partake in this time around as I opted work on my physical and spiritual health this time around. In addition to my two days of yoga I also spent a day taking a Reiki course. My journeys will bring me to Vancouver again so my next time around I plan on visiting either Granville Island or Stanley Park to see more of what is beyond the downtown area. 

Quebec City

Quebec City, what else can I say mais je t'aime. Quebec was amazing. The train ride there from Montreal passed quickly. The only problem that occurred was that I failed to heed my friend's warning about the hostel, the Auberge internationale de Quebec, being up a hill, and I arrived on its doorstep dripping in sweat. Note to self: Next time carry less, or hitch a ride up.
The hostel is in the middle of old Quebec, and a prime location. I really wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. The hostel itself is in an older building, but the rooms were clean and well taken care of. There are no ensuites and  toilets and showers are communal, but I rarely had any one else in the bathroom with me while I was there.
Another note to self about Quebec: bring comfortable shoes. Very comfortable shoes. I wore a pair of dress sandals that I thought were decent to  walk in, my first night there and found myself laying back 4 hours later with swelled up feet that were in horrible pain. How the women of Quebec hike up such steep hills in heels is beyond me, they must be camel/French Canadian hybrids.
I didn't have any destination in particular planned, I just ended up where my feet took me. The first day they took me around the entirety of old Quebec and it does seem like a small village in France. For those a bit nervous about their French or whom can't say more than, "bonjour," you don't have to worry as everyone is bilingual and more than happy to help you out.
I did more on Thursday, May 22nd, as it was my birthday! And by more, I mean I spent most of the day eating and becoming fat.
I started off with breakfast at a small restaurant down the road from the hostel. Although initially unimpressed as there was no one in there, and the decor seemed a bit older, the eggs benedict with salmon and spinach was delicious. It filled me up for the day until my 9pm dinner when I went to Casse-Crepe Breton. Now if you go there, beware that there is a sign that says please wait to be seated. Actually two rather large signs, but that day was unbearable windy to the point I almost fell over, so my head was in my hood and up my bum when I walked in and sat myself down at the bar. I had a hot chocolate to warm up and then an asparagus, ham and swiss crepe for dinner and then indulged in a strawberry crepe for dessert. The girls make them in the front of the restaurant for everyone to see and the despite my faux-pas, were very nice and attentive to me throughout the night. It was an exceptional birthday dinner.

Yum!

Ooo la la

The one other thing I did besides gain a birthday food baby was go to the Musée de la civilization. Although you're not allowed to take photos I did manage to sneak one. The museum was awesome, but maybe I'm just a museum nerd. Their display on the Gods of Mount Olympus was extraordinary and beautifully designed. I only wish I could have snuck in a photo of the  main display of ancient statues.
Well that's all for now. Unfortunately I only got to stay in Quebec for a day and half, but it is one place I wouldn't mind returning. But alas I'm in Vancouver now, so onto the next adventure!

Montreal

Currently I'm on the train from Montreal. I have the section of seats to myself, and the sun is shining on me, promising to make this a worthwhile journey.

I was only in Montreal for a day and a half. Maybe since I had just left my bubble in Banff, or had been traveling for 12 hours, or had 3 hours of sleep when I arrived, I didn't give it the chance it deserved. Or maybe Montreal and I were just not right for each other at this time. I was followed down the street by panhandlers, my friend and I were completely ignored at two restaurants and ended up walking out, and at the third the waiter only talked to us when we were about to leave to point out that my friend did not leave him a tip after he had served everyone around us and ignored us throughout our dinner.

Although there were a few unfortunate events, there were a few things that I did enjoy while I was there. I stayed at the M-Montreal. The area it is located in wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but the hostel itself is amazing. It looks more like a hotel than hostel, the rooms are clean and airy, the shower in the ensuite had a multi-stream fixture, you're provided fresh towels everyday, and they also provide breakfast in the bar downstairs from 7-10 every morning.

Bar in the basement of the M

Yesterday after having my breakfast I made my way to ensō yoga for the 10am community hot flow which is only $10 for the class, but because I rented a mat, towel and also got a bottle of water, my total came to $17. When you walk in everything is clean and beautiful. Shoes are left in a coat room in the front so the floor is spotless and you don't have any fear about walking around barefoot. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the locker room was immaculate with large wooden lockers that have a keypad on it so you don't need to bring a lock. For those of you who have done hot yoga before you may be aware of some places have the problem of the stench of sweat being permanently embedded into the room. Here though, that is not a problem at all. You would think the room was being used for the first time. The instructor gives the lesson in both French and English, and even though I haven't done hot yoga in 2 years, it was easy to follow, but I'm still sore in a good way today. There were plenty of showers for everyone and they provide soap, shampoo and blow dryers. I only wish I would have  time to go more than once. 

Afterwards yoga I made my way to Old Montreal. It was a 20 minute walk from the hostel but when I got there I wished I would have gone the night before when I arrived, because it would have made me appreciate Montreal a lot more. 

I visited the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal. Even if you're not Catholic or not religious it is an amazing church to visit and you have to have respect for the amount of work and detail put into building it. 

My friend and I had a late lunch of sangria and duck and rabbit crepes then went down to BotaBota for a day at the spa which is also an old boat. Now I know this makes me sound like the worst backpacker ever, but it is my birthday week, and on Tuesdays you can do the water circuit and get a 60 minute massage for $110. There are a few rules on the boat that you must be aware of though. Starting on the 2nd floor you must remain silent, which is hard if you come in a group, but as a former spa employee I understand why this rule is in place, as it's not a party boat, but a place that people come to relax, and you don't want to hear 50 people chatting at once. You're also not allowed to take photos without asking an employees permission first  because they don't want you to bother the other guest. You're given a bracelet with a key fob on it for you locker, and also a robe and towel, which you have to bring back at the end of your time there. 

There were quite a few people when we arrived, but not all of them were having treatments. You can just come and pay an access fee for the water circuit, and it's understandable why people would chose this option, because it was a beautiful warm day for sunbathing, and the water circuit is excellent for detoxing. You have the choice of sitting in the steam room or sauna first as part of the circuit, both which smell like eucalyptus which is excellent for clearing out your sinuses. After you plunge in the cold pool, which is slightly shocking, but you're entirely grateful for it after coming out of the steam room. Then you can relax outside on one of the chairs or bean bags they provide on the decks. On the decks there are also hot pools for you to relax in while viewing horse drawn carriages passing through Old Montreal. 

In regards to Montreal, I just may have not had enough time or done enough research before coming to make the most out of the city. I did have a few good experiences though, but alas here I am headed to my next East Coast journey. Next stop, Quebec City!

#Banfflife

It's been 3 days since I left Banff in the early hours of Monday morning as the early morning fog enveloped the mountains and the sun tried to rise above the. All I could think was, thank goodness, I'm finally leaving.

Banff has a way of holding onto you. It's a sort of Neverland in the middle of the rockies. A place where parents lose their children, and the children never want to leave, because in Banff there are no rules, you never get old, and you never have to grow up.

It's its own world. It is a bubble which you don't realize until you've gone out in the world and come face-to-face with the realities of the real world. There are things that are okay in Banff that wouldn't be acceptable anywhere else, but we sum it up with the phrase #banfflife, because for locals it is the best way of explaining why it makes the things that happen here okay.

It's easy to get overwhelmed with such a small town where everyone knows your business and there's more drama in an hour than in an episode of Real Housewives. So sometimes you need a break. Will I miss it though? Yes, of course. Banff is a beautiful place to live. You're surrounded by mountains and nature. It's normal for a deer to be hanging out in someone's yard as you make your way to work. You can look at the snowcapped mountains surrounding you, while you're sitting in shorts, soaking up the sun on a rooftop bar. Everyone drinks water straight from the tap because it's glacier water and tastes better than bottled water. When you wake up and look out your window and see the sun shining above the mountains, it's hard not to be impressed and feel lucky to live here. Even though Banff and I are going on a break for a bit, I'll be coming back soon enough, because even with all of its flaws, I still love it and it's my home.

View from Banff Ave, May 2014

America, The Not So Brave

Let’s face the fact America. It’s not our way to travel. It’s our way to look at magazines and the travel channel and say, “I want to go there,” then put it on our list of things to do, but rarely cross it off. We don’t encourage our youth to go explore and work abroad. Our youth stays at home and watches shows about teen pregnancy and keeps up-to-date with the latest celebrity gossip. Our youth goes to school, then goes to more school, then goes and works a 9-5 and perhaps will travel for a week or two later on in life.

What’s the point of going away? you may ask, since we obviously live in the best country in the world. Fun fact, there are a whole lot of patriotic citizens from other places that think that their country is the best in the world, but that doesn’t stop them from supporting their young people to go and explore the world. What do you gain from travelling? You gain independence. You get out of your comfort zone and develop a better understanding of other cultures and a broader understanding of the world around you that you would have never gained sitting at a desk for the rest of your days.

 Afraid to go off because you’ll be alone? When you travel you meet others doing the same. Your acquaintances become your friends who become your family, and the thing about family is, you take care of each other.

Another reason that you stop yourself: money. Money?! Who cares!! No, just kidding. You do need money to travel, but you don’t need to be rich. You just need base funds and a good work ethic. There are working holiday visas out there, emphasis on the working aspect.  You can go somewhere halfway across the world, somewhere you only dreamed of and you can work while you’re there so you can have a steady income.

In the end the real reason that stops us from travelling or perhaps pursuing another one our dreams is fear. Fear helps us makes excuses. Fear helps us put off our dreams for another day, another week, another lifetime. We have one life, and a life spent in fear is a life wasted. The world has never been more open or fuller of opportunities. Take a chance, take a leap. You’re not average, you’re exceptional. So live your life that way. 

Tunnel Mountain, Banff, Alberta, Canada 2013