Top 20 of 2014

It’s funny the differences in culture from Canada to the United States. If you look on my Facebook you’ll see a difference between my friends from the United States and my friends I’ve made abroad. My friends in the States are posting about their office jobs, husbands, and kids. My friends here in Canada and abroad are posting about the perks of travelling, photos of their latest adventure, and where they’re off to next.

I’m not saying one is better than the other. When I was little I told my mom I wanted to travel around the world, but I then that idea faded like most childhood fantasies. Then I grew up and I thought all I wanted was to settle down and raise a family in a nice little house in the suburbs.  But by accident I changed.  I never planned on being on my own, but last year I set off by myself for the first time just to take a few weeks to think about the current state of my life and I never went back.

My mother keeps saying I need to stop and settle down. That I'm Peter Pan. I'm not though. In my previous life I was spoiled and I never did anything on my own including pumping gas or paying a phone bill, not because I have a rich family, but I was sheltered. I'm more grown up, fearless and responsible now than I've been in my entire life.  One day when I settle down, I won't have the freedom or the ability to do what I am doing now. And when my last day and my last breath comes will I regret all the places I never saw, or be thankful for all the beauty in the world that I did get to see? Option number two please.

It is all of this that came into mind on my walk to work today. My mind is a battlefield of in which on one side I want to be home to give my mommy all the things I promised when I was 10, such as a stone house by a river and a house full of grandkids vs. seeing and experiencing the world. Remembering what I've managed to do in one year though reminds me why I'm just not ready to come home yet. So here is my year summed up in 20 highlights.

1. Snow tubing

Mt. Norquay, Alberta

 

2. Dog Sledding

Canmore, Alberta

3. Walking on rivers and lakes 

Lake Louise, Alberta
 

 

 4. Hockey games!

 

5. Montreal, Quebec

It's a spa, on a boat!

 

6. Quebec City, Quebec

 

7. Vancouver, British Columbia

 

 

9. Working on a lavender farm and winery

And learning how to mow the lawn and ride a tractor

10. Tofino, British Columbia

Seeing whales, riding on a sea plane AND attempting to surf.

 

11. Hiking

 

12. Drumheller, Alberta

Where the dinosaurs are

13. Canoeing  

 

14. Camping

And got to hang out with horses

 

15. Petted wolf dogs

 

16. Columbia Icefield, Alberta

And stood on the Athabasca Glacier,
and rode in the only snow coaches available anywhere besides Antarctica

 

17. Toronto, Ontario

 

 

18. Ottawa, Ontario - The capitol of Canada!

 

 

19. Niagara Falls, Ontario

 

20. Went snowboarding

 

 

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!