Category Archives: Canada/US October 2015

The trip from JFK was incredibly easy via the air rail to Jamaica and then the Long Island Rail Car to Penn Station. We decided that the train would be the quickest way into Manhattan on a Friday night. We arrived at our hotel right below the Empire State and wandered around the corner to the lovely Hangawi restaurant where I had eaten before. It was only a short walk along Korean Way between 5th and 6th.

We desperately needed to walk off our lovely dinner so hiked up to Times Square. A bit of an assault on the sensors to go from serious (and very dark) Zen, and organic, vegan dinner to the sensory overload of minions, batman and the US army recruiting van.

This morning we had a great walk into Carrie’s neighbourhood, and I found my NYC holiday flat. I am sure I could find someone that would like to use it occasionally.

From the corner of Gay and Christopher we strolled through the West Village to the very cool Meatpacking District and up onto the highline- New York’s lovely park, elevated above Manhattan, and along the old rail tracks. The walk was just lovely. VDS met a friend of her daughters and so I came on the loveliest afternoon ever. I did the free tour of the NYC public library and am now sitting surrounded by Byron and the great romantics – the most fabulous place to sit and ponder, work, or just breathe in the works of great men and women. When I collect the keys of my gorgeous new West Village apartment, I will be able to sit here often when I visit

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Well I have never heard so many sirens. Even with earplugs, the noise was unbelievable. All day and all night. If something terrible was happening in Toronto, no one would take any notice, as the constant sirens make you immune. The first night, we were up every hour convinced that the city was under siege. We booked ourselves on a tour to Niagara and were not disappointed. A crack up of a bus driver (Sub continent, chain smoking, lead footed, nutter) collected us at 8.30am and we held on to our seats for the hour trip to Niagara.

There is something slightly strange about the locals. You would think we would be the cold ones, but VDS and I have spent most of the time in really light clothing, as despite a few snow flurries, we have been bathed in glorious sunshine. The locals resemble animals on two feet with so much fur, coats, boots and gloves – from the trendy young guy at the traffic lights with the fox around his neck, to the pigeons fighting for space over the road vents, with the people that are homeless. As always, the level of homelessness in Canada is always a bit of a shock.

We had showered in the morning but really there was not much need, as we got drenched riding under a boat beneath natures fury. The falls were amazingly impressive. I had been to Niagara before and had been disappointed. I am not sure what the difference was this time but it was fantastic. We had a fabulous lunch above the falls with a window view of the massive walls of water. We got lots of odd looks from the fur wearing Canadians as VDS was padding around in bare feet. Her runners were soaked so she made the decision to go on a barefoot walkabout. We had a lead footed drive to the lovely Niagara on the Lake and then on to a winery to warm ourselves with ice wine.

The last few days have been quite frenetic with long conference days. We have definitely earned our keep after delivering three workshops, presenting six papers, a poster and chairing sessions. The conference organisers call us the mad Aussies as we have found kindred homes people and have spent a huge amount of time laughing. I don’t think I have laughed so much in ages. Sore ribs and a broken tooth are testament to the raucous time.

Great flight from Melbourne to LAX. I always dread the trip through LA airport, but oh my goodness, it is now so civilised. No queues at all. Straight to a very organised set of booths, where you enter the U.S. in self directed mode. A machine where you finger print yourself, smile at the camera and print out your ticket of entry, complete with photo. The fact that you look like a bedraggled, chain smoker, with terrible bags under your eyes doesn’t seem to worry the U.S. border control. A few steps to the smiling man who takes your ticket and wishes you a fine stay in the U.S. of A. It makes one wonder whether they have sacked all of the usual grumpy border control people to improve tourist spending. Of course, as we arrive, Obama is smiling at us from the wall, as we walk beneath the star spangled banner, with the same warm welcome underneath.

The trip across the U.S. on the ‘flying bus’ was bearable, I guess. I really hate the last bit. You have just staggered off an international flight and then you have the lovely AA flight that just goes on forever. Packed in like sardines, with the feeling of being on a rather tired bus.

Our arrival into Toronto was easy. A welcome to Canada this time, and a shortish cab ride to Simcoe Street, right in the center of the city. Virginia’s choice of the Toronto Furnished Apartments was fabulous. A great two-bedroom apartment, two bathrooms, laundry, full kitchen and outside balcony.

We needed to work all weekend so took our weekend on Thursday and Friday. After the usual first night, ‘I am in a different country’ terrible sleep we headed towards Toronto Zoo in search of mother and father pandas and panda twins. The ride on the train and bus went on forever, and we really thought we would end up back in LA, it took so damn long, but finally arrived and the bears were totally gorgeous.

We arrived back into Toronto and it was not bears but bluejays causing total pandemonium. Seems like it was the first Canadian baseball team to be in the finals since goodness knows when.  We wandered in a jet lagged haze as exceptionally excited Canadians high fived us on every street corner, and the noise from packed bars told us every time a home run was scored. We didn’t understand one thing that was happening but the people watching was highly entertaining.