Sep 13, 2009 12:00 AMG-5 on Lena River - memories...
It is worth to write that the most important segment on my 9th Round the World voyage (from Siberian Yakutsk to Tiksi and via Road of Bones to Magadan on the Pacific coast) I travelled with four outstanding globetrotters. Here they are - the toptrotters, as I call them - on the picture taken on the riverboat cruising Lena. From left to right: Kevin Hughes (USA), Jeff Shea (USA), Andre Brugiroux (France), Jorge Sanchez (Spain) and the only representative of the Eastern Europe in the party...
All of them visited already all states of the world - and much more!. Don't ask me who is the best - I do not travel for the score and I do not feel to be authoritative judge... But it is worth to mention that Jeff climbed also all Seven Summits.
Thank you dear friends for your company on this hardcore trail!
Sep 11, 2009 12:00 AMIt is good to be home...
It is good to have a peaceful nest to return... It is warm summer in Poland. Flowers are still in blossom in my "Wojtkówka", a pile of letters is waiting on my desk. I was so nice to hear again the voices of my best friends on the phone. First slideshows and presentations are already confirmed for the end of September... So much pictures to develop, so many articles to write...
But... What the traveler is doing after returning from the long journey? Can you imagine? He thinks already about the next expedition! :))
Sep 10, 2009 12:00 AMTime to say goodbye to Canada...
End of the voyage... I am flying back to Europe.
When I started from Poland at the end of July I did not expect that my Siberian Voyage will convert to the 9th Round the World Journey... Siberia - Russian Far East - Manchuria/China - Canada. See the new route map - it wad completed after return...
Due to the lack of time and money for the first time on my round-the-world route I did not stop on the Pacific Islands. Pity... But I believe that someday I will come back to the Pacific - my favourite region.
This was one more wonderful journey. New people, new landscapes, new adventures... Thank you, my friends for keeping your fingers crossed - except the bad weather on Kamchatka everything was OK!
Sep 09, 2009 12:00 AMBy car to Lunenburg...
Lunenburg is an old town on the South Coast - some 100 kms from Halifax. Due to its rich history and old architecture Lunenburg is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
I wanted to see it. But I recognized that there is only one bus per day - at 5.30 pm (40 CAD round trip) so if you go by bus you have to spend there a night and to return at 11 am. Not very convenient...
I decided to rent a small car for one day. You know that I am the backpacker but sometimes even for the backpacker it is the best solution, especially if you can share the cost of rental: 45 CAD per day plus tax plus fuel. Petrol cost here 1.10 CAD per litre...
Lunennburg is very picturesque - full of old buildings, with very interesting Fisheries Museum, academy anch couple of churches. Definitely worth to see. On my way back I saw also nice lighthouse built on the bare rocks in Peggy's Cove... Lovely Day!
Sep 08, 2009 12:00 AMEast Canada - one train per day...
Old, good railway days are almost over. At least in East Canada... There is only one train per day running from Montreal to Halifax. They call it "l'Ocean" (do not forget that I am already in the French part of Canada). "Ocean" needs 22 long hours to ride 1346 kms distance. I bought my ticket again on the Via Rail last minute deals page:
http://www2.viarail.ca/expressdeals
It was lovely sunset time when we were leaving Montreal Gare Centrale. In the morning I changed time again - Atlantic provinces are one hour ahead... Then there was a chance to enjoy panoramic views of blue bays and lakes, forests and pastures...
When we reached little Halifax station I noticed that "Ocean" is one hour delayed. One train per day and still not on time!
This was the end of my epic railway trip "Canada coast to coast". It is worth to count the lenght of my rail route: 4466+539+1346 = 6351 kms of wonderful, panoramic views of Canadian countyside. You will not see such a views from the plane!
Fortunately it is only 200 m from the station to the youth hostel on Barrington street. No beds! But I booked via net in advance so they accepted me... A bed in 6-bed dormitory cost 26 CAD. Good night!
Sep 06, 2009 12:00 AMMontreal once again...
I spent a day in Montereal. Travel by rail gives you a chance to land just in the middle of the town. There is no need to take and pay an airport bus to get to the center...
In Montereal old part of the town located near the historic harbor is very compact so you It was nice to take a walk through the cobbled streets, and to enjoy the atmosphere of the cosmopolitan city.
I was surprised that they charge 5 dollars entry fee to get into the basilica Notre Dame - the most important Montreal's church.
The old harbor was converted into a big playground: there are cinemas, exhibitions and yacht marina...
Half a day is enough to see Montreal's attractions. Next train is waiting for me...
Sep 05, 2009 12:00 AM4468 kms by rail across Canada..
After another dwo days spent on the TransCanadian train (a lot of forests and lakes, very few settlements) I reached Toronto in the province of Ontario.
My friend Mietek was waiting for me at the Union Station - it was very pleasant meeting - we know each other from the school. Mietek is also outstanding traveller.
The strong sun was shining and we decided to drive together to Niagara Falls. Mietek knows that I am waterfall's fan. I saw Niagara for the first time in the 80's... It was so nice to enjoy again the panoramic view from the Canadian side of the border again.
From Vancouver I travelled already 4486 kms by rail. Tomorrow in the morning next train will wait for me - to Montreal...
Sep 02, 2009 12:00 AMWalking around Winnipeg...
Canada is expensive country for the backpacker. They have here reliable city bus system, but you have to pay 2.30 dollars per ride - compare it to 1 yuan in China!
I like Winnipeg - this was the good choice to stop here. At The Forks - place where two rivers meet they have info center and plenty of shops and eateries offering the meals from many countries - Canada is a mixture of many nationalities. Here they have very strong Italian and Ukrainian presence...
I walked around French Quarter of St Boniface on the other side of the Red River, passed by downtown to the huge Legislative buildings and visited great park on the riverside full of flowers and sculptures. Great day except... the mosquitoes. They are present and very nasty here - especially in the parks...
Sep 01, 2009 12:00 AMCanada by rail... to Manitoba
Sorry, dear Canadians your rail tracks in Alberta province are bumpy like a Russian roads... I did not sleep well last night.
In the morning after a hot shower (yes, they have hot showers on the train!) I saw through the window flat landscape of the central Canada. Wide fields, pastures - it is the harvest time and there are yellow, gold and brown colors dominating the landscape.
Well... In my country passengers trains have the priority over the cargo, but not in Canada.
The transcanadian rail track is a single track. We were waiting many times today for the cargo trains to pass by...
As a result I arrived to Winnipeg - the capital city of Manitoba 40 min after the scheduled time. I disembark the no.2 train after 49 hours ride.
It is good to have the friends in different countries. I knew her only from the internet. Now we got a chance to meet each other... She is charming, warm person. I will be happy to spend here two days...
Aug 31, 2009 12:00 AMColors of Canada... Rockies...
Rail travel gives you great opportunity to enjoy the scenery... Our train no.2 - "The Canadian" have special observation cars with glass domes... You can get there any time and enjoy the landscape.
Today we passed through the Rocky Mountains. I have been here few years ago but the weather wan not so clear and the viev from the train gives you quite different perspective...
We stopped for 1,5 hour in Jasper - little town surrounded by the snowy ranges. Railway staff cleaned up the windows from the bugs - they care about us... Once on the route they announce the attractions we will see in next few minutes. I did not miss Pyramid Falls - I got a great picture!
Long railway travel gives also opportunity to meet interesting people - in my compartment I have an Australian, in the next one travels girl from Japan. But I like most the couple from Ottawa - we were singing together the song from "Cosablanca" (Do you remember? - Time goes by...)
