Friday, September 10, 2004
Home Sweet Home!
Hey there,
Well, after we left the SWAP office we went on a bit of a walk-about in Toronto. Went for a quick look in the Eaton Centre, but nothing we hadn't seen before...shops, shops and more shops, and thankfully, at this stage, Sinead's bag was too full to do any more shopping!!!
We went down then and went in to do the tour of the Hockey Hall of Fame and got our picture taken with the Stanley Cup! It was great to see it all. We booked our tour then for Niagara falls for the following day.
The following morning we were waiting to be picked up outside a hostel downtown and this multi-coloured rainbow bus pulls up with the name "The Magic Bus" on it!! We certainly didn't have to worry about losing that bus anywhere along the route. It got about as many stares as Ryan's Valiant does....but for totally different reasons!!
The first stop on the tour was a vineyard for a tasting tour, and it's there that we spotted that one of the girls on the bus with us, had actually been on the caving tour with us too in Canmore. Crazy small world, eh?!?! We had lunch there and from there went onto the Falls where we had about 3 hours free time to look around. We had paid for the Maid of the Mist tour with the bus driver so we went down and were suited up in our rain ponchos and went on the 20 minute ferry trip right underneath the falls. I couldn't believe how far they go under the falls. The Canadian Falls are just around the corner from the American falls, and make a mockery of the American falls really. There have been many well documented attempts at trying to clear the falls, in canoes, barrels, swimming etc., but you get fined if you make such an attempt.............if you happen to survive!!
Based on all you hear and read about the Falls, it can be a small bit of a disappointment, but the sheer force of the water and the scenery created by it is pretty awesome, and we were both glad to have finally seen the Falls, and it was a good way to spend our last 'non-airport' day in Canada.
We arrived in the airport a bit early and were actually first to check in, and we asked for an aisle seat, but we actually ended up at one of the emergency exit rows, and had loads of room - one of the best seats in the house (or plane!) Well, after pretty much a full day of airports and travel we arrived in Cork, after a slight delay, at about 11:45am on Monday.
It's kind of strange to be back, but equally good too. We're enjoying the attention!! It will be tough to adjust back into the old routine though, so just keeping a quick eye out for ticket prices to Australia!!!!
Finally, a huge Thank You to everyone we met on our travels in Canada, especially in Calgary, Ryan and Erin, The Fitzpatricks (for the farewell bar-b-q, and being our home away from home), The Lysters for furnishing our apartment and everything in-between, and for all of the great people we met - Allison, Crystal and the Greens, Leanne, Michelle, Curtis and Erin, Natalie and Drahos...the list goes on. We're sorry that we didn't get to say a proper goodbye to many of you, but we really appreciate your friendship over the last year. And you're welcome over anytime....Ah, go on, you will!!
Well, take it easy and keep in touch, and for everyone in Ireland....We're home!!!!
And this is just for Erin............ VOODOO!!!!
All the best
David
Well, after we left the SWAP office we went on a bit of a walk-about in Toronto. Went for a quick look in the Eaton Centre, but nothing we hadn't seen before...shops, shops and more shops, and thankfully, at this stage, Sinead's bag was too full to do any more shopping!!!
We went down then and went in to do the tour of the Hockey Hall of Fame and got our picture taken with the Stanley Cup! It was great to see it all. We booked our tour then for Niagara falls for the following day.
The following morning we were waiting to be picked up outside a hostel downtown and this multi-coloured rainbow bus pulls up with the name "The Magic Bus" on it!! We certainly didn't have to worry about losing that bus anywhere along the route. It got about as many stares as Ryan's Valiant does....but for totally different reasons!!
The first stop on the tour was a vineyard for a tasting tour, and it's there that we spotted that one of the girls on the bus with us, had actually been on the caving tour with us too in Canmore. Crazy small world, eh?!?! We had lunch there and from there went onto the Falls where we had about 3 hours free time to look around. We had paid for the Maid of the Mist tour with the bus driver so we went down and were suited up in our rain ponchos and went on the 20 minute ferry trip right underneath the falls. I couldn't believe how far they go under the falls. The Canadian Falls are just around the corner from the American falls, and make a mockery of the American falls really. There have been many well documented attempts at trying to clear the falls, in canoes, barrels, swimming etc., but you get fined if you make such an attempt.............if you happen to survive!!
Based on all you hear and read about the Falls, it can be a small bit of a disappointment, but the sheer force of the water and the scenery created by it is pretty awesome, and we were both glad to have finally seen the Falls, and it was a good way to spend our last 'non-airport' day in Canada.
We arrived in the airport a bit early and were actually first to check in, and we asked for an aisle seat, but we actually ended up at one of the emergency exit rows, and had loads of room - one of the best seats in the house (or plane!) Well, after pretty much a full day of airports and travel we arrived in Cork, after a slight delay, at about 11:45am on Monday.
It's kind of strange to be back, but equally good too. We're enjoying the attention!! It will be tough to adjust back into the old routine though, so just keeping a quick eye out for ticket prices to Australia!!!!
Finally, a huge Thank You to everyone we met on our travels in Canada, especially in Calgary, Ryan and Erin, The Fitzpatricks (for the farewell bar-b-q, and being our home away from home), The Lysters for furnishing our apartment and everything in-between, and for all of the great people we met - Allison, Crystal and the Greens, Leanne, Michelle, Curtis and Erin, Natalie and Drahos...the list goes on. We're sorry that we didn't get to say a proper goodbye to many of you, but we really appreciate your friendship over the last year. And you're welcome over anytime....Ah, go on, you will!!
Well, take it easy and keep in touch, and for everyone in Ireland....We're home!!!!
And this is just for Erin............ VOODOO!!!!
All the best
David
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