Finished at Waterloo

My time at the University of Waterloo has finally come to an end. I started on the 13th of September and had my last exam yesterday, with only about 5 weeks holiday. It's been well worth coming though.

I am staying in Waterloo maybe until Tuesday when I'll go off to Toronto, then Ottawa, Montreal and start to head out to the west. We never had time to go to Vancouver Island when my sister and I went to Vancouver before so I would like to go there this time. I'll get a 30 day Greyhound ticket and use it to travel overnight saving on accomodation.

Still got a year to do at Heriot-Watt when I get home.

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Photos

Canada Day - Ottawa

Canada's Wonderland

Halifax, Nova Scotia

My Germans

Vancouver
Photos from 6 days on a train

More links in full post
New York

Ottawa

Lac Carre (area around the chalet)
Quebec City
Montreal
Skiing/Snowboarding in Quebec City
Mont Tremblant
Mont Blanc

Flatmates

Eddie Izzard

Aurora Borealis

Delgados

Toronto
Around The City
Snow Patrol
Boat Tour
CN Tower

Niagara Falls

Algonquin

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Canada Day

For Canada Day, July 1st - the commemoration of the forming of the country - the Germans, some other people and I went to Ottawa, the centre of the country's celebrations. Parliament Hill was the main focus with thousands of people on the lawn and the street around watching the performances on the stage. Flags everywhere.

At night there was a fireworks display so David, Arne and I went across the river (into Quebec province) to be able to watch and take pictures with the Houses of Parliament in as well. They lasted around 15 minutes and were quite nice though the fact that 2 went off a good half hour before the rest kind of ruined the effect.
Coming back across the river into Ottawa, and every pub or club had a massive line up.


The weather was pretty hot and we had a brief thunderstorm.


We stayed in University of Ottawa residences so of course had an early morning fire alarm, 6am. Saturday was spent in the war museum which was quite interesting even though it exagerated Canada's influence in the turnout of all the wars they were involved in.


Photo Album

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Wonderland

UW Crew organised a trip to Wonderland yesterday so I went and met up with Zubair there. We went on quite a few roller coasters and rode the bumber cars a fair few times where I beat the hell out of Zubair. He only stayed for a few hours but it was great seeing him.
There is a bridge over the log flume which gets you completely soaked through. We stood watching the water heading for us at least 7 times. It impacts with quite some force unlike on the ride itself. In the over 30 degree weather it was quite relieving, Zubair even saying that he's going to go there for his breaks (he works at Wonderland).


To get there we had to ride a yellow school bus which was quite exciting for me yet normal for everyone else on the bus. I think they said there were about 240 people went.


fountains by the main entrance

Photos plus a couple of short videos of the splash are here.

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Halifax

As I had enough travel left on my rail pass I took a couple of days off uni and went to Halifax, Nova Scotia. There wasn't much to see and the weather was much the same as in Scotland (Nova Scotia = New Scotland), cold wet and windy but I enjoyed it and I am very glad I got out to the East coast.
When I arrived I walked along the waterfront and there was a Spanish tallship open for tourists so I went on and had a look. In the evening I joined a walking tour of the city and learned much of the history, it was very interesting so I think I may do similar things when I am in other cities in August/September. The following morning I went to the Citadel and had a tour of that then slowly made my way round the city to the train station.
I was worried I was going to miss my train in because I fell asleep after the party and woke up at 8:45 - my train left Kitchener at 9:11.

Photos

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My First Kegger

As a move in party, we decided to have a 'kegger'
which is a party that you buy a few kegs of beer and charge entry for people to drink as much as they like. It wasn't too bad but I was quite bored most of the time. It was funny watching Volker and Stefan dancing but the video is too big to upload.

Photos

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Vancouver

Between the 2nd and 3rd term my sister Tracey and I went to Vancouver by train. It takes 3 days to get there and 3 days to get back so because of the way Tracey had arranged her flights we only had 2 and a half days in the city. Left Toronto on the 21st and got on the 29th.
The way in was great because there were lots of cool people to talk to and play cards and in the observation dome thing there was a very friendly atmosphere with everyone looking out for bears and moose, pointing out anything that moved and talking to each other. There were a few bears spotted but neither Tracey or I saw any, we did both see moose, bald eagles and a helluva lot of deer.
It was a holiday very much dominated with my relentless attempts of making up for not getting the sunset picture I wanted in New York. We spent a day in Stanley Park and after going to the acquarium in there we went to the beach to wait for the sun to set over the Pacific Ocean. I got some pictures I am quite happy with.
Day 2 we went to North Vancouver on the other side of the bay from downtown where we went over the Capalino suspension bridge - which was pretty damn expensive for what it is - and then up Grouse Mountain to the grizzly bear sanctuary to make up for our not seeing any bears from the train. We again waited up there for the sun to go down for me to take my pictures. It worked out well as we both got to do what we wanted.
On the final day we just wandered round the city centre and made our way to the train station, this was before sundown so no pictures.
The train back was quite boring as there was no one my age group; there were many kids and older people and the dome car never had the atmosphere it did on the way in. We were both exhausted but because it was busier we had to share the double seat and so couldn't sleep as well.

Before we went I showed Tracey round Toronto: wandered round downtown, went in Casa Loma, met up with Kjetil and had dinner in China-Town, did some shopping in the Eaton Centre and went up the CN Tower at night. And when we got back from Vancouver we went to Niagara Falls to ride Maid of the Mist during the day and see the falls by night.

Vancouver Pics
Pictures taken on the jouney

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Ash in TO

Took a break from studying to go see Ash in Toronto. Unfortunately they came on around 23:15 and the last bus to Waterloo leaves at 23:30. I had hoped I'd get at least 45 minutes but becauase the first support band came on at 21:00 and were on for about 45 minutes (I figured they'd come on at 20:30 and be on for half an hour) I only got about 3 minutes before I had to shoot off.

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