Canada

Before leaving home I tried in vain to find a reasonably priced one way car hire for 6 days from Toronto airport with a drop off at Niagara. Usually ‘one way’ hires these days are either free or low cost but I couldn’t find any decent deals so decided to keep the car for the whole time at the Falls and drop it off back in Toronto near our hotel. It turned out to be one of the best decisions. Although the Falls are absolutely spectacular the area around them has been turned into a giant amusement park and it was bliss to be able to jump into the car and get away from it all.



Niagara
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The main reason for being in Niagara was to spend time with Luci while Louise was at a Pathology conference ( which she said was excellent ). It was a delight to have time with Luci – she is a very articulate and insightful and really good company. We did lots of stuff together – sailed on the Maid of the Mist up to the base of the Falls, rode the AeroCar over the whirlpool, went to the sublime Niagara-on-the-Lake several times for picnics and meals – it is just 20kms from the Falls but rather like a Cotswold village. WE drove across the border to Buffalo one day – a rather grim depressed city which looked as if the GFC has hit badly – it was only brightened by an energetic black gospel choir singing their hearts out in the main street.



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Toronto

I don’t think I’ll say too much about this. Being here has not been enhanced by the 4 week old public worker strike which means that garbage is not collected, public toilets are locked and heaps of things that don’t affect us but are having a huge impact on the city – childcare centres closed, swimming pools closed, summer holiday programs for children cancelled.

We have still done some nice things -
We took the tramcar down to THE BEACHES – locals had led us to believe that it was a fab lakeshore area – we were thinking Noosa, Manly, Watsons Bay – bad mistake but still interesting.
Sunday we went to church at Yorkminster Park Baptist – Lew was summer pastor here for a month in July 1986 and our family remember having a really good time. Our ‘buddy’ back then was Mary (and her family) and we met up with her again yesterday after church and ended up having lunch with her and some friends – so nice to catch up again after all these years.
Then went to the Royal Ontario Museum – great collections of First Nations artifacts and a special exhibition of Dead Sea Scrolls.

Today we went across to Toronto Islands and had a lovely day in a very tranquil setting. Tomorrow we fly to LA for a day with Alex. It is almost a year since he left Sydney for his guitar course and he seems to have thrived in LA. It will be great to spend some time with him
Toronto
Casa Loma


The lifeguard wasn't too busy when the water was only 9 deg C!!!!







Not a pretty sight after 4 weeks garbo strike.

I was tempted to give these lovely old Musskoka chairs a new home in Canberra.

On Friday on the way back to Toronto we detoured to St Jacobs and Elmira – two Mennonite towns in Ontario. We went to a museum which detailed the history and lifestyle of the Mennonites – really interesting especially because of our Mennonite friends, Moriah, Carole Anne and Clair. Both towns have both Old Order and modern Mennonites living there – only the Old Order are recognisable riding around in their horses and buggies and wearing distinctive modes clothing. A couple of notable things – the link with the reformers in Zurich where we spent time last year in the company of Jill and Thorwald – the fact that Old Order children are the healthiest in Canada – maybe because they mostly live on farms and eat lots of fresh food, don’t have TV, radio or computers but have lots of chores to do.

A few more photos

I am having a bit of trouble loading phots but will put a few of the UK up anyway

There is a lot of debate about whether these Elgin Marble freizes from the Parthenon in Athens should be returned to Greece. The British Museum which houses them has a compelling argument that not only did they save them from certain destruction/dispersion but over 12 million visitors a year view them for no charge.


Open air opera in Trafalgar Square beamed live from the opera house to over 15 cities thru the UK


had a yummy bruch at JO's Fifteen in London but his is as close as we got to the man himself. I am really impressed witht the wway the lives of these young people are turned around by the opportunities he has given them and so I'm pleaed to support his efforts by eating their nutritious meals. Not a big sacrifice on my part.


The 900 year old Lewis chessmen from Norway found on the hebriean scottish island -

Kimberley and Ginny - For your eyes only!!!

Not many cats around during this trip - probably too cold for them to thrive - but her are a few anyway.


Dutch cat



English Cat - have you ever seen a cat being walked along the High St on a leash??

Belgian cat

Canada

Muskoka
Had a 7 hour flight from London arrivng Toronto at midnight UK time then driving straight up to Bracebridge by Lake Muskoka - a 2 hour drive. I can't remember why I thought it would be a good idea to do this - tired at the end of a flight, driving on the wrong side of the road at dusk in a brand new Pontiac!!! I had a few bad thoughts about this whole plan in the last couple of days in the UK but all the bookings were fixed so i just hoped and prayed it would be OK. I made sure that I slept as much as poss during the flight to the abvious disappointment of the chatty young lady sitting beside me on the flight. It all worked out just fine - the TomTom did an amazing job and we arrived 10pm local time at our B&B on the waterfront.

Such a beautiful part of the world - cottage country the locals call it - i would call it McMansion country. Most of the boathouses are bigger than our home in Canberra. We did a 3 hour boat trip on Lake Muskoka one day - it has hundreds of small islands dotted on it. Some of the islands are family owned with 5 or 6 massive houses on them - each house with 10+ bedrooms. Often only used for a couple of weeks and the odd weekend during the whole year - such a waste of resources. Millionaires Row is just jaw dropping. In the winter the whole lake freezes over hard enough for trucks to drive across so most of the building materials and supplies are delivered that way during the winter.

Spent another day walking several trails in Algonquin National Park which was nice - didn't see any moose but got plenty of mozzie bites.

FOur nights in Muskoka then off to Niagara.

Off to Canada today

St Petersberg - curtain call at Swan Lake

Helsinki

A beautiful small city – very clean, orderly, stylish and VERY expensive. Lots of beautiful people who look rather like the lovely Helena Clark – she will be here soon visiting family but unfortunately our paths won’t cross.

Stockholm
The last 3 hours sailing into Stockholm is spectacular – there are around 20,000 islandsoff the Swedish coast and the ship sails through a narrow passage amongst them. We got up around 5am to make the most of it and it was well worth the effort. Most of the islands are very small and many have little holiday houses on them. It was just so beautiful.






We shared Stockholm with thousands of other visitors who had come for the Volvo Round-the-World maxi yatch race – the boats were all in Stockholm for a few days having a break. It meant that there were lots of special things on around the city which made it very interesting if a bit crowded at times.

We spent most of the day in the old city area around the palace.

Warnemunde, Germany

Most of the tours organised by the ship went into Berlin for the day – it was a very long day –the train journeys took 6 hours all up with a 7am start and a 9pm finish. We had 4 days in Berlin several years ago. It is a great city to visit but we gave it a miss this time and just took the local train into Rostock about 30 mins away. Lovely small city with a University and a lively market in the square. Spent the morning there and went back to the ship for lunch and a rest. Then wandered around Warnemunde where we were berthed – it was such a surprise. The docks were in a very bland area near the railway station but once we walked out of that area we realised Warnemunde is a major seaside resort and a real hive of activity on a warm Saturday afternoon. The breeze was very fresh and the water was absolutely freezing – a few brace souls managed a quick dip but most people were happy to be on the beach and enjoy the sunshine. The ship had organised a barbecue dinner on one of the top decks around the main swimming pool – they can retract the glass roof and they had the Rostock brass band playing. It was really enjoyable and we ate with Bob and Margaret from San Diego = a couple we have got to know this past week.




Aarhus, Denmark

We spent the morning out at a living museum where they have brought old houses from all around Denmark into this park in order to preserve them. It must have been a massive task – some of them a very large. Most of them contain exhibitions which relate to the places they come from.



This was a fantastic photo display in the town square -check www.100places.com

The local band came to welcome us to Denmark along with the Mayor and other dignitaries - i had a chat with the mayor and asked him how our Princess Mary was doing - he beamed and said she was just wonderful. I told him that her mother used to be Phil's secretary at Uni of Tas but he looked a bit sceptical.

Oslo

We had a wonderful day in Oslo in spite of the fact that our friends Nye and Lisbeth weren't there to show us around - they had given us a list of 'must see' places before they left Oz so we didn't waste any time taking a tram out to Vigeland Park to see the amazing array of 192 granite sculptures most of them reflecting the ages and stages of Man. Even more interesting than the sculptures was to watch the way young children reacted to them. Unlike most art installations, children are encouraged to climb all over them and although the are about twice lifesize, children were hugging and kissing them, stroking and reclining in their laps. Will try to get some photos up soon.

Then it was back into town and a ferry across to the Viking exhibition - Such impressive sailors and navigators exploring and settling over enormous distances with euqipment tha looks so unsophisicated to our eyes. ( Later on our travels when we got to London we spemnt time in the British Museum and were interested that one of their top exhibits are the Lewis Chessmen, made in Norway from walrus ivory and thought to have landed on Lewis in the Outer hebrides of Scotland about 900 years ago.)

We then went to the Museum of the Norwegian Resistance - a sad but inspiring insight into the tragedy of German occupation during WW2 and heroic acts of bravery and ingenuity. Does it take war for people to act so selflessly or might we all find it within ourselves to act with courage against the threats of our times?




Rotterdam
The end of our cruise but not much to report - we went pretty much straight to the railway station for our trip to Brugges. The cruise was a delight - very relaxing and lots of fascinating ports - most of them we thought that one or two days was probably enough. The last night we had dinner with a couple from Anapolis near Washington - Mark and Barbara. Lovely couple - we had eaten with them a few days before and hit it off. Hopefully we will keep in touch and might meet up again sometime. Mark's dad was a Presbyterian minister/ seminary lecturer and they worship at a Pres church.

In Brugge

We saw the movie ‘ In Brugge’ last year – great movie if you can look past the violence and bad language – it is a great marketing tool for the town and convinced us to visit. It is even better than the movie portrays – a small medieval town with very few out-of-place buildings. Cherrie recommended a hotel right behind the Bell Tower – a perfect location. The photos will speak for themselves but a few highlights:
-A visit to the Groeninge Museum to see the collection of Charles the Bold – the ruler of this area in the 1500s.
- Climbing the 360 stairs to the top of the Belfry with spectacular views across the rooftops.
- Discovering the Beguinale House – a tranquil convent in the midst of a bustling town


At dinner by the canal on the first night we had 2 Aussies from Brisbane next to us – he is a young boat builder/ marine engineer working in Amsterdam. He worked on a boat for an owner for a year or so and the owner has employed him to oversee the building of a new 43 metre boat which will take 2 years and cost 43 million euros – about $70 million Aus. He says it will cost another 3 to 4 mill euros a year to operate and maintain it. I often wonder who has that sort of money to spend on a boat that they only use for a few weeks a year.




Saturday June 27 – Brugge to London via Brussels

We had a leisurely morning then took the train for the 1 hour ride to Brussels to catch the Eurostar – we love train travel – the checkin procedure is tighter ( and longer) than I remember but I guess times change. There is just 20 mins or so through the chunnel and then you are zipping across the Kent countryside to St Pancras station. Just 2 hours Brussels to London.

We stay at the old County Hall right beside the London Eye – no charm but location is great. The crowds along South bank were phenomenal – a warm summer Saturday had brought huge numbers of street performers and spectators out and we joined them later in the evening. The weather forecast is good for the next week or so for the south east so we should be OK - though the BBC weathermen describe it as ‘ a scorcher’ could even get as high as 32 deg!!!! Oh my!!!!!


Sunday June 28 London

Breakfast by the Thames then off to church at church.co.uk – An Oasis church just near here set up by Steve Chalke who has done some great work over the last 20 years or so.

It was an interesting service – at first I felt rather negative – very casual and laid back – the main floor space set up with coffee tables and chairs then the tiered stalls of the old church at the sides. A 4 piece band with drums led the singing. About 150 people, quite a lot of people of African descent representative of the area. The sermon was first rate –about Jonah and guidance - straightforward, relevant, with some helpful personal examples. Then baptisms of 5 people – it was very moving and I realised that I am missing not being a regular part of our church in Canberra. Also I have just finished reading The Shack by Paul Young – it is described as “The Pilgrim’s Progress’ for our generation. I have found it really inspiring and it has motivated me to try to do some things very differently with my life.

Some other highlights of London
– dinner at Luciano’s – Marco Pierre White’s London restaurant – we didn’t think the food was nearly as good as his Yew Tree Inn out in the countryside where we ate last year.


- Brunch at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen in north London – really good food in a great setting although VERY tricky to find – if you plan to go there, make sure you have a good map. Then a walk along Regent’s Canal

- With about 10,000 others watching a bit of live opera on the big screen in Trafalga Square – if we had known about it we would have planned to see it all but we were on our way to Tom Stoppard’s play, Arcadia starring Neil Pearson – very very good.

- a day ticket on the Thames ferries took us down to the O2 arena then Greenwich. Later in the day back up to the Tate Gallery – such a pleasant way to travel in a bustling city on a hot day.

- A morning at the British Museum – they have a special exhibition on India at present and Kew Gardens have established a garden of Indian plants in forecourt. Also a wonderful art insta;;ation caalled Tree of Life - here is the description fromn their website -

"The Tree of Life was made by four Mozambican artists: Cristovao Canhavato (Kester), Hilario Nhatugueja, Fiel dos Santos and Adelino Serafim Maté. It is a product of the Transforming Arms into Tools (TAE) project and is made from decommissioned weapons.

TAE was set up by Bishop Dom Dinis Sengulane in 1995 and is supported by Christian Aid. During Mozambique's civil war, which lasted from 1976 to 1992, millions of guns and other weapons poured into the country and most of them remain hidden or buried in the bush. The project is an attempt to eliminate the threat presented by the hidden weapons. Mozambicans are encouraged to hand them over in exchange for items like ploughs, bicycles and sewing machines. In one case a whole village gave up its weapons in exchange for a tractor.

Once the weapons are decommissioned, they are cut up and turned into sculptures by the artists in Maputo. "

The restaurant served delicious Indian food with a glass of mango juice for lunch.

- A morning at the national gallery looking at paintings – fabulous collection

- Just general wandering around a great city and watching LLeyton Hewitt play Wimbledon (on TV) when we had enough


Seaford

Coming back to Seaford is like coming home – we have our own keys and our usual bedroom and all the delights of being by the sea. Although the temps in London were only around 32 deg, it was a hot and sticky so the sea breeze here was very welcome.
Christy is off work now until we leave so that is a treat.
We have been swimming most days – the sea is chilly to get into but OK once you adjust – I reckon you go numb and don’t notice the cold any more. Heaps of people on the beach this weekend and lots of fishermen/ women because the mackerel have come in.

Yesterday morning we walked along the chalk cliffs then back in to Alfriston – a 3 hour walk. We have done this walk many times but never tire of it. Caught the bus back in time for lunch.

Took Andy and Christy out for dinner last night at Moonrakers – a restaurant in Alfriston recommended by The Hairy Bikers. It was one of those rare summer evenings – warm with no wind and we sat out in the garden looking across the village green to the old church. The food was fabulous – the best we have eaten in the last year – they specilise in using local seasonal produce and it was just delicious – cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. We even had a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from Tamar Ridge in Tasmania to go with it. Just a lovely and memorable evening. We spent some of it planning next year’s holiday. Phil’s Oxford College turns 400 next year so we plan to come for some of those celebrations. Also Andy goes to Borneo for a month July/ August with JOLT so we will spend most of that time with Christy. (He is going to Borneo for 2 weeks next month to check out arrangements for next year but we will be back in Canberra by then )