The people on The Canadian

I've already told about the train ride itself in the last post, but the people on board was an essential part of the trip.

There's basically only 2 differences on backpacker tourists on board of a ferry in Patagonia and trolley-deluxe tourists on a train in Canada. 1. Their age - approximately 45 years of difference. 2. They're comparing cruises instead of hostels. Otherwise everything is absolutely the same.

Introducing the cast:
The unofficial couple with pepper allergy, an addiction to freshly made ice tea with lemon and an ability to find everything better in the old days.

The IBM-typewriter repair man and his nursing wife, who were looking for loons.

The lady with dementia, whose son had sent her on the trip so he could get a break.

The man from Kansas having his first train ride ever. His wife, former casino dealer that didn't appreciate the american president's way to often - and expensive - holidays.

The chinese host in the dining car, who most of the time mixed up orders and timings, but who always served fresh things - coffee, water. And who was hilarious to watch - and listen to (and not only involuntarily).

The 60+ year old with long colored red hair (prejudice screams musician) who'd travelled with the train both ways.

The train and wildlife enthusiast from Vancouver wearing shorts and huge glasses, who scouted during the entire trip.

The lady, who - in steps - hid all the after dinner mints in her purse, so that she could survive a 4 hours city tour when reaching Toronto.

The retired railway employee and wife, returning from a Cruise in Alaska. They hadn't participated in the dance lessons but seen lots of wild-life. They could ride the economy class for free as he's a former employee. He was shaking all through breakfast because of a too efficient air-condition (which was indeed very efficient throughout the train).

The 2 sisters and their friend who'd gone on a girls tour in the mountains - without husbands. That way they could stop as much as they liked when they were to drive through Icefields Parkway.

The tattooed approx. 25 year old, who played on his laptop all the way to Toronto and, therefore, had the curtains down so he could see the screen. All the way - even through the Rockies. Quite a few conspiracies about his presence has been produced - mainly (only) by my mother and me...

The pre teens, whose lack of manors perhaps could be explained by their parents efficient ignoring of their kids.

The activity car hosts (yup we had those too) arranging trivias, bingo, snacks, beer and wine tasting, lectures etc. Making sure nobody would feel bored.

But one guy was missing. Hercule Poirot. We thought we saw him several times, but, unfortunately, it was only imagination. One the other hand that luckily enough meant that nobody was murdered no matter how perfect the settings were.

Location:The transcanadian railway

4,500 km of railway tracks

Right now Im in a train a couple of hundred kilometres from Toronto waiting to move on. Apparently the train traffic is so busy that we might be here for some time.

The train has, over the past 3 1/2 days, taken me from Vancouver in West a little more than 4,500 km towards East. We have crossed 3 time zones (one a day), a couple of mountain ranges, a very big and wide prairie (which was much grassier than I'd expected), huge fields, lots of forest and lakes, but very few towns, people, civilisation. Well except for the telegraph poles. They're still there. All the way. Reminding of old days. The wires are also still there most of the way. So if anybody wants to get into the copper business, Im pretty sure you could get some cheap in Canada...

I wanted to take the train to get a feeling of the size of Canada. I did. It's big! Huge! And I've even only covered two thirds of the country when I get off in Toronto.

(we've just been told there's some problems with the brakes, which needs to be fixed before we can continue, so it might take a while.)

The train has been quite an experience in itself. We've had the cheapest of the expensive seats (half price as earlier described), which means we had two berths in the hallway. The berths were transformed to seats during the day. As most people choosing to go on this kind of trip pays to have their own cabin with private toilets, we had 6 berths to ourselves, which meant we both had living room and bedroom. Very suitable our car is named Draper Manor (Oh Don Draper - unfortunately he hasn't come a long...).

Of course, there's also a dining car (actually 2 - it's a big train) including waiters, white cloth on the tables and different menus for each meal. And an activity car with panorama windows above the roof so you'll get a 360 degrees view of the surroundings. The first day we even had a full panoramic car that made you feel like standing right in the mountains while we were passing by.

(Now we're driving again, very helpful (and necessary) with mechanics on the train).

So time to finish off with some shots from the trip.






Day 1 - Kamploops - Edmonton views from the panoramic car


Day 2 - sun rise seen from my bed


Prairie as far as you see


The last car in the train at one of our stops we where allowed to disembark to get some fresh air.


Day 3 - sunrise seen from my bed


Draper Manor - our car

Location:In the outskirts of nowhere

Stupid kids punish themselves

I actually also have a friend, who lives in Canada, David. He lives in Courtenay on Vancouver Island, so of course we had to pass by.

He has spent the day showing us around in Comox Valley's amazing surroundings. Always amazing going with someone that knows the good places to go.


Puntledge river


Very comfortable couch

This afternoon our destination was Mount Washington that has a great view of the eastcoast of Vancouver Island and the western coast of the mainland. Before going, I asked David if the trail would be difficult, which he absolutely rejected - it was pretty flat. He was absolutely right, but I should probably have considered the amount of snow on the top of the mountain, David pointed out. And then I probably should have worn my hiking boots instead of my sandals...


Foolish girl, why didn't you take your mother's advice?




I actually didn't go through on purpose...

Luckily my toes defrosted quickly and on our way down, we had the most wonderful view.


The blueish in the background is the Georgia Strait

Location:5 St,Courtenay,Canada

I like the flowers..

...and they love the bees



And I should stop right away, but I just got to post another picture from Butchard's Garden, only because it is so f...ing well composed and shot!



Oh and these wild flowers, growing on some old rail tracks, just being there not planned at alle. Glowing beautifully in the evening sun. And only slightly understandable by looking at the picture.

Location:Butchard's Garden, Vancouver Island

Impressions of the Canadian Rocky Mountains

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are really pretty. Pretty being an incredible understatement.

We spent almost a week in the Rockies, among other things hiking, my mother climbing some decent trails with sticks coming out of her hands as a puppet.


Wild-life was a major issue. We saw: squirrels, chipmonks, turtles, beaver dams (though no beavers), moose, elks, bald eagle, osprey and ... BLACK BEAR.

The latter crossed our road on the way back to Vancouver. Right in time for us to brake, look thoroughly and yel loudly: "BEAR, BEAR, BEAR, BEAR". Unfortunately not in time to take a picture that actually shows a bear. But it doesn't matter, we saw it and we high fived!


The elks were much easier to take pictures of than the bear...

And then we drove down Icefield's Parkway. Rightfully known as the world's most picturesque road (as others, but still rightfully). It can't be described. It can't be shown in photos, none the less I'll take a go with the latter:


Lake Louise right before the start of the Parkway (also a pretty spot).




Crowfoot Glacier


Bow Lake


Peyto Lake


Muhaha Canyon (or something like it)

PS: We actually saw a bear today aswell. We are in Vancouver Island and we yelled the same way: " BEAR, BEAR, BEAR". And we almost missed out on the photos with this one, but I would be damned if there weren't a shadow on this giganticly zoomed picture that actually looks like a bear...

Location:Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Welcome to The Rockies...

...we have really been looking forward to meeting you!!!!




Oh thank you very much - I have certainly been looking forward to meeting you too! How handsome you are! And nice!

Location:Bow Valley Trail,Canmore,Canada

A fairytale about saving 750 dollars...

Once upon a time a Danish girl figured out that there is a direct train from Vancouver to Toronto. Oh yes. The ride takes three and a half day. And the girl (yup - me) wanted to go as soon as she got to know about it. So I am, Sunday next week!

The regular tickets are absurdly expensive!! It was my condition to travel in Canada with my mother that we had to go with that train. She accepted - even if the tickets are about 1,500 CAD per person! The tickets were bought and we both sighed heavily over the price - on the other hand, this opportunity wont come again anytime soon.

Still, my mother was so smart that she became member of the Canadian railways (Viarail). And then the day before yesterday she received an email from Viarail about a huge 3 day sale on tickets that would make all distances in Canada half price.

I could live with sighing extremely heavily over the costs as long as everybody else were paying as much as we did. But hip and hurray, the expensive tickets were fully refundable online. And oolala, five minutes later Mrs. Meyn and Ms. Milthers purchased the exact same tickets as before - but now only for half the price. A couple of weeks ago I would probably have thought 750 dollars expensive for a train ride, but now it seems like a bargain.
Now that was a true fairytale. Goodnight and sleep tight.

Location:Bow Valley Trail,Canmore,Canada

A rare positive ancestry research outcome...

My mother has an absurd interest in researching her ancestry. This has resulted in finding a lot of people on Facebook sharing her last name (my middle name). There are actually a lot more Canadians than Danes with that last name. Not family only common last name. This was a very long introduction.

The point is that my mother wrote on the Face that she was going to Canada and asked if anybody wanted a visit. Al Meyn wrote her back that we were very welcome at his place including staying for the night. And why not?

So yesterday around noon we were welcomed to the home of Al, Janis and their 3 dogs even if we had never met them before.

During the day and evening, I slowly learned more and more of Al's amazing life. He has been a farmer in Alberta; has worked for the Canadian military for 25 years, which among others has led him to postings in Germany (9 years in all), Cyprus and the former Yugoslavia. He has lived and worked above the arctic circle for a couple of years, and has by the way raised his sons by himself. He has even had his own company at one point and not least been working a couple of years at Vancouver Island, which is where he met Janis. When talking to Al, that being about food, light nights, travels or else, his usual answer often begins with: "that reminds me of when I ... in ...". Almost sounding as if he was a sailor.

We were treated with delicious food. Classic and very Canadian tender and yummi barbecued ribs, grilled potatos, sweet corn and all together with Al's homemade white wine.

Location:Vernon, British Columbia, Canada

New travel buddy

Right now Im sitting at Laara's place, downtown Vancouver, while the mother of mine is blowing candles in the bed... Though she's only been her for 2 days, she has coped with the 9 hours time difference really well. The point is my mother has joined me. Her explanation to come seems to be that she felt sorry for me being so much alone. My explanation is that she was too tempted of my adventures to stay at home. It really doesn't matter. She's here and is staying till 1. July - as am I.



Vancouver is remarkably picturesquely situated - you never notice that the greater city area has approx. one million inhabitants.

Since the weather was beautiful, we rented bicycles to get as much round in town as possibles, for instance University of British Columbia and the only beach with signs saying that clothing is optional. My mother hadn't seen the "warnings" and stated matter of factly that a naked man was lying on the beach...

Yesterday we saw a tree with an extremely wide trunk.

Location:Smithe St,Vancouver,Canada

Just couldn't help it...

...!

I could only get 5 versions within the frame - I could see 12...

Location:Macy's, Seattle

The world's nicest brewers!

I was sort of fed up walking Seattle and couldn't really connect with the city while spending too much time downtown. Something had to happen, so I looked up concert venues with concerts last night, chose one of the cheap underground ones thinking it might be situated in a cool neighborhood and started walking in that direction. That was, I would like to say, damn good thinking!!

While walking through Pike Street to Capitol Hill, the shops changed from chain stores to cosy bars and restaurants. I entered Elysian, a brewery and restaurant that really wanted a visit from a beer thirsty Dane.

I got the last spot in the bar, ordered a beer - the bartenders recommendation: "Mens Room"(name of the beer) and got talking to the people sitting next to me. They turned out to be one of the co-founders, David, and (fng) employee, Matt, and I certainly started connecting with Seattle!

I told about my adventures, they told about Seattle and surrounding, of the story of the brewery, about their beers - I got a ton of tastings along with great passion and good guidance and not least great pride of their beer. Later, one of the brewers, Kevin, joined and he ended up giving me a tour in the brewery showing the same dedication and knowledge and giving me a case of beer so I could get to taste more of their products. I left the bar hours later very happy and very drunk (besides being very tasty, Elysian's beers are also quite strong - and I had a lot of tastings...).

I don't think I can recommend Elysian even slightly enough, but I can say that anyone passing Seattle must visit the place and the wonderful people there!!!


11 of my 12 beers, I gave one to the nice guy, who carried the bag (with beers) up some stairs...

Location:Burrard St,Vancouver,Canada

Overheard in the bus in Seattle

"I was in prison when the ipad was released" and later when asked to tell his story: "Im smoking a lot of weed and Im selling a lot of weed."

He, by the way, entered the bus with a lady yelling after him and his girlfriend:" these two were having sex on the bench."

It's fun taking the bus in Seattle...

Location:Seattle

Moving and mountains

Marie is my girlfriend from India. Or actually, she's from Denmark, but I got to know her when I arrived in India the first time (2003). She had just finished her internship at the Danish Embassy and I were to begin. It was love at first sight, and we spent the next 10 days till her flight back, touring Delhi. Marie played a huge part in my great introduction to Delhi!

The past 3 years, she's been living in the US, because her husband, Jeppe works here. All in all, it was about time, I came visit in Providence, Rhode Island. Their hospitality were incredible - I stayed for 12 days. In return, I helped out with their packing and moving to Boston, at least when Marie and I weren't out touring Rhode Island and surroundings...

Stuff ready to be picked up for storage


Oven cleaning with the Spray of Evil



A well deserved rest day on the couch with the chairs that were ending as garbage.

When the house was emptied, cleaned and cleared, we - literally speaking - filled the car and got on the road. Or to the mountains actually, The White Mountains in New Hampshire, where we'd rented a cabin and spent a couple of days hiking, cooking over fire and drinking wine under the stars.


One full car


Ready for the hike


Sometimes you could doubt whether we actually did follow the trail, like this 100 feet wall (you cant see half of it) - pretty cool climb by the way and it was the trail!



And then 5 km later, 750 m higher in elevation and at least 1,000 more bug bites luckier: Welcome to the "peak" of Mount Jackson with Mount Washington in the background and a classic "Pernille with her hands in the air on the top of something" picture.

Location:Seattle

Being grateful on a Wednesday

I just had a wonderful vietnamese meal in Seattle in a restaurant, which absololutely unreasonably were completely empty (unlike the filled McDonalds but apparently because it actually mainly is a lunch place.

Anyways, I had a conversation with the owner about life. And then he tells me that the reason, his kids are going to get an education is to be able to get the easy jobs, that being the ones well-paid, few hours and in an office.

He is, himself, Chinese, but moved to Vietnam with his parents as a kid, later on with his own family to Indonesia, then Hawaii and now Seattle - every time to follow better job opportunities. I guess he's right...

Location:Seattle

Loving universities

I love education, teaching, universities. I could be called an education geek. Fair enough.

Which is why I've visited quite a few universities so far and tried to learn from the different places. I haven't talked about strategies og focus points (honestly, I'll happily leave that to others). I've wondered around, talked to students and researchers, watched parents and graduates, etc.

Here's a few highlights from the universities in the US.


Isn't it to cry for? Graduation Day at Columbia University, New York - the graduates getting in position for the group photo (and the parents next to them calling their kids to get a picture).


Alumnis from earlier classes are of course present to celebrate the latest in line. Here at Harvard, Boston.

Marie and I spent almost a day at MIT (Massachussets Institute of Technology) and Harvard University both in Boston.

Particularly MIT was amazing - the buildings, the creativity you could feel and see everywhere - not least because research and student projects were exhibited everywhere.


One of the latest buildings by Frank Gehry, inspiring to look at and inspiring to be in.


Marie and Pernille on tour


At MIT, they even exhibit the students' "hacking", like remote controlling the cubboards, change local signs or turn bolted chairs in the auditoriums. The most impossible is to think creative.


Things break when used. Here a 3D printed watch.

The 2 last visits has been to the University of Wisconsins campuses in Whitewater and Madison, each decent sized (even large) universities belonging to the same common single publiv university system in Wisconsin. Whitewater is particular fascinating because it is a rather big university in a rather small town. The students doubles the number of inhabitants.

Madison was fascinating because of the integration of the university in the city. The most important axis in town are between the State Capitol and the head office of the university. When following the axis the city slowly turns in to a university, and they continue a long. There's theatres, cinemas, public parks and museums all over - very welcoming - and well used by the public.

Lots of inspiration and many thoughts - perhaps some day more will come out of my university visits as well. We'll see...

Location:3rd Ave,Seattle,USA

When you're sleeping in your car in a parking lot...

... you can get rewarded with this morning view:



...and morning wild life:

Location:In the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin