At the airport

At the airport, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Travelling on. With the expectation of early check-ins at airports, there is time to wander. This plane was parked next to the one we would be taking, but I thought the flowing lines on the tail fit in more with the sky.

We flew overnight to London and then on to Edinburgh. I was impressed by how smoothly everything went at Heathrow. Airline travel is not a particularly pleasant experience. The quality of food served has deteriorated and it was never stellar; breakfast of a large, overly sweet muffin and coffee that barely touched any coffee grounds was not very appetizing. A night sitting up while trying to sleep while a group of Spanish students chatted animatedly in full voice did not help the experience. But here we are, safely delivered to Edinburgh with many adventures ahead.

Ontario from the train

Ontario from the train, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

I took the train from Montreal to Toronto. I always like when the scenery opens up to reveal Lake Ontario. Farmland slopes down to the water - land cleared long ago by the first European settlers.



Trains pass industrial areas. Nearby this complex structure was a quarry. I guess they are processing the stone. Any other ideas?



As we stopped at a station I noticed this young man whose shirt proclaimed Freedom. I thought about train travel and how it has brought many people to new lives over the years.

I like train travel. It goes at a human pace - you can watch the world go by, peek into places you don't otherwise see and take time to sit, read, doze off and chat with people you would not otherwise have met.

Map

map, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Daily Shoot: Looking back at the year, what was your favorite memory? Illustrate it with a photograph.

This map is used courtesy of World Sites Atlas
In 2010, there is no doubt in my mind that my trip to the Arctic was the highlight. You can read about it in my August entries. Our trip left from Toronto. We flew to Greenland (Kangerlusuak) and boarded a ship for our adventure. The approximate itinerary can be seen below.



Our itinerary changed due to weather, ice conditions, and the need to meet the Canada customs agents who, due to hotel space, had to go to Qiqiqtarjuaq instead of Clyde River. What an experience!

Sept 4/10: Almost Home

Sept 4/10: Almost Home, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I love to travel, as anyone following this blog must realize. But there is something special about coming home again. This photograph was taken through the train window as we approached the station. I love the feeling of recognizing landmarks whether by plane or train as I get closer to the destination. By now, I know that planes approach from the east; if you are on the left side of the plane you can see the Olympic stadium, the oratory and eventually the highway near the airport. I watch for this. On the train from the west I know the area as we approach Montreal Island and each suburb has its landmarks that mean we are getting closer. This time I approached from the north east (though with our crazy mixed up directions in Montreal we came over the bridge from the South Shore) and headed into downtown. The tall office towers greeted us.

I'm home. And ready to enjoy the life that offers: a cat on my lap, food cooking in the oven, and friends nearby with whom to share my many travel stories.

Day 186: Packing

Day 186: Packing, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Ah the joys of packing - tomorrow we are off to Newfoundland. My daughter will hold the fort - caring for the cats, the plants and the house. It's going to be a road trip, so I have a devil may care attitude - pack what I want - it will all be in the car.
I am leaving the kitchen sink at home - but camera, instruments, clothes, hiking shoes, binoculars... the list has grown.
I'll be keeping up with my daily writing and photos, logging in when I can so the posts will be sporadic. Off on an adventure.

Day 174: Shoes

Day 174: Shoes, originally uploaded by susanvg.

It's that time of year, when schools close and people go off on vacations. These shoes have already done a fair amount of travelling, to Prince Edward Island, to Budapest, Croatia, Paris, London and more. This summer they are going to Newfoundland.

At a conference a few years ago I heard a speaker talk about a retired teacher who after a number of years away from the classroom still did supply teaching. When she had been assigned to a particularly difficult class, the principal decided to check on how she was handling things. He arrived at the class to see her lying on the desk. Her shoes were on a shelf above and the students all had their heads down as they listened to her story of where her shoes had taken her through life. She challenged them to imagine where their shoes would take them.

I 'm looking forward to more adventures in these shoes, and in any shoes that take their place. Where are your shoes going?