scraps and coffee grounds

Vancouver : Terminal City

Vancouver : Terminal city. It’s time to share our last stop of the West coast. Vancouver was the last step of our journey discovering Canada. Like the icing on the cake, the lasts hours in that City were amazing, as all the possibilities the city offers to you.

The Economists Intelligences Unit acknowledged it as the first city ranked among the top-ten of the world’s most well-living cities for five consecutive years.

The few days in this city were awesome, enjoying wonderful sunsets on the beach, walking around the neighborhoods like Gastown, getting lost biking on Stanley park, having fun (and getting scared ?) on Capilano suspension bridge park…

There is a lot to do in the city so it is better to plannify your stay choosing which activities you don’t want to miss.

Whale watching, flying over the Gulf Islands to beautiful Victoria, rent a bike and visit Stanley park, cheering a match of hockey at the Stade BC place… We had only three days but that was very intense, the sunsets on the Pacific coast were magical (English bay, Spanish banks, kipsilano beach were our favorites).

Nearby, Stanley Park, recognized as one of the greatest urban parks in the world, featuring the beach, you have here also the seawall, miles of trails, a pool, a miniature railway…

And the vancouver aquarium, Canada’s largest one. I must say that this a respectful place for animals in look of their safety. I It is definitely a responsible visit: Aquarium research projects extend worldwide, and include marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation.

We loved too China Town and the Dr sun yatse classic Chinese garden.

The Asian community is one of the biggest one in Vancouver, and China Town is the bigger one in Canada. Walking around these streets is amazing, just like two travels in one?.

And a big moment of entertainment was the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. If you like vertigo you don’t have to miss it, with a lot of others activities inside.

Plus, on the way to the park you will cross the Lions Gate Bridge, a national historic site of Canada.

Obviously we enjoy the mystic Gastown, Downtown,Yaletown,South main…but it would probably take weeks to visit all of neighborhoods, that was of course only a little sample.

That’s the end of our Canadian trip, writing these posts have been great despite my bad English and I will love to read them from time to time and remembering all the beautiful places that we visited there. Hope you enjoyed as well!

See you soon for more adventures. Xoxo Sara

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nds

Terminal City

Throwback to Vancouver,last step of our journey discovering Canada. Like the icing on the cake, the lasts hours in that City were amazing,amazing as All the possibilities the city offers to you.

The Economists Intelligences Unit acknowledged it as the first city ranked among the top-ten of the world’s most well-living cities for five consecutive years.

The few days in this city were awesome, enjoying wonderful sunsets on the beach,walking around the neighborhoods like gastown, getting lost biking on Stanley park,having fun (and fear) on capilano suspension bridge park…

There is a lot to do in the city so it is better to plannifie your stay choosing which activities you don’t want to miss.

Whale watching, fliying over the Gulf Islands to beautiful Victoria, rent a bike and visit Stanley park, cheering a match of hockey at the Stade BC place… We had only three days but that was very intense, the sunsets on the Pacific coast were magical (English bay, Spanish banks,kipsilano beach…)

Nearby, Stanley Park, recognized as one of the greatest urban parks in the world, featuring the beach,you have here also the seawall,miles of trails,a pool,a miniature railway,

And the vancouver aquarium,Canada’s largest one. I must say that this a respectful place for animals in look of their safety. I It is definitely a responsible visit: Aquarium research projects extend worldwide, and include marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation.

We loved too China Town and the Dr sun yatse classic Chinese garden.

The Asian community is one of the biggest in Vancouver,and China Town is the bigger one in Canada. Walking around those streets is amazing, just like two travels in one?.

And a big moment of entertainment was the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. If you like vertigo you don’t have to miss it,with a lot of others activities inside.

Plus,on the way to the park you will cross the Lions Gate Bridge,a national historic site of Canada.

Obviously we enjoy the mystic Gastown, Downtown,Yaletown,South main…but it probably take weeks to visit all of neighborhoods,that was of course only a little sample.

Road-trip from Banff to Vancouver

Road-trip from Banff to Vancouver: There are some possibilities to get to Vancouver from Calgary, more or less quick.

We chose to take the road to Golden, through the TransCanada highway, direction to Osoyoos,on the border with the USA, and then go towards the west to Hope.

So we did a few stops on the road, the first one at Golden , on the Beaver Foot Lodge, a wonderful ranch where you can sleep under the stars in old west cars.

On the way you cross the Glacier National Park and no far there is the second step at Revelstoke. You can visit here the Mount Revelstoke National Park, in the Selkirk Mountains and admire the magnificent? of the Columbia River.

Next step was at Verdon.

We loved the location of Vernon, surrounded by three beautiful Lakes: the Okanagan, the Kalamalka lake and the Swan lake.

And another step at Keremeos, not after visiting the Spotted Lake (Osoyoos).

The Spotted Lake is a traditional medicine lake for the Okanagan Syilx people. So you must know that you can only contemplate the view from a fence from the roadside, to keep the site respected.

Then it was time to go to Hope. Leaving behind vineyards, and fruit and vegetable crops.

Along the road we had many good surprises, places that weren’t expected? at all! One of them was Heldey, a small town located at the nickel plate mountain in the Similkameen.

Time here to visit The Hedley Museum or the Mascot Mine Museum, and walk in these pittoresques streets with the view of the gold mine so up that give you vertigo.

And then Hope. Kawkawa lake, Fraiser River, Othello tunnels, the Hope Friendship garden…

Hope has been a popular site to shoot movies, like First blood or Shoot to kill.
That was the last stop to Vancouver but before submerge on the big city we wanted to stop quickly at the Harrison Hot Springs looking for a relaxing bath in the hot springs and why not, in search of the mysterious bigfoot 😉

Next step: Vancouver! Hope you are enjoying that road trip from Banff to Vancouver. See you in the next post!

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Transcanada HighWay

There are some possibilities to get to Vancouver from Calgary,more or less fasts. We chose to take the road to Golden, through the transcanada highway, direction to osoyoos,on the border with the USA, and then go to the west to Hope.

So we did a few steps on the road,the first one at Golden , on the Beaver Foot Lodge,a wonderful ranch where you can sleep under the stars in old west cars.

Next step was at Verdon.

We loved the situation of Vernon, surrounded by three beautiful Lakes,the Okanagan,the Kalamalka lake and the Swan lake.

Another step at Keremeos,not after visit the Spotted Lake (Osoyoos)

The Spotted Lake is a traditional medicine lake for the Okanagan Syilx people. So you must know that you can only contemplate the view from a fence from the roadside, to keep the site respected.

Way to Hope. Leaving behind vineyards, and fruit and vegetable crops.

Along the road we had many good surprises, places that aren’t expected? at all,one of them was Heldey, a small town located at the nickel plate mountain in the Similkameen.

Time here to visit The Hedley Museum or the Mascot Mine Museum,and walk on those pittoresques streets with the view of the gold mine so up that give you vertigo.

And then Hope. Kawkawa lake, Fraiser River, Othello tunnels,the Hope Friendship garden…

Hope has been a popular site to shoot movies,like First blood or Shoot to kill.
That was the last step to Vancouver but before submerge on the big city we wanted to stop quickly at the Harrison Hot Springs looking for a relaxing bath in the hot springs and why not, in search of the mysterious bigfoot 😉

Next step: Vancouver!

The Canadian rockies

The Canadian Rockies: remember my last post? We were in Calgary. And after a little stroll by car (one hour and a half) voilà ! We were finally arrived at Banff. To visit the rockies you will find different “national parks” : they werr created to preserve the health of the environment. You must pay about 9$ per person and per day to enjoy the activities of each park.

Banff national park is the first created in canada and third of the world and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We decided to enjoy the National Park of Banff and the National Park of Lake Louise. And we had a little sketch of the Icefields parkway. Not in our way, so we left behind us the beautiful Jasper (some regrets ;p).

So here’s Banff, the door of the Rocky mountains: you can here bike, hike, kayak, fish…heaven for nature lovers.
Louise Lake
About twenty minutes from Banff, you’ll find another beautiful National Park, with the must see turquoise Louise Lake.
The colour of the lake comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the Lefroy glacier, that overlook the lake.

We’ve found here a way to enjoy the wildlife sightings, including grizzly bear, with the lake louise gondola. We took an open chair and enjoy the views from 2088m, and, on the way back, there was a grizzly bear pacing quiet in these beautiful fields.

Lakes Minnewanka and Morraine

Those are two beautiful lakes that we enjoyed while our journey.

A bighorn and a lot of squirrels, the peaceful water surrounded with this magnificent mountains, a single moment to never forget.

Icefields Parkway
This is a scenic road traversing the rockies, linking the lake louise with jasper. At the south the road terminates at the highway 1, and it will be this one who take us later to the Yoho National Park. But first let’s talk a little more about what we discovered at the highfields parkway.
The icefields parkway is 230 km long, and is better than you check online or ask at visitor center for a map, you’ll find a detail of the road, with all informations you might need.

We enjoy Bow lake, another glaciar lake like lake louise, stunning landscaping with some trails to enjoy.

And here we ended our visit. Wanted to continue to wonderful Jasper, but we had to go on our way to Vancouver. Hope you enjoyed the Canadian Rockies.

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The rockies

Et voilà!after a little stroll from Calgary (one hour and a half) we were finally arrived at Banff. To visit the rockies you will find differents “national parks” they was created to preserv the health of the environment. You must pay about 9$per person and per day to enjoy the activites of each park. Banff national park is the first created in canada and third on the world and is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. We decided to enjoy the National Park of Banff and the National Park of Lake Louise. And we had a little sketch of the Icefields parkway. Not in our way, we left behind us the beautiful Jasper (some regrets ;p)

So, Banff, the door of the rocky mountains, you can here bike, hike, kayak, fish…heaven for nature lovers.

Louise Lake
About twenty minutes from Banff, you’ll find another beautiful National Park, with the mustsee turquoise Louise Lake.
The colour of the lake comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the Lefroy glacier,that overlook the lake.

We’ve found here a way to enjoy the wildlide sightings, including grizzly bear, with the lake louise gondola. We took an open chair and enjoy the views from 2088m, and, on the way back, there was a grizzly bear pacing quiet in these beautiful fields.

Lakes Minnewanka and Morraine

Those are two beautiful lakes that we enjoyed while our journey.

A bighorn and a lot of squirrels,the peaceful water surrounded with this magnificent mountains, a single moment to never forget.

Icefields Parkway
This is a scenic road traversing the rockies, linking the lake louise with jasper. At the south the road terminates at the highway 1, and it will be this one who take us later to the Yoho National Park. But first let’s talk a little more about what we discovered at the highfields parkway.
The icelfields parkway is 230 km long, and is better than you chek online or ask at visitor center for a mape, you’ll find a detail of the road, with all informations you can need.

We enjoy bow lake, another glaciar lake like lake louise, stunning landscap with some trails to enjoy.

And here we ended our visit. Wanted to continue to wonderful Jasper,but we had to go on our way to Vancouver.

Articq experience

Articq experience: a sample of our trip to the northern Norway.

Why we chose that destination? I haven’t a list with the places that I want to discover, all landscapes are envy. Even so, it’s true that I have a preference for warm countries. But to see the northern lights it has always been an unreachable dream. I’ll hope Norway will be overcoat’the souvenir of this great experience. Forth I discovered more and more things to enjoy in this country and the possibilities are endless.
To enjoy the norhthern lights you must go the norther possible, to the norwegian lapland, and Tromso has “cheap” flights, so after a flight reservation on the SAS lines, the researchs online to learn about this place started seriously.

To organise easily my ideas:
-the turism office of tromso (our destination) you can find information of accomodations, activities…

-and the Norway one

Visitnorway.com

You can rent hyttes (cabins) in TromsoCamping.no
And the airbnb system was so helpful to find some accomodations. (Thanks to Anetta, Helene and Tammer).

TROMSØ:

The capital of The artic. This island has the same altitud than groenland, and is the first city on the polard artic. From November to January, the sun stays on the horizon. Then days go longer and you can try to hunt the northern lights, far from the lights of the cities and if the weather is not cloudy or windy.
This fisherman’s city has become quickly an Artic paris, and recently all Globetrotters lovers to nature and extreme experiences put Tromso on their list.

That makes the city more and more attractive for tourism, and its an amazing way to initiate itself to the sami culture (the only European people classified as indigenous and older European culture) and the lights shows, not only of aurora borealis, but also the midnight sun in summer or the beautiful sunsets on fjords.

Fishing, dog or reindeer sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, cycling, sailing, hiking,whale watching…make your own experience on this beautiful country!

That’s one of our favorite trips ever because the magic of the greenlights. A dream come true!

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Calgary : Gateway to the rockies

Calgary : gateway to the Rockies. “Cowtown” Calgary, the Stampede City. The second part of the journey, a road trip on the west coast from Calgary to Vancouver. We decided to rent a car (avis) on calgary to start the road trip and enjoy the way of the trans-canada road.

After the land we had just one day before take the car and start the tour. So only a few hours to get a sample of this city on a beautiful sunny day.

First step, find the motel from the aeroport to the 16th avenue. Then, a little walk around the city. Good surprise, near the motel the “c-train”, The light rail transit system in calgary (LRT) who can take you easily to downtown.

Very soon we can saw the Calgary Tower (191m/626f) between the skycrapers, and enjoy the Olympic Plaza ( yes, I almost forgot that Calgary hosted the winter olympic games on 1988).

The beautiful old building of the City Hall and the Municipal Building are very near and you can enjoy the contrast of two differents architectures close to other attractions.

The Stephen Avenue Walk: a major pedestrian mall in downtown, hotels, cafés, pubs and bars.

And the Barclay Mall towards Prince’s Park. Here and there you can see some aerial walkways from one building to another: fun fact, Calgary has the world’s biggest aerean net, like peatonal bridges, the “+15” because they’re 15 feet high.

Lastly, the Prince’s Park. Developed on an island on the Bow river, linked by three bridges to Eau Claire and Downtown and another one to the north. The park hosts many festivals, we enjoyed the Taste of Calgary Festival, a sample of food and beverages with live entertainment.

No more time for visiting, we must left the sunny gardens and skygrapers and come back to the motel to prepare the road trip to Vancouver.

Hope you enjoyed the visit of Calgary: getaway to the Rockies.

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Gateway to the rockies

“Cowtown” Calgary, the Stampede City. The second part of the journey, a road trip on the weast coast from calgary to vancouver. We decided to rent a car (avis) on calgary to start the road trip and enjoy the way of trans-canada road.

After the land we had just one day before take the car and start the tour. So only a few hours to get a sample of this city on a beautiful sunny day.

Very soon we can saw the Calgary Tower (191m/626f) between the skycrapers, and enjoy the Olympic Plaza ( yes, i almost forgot that Calgary hosted the winter olympic games on 1988).

The beautiful old building of the City Hall and the Municipal Building are very near and you can enjoy the contrast of two diferents architectures close to other atractions.

The Stephen Avenue Walk: a major pedestrian mall in dowtown, hotels, cafés, pubs and bars.

And the Barclay Mall towards Prince’s Park. Here and there you can see some aereal walkways from one building to another: curius fact, Calgary have the world’s biggest aerean net, like peaton bridges, the “+15” because they’re 15 feet high.

Finally, the Prince’s Park. Developed on an island on the Bow river, linked by three bridges to Eau Claire and Downtown and another one to the north. The park hosts many festivals, we enjoyed the Taste of Calgary Festival, a sample of food and beverages with live entertainement.

No much time, must left the sunny gardens and skygrapers and come back to the motel and prepare the road trip to Vancouver.

Quebec:”where the river narrows” 2 days stay tips!

Quebec: “where the river narrows” 2 days stay tips! the middle of our journey, before taking a plane to the west coast.

Firsts steps at the train station, backpackers way towards our hostel.

The firsts impressions watching all those old buildings with green copper roofs, great gardens and beautiful churchs.

After a little rest finally in our room, we arrived at the Old Quebec. One of the oldest cities in the Americas north of Mexico.

We cross the “Porte Saint Jean”, the ramparts, and wanted to get lost on the paved streets.

Next day we enjoyed the must-see Montmorency falls. The falls, at 84 meters high, are the highest in the province of Quebec and 30 meters higher than Niagara Falls.

Coming back from the falls there is the benefit of having nearly the train station to go to the Marché du Vieux Port, a treat for all the senses.

And then we came back to old quebec, discovering the Citadelle, and the Chateau Frontenac, on the top of Cap-Diamant, watching to the Saint Laurent river.

You can enjoy the panorama walking on the Terrasse Dufferin and walking on the streets you can admire the Basilic of Notre Dame.

Then you can joint the “Basse ville” with the “Escalier Casse-Cou” or the funicular, and walk around the art galleries, bistrots, shops of the Petit Champlain’s Quartier, visit the Museum of Civilisation or the Place-Royal.

Hope you enjoyed the list of activities and photos of our stay in Quebec: “where the river narrows” 2 days stay tips. Don’t miss the next stop!

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