on the bus

originally we had decided to take the train from toronto to nyc. well, originally we thought of splitting the vacation in half between toronto and nyc, but toronto won by days and we only stayed in nyc for three nights (which is always better than none!)

we ended up taking the bus and i think i might have committed an offence of sorts by taking this picture...at least there was a lady who was forced to delete a picture she took right opposite me. the 800 or so mile trip cost only 78 euros for us two, but it was looong (train would have been longer).







and why did we choose to sit 12hrs on a bus instead of flying? well, we wanted to see the scenery, and i don't mean these newspaper boxes, and everyone flies, not many people have taken the bus from toronto to nyc and we weren't in a hurry. enough? also, that was one experience i'll likely not forget very soon (there was a chinese couple behind us and the lady kept talking, and talking, and talking, she talked pretty much for 11½ hours, but i have already forgiven her...)







this was as close as we got to the niagara falls. both of us had been there before (albeit, eons ago) so we were satisfied with this view







these people were cruising on a trike, the weather was nice enough for that







our form of transportation







this was taken on a bright and hot afternoon at a gas station somewhere deep in pennsylvania...we got to see some of the locals...i thought such characters were the invention of movie makers...little did i know.







we were told the waterway is the delaware water gap. beautiful scenery, but pictures thru bus window don't make justice







reward at the end of the long day...

toronto pics

we had certain someone's aunt's car at our disposal so, on our way down from noble to toronto, we actually passed toronto and drove to port dalhousie. our initial intention was to drive all the way to niagara-on-the-lake, but nature called and we had to leave the highway. we saw this cute barn on the service road







toronto city hall, we finns like to brag with the fact that it was designed by viljo revell






in big cities...everything goes







i liked the slogan above the entry of bass pro shop in vaughan, ontario. the shop was HUGE, and the mall attached to it was the biggest i've ever seen







we took advantage of the aunt's car and took a drive in downtown toronto, as it was labor day, the jams weren't that bad. the chinatown looked interesting but parking seemed to be a nightmare...







another toronto landmark

around georgian bay

since i won't be doing any cooking this week i thought it might be time for pics from our "north american tour", albeit short one...

getting ready to for a boat tour on georgian bay, weather was perfect, slight breeze and +30C.







we were told this is someone's summer "cottage", i'd love to see their house proper.







wasauksing swing bridge.






the scenery, despite the white pines, were almost like back home.







enjoying the good life.







the craganmor restaurant and lodge.







this hinkley picnic boat was moored at craganmor. and how would i know what this boat is called? well, martha has one...







we stopped at craganmor for lunch only to be told that the catch of the day was on its way...we had some chips, and beers, and by the time the catch hit (literally) the quay, we weren't hungry anymore.







i fell in love with certain someone's cousin's house. the cousin and his wife designed it, had an architect to draw the blueprints, i cannot imagine a different kind of house on that particular location. the scenes are amazing, this from our bedroom window.







i also loved how the house was decorated, with antiques, all mixed well into modern living and not just as show pieces.







ps. cousin and wife, thank you for your hospitality!

somewhere in noble, ontario

had this to watch while eating dinner last night...