Facts and Factoids

• Canada is a quizzer's fact finding dream. It is huge, the second largest country in the world, after Russia. It spans six time zones and stretches across half the northern hemisphere.
• It has the world’s longest coastline at 202,080 kilometres.
• Canada has more lake surface area  than the rest of the world's lakes combined.
• Its border with the United States is the world's longest international land border.
• This is a sparsely inhabited country, with 40 million people, most of whom live south of the 55th parallel in urban areas. Canada's capital is Ottawa and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
• When Jaques Cartier, a French explorer, came to the New World, he met with locals, who invited them to their ‘kanata’ (the word for ‘village’). Cartier  mistakenly thought the name of the country was “Kanata” or Canada. And so Canada was named village
• Native Canadians are referred to as First Nations people. They make up about four percent of the population.
• The majority of the first Nations people live in Canada’s far north, the frozen Arctic, where, ice, snow and glaciers dominate the 580,000 square miles of landscape. In some areas it snows for six months of the year. Canada's nickname is 'The Great White North'. because so much of this northern territory is untouched and unexplored.

• The British monarch is the head of state of Canada. The monarch is represented by a governor-general, who has very limited powers. Laws are made by Canada’s elected federal government, which includes a parliament and a prime minister.
• The vast majority of Canada’s trade is with close neighbour, the United States. Canada exports fish, furs and other natural resources (and has done since since the 1500s).
• This is the world's most educated country; over half its residents have college degrees.

Canucks

Canadians are colloquially known as Canucks. They don’t seem to mind; it’s an affectionate term, which began as an Americanism, originally referring to Dutch or French Canadians. There’s even a Johnny Canuck, a folklore hero, who figured in a political cartoon in Victorian times and evolved into Captain Canuck, a 1970s Canadian comic book superhero.

A Very Brief History of Canada

• The first people to come to Canada arrived possibly 30,000 years ago across a land bridge which joined Asia to North America.
• The Viking explorer Leif Eriksson reached Newfoundland around 1,000 A.D. It's believed that he tried to establish a settlement, but it didn’t survive for very long.
• Then, in the sixteenth century, French and British explorers arrived. Giovanni Cabot mapped the coast and claimed the land for Henry VII and England and Cartier claimed it for Francis and France. They were followed by settlers. The English prospered more than the French and were awarded most of the lands in the Treaty of Utrecht, 1713.
• There was generally cooperation (followed by treaties) with the indigenous peoples, who were less happy over later years, when asked to integrate. Land disputes between farmers and fur traders led to four wars between 1689 and 1763. The final war, called the French and Indian War, left the British in control of Canada, but the French influence continued to be strong, especially in Quebec and Acadia (in the Maritime Provinces).

• (Britain’s Quebec Act of 1774 granted Quebec its own legal and religious rights. Despite this, many Quebecois still agitate for independence. Votes were held in 1980 and 1995, and the result was increasingly close, but not close enough.)
• In 1776, Benjamin Franklin visited to try and persuade the Canadians to join the American Revolution. He decided it would be easier to buy Canada, than to conquer it. But he didn't succeed with either.
• The United States still had to be repulsed (1812-1814) when the now independent colonies thought to add Canada to their own lands. Victory over Napoleon confirmed British dominance. Ottawa emerged as the capital, as the endpoint of the Rideau Canal, part of a network of forts, built by Wellington, to prevent the U.S.A. from invading Canada again.
• In 1867, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick combined to form the Dominion of Canada, with its own government, parliament and prime minister – and Manitoba joined soon after. In 1931, Canada became an independent nation.
• Today, Canada remains many nations in one, living in ten provinces and three territories. Descendants of British and French immigrants make up about half the population. The rest of the population derives from European and Asian immigrants. First Nations peoples make up about four percent. Inuit peoples live mostly in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. They are not classified as First Nation, as they are not of Indian origin.

The Difference Between Canadians and Americans

• On first acquaintance, the USA and Canada can appear quite similar. The road signs, fines (double through road works) and rules seem to be the same. But in Canada the metric system is used (and unlike the UK is totally consistent) and distance is measured in kilometres, rather than miles.
• Canadian English is at times spelled like American English. But at others, it's more British. For example, they use double l in words such as cancelled and it's humour not humor. But centre is still sadly center. And the vocabulary is more American – elevator, sidewalk, apartment.
• French fries are still fries, but they are also chips. especially when paired with fish or sold from 'chip trucks'.
• A toilet is a washroom, not a coy restroom.
• Canadians are more formal and reserved than Americans. They say ‘Hello’, when you meet. not Hi.
• They are very much more about the great outdoors - shootin’, huntin’, fishin’, and hikin’.
• Most importantly of all, Canadians have a distinct aversion to being identified as American. If you're not sure, assume Canadian.

Tipping Culture

Tipping in Canada is perhaps even more traumatic now than it is in the USA. You can’t even buy a bottle of water at a drinks stand without being presented with a card machine which advises you to select one from 15, 20 or 25% for your ‘server’.

What To Do in Canada

• Canada is enormous, so its going to take a lot of time to explore.
• The cities are worth visiting, especially Vancouver and Montreal, but the main attraction has to be the world of nature and The Great Outdoors. Canada has 41 national parks and three marine conservation areas.
• There is stunningly beautiful countryside on the Atlantic coast and in the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia and Vancouver Island are glorious. The prairies roll along in the centre.
• The fall colours are wonderful
• Whale watching, fishing, skiing, hiking
• Niagara Falls, the CN Tower and Toronto all fit together
• Read about my trips here:
  • Across Canada - Vancouver to Halifax on the VIA Canadian Train - The Big Trip 9
  • Maritime Canada
  • Newfoundland and Labrador

New Seven Wonders - Cities

Recently, I've been obsessed with bucket lists and whether or not I agree with the findings of votes (or committees) who decide what goes on these rolls of honour. When I was looking at The Seven Wonders of the World, the 'New Seven Wonders - Cities' list caught my attention. The Swiss Foundation managed vote suggested: Durban, South Africa, Vigan (Philippines), Havana (Cuba), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Beirut (Lebanon), Doha (Qatar), La Paz (Bolivia).

This is a weird and eclectic collection. Maybe it's designed to be alternative. They're all interesting cities. Well, nearly all. Durban I just don't get. Nice beaches, theme parks and a lot of crime. Though it has been renovated, since I was there, in 2003. Give me Cape Town any time. Vigan's a gorgeous colonial city, but there are plenty of those, especially in Latin America. I'm not sure it stands out.

Havana has colonial architecture and more modern communist era buildings. And that mid last century vibe. La Paz: witch's market, colonial architecture and that wonderful gondola transport system. Beirut: 'The 'Paris of the East', a mix of religious buildings, pavement cafes and a pretty corniche. But lots of renovation, still ongoing, to repair war damage. Doha - ultra modern, with a tiny old souq and falconry area. I'll take Abu Dhabi instead. (Dubai is too large and artificial.) Kuala Lumpur, again a mix of colonial and modern. But, it's not my favourite Asian city.

What criteria do you use to choose a favourite (or Bucket List) city? I suppose for me its a mixture of beauty - aesthetic appeal, general vibe, interesting things to do and see (galleries, unusual buildings, monuments, sculptures, living history and lovely things to eat.

Here's my list. There's no way I can stick to just seven, so I've come up with a cunning plan. I'm going to incorporate the latest fashion for dupes, or duplicates (usually at lower cost). The idea annoys me instantly, of course, Not least as it's a silly word which implies you've fallen for some con trick. No place has a duplicate. But some are more similar than others...

Beautiful Cities - Venice

Let's start with beauty. It might be a cliche, but it has to be Venice. It wasn't love at first time. The first visit was classically crowded and smelly. But the second time I went, in the Time of Covid, Venice was bereft of tourists. I actually got to see what the city looked like. It was utterly gorgeous, sublime, despite the ghoulish Don't Look Now images, which intrude, as I wander the canals. There's absolutely no duplicate for Venice, but there's always Florence (or Bologna, or Milan, or the cities of Sicily. Not to mention Rome.

Feasts of European Architecture - Vienna (Budapest and Prague)

Staying with European cities which are historically and architecturally interesting. All of the European capitals (and many other cities, such as Munich) warrant a visit. but three cities on rivers stand out here, the first two, on the Danube. It's hard to beat Vienna, the capital of Austria, if you like somewhere stylish to wander around. Baroque buildings, palaces, museums and gardens to admire, The Prater Park (Harry Lime on the wheel) and a plethora of coffee shops. And nip up the Danube, in a boat, to Bratislava, a pocket city that's a mini Vienna, just over the border, in Slovakia. Two for the price of one.

Further east on the Danube, Budapest, capital of Hungary, makes for a great stay, with the old and new cities, again plenty of interesting architecture, (Disneyesque crenellations), vibrant edgy quarters and lovely food.

Prague, capital of Czechia, is closer to Bratislava (for some time they were in the same country) but it's on the Vltava River. The waterway divides the city, as it does in Budapest and again it's a veritable feast of architecture, right through to modern day and The Dancing House, castles, museums and eateries.

Colonial Cities - Cartagena, (St Louis, Granada, Antigua, Willemstad)

Further afield, but still with architecture, it's generally the Spanish colonial cities, which delight the eye. Cartagena in Colombia, has to take the crown. But sadly it's on the cruise circuit and the streets are too often too crowded to properly enjoy. Otherwise, head to Latin America. Granada, in Nicaragua is gorgeous (thrown in Leon too), Antigua in Guatemala (not the island) is another strong contender (go during Easter week for the celebrations and carpets of flowers). I've already mentioned Havana and Vigan.

French colonial atmosphere - try the Caribbean or Vietnam. But it's strong in Africa, perhaps most notable in Saint Louis, in Senegal, the old capital of French West Africa. It's a satisfying contrast, to the bush and rainforest, with its shabby chic and overflowing markets. My other pick is Willemstad, in Curacao, for its (almost toy town) clusters of bright pastel painted Dutch colonial houses.

All of these cities are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, except for Granada, which has been hovering on the tentative list, since 2003

Culturally Enchanting Cities - Samarkand (Esfahan, Varanasi, Fez)

Cities which draw you into their culture through their beauty and ambience are perhaps my favourite. I've chosen Samarkand, in Uzbekistan. The Registan ensemble of Islamic buildings is an absolute must see. It's also home to other glorious mosques and complexes, as well as ancient Samarkand. (Don't miss Bukhara and Khiva while you're there.)

Esfahan, in Iran, offers a very different Islamic experience, with its souks, palaces, squares and amazing domes. Fez, in Morocco, has one of the most authentic and winding souks in the Arab world, though the sour smell (some would say stink), in the world renowned tanneries may prevent you from staying in that section overlong.

For an unforgettable spiritual experience, then it's Varanasi. Like much of India, it's uncomfortably crowded, dirty and overwhelming at times. But take a boat trip on the Ganges, watch the hugely spiritual cremation ceremonies on the ghats, take in the astonishing light, at dawn or dusk, and listen to the inspiring music.

Cities With Beautiful Settings - Cape Town, (Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, San Francisco, Tel Aviv)

CIties voted to have the most beautiful setting almost inevitably have natural harbours. Cape Town, South Africa, Sydney, Australia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Vancouver, Canada, and San Francisco, U.S.A, all qualify here. And they all regularly feature on best city lists and best places in the world to live.

Except for maybe Cape Town, as South Africa still has a reputation for crime and violence. But I'm still going to make it my number one. The beaches are gorgeous, the food and architecture are great, there's a huge amount to see in the vicinity, from wildlife to wine estates, the view of the Twelve Apostles backdrop is stunning and Table Mountain is iconic, from above, or below.

I'm also going to sneak in Tel Aviv-Yafo. It may not have the same mountain scenery, and only a small harbour, but The Big Orange, in Israel, has a long string of lovely beaches, the old city at Yafo (Jaffa) and plenty of cafes, museums and an extraordinary amount of Bauhaus architecture, in The White City area, to explore.

Mega Cities - New York (Chicago, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Singapore)

And then there are the mega cities, the ones which offer history, diversity and an endless list of sights and experiences and one visit just won't do. New York often tops best city in the world lists for good reason. We get to interact with all those landmarks we've seen on TV. And there are some great panoramas and fabulous restaurants. Though I've never rated the shopping.

Chicago is another close contender, with its 1930s vibe. Further south, Buenos Aires is another city you can walk for days, taking in the barrios from up market Palermo to La Boca, home of the tango.

Istanbul is mostly in Europe (it's the largest city of that continent), but it spills over the Bosphorus into Asia, making it unique and exciting. And Singapore, the city state, which continually reinvents itself: China Town, Little India, The Bay Gardens. It's one huge theme park. I'm not sure if I like it, but there's plenty to do.

The City That Has it All - London

So many contenders. Ghent, in Belgium, some of the Dutch cities. I really wanted to include Lisbon (and Porto). You may have noticed that I've missed out Paris. It's undoubtedly a lovely city, in parts, but its also very one dimensional and urban. Romantic? I'm not sure. And I've never had a good meal there. I think it's had very good PR.

But one city has to get the final mention and that's London. The place of my birth frequently tops polls for best city in the world, and with reason. It's historic, once the largest city on earth, vibrant, hugely diverse, both in terms of population and architecture and city areas. The food is great (if expensive) and you never run out of new things to see and do. And, apologies, that makes eight.

What would your Cities of the World Bucket List be?

Across Canada

I've arrived from Fiji and the next part of my Big Trip is a train journey right across Canada. And Canada is definitely big. I'm excited to be travelling across the second largest country in the world, from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic. And I'm running parallel with the the world's longest bi-national land border - 5,525 miles of it. (That makes for interesting politics and relationships with the USA).

I'm making stopovers in Canada's three largest metropolitan areas: Toronto, Montreal, and, first of all Vancouver. But I've decided there isn't time for Ottawa (which people are often surprised to learn is the capital.)

Vancouver

Vancouver - in a Nutshell

• Vancouver grew, and made its money through its natural harbour. It became a hugely important trading link.
• But the city traces its origins to the site of a makeshift tavern on the edge of a mill. The owner was known as Gassy Jack so the area was called Gastown. The original site is marked by the Gastown steam clock, which still steams away.
• The city was renamed Vancouver in 1886, through a deal with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). (He was a British. naval explorer).
• Vancouver gave rise to Greenpeace in 1969 and is home to the TED conferences.
• It's been awarded the twin accolades of best place in the world to live and one of the most expensive.

A Trolley Bus Tour of Vancouver

And shellshock. It's freezing (well 12 degrees) and pouring with rain in Canada. Full of jet lag (I've lost five hours this time, coming from Fiji) and shivering, so I decide the best option is a trolley bus tour to refresh my memories of 'The Number 1 Place in the World to Live'. Except that the windows all steam up, so I can't see out and it's so cloudy that there isn't much to see anyway.

I remember that Vancouver has great mountain scenery and a fabulous harbour, best seen from a viewpoint the other side of the harbour. Other than the views the highlights were the Museum of Anthropology - totem poles and Native American carvings and boats-, the old section, around the Gas Clock, and the terrifying pedestrian Capilano Suspension Bridge (not to be confused with the small iron Port Mann coathanger in the harbour, which I understand has now been blown up and replaced with a brand new suspension bridge).

Stanley Park

But today I will have to accept what I'm told and rely on my memories. The driver says it's the first day of fall and it always rains in the fall. If I recollect correctly it rained the last time I came, and that was in the spring.

A quick foray into the mall to stock up on fleeces seems a good idea. I also buy an umbrella so that I can shield my camera from the downpour. Then I take a risk and get off the trolley in Stanley Park to take pictures of city scrapers across the water and the totem poles. The umbrella idea doesn't work; practical multi tasking is beyond me, as I can't balance the brolly and depress the button at the same time. (Last visit's pictures were better). It's tipping it down really hard and there is little shelter so I decide I had better walk up to the next stop. Cars driving past take great delight in sending up great waves of water as they speed along. I am drenched. Finally, I flag down another trolley bus. Then it breaks down.

And the people are so grumpy and rude. Is it the weather? I've been barged past repeatedly. If you give way or hold the door no-one says thank you. I even had a battle with the taxi driver yesterday who tried to cheat me. And when I try to chat to people on the bus they look at me as if I'm mad.

The only good thing I have to report is that the leaves on the trees here are beginning to turn. That augurs well for the rest of the trip. And at least I leave tonight.

Vancouver Island

On my last trip here I flew the 60 miles over to Vancouver Island.( I got the ferry back) The American president's Airforce 1 was sitting on the runway. It was a scenic and worthwhile visit. Victoria, capital of British Columbia on the tip, is full of colonial charm. It is the southernmost major city in Western Canada and one of the oldest in the Pacific Northwest, with British settlement beginning in 1843. The city's most famous landmark is the Parliament Buildings, home of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The city's Chinatown is the second oldest in North America after San Francisco's. There is also a huge Japanese influence.

I stayed in the harbour city of Nanaimo, with friend Jenny's relatives. Nanaimo is possibly most famous for having a chocolate dessert bar named after it, though there is some suggestion that the recipe was actually also made in Alberta, under the name London Fog.

The mountain scenery is stunning. There's a range named Golden Hinde after Drake's ship. The Pacific Rim Park on the west coast is bleak, blustery and wonderful.

En Train - The Canadian

The train chugs past hills that gradually increase in height to mountains capped with the first snow of the winter, turquoise rivers and endless fir trees mingled with birch and aspen. These are turning a golden yellow and when the sun peeps out, as it does on occasion, the views are glorious. Unfortunately, there is still some rain as well. There are very few inhabitants, just the odd lumberjack at a saw mill or floating logs, or a farmhand feeding the pigs, and a sprinkle of log cabins.

The VIA Rail train - (The Canadian) is great fun. (And a great deal cheaper than the Rocky Mountaineer). It's fifties refurbished steel, typical diner style and is very long. They board economy on a different platform and then hook the cars on the front. There are observation cars and a dining car, as well as an activities car. I expect I shall avoid that. I have a dinky little cabin with my own washbasin, a toilet that doubles as a foot stool (a little bizarre) and a fold down bed.

The other passengers seem to be tour groups, mostly grizzlies of American/Australian nationality, several English. We travel at snail's pace for the first part of the journey, leaving in the evening, when we are offered champagne and canapés to celebrate. The steward says that he had been instructed to give us one glass each. Then he winks and tells us that if our glass is empty that means he can give us one glass. And he hands me a tumbler full anyway.

On Board The Canadian

Using the camera is even more problematic than trying to photograph fish, with the rain and reflections. The train speeds up at all the wrong moments, or a tree, another train or power lines appear, just as I squeeze the trigger. I suspect most of the collection so far will have to be deleted. The food is flowing freely. It's like being on a cruise. Other than the three main meals, in the dining car, there are drinks, pastries and fruit being handed out all day.

Skiing in Canada

Last time, Jenny and I drove from Vancouver. We skirted Lake Maligne and skied at Silverstar in the Monashee Mountains. It turned out, fortuitously, that Jenny's cousin lived in Vernon, nearby, and made ski videos. Surprisingly, and delightfully, the slopes were deserted. The snow was gorgeous and there was plenty of it still at Easter. The mountain restaurants here are also a surprise. wild west style, but carpeted.

The Canadian Rockies

Jasper, Canada

Then, into the Rocky Mountains, being forced to take a 200 mile diversion, over the continental divide and into Alberta, as there was a landslide, and the only way to get to Banff was north, via Jasper. It was a very long day. Jenny got stopped for speeding and received a long lecture from the Mountie, who then let us off. But a scenic diversion and worth it for the views of Mount Athabasca and a visit to the glacier and frozen waterfalls there.

We made it to Banff in the end. Again worth it for more stunning scenery, and frozen cascades, glittering Lake Louise and the famous Hood Doos guarding the valley.

This afternoon, I'm back into Alberta on my train, losing yet another hour, and stopping at Jasper in the centre of Canada's largest Rocky Mountain park. Five hundred and fifty miles so far. When Jenny and I got to Jasper, we walked down the high street with an elk. This time no elks in town - they have been discouraged, but a pair are swimming in a river. Jasper is still a two street town, but I had forgotten how stunning the mountain backdrop is and it's a good opportunity for me to get a little exercise and take some pictures that aren't blurred. And it is just like a cruise, as everyone piles off and hits the shops with instructions to make sure that they are back on time. Which doesn't give us long, as the train is already running fifty minutes late.

Onwards, Through Alberta

I have palled up with a lady called Hilary, who has the 'roomette' opposite mine. She departs with her tour group at Jasper, so I speak to the attendant, Dionne (who only attends to sleeping quietly in his own cabin as far as I can see) and establish that no-one will be occupying her space until tomorrow. So I requisition it as my en-suite. That means I can leave the bed down in my room and admire the scenery of Canada from under my warm duvet.

I've slept through Edmonton at midnight and now we're heading for Saskatchewan and then Manitoba and the loss of yet another hour. The pace is very variable. Sometimes we really crawl and we often have to stop entirely and wait for the two mile long freight trains to pass, as they apparently have precedence. We only speed up if there is a photo opportunity. In an unexpected burst of energy Dionne tells me that the train has been known to run as much as 18 hours behind.

Saskatchewan, Canada

We have left the mountains behind, and for some time I can see only forest in every direction. Then the landscape flattens into prairies and skyscraper silos, but it still holds the eye. To my surprise, I am too engrossed to read at all. The wheat fields are prettier than their American cousins, more undulating, interspersed with areas of wetland, rippling reed mace and waterfowl, dappled with sunshine. A stag is drinking at one lake. There is a smattering of chocolate roll hay bales - very David Hockney. And the trees are definitely looking more and more autumnal. There are also giant heaps of pink potash.

Surprisingly, Saskatchewan and Alberta are the only landlocked provinces of Canada. Huge Hudson Bay to the north dips down to Manitoba. Saskatchewan has 100,000 lakes though - 10% of its total area. No sea means no moderating bodies of water, so the winters here are severe. Temperatures below - 45 °C are possible. And, confusingly, today, the temperature has climbed up past 20 degrees in sunny Saskatchewan and my cabin has turned from fridge to oven. It's great that the increasingly mellow foliage is magnificently illuminated.

Saskatoon

I leap off at Saskatoon (great name), the capital of Saskatchewan, and home to half the inhabitants of the province. But there is nothing there to see. A grubby little station, a few trees and a lot of railway sidings. Still, it's sunny, if very fresh, and I loiter very close to the train. I'm terrified it will leave without me.

Manitoba, Canada

Manitoba is the centre of Canada, the most easterly of the three great prairie provinces. There are some stunning river valley views. It's just a shame the train is going too fast to take many decent pictures. I jump off the train again at the capital, Winnipeg, but it's nine in the evening and everything is closed, except for a pub. Just time to pick up some WiFi and do my emails. Catching up with work is a good way to get stressed just before bedtime....

Playing Sardines

Life in a sardine can is becoming a little tiresome, especially as I am now deprived of my en-suite. I can't reach or find anything without scrabbling around and banging my head. I have to reverse back down the corridor every time I meet someone going the other way. The other passengers, are not super friendly. Neither is the service. One of the waitresses is called Sunny and she is not aptly named. Slip-Slap-Slop would be more appropriate.

My fellow tourists seem to spend the majority of their time on board sleeping. I've ended up eating most of my meals with some Germans, so the conversation hasn't exactly flowed. As you will probably have deduced by now I'm grumpy; I haven't been sleeping very well. The train is noisy, there are numerous untraceable rattles, and it bumps along; the track was so bad last night that I was convinced that a derailment was imminent.

Ontario, Canada

The scenery is still fascinating, however. Now we're traversing Ontario - it's massive. It's going to take nearly two days to cross, and it's been forests and lakes glittering in the sun all day. There are endless skinny spiked firs, but their sombre green is continually enlivened with the fiery orange and yellow of birch and aspen and the odd crimson carpet.

Various activities are announced as we roll along. We even have musicians on board. They are very pleasant girls, I was chatting to them yesterday at dinner. But I refuse to take time out from the view. I even forgo lunch today. Though, to be honest, I'm still suffering from my late breakfast. And there are mountains of free fruit, not to mention cookies and croissants, in the park cars.

Today's stop is at Hornepayne, which appears to be a fifties 'old' station, with a few murals and, quel surprise (have to practise the French again), little else.  Talking of French, it's very reassuring listening to the English speaking Canadians attempting to make their announcements in French. Their accent is truly execrable and it's peppered with 'ooh la las'. I can't decide if they are being deliberately subversive.

An Itchy Night

More drama - at dinner I begin to itch and when I undress later, in the hopes of a good night's sleep to end my journey I discover that my whole body is covered in red angry bites. Really odd as I've been fully clothed the whole trip. I summon my new cabin attendant, who luckily takes her job a little more seriously than Dionne and we strip the bed and examine it for wildlife. Nothing to be seen, but she replaces the whole lot. The only other possibility is the shower, which is at the end of the corridor. I shan't be having another one of those till I get to my hotel. Meanwhile, here's to an itchy night.

Toronto, Canada

Toronto - in a Nutshell

• Located on the north-western shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is the biggest city in Canada, the fourth biggest in North America and a cultural centre. The TV networks are based here.
• Toronto is also the capital city of Ontario
• It is a major international hub for business, finance, arts, and culture.
• The city is recognized as one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan urban areas in the world - over half of its residents were born outside Canada.
• The diverse economy is driven by technology, financial services, media, and tourism,
• The area was originally called Toronto, derived from the Mohawk word tkaronto, meaning 'where there are trees standing in the water'. But, in 1793, British Governor John Graves Simcoe renamed it the Town of York, to honour King George III's son (the Duke of York) and to stamp British authority on the land. Local residents disliked the name, and the settlement officially reclaimed its original name when it incorporated as the City of Toronto, in 1834.

I had thought the Canadians were trying to make up for other shortcomings by personalising the phone service, but it seems that Rogers is the Canada equivalent of Vodafone. I'm in Toronto, drinking what is billed as the best apple martini in the world. It probably is too. The steak is pretty wonderful as well! Ah civilisation!!!!!! My agent must have got a good deal on this hotel - The Royal York, polished wood, chandeliers and its own little arcade of shops.

I woke up to a completely different world. Little homesteads, clapboard houses and crimson trees. I've done very well. The weather is unseasonably gorgeous, I seem to be dragging a warm front along with me and fall is at its peak. I'm not sorry to leave the train. I had the service manager taking photos of my bites. When I finally got off the train, the ground was still swaying and I thought for a moment I was in a time slip. London, Kingston and Brentford were all on the departure board.

Toronto - Deja Vu

Toronto is pretty much as I expected; it's unremarkable. Half the place seems to be under reconstruction, which might account for the whiffs of sewage I keep experiencing. Perhaps the most interesting area is fashionable Yorkville with its high-end boutiques, galleries and design studios, especially on Bloor Street's 'Mink Mile'. Here are the chic cafes, polished bars and fine-dining restaurants. Its posh hotels host Hollywood insiders during the Toronto International Film Festival. Side streets are lined with picture-postcard Victorian homes with ornamental gardens.

Otherwise, I replicate past city jaunts. Up the CN tower. At 553.3 metres tall, the communications and observation tower was completed in 1976. Its name 'CN' refers to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower and it held the record for the world's tallest free-standing structure for 32 years, from 1975 until 2007, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa, and was the world's tallest tower until 2009 when it was surpassed by the Canton Tower. There's a great view of my hotel, from above.

Then, an open top bus tour: Casa Loma (a mock Gothic castle and historic mansion),The Distillery District (pedestrian-only brick pathways and reconstructed Victorian industrial architecture) the St. Lawrence Market ( a bustling, historic food market), the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Chinatown and Kensington Market and Sankofa Square (the busy commercial heart of downtown).

Finally, out in a boat, to see the skyline view from Lake Ontario. It's very pleasant, and how can I complain when there isn't a cloud in the sky? But it's all been done better elsewhere on the trip. (Except possibly for the martini.)

En Train and Off Train

I'm still itching. And my face is still red; my nose has begun to peel again. However, the glorious weather continues and I'm about to catch the train again, to Montreal. My body hasn't realised it's left the train yet. I'm sure we pulled out of a station, as I got out of bed this morning. Today's journey is initially a mixture of suburbia and views across Lake Ontario, then farmland and woods, as we follow the St Lawrence River.

Montreal

Montreal - in a Nutshell

• The area around here was originally the Iroquoian village of Hochelaga before French colonists founded it as Ville-Marie in 1642.
• They later renamed it Montreal, after its central mountain, Mount Royal.
• It is the largest city in Quebec, the second-most populous metropolis in Canada, and the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the world after Paris.
• The city is built on Montreal Island at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers,
• The climate here is 'humid continental' 'climate' with hot summers and snowy winters.
• Montreal is a major global hub for high-tech industries, including aerospace, artificial intelligence, and video game development.
• The city is internationally famous for its distinct culinary staples, most notably Montreal-style bagels, smoked meat, and poutine.

To begin with, Montreal is a little daunting. The French announcements take precedence over the English ones, the second we enter Quebec; all the signs and billboards are in French. However, on short acquaintance Montreal promises much more than Toronto. It has atmosphere, a proper old town and port (as in eighteenth century), a church round every corner, cobbled streets full of cafes, bars that spill over onto the street and those expensive boutiques that have wooden floors and one rack of clothes. In the newer downtown areas, the old melds with the new. You would have to say Montreal was both hip and happening.

Montreal - Parfait

Dorchester Square and Place du Canada - premium addresses and transport hubs, with the Canada Life Building looming overhead, statues, cathedrals and cemeteries coming and going (they moved the bodies around depending on which was considered to be the dominant and therefore appropriate church).

The old town seems to be called interchangeably the Old Town and the Old Port. Place d'Armes, Place de Jacques Cartier and Place Royale are the hubs here, surrounded by more historic buildings than you can shake a stick at.

Place d'Armes is home to the ornately decorated Basilica of Notre Dame. The square here symbolically features an Englishman carrying a bulldog and a Frenchwoman bearing a poodle. The people are facing away from each other, but the dogs are eager to make friends.

Place de Jacques Cartier honours the French explorer who instigated much of the early French settlement in Canada. It's lined with cafes and is buzzing with tourists. Just to the west, Le Champs de Mars and the imposing City Hall. East, on the waterfront the Notre Dames de Bon Secours Chapel, highly embellished with statues, (you can't miss it ) and the domed Bonsecours Market, full of mid range aspiring to be high end shops and cafes. For a year, it was home to the national parliament.

Place Royale marks the place where Montreal's' first fort, Ville-Marie was built. This was required because of persistent incursions by the native Iroquois. Today, it's the site of the Old Customs House. There's also Molsen's, the oldest bank in Canada and underground passages.

I stroll along the waterfront taking pictures of the museums, in the old town, and the Jacques Cartier Bridge and adjacent port clocktower (British design) in the sunset. looking across to the Biosphere peeping above the trees, on St Helen's Island. The waterfront is where all of Montreal meets, jogging, cycling, walking, sunbathing on the strips of fake beach, or sitting in cafes. The old port is actually home to a marina where there are scores of modern boats, all berthed neatly in rows.

There are are old boats, however - the oldest tug in North America - in the more southerly national historic site, the Lachine Canal. This is the industrial section, with a row of flour mills, belching smoke and brutalist, hip apartments. The trees around the busy Old Port are just the sort of bright autumn red that you only see in photographs. I can prove it. And best of all, the inhabitants move smoothly from French to English without batting an eyelid, let alone tutting at your effrontery in using English or your poor French grammar. Parfait.

Mont Real

Up 400 steps to the Mount Royal Park lookout, the Kondiaronk Belvedere, offering views across the Island of Montreal. (The penny has just dropped - it's not Mon-tree-all it's Mont Real.) I discover plenty of fall colour. The trees here are like a tequila sunrise, yellow at the bottom, turning to flame orange in the middle and vermilion on top. And still a perfect blue sky backdrop.

I also find a festival preceding a football game, complete with cheerleaders and whooping. Montreal is renowned for its festivals; it hosts the largest jazz festival in the world. More great views across the town and river. Scrambling down a gravel side path, in an attempt to avoid all the joggers, I am pelted by acorns. It's not windy - is it the squirrels? Anyway, they hurt, a lot. I'm really glad I've never been hit by a coconut.

Downtown Montreal

Then all through Downtown, It's just like walking down Oxford Street. although here the busiest shopping street is St Catherine's Street. It's the backbone of Montreal, nine miles long, home to historic buildings such as the Bay Trading Company. Montréal has numerous different quarters, with unexpected pedestrian areas. Iconic, graffiti strewn St Laurent Boulevard (also dubbed Main) historically divides the city into east and west and is a cultural hub, with galleries and museums. It segues into the Quartier des Spectacles, the arts and entertainment district, located in the eastern section of Downtown Montreal, designed as a centre for Montreal's cultural events and festivals. It's excitingly packed with squares, stages and sculptures.

Around here, and in the Business District many buildings extend underground forming a cunningly contrived U shape linked with escalators, lifts and tunnels. This is Montreal's Underground City. Shops, food courts and performing areas are mixed with national and municipal offices. It began as a welcome retreat from the snow and cold of winter.

Then there's The Village, with a focus on the LBGQT population, university areas (notably McGill, very well located Downtown), the cultural areas - look to Quartier Spectacles and trendy ( I can't keep saying hip) Plateau, beneath Mont Royal, where I'm staying. (Manoir Sherbrooke is extremely pleasant) with a plethora of pavement cafes, especially on Rue St Denis. (This is the area where the locals go to hang out and is less visited by tourists). Chinatown (nice dragon gates) and back to the old port. A fire engine goes past, lights flashing. (They don't pin pon here, they wail ). The town is thronging with locals enjoying the sun and again, there is lively music and street performers on every corner. Did I say that Montréal is a great city?

Quebec City

A side trip to Quebec City today, as folk I meet keep telling me it is the most interesting city in Canada. It takes me three hours each way on the train, but it is easily worth it. Anyway, the trains here are decidedly superior to what we get back home. Well designed, comfy, lots of space and free WiFi .

Quebec - in a Nutshell

• The name Quebec comes from the The Algonquian word Kébec, meaning 'where the river narrows'. This is still the St Lawrence, but it's now a seaway.
• The area here was originally a St. Lawrence Iroquoian site called Stadacona before French explorer Samuel de Champlain founded it in 1608, as Quebec City, taking the name from the Algonquin word kébec meaning 'where the river narrows.'
• It is the capital city of the province of Quebec and sits at a strategic cliffside location overlooking the narrowing of the St. Lawrence River.
• The ramparts surrounding Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) are the only fortified city walls remaining in the Americas, north of Mexico. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The city is as a major administrative, cultural, and tourism hub, with a local economy strongly supported by public administration, defence, technology, and manufacturing.
• Like Montreal, it experiences a humid continental climate with warm summers and heavily snowy winters, which it celebrates annually with the world-famous Quebec Winter Carnival.

I feel as if I've been teleported to another continent. The station is a little green roofed palace with turrets and I climb up a very steep hill (lots of exercise today as I've given up on tour buses and bought a map instead) to a seventeenth century (positively ancient in North America) walled town perched up above the river.

Quebec City - C'est Magnifique

The views are stunning in all directions. The water is wide, blue and full of boats framed by the autumn foliage. The town itself is high end quaint (rather than hip), neatly colourful and full of jolly buskers catering to the tourist groups milling in the narrow streets. The legendary Chateau Frontenac towers over it all. It's apparently the most photographed hotel in the world. It's also a sister to The Royal York in Toronto. I wonder if my agent could have got a deal on this one?

There's also the Citadelle of Quebec, an intact fortress that forms the centrepiece of the ramparts surrounding the old city, the National Assembly of Quebec and several impressive looking museums. Even the vistas out of the train window are picture perfect. If you painted a watercolour you would have to use 5/7 of a rainbow. The first four colours for the trees and the blue for the sky. Still not a cloud in sight - left them all in Vancouver. Brilliant.

I'm exhausted. It will be good to rest on a train again all day tomorrow after all this climbing. Montreal or Quebec? It's rather like choosing between Savannah and Charlestown. Savannah's cuter, but I'd rather live in Charlestown.

The Ocean Train, Canada

I'm on my way to Halifax, and this train is called The Ocean. It's newer than the last one - they say that it was British, originally constructed for the Channel Tunnel and then deemed not to be suitable. They are very big on safety too. We get briefings about emergency exits and how to break the glass - perhaps it's because of all the recent train crashes. This time I have a double cabin to myself, so it does have an en-suite.

Into New Brunswick, losing yet another hour and out into the Gulf of St Lawrence. The hills across the water are so crimson they are glowing. Whole villages of clapboard now and little white churches with steeples. Incredible intense colour. The fallfest has already exceeded my expectations. Anything else will be a bonus.

Chugging, finally into Nova Scotia. The French literally translates as New Scotland, but to start it looks more like Holland, very flat, very green, with those tall modern windmills. This terrain alternates with hills like the rolling downs of Sussex. The houses are more grey, blue and green pastels. I've finally crossed Canada and the American continent and arrived on the Atlantic shore.

Halifax, Canada -Water, Water, Everywhere

First impressions - Halifax is very quiet. No taxis at the station - I have to get the nice man in the hotel next door to call me one.

My luck finally gave out; it's raining. It's the only rainy day forecast this week and the only day I have in Halifax. The town round the docks looks just like home. Grey, wet, red brick Victorian blocks, lots of pubs. (More per capita than anywhere else in America.)  Halifax is one of the contenders for first or second biggest natural harbour in the world. Apparently Sydney (Australia), Poole, Cork and Falmouth are all in the running, but no-one seems quite sure who the winner is. Halifax very modestly bill themselves as second. (Sydney used to be the uncontested victor but has reclaimed too much land.) Anyway, (pause for breath) I can just about see it out of my window, through the murk. My hotel is nine steep blocks up from the harbour, which is all boardwalk. The room is described as 'beachfront'.

Halifax Waterfront

It's pouring too hard to do any real exploring. I had planned to go down the coast and look for lighthouses. A short trip to the waterfront instead. It's a good way to describe it today. It's very end of season, down on the wharf. Half the little gaily painted booths are shut and all the tall ships are standing idle. There are a few brave tourists off a cruise ship and I can just about make out the lighthouse on an island across the water.

Downtown Halifax

There is still a little excitement, as there are not one, but two, soggy marches going on in town. To my delight, there are drums, announcing a stream of native Americans, complete with feathered war bonnets, followed by a troop of Mounties in ceremonial dress. It's the annual celebration of the signing of the treaty (1725) between the British and the Mi'kmaw people, the original inhabitants of the area. Vying for space in the little square, and seemingly unaware that they have competition, are the feather boa wearing dancers of a breast cancer awareness group.

A detour to Citadel Hill, where there have been a succession of four fortifications constructed since the city was founded by the English, in 1749. They were all referred to as Fort George - but only the third one was officially named Fort George. The last incarnation is a concrete star fort, restored to its Victorian splendour.

There are also numerous bijoux eateries, predictably touting the French Canadian 'delicacy', poutine (fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy) and seafood. But for me, lobster calls...then New England.

Read more about Halifax and my later trip there here.

Or read more about Canada here.