Back to School

I've been in Toronto for just over two weeks now. The transition into living here was really smooth, easier than I expected. I had organised my room before I arrived, and was very happy to find myself living in a cool area, right by a subway station. The first couple of days here I spent wandering the streets of the city for hours. Toronto has surpassed all of my expectations. The city has an energy that I wasn't expecting to find and was very excited to discover! Small little shop-fronts line the streets, languages from all over the world fly around the subway, the place is lively - despite the cold winter weather! Not a all the corporate city I was prepared for.

The transition into school has not been quite as willing... Everything is straight forward, and I'm happy with the subjects I'm taking. But, it's not the same as traveling! Not to worry, I'm sure the semester is going to fly by and before I know it I'll be making new plans!
The school itself (York University) is BIG and a bit out of town. The train ride out there takes a while, but I'm very happy reading and just glad that I'm not living out there.

This weekend I went out to the country, a little holiday I guess! I went to visit family friends, who I'd actually never met, but who were warm and welcoming as though I'd known them forever! I took the train to Kingston (saw Lake Ontario for the first time - I've never seen so much fresh water!), then travelled out into the sticks to a little lake house in the woods. That night we went to a "hootenanny" (a country-style music party) in a little hotel bar in a little near-by town. I was just as great as it sounds!

Next day I got to see the beautiful surrounds. A frozen lake lay before the cabin, with rugged hills curling in and around it. We spent the day in the snow and on the lake, walking, exploring, skating, ski-dooing (snowmobile, I even had a drive!), making snow angels, huddling around the fire and taking sips of fireball whiskey. A weekend full of cliches and I loved it!

Here's me on the ski-doo. Yee-haa!

This is the beautiful Kevin, a real snow dog.

Back home in Toronto now. Trying to get some work done...

Last days in the West

I have left the West behind, and made it to the distant land of.... Toronto.

My time in Washington was beautiful. So fertile and green, so much water! I got to explore Seattle and have city adventures, and also got to some incredible places out of town.

This is the view from Rattlesnake Ridge, just out of Seattle. The snow line is so cool!

For New Year, we went out to the coast for a few days. Out across the Olympic Peninsular to La Push. Unlike any beach I've ever been to. It sort of feels like the edge of the world. Freezing cold, but perfect sunshine. The beach is covered in driftwood.. Or maybe "drift-trees" is more accurate. Some of these relics would have to be the biggest trees I've ever seen! Where did they drift in from?! I was, once again, mind blown.

I know it's difficult to see, but that's a Bald Eagle flying above the trees. He was cool.

Here's me in front of some mad tree corpses. (Feat. my new snow boots!)

We did a bush walk over to Second Beach, through beautiful lush pine forests. Forest on the coast is new to me!

This is Second Beach, tide way out.

And one more picture. This is Crescent Lake, which we drove along to get out to the coast. It is stunning! So glassy! Little houses all around the edge, mountains surrounding.

And now I am far away from all of this... We drove back to Seattle yesterday afternoon, then I got on the plane at sparrow-fart this morning. Now I'm in Toronto. I'm sure there are many adventures to be had over here. I'm getting settled in my new house, nice to unpack the bags. Not even a drop of snow on the ground! I'm actually a little disappointed. I'm sure it will come.

So for now, goodbye to the West, I can't wait to see you again!!