Why you should take Via Rail between Vancouver and Edmonton

1. You can often find deals. We rode for 50% off. Opt for berths. They are considerably cheaper than a cabin, feel more open and the cabins are almost claustrophobic. (Compared to economy, you end up with a bed, all the meals and snacks, etc.)

2. The food is good. For instance, my meals were: French Toast stuffed with cheesecake, grilled scallops and prawns on salad, and duck for dinner with raspberry white chocolate cheesecake. Yep, I said cheesecake twice.

3. Free champagne.

4. It feels both retro and romantic.

5. No Wifi and often no cell reception – wait, how is that a positive? It’s a chance to disconnect, to read, do crossword puzzles and chat with people.

6. Jasper is nice. What a nice place to take a little walk.

7. Don’t be afraid to go in the winter.  In addition to more sale fares, it is really beautiful.

Seriously, I loved it. I was on the train for over 24 hours and I didn’t want to get off.

Iceland

Ten things about Iceland:

1. People in Iceland were really sweet. They speak English and it’s not your run-of-the-mill attempt. Full conversations were had with no one stumbling over their words – unless I was trying to say….

2. Icelandic place names are difficult. Remember the volcano that disrupted air travel in Europe? I saw it. I tried to say it. It is not alone in the long word category.

3. Icelandic air does a great deal where they allow a European layover of up to a week, free of charge. Side note: It was cheaper for us to fly to Iceland than to Newfoundland. The fact that I can’t find a flight to Edmonton for under $500 these days is indicative of air travel prices in Canada.

4. Vegetarians beware. Meat is everywhere on menus. Fish and lamb appear to be the most common – for good reasons (surrounded by water, covered in sheep).  We cooked for ourselves quite a lot and had to be careful not to come home with horse meat.  We did manage to try minke whale, dried fish, lagoustines, oversmoked lamb, and other more standard fare.  Orgle tried hakarl (fermented poisonous Greenland shark). It stunk of ammonia in a vile way.

5. It is a beautiful country.  It really is amazing to think of all that grows out of what is essentially lava rock.  And lava rock comes in different colours and formations.

6. I miss outdoor hot pools.  I wish they were here. Unfortunately, there is not a seemingly endless amount of hot water bubbling under the surface – making outdoor heated pools prohibitively expensive.

7. I pride myself in finding nice, affordable places to stay and in Reykjavik that was no different. We had a cute little studio apartment right in the heart of the city at Ranargata 23.

8. I’m not good with time changes. My sleep patterns there were not good and my lack of even dozing on the plane set me back as well.  Maybe between Newfoundland, Australia and Iceland, my body clock has been all over the place these last few months.

9. It’s true: Greenland is ice and Iceland is green. Yes, if you’ve gone through my Jokulsarlon pictures, you’ll see lots of ice, but that was just one place in over a week of visiting.  In fact, during the time we were there, the weather was colder in Alberta. It did snow, very lightly and very briefly, one day – but it wasn’t even a dusting.

10. There is a Big Lebowski-themed bar in Reykjavik.

More pictures:

 
Alas, the only disappointment may have been the cloud coverage nightly.  No northern lights were seen.

336-364: Photographing happens, posting doesn’t.

To make up for the last 20+ days, here are two slideshows worth of photos:

First: Christmas on the Island with my family

Second: The rest of December

 

A photo, every day, all year. Tomorrow is the final day with Andrea Woo.

318: My balcony view. No joke.

A photo, every day, all year. We’re into final weeks here with Andrea Woo.

58: snOMG

When I discovered that my apartment did not have heat, I figured I was better off outside. (Canon Rebel XTi - February 27th, 2011)

One photo. Everyday. One Year. Me vs. Woo.

Day 12: Snow-vernight

On my way to work I tried to get a picture of the snow, but it was raining so hard, the lens would be wet as soon as I would take it out. (Canon DSLR - January 12, 2011

Thoughts on day 11

 

If you looked at this entry right after I posted it, you would have seen a different picture. I'm indecisive today. And I'm tempted to go out into the snow. (iPhone - January 11, 2011)

My competition/friend/support-network in this challenge, Andrea Woo, left some comments on her blog about the photo throwdown we are currently involved in.

Part of the problem of having two journalists* embroiled in this battle** is we are probably deadline-oriented people (at least I am).  I have never been able to do anything before the due date or, these days, the due minute. So, every evening as I realize I need my daily shot,  I’m forced to take it.  Sure, I’ve been ahead of the game sometimes, but that’s not a change in behaviour. I have always been a random photo-taker. Now I just have to hope those shots are good enough.

*I use that term loosely when describing what I do as a job.

**And by battle I mean struggle to not be the first one to tap out.

This evening, I was going to wait for the snow. But go figure, today’s the day I don’t need a last minute picture. I already have one ready to go.

In 11 days, I have taken just over 200 pictures – all on my iPhone and most using the hipstamatic app. I generally photowalk once a month, so hopefully I’ll be able to add DSLR or even film shots to the mix soon.

If nothing else, this exercise has got me looking more.  Now I just need to look more for exercise.  But that’s a whole other blog post.

A Calgary Christmas

The weather tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to keep me from visiting my brother and his fiancee in Calgary.  After a cancelled flight, I braved blizzard conditions followed by wind and now, a deep freeze.  With the wind chill, we are sitting at a balmy -31 degrees.  I prepped for a winter wonderland but this is a bit extreme.

El Christmas

(Video Format at bottom of post) 

With the surprisingly large dump of snow this weekend and the erection of a tree in my living room, I can’t help but think about Christmas. 

The celebrations are starting a bit early this year.  Without a home to return to in my homeland (Edmonton), I’ll be spending Christmas in BC.  But first I’ll fly to Calgary on the 12th, drive up to Edmonton on the 14th and fly out on the 17th.  It’s a quick visit, but seeing that I won’t get to spend Christmas with my brother, this trip seemed essential.  

I’m in a weird Christmas situation this year.  My parents have packed up all their belongings, including Christmas decorations, and await the construction of a new home.  My folks, despite being together, live in different cities, separated by a ferry ride.  Neither of their current homes are large enough to accommodate more than 3 of us.  

So, my Christmas base is my own apartment.  I carried my tree home yesterday, thinking that if I didn’t do it now, it wouldn’t happen until next weekend and then I’d only have a few days to enjoy it before leaving.  I really do enjoy Christmas.  I like the tree,  the lights, the cheesy music, wrapping gifts, candles… And I like Vancouver snow.  

Vancouver snow comes down in giant flake conglomerates. They are giant and fluffy until they hit you or the ground.  There is an immediate melting process which prevents much snow accumulation.   It’s because the temperature isn’t really cold!  And you know the snow won’t last.  You can likely go without shoveling, ever.  And the city snow-removal team doesn’t seem to sand the roads.  So there is no dirty side of the snow process. 

It might be a bit cliched to say I don’t need presents at Christmas, but it’s true.  My overall enjoyment is the atmosphere of Christmas.  There is a feeling.  I mean, I’m still vaguely depressed and surly, but my core is.. warm?  

That all said, people (Mom, Dad and brother) will still buy me presents and I will be happy because of it.  If there was a no present or present choice at Christmas, I’d still choose the present option.  They say every year I’m hard to shop for.  Every year, I’m required to provide a list.  So, via the magic of the internet, my Christmas list: 

1. Board Games

2. People to play Board Games with me

3. Digital SLR Camera (this has been promised to me as a graduation gift, but if I can get it any sooner…)

4. Spices, Sauces, Cooking Stuff

5. Marty Reasoner (in a picture, in person, on a jersey, in a jersey..)

6. Art for my living room

7. A Wii (preferably with Guitar Hero 3)

8. Record Player that works

9. A job so that I don’t have to go to school anymore

10. Tights (thick, not like pantyhose)

11. A massage

12. Magazine Subscription (McSweenies or Trashy Womens) 

13. Bath Products

14. Non-fiction Books

15. DVDs (Newsradio, Freaks and Geeks, Science of Sleep… too lazy to think of more)

That’s a start right? 

Gimme presents. 

Merry Christmas!

And there seems to be interest in seeing this video style again, so here you go: