Ironman Curling

Once again I'm in Winterpeg. This time for overnight since the Hudson Bay got in a couple of hours late, 10:50am, and the eastbound Canadian doesn't leave until 1225pm tomorrow.

I opted to stay at the Hampton Inn. Yes, again it's a bit out of my budget, but it's one of those things where I can save money up front. It's a stone's throw from the train station. So close, in fact, that I actually rolled ALL my luggage down the street and saved the $5 cab ride. It's also within walking distance of places like the photo where they are having their winter festival and people are actually curling OUTSIDE! Oh the humanity!

When I first walked through the doors the front desk clerk quoted me a rate of $115 a night. After I showed my AAA card and said I was planning to check out early the next morning she quoted $89 for the night. Again, the AAA membership more than paid for itself.

So, $90 Canadian for the night....converts to about $80 USD. Free Internet....another $7-8 savings. Continental breakfast included.....subtract another $8-10 I would have had to spend somewhere else. Add all those up and the room ends up really costing me about $50...swimming pool and spa included. A $50 hotel room would have been further out of town, add in taxi, breakfast, taxi back, no sightseeing, no internet.....it would have ended up costing me more. Lol...well maybe my economics don't add up, but it gives me some way to justify spending almost $100 a night just to put my head down. And after 4 days splayed across two train seats I deserve at least one comfortable night in there. 

Photo Update - Return from Churchill

Photo Update:

Churchill Up and Back: http://www.dailyhotshot.com/churchill/

And I see the Winnipeg link isn’t on the last post: http://www.dailyhotshot.com/winnipeg/

Remember, I’ll put all the photo links down the right hand side of my blog.

Also, here’s the link to Tim Harvey’s live blog about his rail adventures:
http://manypims.blogspot.com/


For those of you who have been asking…and to help finance the trip, any and all photos can be purchased here:  http://www.printroom.com/ghome.asp?domain_name=seanstevens&group_id=14

Or simply: http://www.printroom.com/pro/seanstevens/ and look for the Rail Trip link.

Outdoor Curling Rink - Winnipeg

This is a shot of the outdoor curling rink for the Ironman Bonspiel. It's going on today so I'll have to try to get over there for some action photos.

New photos posted of Winnipeg can be found here: http://www.dailyhotshot.com/winnipeg/

Return from Churchill

Return from Churchill

Dinner was great!   I had the evening special of a 6oz New York Steak Neptune.  It was smothered in shrimp, and what I believe was REAL crab meat, mixed in a Hollandaise sauce.  All washed down with a glass of white wine.    

My traveling Kiwi friend, Mary, had similar --- hold the swimmers.   We had an interesting conversation about where we came from, how we got here, and where we were going.   She’s also in the IT biz so we shared some discussion about computers, and spy ware on machines open to the public while we were traveling.

On the way out of the restaurant I noticed another gentleman who had been traveling up with us.   He indicated that he was headed back tonight also.   Not sure how much I’d see of him since he was traveling sleeper class.    However, there is no Park Car, or even a Dome Car on this trainset, so the dining car is the only common lounge area.

The trip back was mostly quiet starting out with only a few people in coach, and probably just that one gentleman in sleeper.   Just the way I like it when the trip starts late in the evening….nice and quiet so I can settle down and get some work done.    The next day however we picked up a bunch of locals headed to Thompson for a day of shopping.

Most got on at the same stop.   But it seemed others joined up with their families at subsequent stops.    I don’t know if they are true Inuit, or just northern Canadian natives.   Regardless, 99% of the people who got on where of First Nations heritage.    From toddlers to grandmothers, the whole family was there.

A few of the younger girls became fascinated with my camera.   I had been shooting the sunrise and they hung around my seats watching until I started making photos of them.   They all excited and asked me to shoot each of them holding ‘the baby’ --- a doll which each of them seemed to love equally.    

After a hurried shooting session with my new would-be models I uploaded the photos onto the laptop…did a bit of quick editing and proceeded to show them a slideshow of photos of themselves.    In a fit of giggles they all crammed around the laptop (and all over me) for a good view.    I suspect these girls had never seen a digital camera before, and maybe not even a laptop.   They were fascinated by the whole setup.  

It wasn’t too long before they had to get off in Thompson, and one little girl came up to me and said in her little girl voice, ‘We’ll miss you’.     I showed her mother the photos before they detrained.    I was a bit overwhelmed at the innocence these girls had, and I wanted to make sure their parents didn’t think I was some kind of perv.     I think it was another example of being influenced by American paranoia of such things.   I needn’t have worried about.   Or maybe, society SHOULDN’T have to worry about it….but we do.    Is ignorance really bliss?

Whilst stopped in Thompson for about an hour I detrained to get some fresh air.   It was then that I got to talking to the gentleman in sleeper class.   Turns out he is an associate member of the Private Railcar Owners Assoc.    He’s one of those train junkies who just loves traveling by train just for the sake of traveling by train.   In fact, he was taking this trip for similar reasons as me….to unwind from daily stresses and clear his head.

He has plans for starting a Private Railcar touring business covering tracks that have not seen passenger traffic for years and years.   You’ll soon find his website at http://www.raremileage.net  if things fall into place shortly.  You may even see a few of my photos from this trip there.    

We had lunch and dinner together and discussed many things concerning rail travel around the world.   He also happens to be in the IT biz, and we even found out we had worked on the same piece of accounting software way back when!

After Thompson the train was mostly empty.   For hours on end I had my own private Coach.  And I knew the only other passenger was my friend back in Sleeper.   It’s a weird feeling having a whole trainset to yourself.  At least four crew to transport two people.   Later on we picked up a passenger here and there, but the total never got above five passengers.

I also re-watched the movie ‘Serenity’ late last night.   It was totally different watching it AFTER I had watched the TV series on DVD.   I recommend not watching the movie until you’ve seen the series…..it just all makes sense.

The whole Churchill leg gave me a lot of time to reflect.   There’s nothing but snow and trees for hours and hours.   And although it was the most boring leg, it was also the most productive for me…at least on a mental level.     Sometimes you just need that extra peace and quiet for an extended period to sort things out in your head.    

When I first entered Canada I felt weird.   I couldn’t associate with the people.   I chalked that up to them being ‘west coast’, but really, I’ve had never seen THAT much of a difference between East and West coast Canadians before.    I was reminded of something my friends Greg and Shane had said when I was home for vacation last year:  that I had become too Americanized.

Maybe they were right.  Maybe that is why I couldn’t relate to the shocking friendliness.  I was waiting for the ‘hook’.   As an American friend was told me, ‘Americans are obligatorily friendly….like they always want something in return.   Canadians are genuine.’    Maybe I was waiting to see what they wanted from me in return, and I felt weird when the answer was ‘nothing’.   They wanted nothing in return other than for me to be happy.    Strange thought in the service industry, eh?

My first encounter with this was not long after I had reached Vancouver.   I noticed I had lost my cellphone and realized it was probably still on the Amtrak train since I had been fooling with it and probably mishooked the clip while putting it back in my pocket.   I had mentioned this to the Via Rail baggage lady and she told me she would check with the Amtrak crew when they came back.   Not only did she check, she walked over to the train, and brought my phone back to where I was sitting.   That was 3 hours after I had talked to her!   Now that’s service!   THAT is what being Canadian is all about!   It’s about doing something and expecting nothing in return.   I don’t need to file it in the ‘you owe me a favour somewhere down the road’ folder.   It’s just a given.

Anyways, like I said, a lot of time to reflect.   A lot of photos that will be posted when I get some high-speed connections.   Just got my first connection in days.  And actually being incommunicado for 4 days has been a big help to my mental state.    I just got one post off and will try to get this one off…..then maybe a photo or two.   I should be getting into Winnipeg at about 10:30am this morning….two hours behind schedule.  

Self Portrait

This is a self-portrait I took in the dining car of the Hudson Bay, using the one-way reflective qualities of the partitions.

Thanks for all the comments you guys are reading. They keep me going. Didn't see any polar bears, or even northern lights. But the trip was a success in other ways. 

Ground Hog Day Churchill, MB

Ground Hog Day – Churchill, MB

So, I’m sitting in the World Famous Gypsy’s Bakery.   I can see the Via trainset from here.  It’s a little after 4pm and the sun is quickly disappearing from an already frigid sky.   I’d estimate the temperature to be -20C today.   The wind-chill probably bringing it down close to -40C/-40F.

The train itself was late getting away from Winnipeg by about 45 minutes.   I’m not sure why because it starts from there.  It’s not like it should have been late getting into the station.   But it was.   By the time we reached Churchill it was about 2.5 hours late.   Not sure why that was either because we weren’t held up by freight or anything.   It must have been the slowdowns for snow or something.

So, I arrived in Churchill around 11am Thursday morning.   My first thing was to find a free shower!   Even though I had been sponge bathing on the train, it had been a few days since a true shower.   The problem, I didn’t want to pay for a hotel room for my now-less-than-12-hour layover.     On the train I had talked to a guy on his way home with his kids.   He works as a nurse at the local hospital.   He put me onto the ‘complex’.   The complex has everything under one roof he tells me.   The hospital, the school, the library, a canteen, swimming pool, skating rink, curling rink, gym, etc.  

Wow, sounds modern!   It was designed for a community of 10,000.   I believe Churchill’s winter population is close to 1000.    Anyways, I walked two  blocks to the complex.   Walking into the wind, I was tempted to stop at the local branch of the Canadian Legion, but pressed onward.   I entered the building in hopes of finding the swimming pool, knowing they’d have showers.

Well, the thing about this building is that nothing is labeled.   The library I recognized from looking through the windows and seeing books.   Everything else was plain doors.   No windows.   No signs pointing you to the pool, or gym, or curling rink.   Nothing.   I wondered around and finally found the men’s pool changing room.    No one stopped me.  So, I waited 10 mins for the water to warm up and took a private shower in the communal shower room.   What a weird feeling.   Knowing the school was located in the same complex I was kind of weary that a class of giggling schoolboys would come through for their morning swim.   But nada!

I recognized the canteen from the wonderful smell of something cooking on the grill.   But still no sign.   The library didn’t open for internet access until 1pm, so I opted for a chicken burger and a sit-down.    The library wanted a donation for the 30 min access.  I had no problem with that part….it was the Win98 computer that gave me chills.

I checked my email and a few other things and got out of there.   I was really wanting some chat programs so I could check in with people but settled reading some comments about the blog.   Thanks everyone for leaving comments.   They keep me going when I’m really at the end of my rope.

Batteries going dead.  Will write more later.  Having dinner with a Kiwi friend from the train.  She’s staying the extra two days while I’m turning around with the same crew from the trip up.   Snow and trees….snow and trees.  

Watching ‘Firefly’ that Mark lent me.   Awesome preclude to the movie Serenity.   It’s like a book I can’t put down!  I must have watched 10 hours back to back yesterday!  Will watch the final 4 episodes on the trip back, and then re-watch the movie!

5:25pm

Sitting in the SeaCoast Hotel/Restaurant recharging batteries and having a pot of tea.   This is where I’m supposed to meet my friend from the train, Mary.   She’s kind of doing a walkabout, but does need to be back in Vancouver by the end of January.

I had a hotspot momentarily here but it’s disappeared now.   It was a very low signal also.  If it had connected it probably would have been enough to get out a post before hitting Winnipeg.

The Sun has gone down now for the most part.   I’ve seen a couple of snowmobiles go whizzing past the window.   It’s just as easy to hop on your snowmobile as into your car to get around this small town.    Not sure what the rules are, but it’s probably easier for those who have a DUI under there belts too.   It’s an accepted method of travel here.

I didn’t see any Polar Bears while here…and probably won’t for the remaining three hours I’m here.   That is unless one wanders through town.  But the chances of that happening are slim to good.   I talked to the clerk at the canteen and she said she saw prints Saturday night indicating one was near.    There is a Polar Bear Alert team that is called when a bear is spotted.   They try to scare the bear out of town using various noise makers and other irritating distractions to the bears.    I have a block to walk to the train station.   Crossing fingers I don’t spot one as they tend to come in after dark looking for food/garbage.   The local advice is to back away slowly, and drop something to distract the bear.   (I’d have to sacrifice my laptop and camera bag).   The warning further states, if you MUST shot the bear aim for the body….the first shot won’t kill it, but it should slow it down enough.   All bears shot in self-defense must be cleaned up.    

I’m not sure how I feel about not having a gun.   On one hand, I’d still be alive, but then I’d have to stand out there in the cold trying to move a 1000lb bear.  Hmmmm…choices, choices.

New Photos Posted - Jan 31

New Photos Posted

I’ve posted three sets of photos.

1. Seattle – http://www.dailyhotshot.com/Seattle/


2. Chinese New Year – http://www.dailyhotshot.com/chinesenewyear/


3. Jasper – http://www.dailythotshot.com/jasper/

I’ve taken some photos in Winnipeg today of The Forks Market.  It’s pretty much the Historic Properties (Hfx) of Winnipeg and less than a block out the back door of the Via Rail station.  

Tonight the train will be leaving for Churchill.  Two days up, and two days back.   I may not be able to communicate for those times but should have a good update when I get back.    I’m going to have to overnight in Winnipeg before catching the train eastward bound the next day.    There’s a hostel for $18 a night, or I noticed a Hampton Inn only a couple of blocks from the Station on the way to the Library.   They usually have reasonable rates, high speed internet, and a continental breakfast included.

The pocketful of Cdn coins Mark handed me has gone a long way.   With all the granola bars, etc. that I had packed, I didn’t even have to eat on the train.   There was an hour stopover in Jasper, so I reloaded on 3 cokes, a litre of water, and a turkey sandwich and salad at the local IGA.   I only had to buy a few cokes on the train.   What can I say?  I’m a cokaholic!  

Train to Churchill leaves at 8:25pm tonight.  Not sure if I’ll get any other posts made before then.

Currently listening to Bachman-Turner-Overdrive – Portage and Main. (

Seattle Vancouver

Seattle – Vancouver, BC

The trip from Seattle was pretty much uneventful, other than, and mostly because, I had a hangover from the previous night’s events.   The Cascades trains are comfy, and there is an electrical outlet for each seat.   I had ample time to make updates to the blog, but lack of internet coverage prevented me from posting them.   It wasn’t until I got into Vancouver and had some spare time that I was able to find a hotspot (SSID: SMC) at the bus terminal end of the station.

The benches in the Vancouver Station are subdivided so there’s no real place to lay down.   My back was killing me.  Some of the track between Seattle and Vancouver is pretty rough and the train jerked back and forth laterally for quite awhile.    And lugging my baggage around while hungover didn’t do me any good either.

Arriving in Vancouver I had to clear Customs.   Every time I cross the border it throws them for a loop, because I hold a Canadian Passport, but live in the USA.   I never really declare anything, because I really don’t have anything to declare.   Since I’m only ‘visiting’ Canada, all my possessions don’t fall under duty….even my camera or laptop.   The Customs Agent noticed my passport expires in the next week or so.  I commented that I’ll get it renewed when I get to Halifax.  Sidenote: Cdn passports are issued for 5 yrs.   I got mine a few days before moving to Colorado Springs, and about 6 months after I got married.  So I’ve been in the USA almost exactly 5 yrs.

A bit more than a smile and a wave and I was through.   I think he was trying to trip me up when he asked how many days I planned to be in country.  I had already put ‘90’ on the form.  

Once through Customs I proceeded to the Via desk to get ticketed for my trip to Winnipeg.   My reservations weren’t in the system.   Apparently if you don’t pick up the tickets within a couple of days they get deleted.  WTF?   Isn’t that what reservations are for?   RESERVING a spot!   Not that is was much of a problem, but what if the train had been full?   After getting my tickets I checked my baggage through to Winnipeg.   I knew by the time I got to there I’d want to open up the suitcase for some winter clothes.

The baggage clerk informed me that it was Chinese New Year, and that Chinatown was only a few blocks down from the station.   And that there was probably a parade going on.   Which there was as you can see from a previous post.   I enquired if there were any lockers to stow my extra carry-on luggage to which she informed me that the ticket counter would temp check carryon’s for $2.50 per bag.    Since I had my laptop wrapped around the handle of my wheeled carryon bag the attendant only charged me for the one bag.    With my camera bag in hand I headed out in the overcast Vancouver wilderness.

Currently listening to:  American Woman (…stay away from me) live extended version from the Guess Who’s ‘Running Back Thru Canada’ album

Happy New Year!

Today is Chinese New Year! And what luck! Vancouver not only has a fairly high Asian population, but the Historic Chinatown is located just a few blocks from the Train Station. When I found out I checked my carry-on with the Via Rail ticket counter. They hold it for $2.50 a bag. Guess it's the new 'lockers'.I took my camera bag and headed down to Chinatown and more luck! The parade was underway! There was a real celebration atomosphere with not much orderly viewing. People were standing everywhere just to get a glimpse and the parade participants had to squeeze by sometimes. Firecrackers going off, drums and symbols....wow, what an atmosphere! I just made it look like I was a newspaper photographer and had no problem getting in some good shots right out on the street. And, just as the parade was ending, it started to rain. So it was a cold wet walk back to the station. But I can't believe my luck on arriving at the right time on the right day! 

Happy New Year!

Today is Chinese New Year! And what luck! Vancouver not only has a fairly high Asian population, but the Historic Chinatown is located just a few blocks from the Train Station. When I found out I checked my carry-on with the Via Rail ticket counter. They hold it for $2.50 a bag. Guess it's the new 'lockers'.I took my camera bag and headed down to Chinatown and more luck! The parade was underway! There was a real celebration atomosphere with not much orderly viewing. People were standing everywhere just to get a glimpse and the parade participants had to squeeze by sometimes. Firecrackers going off, drums and symbols....wow, what an atmosphere! I just made it look like I was a newspaper photographer and had no problem getting in some good shots right out on the street. And, just as the parade was ending, it started to rain. So it was a cold wet walk back to the station. But I can't believe my luck on arriving at the right time on the right day! 

Cascades Engine

This is the southbound Cascades engine. I made this photo while sitting on the northbound Cascades 510 Seattle-Vancouver, BC.

I think you can see a part of Qwest Field in the background...at 7am they were having a big party there for some reason.....Seahawks or something.

I'm currently on an open hotspot at the bus terminal end of the Vancouver Station. 

King St Station Seattle

King St. Station, Seattle – Pioneer Hotel

By the time I reached Seattle I was pretty much exhausted.   I had to lug all my luggage up the platform and try to get a cab.   Many people were waiting, but they seemed to be plentiful.   All I wanted to do was get into my hotel room and drop the luggage!   I also knew there was a special email there from my wife and I was anxious to read that.

I took a cab to the Pioneer Square Hotel which is only a few blocks from the train station, and in the heart of the historic/artist section of the Seattle.   I tipped the driver well considering the amount of luggage we had to hump in and out of the trunk.

The Pioneer Square Hotel is one of those renovated historic buildings, much like the St. Anthony’s I had stayed at while in San Antonio a few months back.    I love these if they are done right.    The Front Desk Clerk, seeing that I was alone, offered an upgrade to a single King-Size bed which I gladly accepted.  It also came with a king-size tub.   Even though it didn’t have a view, I didn’t mind as I don’t think any of the rooms had much of a view.   Well, maybe the top floors.

One of the reasons for choosing this hotel was that it had complimentary high speed wireless internet in each room.   It appeared they had a wireless hub in each room….with the option to hook up to Cat5.    Continental breakfast was also included.  However, I was a little hungover from partaking in excess libations of Mac & Jack’s African Amber ale in the Pioneer Square Saloon directly next door from the Hotel.

About 10pm I was feeling a bit puckish, so the bartender and a couple of patrons recommended an excellent restaurant/bar a few blocks up the street that had an happy hour food menu.    Another Mac and Jack’s later and I had gulped down this excellent and juicy burger --- for $1.95!  With table service!   Back to the saloon, another Mac and Jack’s and off to bed.   Well, first I had to make a drunken entry about how much I loved Seattle.

Olympia to Seattle

Olympia – Seattle

I caught the Amtrak Cascades 500 from Olympia to Seattle.   These are ultra modern cars designed in Spain.   The seats are more like airplane seats, and they carry a dining car and Bistro car in the trainset.   One neat thing is that every seat has an outlet so  working on the laptop and listening to some tunes wasn’t a problem.   Just the trip was a little short.

And we ran into a little problem.   The Olympia-Lacey station is unmanned.   The people you see there are volunteers, and not really associated with Amtrak.  They can’t issue tickets!

Now this is a problem because even though I have my Rail Pass, you need a ticket to get on the train!   They have one of those automated ticket kiosks, but that did me no good.   The Rail Pass has a special reservation number.  

Bob, the station volunteer, dialed the Amtrak Info line.   But that didn’t do me much good either as the Rail Pass has it’s own special telephone number….and they aren’t open on weekends!    I was told that, when traveling on a Rail Pass, and boarding at an unmanned station I would have to buy a ticket to my next destination.   Ummm…F*ck no!

Bob, being the ever helpful gentleman that he is suggest I talk to Vicki up at the Tacoma station.   Vicki was great and had a ticket issued from there.   I boarded the train and showed the Conductor my Pass and explained that there would be a ticket waiting in Tacoma.   When the train passed through Tacoma she had someone run out and give the Conductor my ticket.  

Later, when he wasn’t too busy he dropped off the ticket for my next leg of the journey.   Vicki had issued the ticket for Seattle to Vancouver, BC also!   I didn’t have to bother with any of those hassles in Seattle.  

So, just as a warning to others who might be doing a Rail Pass trip, make sure the station is manned, or you have some other way to get your ticket!

The Perverted Onion

The Perverted Onion

I think Pauline might have been worried I wouldn’t like the living conditions after the wonderful home I stayed in while in Bakersfield.   But, the way I see it, as long as you’re with friends you’re already in a palace.

You see, they bought this beautiful piece of property along the river in Aberdeen, Wa.   It came with a very old, and somewhat historic house.   And because it is near the river, it’s regulated by the Army Corp of Engineers.    Because of this the house is grandfathered in,  but they’d have a heck of a time building something new.  

So, this house used to be a gas station way back when.  And a corner store, and all kinds of other things.   They even have old photos of the different periods it went through.  And they are in the midst of renovating.  The place is mostly gutted, so living conditions are ‘rough’ but there.  

The reason they call it the Perverted Onion is because every time they peel back a layer it reveals something else.   Some of the additions were nailed to the existing shingles!  Obviously before the days ‘code’.    Slowly it’s coming along.   They shored up the basement, poured a bunch of new concrete and built up walls, leveling the house.   There is a great natural gas faux woodstove that keeps everything nice and toasty.   But, mostly the walls are bare and little things like the roof leaks…it’s a work in progress.

The neighbour next door also has a wonderful piece of property which he takes care of meticulously.   He lives the simple life, but also fiddling with something, and very industrious.   You’ll see photos of his projects under the Aberdeen photos marked Frank.    There is a nice little nature trail where I took a lot of those other Aberdeen photos.   This property is Frank’s birthright and he is finely tuned with nature on his 25+ acres.   He tends to the trail, and used to keep a field mowed so kids could go back and play baseball.  

I don’t think you could ask for a better neighbour.

Shaughn and Pauline did there best to show me the sites of Aberdeen and WestPort…even Washaway Beach.   But the rain didn’t let up much the whole time I was there.   They were in day 39 out of 40 for rainfall!   Everything is DAMP!    And I could feel a cold coming on, and that dampness just cut right to the bone.  

Pauline studiously concocted some healing tea which was probably the only thing that kept me going the whole stay.   That and Coke! (

Even though I stayed on an extra day, it was much too short a visit.   These two have been good emotional support for me over the last few months and I value their friendship.   They even made sure I was well fed, well beered, and stored up on snacks for my trip.   And Pauline snuck some tea bags into my luggage for those long cold nights up to Churchill.

Ironically, as I enter my home country, my support network thins out.   Mostly because I’m at the wrong end of the country.   As I get closer to Toronto and Niagara Falls things shouldn’t seem so lonely.

A Little Recap

A Little Recap

I got a little ahead of myself with updates.   As you might recall, a Cal-train hit a car somewhere before Sacramento.   This put the already running late Coastal Starlite six hours behind schedule.   I arrived in Sacramento a little after midnight and ended up sleeping on the hard wooden benches until the train arrived --- about 5am.  

By the time I arrived in Olympia, Wa it was 3:15am….or O-dark-thirty as we used to say in the navy.   So, my friends who were driving an hour to pick me up had to leave at 2am instead of 5pm.    I didn’t get much sleep on the whole trip.   I was actually excited to see my friends.   I even tried having a couple of beer with dinner (Tortelinni sp?) but that only got me about an hour of steady sleep.

WOW....if I could end right here!

I’m gonna make a short entry here.   I LOVE Seattle.  If I could stop my trip right here I would.   If I had a job/place to stay I’d stop.     Had a few too many… but they were a quality many.    Stopped in a hotel lobbey to admire a piece of artwork….blown glass…this artist has piece all over Venice, and even the Vatican if I remember correctly.   To see one up close and personal….wow!

My brother and sister would love living here.   It’s so much like Hfx  I had to turn around and make sure I wasn’t missing the #1 Spring Garden to Darmouth!