Travelling on trains in both Canada and North America has lots of opportunities for photos from the train. You regularly stop to let freight trains pass. They have the right of way…….so expect a leisurely trip. 
Now the Canadian is not as upmarket as the Rocky Mountaineer but it is more affordable for most travellers and the staff are equally attentive. Your journey starts with champagne and canapés.
Lunch and dinner are 3 course affairs and you get to meet different people. French( a somewhat limited meal conversation……I should have been practicing) , German, English and of course Canadiens all of who are doing a holiday on their bucket list. We fell in with a Canadien group who were certainly lively. A quick train tour:
Lakes,marshes and lots of larch and conifers are the sights today. I believe there was a bear sighted but I rather think the train whistles as it started off frightened it into the trees.
They were actually checking that we were awake! 
You can do yoga, play games and there is some type of alcohol tasting in the afternoon. I’m up to beanie number 3.
Occasionally we stop to pick up a passenger who may have been waiting for hours for the train. Passengers can signal the train if they want to travel.In some places ,the train is the only transport unless you have access to a seaplane. At a few small communities,you get to stretch your legs for 15minutes. Got lots of money, you can get a small plane and then hire a floating lodge.
Four hours in Winnipeg and when you wake up , it sunrise on the plains.. Lots of crops just harvested. Two fields had sunflowers! Periodically there is a dam or natural lake. Plenty of water for crops, livestock and birds filling up on food before flying south. The plains are not totally flat…..the closer you get to Jasper and the mountains, the more hilly the land is. Fields are plodded following the contours.
Sunrise and we are nearly to Jasper…..only 3 hours late. 
Spotted big horn sheep but just as they posed for a photo, a freight train passed….oh well. Have you survived without wifi? Some had such withdrawal symptoms,they got up and went outside at 3.00am at Edmonton. You and I didn’t.
Wow, I was speechless at our first sight of the Rockies. You were pretty quiet too😁
We have arrived in Jasper…..30 degrees so summer still here. You will have this afternoon to explore Jasper then off tomorrow to Banff. Enjoy some fresh air and walking!
Toronto is a city of skyscrapers. They are having a competition to build the highest condo. The present is 78 floors but it is about to be beaten by an 80 floor building
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Because of the high buildings,the wind rushes down between them.
There is a building called the Castle up on the hill ( we could see the towers) which is now a museum. No you don’t have to visit it. It is an interesting building with 98 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms. The original owner built it for his wife. Crazy man, no women wants to clean that much house. Unfortunately it ran over budget….$2.5 million in 1914. With the war and depression, the owner lost his money and had to sell.
I loved the cruise. Toronto is on Lake Ontario,one of the Great Lakes. There are 15 small islands that with the exception of 2 are for recreation and are car less. You access the islands by water and there are bridges linking them. The islands have become a haven for local and migrating birds. One of the islands has the Toronto‘s second airport. Planes here are mainly domestic but some do fly to north USA. The one permanently inhabited island has 150 residences. There is a 200 year waiting list to buy one of these so I wouldn’t count on you getting one. Perhaps choose a name that is carried down so your great grandchild has a chance of buying. When the lake freezes in winter, an ice breaker ensures that the inhabitants can get to work and mainland children to get to the island school.
We braved the sports fans going to a Blue Jays game and the Comic-Con people going to the Fan festival. Some costumes were amazing , and we headed for the Markets ( in the original Council Chambers) (The Blue Jays won)
You can buy fruit, Canadien products and foods of all types. The original markets were across the road and burnt down. Toronto has a problem with building fires including a fire station that burnt down. They are being rebuilt. In Toronto, historical buildings ,if they are to be rebuilt, must keep the facade . Other historical features like the clock tower may remain without the rest of the building.
Another building which has been repurposed is the Distillery.it now has boutiques, cafes and bars. Definitely a vibrant place but my feet are complaining so let’s catch the bus and return to the hotel for a rest.
Read newspaper online. Read book.Talked at husband…especially when it looked like he was getting comfortable for a snooze. Researched stuff for grandsons assignment. Watched speed of train on husbands phone . Drank coffee. Drank water …..drank more coffee and generally tried not to be annoying. Went to the loo…..shouldn’t drink too much coffee.😏 We made it to our hotel but the wifi is sooooooooo woeful that we had to go to Tim Hortons to use their wifi……so your blog is bought to you by Tim, a French vanilla coffee and a maple glazed pecan donut.😃
Montreal is a sprawling modern city of skyscrapers and apartments. It has been built on islands surrounded by the St Laurence river and its tributaries. The oldest part of the city was originally walled but this has long disappeared. It has an underground transport system. All building and road works have to be completed during summer and the month on either side as winters are harsh. so at present it’s a mess!
Talking about underground, there is a whole other city underground complete with restaurants, clothes, groceries and services off Saint Catherine Street. People can catch the train ,shop, eat and go home without venturing out in the cold.This fountain is four stories below ground.
Statues
Quick goodbye to the river….or so we thought and then on the train.
Being ancient we started the day with breakfast in the ‘Buffet de Antiquaire ‘ and are having dinner in ‘Restaurant aux anciens. Canadien’. 
Who knew caramel on toast was a thing…..the jam was great too.The restaurant Anciens serves traditional Canadien food and is in one of the oldest buildings in the city.
The Parliament House is in a similar style to the Frontenac but the statues on it show the important figures in Canadian history. I think those figures come alive at night and have a good gossip about us tourists. 
Now gardens in government buildings are usually formal….and there are some of these but there is a massive vegetable and herb garden in the left side of the front.This provides produce for the parliament restaurant which only uses produce from the Province.
Both the commanding generals were killed.The battlefields are now public places. 
In winter it becomes a 
cross country ski area. The dirt area in the photo becomes a frozen lake with fish. You can go ice fishing. Don’t want your fish…put it back for someone else to catch?
Tomorrow we are on the train to Montreal. It is a commuter train so a new experience.
The accommodation is compact but you get your own wet room and the seats are comfy don’t you think. We managed to fit your backpack in the cupboard if you are looking for it. 
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Feel the wind on your face, hear the splash. You are on the ferry crossing the Narrows to Dartmouth
30 acres was set aside for park lands and a Victorian formal garden, in the 1800’s. It is still a relaxing place to walk..and perhaps have a meal in the tea house.
Look at the faces, nervous? Worried? Anxious? You future is in the hands of an officer who will ask you questions about where you come from , why have you come and why Canada. Your colour, ethnicity , political ideals and skills will be judged. You will the then have to pass a health examination.
