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It's been a full week of adventuring since I wrote last Saturday morning. Jules came up from Hamilton with some friends and we went out clubbing that night (who needs to watch Jackass when they want to be dancing?).

I spent the next few days exploring Toronto with David and on my own, and saw a bunch of interesting things, including a march of Christian Chinese Canadians against same sex marriages (they all had matching t-shirts and banners and it lasted about half an hour, including trucks bearing singers and musicians that were way too enthusiastic to be natural), various different neighbourhoods (Chinatown, Little Italy, The Beaches, Kensington, Yorkville...), the local Uni, a lot of coffee shops (Starbucks is still evil, David), libraries, gardens and parks (the Toronto Music Park is beautiful), interesting people, a couple of bars, some great shopping and the CN tower from several different angles (c.f. Sky tower for those Aucklanders reading) - just not from the observation deck as it's extortion to get up. I did see something on TV yesterday though saying that they have these machines which can tell in 7 seconds whether you've handled explosives or firearms in the last two weeks. That might be worth the $34. Ouch.

I got to Caledonia on Wednesday to see Julie. It's a little town about an hour and a half out of Toronto and we've been having a great time since I got here. Her mom was desperate to cook for me, and who am I to argue with someone's mom (Canadian spelling as she's a Canadian mom)? Jules hired a car so yesterday we went down to Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake. Niagara Falls is like a little Vegas (with the falls, of course), with big plastic animals and characters everywhere, and a big scary Ripley's believe it or not museum. We walked up and down the falls, had a couple of cheesy photos, and then got on the Maid of the Mist. It was hilarious. It's a boat that takes you right up to the falls where the mist is like heavy heavy rain. They give you a blue plastic poncho just before you get on the boat, so that the boat packed with people looks like it's full of smurfs from a distance. It was well worth the money (unlike no-goat Fort Henry). We had a lovely picnic lunch in the park (watched a bunch of seniors on an outing, and one of them trying to escape) and then had some retail therapy and frozen yoghurt in Niagara on the Lake (rich little town where we couldn't really afford anything big). We saw a bunch of hillbillies on the highway home too, which was fun until they wouldn't go away.

Today we got in the car again and tried to make our way up north to St Jacobs, which is a Mennonite town where they still ride horses and buggies. We got ridiculously lost several times (why can't they signpost highway 8 properly?? We couldn't find it in either direction). Went shopping again, enjoyed wonderful weather, and then got lost on the way home. No buggies, but a man riding a tricycle with a trailer and a licence placte that said "Driven by an old bastard". Quality. So we were a little late in returning the car. Jules' mom made a wonderful lasagne for dinner, which she would only make for such a grand occasion as my visiting, of course. I tried to walk it off but I don't think it worked.

This weekend we're going shopping (I haven't been to Wal-Mart for nearly a year and I can't wait!) and then to a Fall Fair to eat a bunch of junk, watch demolition derbies, see some goats and other animals and go on rides til we puke. Awesome. Sunday I'm going to meet Julie's aunt (the one that makes Erotic cakes and candies) and stick around for one more fantastic dinner.

Til then ...