Amsterdam's Airport Awesomeness

Need to spend a long layover in the airport? Well no better place to be than Amsterdam Schiphol! I spent 17 hours in that place on my way home for Easter and I felt like a queen rather than the usual tired, achy, dirty mess that transatlantic travelling brings. 

Schiphol actually has a hotel beside the gates after security called Hotel Yotel. I planned ahead and made a reservation and I was SO thankful that I did. The place reminded me of a futuristic mix between berths on a train and a Japanese pod hotel. Everything was incredibly compact, but very functional. Our flight arrived at around 22:30, and by that time all the shops and restaurants in the terminal were closed. The only food available in the airport were hidden sandwiches at Yotel's front desk! 

(Clockwise from the top: hallway inside the hotel; looking into my room from the hall; and the convenient fold-out desk and chair.)

(Clockwise from the top: very comfy bed tucked away; flat screen tv at the foot of the bed with both Dutch and English programming; toilet, sink, and shower with only a curtain separating the rest of the room.)

I awoke in the morning feeling refreshed after a proper sleep and a shower. I even felt a little guilty knowing many people slept in the floor by the gates. Oh well! 

With still another 6 hours to wait, I moseyed on over to the spa a few steps away. I booked a full work up of treatments and sat in their premium leather massage chair while I waited. The quality of the treatments was not the greatest... I got the feeling that the esthetician working on me did not have a lot of experience (she gave me the world's worst wax and cut my toenails too short, which stung for a couple days). But I was not too upset. Here I was getting pampered in an AIRPORT. 

I even wish I had had more time to kill because I missed out on exploring the museum. It is a permanent exhibition of ten works from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and changes throughout the year. 

In summary, volcanic ash cloud got you stranded? Unexpected delays? Planned layovers? Amsterdam is the place to be!

A Few Minor Adjustments...

Friends and family have been frequently asking me questions about what I find different about living here. I've been on this side of the pond for nearly 6 months now, and although I still encounter lots of stuff I didn't know I didn't know on a daily basis, I think I can better answer those questions. So let's "give it a go", shall we?

Things I've had to Adjust to:

• Traffic on the left side -  I knew enough to expect it, but I didn't realize how completely ingrained I am in ways of the right-side... to the point of having to re-learn how to be a pedestrian. I'm still not 100% used to it!
• The inability to make certain phone calls without a BT landline (British Telecommunications) - It just so happens that I don't have access to a landline without walking a couple blocks to a payphone AND that I need to make these calls on a regular basis. Eg. making "reverse" calls (collect calls) or calling the international operator. Nothing like hauling ass in the pouring rain with all my banking information to a public pay phone to resolve issues with my bank/Visa!
• Nobody puts mustard on their sandwiches; they're so bland -  Subway doesn't even have mustard as an option! No dijon, no honey mustard. Nadda. 
• People say, "You alright?" when they see you instead of, "How are you?" - It's a subtle difference but it always makes me think that I look sad or ill and people are checking if I'm ok.
• Bedding packs don't come with a sheet! - You'll get a fitted sheet ok, but I had to REALLY go out of my way to buy a regular old flat (and now mis-matching) sheet. Weird.
• Machines talk to you instead of just beeping - My favourite was the backup alarm on a giant dump truck ("lorry") that repeated in a polite British female voice, "Caution, vehicle is reversing." But it did become rather annoying when the elevator was broken in my flat... I got to listen to the same voice repeat, "Doors open... Doors closing..." all night long.
• Chips are crisps and fries are chips - I'm getting better at this one!
• Customer service in general is awful. And I'm not a hard person to please.
• The indoor exercise facilities - both private and public, they're just not the caliber of North America. I think it's because outdoor activities like football are far more popular.
• The incredibly ineffective washer/dryer combo - That's right, because of lack of space, most people have one machine for both washing and drying clothes and it does neither of those things very well. Oh, and it's rare to have a separate laundry room so you can expect to do your laundry in the kitchen.

Best Things about Britain:

• CHEESE - the supermarkets are just filled with all kinds of interesting, fresh, and very delicious cheese. Anyone who knows my love of cheese can vouch that this makes me VERY excited!
• Reliable transit - well, more than at home anyway. Oh, and double decker buses. It just makes sense!
• British Airways - best economy class flying experience so far. Sorry, WestJet, but I've yet to fly overseas with you. 
• Mild winters
• The NHS - Brits can talk at lengths about all the things wrong with their health care system, but they've really got it together compared to Health Canada. Also, my patient experience was SUPER efficient and awesome.
• The people - polite and a great sense of humour
• Everything everywhere has so much history
• Cell phones and mobile services are far superior. 
• Booze is super cheap, even with the exchange rate
• The BBC (although I do miss CBC)
• If you want to get around, everything is so close! Even Europe!
• 3 weeks holiday at Easter - yes please :)

Day Trip to York

So I know I've really dropped the ball lately on keeping this blog up to date. My Christmas Holidays split over Red Lake and Calgary were absolutely AMAZING, but no need to blog when I'm home, right? At any rate, I definitely have a little catching up to do. 

Firstly, right before I left Leeds in December, Chris Wright and I took a day trip to the town of York. For those of you who don't know Chris, he and his family came to Red Lake from Nottingham in 1997-1998 to do a 1-year exchange with a local family. All of the Wrights quickly became very active in the community as well as friends of the family and I'm glad to have stayed in touch. 

But back to the present. So the two of us decided to take an afternoon to wander around the very historical streets of York. We chose a good time to go as it was bustling with activity on a Sunday afternoon just a couple weeks before Christmas. (But it was freezing!!) Oh and as is the norm for most English towns before Christmas, there was definitely an outdoor Christmas market.

One of many very intricate ice sculptures in the streets. I suspect that to the left is a street vendor selling anything from pumpkin soup to mulled wine to sausages.

Typical street in York. I love the narrow, cobblestone streets and tiny shops.

The famous York Minster, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe

Climbing to the first tower of the cathedral

Taking a break halfway!

View from the top

We were wondering who you have to be to live in that mansion

Inside the cathedral - the choir began singing but they were hidden in a centre section. The acoustics in that place are amazing. It sounded like you were completely surrounded with ethereal music.

View from the street

Walking along the York City Walls that completely surround the core of the town. Some parts of the wall date back to Roman times.

The cathedral as viewed from the City Walls.

A Local's Guide to Red Lake in August

I'm headed home to Red Lake, Ontario this August to pack up my life and make the voyage to Leeds. I'll be bringing my boyfriend for the first time, and I want to give him the full Red Lake experience. Then I started thinking like a tourist... but most tourists in the region are American and/or just looking for a fishing trip, which is reflected by most of the tourist info available online. Sooo I thought I would compose my own list. A local's guide to Red Lake!

• Pick Wild Blueberries
  
• Tour the Mine
  
• Check out the old Griffith Mine Site
  
• Ride a Norseman
  
• Go Cliff Jumping
  
• Rent the Cochenour Cabin
  
• Visit the Museum
  
• Go Fishing
• Hit the Beach
  
• Visit a Nearby Provincial Park
  
• Go Bear-Watching
  
• Check out the Trout Forest Music Festival
  
• Golf
  
• Rent a Canoe
  
• Get Active
  
• Rocks and Shiny Things
• More Info

Pick Wild Blueberries

(and raspberries or even strawberries if you're lucky!)

Where? Ummm, EVERYWHERE! Seriously, in the late summer, you can find berries in the ditches of the highway. The usual picking places are up Nungessor Road about 20 minutes or more. Just turn off the highway, park, and go nuts. I was blown away when I went to Southern Ontario and heard about berry farms. You want me to pay you to pick berries on your land? Pffffft, not when I can get it for free in Red Lake! Warning: don't forget the bug spray.

Tour the Mine

Goldcorp - Red Lake Gold Mines is Canada's largest gold mines and one of the world's richest. It consists of 2 adjacent mine sites, 4 headframes, and over 1000 employees. Gold mining at this site has been in operation since the 1940's and still has many bountiful years ahead.

Not for tourists, but if you know someone who works there--preferably a Beat Supervisor, you may be able to persuade him to take you underground. http://www.goldcorp.com/operations/red_lake_mine/

Check out the old Griffith Mine Site

The Red Lake area has a rich history of mining and prospecting, which has left behind countless abandoned minesites to explore. The Griffith Mine was an open pit iron mine 20 km north of Ear Falls, which closed in 1986. Remnants of the mine still remain, including the large open pit, which is now a crystal-clear quarry. You can swim, but wear a life jacket. As my mom used to say, "if you drowned, they'd never find your body!" There are a few walking trails in the area to explore as well.

Ride a Norseman

(Note: Not a Norse Man)

You can't go to the Norseman Capital of the World and not see a Norseman!

August is just after the Norseman Floatplane Festival, but there are still places you can go if you want a ride. Or just hang out by Howey Bay and you'll see plenty of floatplanes land and take off. Since there are few paved roads and an abundance of lakes and waterways, bushplanes like the Norseman are neccessary to ferry people and supplies to remote areas in the north.

For the brave & adventurous: Go Cliff Jumping

If you're not familiar with this activity, it's not QUITE as dangerous as it sounds. Basically, you run and jump off a rock face 15 feet or more high into the very deep lake. I've never been brave enough to do this myself, but I hear it's a huge thrill. I once saw a youtube video of a guy cliff jumping so high, that he broke his leg when he hit the water... and you could definitely hear the bone snap. Good locations are behind Mackenzie Island or in Blue Lake Provincial Park--both are accessible by boat only. Ask locals for directions.

Rent the Cochenour Cabin

This gorgeous log cabin in the woods looks like it's straight out of a fairytale. I've had the pleasure of staying here twice with visiting family and friends. The screened-in back porch offers a breathtaking view of the lake peaking through the trees. Lot's of privacy, with running water, a shower, and a flush toilet, this place is rustic but still luxurious. It's full of history, so be sure to sign the guest book.

http://www.cochenourcabin.com/local.htm

Visit the Museum

The Red Lake Heritage Centre was completely revamped in 2007 to bring a modern look and perspective to our rich history. Inside, you'll find information about Red Lake from the days of fur trade and the gold rush of the 1920's onward. Aboriginal arts and culture, geology of the area, the Woodland Caribou Park, and general tourist information displays can also be found. Events run mostly in the summer.

http://www.redlakemuseum.com/

Go Fishing!

Walleye, northern pike, sauger, perch, whitefish, and lake trout all grace the lakes and streams in the Red Lake area. Fish can be found nearly everywhere you go, but you may choose to stay at a fishing lodge where they'll take you to all the best places and even clean your fish for you!

Here is a little shameless promotion for camps to check out that are owned by some of the my friends and family:

• Nungessor Lake Lodge http://www.nungesserlake.com/
  
• Five Lakes Lodge http://www.fivelakeslodge.com/
  
• Snake Falls Camp http://www.snakefalls.com/
  

Hit the Beach

There are several beautiful sandy beaches to choose from! Rahill, Kinsmen, Cochenour, Goldseekers, and Sandy Point all offer something different.

Rahill: This is on just off the highway between Cochenour and Balmertown and is probably the "main" beach in the area. The public area has a water fountain, picnic benches and barbeque pits, a tennis court, playground area, beach volleyball net, and a men's and women's washroom and change area. The water is fairly shallow here, which makes the water warmer and a safer place to swim for young kids. The shallow water also means that swimmer's itch can be a problem in the mid to late summer.

Kinsmen: This beach is located in Red Lake near Forestry Point. The water temperatures are usually a little cooler than Rahill, but that can be refreshing in the hottest part of summer! Kinsmen Beach is a little less popular than Rahill, but can be great for avoiding crowds.

Cochenour: I love swimming at the Cochenour Beach when the floating platform is out. Some years it's there, and some years it's not and I've never figured out the pattern. This beach gets very deep very quickly as it's located on a large hill, which is also kind of cool. It's definitely the coldest beach of the bunch with the fewest facilities of the public beaches, which makes it best suited for young adults/teens who like to drive, jump, and push each other off the platform.

Goldseekers and Sandy Point: Both of these beaches are not public and are accessible by boat only--both of which makes going to them a little more exciting. You will more than likely be the only ones there and have the whole beach to yourselves. Goldseekers is located up Post Narrows and Sandy Point is near Mackenzie Island. It's hard to give better directions unless you really know the waterways. (There aren't any signs and you'd be hard pressed to find them on a map.)

Visit a Nearby Provincial Park

Clockwise from the top: Blue Lake, Woodland Caribou, and Pakwash Provincial Park

Blue Lake, just off Highway 17 just west of Vermillion Bay, is my favourite provincial park in the region. The lake is a crystal clear aquamarine making it more closely resemble glacial lakes rather than the murky blue/black lakes that are characteristic of the area. Lots of great camping and most sites are walking distance to the beach. www.ontarioparks.com/english/blue.html

Pakwash, located off Highways 105 between Ear Falls and Red Lake, also has some good camping and a swimmable lake, but neither are not as good as Blue Lake. The best thing about Pakwash, in my opinion, is the hiking trails. www.ontarioparks.com/English/pakw.html

Woodland Caribou is a whopping 450,000 hectares where the only roads are the waterways and the trails made by wildlife. Therefore, your only way into the park is on the water or in the air (this is where those bushplanes come in handy). You can paddle unnamed lakes where the only traces of human life you'll see will be pre-historic pictographs on the rocks and evidence of furtrading posts. www.ontariopark.com/English/wood.html

Go Bear-Watching

Where is the #1 guaranteed spot to get a good look at some black bears? The dump! I'm not kidding... drive up in your sturdy and preferably 4x4 vehicle and you'll find up to 15 bears at a time leisurely hanging out at the dump. Be a passive observer and they won't bother you at all. But be forewarned! Do not get out of the vehicle, attempt to feed, or annoy the bears in any way. If you see cubs, hightail it outta there! (The angry momma won't be far behind). Not an activity for those who are not willing to get a scratch or noseprint on their vehicles, or those who many be offended by raunchy garbage smell.

Head to Ear Falls for the Trout Forest Music Festival

Usually the second weekend in August, this Festival ALWAYS delivers an entertaining mix of indie folk, rock, bluegrass, and roots. Often, the bands stopover en route to the Winnipeg Folk Festival, so TroutFest is often a good sample of what's to come in Winnipeg. Small enough to jam with the musicians around a campfire in the evening, but large enough to host talent from across the country, TroutFest is a must-see for music lovers. My personal favourite thing about Trout Forest is camping right on the lakeshore. This means you can escape the midday heat by taking a dip in the beautiful English River, then go back to your tent and take a nap, all the while listening to tunes from the mainstage. http://www.troutfest.com/

Golf at the Red Lake Golf and Country Club

This is the most northernly 18-hole course in Ontario and it's gorgeous. We really are pretty spoiled up here. http://www.golfredlake.com/

Rent a Canoe or Kayak

Dip, dip, and swing that paddle all over the vast network of blue lakes and rocky shores. If you're a seasoned portager, try a canoe trip in the Woodlands Caribou Provincial Park (above).

http://www.canoenorthwestontario.ca/ http://www.goldseekers.net/html/home.html

Get Active

Swim, bowl, curl (in the winter), and hit the gym at the Campbell Recreation Centre in Balmertown. The Red Lake Recreation Centre also has a gym, games room, 2 squash courts, basketball court, and 2 tennis courts

Play a pickup game of baseball, tennis, soccer, or volleyball. Baseball diamonds are in Balmertown at the Rec. Centre, in Red Lake on Hwy 105, and in Cochenour on the way to Mackenzie Island. Tennis courts are in Rahill Beach and at the Red Lake Rec. Centre. There is a beach volleyball net at Rahill as well, and a regulation sized soccer field beside the ball diamond in Cochenour.

See the Municipal Office Rock Display

The Red Lake Municipal Office (located in Balmertown--haha) has a large display of rocks, minerals, gems, and crystals on the main level that is open to the public. This is heaven for geology nerds, but also worth checking out if you're into shiny things. See if you can tell the difference between gold and fool's gold!

For more info about Red Lake and area:

The Norseman Festival http://www.norsemanfestival.on.ca/index.html

Red Lake Touring Region http://www.visitredlakeregion.com/

Tourism Red Lake http://www.tourismredlake.ca/

Municipality of Red Lake http://www.red-lake.com/

The Norseman Capital http://www.norsemancapital.com/

Red Lake Travel http://www.redlaketravel.com/

Northern Sun News http://www.thenorthernsun.com/

Ontario Sunset Country http://www.ontariossunsetcountry.ca/

NW Ontario Outdoors http://www.canadasgreatoutdoors.com/regions/northern-ontario-sunset-country.aspx

Ontario Towns http://www.ontariotowns.net/

Attractions in Leeds

I was ecstatic to find this video clip, which sums up all of the tourist attractions I have been reading about in Leeds. It's so exciting trying to imagine what my life will be like in just a few months. I don't know what it is about the host of this show, but even without the sound he is unmistakably British... I LOVE it.


Leeds from Enjoy England on Vimeo.