"Canadian Jane - Some Travels and Thoughts" CdnJane's Profile

A Special October 2006 brunch w/ Berni and Carl

Be Back Soon... I'm on Vacation!!!

Let me introduce myself

About Me

My name is Jane and I love to travel. I am also an Internet and VT addict. I haven't done as much travel in the past few years as I would've liked. Soon I hope to travel more, and further afield.

Travel destinations:
Pre-marriage:
1962 - Northwestern Ontario
1965 - BC and Alberta visiting family
1969 - Train from Ont to BC, a cruise to Alaska, and visiting family
1971 - Florida with family; and Cape Cod with grandparents
1972 - School choir trip to Kentucky, USA; and Austria with my cousin
1973 - UK with parents, visiting relatives
1974 - BC - visiting family, my first long trip travelling on my own
1975-76 - At a Canadian school in Neuchatel Switzerland - this provided a base in Europe, living with a Swiss family, and travel - Switzerland, France, Morocco, Italy, with school, then Luxembourg and the UK on my own, after school to visit friends and relatives.
1976 - BC to visit with family
1979 - Switzerland, visiting mySwiss family, and UK both on my own and then for 1 week with parents and grandparents, before staying in Scotland for a few weeks with cousins.
1983 - 1989 - about 4 more trips to the UK, and a couple of trips to BC and 2 trips to New York City, and one horrible driving trip through Eastern New York (because of driving companion, not the locations)

Marriage Years:
With husband : 2 trips to the UK, 1 to BC, 2 trips to Florida, 1 trip to Chicago, several trips down to Buffalo NY, and some trips within Ontario. We were on 2 cruises in the Caribbean, on a couple of the older smaller ships.
On my own - San Francisco for a very short visit for a family wedding, took a girls trip into NY state, and went to Ireland for 10 days with my mother.

Post Marriage:
While I was working in travel, I managed to get to Australia 2x, to Washington DC, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Upper New York State, Nova Scotia, Arizona, Bermuda and Texas
I've also made a couple of trips to the US (NY state, Michigan, and Texas) for country music concerts.
Aug/04 -a fairly quick trip to Vancouver, BC for a cousin's wedding, also seeing Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast, White Rocks, and Steveston.
June/07 - Had a fabulous time in Nova Scotia! Thanks Betty!

In the past little while, it seems that my traveling has been limited to the Internet... chatting online and meeting people that way. Much cheaper way to see the world! Having said that, I've been meeting VT members here in Toronto and in London Ontario, and it has awoken my eyes to what there is here in my own hometown/province. I've learned how much I like playing tour guide to visitors.

Another site that I belong to, which seems to compliment VT is Boockcrossing.com. This, free site, is about releasing books after you've finished enjoying them, and hopefully tracing where they have travelled. This is not a cult and all sorts of genre of books are being released. I know many members of VT are also BCers and release books on their travels. I have released books in Canada and Bermuda. It's a fun, great way to combine the Net, travel and books. If you check out the site, please use my name CdnJane as your referring member. Enjoy!

My cousin's wife Anne passed away Sunday April 19, 2009. Her weakened body wasn't able to handle this latest transplant, and the complications. It is a sad time, especially for my cousin and his two young children. This began with lung cancer that was environmental - not because of smoking, and was the tale of how a double lung transplant gave a family 3 more years together. Thank you for your comments and prayers and positive wishes... they have been cherished and appreciated greatly.

Please, if your beliefs allow it, sign an organ donation form and help others. Lung cancer doesn't just affect smokers - it kills more than breast and prostate cancers combined !

My Lecture on Travel Behaviour

Listen Or I

In my own experience, and opinion, you get treated anywhere (including in your own country) in relation to how you behave and treat others. The old golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have done unto you".
Respect others, you are in their home, not yours. Obey rules/laws, you expect yours to be obeyed. Observe and enjoy the differences and culture of where you are. Don't flaunt your own nationality or expect special treatment because of it. Be polite, ask - don't demand. Keep your mind open to what you can learn, and remember you don't know it all, or just because you do something differently doesn't make it right. And PLEASE never say loudly: "WHAT IS THIS IN REAL MONEY!!!!" (Cringe... remembering my grandmother say that to my grandfather, and hearing other tourists say that to each other, and if I heard it, so did others.)

Ontario - The Rural Side

Think about it!

I'm proud of my rural roots and my cousins who farm. One of my cousins and her husband are involved in a breeding program for Hereford cattle, with just a small herd, but doing very well at shows with them. As well, I have cousins who are involved with dairy cattle, primairily Holsteins, and some that have been potato growers. It has made me very aware of how much we owe our farmers, and that without them, well I'm not exactly sure how food would make its way onto our tables!
Take a look of a couple of courntry fairs that take me back to my country roots: Orangeville fair and Milton Fair

Virtually Being at the London VT Meeting

RonDace in white coat in Triangle bottom left

It was suggested that we take a screen print of one of the 2 sites where there was a webcam at specific times to give ourselves credit for being a Virtual VirtualTourist London VT Meeting attendee. I missed the Covent Garden local, so had to do with the Trafalgar Square site. It was much more difficult to identify people with the Trafalgar Square site but, working through emails with cmthomas (Clarence), we believe we identified RonDace in his white coat in the triangle in the lower left corner. Thanks, Ron, for wearing the coat!

Australia got under my skin and into my heart.

Govett

2000-2001 got me traveling to Australia. This has always been a place that I've wanted to go to: I've read about it, dreamed about it, and finally when I started chatting online, looked for Aussies to chat with. In August of 2000, I had the chance to go to Australia through an incredible travel agent deal from Air Canada. I couldn't not go. My friend John took me through the Blue Mountains and I thoroughly fell in love with the area. I returned in Dec 2000 in time to see the new year come in , and to go exploring more of NSW with him. Such a small taste of Oz - whet my appetite for more. Meeting Vters from the Land Down Under and keeping in touch with John has continued my desire to get back there.

City Sights

Along King St., Toronto Ont. Canada

I worked in downtown Toronto, and alway enjoyed the mixture of buildings - the new and the old.
I fell in love with this scene on King Street of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and the modern office/apt towers behind, and Roy Thomson Hall across the street.

Country wanders

Lovely Ontario countryside even in Black & White

Although I complain that I haven't been travelling much, I did realise the other week that one of the things that I enjoy is a car trip through the Ontario countryside. I don't have to travel miles away to discover beauty and escape my day-to-day existance. I had an Aussie friend visiting and we drove north and west of Toronto, and it was lovely. We saw hawks, and perhaps even an eagle or an osprey. There were a couple of deer in a field, but I suspect that they were "farmed deer", not wild ones. I had forgotten how lovely the countryside is... and it really is a treat when a visitor comes who enjoys exploring on the lesser roads.

I love seeing the Canadian Rockies

Kootenay Park - Mountain Goats

Its been a few years, but I love to drive from Calgary to Vancouver through the Rockies. You never know what you'll see along the way. Whether it is Mountain Goats, Deer, Moose, Elk, Bears, Wolves... or incredible views and land forms. There is beauty where-ever you go. Sometimes, desolation too when you see the results of forest fires.

Intro Updated Nov 7, 2012
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Personal Pages (5)

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Comments (295)

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marinarena Apr 9, 2013 at 10:26 AM

I just have randomly visited your pages. I like your sincere approach to travel, especially on etiquette. Hello from California- Marie
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  CdnJane Apr 9, 2013 at 10:55 AM
  
  Thank you for checking out my pages, Marie. I do try to approach travel to other places in the same way as I do visits to people's homes locally - I am a guest, and I want to behave in a way that I'm able to enjoy other's hospitality, and be welcome back. Not everyone follows the same rules, and it is my place as a guest to learn and respect others' differences. It is always interesting to see other places and ways of doing things. I also tend to follow the guideline that if you can't say anything nice, to not say anything at all.
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keida84 Mar 13, 2013 at 10:08 AM

Hi Jane Thanks for stopping by to say hello. I hope all is well with you. I miss the "old days" on VT and the people that we met. It sure was a lot of fun.
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Ann75 Jan 30, 2013 at 9:10 AM

Hi Jane, how are you? Nice to see you are still on VT...I have started all over again with all my pages. Hope all is well on your end! We are doing great over here!

Take care,
Ann
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  CdnJane Jan 30, 2013 at 4:44 PM
  
  Hi Ann, I haven't ever fully weaned myself away from VT. Was out your way in September/October - traveled with an Aussie friend from Seattle up to Alaska (on the ferry), drove around to Whitehorse and back into Alaska, ferry back down to Prince Rupert, then train to Jasper, car rental to Edmonton, Drumheller, Banff, and through the mountains and down the Okanagan back into Washington state and back from Osoyoos to Seattle. Was a lot of driving, but so gorgeous. That's been my big trip for quite a while. I live with my mother, as her caregiver/chauffeur/cook/etc. Take care,
  Jane
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hunterV Dec 26, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Hello, Jane! Spread the love, happiness and Yuletide cheer to all you meet. Have a wonderful Christmas!
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  CdnJane Dec 26, 2012 at 1:40 PM
  
  Thanks and may your Yuletide be wonderful too - Merry Christmas!
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LoriPori Dec 24, 2012 at 3:50 AM

Here's wishing you a very "Merry christmas" Jane and all the best in 2013. xxx Lori and Hansi
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  CdnJane Dec 24, 2012 at 5:45 AM
  
  Lori and Hansi, wishing you both a Merry Christmas and may 2013 bring good health, happiness, travel adventures, and good times with family and friends. HUGS!!
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diosh Oct 19, 2012 at 10:38 AM

I still read your name tag as Commander Jane! LOL xxx
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  CdnJane Oct 19, 2012 at 11:17 AM
  
  You and me both! Too easy to do with games, family, etc over there!
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  diosh Oct 19, 2012 at 11:43 AM
  
  Absolutely..and many of us over there to chat too easily:-)
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Martman Oct 8, 2012 at 6:03 PM

Thank you for the wishes Jane. Hope you doing great! Martin
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kandoi Jul 1, 2012 at 5:59 PM

Happy Birthday :)
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sdq Jul 1, 2012 at 2:57 PM

!!!!! Happy Birthday !!!!!
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Redlats Jul 1, 2012 at 4:58 AM

Another year has gone by. Happy birthday from Winnipeg