Valerie Harding's Canada

My impression of Canada was one of a huge country with very little happening. All the cities were on the east side and the scenery on the west side with very little in between and some of the population spoke French. However having spent three weeks there in September 2014 I found that it was a very diverse country.

The cities were all very different. Quebec was very scenic and historic, Montreal was a mixture of old and new and well prepared for bad weather with its underground malls, Ottowa stately, being the capital with its Rideout Canal, and Toronto modern and vibrant with its CN Tower where you certainly saw the world differently. Niagara was a tremendous sight and the thundering noise from the water flowing over one's head when in the tunnels and on the outside platform made it an unforgettable experience and one you will remember for the rest of your life. The common denominator being the mighty St Lawrence River.

The weather in Niagara was hot and on arrival in Banff there was snow which made the scenery and moving around more exciting. Gondola trips over the glistening snow covered mountains, visiting the mirror that is Lake Louise, still but so picturesque, walking on the Athabasca Glacier and of course trying to spot the wildlife. Plenty of elk, a moose in the distant forest but no bears, well just the back end of one running up a hillside!

Finally Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Vancouver with its busy but pristine waterfront and Vancouver Island with the lovely Butchart Gardens. The Island was much bigger and further away from Vancouver than I envisaged but worth the trip.

The people were friendly, the food diverse and the weather covered all seasons. Canada I enjoyed you and learnt a great deal about your history, diversity of states and territories, flora and fauna.

If Valerie has tempted you to explore Canada for yourself, take a look at our collection of escorted tours.