The Americas - The North

A 22-day adventure by Nadine Read more

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Trip start
April 10, 2017
The Americas - The North Traveler
Frankfurt International Airport
April 10, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
Where to? 🎲🎲
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The Americas - The North Traveler
Seattle, home of Amazon and Starbucks
April 12, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Good to be back in the US, in its most rainy city, founded in 1851. Here, a gum wall is one of the major sights besides the not so stunning Space Needle, the Aquarium and its waterfront with snowy mountains in the distance. Clearly it was lucky to have one sunny day to do the free walking tour and the underground tour walking on underground sidewalks that some time ago were the normal streets.

How comes that Seattle has an underground without having a metro? Back then the city decided to build streets one level higher due to flooding issues. Still, sidewalks and shop fronts stayed on normal sea level protected by the walls around them. Hard to imagine that the underground today was the place people went shopping until complete new parts of the city were built upon (they could only be reached through ladders). It was still used in order to ban unwanted people, bars and parts of red light district down there and some are still used today whereas normal life takes place one level higher.

Last but not least, an important reminder to myself: never eat Chowder soup with sea food ever again!Read more
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Vancouver: base camp for the trip
April 13, 2017 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 9 °C
Yesterday, we crossed the border with the Greyhound and arrived in our amazing air bnb appartment with its stunning view over the city and the mountains (as long as the clouds are not covering them). We got to know our nice host Michelle and her lovely dog, Baylea. Luckily, they let us return to the flat every time we get back to Vancouver during our time in Canada.

Mission of the day: buying tons of food and getting ready for the trip.
My personal mission of the day: cuddling Baylea, walking her through the park and protect all the squirrels from her :)Read more
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Roadtrip Day 1: stop in Kelowna
April 14, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
5h driving through the four seasons. Time passes quickly up here 🤔
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Day 2: stop in Revelstoke
April 15, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
Day 2 and it is becoming clearly colder when we get closer to the Rockys. Luckily, there is a hot tub very close :)

Happy Holidays 🐰🐣
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Day 3: Emerald Lake, en route to Calgary
April 16, 2017 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 -9 °C
Suddenly found ourselves surrounded by mountains and snow. It must be them: the Rocky Mountains! 🇨🇦

On the way to Calgary we passed them on trans-canadian highway 1 and stopped at magnifient Emerald Lake. And yes, there are plenty of things to do on a tremendous frozen lake other than simply walking on it 🚷Read more
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Day 4: Calgary, a different picture
April 17, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C
After crossing the Rockys we somehow got used to the mountains. Further east though, the landscape rather reminded us of a flat desert and Calgary, apparently, was the centre of it.

Here, we walked in the streets and along the bow river and climbed the tower of Calgary in the sun. In the evening, we intended to see Calgary winning in the ice hockey playoffs 🔥Ultimately however, the Calgary Flames lost against the Anaheim Ducks :/Read more
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Day 5: the Grotto Creek Trail
April 18, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C
On our way to Banff we came by this trail that was supposed to lead through an old canyon to a waterfall. Actually, it turned out as much more beautiful than that. The pathway in the creek was all snowy and led through a frozen river bed where you could still hear the water flow underneath you. It ended in an impressive canyon on one side and with a vast view over the valley on the other.

Already looking forward to the hikes in Banff and Jasper and more infinite nature and freedom to come.Read more
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Day 6 & 7: Banff National Park (Samesun)
April 20, 2017 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 -7 °C
Even without being able to ski and snowboard there are many things to do and see around here:

- Tunnel Mountain Trail (easy walk to the mountain top)
- Banff Gondola (worth the money)
- Banff Hot Springs (totally worth the money)
- Elks having their big night out in town
- Lake Louise (wait, where is the actual lake? Oh right, already walking on it)
- Johnston Canyon Trail (just wow, didn't expect how beautiful a hike and spring in Canada can be)

- And finally Banff (the place where everybody just doesn't know what to do in life, following the thruthfully mission: happiness is the way you travel, not a destination 🗺✌🏼)

Inevitable to mention at this point:
It was nice to see my Canadian travel mates from Nicaragua again 🇳🇮🇨🇦 nowadays, you always meet twice in your life, you just don't know where it will be!

Do's and Don'ts for next time:
- be aware of wild animals crossing the street!
- do not miss that single night in which you can see the Northern lights!!
- learn how to snowboard!!!
- come back again in summer!!!!Read more
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The Americas - The North Traveler
Day 8: Icefields Parkway to Jasper
April 22, 2017 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 5 °C
The Icefield Parkway from Banff to Jasper alias Winter Wonderland leads you along multiple lakes, trails, glaciers and waterfalls, all hidden under snow. The road itself and its stunning views is the main attraction though. Thats actually how it is like to drive a BMW as if in a commercial 🏔🏎Read more
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The Americas - The North Traveler
Day 9: Jasper National Park & Jasper
April 23, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 1 °C
Some pretty amazing things to see around here:
- The five lakes (each frozen or unfrozen and in a different colour; and yes, they are cold!)
- Athabasca falls (it totally demonstrates the power of water and nature)
- Pretty crazy band to celebrate the end of the ski season (including dancing to country music and getting free drinks if you randomly start talking to people that prove to be the bar owner)
- the Northern lights and my first shooting stars I have ever seen, so all my wishes gonna be fulfilled! 💫
- While going for a run in town, I wondered if it is possible: An elk as a pet?! 🦌Read more
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Day 10: stop in Kamloops
April 23, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C
Recovering from the night before and enjoying the exquisite Canadian cuisine at Tim Hortens 🍩🍪🥐🍯🍔🥓🥞☕️😵

And I figured, I dont like that we are heading to the west. It means we are going back to Vancouver what also means we are heading back home soon 🙊Turn East again?! 🔙Read more
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Day 11: Hope, you didn't disappoint us!
April 24, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Our next stop, tiny town Hope, rose high expectations considering its name. Actually, it exceeded them by far.

It is located in a beautiful valley surrounded by green hills and a blue lake mirroring them in the sun. People were amazingly friendly and we had dinner in a local diner that offered crazy pies (we almost died afterwards so that we were happy to have walked there instead of using the car).

Also special about the hills is that they built one of the first railway tracks and tunnels through them. They haven't been in use since the 60s but you can still walk through them. In the case they are still closed because of winter time you might also just climb over the fence ;)

Ultimately I have to say, I'm a big fan of Hope in BC, Canada! 🍁Read more
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Day 12 and already back in the city
April 26, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Being back in Vancouver means the end of our roadtrip, returning our car and getting used again to busy city life :/

Uncommon for Vancouver however, the city welcomed us with perfect weather to do the free walking tour in the neighborhood of Gastown (named after that smart guy Gassy Jack who figured that back in pioneer times Whiskey was THE incentive in recruiting good workers).

Also there are other exciting things to discover randomly: a clock that pretends to be fueled by steam, shops full of maple (syrup) even though I haven't seen any real maple trees in Canada yet and also some indications of who is especially appreciated and respected by the Canadians in Vancouver and who is not.

In many occasions, you get reminded how "old" can be defined differently in other parts of the world. So at this point, it is essential to say, HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY, CANADA! 🇨🇦🥂🎉Read more
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Vancouver: cycling around Stanley Park
April 27, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Renting bikes was a pretty genius idea to go the 10km around Stanley Park and the waterfront. I fell in love with the house boat in blue. If it was't our last day in Vancouver, I would have loved to stay there for a while and go for run around the park every morning.

Next time, I won't take photos while riding to avoid crashing my phone again 🤔Read more
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Vancouver Island: Victoria
April 29, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
After a 2h ferry ride to Vancouver Island, we arrived in the city that istantly reminded me of the UK and prince and princess. Maybe not that surprising considering that Victoria is the capital of British Columbia where the Legislature Building shines brightly at night, the Labor Union gives speeches during the day and the Queen is still omnipresent.

Additionally, Victoria is a small and cozy town where you can stroll along the harbour, watch sea planes take off and land, go shopping and for some drinks at night (if it's not too late, like after 2).Read more
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Whale whistling with Captain Greg
April 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
After having been to so many countries without seeing them I was so grateful to getting that close to these gorgeous creatures. Thanks Captain Greg for the fun boat ride and your whale whistle that worked pretty well!! Thanks Canada!! This is it how a perfect trip looks like, including a perfect view, perfect weather and a perfect sunburn in my face! 😊
#askforgreg #thisisitRead more
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Tofino: Cast Away
April 30, 2017 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
The perfect scenery the day we got there after 3h driving - rain, fog, no view, almost no restaurants open at 9pm, restaurants that had open didn't have any free spaces, starving...

Literally Cast Away 🏝🏐😵and there was no Wilson to accompany us unfortunately ... our sole rescue was Tony's pizza place (not very recommended though)

In summer, Tofino is supposed to be a beautiful surfer town --> I will be back!Read more
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Ucluelet/Pacific Rim National Park
April 30, 2017 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
We stayed the night in Ucluelet. On the way back to Victoria we did the coastal Wild Pacific Trail (the lighthouse loop is highly recommended!), the Rainforest trail (big trees to hug!) and stopped at Long Beach (it really is long!).

Until then I had almost forgotten that we are on an island and at the Pacific coast. Would have loved to jump into the water and try my best in surfing again, it has been a while since last time 🌊

"Always focus on what you love and anything is possible!" There is nothing more to add to that.Read more
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Canada: it was a pleasure!
May 1, 2017 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 9 °C
22 days
4000 km
From Seattle
To Vancouver
All the way through the Rocky Mountains
To Vancouver Island
While experiencing the West Canadian four seasons

Next time, it will be the East, another thousands of km to go, getting to know more exciting people and there I will finally find the famous maple leaf 🍁Read more
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Trip end
May 1, 2017