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Canada 2019
  • Ron's Odyssey
  • Ron's Odyssey

Canada 2019

November 2019 Leggi altro
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  • Inizio del viaggio
    13 novembre 2019
    Ron's OdysseyCanada 2019Viaggiatore

    Leaving for the airport

    13 novembre 2019, Nigeria ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Left the house at 4pm, the PamDrive ride arrived at 3:52pm. Took the Eliozu road turned off at Pearl Garden estate and continued to Eneka road. Got to the new Port Harcourt International Airport at 4:50pm.

    Too many people checking travellers at the airport as against the seamless flow in Lagos. After passing the bags through the door scanner, NDLEA asked for the bags to be opened for inspection. At the lufthansa queue the bags are weighed, passport checked against a passenger manifest before getting to the check in counter where normal checkin happens, seat assignment and bag tagging before proceeding to the departure hall.

    At the entrance to the departure area, a port health official takes a temperature scan, after which you are directed to a desk occupied by a FAN worker who confirms if you filled the departure card before directing you to Immigration. At the immigration desk the 1st person scans through your passport keys in details into the computer, collects the departure card before passing your passport to another immigration officer whose job is to stamp the passport. Thereafter you proceed towards the scanning gate, but just before you get there some officials seated behind a desk ask how much you are travelling with and try to crosscheck with the Bank PTA stamp on your passport after which you proceed to the scanner where your hand luggage is passed through a scanner and you also walk through it. Right after which NDLEA officials collect your passport ask for your final destination and scan through it.

    Another scanning by the airline before crossing to the boarding gate waiting area    Leggi altro

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    Transiting through Abuja

    13 novembre 2019, Nigeria ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    The Lufthansa flight left Port Harcourt 10 mins late (9:05pm) and arrived Abuja 45mins later. Lots of empty seats in the plane hopefully they will get passengers in Abuja to Occupy them.

    Had rolled up chicken sandwich but before the drinks got to me the pilot ordered all the attendants to take their seat because of rough weather.

    Left Abuja at 11:25pm    Leggi altro

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    Transiting through Frankfurt, Germany

    14 novembre 2019, Germania ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

    Flight left Abuja late at 9:05 pm. Suprisingly they had Jollof rice on board, nice touch by Lufthansa incorporating a Nigerian meal in their menu. Seat was quite tight, scanned through tgeir movie selection, apparently I have watched all the new movies they have under Sci-fi and Action which are my preferred genre so I tuned to the flight channel tracking our movement across North africa across the Mediterranean and into Europe. A few mild bumps along the way. Slept a bit. Finally landed in Frankfurt at 5:10am. It took over 10mins for the plane to get to our disembarking gate.

    The boarding gate for my connecting flight was far away, had to take the sky train. In total spent over 30mins getting to the boarding gate.

    This is my second time in Frankfurt Airport and also 2nd flight on Lufthansa. 1st time was in 1996 and I was enroute to the Netherlands for a meeting.

    Waiting time about 4hrs before connecting with Air Canada.

    Boarding commenced at 9am according to zones staring with Zone 1. I boarded with zone 3s.    Leggi altro

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    Arrived Canada

    14 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C

    Left Frankfurth at 10:15am, landed in Toronto at 6:25pm (Naija time). Immigration was a breeze hardly any queue for those with non US and Non Canadian passports which had a big crowd. The whole city was covered in white as we approached the airport to land, apparently it had been snowing today.Leggi altro

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    On to Hamilton

    14 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 1 °C

    The luggages took over an hour to appear on the conveyor belt reminding me of my last trip back from Dubai where we experienced something similar. The delay was so much I had enough time to change some money and use the loo.

    Eventually my 2 suitcases arrived, one had the zip broken and the padlock hanging open....hmm hope nothing has been stolen. While waiting I installed a cab hailing app LYFT.

    Rolled my suicases out of the arrival hall handing over the stamped declaration card to the customs officer at the door who took a quick glance at it. On exiting I followed the sign to the ride hailing app exit (quite nice of them to have made provision for this). Waited by the exit door and hailed a ride on Lyft.

    I was picked up at 14:14hrs by an Indian emigrant who relocated to Canada 3 months ago and is currently searching for a job. He was a practicing lawyer in India but hasn't been able to secure a job in his line as his Indian certificate isn't recognised here. So for the time being he is driving taxi while taking some Canadian courses. An interesting statement he made was that his Indian certificate and experience was sufficient to get him a Permanent Resident in Canada but not good enough to get a job as such so many professional immigrants are doing menial jobs in Canada.

    The scenery from the airport to Hamilton was lovely with the landscape covered by a white layer of snow. Arrived at the hotel at 15:05hrs. Check into the hotel was smooth, had to pay a refundable security deposit.

    Picked up Imaobong later in the evening from her residence and we went off to Limeridge mall for dinner. Got a sim card and enquired about getting a contract phone and line for her.    Leggi altro

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    Braving the cold

    15 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C

    At about noon I left the hotel to take the 7 min walk to Walmart across the road. I didn't realise the cold was that bad until I was 100mtrs away from the hotel, my hands, face and ears were frozen stiff. Fortunately I had my thermal under garment and singlet under.

    Bought some basic 1st aid medicine and a mitten and had brunch at McDonald within the Walmart.    Leggi altro

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  • Ron's OdysseyCanada 2019Viaggiatore

    Phone for Imaobong

    15 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C

    Picked up Imaobong from her residence about 4pm, took a cab to Best Buy to buy a Phone for her and reserve Bismarck's ear buds then off to Limeridge to buy a Fido sim card and plan. Ate dinner at the mall and called a cab back to four point.

    Big ceremony at Limeridge mall just to light a tall xmas tree to signal the beginning of the xmas season. Phone plans are extremly expensive in Canada when compared to what we have back home. We had to settle for Chatr by Fido which doesn't have full National coverage yet but has good coverage throughout Ontario. We got the CAD 40/month plan which comes with 4GB data and unlimited talk & text.

    Imaobong was really happy with her new phone, she had been lobbying me for it since June. Since she has been doing extremely well in School I decided to "shake body" and reward her.    Leggi altro

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  • Ron's OdysseyCanada 2019Viaggiatore

    Going Shopping

    16 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C

    Planned to do some winter shopping for Imaobong today. Didn't leave the hotel to pick her from school residence till 1:30pm as she had assignments to complete.

    It snowed a bit this morning. 1st experience unlike rain which falls in droplets, the snow fell like white powder being blown.Leggi altro

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  • Ron's OdysseyCanada 2019Viaggiatore

    Best Buy

    16 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C

    Popped into Best Buy to pick up a reserved item for Etete. Was a bit confused on getting there as it looked exactly like the store we got Imaobong's phone from which was where we did the reservation.

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  • Ron's OdysseyCanada 2019Viaggiatore

    Eastgate Square

    16 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C

    Decided to go winter apparel shopping at Eastgate Square getting there at 15:50. First stop was the food court for some Asian rice meal. Meal looked nice, the taste wasn't that good but edible.

    Visited 2 shops after where we bought some winter clothing at 18:00 the shops started closing which was a big surprise to us, apparently the stores close at 18:00hrs todays which is quite unusual for a saturday.

    Lovely xmas decorations at the centre court in the mall.

    Got back to my hotel and Imaobong ordered Nigerian meal for us. I ate Egusi soup with pounded yam and goat meat while she had jollof rice with chicken.    Leggi altro

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  • Ron's OdysseyCanada 2019Viaggiatore

    RCCG Chapel of Praise

    17 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ⛅ 1 °C

    Attended RCCG Chapel of Praise. The church is located in the mifdle of a residential area. Preaching was good, congregation was small roughly 50 persons and very much a family church. Unfortunately Pastor Otiotio wasn't around, he already told me so 2 days ago. I met Pastor Abodurin who led the service during the "greet the new comers" session. We got there at 10:15 as the praise and worship was going on before the preaching / sermon which ended about 11:30am and then bible study from 11:30 to 12noon.Leggi altro

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    Killing Time

    19 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    Checked out of the hotel just before 11am, got my CAD 250 refunded to my card (yet to see the credit alert), left my 3 suitcases with the receptionist for pickup later.

    Stopped over at a Dollar Tree store to buy winter hat, mitten and ear ptotector all for CAD 4.30. Then off to McDonald in Walmart for a Burger meal lunch after which I took a stroll to The Home Depot.

    From Home Depot I continued down to Eastgate Square for a meal.    Leggi altro

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    Off to Toronto

    19 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    The same Lyft which dropped me from Eastgate Square earlier picked up my Toronto request. I wasn't sure his lift back Honda Civic can accommodate my 3 suitcases so I cancelled the first call waited about 5 mins and tried again and it connected to him. I guess he must have been waiting close by since I had mentioned earlier to him that I was heading off to Toronto. His booth was loaded with drinks and water as such only one suitcase went in, the other two were placed in the back seat of his tinted car and off we went to Toronto. We left Four Point Stone Creek Hamilton at 14:23 and arrived at 14 York Street, Toronto at 15:16. There was a bit of traffic as we got close to York street, apparently my apartment is in a busy part of TorontoLeggi altro

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  • Ron's OdysseyCanada 2019Viaggiatore
    1

    In Toronto

    19 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    The apartment I booked is located in a high rise building which required an access code to enter the building. I keyed in the code on the check-in instruction I was given but alas the door didn't open. I had to wait until a resident opened it and I joined in. The lift up to my floor was pretty fast and it was very easy to locate my apartment. second surprise the apartment door was locked contrary to the instruction that it will be left open for me. I had to look through the check-in instruction for the phone number of the rental company. The person at the other end of the line remotely opened the door to the apartment.

    First impression, beautiful studio apartment with a furnished kitchenette, toilet, sofa and bed    Leggi altro

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    3D Toronto Sign

    19 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    The 3D Toronto sign, officially the 3D TORONTO sign and commonly known as the Toronto sign, is an illuminated three-dimensional sign in Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that spells the city's name. It is 3 metres tall, and 22 metres long (prior to the addition of the maple leaf and the medicine wheel), lit by LED lights controlled via Wi-Fi, that can create an estimated 228 million colour combinations, approximately equal to what the human eye can sense.

    Originally installed for the 2015 Pan American Games as a temporary attraction meant to be dismantled in November 2016 at the earliest, the City of Toronto government decided to continue to operate the sign after it became popular with tourists and residents.    Leggi altro

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  • Ron's OdysseyCanada 2019Viaggiatore

    Groceries at Longos

    19 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    Longos is a supermarket chain created by three brothers in 1956. It started off as a fruit market at Yonge St. & Castlefield Ave. It was committed to providing customers with the best fresh food experience possible.

    Bought some fully cooked and frozen Chinese Rice, Chicken with light Gravy, Beef with light gravy and spaghetti.    Leggi altro

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    CitySighseeing Toronto

    20 novembre 2019, Canada ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    A 2hr hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Toronto with 20 stops covering all the famous landmarks and sights of Toronto with a knowledgeable guide providing background and history as the bus moves along. The ticket cost C$46 and is valid for 48hrs.

    I joined the bus tour at stop 17 Radisson Hotel / Harbourfront stop which is about 7mins walk from my apartment. Bus runs every 1hr during this winter season and more frequently during summer. The vehicle used was a double decker fully covered bus. During summer the open top double decker bus is used.

    Passengers can start from any stop but the starting point stop 1 is at Yonge-Dundas Square down the road from Toronto Eaton Centre and also the 3D Toronto Sign.    Leggi altro

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