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Canada & USA 2026
  • Ron's Odyssey
  • Ron's Odyssey

Canada & USA 2026

Graduations and Family Vacation Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 4, 2026
    Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Leaving for the airport

    May 4 in Nigeria ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Left the house at 4:20pm. Drive to the International airport was smooth. No traffic and I got to the airport at 4:53pm. Network is always bad at the airport and I was unable to confirm the ride fare although initial indication at booking was 15,700. The driver stated that it was 12,700 at the end. I had agreed to pay him 20k so I gave him 8k cash only for the debit to come much later confirming 15,700....hmm the driver scammed me out of 3kRead more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Arrived Toronto, Canada

    May 5 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Landed in Toronto at about 12:28am. As I still had a connecting flight to Ottawa I followed the signs for Connecting flights in Canada, there was an option for USA. This took me through immigration where I used a terminal to register my arrival and then presented a printout from the machine to an immigration office who asked if I had checked in suitcases and directed me to a waiting room, where other passengers with connected flights waited for customs to clear their bags before proceeding to the connecting gate. My bags were checked quickly and my name flashed on the screen.Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 1: Arriving in Ottawa, Canada

    May 5 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After an almost 4hr wait in Toronto we boarded the flight to Ottawa which left shortly after 4pm. The flight was meant to be 1hr but arrived in 40mins.

    The kids were planning to surprise me but alas I got to Ottawa while they were still in the train to the airport.

    We took a LYFT to their apartment ordered rice meals from Suya Palace for dinner and watched some episodes of StarTrek Academy which are not available back home    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 2: Bank & Grocery

    May 6 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    I woke up at 4:00am and couldn't sleep again (Jet lag).

    Spent the morning binging on StarTrek Academy while waiting for Imaobong to return from work.

    We all left the apartment shortly after 3:00pm, walked down to the train station, took a train to Grrenboro and then a bus to the bank where I transfered Imaobong's graduation money to her.

    After the bank we headed off to a store called African Queen to buy palm oil, stockfish and some other things to prepare soup and then off to Marshall's as South Keys to look for Sandals to wear with my senator for the upcoming graduations. I had ordered this on Amazon but the order was cancelled by the seller claiming the shipment has been lost.

    I didn't find any leather sandals so I settled for a casual leather shoe.

    Our final stop was Walmart where we bought groceries for breakfast and stew while I picked a hiking shoe and pyjamas.

    The kids cooked when we got back and I ate White rice with stew. Continued watching Startrek before retiring for the night    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 3: Bank of Canada Museum

    May 7 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Started the day's activity in the afternoon by taking a bus to the bank of Canada museum.

     The museum is located near parliament hill and is free. It had lots of exhibits on money starting with the origin of money, why it was created and it's uses. Also on display were all the Canadian notes and coins over the years along with selected notes and coins of other countries. Sadly they didn't have the Nigerian Naira and Kobo on display. The museum isn't very big and we spent about an hour in it.

    After exiting the museum we walked up parliament hill to view the eternal flame. Construction of the parliament building commenced in 1859 and was completed in 1876. As at when we visited the old parliament buildings were undergoing refurbishment and maintenance which started in 2002.

    Finally, we visited the Rideu Centre to do some window shopping and market analysis before returning to the apartment.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 4: Walmart, Home depot & Ikea

    May 8 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Waited for Uddy to return from work before we started the day's outing.

    Our first port of call was Walmart to buy slippers as the one I had brought cut the previous day and couldn't be glued back.

    Next stop was Home Depot where I bought a set of wrenches for my tool collection at home.

    Final stop was IKEA to buy some bathroom accessories while the girls bought things for their house    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 5: Watch battery replacement

    May 9 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Through Gemini I found a Jweller & watch repair shop close to the apartment. After a 12min walk I got to the bus stop. The bus was late by 12 minutes, thought I had missed it as Google maps indicated it had left. After 2 stops I arrived at the jweller's. Cost of battery replacement $25 waiting time less than 10minsRead more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 6: Off to the USA

    May 10 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Woke up shortly before 4am to start preparing for my trip to Philadelphia, USA. Had a light breakfast of hot chocolate and two slices of bread. Called a LYFT shortly after 6am for the airport.

    Check in at Ottawa airport was smooth, we used the machines to check into the flight but it failed to print out our boarding pass so one of the attendants assisted from his terminal after obtaining our boarding pass we dropped our bags on the machine and headed off to the departure area passing security scan first.

    The flight from Ottawa to Montreal was short barely 40mins. At montreal airport we passed through US border control on the way to the connecting flight gate as we were checked in Ottawa all the way to Philadelphia    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Arriving in Philadelphia, USA

    May 10 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Flight from Montreal to Philadelphia took about 1hr 45mins. The flight was smooth and landing fair. The airport is situated beside water bodies. Since we had already gone through immigration in Montreal the flight to America was treated as a domestic flight. On landing we simply proceeded to the baggage hall, picked our suitcases from the conveyor belt, called an Uber and proceeded to the exit.

    Drive from the airport into Philadelphia was scenic as usual, we crossed one of the rivers and continued into town.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 7: Birthday & Senior Show

    May 11 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Had a surprise birthday cake and present (Meta glasses) from the kids. The cake was lovely.

    We attended a senior show at my daughter's faculty. Art works by the students were put up for display and parents and siblings of the students were invited to view their work and meet some of their professors. Light refreshment was provided.

    We later ordered dinner for my birthday from a Nigerian restaurant.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 8: Enobong's Graduation

    May 12 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Today was Enobong's graduation day. Enobong left the apartment by 8am to go to the venue of the event, TD Pavillion at Highmark Mann. The event centre where the graduation ceremony took place was a large open sided Pavillion. The weather was cold and windy and since I was wearing a short sleeve senator outfit with no jacket. I got the full blast of the cold. Almost everyone else had a jacket or sweater on. My hands and ears were very cold 🥶.

    The ceremony lasted almost 3hrs.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 9: Apartment viewing & LensCrafters

    May 13 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Enobong had an apartment viewing appointment at 1:30pm so we headed there first. The building was newly remodeled into an apartment block. The apartments were smaller than her current one and the bedroom has no windows but Enobong loves it because it is close to her new work place.

    Following the viewing we headed to the King of Prussia for my eye test. I used the opportunity to buy new frames    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 10: Uddy returns to Canada

    May 14 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    I escorted her to the airport and helped her check in. The checkin clerk was confused on the requirement for her return to Canada and called her colleague to assist her. They spent quite some time typing before they requested if she had a visa which cleared their confusion and the checkin was completed after that. It was a good thing I scrutinized the boarding passes given to her as the second one was that of another passenger which I sported and they then reprinted the right one.

    After leaving the airport I navigated to a Walmart Super Centre using two busses with numerous stops. The trip took 1hr 30mins and during the bus switched I stayed at the wrong bus stop and lost 15mins after missing the bus I was meant to take.

    The main thing that took me to Walmart was to buy a pyjamas as the trouser of the one I brought tore badly and can't be repaired. I found a suitable pyjamas trouser as the store didn't have a full pyjamas. I was told the store just reopened on Monday after a fire incident as was still undergoing stocking.

    Uddy's connecting flight at Montreal was delayed several times and they didn't depart till after midnight the next day. She eventually got home at 2am.    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 11: Light Shopping

    May 15 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Visited King of Prussia mall for a light shopping and was able to get some of the things on my shopping list. The mall is massive with 450 stores. Had lunch at the food court while waiting for Enobong to finish work and join me.Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Circus Night

    May 16 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Spent the evening at a circus. The performance was in Spanish. It was my first time at a circus. The show lasted for 2hrs with lots of gymnastics etc. I was expecting vicious animals to be brought on stage like lions, tigers and the gentle elephant but instead they had someone wear a leopard or cheeta outfit. It was a beautiful show and a lovely way to end the birthday.Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 13: Shofuso Japanese House

    May 17 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Visited the Shofusp Japanese house at Fairmount Park. The house reminded me of a similar structure we visited in Montreal. The fish pond area of the house was very relaxing with Koi koi fish swimming around.

    We then walked down to the horticultural centre in the park but apparently they were having a private event so we left    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 14: Supermario Bros

    May 18 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    It was a warm day and we decided to spend it at home setting up the WII game console I brought for Enobong. Since the console was bought in the UK we had to get a USA power pack and batteries for the controller. Enobong ordered online and these were delivered in 3hrs.

    On trying to connect to the TV we discovered that the TV had no RCA/AV ports but only HDMI ports. We now had to order for an RCA/AV to HDMI converter. Once this arrived we discovered we needed a power extension cord as the sockets close to the TV weren't sufficient. Off again we ordered an extension cord and eventually connected the WII.

    We played SuperMario bros, Donkey Kong and Sonic Colours    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Day 15: Departing Philadelphia, USA

    May 19 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Left the apartment shortly before 8am. We had barely 1hr to get to the airport and checkin before the checkin counter closes. Uber stated that the drive to the airport would take 34 mins, which was cutting it close. There was traffic on the road which created some stress but we eventually made it to the airport 30mins before the counter closedRead more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Arriving in Montreal Canada

    May 19 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Landed in Montreal Airport at 11:34am. Had barely 1hr to go through immigration and get to the connecting gate for the next flight.

    Imaobong and Uddy were already waiting for us at the connecting flight gate. I had a Dunkin Donut burger as brunch with water.Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    In Calgary, Alberta

    May 19 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    After a 4hr 30min flight we landed in Calgary, Alberta. The time in Calgary is 2hrs behind Ottawa and 7hrs behind Nigeria.

    I spent most of the flight sleeping as I had woken up at 2am and was unable to sleep again.

    After picking up our bags we headed off to the car rental section of the airport. I was upgraded to a 7 seater Dodge which was really good as we all had one big suitcase each and a hand luggage each. With the 3rd row of seats folded all our luggages fitted in effortlessly.

    From the airport we navigated to the nearest Walmart to buy provisions for our trip    Read more

  • Ron's OdysseyCanada & USA 2026Traveler

    Road trip to Canmore

    May 19 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    The road trip commenced once we were done stocking up at Walmart. The drive to Canmore was scenic with views of snow covered mountains and grassland.

    The drive from Calgary to Canmore took 1hr 30mins. We arrived at Canmore shortly after 8pm. The day was still very bright as sunset isn't till 9:30pm.

    The Airbnb apartment is lovely and exactly as shown online. The entry instruction was perfect and the door unlocked without any issues.    Read more