Prior to Departure

Porter airlines supplies free espresso and snacks in the
departure lobby.

13:00, Friday, 24 Februar 2012 - I am aboard a domestic plane heading from Ottawa to Toronto. There is turbulence. I leave for Germany on Tuesday. Just as I once before wrote of my travels in India, now I give to you an ongoing description of my travels in Germany. I will write of Europe, art, love, and my specific experiences. What am I expecting? Good food, beer, and people. I expect them to be very unique from country to country and even town to town. I am going with English and a basic grasp of German. I hope to return a champion of both languages and with an introduction to many more. I expect that expenses will build up exceedingly quickly and time will go swiftly at first and then slow down as the universal drag of school takes me. I am already preparing for the knowledge I must learn. I fear it is not enough. Time will tell.

Some inclusive food on plane:
wine, pita, salad, dark chocolate.
Clearly, they know me.

Presently, I have just said goodbye to a dear friend. It was the last time I shall see him before I leave for Germany. It was with a hint of sadness that our hands hugged one last time. Hand hugs are like high fives but the thumbs do a tiny hug at the end, as if to say "It was an honour". Hand hugs are just as good as full hugs. I gave him one of those too though. May we find ourselves in many more situations together in the future, sir.

There are several people that I wished to say goodbye to and yet whom fate conspired against me from seeing. One of these is Jacob who has given to me a task while I'm in Europe: to become a community garden liaison, spreading peace and equality and ideas. I will do my best.

There was stormy weather on the way back from
Ottawa.

The plane is beginning descent and I must hold these thoughts for later.

07:34, Saturday, 25 Februar 2012 - I am aboard a train travelling from Toronto to Woodstock where I will meet my mom and finally arrive at home. The sky is a bleak grey but as the sky gets brighter and brighter so too does my attitude towards life. I haven't had coffee today yet but sunshine always seems to do the trick. I am focused now on packing my bags for my looming journey ahead and I have gathered all my emotional baggage that I have here in Canada and will safely lock it away when I leave.

Ontario/Quebec border is there somewhere. Taken just as
we descend into Ottawa.

I think that it is best, for anyone who travels, to leave behind certain thoughts and memories that might hinder an open mind while abroad. One does not travel so that the world may learn from you. One travels to learn from the world. Things that one should bring, and which I will be bringing, are pens and paper to jot down thoughts, a rain jacket, and optionally, a camera, though I would love to take the chance to work on my drawing abilities.

For the record and for the opportunity of future direct comparison with European trains, here is a brief description of the Via Rail train experience in Canada. The train cars are somewhat spacious and have ample leg room. The over head compartments are large and store your goods well. There is a checked baggage service that allows you to take large parcels with you as you travel. The motion of the car is slightly bumpy with a constant swaying motion and occasional jarring jolts. The trains and stations are clean and well organised. Trains are rarely late. The availability of a train ticket is rather easy and the customer service is great.

Today I am riding an early morning train because last night I decided to stay in Toronto overnight. Thirty minutes before my boarding yesterday I called Via Rail and informed them that I needed to switch the ticket and voilà, they made the switch and I was granted an extra twelve hours with friends. I made good use of my time but it was all thanks to Via Rail's flexibility. On the negative side, the food is quite expensive with a paltry breakfast coming in at between $6.00 and $12.00 depending on your choice though I must say it is absolutely delightful to eat breakfast in the observation car; watch Canada stream by as you eat a muffin and yogurt. Overall Via Rail has earned my continued patronage and I really should become a points member.

Taking the train is still the most civilized method of travel to this day. Average time to travel between Toronto and Woodstock via car: 1.5 to 2 hours. Average time to travel via Via Rail: 1.5 to 1.75 hours. Cost to drive: at least $20. Cost to take the train: $27 to $30. Safety: I've never had a technical or otherwise ill situation in a train, with cars I'm up somewhere around a dozen in just the past few years.  It's not the time-delayed, baggage-losing, human-herding, constrained experience of flying. It's just as fast as a car, more scenic, nearly as inexpensive, and less of a hassle. Not to mention the history of the train is far more interesting.

A quick picture I was able to snap from the train of a
beautiful winter river.

The winter scene outside is in contradiction with the normal climate these days. Lately, the wind has begun to blow and the sky has begun to cry tears of snow. In the past month it has seemed more commonplace to find a brisk autumn breeze then a bitter winter cold as it should be. Perhaps it will linger forever and we will suffer this indecisive season until we leave the earth for space, finally, at last.

Last night I found that Tequila is not as bad as I once thought it. It might even be good. I still place dark strong beer and dry red wine at the forefront of my drinks of choice. Being in Germany will be good for my soul then as my favorite drink can become the first drink of the day. The history of beer is also amazing. Countless times more interesting than the automobile and it even supersedes the train.

The second, or perhaps third, pre-
departure espresso.

I am near to arriving now in Woodstock. As a final thought, I'd like to question how viable my lifestyle is for future continuity. Can I really live life to the fullest even as I age and grow slow. It's sad to think about and yet it's really a moot question to pose because I know that this lifestyle is today not the one I will want tomorrow. Nor will I grow slow if science is really all that it's cracked up to be. So the question really is, can I build resolve and never accept easy when faced with opportunity? The future will certainly rest on such decisions so I only hope I don't gamble away my desires for fancy imagination and impossible dreams, and rather realize some medium that strikes me just right.