Callum Macdonald » Toronto

Taxis and shovels

Callum — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 23:44:12 +0000

I missed my train from Toronto to Montreal yesterday for the office xmas party. So I booked a flight instead (remarkably cheaply at short notice). I debated a taxi versus the bus from the airport. I was short on time, I landed about 5pm, the meal was at 6pm. I decided to go with a taxi, and see if I could share.

I met a very friendly Japanese man in the queue, we agreed to share a cab. It turned out I had to take the taxi to his hotel and then get another taxi to my destination to avoid some other fee. So he paid for it as his company was picking up the bill. Nice.

Anyway, as we got into the taxi, the driver “popped the trunk” and as I opened it I spotted a shovel. I suddenly had flashes of CSI, The Sopranos, Dexter, etc and thought, what kind of “taxi” is this. Then I looked around at the mountains of snow on the road, and I figured it was probably harmless.

Lots more snow

Callum — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:55:10 +0000

Here’s a few snaps of what I’m enduring in case you’re having difficulty understanding my departure for Las Vegas next week!

I can’t remember what I was trying to capture in this first shot, but this is all I could see…

I wonder what’s not supposed to park here? Reindeer? Snowmobiles?

Or perhaps this is what happened to the last car that ignored the signs. I wonder if it’s warm under there…

It’s important the snow has somewhere nice to sit in Montreal.

Perhaps now you might have a feel for why I’m choosing to depart from bonny Canada in search of warmer shores. If I had all the winter gear (waterproof everything, boots, lined trousers, thermals, etc) then it might be fun, but travelling with two pairs of jeans it’s definitely not. Viva Las Vegas!

Las Vegas here I come

Callum — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:21:17 +0000

Toronto is ridiculously cold. I was considering flying to Bangkok, but my bro reminded me that wouldn’t be the best idea in the world. I checked out the cost of flights to Los Angeles with the idea it’s close to San Francisco. Then looking at the map, Las Vegas is also pretty close to Los Angeles.

I booked a flight on Tuesday from Toronto to Las Vegas for less than $200 Canadian. Let the good times roll…

Snow and Streetcars in Toronto

Callum — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 20:00:58 +0000

A few pics for the photo lovers…

Firstly, the so-called “Streetcars” that whisk passengers around Toronto.

Snow angels anyone?

This is what happens to beer bottles left outside overnight…

A random house I spotted in Saranac Lake a few weeks ago.

Here endeth this installment.

Good Morning Toronto

Callum — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:41:40 +0000

This is the view I awoke to this morning…

Nothing like a little snow to make me glad I work from home!