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Post by roverpup on Feb 4, 2023 13:04:51 GMT
I'm going to start a journal about our trip to Jamaica.
It isn't going to be an "adventure" trip (at least I HOPE it won't be!) but this will be a place I'll put some pix up and anything interesting if it happens.
We haven't been on a "rest and relaxation" beach vacation since the 1970s, so in a way this is a very different type of trip for us!
It's also the first trip we've taken since the pandemic, so that aspect makes it VERY different!
The bags are all packed and we leave to get on the train to Toronto Monday morning.
Today and tomorrow I'll do some last minute stuff (give the keys to our neighbour, small bit of laundry, clean the ice off the driveway and sidewalks, etc.) But mainly we're just marking time before we leave and trying to use up the food in the fridge!
Talk to you later.
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Post by MagdaFR on Feb 5, 2023 22:55:48 GMT
Have a safe trip and enjoy your vacation, roverpup!
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Post by roverpup on Feb 6, 2023 15:52:57 GMT
We were scheduled to Get on the 8:40 train to TO but it was about 2 hours late (mechanical problems). But we are now underway and right now we are the only ones in the business class car. They brought us our food and coffee/tea immediately and I've got to say the coffee was good! The are really comfortable! They said yhe train will be full by the time we get to Toronto but for now we have loads of space!
When I got up to board the train the strap on my purse broke so w Hen we get to the airport I'll have to buy a new one. Not unexpected - it was an old purse, so I'm not surprised it broke.
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Post by mllemass on Feb 6, 2023 17:10:46 GMT
We made the mistake of taking the train from Toronto to Ottawa years ago, and I hated every minute (6 hours) of it. I didn’t know that trains had different classes, so it might have been different if it didn’t feel like a bus. Mostly, though, it felt like being on a slow plane that never leaves the ground. The next time I went to Ottawa, we flew there in 20 minutes from Toronto! And the time after that, we flew from our city without even having to go to Toronto.
Will you stay overnight in a hotel near the airport before your flight? I recommend the Doubletree near the airport (where I often went for conferences) because they give you that amazing warm cookie at check-in - really, the only reason to choose a hotel!
I once had my purse strap break as I sat down at a slot machine in a casino. I had to find one of those purse/luggage casino shops and buy another. I didn’t mind at all!
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Post by roverpup on Feb 6, 2023 18:16:45 GMT
We're staying overnight at the Sheraton hotel that is right in terminal 3.
We're all settled in and the train is rolling along fine for now.
Just had our lunch - a cold chicken marsala salad with a chickpea side. It was served with a VQA Chardonnay and carrot cake desert. They gave us a bag of Sun Chips as well but I'm too full to eat those now.
The lunch was really good!
If you can afford it "business class" on the train is great! On our trip home we'll get to spend our time waiting in the business class lounge in Union Station which is really peaceful actually.
One thing I will say is the staff is excellent! Very professional, accommodating and friendly.
Business class also has gorgeous, plush seats. We got two seats facing each other and a table in between.
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Post by roverpup on Feb 6, 2023 18:19:41 GMT
"I once had my purse strap break as I sat down at a slot machine in a casino. I had to find one of those purse/luggage casino shops and buy another. I didn’t mind at all!"
That's the way I feel exactly! 😁
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Post by roverpup on Feb 6, 2023 18:23:09 GMT
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Post by roverpup on Feb 6, 2023 23:48:25 GMT
Made it to Toronto around 3 pm.
Took the UP Express (shuttle train from Union Station to Pearson International Airport) - really fast and easy to get to.
We first went to the Air Canada counter and got all our boarding passes for both legs of our journey (for Toronto and Montreal), so tomorrow all we have to do is go through security and go to our gate.
I'll buy my new purse after I go through security.
Tonight we're just going to get some dinner at the hotel and go to bed. We left a 3 am wake up call.
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Post by mllemass on Feb 7, 2023 0:07:35 GMT
Thanks for the regular updates. I can’t wait to hear more! It will be almost like tagging along with you on your vacation!
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Post by roverpup on Feb 7, 2023 10:06:08 GMT
Had a delicious dinner at the airport hotel. Dan had the "Smash burger" and I had the braised short ribs with veggies. A beer washed everything down nicely.
We watched a wee bit of TV and turned out the lights by 9:30. I had a little problem getting to sleep but I did get a few hours.
This morning the checkout was a snap and before we knew it we were in Terminal 1. Security was light but they decided to give us the full "Monty" and they did confiscate my bottle of hair conditioner (the REALLY expensive one!).
Now, we're waiting at our gate. We have Maple Leaf Loubge privileges but we're boarding in less than an hour and it would take too long to get there and back.
I'll write more once we board the plane to Jamaica
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