Wednesday, August 5, 2009

ON TRAVEL ~ Lessons From The Road...



Edition #40
Thirteen Things about THE BUMBLES -
and some of the things we learned on vacation...

1. Everyone in Canada really does say "eh" (pronounced "ay") - all the time.

2. If you're going to get a flat tire, a scenic overlook at a waterfall in the Finger Lakes isn't a bad place to change to the spare.

3. If you want free wi-fi in your hotel room, the smaller, cheaper roadside lodgings are the place to be. Sheraton should take a lesson from them.

4. The Toronto area has the most horrific traffic we have ever experienced - and we live in Boston.

5. It is not rude to gurgle your wine while tasting. In fact, spitting is perfectly acceptable too. Expensive mouthwash, that wine. Niagara On The Lake in Ontario is overflowing with it.

6. Flintlock muskets, in the War of 1812 or otherwise, were NOT accurate or reliable weapons - which is why all those poor soldiers had to line up en masse at close range back in the day. It wasn't because they were trying to show off their toughness, they were just hoping one of their bullets would find it's mark. It was the best technology and strategy they had to work with.

7. Niagara Falls kicks ass.

8. The State of NY marks it's roadways sporadically which often leads to interesting, albeit confounding, meanders off the mark.

9. The Baseball Hall of Fame really knows how to put on a show. Their induction ceremonies are free, fun, and thoughtful toward the fans. Free water stations and picnics welcome.

10. It takes about 3 days to get the smell of campfire out of your hair. Luxury hotels are the perfect way to end a camping trip.

11. It is amazing the amount of tourist attractions you can see in one day with nothing but an energy reserve of a muffin to go on.

12. Sidestepping overflowing garbage during a city worker strike can put a damper on your tourist intentions.

13. Exhausting days, grumbling stomachs, hideous traffic, overpriced attractions, border crossings, packs of tourists with unhappy children, unexpected downpours, a flat tire, long waits, and Red Sox withdrawal are no match for The Bumbles. We are unstoppable travelers and found more to love than complain about. Success!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. What do you do? Write Thirteen things about yourself, summarize your week in one entry, make it easy for other bloggers to get to know you on a weekly basis. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is not only encouraged, it is part of being a Thursday Thirteener! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun!


23 comments:

Willa said...

Welcome to Canada eh!. ha ha ha,
I've been in Toronto once and I knew about the traffic too.

Dana Telecom said...

eh...you know the canadian. heheheheheeh... :D

Americanising Desi said...

oh now that is some serious info :D

The unchanging principle

kayerj said...

loved your post--you wonderful people bumbling happily through life.

Skeezix the Cat said...

Great T13 this week! I hope to make a similar trip next year.

Here's my T13.

Shelley Munro said...

It sounds as if you had a fun trip. Hubby and I enjoyed our trip to Niagra a few years ago.

http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/2009/08/06/happiness-is/

Carleen said...

The best vacations are the ones where you just roll with the punches (or sit in the traffic) and then find the humor in it all later when you've survived it. Sounds like you had an amazing adventure up north!

Sandy Nawrot said...

Looks like there is more than one story there! I'm hoping the stories worm their way into one of your brilliant narratives! Some comments...I do alot of wine slurping, but never spitting! NY must have lots of Polish people, because this is always our issue when visiting Poland - enter the Garmin. And smokey hair eventually will need luxury accomodations, even if said accomodations don't have free wireless!

Hootin Anni said...

#12....ewwwwww!

My 13 is posted. Scroll below my Thursday Thunks. Happy day to you.

Living It, Loving It said...

I find No. 1 interesting, but what do we americans know?

Chris said...

interesting post! someday, i hope id get to visit canada too!

colleen said...

In England they pronounce it "oi" as in "Oi matey."

Did I already say that our yard is like the New York side of Niagara Falls and our neighbor's is like Canada?

Anonymous said...

Love Niagara Falls and the Finger Lakes region. So glad you two had fun. I love road trip vacations :)

Devilish Southern Belle said...

Yay for unstoppable travelers! And for finding the humor in the annoyances that come along with vacation.

Penny said...

ha ha..good to know about the camp fire and hair :)
Glad you had fun! Missed your posts!

J. Lynne said...

Growing up in New Orleans, we were dragged out to the 1812 battlefield ever year in elementary school. One of the facts that has stuck with me all these years has to do with the Brit's high collared red coat uniforms. Because they had to line up so close together in the march during battle, it was best if a soldier couldn't turn his head to the left or right when the poor bloke next to him was shot down by the enemy. This way the Brits just kept marching forward instead of freaking out.

I'm glad you enjoyed your vacation. Happy Thursday 13.

Anonymous said...

I love Canada. I'm from Syracuse, NY and used to go there when I was 19 to get drunk :)

Calico Crazy said...

Sounds like a great vacation. I grew up in Western NY and loved it. I think people there just assume you know where you are going, why I'm not sure. Toronto traffic is still better than Atlanta traffic, but I wouldn't really want to drive in either every day.

Cheeky Monkey @ Gone Bananas said...

Sounds like a fun trip and a great place to break down! I would love to see Niagra Falls! Need to put it on my bucket list1

Debbie@Like a Rose said...

Yeah for your attitude! Niagara Falls rocks - regardless of the weather.

Thorne said...

Welcome home, my darling Bumbles!!! It sounds like you had a wonderful vacation even with the typical traveling mishaps. I hope you'll be posting some pics of the Falls. Did you consider a barrel ride? Hehehe.

jillconyers said...

I've never heard of or seen anyone gurgle or spit wine. Too funny!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a fun and successful vacation. Welcome back!