Good-Bye Toronto

Now, it's real - I am leaving Toronto and Canada, sitting at Pearson airport and waiting for boarding. Luckily, there's free Wifi and I can catch up with all my emailing.

The last week was very busy - all the measurements done at work, hopefully all data copied and stored well, writing the publication(s) - not finished. I managed to spend some great time with my friends and climb a lot! The last weekend was fun; I had a great time watching climbing and adventure movies at the Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour. Lots of folks came out on saturday evening for drinks at the Rhino - thanks guys, it was a nice evening! And sunday was spend with a long climbing session with Aaron at Joe's - 6h of climbing, lots of resting and chatting, too! And a nice greek dinner with the climbers afterwards. Then again climbing at TN on monday night - now my body can rest at least until the weekend...

I think, I managed to eat all my favourite foods, that I am afraid won't be available in Germany that easily or good...Sushi with my group, a last lunch at Kensington market with vegan burrito's and taco's, very jummy, and an evening dinner with my climbing friends Aaron and Sara. I stayed over at Sara's families' place the last night, and we had great persian food after a walk in the sunny park. I just read tomorrow they expect snow again...guess that makes it easier to leave :)

I will miss Toronto. Life has been good here, and despite everything that has happened, I felt at home, and enjoyed my time here. Thanks to everyone, who made me feel at home. I am sure to visit again, and would like to be visited in Germany!

Toronto - two weeks left

Time is flying - I can't believe that I will be back to good old Germany in two and a half weeks! Work is piling up on my desk, paper(s) want to be written, (hopefully) some last minute measurements if the instrument is up in time, lots of packing and sorting out waiting for me. Sometimes the panic hits me, but this weekend I seem to be pretty relaxed. My big boxes will be shipped this week, one suitcase is packed. I hope the rest fits in the other...In a few minutes my climbing friends will come by, and we will cook a last dinner at my place before the kitchen gear gets packed. Then I am allowed to eat out every day :)

There are so many things I did not do in Canada, like visit the Rockies, cooking a lobster (sounded too complicated and messy in the end...), seeing the Niagara Falls (hopefully still manage), go to Montreal, travel and travel more. Seems that I have to come back on holidays - at least I will have 29+ days available soon! I am thinking of what I will miss (next to my friends and climbing buddies!), definitely the good, versatile food, great coffee places, can one get Shreddies in Germany?