I'm on a traaaain

[liv]

Specifically, I'm travelling from Montreal to Toronto on a remarkably civilized conveyance which has roomy, comfortable seats, and free wifi, and my return ticket for the 300 mile journey cost less than what I usually pay for the Stoke to London train which is half the distance and far less pleasant an experience. The view is not the most interesting I've seen on a long train journey, but I'm enjoying the subtly different flora and landscape that make me feel on holiday. It's a misty early autumn day, with the famous North American fall colours just starting to show. Mostly brackens near the ground that are really bright, the deciduous trees are just barely starting to be tinged. The range I expect in the yellow-orange-brown part of the spectrum here extends well into red, including a sort of purply red I've rarely seen before.

Just a week until the New Year, and instead of spending Elul in contemplation and preparation I am passing the later half of the month almost sybaritically. Decoupled from the world and my own responsibilities, and indulging in all kinds of pleasures. I invested about a month's salary into a trip to Canada, primarily in order to see hatam_soferet and rysmiel, and to use visiting them as an excuse for a holiday. jack is travelling with me, and really the fact of having two weeks with nothing to do but enjoy the company of three of my favourite people is such a pleasure that all the other enjoyable activities seem almost incidental.

But still, in the 10 days since I finished work for the academic year, there has been excellent conversation, and extended cuddling, and mindblowingly amazing culinary experiences more frequently than daily, and reading and discussing books and buying new books, and feasting my eyes on beautiful sights and beautiful art, including a Chihuly exhibition which is about the most wonderful modern art I've ever seen. rysmiel has been helpfully chronicling some of the specifics of indulgent things we've been doing at their suggestion. Also a fair bit of walking about Montreal, and just generally enjoying the novelty of being in a city and a country I rarely visit. I'm also really enjoying making connections, finally met papersky in person after fangirling her on the internet for a decade, and getting to know hatam_soferet's partner, and being around for part of the process of the two couples getting to know eachother. The train is a further indulgence; J and I are taking a side trip to Toronto in order to see Niagara Falls, just to have that experience to look back on.

Basically I'm absurdly happy, I'm spending most of my waking hours bouncing and grinning and squeeing. Yay friends, yay pleasures both sensual and intellectual. Part of the reason for this Toronto / Niagara trip has been to give our friends a bit of a break from hosting us, and it's likewise giving me and jack a chance to sit and catch up with the internet for a few hours in between cramming dozens of different pleasures into each day of our holiday. I think I'm about back up to speed with my reading lists, but do let me know if anything momentous has happened in your life or the world while I've been out of time for 10 days. When I get back to England I'm going straight into leading festival services, and once those are done the new academic year will start and in general my life is going to be pretty full-on from next week until Christmas. Which is another reason to really make the most of this unusually luxurious summer break.

Comments

[jae]

Welcome to Canada! Have a wonderful holiday.

-J

[liv]

Thank you! It is proving extremely wonderful so far. I am so blessed to have such brilliant friends and to be able to afford the time and money to come and visit them, even if not as often as I'd like to.

[ursula]

I am in Toronto myself this week!

[liv]

Well, in that case I virtually wave to you from somewhat less far away than usual! Hope you enjoyed.

[boxofdelights]

Oh, that's wonderful! I'm going to make that trip in a couple of months with my kid, who wants to visit the McGill and U of Toronto campuses.
I just realized that my passport probably expires this year.

[liv]

That does sound like a fun college exploring trip. I should say that the super-cheap train fares do require booking in advance, but I don't expect that will be a surprise to you.

[forestofglory]

Glad you are having a wonderful time.

The last 10 days have been super busy for me - I drove half way across North America, and have started my last semester of classes.

[liv]

Thank you! I am amazed by how much driving you're managing to be able to complete your course in a distant part of the country. I look forward to hearing about the last semester, too.

[sunflowerinrain]

It sounds so wonderful!

[liv]

Really amazingly wonderful. I'm finding it hard to believe I'm this happy.

[ceb]

We're doing across the US by train in a few weeks. Which will be great but is not nearly as good on the cost front!

[liv]

Shiiiny! At some point I would like to talk to you about epic train journeys, because I'm thinking that next time I decide to have an extravagant holiday that might be the thing to do. Anyway have a great time, with the festivals coming up it's not likely I'll see you before you set off.

[chickenfeet]

You will find fall has not yet arrived in Toronto, still less Niagara. 29C forecast for tomorrow with continuing high humidity!

[liv]

You're right, it has been summery-hot all week, and I managed to get sunburned at Niagara. Coming back to Montreal now it seems like the best of both worlds, gorgeous blue skies really complement the still mostly green but red- and yellow-flecked landscape.

[kerrypolka]

That sounds like a fantastic holiday! That part of Canada is gorgeous, I'm really envious.

[liv]

It is utterly gorgeous, but the main reason it's fantastic is because it has my dear friends in it. Yay holiday! And shana tova if (as is looking likely) I don't manage to speak to you before New Year.

Canadian Wine

[(Anonymous)]

Niagara is a wine-growing region. Some of the Canadian wines are good but possibly not up to Californian standards.

If you can afford it, Ice Wine is an incredible desert wine.

Enjoy your holiday and L'Shana Tova.

Southernwood

Re: Canadian Wine

[liv]

Good advice! We have in fact managed to acquire a couple of bottles of not too ridiculously expensive ice wine, one discounted as part of our Niagara tour and one from a food hall showcasing local produce, so we're doing well on that score.

[khalinche]

Oh, this is fantastic! I'm so glad to hear that you are having a couple of weeks of rest and joy and indulgence, and seeing people who are so important to you and who make you happy to be around. I have been thinking of you and hoping that you would get some downtime in between a summer of supervising your summer student and the festival season, and it's just wonderful to hear that you have gotten away and are enjoying yourself.

[liv]

Thank you so much! I am really heartened by this kind comment. I feel particularly bad about not having made more time to hang out with you the last several months. I am so glad you're thinking of me and not offended that I've been (unintentionally) ignoring you.

[khalinche]

I feel more or less exactly the same, so let's let the feeling-badnesses cancel each other out and begin the next few months with active plans to get together - once we both have time to think.

If it helps, it's by no means just you I've been socially neglecting - I've been working in Wales for half of the week since the middle of July and it turns out that plus day job plus finishing thesis doesn't leave much time for socialising. So I send you a hug and continued good wishes for holidaying, and will see you when the weather's cold.