Aand, They're Off!!

You can't really see, but this is Kathryn and I on the plane. The sun is in the way.
see all photos »

Alright, so we are finally off on our vacation! Even up till this morning, I still didn't feel like we were going anywhere. Even sitting here it still feels like we aren't going anywhere. So this morning, we got all our suitcases packed. It was kind of a struggle for me to decide what to squish in and what not to... I finally won on bringing my stuffie and a few extra shirts that I wanted. Our flight left at noon but we got to the airport a little bit earlier than expected. No matter! I didn't realize how long it has been since I've been to the airport. Kathryn pointed out that it's been at least a year since we've travelled. That is very strange for my family. It's not that we're snobs or anything, we just love to travel and so we tag along with my dad on his work. But now I was back in action! We checked in and ... alas! Unfortunately my dear family is not travelling first class to Amsterdamn, although we did get to travel it on the way here. However, I am not as 'snobby' as the rest of the ladies in my family and it is quite delighted payback for certain Austrailian flight plans 3 years ago. But I say that getting it to Toronto is a waste of points, since it is only 3 1/2 hours compared to Amsterdamn's 8. I don't really mind though, the only difference is a bigger chair and better food. Scratch that, food. You don't get food in coach unless you pay. They were handing out pizzas! What the hell is a pizza-in-a-box doing on a plane? I found that quite amusing. The flight was pretty uneventful. I switched between listening to Tegan and Sara on my iPod and reading... or looking out the window. RV was playing, which isn't hopeful in normal situations but watching it on a plane is not too fantastic. You couldn't really see anything so I couldn't quite get into the drama that was unfolding. We took a couple pictures on the plane... I tried to get some of the land from my window but it didn't quite work out. Oh well. Flying really is quite amazing. You do feel as if there is something greater than you when you are at level with the clouds. It's kind of hard to believe that you're flying through a mass of water and not bunches of candy floss. I can't really put the scenery into words, although I didn't realize how much of Ontario is farmland. The most beautiful image in the entire world is seeing the shadows of the clouds on the farms below. It reminded me of a quote from English class: "cloud shadows ghost across the valley floor." That is definately what the poet must have been describing. And then the scenery gives way to ... Toronto. Oh, ugly city. It is such a massive..massive..thing. I'm not a fan of Toronto. I'm sorry if I offend any Toronto lovers but I really don't like it. Maybe it has to grow on me. But I hate cities that have little cities in them... what is up with that?! I mean you're in Toronto... why can't that entire city be called Toronto? Do we really need sections? Just call it North North West, North West, West, West West, extra. That is my biggest pet peeve. It was such a let down to me when I went to London and found out... It's not all London! London is split up into London and Westminister. AGH! How annoying. But that is probably just me. Oh well. So thank god my dad travels so much and gets to stay in the lounge. We have a 5 hour layover here until our flight to Amsterdamn so at least we get to stay somewhere comfortable, that had food! and cookies! and pop! I'm trying so hard not to get large on this trip but I think it might be quite unavoidable.

I tried to get a shot of the land from the plane window, you can see it a little bit but its not that good of a shot. That's all I could get out of the tiny window.
see all photos »

LATER

It's kind of hard to believe that you're flying through a mass of water and not bunches of candy floss.

Ahhhhh. So it is 9:53 in Toronto and our plane leaves at 10:55. It has been at least 3 hours since I last wrote, and although not anything of worth has happened in this airport, I thought I would update this entry. Toronto isn't worth a second entry so I thought it best to add on to this one. Hokay. We went to find a place to have dinner, I wasn't that hungry but there was a fabulous chocolate shop beside the place we ate, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, which I love but am never allowed to buy at, I got some mint chocolate chip ice cream and it was quite refreshing. We walked up and down the same 5 square inch radius for an hour it felt like because Mom couldn't decide if she should get gum or not. It really wasn't an hour but it felt like it. I got pretty hyper, and Kathryn and I pulled out the camera in the lounge. The lounge is pretty awesome, quite futuristic so we had some fun taking a few pictures. I'm always embarrased of taking pictures of myself in public places, I don't know why. It's not like any of the strangers can reserve judgement of me, but I still feel awkward when I want Kathryn to take a picture. All the cords are in Dad's suitcase though, which is on the plane hopefully, so I will have to add the pictures in tomorrow when we are in Amsterdamn. I read for awhile, my book is pretty good (P.s. to Emily if she reads this, I want to copy this idea of letter-writing with you, I will tell you more later) But they speak so wonderfully in the book and I feel as if I am speaking in character with them. Which is quite amusing ( to me at least ) but no matter. It turns out that we get to sit business class after all!! I hope the plane is big so we get the special chairs and t.vs that Kathryn and Mom had on the way to Austrailia while Dad and I were stuck in coach :@.... 50 minutes until we board the plane... I don't know what I am going to do with myself. Technically at home its like... 8:00 but I'm so tired. It's dark outside and you can see the skyline from the lounge, which is quite pretty. But I am ready to board the plane and fall sleep! I need to learn how to say hello in Dutch?