The coldest I have ever been...

I was extremely surprised when we were driving up to Timmins from Ottawa. Even though the heater was on maximum I always had a bit a fresh breeze from behind. Turning around I realised that the windows in the back were actually frozen from the inside. A beautiful pattern of ice flowers and cristals arose in the back...

What You have to keep in mindis, that the heater was at MAXIMUM!!! So we were cruising until we had to refill fuel. When we stopped the car and I opened the door it was like being hit with a hammer. It is not describable. The cold was so intensive that my face and hands fellt numb just after they first hurt as if I was in the cold for hours.

In the partol station we actualy found out that it was -31°C!! This is by far the coldest I have ever experienced.

We later tried to figure out what happens when gets just a little bit colder and you then try to pee at a tree or so... Would the jet start freezing in the air until it hits the 'little one'? That's were I prefered not to think about it anymore.

Ottawa

We left Vancouver for quick domestic flight to Ottawa. It was only at the airport that I actually realised it would be a 4,5 hour flight with 5500Km. Off coarse we also crossed 3 time zones. Well, that is the moment when you realise "Canada is quite big!"

From VC with approx. 10°C we landed in Ottawa where the temperature was at -4°C. AT THAT TIME!!!! It was actually quite nice with a bit of snow.

To cut a long story short: I ended up in an ugly old hotel, in a room with a heater, which did not work. I did not see much of the city but had the time to walk around downtown the next morning. I was surprised that I felt so extremely cold outside, my hands were freezing, my lips completely dried out and my nose was glowing in purple red. It was only later that I found out that the temperatures had dropped over night from -4 to -20!! Now I understood why I was cold and decided it is ok - I am not a sissy! ;-)

Pictures of cold Ottawa:

I feel like a real jet setter

This Sunday our conference started but we decided not to go too early. So I had a wonderful morning. I got up at 7.30 an instead of getting dressed I got into my swimming gear and went to the pool. It is outside but the watertemperature is fantastic. So after trimming my mussels with a couple of strokes through the pool I got my self a well earned break in the jacuzi (for the Germans: Whirlpool). Fantastic to ly in warm bubbling water and see the skyline of VC and watch water planes taking off.



After a nice long shower and a good shave I got dressed and went down to the lobby to walk about 400 metres to the next "STARBUCKS COFFEE". I got my self a wonderful grand latte and a muffin and walked back to my room for breakfast...

Now I was ready for the day to come...

Impressions of Vancouver

This Saturday was fantastic! After the long hours of flying with adapting to a time difference of 9 hours I realy needed a break. And I got it...
Just when I went down for breakfast (20 CAD for a bit of coffee, toast and fruits) the clouds cleared up for the first time.(and as I had to see, the last time as well) From my seat I had I wonderful view on the mountain in the distance covered in snow. Very much like the picture below, even if that one was taken later during a walk.

Downtown living area. The photo was taken from the pear, so these houses are just at the waterfront.

The next one is the view from my room, just when the sky cleared up a bit.

A new part of the world...

So far my stories always had to do with 'south'. Since I mainly traveled to southern Africa this was obvios. Now that time is over and I am ready for something new. I will no longer be responsible for sales in Africa. From now on I will be traveling northern America for my company.
So, now I am sitting in Vancouver, visiting a complete new world. And already the flight was something special - I flew over the magnetic north pole. Wow, it's been my first time. Why didn't I have a compass with me? Would have been interesting to see if it had started rotating eventually.

Hmmm, maybe on my way home...