My 2011 birthday mountain was a climb of Gros Morne in Newfoundland.

Some photo of fjords, food and lighthouses from a terrific week in Newfoundland.

Canada Day on Parliament Hill, a Will-and-Kate sighting, High Tea with friends and a great camping trip – terrific weekend in Ottawa to celebrate Canada’s 144th birthday.

A quick guide to my favourite sights and foods in my hometown.

I am writing this from New York City, and it is way colder here than I anticipated. Way colder than, say….Thailand. But, less cold than Montreal, which is where I have spent the last few weeks.

Having gotten a visa for Russia and Mongolia before I left for South America, I had only one visa left to obtain before the Trans-Siberian trains: China. The last time I went to China, I got the visa in Hong Kong, but since I will be entering the country via Mongolia – and via midnight Trans-Manchurian train – getting the visa upon arrival wasn’t possible.